Weeks ago I wrote a short note about Goerdt Lamberts/slonk18. I received my bass today. I know there are quite a few stories about him on the internet and in this forum. If you look in Harmony Central at the Signature Bass reviews, almost everyone is completely happy with the guy and the stuff that he is selling. Others say he is a fraud, selling minor quality stuff. Well, to me, I am completely satisfied with my new bass. I bought a black body at an ebay auction (not by Goerdt) and had the guy send it to Goerdt so he could put a new neck on it. Everything worked out perfectly. we exchanged quite a few emails, and his responses were quick and detailed and very friendly. It took him and his luthier two days to set it all up (fitting in the neck, truss rod set up, fitting in a new pick guard, etc.). after 10 days it arrived in Germany in perfect condition. The neck is gorgeous. and really fast. It is maple with black block inlays (the whole bass now looks like a Geddy Lee J-Bass rip off, neck, black body, white pick guard, J Bass body). It sounds excellent and the set up is perfect. No buzzing what-so-ever. It sounds crisp and full, maybe only misses a little bit of low end. But this could also be because of my not-so-good practicing amp I am using right now... we´ll see.
I am not sure about all these stories about signature jazz basses. Maybe his story is not really the whole truth, but I don´t know. I decided for this Sig Jazz Bass for three reasons: 1. I wanted a GL Jazz Bass, but could not afford a Fender, 2. I knew about Sig through Alex Lifeson playing these guitars and him being involved in the company as well. I did not know about them building basses until I discovered this body on ebay and bought it for a ridiculously low price. 3. I thought the idea of owning an Alex Lifeson Geddy Lee Jazz Bass to be quite interesting...
By the way, Goerd never said that he bought the Canadian left overs of signature guitars (as stated in some posts), but the ones of the US fraction, which was closed in 92 or 93. Word is, they only build Jazz Bass copies. The seller of my bass body said he bought his around 90. some people on the net say, that there never was a real US Signature company, and that Goerdt IS signature USA, buying cheap bodies and selling them for exclusive prices. All I can say is, that there has to be a story to Signatur USA BEFORE Goerdt. The seller of the body did not buy it from Goerdt back then, and Goerdt did not recognise the body as a sig at first sight of the ebay pics. He even was concerned that the seller was a fraud, because of certain differences in the usual body specs. When the body arrived at his place, he checked it and identified it as an early prototype, and said it was a real Sig.
I know this will not convince a dedicated critic, but for me all I can say is that I am owning a wonderful bass now. I know what cheap gear looks and feals like, and this is not cheap at all. Light weight, great sound, great look and finish, but at a price of 350 all together, there is nothing more I could expect (Goerdt even threw in a brand new good quality gig bag, a new pick guard, and lowered the price of the neck). Even the cheapest, used Geddy Lee Jazz would have cost me almost twice as much here in Germany, and this is an excellent alternative for me.
Enough said...
