New "Storia" line from Yamaha

[agfsteve]

I just saw this on Music Radar:

Yamaha debuts eye-catching Storia acoustic guitars

The promo video is obviously not designed for anyone who is actually interested in the guitar itself; it's designed more for those interested in the fallacy of "Guitar Lifestyle", LOL.

[Sax Player Guy]

That video is certainly, uh, "selling the sizzle", as they say.

[Beakybird]

Originally Posted by agfsteve

The promo video is obviously not designed for anyone who is actually interested in the guitar itself; it's designed more for those interested in the fallacy of "Guitar Lifestyle", LOL.

The guitar lifestyle isn't a fallacy. Music brings people closer together, and playing a musical instrument is one of the few authentic human experiences we have left in this techno world.

I guess the fallacy of the video is that anyone can just pick up the guitar and start getting everyone together singing. You do have to put in hours and hours of practice, and you do have to tune the thing.

[ataylor]

I’m on the fence about the contrasting color inside the guitar, but on the whole, these look really nice. I like the simple trim and appointments. Visually, they remind me of both Martin’s 15-style guitars and Taylor’s Academy series.

The promo video and visual branding of the product perhaps borrow a little too heavily from the tech/startup world, but I don’t see anything all that dissimilar from videos from other guitar brands. Reminds me a lot of some MXR pedal videos that Dunlop has done in recent years.

Kudos to Yamaha for doing something a little different here — and the idea of a guitar as a centerpiece in a modern home rather than an AI-driven piece of tech hardware is fine by me.

[zhunter]

Google "50s Fender guitar ads" and check the images you pull up. You get a lot more than Fender ads but it is a good place to start. The sizzle has been sold for a long time. I am not sure Yamaha's pitch is that much different. As for guitar lifestyle? I get that they are suggesting a guitar will fit into ones lifestyle, not selling guitar lifestyle. Hey if it gets folks to put a guitar in their living room. I say OK. And if some actually learn to play. Oh yeah.

I liked it. I must be getting sentimental in my old age.

hunter

[agfsteve]

The problem that I have with the promo video is the music. The first ten seconds are OK, assuming the guitar sound I'm hearing is the actual guitar in the promo (and I'm guessing it is not). But then the guitar sound becomes irrelevant, or a minor accompaniment at best. Seems ridiculous to me that you'd be promoting a guitar with a soundtrack that is not mostly guitar.

I'm sure Yamaha's sales and marketing department knows what it's doing, so I understand why my view might be "wrong".

[TokyoNeko]

My first impression: Storia = FS8xx + pickup + brass bridge pins + aesthetic changes for more $$$ (presumably)

[Sax Player Guy]

Originally Posted by zhunter

The sizzle has been sold for a long time. I am not sure Yamaha's pitch is that much different. As for guitar lifestyle? I get that they are suggesting a guitar will fit into ones lifestyle, not selling guitar lifestyle. Hey if it gets folks to put a guitar in their living room. I say OK. And if some actually learn to play. Oh yeah.
hunter

I will admit to being a curmudgeon when it comes to ads. Advertisements of that sort could just as well be for anything. You could pretty much shoot that ad virtually the same way, but substitute the guitar with, say, a toaster. "Gee, look at how happy those people are, sharing #preciousmoments with their new toaster! Perhaps I, too, would have beautiful friends and a beach house were I the possessor of that handsome appliance!"

I am such an old poop that it bothers me when commercials don't mention a product's virtues, but instead simply hire a bunch of actors to pretend that they are happy as can be due to their basking in the aura of said product. it makes me wonder whether they're hiding something-- like maybe the product actually isn't good. I realize I am among a small minority on this.

"Yamaha reckons these will make an ideal first guitar or an acoustic that will complement your home décor."

Coming soon to an Ikea near you!

[Beakybird]

Originally Posted by Willie Voltaire

"Yamaha reckons these will make an ideal first guitar or an acoustic that will complement your home décor."

Coming soon to an Ikea near you!

Don't poo poo decor! The guitar on my wall speaks volumes about me. It's slightly cracked with no strings attached.

[AndrewG]

Originally Posted by Sax Player Guy

I will admit to being a curmudgeon when it comes to ads. Advertisements of that sort could just as well be for anything. You could pretty much shoot that ad virtually the same way, but substitute the guitar with, say, a toaster. "Gee, look at how happy those people are, sharing #preciousmoments with their new toaster! Perhaps I, too, would have beautiful friends and a beach house were I the possessor of that handsome appliance!"

I am such an old poop that it bothers me when commercials don't mention a product's virtues, but instead simply hire a bunch of actors to pretend that they are happy as can be due to their basking in the aura of said product. it makes me wonder whether they're hiding something-- like maybe the product actually isn't good. I realize I am among a small minority on this.

"...sharing precious moments with their toaster". That really cracked me up! Thanks for enlivening a dull evening!

[rwmct]

I really don't understand the video. Why would these guitars be any more likely to be passed around and strummed by everyone you know than any other guitar?

[Beakybird]

Originally Posted by rwmct

I really don't understand the video. Why would these guitars be any more likely to be passed around and strummed by everyone you know than any other guitar?

That's called branding. The purpose of advertising is usually to get people to make an irrational decision.

[gocamels]

Originally Posted by Beakybird

I guess the fallacy of the video is that anyone can just pick up the guitar and start getting everyone together singing. You do have to put in hours and hours of practice, and you do have to tune the thing.

NOW you tell me! Crap... I have to tune it and practice?

[tippy5]

Smooth jazz, made up models, a spotless malibu house.
Kinda wish Richie Havens would walk in show them how it's done:

https://youtu.be/41tLbEHHefI?t=1507