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So What’s the Deal about Guitar Endorsements?

March 17th, 2008 · Posted by Jeff · 21 Comments

Your guitar chops are pretty slick.  Your perm has been extra poofy lately.

Ever wonder how you could become an endorsed guitar player?

Wouldn’t it be cool to see yourself in a poster for your favorite gear?

Here is a look at our friend, Brian Lowe’s blog talking about his own endorsements:

ENDORSEMENTS

by Brian Lowe

Ok, here we go. We know that Valley Arts picked me up as an artist..now Geezer has also done this (thanks Dave!) and I am able to receive artist pricing from Keeley…and I still am associated with Line 6.

For starters, I want to say I get nothing for free. Very seldom do endorsements work like that, especially after the “gear whore” 80’s days…nor would I sell my soul for free gear. I actually USE what I endorse…if I wouldn’t use it, I wouldn’t allow my name to be associated with it. I’m not a household name (yet), so I have no idea if people would buy something just because I say it’s the shiznit….but I do love to talk about my gear, and I know alot of people did buy Line6 while I was there after I showed it to them. I love to talk gear, as I stated, and I am very proud of the gear I own. While everything I own isn’t the latest greatest will do 1000 things including cook breakfast hand wired boutique million dollar gear, (hey, some of us do have BUDGETS to consider), I take care of my stuff, and I am firmly convinced that you don’t need the best to be a great player…but the gear I use does the job, and does it well. To quote Steve Lukather, “You can own a cigar box with wire on it and be a great player”…the gear just accents that aspect of it. I am looking forward to dealing with Robert Keeley, as he does some great pedals and mods…and Dave at Geezer…well, if you need a cab, he is just the man. Valley Arts? I can’t say enough about them. Al is great, the guitars rule…they aren’t for everyone, of course….just because I own guitars like Brent’s and Luke’s doesn’t mean I sound anything like them. I am just truly appreciative that these companies think enough of my guitar playing to associate their name with mine, because I think these guys just rock.

Brian

A few quick tips on getting endorsed (We will go into this further later in our newsletter):

  1. Be a pretty good player
  2. Be out there playing and gigging somewhat frequently
  3. Be proactive and network, even try to get in touch with those at the desired companies and ask about how one can be endorsed by their gear
  4. Have long beautiful flowing hair.

(jk)

Sign up for our newsletter (at the top right corner of the site) to get even more details on how to get endorsed.

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21 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Brian Lowe // Mar 17, 2008 at 11:07 am

    A few other tips…for starters, use the gear you want to endorse. When I worked at Line6, it used to kill me, the guys who always said, “If you get it to me for free, I’ll use it” it hels if you know the companies products. BE WORKING…alot..we do over 250 dates a year on the road. We do some pretty high profile gigs. You have to be seen for it to matter. Smaller companies are easier to work with…and just remember, it will be tough to pull off a PRS, Fender, etc…deal…artist deals are a great deal if you can get them, so those are the ones to ask for. It means more to a company if you show them you are willing to (and have) paid for the gear. Remember, IT IS A TAX WRITE OFF, TOO!
    Last but not least, remember this..Jim Marshall never..NEVER…gave Jimi Hendrix his amps. If Hendrix paid for it, what makes us better than him?

  • 2 Brian Lowe // Mar 17, 2008 at 11:10 am

    Hey, be sure to check out my above website….GPZ is doing a “myspace” for guitarists, and I think it’s worth it! Just putting in a plug for ya Jeff…can I have an endorsement for t shirts?

  • 3 Brian Lowe // Mar 17, 2008 at 11:18 am

    Ok, I thought I was through. Here is alittle info on the Valley Arts deal…I chased them, and built a relationship with Al for a year before I got the endorsement…I owned 2 of them before it was offered, and I did ask for it. When I first started dealing wit him, I wasn’t in the same position I am now…but when I was in a position where i knew it would also benefit VA as well as myself, that is when I pursued it. I think I’m done now.

  • 4 Jeff // Mar 17, 2008 at 12:32 pm

    Haha Thanks Brian!

    And of course GPZ will proudly endorse you!

  • 5 Catherine Delgadillo // Mar 18, 2008 at 5:17 am

    I never got my t-shirt, Jeff - where’s mine???!! LOL.

