does the colour and shape of your guitar affect the way you play?

[Junyore Grades]

I play drums, but do "fiddle around", if you will, on guitar. I once owned a Kramer Flying-V. It looked mean, sounded mean and was crimsom red. Hey, it was the eighties and Randy Roads was the new Top Jimmy. I hated it.
The only way you could play it was standing up and with a strap. If you tried to play it sitting down, you had to put your knee where the "V" was, or else it would slide all over the place. It also had a Floyd Rose tremelo that never would stay in tune.

[Panamark]

Yeah, Im a bit of a sucker for colour and shape. In every aspect of life, guitars included. My Black Destroyer puts me in a decidedly Metal Mood whereas my Blue Strat makes me wanna Rock and Roll. The Sunburst Tele is for those moments of indecision !! Maybe Im a tad fucked in the head, (well, thats a given) but my playing is influenced by the guitar in hand. Im actually looking for a Paul at the moment, my small collection is crying out for one. I used to own one and found an even different dimension in the Gibson realm.

I would go one step furhter and say that certain guitars can influence songwriting differently too. Very valid subject !

[BrownSound1]

Shape effects tone...so that is a determining factor in most guitarists playing style. For instance, if I play a Strat, I play more Hendrixy, than if I play a Les Paul. Certain guitars "suggest" certain playing styles....at least for me they do. Color doesn't effect my playing though.

[ELVIS]

What if you're playing for a black girl ??

[Eyes of the Night]

Originally posted by Brownsound1
Shape effects tone...so that is a determining factor in most guitarists playing style. For instance, if I play a Strat, I play more Hendrixy, than if I play a Les Paul. Certain guitars "suggest" certain playing styles....at least for me they do. Color doesn't effect my playing though.

That's what I shoulda wrote and did after I corrected myself saying that shape does and color doesn't ... accept my apology Badguy ...

[Panamark]

Originally posted by ELVIS
What if you're playing for a black girl ??

In Oz you would need a didgeridoo !

Our Black chicks are not that into guitars

[ELVIS]

LMFFEAO !!

[Cathedral]

I think that we pick the shape of our guitar based on our attitude, not the other way around.
And for the record, Color has everything to do with mood as it has been proven in many a psychological tests.

A Dark Color can result in a darker mood whereas a lighter, brighter color tends to excite.
Say for instance, Blue on your walls at home..It is a soothing color that helps to relax.
Red, tends to go hand in hand with being self centered and a jerk. (just look at any Red Porsche owner)
There is actually alot of scientific information on the relationships between sight, sound, mood swings and colors, shapes etc..
It's like a killer rock song, when in the car and it comes on you tend to drive faster because it excites the senses.
Pink, well that goes without saying and the jury is still out on that one, lol.

I think it is a very good question and it has many answers, even if those who are "Life Ignorant" cannot see past their crack pipes...

[Eyes of the Night]

I'm just saying, color has nothing to do with how I play the damn guitar ... even if you have "tests" that show ...

[Cathedral]

You're right, it doesn't effect how you play the guitar. It effects your mood which in turn effects how you play your guitar, lol...

It's no biggie, just stating documented fact my brotha'.

[alexpgrimes]

I don't know about the color, but the weight sure effects me. I love my les paul, but it's too heavy to play for a long period. I switch off to my strat or my washburn if i'm gonna play longer than an hour.

[Panamark]

Onya Alex ! Brings yet another tangent to the perplexing issue !

[alexpgrimes]

Well I do try...lol

[Mr Badguy]

It must affect the way you play.

How often do you see a jazz player playing a BC Rich Mockingbird?

I know the pickups would be a bit fierce for jazz but you can change them.

The same applies to Telecasters and thrash metal.

Lots of examples.

[Cathedral]

Multi Colors for Multi Personalities...