Steve Bailey speaks on Warwick/Fender..

[fretlesssurfer]

Today is April the 9th, 2011. On Wednesday the 6th it was announced that I have signed with Warwick Basses and have a signature instrument. I am writing this because my website email has been deluged with all sorts of emails…. Some with the words “traitor”, “whore” (as in gear), and “finally”… and all sorts of stuff in between.
Rather than responding individually I have opted to make a statement, of sorts.
For some this may be educational, and for others it may not even matter, as many of us will only believe that which we want.

After many years with ARIA, and with a signature bass there, the US distributor was disintegrating, and the time came to change ( after 10 years).
Fender had always left the door open from way back (think Rippingtons, late 80’s) when I played the Heartfield 6 string, which was a wonderful instrument that, for reasons I still don’t understand, was simply dropped. It was made in Japan by wonderful people and very finely crafted.
I subsequently went with Aria who incorporated many of the design dimensions etc.. into the ARIA AVB SB.

Around 2004 I started talking with Fender again about introducing an historic instrument; A 6 string bass (not a 6 string “bass guitar” as they had in the 60’s).
This began a LONG process spanning over 4 years of design, stalls, more design, and more stalls, for whatever reason.
I could not have been prouder (until recently) on the day that bass was launched at NAMM 2009. ( I also got to jam with my old bandmateT Lavitz, RIP, on the Fender stage) I was so excited about what many called a momentous day for Fender, the company who “invented” the electric bass, was finally releasing something that it should have done years earlier (as an innovative company) and I was chosen to help bring it to market.
Many wonderful folks at Fender helped make this happen, and regardless of how long it took, I considered it all “worth it”. As you probably know Fender is the largest guitar company in the world, and as do most large corporations, they move slowly, deliberately, and often in ways that do not make sense to even the endorsing artists. (and employees).
Mind you, when I was with Fender back in the late 80’s I knew the president of company (hung out at trade shows, and even jammed), and dealt with ONE artist relations person. Things have changed a lot!! In my recent 6 year relationship with Fender never had any communication with the “suits”; never a “welcome aboard” from the Pres…Or a “goodbye”... Or anything. Which is cool, but leads me to my next point.. coming up in a second. There still are MANY wonderful folks at Fender, and their tireless efforts were what brought the Steve Bailey Jazz Bass VI bass to life. Here I will single out Jay Piccarillo, Tony Franklin, Michael Braun, and Richard McDonald… all stellar folks, and all dedicated to making things good for me at Fender.
Despite that, there was never much or any promotion for the bass, never an ad, which is OK too… I just thought the instrument was much more important for Fender that it ultimately was for me. Legendary company steps up and creates a “first”. . that kind of thing. I was very disappointed that the marketing folks never pushed for revues, promotions, etc…
And FINALLY.. to the point that I think may be of the educational variety.
Life is about relationships. The older I get the more important this becomes. Fender has such a HUGE group of Artists (and most much more high profile than me), that even with 10-20 artist relations folks, there were times that I wondered if anyone was “there”. But heck, I don’t answer every email and phone call that I get, either.

Back to relationships… I met the Warwick folks way back in 93, and got a streamer fretted and fretless because a genuinely liked the way they played.. no endorsement.. no strings attached. They also made me a 12 string (6x2) bass to use with Jethro Tull… no strings attached.
Much later I got to know Hans Peter Wilfer, the president of the company. He always treated me wonderfully at Trade Shows, made sure that I had strings for my 12 string, and stayed in email contact, not asking about “what bass I play”, but things like “how are you?” , “ I hope life is good”!.. things like that.
Later than that I started to notice how Warwick treats its artists… to hear about it from them, and see it up close and personal. It seemed to all start from the top, with Mr Wilfer (HP to many) always there, always motivated, and always excited with a strong passion for what he and his company is doing.