    So Brian, thanks for the blog on endorsements. That is something I have been wondering about for a long time. I agree fully that the artist should use the gear they want to endorse (do you hear me Line 6 & PRS???) :) Oh, and I think I gotta check out VA some more now too!

    Well, I got the flowing hair thing going… guess now I just gotta work on the other stuff! I used to play live years ago and am just starting to get ready to do that again - you’ve motivated me and given me yet another reason to go out there and do it!

  • 6 Christopher Lynn // Mar 18, 2008 at 6:11 am

    This has been a great article, thanks. I’m nowhere near a good enough player to be endorsed and yet I saw on Dean Guitars website they have a spot where you can contact them about getting endorsed by Dean. I filled out the form for the hell of it, and was actually contacted by a HUMAN BEING!!! Like I said, I’m nowhere near qualified for an endorsement, but it was cool that Dean has that feature and somebody actually considers it. I’m sure Gibson and Fender have nothing like this. Thanks again

  • 7 jimmy mac // Mar 18, 2008 at 10:32 am

    Interesting topic. I was approached by Xotic Effects after my first CD and some nice write-ups. The Rep sent me a good size box of pedals
    and i spent a day trying to like them. They didn’t fit. However, i decided to use one on a gig in Marin and i was glad i brought my “other” pedal because once i tried to integrate it in to the LIVE sound…it didn’t work. That’s the difference at home you tweak at a gig you play and some gigs don’t work well with tweaking. We develop our sound because we respond emotionally to the texture as well as the notes we play. The art of a “Clean” sound is the foundation that allows your sound to improve with your choice of Guitars, Amps and Pedals. One funny story: I was at NAMM in LA back in the 90’s i was starting to make a small name for myself in CA. So, i was invited to a Party in one the Hotels and it was sponsored by Brand Name Guitar Strap manufacturer. Anyway, one of the surprise guests was a well
    known upright Bassist, a legend in the straight
    ahead jazz world. There was an acoustic guitar and one of the sales dudes was playing Beatles
    sing alongs and the Bassist took his Bass out and started to groove. The guitar changed hands and yours truly was holding the bag - well axe, anyway he and i did a Parker thing that was really fun . Next thing you know the sales guy is wondering how you market a “guitar-strap” for an a Jazz Bassist. Do you
    think there was booze in this marketing idea?
    Oh yeah, i don’t believe that idea left room.

    peace

    -jimmy

  • 8 Brev Sullivan // Mar 18, 2008 at 8:30 pm

    There are so many ways to skin a cat.
    I agree that if you love a product, you should really use it. Rave about your Strat or Marshall to everyone, be seen with it and really stand by it.
    If you take any old endorsement just to have that guitar, you’ll like it for a year, than you’ll hate it and want to get out of the contract. Good luck breaking a signed agreement because your contract may be a few years and you’ll have to play that guitar that you now hate a bit longer.
    Also playing 1000 gigs a month is great but is not the only way.
    You have to prove to a company whose product your using is going to be seen by many and prove to them that the people who see you would go out and buy the same guitar or amp you are using.
    For example, a female guitar instructor informed Daisy Rock guitars that she had a steady roster of all girls students. Well of course Daisy Rock saw this an opportunity to put their guitars into the hands of all those students and turn them into potential consumers. The instructor consequently received the Daisy Rock endorsement
    Use your cross promotion powers and the endorsements will come.

  • 9 Brian Lowe // Mar 21, 2008 at 8:56 am

    I have to add some people to that list…EMG, Keeley, and now in negotiations with Dean Markley. Life is just too good.

  • 10 Jolinda Livesay // Mar 23, 2008 at 2:44 pm

    Love the idea of the long flowing locks. Brian you do have pretty hair!! I never knew there was so much to being a musician. (I am not one.) I just love to hear Brian, Jake, Scotty, and Rob play. Ya’ll rock or do I say ya’ll country?! :)

  • 11 Rich Briere // Mar 31, 2008 at 5:20 pm

    Brian….while I don’t know you I am rather impressed that you didn’t “Pull the Peacock” that many do . :) Many are quite shocked when they discover that, depending on the manufacturer, “artist pricing” is never what they thought.

