How can one say no?

[st_brickworks]

http://www.martinguitar.com/new/item...-brothers.html

Not mandolin, admittedly, but... Just wow. Understated elegance for only $5k...

[montana]

Ugly

[allenhopkins]

Recent thread discussing the same subject. My opinions haven't changed from my post there, whether or not the Louvins designed that awful album cover themselves. As a "tribute" it looks a lot like a "put-down" to me.

[Hudmister]

Just say "NO".

[OldSausage]

I don't understand why no one seems to see the beauty in this. I'd play that guitar any old time.

[Jeff Mando]

I don't understand why no one seems to see the beauty in this. I'd play that guitar any old time.

How 'bout an 80's made in Korea Hondo acoutic with a bunch of Nirvana stickers on it? I'll let ya have that little beauty for only $3497.95 plus tax and handling.

[st_brickworks]

Allen, very well said. It's rather telling that the album art is oriented in such a way that implies the guitar would be upright, hanging on the wall rather than being played - it's very clearly a kitsch novelty item.

By all means, laugh at the album art - it's hamfisted and awful - but if you're in the authoritative position of being one of the most respected guitar companies in the world, don't let this be your public statement on the Louvins. This is right up there with the Gibson Jimi Hendrix Strat copy as one of the most bewildering 'tribute' instruments ever...

[OldSausage]

The album art is not hamfisted and awful. It is fantastic. It's also the cover and title of Charlie Louvin's wonderful book - for a very good reason.



And no, I don't want your Hondo Jeff.

[Bertram Henze]

I can't say how, but I could exactly tell why...

[OldSausage]

Here's the guitar in all its glory:

[Tobin]

You laugh now, but the great-grandchildren of whoever buys these limited-edition monstrosities will be laughing all the way to the bank.

[Timbofood]

Well, pretty easy for me,
NO.

[DataNick]

No, but thank you...unless you want to give it to me!

[farmerjones]

Heck, im not even partial to sunburst finishes.

My only question: Do you think it was one man, or a committee decision?

[Steve Ostrander]

I'll pass.

[Petrus]

I don't mind the art even if it is a little bit kitsch. It just looks like it was cheaply silkscreened to the top without really considering how it fit with the instrument, like they just took the album art and did minimal cropping to make it fit. BTW, I did read that biography and recommend it.

Here's a "Vince Ray Rock 'n' Roll Voodoo Guitar" from Fender that looks more intriguing. Still, imo, anyone could do as well putting their own art on a cheap instrument if you really wanted to.

[mrmando]

I think they should offer a 12-foot cardboard Satan to go with it.

I'm about two-thirds of the way through the book and I second Scott's endorsement. It's great. Charlie is as unequivocal with his words as Ira was with his fists.

[JeffD]

The art itself was appropriate for the album cover Ira and Charlie Louvin put out. And in my thinking it is OK for the book cover too, as it was Charlie's book.

Is it inappropriate or irreverent to put it on the guitar, I don't know. It is kind of ugly as guitar art. But as a tribute to Charlie's music, it may be ok. I can think of other Louvin Bros. album covers that would not be as ugly as guitar art.

[George R. Lane]

Thank God I can't play the guitar.

[SincereCorgi]

Awesome, iconic album cover from an album with some great songs. I have ruined many a jam with 'Satan's Jewel Crown.'

Also, the perfect guitar to pull out after casually mentioning 'I've been kinda getting into the Louvin Brothers...'

[Amanda Gregg]

Okay, okay, so maybe I don't want to buy it, but let me say this: if someone had this guitar in a jam, I would have to make that person my new best friend.

[Steve L]

I can't imagine someone with over 4 grand to spend on a guitar walking out of a store with that.

[Petrus]

Four grand! Yowza. The "Vince Ray Rock 'n' Roll Voodoo Guitar" is only $400.

Anyway, I wonder if the Bro's were the inspiration for Dio?

[Petrus]

Awesome, iconic album cover from an album with some great songs. I have ruined many a jam with 'Satan's Jewel Crown.'

Yep, very enjoyable album. But I don't know what's worse about the cover ... that Satan is a decidedly non-scary cardboard cutout, or that the Brothers seem to be having a great time singing in the middle of Hell.

[journeybear]

Just so you know, it's not being sold for $4K or $5K, but in between - the list price is $4666. Very cute. I guess they figured no one would shell out $6660 for it. I hope they came up with a way to work the number of the beast into the serial numbers, too.