Women and Guitars
At 2006 NAMM, Guitar manufacturers discover new segments of an old market

When you consider the history of modern music, it would be hard to overlook the two predominant and arguably most influential driving forces-- Women and Guitars. Long before Muddy Waters invented electricity, women have played a role in contemporary music. Sure we’ve written songs about them, who hasn’t? But this isn’t about objectification. This is about the players, the women who have strapped on a guitar and stepped to the front of the stage to scream in their own voice, "Here I am!"

In most cases, that guitar slung low across their hips was a man's guitar, a guitar built by a man for a man's dimensions. So I guess it was a matter of time before the marketing departments at several of the larger manufacturers put two and two together. (Or was it that they took notice of some of the smaller start-ups successfully leveraging into a niche segment of the market?) There is certainly validity to that debate, but rather than argue the origins of the chicken and egg, let's instead recall a tiny little booth, hardly as big as a closet, that was largely overlooked at NAMM four or five years back, Daisy Rock Guitars.

Daisy Rock Guitars

We first ran across Daisy Rock Guitars at the winter NAMM show in 2001. I recall the booth being somewhat out of place, surrounded by the titans of the business on the main floor of the world's largest music manufacturing convention. But there it was, maybe 100 square feet with the wall space of a small bathroom and, standing in the middle of the booth, was founder and president of Daisy Rock Guitars, Tish Ciravolo. As any entrepreneur will tell you, you have to remain committed to your vision, even when others don’t see it. Ciravolo may be the poster child to that rule.

Borrowing liberally from the media section of the Daisy Rock Web site:

"Since being founded in 2000, Daisy Rock has doubled in size each year, with 2004 sales exceeding $2 million. The catalog includes acoustic and acoustic-electric guitars, 6-string and 12-string electric guitars, electric basses, and acoustic-electric basses in a vibrant selection of colors. The company offers an ample bouquet of models from popular lines such as the Butterfly, Daisy, Heartbreaker, Pixie, Stardust, and Rock Candy series, and 2005 marks the launch of the incredibly versatile Tomboy series and the all-wood Wildwood Acoustic series."

This year Daisy Rock entered NAMM with force and a purpose. Having earned a foothold in a burgeoning segment of the guitar market, guitars for women, their modest booth of just a few years ago has grown into a substantial presence. I asked Daniel Frohmen, salesperson, about the evolution of Daisy Rock Guitars.

"Daisy Rock started with the Daisy Series. Every year our sales have doubled. That growth means that we can offer more guitars with more options for girls. That’s what we’re all about."

With the vast number of guitar manufacturers represented at NAMM, I asked Frohmen what makes Daisy Rock different than standard guitars. His answer, eloquent in its simplicity, directly addressed problems women who what to learn to play guitar have face for years--

"We offer a thinner neck, a lightweight body and a great selection of colors," Frohmen explained. "The Tomboy series has kind of a Telecaster style of sound. The Rock Candy series has more of a Les Paul sound and we also have semi-hollow bodies. Our guitars cover the full spectrum of sounds."

And the price?

"Our guitars retail from $229 to $639," Frohmen stated.

For more information, check out the Daisy rock Web site. http://www.daisyrock.com/

 

Like I said, you’ve got to believe. Daisy Rock is finding ways to fill a long-standing need, but they aren’t the only ones paying attention. Let’s see who else has stepped into the market.

Gibson USA

Did I mention the titans of the business? Don’t ever consider Gibson an also-ran. When they step onto the world’s stage it’s always in a big way. For 2006, Gibson addressed a long overlooked market by announcing 15 new guitars that focus on the female player. While other manufactures are posturing for a younger market segment, Gibson has stationed an attractive young woman at the front door of their booth to grind out some tunes and occasionally gnaw on the neck of her guitar. The point that this delightful flower is making? Big girls want to play too.

Included in the new offering are performance models, special theme semi-hollow electrics and solid body versions of long-established brands, such as the new Gibson Les Paul Vixen guitar model and the Goddess series.

Borrowing from the Gibson press release…

"The Vixen is designed for female artists looking for a slimmer model guitar at an affordable price. The Les Paul Vixen features a light-weight mahogany body, slim 60's taper neck with a narrow nut, and 490R & 498T humbuckers. The Gibson Goddess Series features a Gibson Les Paul and SG guitar delivering high-end quality and tone in a slim, weight relieved design. Features of these guitar models include a reduced body size (Les Paul only), slim 60's taper neck with a narrow nut, translucent 490R & 498T humbuckers, and Madagascar heather ebony fingerboard."

With a salute to the well-established brands, Gibson also has an eye on the future offering a variety of new instruments packaged with that classic Gibson sound.

--The GT series, targeting the artist with a heavy gig schedule. The GT series model guitars will handle the regular stage and road activity while delivering good looks. Features include over/under dual truss rod for extra neck reinforcement, push-pull pots on coil split 490R & 498T humbuckers, fully independent volume controls even with the toggle in the middle position, the tone circuit contains a high pass filter that allows highs to remain as you turn the volume down, and it smoothes the taper from 0-10, Graph-tech nut, locking metal button Grover tuners, painted in ghosted flames, '50s Les Paul neck, Neutrik^TM jack locks in the cable plug, Dunlop dual function locking strap pin, and more.

--The Gibson Vegas Standard and Vegas High Roller models are two flat-top semi-hollow body guitars with humbuckers that carry the Vegas and Poker themes to new heights in their design and look. Features include '60s slim taper neck, '57 Classic humbuckers on the Standard, Burstbucker Pro humbuckers and AAA maple top on the High Roller, and rosewood fingerboard with gold frets.

--The Gibson New Century Series includes a Gibson Les Paul, SG, Explorer and Flying V with full-body mirror pickguards to reflect stage lights making the artist the center of attention. Features include mahogany body and neck, 490R & 498T humbuckers, mirror truss rod cover, and classic '60s neck (except Flying V).

--The Gibson Les Paul DC Pro is a premium double-cutaway model designed for professional guitarists. Features include AAA figured maple top, weight-relieved mahogany body, Burstbucker Pro humbuckers, and rosewood fingerboard.

--Hard-core headbangers are the focus of the Gibson Les Paul and SG Menace Series with tribal body routings, ebony fingerboard, brass fist (Les Paul) or brass knuckles (SG) inlays, the Gibson logo in a tattoo motif, special smokey coil 490R & 498T humbuckers and more.

--The New Gibson Les Paul Studio Premium Plus with AAA flamed maple top, 490R and 498T humbuckers will also be offered at NAMM 2006.

Gibson has been an industry leader and innovator for more than 70 years. They are the guitar of choice for everyone from the bad boys of rock (and yes, bad girls too) to the gentlemen of country. In this industry, when Gibson makes a move, other manufactures take notice. Don’t be surprised if some of the other industry giants investigate and adjust to this new phenomenon in music called women. And soon women will be gnawing on guitar necks all around the world!

For more information on Gibson go to www.gibson.com  


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