    I attended about 50 NAMM shows. You could always tell the guys who were looking for endorsements. They were the ones with the sun glasses on and the girlfriend who was dressed in little more than a loincloth. The AR folks would always hide when they walked into the booths. :)

    The REAL musicians were generally un-noticed.

    I also found humor in your reference to the “80’s”. I was sitting with a band in the dressing room when two “reps” from a VERY big company at that time walked in with a dozen guitars. TWELVE VERY expensive guitars. “Here ya go guys–they’re yours”. No charge…..nothing expected…..The reps left and the guitars were sold by the roadies, behind the arena, within 20 minutes. Lesson learned…you USE what you PAY for. :)

    Bass-ically Yours,
    Rich Briere
    http://www.richbriere.com

  • 12 Geezer // Apr 1, 2008 at 5:18 am

    Thanks Brian for all your support.

    You are and always have been a class act with us, and are proud to have you onboard.

    Geezer Sound Company

  • 13 Mark Yoakam // Jul 17, 2008 at 12:08 pm

    Many years ago, I was interested in endorsment deals.Do they really get stuff for free? etc.
    I asked Joe Walsh. He has endorsed a few things down
    thru the years, and still does.
    But, I got the feeling that even at his level, endorsment deals can be a headache.
    he said if I like it Ill write em a check and get two.

  • 14 ToyMachineAR // Aug 18, 2008 at 7:24 pm

    ^^^ I’m still a little interested in endorsement deals… It’s not necessarily about the free stuff… but what would some help hurt? There are some musicians that are quite talented and even really good that just can’t afford the stuff they want to play. I’ve been playing inexpensive guitars for over 10 years and still don’t have the money to cut a check and “buy two” of anything NEAR what I want. I think an endorsement with incentives should be considered for an artist that does love the products and will stand by them.. whether they can afford them or not.

    JH

  • 15 Joe Cummings // Feb 9, 2009 at 11:54 pm

    Thanks, great read. Two quick Qs: How is artist pricing structured, typically? What’s the best way to approach gear manufacturers to request artist pricing?

  • 16 Jeff // Feb 10, 2009 at 4:05 pm

    1. It’s different for each vendor/manufacturer and artist I assume.

    2. Just ask! If you can provide a manufacture some numbers (fans, cds sold, tour dates, previous tour dates, one sheet, samples of your music, website, etc.) and any thing to show your commitment and dedication to your music, that all would definitely help. You really have to be out playing shows on a regular basis.

  • 17 So You Want a Guitar Endorsement? | GuitarPlayerZen.com // Feb 20, 2009 at 10:00 am

    [...] musicians are picky. Finicky is actually a better word.  We need this guitar with those strings and that pedal with a certain setting or we can’t perform at our best. I [...]

  • 18 Kawika Bader // Mar 2, 2009 at 5:01 pm

    Hey how would you think I could get endorsed by First Act? I love some of their pricey guitars. I’m not amazing but I do play and for a band that gigs every once in a while. Any tips?

  • 19 Jeff // Mar 3, 2009 at 12:33 pm

    Try contacting them and talk about what you do and see if there is a fit! Gotta talk to them first then worry about any kind of deals!

  • 20 Brian Lowe Update: Guitar Player Zen Master | GuitarPlayerZen.com // Oct 7, 2009 at 10:02 am

    [...] October 7th, 2009 · Posted by Jeff · Leave Comments Here is an update from our good friend Brian Lowe, a professional country rock guitarist who is featured in our Studio Guitar Secrets: Making Guitar Your Career audio series, as well as some great articles on how to get endorsements. [...]

  • 21 Jean-Baptiste Collinet // Oct 11, 2009 at 4:09 am

    I have a very personal approach of that.

    When I contact a company(always straight to the point!),I NEVER use the word “endorsement”.

    I show them my interest for their products,first.

    Then,I ask if they think “there’s an ARTISTIC collaboration that can benefit both of us,working hand-in-hand”.

    Some companies like Conklin guitars propose a “pro-player-discount” based on how much exposure one can bring them.

    I have tons to tell you about me…and people I appreciate.

    Social aspects first,THEN gear.

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