Independents

Hi Everyone -

First - My objective is to not open or rehash an earlier conversation....

I just received the Contemporary Watchmaking book by Michael Clerzio -

I made a comment a few weeks ago about that I personally felt my Series 2 was nicer finished than my KV 27.

If you have the book - please see page 226. These are photos of my Series 2 - 18-C. In my opinion, It just doesn't get better. At least those of you who I call friends, and some of you who I don't know, can together see from what reference point I make my comments.

So, maybe different examples are, well, different. But the one I am staring at next to me and in this book is really well done.

The book is truly fantastic if you haven't picked up a copy yet. It really nice to see a a compilation like this.

Enjoy the day!

asg

Not to be unnecessarily provocative, but I just don't love KV's watches--I can n ot deny they are executed at the highest of all levels, but they do not speak to me. The S2 reeks of soul and has the execution in riches.

A terrible comparison would be (laughing) Eddie Van Halen vs. Joe Satriani. Eddie Van Halen had the technical mastery AND the ability to write memorable SONGS too. Satriani, while a type of genius, never wrote a great song.....

Finally, how can I ever diminish KV???? I DO NOT and I mean no diminishment--just to say, I would take an S2 over almost any KV, except uh... one or two heartbreakingly great examples. Well, Satriani does have a couple good tunes after all...

but I would say I am on the opposite end of the spectrum--RS designs, while executed to incredible levels, leave me flat, while every KV watch I have seen ignites passion.  Pretty subjective issues.  And interestingly when we turn to the concecpt of level of finishing (which one would think could be judged more objectively), there is also a lot of subjectiveness, with little definitive criteria.

No wrong answer with either of these masters.

. . . and now, the $64 question: if Eddie is to Roger as Joe is to Kari, then Keith is to _____ as ____ is to Romain . . . fill in the blanks! Regards, Art

Surely there is 'only' Keef??

"There is but one true Keef..."     "Thou shalt have no other Keefs but me..."   "I am the way, the Keef and the light..."  "Forgive them, Keef, they know not what they say..."

 

Cheers,

pplater.

. . . does that make Richards, umm, diabolical? . . .

DUDE -

SATRIANI HAS WRITTEN MANY MANY MANY GREAT SONGS!!!!!!! AND ALBUMS for that matter!!!!  (SURFING, FLYING, IS THERE LOVE IN SPACE - I MEAN, IT DOESNT GET BETTER THAN THAT!!!)

HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT ABOUT HIM .  HE"S A GOD!!!!

In fact - if you we look at recent legal cases - Satriani wrote the famous Coldplay song Viva la Vida! 

Yes - there are differences between KV and RS - my post was not meant to poke at one or the other.  Some of my "friends" were questioning my statement in which I compared MY Series 2 to MY 27. 

Oh man------the internet got me again!

Long live KARI, ROGER, EDDIE and JOE!  My life would not be the same without each of them. 

(I've been playing guitar for over 20 years, collecting watches for just over 10).

Best,

asg

(The above written with tongue in cheek!!!)

I'm one of your 'friend' and I'm not questioning you regarding your statement.
I was just saying I would love to see your Series 2 and your Kari 27 next to each other.....
because I have seen your 27 and I was literally very impressed.
So for you to say that your Series 2 is better than your 27, it really interests me a lot.
As for the image in the 'Contemporary watchmaking' book, it's hard to tell as it was done with lots of incident lighting that covered/beautified most things.
You said it so strongly, so I would believe you. I'm just curious how is it better, that's all.
One of your 'friend',
CL

I promise I will make this happen.  You will see both pieces next to each other and I will show you why I feel the way I do. 

And yes - you have been a "friend" for many years . 

I'm much more sensitive about Satriani than anything else.  If I could be him, I would. 

:-p!

I've been laughing at almost every post!

I too play guitar, but only to calm the nerves and sing some favorite songs...

I'll have to think what Rock God Dufour and Gauthier are like... Hmmm.

Kieth Richards, while a rock god, never struck me as a technical Master... way too loose... and we'd have it no other way would we?

