• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Signature Basses

iriegnome

iriegnome

Bassstar style
Supporting Member
Nov 23, 2001
11,263
5,577
61
Kenosha, WI 53140
#1
I would like to know what is up with signature basses. Never in a thousand years would I play someone else's signature bass. IMHO, I just don't know why someone would. Of course I realize that there are specifics to the bass that make it special (At least I think that is what it would be), but really, why would you play a signature bass? It isn't going to make you play like that person. It is not going to give you that person's sound. It will not give you their vibe. So, humbly, I ask, Why would you play a signature bass? And please no haters.
 
#2
I know where you're coming from. I don't get the signature thing either. The Geddy and/or Miller Jazz interest me, but only slightly. I'd rather have something that wasn't so specific to the artist that I could tweak and make sound/play the way I like it. I'm interested to know why they appeal to so many people also.
 
#3
If it's a good bass with the features you want, then why not? Who cares what name is on the thing if it does what you want it to do?

I have no illusions that playing a Fender Reggie Hamilton 5 would make me sound or play like Reggie, but if I was looking for an active 5-string P/J, the RH would definitely be a contender. Likewise, if I was looking for another active jazz, the Sadowsky Will Lee would be at the top of my list precisely because it's exactly what I want and can't find much of anywhere else (34", 22 fret, 12" radius, etc).

And so on.
 
#5
It is kinda funny...there are some signature basses I'd avoid trying because of the signature, but that's really just snobbery on my part :(

I have owned/played two different signature uprights, but they were both mine :D
 
#8
lowfreqgeek said:
If it's a good bass with the features you want, then why not? Who cares what name is on the thing if it does what you want it to do?

I have no illusions that playing a Fender Reggie Hamilton 5 would make me sound or play like Reggie, but if I was looking for an active 5-string P/J, the RH would definitely be a contender. Likewise, if I was looking for another active jazz, the Sadowsky Will Lee would be at the top of my list precisely because it's exactly what I want and can't find much of anywhere else (34", 22 fret, 12" radius, etc).

And so on.
Click to expand...

That's the reason for me right there.
 
#11
I like when an artist adds some cool ideas to a signature model... ones that nobody else ever tried before or may have never appeared on that particular model. The Zon Hyperbass and Ibanez Gary Willis basses come to mind.

But, when it gets tooooooooo overboard with aesthetic craziness, it's a turnoff for me.

For example, I'm not even a huge Slipknot fan but I thought the lefty Paul Gray Ibanez "PGB1" ATK bass was actually pretty cool on its own... until you look at the fingerboard and see that they ruined it with that gigantic tribal "S" and fugly "#2 star pattern" inlay.

So, it depends... I'm about substance, not style.
 
#12
My feeling on signature basses is that you are probably paying more because it is a signature model. They really do not interest me. With one exception, the Zon Sonus RT 5 string because the neck is slimmer than the regular Sonus model.
 
#13
Depends on the instrument. If the signature model is not so different from the original model, then I wouldn't play it. Conversely, if the model was completely different from what is offered by the company/business/luthier, I wouldn't mind playing it one bit (Peavey RJ-IV, Yamaha BBNE2, EBMM Big Al (okay that one is a stretch but since it is based off the Albert Lee Signature model it counts) just to name a few).
 
#14
I bought my Warwick pnut 2 & 3 not because of pnut himself (great bassist btw) but for the price compared to a custom shop Warwick it was a steal for the wood/electronics combo. Amazing playing basses!
 
#17
iriegnome said:
I would like to know what is up with signature basses. Never in a thousand years would I play someone else's signature bass. IMHO, I just don't know why someone would. Of course I realize that there are specifics to the bass that make it special (At least I think that is what it would be), but really, why would you play a signature bass? It isn't going to make you play like that person. It is not going to give you that person's sound. It will not give you their vibe. So, humbly, I ask, Why would you play a signature bass? And please no haters.
Click to expand...

Often the signature model will have some special features added that will significantly improve it - and those ideas come from a professional player actually playing the bass, so usually the features aren't frivolous (though sometimes not).

I.e. here's why I play Carvin Bunnies nowadays:
Invalid Link Removed

LS
 
#19
I have a friend that bought a Steve Harris signature bass because he ended up picking it up and like the way it looked, sounded, etc. He isn't an Iron Maiden or Steve Harris fan, he just liked the bass for what it was and how it fit the feel and sound he was looking for. I am a huge Steve Harris fan, but have no interest in owning one (unless it was free and he signed it) simply because I like P/Js with Jazz necks. While I would prefer non-sigs, sometimes it just makes sense to the buyer because the mods are what they want. For example Fender folks that also like Bad Ass II bridges.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back