Endorsement help...

[Kronos]

I recently got offered an endorsement through Halo guitars. I was pretty shocked because we haven't played a ton of shows, nor do we have any widely released material. So, basically I'm skeptical.

Here's how it went down:

I emailed a sales rep at Halo Guitars in regards to a bass that I was looking into purchasing. He got back to me the next day, and was quite cordial and informative. He answered all of my questions. Now, in my signature of the email, my band's webpage and myspace were listed. He checked us out and loved it. He then offered me the endorsement.

I sent him a reply tonight saying I would love to know more about the endorsement terms. I also informed him that as much as I thought the bass looked really cool, and how much I'd love to have one, I wanted to be sure that it played well before I go ahead and endorse them. I also prefaced myself by informing him that it wasn't that I didn't trust them, it's just that I'm basically purchasing site unseen, and that it could be with any guitar maker. I also told him that I know I'm not paying for a Fodera, so I don't expect it to be built like one.

So, on to my questions.

1) Am I looking a gift horse in the mouth, or just being an educated consumer?

2) What does a typical endorsement deal consist of?

3) Would I still be able to go out and play shows with my other basses?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Poop-Loops]

Wow, those look pretty cool. Good luck, man. I don't know anything about endorsments, so I can't help you.

[steve21]

Halo seems like a smaller company, so them taking the time to actually dig you guys seems like it could actually happen.

I would be willing to buy a Halo bass at full price, then once you know what you like, talk to them about the endorsement.

I'm not TOO knowledgeable on endorsements, but Asmodai (A poster here and on Ultimate-Guitar, where I also post) had an endorsement deal with Yamaha. He emailed them asking about his RBX6JM, and similarly his band's website was in his sig and they dug it. He was with them for a while. His deal entailed that if he endorsed their stuff, they sent him free strings/accessories, as well as a discount on Yamaha stuff. He gave them pics of the bass being played live and stuff. But, he was dropped from his band at the time without telling the company, and went on to another genre band, so they stopped endorsing him (even though this band was more successful, they felt that genre was more marketable in that area or something).

Anyways, so you get free strings/discounts/cool stuff, maybe with a smaller company like Halo they'd treat you pretty well cuz you'd advertise for free for them. If your band doesn't play live very often, it might be a problem as they like to see their endorsed people out there playing and advertising.



Good luck duder!

[Woodchuck]

Here's what you need to find out:
A) If it's an exclusive deal, then you need to find out if they're going to send you atleast 2 or 3 free basses. I know it sounds like too much, but they can't expect you to have that one, and just that one bass.

B) Before you commit, ask if you could spend some time with one.

C) If you have a favorite P or Jazz, tell them up front. Every bass company I've dealt with understood that nothing will take the place of a favorite P or J, so they accepted that, even in exclusive deals.

Email me, and I'll give you my mobile # or you can give me yours, and I'll tell you more, and clarify the above statements.

[morf]

The starts of fame eh? Good on you

[csholtmeier]

You have reason to be skeptical.

They are going to send you a form to order discounted instruments, nothing more nothing less.

I believe their stuff is made in China, so the "endorsement" deal brings prices inline with like quality instruments.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but I've already been through it.

Typical endorsement deals involve free gear which is to be returned at the end of the contractual endorsemnt period.

[cheezewiz]

I just looked up their basses. Yuck.

[Woodchuck]

Originally Posted by csholtmeier

Typical endorsement deals involve free gear which is to be returned at the end of the contractual endorsemnt period.

Really?! I've NEVER experienced that. Every deal I've ever had that involved free gear, I kept the gear at the end of the period.

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by csholtmeier

Typical endorsement deals involve free gear which is to be returned at the end of the contractual endorsemnt period.

Originally Posted by Woodchuck

Really?! I've NEVER experienced that. Every deal I've ever had that involved free gear, I kept the gear at the end of the period.

I've even had a company buy two Basses back.

[Kronos]

Originally Posted by csholtmeier

You have reason to be skeptical.

They are going to send you a form to order discounted instruments, nothing more nothing less.

I believe their stuff is made in China, so the "endorsement" deal brings prices inline with like quality instruments.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but I've already been through it.

Typical endorsement deals involve free gear which is to be returned at the end of the contractual endorsemnt period.

I figured as much. I didn't know that they would take back a used instrument though.

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by Kronos

I figured as much. I didn't know that they would take back a used instrument though.

The company that I sold the two Basses back to,asked me to sign the back of one of them to be placed in their private collection(their idea not mine at all)and the other one was sold and it was mentioned that I had previously owned it.

[Munjibunga]

Hey, they've got Gotoh tubers on 'em. Nothing like a little potato on the headstock.

Gotoh tubers.