In some ways I sort of felt like Dianna must have felt after marrying Prince Charles. Fender is the “royal family” in a sense, (although I am not as cute as DI…) but as we later discovered the marriage was not as wonderful as it seemed in the press.. but it was functional, as they produced kids ☺

I have all the Basses and Amps that I will ever need in 5 lifetimes….. I do not “need” to be associated with a company.
1. It is obvious that Fender has the capacity to sell 100 times as many SB basses as Warwick.
2. The Fender SB VI is/was a wonderful instrument, with years of effort put into the design.. I STILL LOVE the bass, and always will.

BUT, when over 6 months ago I made up my mind to not renew my Fender Signature Contract I was not even sure that I would settle with another company.

Endorsements are interesting in that when we are young all we want is some free/reduced cost gear, maybe some exposure through an ad..
Then, if we progress in our career, the possibility of a Signature (usually royalty producing) is very enticing. Alot of work goes with that.
Then, when we have "enough", it really comes back to relationships. Do I dig the company? Do they dig me? Do they listen to my ideas, Do I listen to theirs?
At any level and endorsement has to be a Two Way Street. What can I do for them, and what can they do for me? Can we help each other be successful? Sounds kinda like a marriage, huh?

It was also mentioned in another thread about my having a "non exclusive" deal. Not So. I am either all in or all out, ESPECIALLY when we are talking about a Signature model. I have to believe that the product is "BEST for ME"... notice I don't say "the best". That insults a lot of great people/companies. Needs change, as do situations.. so I would even amend that to "Best for Me at this point in my journey".
(Also, since I am on a roll, someone sent me a thread from TB (years ago, I think) where it was stated that I was given a Lakland bass and then sold it on Ebay. I just want to say that I have never been given a Lakland bass (wonderful instruments) and I have never sold anything on Ebay, much less a bass!!)
I will only say this..
1. Warwick did in a few days what took Fender years to bring to market.
2. I am ending a trade show in Frankfurt where ALL of the Warwick artists are treated like royalty.


I apologize for being so longwinded… but I even get tired of seeing Artists jump from company to company. It is not good for the company or the artist.
I was a little reluctant to bring this bass out here in Frankfurt, and if they had not done such an Amazing Job incorporating my previous designs (and some cool new ideas) into the Warwick template (and reviving my beloved BassLines pickups) you CERTAINLY WOULD NOT be reading about the release of the bass.

Bottom line..
Fender is a great “big company”
Warwick is a great “family company”

I am not asking for your blessings or curses… just letting you know that I do care about my reputation enough to offer you some explanation.
I reserve the right to amend this as things come to mind, but just wanted to get it out there ASAP. Steve Bailey

[Renaissance]

Congrats on the new family. Thanks for sharing your story on here.

BTW, does the Warwick play a little more in tune?

[van_gogh_bass]

Congrats! The new bass looks stellar. You are an artist, but reality is - business is business and you sound very happy.

BTW - you kind of have hair like Princess Di, but that's another thread....

[pasta4lnch]

Congrats! The bass does look nice ... personally I never cared what instruments the people I listened to play, as it's such a personal thing - and I'd imagine you'd sound like yourself on an SX . . .

[SlingBass4]

I'd like to believe nobody would seriously wish ill toward Steve. Change, in life, is the one constant we can rest assured of. I commend a response by a respected artist to set the record straight and share what's going on in their evolving life. It's not required, as it's their business, and their art. The provided insight is revealing...and makes for an interesting read. Does it matter? Not to me, but to other's it may. I'll let the music do the talking. The fact that a player/journeyman/artist is a gracious and giving individual is icing on the cake. Good health and fortune, Steve - keep it coming!

[Dr. Cheese]

As with most things, those of us on the outside only known what we have seen. If Steve Bailey feels that Warwick is better for him, then I am happy for Steve Bailey, the baddest bassist to even walk the streets of Horry County, SC!

[fenderphil]

sweet! now all i have to do is sell a few hundred thousand CD's and I can apply for the endorsement spot SB left open! lol

[Ewo]

Jeez, Aloise! People flamed you, Steve, simply for switching to another builder?!?

