Are signature basses really worth having?

[hrodbert696]

I don't own any sig basses, but I've been interested in some. The signature is irrelevant, but sometimes the tweaks they do to make it someone's "signature" bass wind up creating exactly what you're looking for, especially if it's some variation on a standard J or P (like the Lakland Duck Dunn that's been mentioned). Not all of us are as ready to mod a bass, especially if we can buy it with the specs we want already from the factory.

 

[Worldeeeter]

That bahamian blue paint job is where its at...with the maple board and the pearloid markers. Stunning. ..

That's my baby...my expensive-a$$ baby.
BTW, the inlays are black mother of pearl. They have a smoky hue to them. Great option with the BEM fretboard, if you ever order a custom Spector.

 

[SasquatchDude]

I couldn't care less about having someone's signature on the headstock, but the features can be pretty cool... vintage style hardware, unusual colors, nitro finishes...

 

[Jeff Scott]

..signature basses...are never exactly the same as what the artist is using...

Well, I have a signature bass from an artist who never (to my knowledge) played bass!

 

[dudelove]

Some of them are worth it, and some meh

 

[MovingPitchers]

Well some of them have hardware you can never get separately. Like the badass bridges.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Well some of them have hardware you can never get separately. Like the badass bridges.

One used to be able to get them, I have bought at least three over the years for various basses I had.

 

[Mudfuzz]

Are signature basses really worth having?

no. next question.

 

[FloridaSam]

Sometimes.

 

[Qlanq]

Being a massive Rush fan I was not interested in the Geddy sig bass. Way too fanboy. Good reviews of it but not for me.
Saw a sunburst version for sale and thought that's the nuts. What a fantastic bass, great sound-bare in mind that I don't want to sound like him, not his sound now anyway-fantastic neck and just lovely to play. Will never, ever sell it. It's just too good a bass to not use. For me it's just a great bass.

 

[cnltb]

I have not seen a signature bass I would buy.
Not worth for me.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Yea, but are they really worth having???

Some signature basses have different features than any others in their class that make them the best/only choice, like the Conklin Bill Dickens 7-string model.

My current two basses are both Zon Todd Johnson signature basses, because they have the features I want and were in the price range I was looking for- I don't care whether they're a signature model or not. It is nice though that there isn't a signature printed on the headstock, as so many signature models have.

 

[REV]

I'm not a fan of Rush but I think the Geddy Lee Jazz Bass is the best one Fender makes. I don't know why but to me the tones coming from a GL Jazz are more versatile than a regular Jazz.

 

[CTC564]

Just recently traded for a Sadowsky Metro Will Lee Signature...it has a mid boost and an extra fret that I prefer over the standard Sadowsky Metro

 

[dropbass]

I ended up with my Marcus miller in a trade just looking for a jazz bass after some minor electronic mods I thnk its a great bass other wise

 

[dropbass]

Yes. Now buy my Chris Aiken P.

If that was a clay aiken youd have me sold...

 

[Killer Kadoogan]

no. next question.

Many would consider the Jack Casady bass worth owning.

 

[ShoeManiac]

I have two signature basses, and those are the only two I've ever owned. I bought both of them because of what they offer as instruments, not because of the players associated with these basses.

I bought my Fender Roscoe Beck 5 string because it was the best 5 string that I had played at that price point. Add in some pretty awesome pickups with revolutionary coil switching options, and it's an incredibly versatile bass. I got that bass in 1999 and it's still one of the first instruments I go to for almost any gig.

My Epiphone Jack Casady bass was a similar cool find. It's got a great pickup which is enhanced by the varitone circuit. It plays and sounds great. And I was really happy with the way it sounded in the studio.

I know there are some players who enjoy signature models because of the players associated with them. I tend to see this more with guitar players than anyone else, really. Be that as it may, I think that if you like an instrument for it's features first, whether it's a signature model or not, then you're probably going to be well served. But I think for anyone to get a signature instrument purely because of the player associated with that model is doing oneself a disservice.

 

[Clark Westfield]

I aquired a Schecter JD Deservio BLS Signiture bass in a school competition.

I would not look to buy this bass, but boy does it play like an animal.

It is turning out to be my favorite player.

It is made to the artists specs, and Deservio knows what he is looking for.

The guitar is sick.

I am not a huge BLS fan, so the paint job is not my cup of tea.

But man, everything else is spot on amazing!

Sound, feel, controls, fit & finish are sweet.

 

[smcd]

Well, I have a signature bass from an artist who never (to my knowledge) played bass!

I assume you have a Les Paul Signature bass. IMO, the best bass Gibson ever made.