Signature Fender's

PopaWoody · #1 09-04-2010, 09:59 PM

Gas is in my veins and just for hits and wiggles... Has anyone else noticed that the fender signature lines (ie Duff, Marcus, Geddy...etc.) are almost all made outside the US?

What gives. This player would like a duff signature model as I personally think it looks bada$$. However I do not want the MIM build quality. $899 on MF is a bit steep for import stuff.

Add in the factor that I tend to lean towards USA made products more than ever to help out our fellow countrymen...

Seems to me there might be a market for a high quality US Made line worthy or putting some of these legendary players names on.

What do you think? Would you opt for a US made version vs a Mexican, Japanese etc.

JimmyM · #2 09-04-2010, 10:09 PM

usually i do, but i have a japanese p lyte i like quite well. i think a lot of the japanese stuff, like the marcus, geddy, and duff (i don't think any of it is from mexico but i could be wrong), is pretty sweet. so now i care a lot less about where something is made and i just go for what i like.

pasta4lnch · #3 09-04-2010, 10:10 PM

quite frankly I have this mental block in my brain about sig models. I just find them cheesy - nothing wrong w/ anyone using them - just not for me.

having said that, if I wanted one I would go Warmoth 1. because I always wanted to try them. 2. quality 3. the non-sig'ness and 4 well, there is no 4, but you get the point!

Gunner77 · #4 09-04-2010, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

usually i do, but i have a japanese p lyte i like quite well. i think a lot of the japanese stuff, like the marcus, geddy, and duff (i don't think any of it is from mexico but i could be wrong), is pretty sweet. so now i care a lot less about where something is made and i just go for what i like.

I have a Duff McKagan model and it is made in Mexico and I was leary at first but it is a superb bass. It is actually my no. 1 right now and I have an American Standard P and an American Standard Jazz. It has great tone and it is well built and even though it is a signature model it doesn't have his actual signature on it. It has a skull and crossbones engraved on the neck plate which is black so you really have to look and see it. I have never owned one of the Japanese Jazz specials that this model is based on but they are well regarded. IMO I think you can get Duff's tone on it.

Gunner (and no I didn't pick the user name because I'm a GNR fanboy)

PopaWoody · #5 09-04-2010, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gunner77

I have a Duff McKagan model and it is made in Mexico and I was leary at first but it is a superb bass. It is actually my no. 1 right now and I have an American Standard P and an American Standard Jazz. It has great tone and it is well built and even though it is a signature model it doesn't have his actual signature on it. It has a skull and crossbones engraved on the neck plate which is black so you really have to look and see it. I have never owned one of the Japanese Jazz specials that this model is based on but they are well regarded. IMO I think you can get Duff's tone on it.

Gunner (and no I didn't pick the user name because I'm a GNR fanboy)

Thanks for chiming in with that. I just think the MIM Duff signature is drop dead sexy. Black headstock and all, it just says I ROCK.

Gunner probably relates to something military?

I was a gunner on a Vulcan ADA system in the late 80's right before it was scrapped.

zachoff · #6 09-04-2010, 10:27 PM

Sadly, I haven't played the Duff, but the Marcus Miller Jazz is f'ing awesome and I don't love Jazz basses. It's better than the Geddy, IMO. Way more versatile. I really love that bass.

I don't care if it's a sig or not. If it's what you want and it's what you like then play the crap out of it. That's all you could ever ask for.

TGLbass · #7 09-04-2010, 10:30 PM

I wonder how many of the signature models actually sound like the originals? I know my x Geddy didn't. I even read a Geddy artical somewhere and he stated the sig didn't quite have the same sound--but it was good none the less. I guess we shouldn't expect the sigs to sound like the real deal. But hey--it looks like the real one... alot.

hachi kid · #8 09-04-2010, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pasta4lnch

quite frankly I have this mental block in my brain about sig models. I just find them cheesy - nothing wrong w/ anyone using them - just not for me.

having said that, if I wanted one I would go Warmoth 1. because I always wanted to try them. 2. quality 3. the non-sig'ness and 4 well, there is no 4, but you get the point!

Warmoth rules. they've almost single handedly eliminated my non-amp GAS with my Warmoth Jag.

PopaWoody · #9 09-04-2010, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TGLbass

I wonder how many of the signature models actually sound like the originals? I know my x Geddy didn't. I even read a Geddy artical somewhere and he stated the sig didn't quite have the same sound--but it was good none the less. I guess we shouldn't expect the sigs to sound like the real deal. But hey--it looks like the real one... alot.

Looks alone won't satisfy the discerning player. I realize its just a marketing gimmick (sig models).

Hell most advanced players would not be playing a sig model.

Kids, amateurs and tribute bands will buy them.

Then you have guys like me... that like a model enough that they would buy a much more expensive US version if it was available.

They are not... and that will remain my sole beef with fender.

Maybe the custom shop?