[moro]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

Hey, they've got Gotoh tubers on 'em. Nothing like a little potato on the headstock.

Gotoh tubers.

[arnold]It's nacht a TOOOBAH![/arnold]

Oh, it looks like that graphic was done by Pamelina, who's done a lot of work for Fender and Ibanez. That bass isn't a particularly good example of her work, imo. She does a lot of cool stuff, if you're into the airbrushed 80s graphic thing.

[Asomodai]

Originally Posted by steve21

Halo seems like a smaller company, so them taking the time to actually dig you guys seems like it could actually happen.

I would be willing to buy a Halo bass at full price, then once you know what you like, talk to them about the endorsement.

I'm not TOO knowledgeable on endorsements, but Asmodai (A poster here and on Ultimate-Guitar, where I also post) had an endorsement deal with Yamaha. He emailed them asking about his RBX6JM, and similarly his band's website was in his sig and they dug it. He was with them for a while. His deal entailed that if he endorsed their stuff, they sent him free strings/accessories, as well as a discount on Yamaha stuff. He gave them pics of the bass being played live and stuff. But, he was dropped from his band at the time without telling the company, and went on to another genre band, so they stopped endorsing him (even though this band was more successful, they felt that genre was more marketable in that area or something).

Anyways, so you get free strings/discounts/cool stuff, maybe with a smaller company like Halo they'd treat you pretty well cuz you'd advertise for free for them. If your band doesn't play live very often, it might be a problem as they like to see their endorsed people out there playing and advertising.



Good luck duder!

Wow i cant believe people still know me! I barely post anymore! Especially Ultimate-guitar Ever since being kicked from my super mod position i just havent had the energy to post. Its full of young idiots asking the same questions over and over a corperate styled Mod team.

I just lurk

But yeah. Beware endorsement deals dont allways mean free Basses or huge discounts. It could just mean free accessories.

The band i was in that got me the endorsement was an indie rock band. I was chucked out, I got into a new band that was far more succesful, but because it wasent Indie rock and more metal, Yamaha essentially told me to bugger off and send all the free stuff back.

**** them. Honestly.

I am kinda moving away from Yamaha recently, Been playing more Bc-Richs and Spectors. (Would move to BC rich permanently but they dont make production 6 strings.)

[ALiP BoB]

I thought Halo was a game?
Haha, congrats on the offer man.

[Kronos]

@ Munji-

Tubers!

That's hilarious! I never noticed that before.

@Asmodai-

It definitely is a shame that BC Rich doesn't make production 6 strings. Hell, you'd be lucky to find a production 5'er.

@Jauqo-

Your situation was definitely a really cool one. I'd love to have a company buy back a bass from me with my sig on it. I don't expect that to happen, but it sure would be nice.

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by Kronos

@Jauqo-

Your situation was definitely a really cool one. I'd love to have a company buy back a bass from me with my sig on it. I don't expect that to happen, but it sure would be nice.

Thanks but neither did I ever expect or think that a company would buy a Bass back from me and as far as it happening to you,you never know.

[Demon]

Cool man! Keep us updated. Hope its a good deal.

[steve21]

Originally Posted by Asomodai

Wow i cant believe people still know me! I barely post anymore! Especially Ultimate-guitar Ever since being kicked from my super mod position i just havent had the energy to post. Its full of young idiots asking the same questions over and over a corperate styled Mod team.

I just lurk

But yeah. Beware endorsement deals dont allways mean free Basses or huge discounts. It could just mean free accessories.

The band i was in that got me the endorsement was an indie rock band. I was chucked out, I got into a new band that was far more succesful, but because it wasent Indie rock and more metal, Yamaha essentially told me to bugger off and send all the free stuff back.

**** them. Honestly.

I am kinda moving away from Yamaha recently, Been playing more Bc-Richs and Spectors. (Would move to BC rich permanently but they dont make production 6 strings.)

Yeah, the kids sometimes get annoying... I post whatever help/derision I can there, this place is the cool spot And actually I searched your old threads 'cause I remembered you had the Endorsement stuff.

Did you have to send the used strings back? Jeez!

What happened to that custom BCR 6'er you wanted?

[Asomodai]

Originally Posted by steve21

Yeah, the kids sometimes get annoying... I post whatever help/derision I can there, this place is the cool spot And actually I searched your old threads 'cause I remembered you had the Endorsement stuff.

Did you have to send the used strings back? Jeez!

What happened to that custom BCR 6'er you wanted?

Still in the planning/money stages I've had a few setbacks, Nothing much is going right for me recently! Figured i would wait until i got a 4 string Ironbird bass before i ordered a 6 String custom Ironbird, to see how i get on with it

Its just trying to find a decent one .