If this thread is still alive tomorrow, I'll have some sort of reply!

Oh yeah, watches.... um.....

Hendrix is Dufour. (that was easy.)

Gauthier? the new blood... young... oh so promising... Jimmy Page before Zeppelin.





This message has been edited by Mostel on 2009-11-16 18:07:18

Don't forget Yngwie!


This message has been edited by Mostel on 2009-11-16 18:08:49

It's a subtle difference to some, but very important to us cognoscente! ;-)

So who is the Mike Stern of watchmaking?


Bill


This message has been edited by WHL on 2009-11-17 04:57:54

Oh, wait. Not that Mike Stern....
I didn't even know who he was!
Great player.
Thanks for the reference.
If anything, I bet a lot of us got some new music to listen to out of this thread.

But I would think it is more fun to be a guitar god. Mike Stern has the finest solo I have ever heard on the Coltrane standard Giant Steps. I think I would slit my wrists if I were ever assigned to transcribe it....

 

Bill

I will be sure to listen to it.

Yingwie is in financial trouble and was selling a lot of his guitars recently at auction I believe.

Stevie Ray, Eric Johnson, Al D, Vai, New Blood - Johnny Lang, John Mayer (as we know, a big watch fan), Man the list goes on and on - Oh and Trey - Boy do I love Trey -

I would say Journe and Trey are synonymous - Both started out as "independents" who went fairly "mainstream"

I just picked up a new magazine called Guitar Afficianado (original name, huh?) - Its about Guitars, Watches, Cars and Wine. Maybe we need a Guitar page here on thepurists/puristspro.com.

Still - Satriani makes my body tingle - no one can make that instrument wail like he can.

Mostel - I get where you were going - I agree that Satch does not have the Soul of say SRV - To me, Roger is more like SRV - There is only one, and can be only one. EVH, while amazing - he too does not have that Soul of some of the more versitile players - Eddie is a technical genius (Journelike) - He pushed the limits (Max??) early on and did things people never dreamed of doing (eruption).

Kari - Hmmmm - Kari is very much like Satch - So polished and refined, never making a mistake or misstep. Pretty good to me.

This thread embodies alot of why I really only love independents. Each has their own flavor, style, soul, sound - One is not better than another, they are all "gods" and all push the envelope when compared to top 40 type stuff (think some brands). You have some brands which really try to push the envelope as well, but, really fall short on making something for the masses.

What i'd really like to know is, where does Claret fit in? Is Claret like the greatest studio musician ever? Playing on hundreds of artists albums quietly and discretely?

Is Patek like the Beatles? The Stones?

Is AP Like Metallica? The Dead? Pink Floyd? Phish?

Is VC like the Boston Pops? or Yes or Rush? (Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Pearlman and friends?)

Never thought about it like this.

At the end of the day, what I believe we can all agree on is that each one of these watchmakers, brands, musicians or supergroups bring a smile to our faces. This is what its about - creating art, and enjoying art. Making us, the listeners feel some emotion or mood. Helping us fill some void or gain a sense of accomplishment or document a great milestone. At the end of the day, we all need to take a step back and applaud what it is these great men and women do for us. We must not be so critical all the time and remember that they, the creators are bearing their soul and their darkest and brightest emotions for us to enjoy. So, I dont know how I got from A to B tonight, but I applaud all those who post here. I applaud those who make the art for us to admire and spend a few minutes each day admiring. Without each of "you" - my life wouldn't be the same. For this, I thank you.

Rock on!

Best regards,

asg

Nice, Adam. And as a huge fan of VC, I love the comparison to Yes.
And finally, EVH, early days, early stuff, if that kid did not have soul....... I don't know what soul is.
This message has been edited by Mostel on 2009-11-17 08:52:33

Like with musicians, it is nice to appreciate the diversity of greatness and excellence in watchmaking today.

 

Bill

That you're almost as confused about music as about watchmaking.

(Meant in good fun of course!)

Was expecting that!! Hope all is well!!