JimmyM · #10 09-04-2010, 10:52 PM

i know plenty of pros who use sig models. our own justin meldal-johnsen spent a year in nine inch nails with two geddy jazzes and a pino palladino precision, and several guitars that are sigs. dude from opeth uses a marcus miller. lots of lakland players use sig models. and of course, anyone playing an instrument with the name les paul on it is playing a sig model. who gives a crap?

anyway, we had the sig model discussion last week. this week it's time for the american vs. anywhere else thread. next week it'll be the 4 vs erb debate, then my personal favorite, fender vs everyone else. then the cycle starts over again.

TGLbass · #11 09-05-2010, 09:03 AM

I saw the article in Bass Player where Justin replaced the pickups in the Geddy with Dimarzios.

main_sale · #12 09-05-2010, 09:09 AM

I have two Roscoe Beck's and think they might just be the best sounding basses Fender has recently made.

pasta4lnch · #13 09-05-2010, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PopaWoody

Maybe the custom shop?

i imagine w/ enough bread you can get the custom shop to do anything

to me there are 2 types of sig models. . . ones like the roscoe beck that are different enough and have their niche that a company will make "high end" and then there are ones that are geared towards younger crowds, fans etc like you said. fwiw if they came out w/ a MIA duff that was north of a grand I dont think it would sell very well.

otoh I didnt think I would see so many pino p basses at that price but I see tons here on tb - so what do i know

I still say get parts from Warmoth and find a solid guy to assemble and you have a fine, american made instrument for around, or a little more, than an american standard

Spleenface92 · #14 09-05-2010, 09:22 AM

I kinda like some of the signature basses.

**StrangerDanger** · #15 09-05-2010, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gunner77

I have a Duff McKagan model and it is made in Mexico and I was leary at first but it is a superb bass. It is actually my no. 1 right now and I have an American Standard P and an American Standard Jazz. It has great tone and it is well built and even though it is a signature model it doesn't have his actual signature on it. It has a skull and crossbones engraved on the neck plate which is black so you really have to look and see it. I have never owned one of the Japanese Jazz specials that this model is based on but they are well regarded. IMO I think you can get Duff's tone on it.

Gunner (and no I didn't pick the user name because I'm a GNR fanboy)

Tell me about the controls, please. What is up with the TBX tone circuit? And how does that neck feel. Seems like it would be sticky with that black lacquer business. THanks

Gunner77 · #16 09-05-2010, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PopaWoody

Gunner probably relates to something military?

I was a gunner on a Vulcan ADA system in the late 80's right before it was scrapped.

Nothing as exotic as that. I collect firearms and I named my fantasy baseball team The Gunners when I used to play that.

Gunner

Coop Soup · #17 09-05-2010, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PopaWoody

Looks alone won't satisfy the discerning player. I realize its just a marketing gimmick (sig models).

Hell most advanced players would not be playing a sig model.

Kids, amateurs and tribute bands will buy them.

Then you have guys like me... that like a model enough that they would buy a much more expensive US version if it was available.

They are not... and that will remain my sole beef with fender.

Maybe the custom shop?

Lots of sweeping generalizations in this post. A good bass is a good bass regardless if it's a signature model.

Cuthbert · #18 09-05-2010, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PopaWoody

Thanks for chiming in with that. I just think the MIM Duff signature is drop dead sexy. Black headstock and all, it just says I ROCK.

Gunner probably relates to something military?

I was a gunner on a Vulcan ADA system in the late 80's right before it was scrapped.

Actually I'm also a Duff fan and I wanted to get a signature, but I'd have preferred it was made in Japan like the original...900 euros seems to me a high price for a mexican bass, especially without hardcase.

In the end I scanned ebay and I got a '86 MIJ Jazz Special, unfortunately it's silver, and not pearl white, but it looks good and in decent shape, and I paid it half of what I'd have paid for a Duff...

However if you really want the Duff get it, it's pretty nicely made and it has a stock bassline hot stack...not to mention the engraved skull on the backplate is a must!

Kwin Smith · #19 09-05-2010, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by PopaWoody
Looks alone won't satisfy the discerning player. I realize its just a marketing gimmick (sig models).

Hell most advanced players would not be playing a sig model.

Kids, amateurs and tribute bands will buy them.

Then you have guys like me... that like a model enough that they would buy a much more expensive US version if it was available.

They are not... and that will remain my sole beef with fender.

Maybe the custom shop?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coop Soup

Lots of sweeping generalizations in this post. A good bass is a good bass regardless if it's a signature model.

I agree. I hardly fit into the categories of kids, amateurs, or tribute bands. I also consider myself to be an "advanced player". I mostly play my Fender Tony Franklin basses. Pretty "gimmicky" basses....

Cuthbert · #20 09-05-2010, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coop Soup

Lots of sweeping generalizations in this post. A good bass is a good bass regardless if it's a signature model.

Agreed, a lot of pro players don't play signature guitars because they fear to be associated with the "original" owner, not because they're not good instruments.

An exception is Micheal Schenker who doesn't fear to play a Lucille on stage and doesn't care about people who make comparisons between him and B.B.King.