My .02: an artist needs the tools to bring his/her vision into (sonic) reality. And it's to be expected that an artist's preferences in tools will change over time, for any number of perfectly good reasons.

[Johnboch]

You may be part of the Warwick family, but my 2006 double buck is falling apart, and they haven't even answered any of my emails. Coincidentally, I bought a fender to get me by until Randy Fullmer (Wyn Guitars) finishes my 6 string. Unless you are a high profile artist, Steve, you're not part of any family at all. They just want your money.

[thlayli]

Well, with this being the case, if you have any of your Fenders laying around that you don't want, I'd be more than happy to take care of them for you. ^_^

Since every feature I ever incorporated into a hypothetical custom bass design is part of your Fender design and stuff. 34" scale, Strat jack plate, vintage sunburst finish with a tortoise pickguard... it's literally everything I ever wanted in a 6, fretted or fretless (except I like fret lines).

Good luck with Warwick, man, you sound happy.

edit:

You may be part of the Warwick family, but my 2006 double buck is falling apart, and they haven't even answered any of my emails.

Have you tried calling?

[RCCollins]

Originally Posted by Johnboch

Unless you are a high profile artist, Steve, you're not part of any family at all. They just want your money.

Unlike Fender, who are doin' it for the kids, right?

[Ezbass]

Thanks for sharing Steve, especially in such an honest and open way. It was a great (although not particularly surprising re: the big F) insight into the workings of some of the instrument manufacturers out there, especially artist realtions.

[JimmyM]

how dare anyone write emails to you saying stuff like that! but after a few years on here, i have discovered that bassists very often think that everybody should like the same stuff they like, and they're very much up in the business of what famous players like to use, and if they switch from a company they like to a company they don't, they're angry to the point of stupidity. it's not the first time i've heard someone call a famous player a sellout for switching endorsements, and believe it or not, much of that reaction comes from grown men who should know better. but i think it's quite insane that they get so involved in what anyone else uses, and the reaction to you switching to warwick is completely insane.

me, i wish everyone well and i hope they enjoy the gear they use...even you, steve and those who called you a sellout are jerkoffs whose opinions should be completely dismissed. good for you that you answered them, but they don't deserve any explanation whatsoever.

and another point that needs to be made to the yahoos...remember that famous players often have several companies going after them, and there is no real incentive for any famous player to use gear they don't like.

[pacojas]

how dare you leave the company that makes MY favorite basses!!!

(the nerve of some people)

Originally Posted by JimmyM

and another point that needs to be made to the yahoos...remember that famous players often have several companies going after them, and there is no real incentive for any famous player to use gear they don't like.

oh,.. there are plenty of incentives. just the publicity is enough for most! famous people HAVE to work at staying famous and a sig-instrument works wonder$!!! IMHO

[PersonalTraynor]

Way to go Fender! you lost another one!~

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by pacojas

oh,.. there are plenty of incentives. just the publicity is enough for most! famous people HAVE to work at staying famous and a sig-instrument works wonder$!!! IMHO

when you're steve bailey, you can get all that stuff out of any company out there. except for fender, apparently

[brndn123]

To be honest, I've never liked the look of the Streamer (Steve's sig model), but I must admit, its growing on me. Also, Its nice to hear an insider's perspective on the whole endorsements bit, thanks for the cool story.

[madbassplaya]

why anyone would take the time to send an email insulting you for leaving a company is beyond me.

[superfunk47]

Glad to hear you've found the right company for you, Steve.

[Craigster]

Very cool Steve. I met U at BPL in Oct '10 and you were hanging in the Warwick area then (coincidence, or was it because it was by the front door @ SIR?) just wondering how the neck is on that new bass, I have smaller hands (same size as yours, I asked you to measure your hand against mine) and love the sound of Warwicks & fretless's but never liked the necks on the Warwicks (to thick 4 me).
I guess what I'm asking is how does the Bass feel?