Rich Severson's Five Favorite Guitars He Owns

[Marty Grass]

I shouldn't have been surprised that he made unpredictable choices. Many of us are drawn to an instrument strongly that others think are just good.

[Tal_175]

I shouldn't have been surprised that he made unpredictable choices. Many of us are drawn to an instrument strongly that others think are just good.

Also many of us aren't endorsed by Heritage guitars.

[John A.]

Also many of us aren't endorsed by Heritage guitars.

Neither is Rich Severson. He endorses Heritage and they sponsor him.

[Tal_175]

Neither is Rich Severson. He endorses Heritage and they sponsor him.

Rich is endorsed by Eastman, Heritage and Hofner Guitars, and Quilter Amps which takes him around the country to guitar shows, workshops and clinics promoting these products as well as his own business.
Rich Severson

[2bornot2bop]

Still, there’s absolutely no shame he chose the Golden Eagle number one. It is a smaller body that makes it more comfortable for some. 3 Gibsons and 2 Heritage’s. That’s as I would have expected. However, having owned one I’d have placed the L4CES on the bottom and the Tal number 3.

[John A.]

Rich is endorsed by Eastman, Heritage and Hofner Guitars, and Quilter Amps which takes him around the country to guitar shows, workshops and clinics promoting these products as well as his own business.
Rich Severson

I guess he doesn't understand the word "endorse" either (or college, it would seem). The whole point of artist/athlete/celebrity endorsements is that their endorsement gives the product value, not the other way around.

[Tal_175]

I guess he doesn't understand the word "endorse" either (or college, it would seem). The whole point of artist/athlete/celebrity endorsements is that their endorsement gives the product value, not the other way around.

It's not that people don't understand what it means, I think it's a term used loosely to indicate an artist/athlete having an endorsement deal with a brand in exchange for a financial package.

[Cunamara]

Having watched a number of Rich's videos, I can't say that any of those were a surprise. They're all guitars that he has featured previously and has spoken very highly of. While there were some minor differences, he always just sounds like himself.

[John A.]

It's not that people don't understand what it means, I think it's a term used loosely to indicate an artist/athlete having an endorsement deal with a brand in exchange for a financial package.

Usage drift perhaps (I try not be too prescriptive about it), but saying “company endorses artists” clearly inverts the meaning. My money is on people not understanding the words they use. I’ve never lost that bet.

[Tal_175]

Usage drift perhaps (I try not be too prescriptive about it), but saying “company endorses artists” clearly inverts the meaning. My money is on people not understanding the words they use. I’ve never lost that bet.

I bet on usage drift in this case rather than Rich Severson not knowing what he agreed to.

[Ukena]

I suspect that Rich uses the phraseology in order to make it sound like he's not being paid to promote things. If he says he is endorsed by a company, it means he is recommend by them; if he said he was sponsored by Eastman and Heritage, then some might not trust his endorsement of their products.

I do believe that he is sincere in his admiration for the products he actually endorses, and those five guitars are probably actually his favorites. They are certainly marvelous guitars.

[Marty Grass]

To be clear, Rich sells or sold new Heritages. He sells used instruments too. Nonetheless, he still put the swanky L-5 as his second favorite.

If anyone believes he put the Heritage Golden Eagle he showed as number one because he's paid to do that, there could be some truth there. But there are other reasons he would do that. The three things that stand out to me is the single pickup (he says he rarely uses the bridge pickup), the three inch body he finds more comfortable, and the fear of damaging a more expensive instrument or having it stolen every time you gig. He never said the GE is built or sounds better than the L-5. He just said it's his favorite.

My guitar teacher of old had a new blonde Gibson Johnny Smith. He handled it cautiously. That was his precious guitar. His favorite was a ES-175 with dings and scratches on it. It was comfortable like an old pair of slippers to him. I'd like to own Rich's second favorite, the L-5, but I'd feel a little nervous everytime I took it out of the case.

This may sound crazy to some, but I have found over the years that after the first few dings happen, I worry less about the aesthetics and resale price than before and am more relaxed leaving the guitar out on a stand so I can pick it up more often.

I don't know Rich personally, but I have followed him for years. I've talked with him maybe 8 years ago. Later, he got one of my old Golden Eagles and shot a video or two with it. He's a good teacher and I nice guy.

[SOLR]

Did anyone else notice he played the L5 on the bridge p/u onl? I kept waiting for him to hit the toggle, but he didn’t. I wanted to hear the neck p/u. I am not a fan of bridge p/u’s on archtop guitars.

It's the neck PUP. it's just wired differently ... around 5'30" in the video (You got the 2 picks ups, the back one that I never use ...unless I have to...) definitely a neck PUP sound on that beauty.

Solr

[Stringswinger]

Forgetting the fact that Rich is a Heritage guitar dealer (talk about conflict of interest!), let's also remember that the guys who built his Heritage guitars were Gibson archtop luthiers at one time.

I have played some Heritage archtops that were superb and some that were not so good. I can say the same about Gibson archtops.

Judge each guitar on it's own merits. I am glad Rich (a superb player) has some guitars that he enjoys.

[bohemian46]

Diminished credibility.

[2bornot2bop]

Diminished credibility.

So is it against the law to have an opinion or favorite? Damn you’re tough!