Are Signature Basses Special?

[mattj1stc]

Bass designs keep changing over time, so some signature models (like the Geddy Lee Jazz) are more about capturing the particular bass in that moment. I don't believe that he modified it too much other than a BA bridge. Yes, it's tied to an iconic player, but it's more or less a reissue.

Others are based on specifically modified basses played by a famous artist. I have owned the Tony Franklin fretless, and while I admire him as a player, I was mostly taken with how well designed and made the bass was. I still believe that the TF may be the best 4 string fretless out there.

Lastly, there are some basses that the manufacturer specifically creates for an artist. Lemmy's signature Ric looks like no other Ric I've ever seen. Similarly, I think that Tom Petersson and Adam Clayton must have created dozens of signatures basses with different manufacturers. Having an artist specifically tied to a special creation bass may help it to sell more. In the end, I tend to judge them on their own merits.

In the end, James Jamerson was the bass player who was arguably the best and definitely the most influential, and he just played a stock P bass with flats. Further, he preferred to have his action so high that it's unlikely anyone would want an exact replica. So, yeah, it's probably the player that's most important.

 

[slowjam98]

I’m having a hard time finding an appropriate option in the poll. My experience has been that more often than not, signature instruments have unusual or unique specs. For example, my Mike Dirnt Precision has a 1.59” nut and a thick C neck.

 

[pravus]

I guess it depends on what you mean by special, but I would say yes in the sense that signature models usually offer custom-shop options that are either above the model's price point or aren't offered in any other configuration. Here are some examples from my collection:

1) Dingwall NG-2 - Based on the combustion model but has a unique pick guard, unique finishes, unique body/neck woods, and the Darkglass Tone Capsule. At a bare minimum to convert a regular combustion to this configuration would require custom fabricating the pick guard because Dingwall will not sell you one and installing the Tone Capsule. If you care about the finish and body/neck woods you are looking at essentially an entirely new bass.

2) Schecter Keith Merrow Artist 7 - This guitar has a completely unique body profile that is only offered on this model and comes with the Keith Merrow signature Fishman pickups along with custom finishes. To replicate this would require getting a custom build because you can't get the body profile anywhere else. It has been compared to the Mayones Duvell Elites and I can tell you from personal experience that the carves are similar but not the same. The pickups are also much different than either the moderns or classics.

3) Legator LM-9 Lucas Mann Signature - This is a 9-string guitar built for the founder of Rings of Saturn. Not only is this the only 9-string Legator offers, the only other company I know of regularly making 9-strings is Agile. I have a very nice Agile 8-string but prefer the neck on the Legator. Yes I did buy it as a fan of ROS but it's also just a great guitar in its own right.

Although I don't own them personally, I would also say the Dingwall Rob Van Der Loo signature HellBoy bass is very unique along with the Yamaha Billy Sheehan Attitude series. I've also seen tons of Fender/Ernie Ball/Ibanez guitars with options that would require additional investment to replicate.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

A signature instrument is made specifically for the artist, nothing more nothing less.

 

[millahh]

If you like the specs and the look, buy it, if not, don't? I don't see what it has to be a big deal that it's done to a famous player's specs. Does this necessitate a value judgment that would be there for an instrument without a famous name? Is it an issue with the marketing? And if so, why no objection to Fender beating a dead horse with "new" models that aren't appreciably different from anything before, that really just exist do they can have something new to market? And if you object to marketing in general, well, good luck opting out of anything that gets marketed..

 

[eccles77]

I bought a Nate Mendel P as I was looking for a P bass. I tried a Classic 50`s and a Steve Harris but the NM had a cracking neck, just right for me so I bought it. The Foo`s connection didn`t really matter to me, I just liked the spec of the bass.

Then proceeded to mod the nuts out of it over the years but it`s still my favourite and only Fender P bass.

 

[Jeff Scott]

...a signature bass like the Epiphone Jack Casady was designed as a unique instrument from the ground up, even though it was based on an earlier Gibson model.

Mike

How is it "a unique instrument from the ground up", if it is based on an existing instrument.

 

[telecopy]

A follow up to my question last week.

Every signature bass started as a off the rack bass. Some standard bass that a no one bought and played the crap out of. So was it the bass or the player? What makes the bass special?

I know the signature Geddy is popular, as is some others. Are they special basses found by the right person or is it nostalgia or some type of hype?

Let me know!

I've got a Reverend Wattplower. It is a signature model that was inspired by a Gibson EB shortscale Mike Watt played. But it is it's own thing from the ground up. And it's a terrific, fun bass.

 

[Honkey tonk]

I like the idea of companies supporting artists to better/push the craft ,might even pay some bills?
buying one of these instruments does not make one instantly a better player , that would be special...

 

[Roger W]

Never had a signature bass, but I definitely owned a signature guitar. Had the guy’s name right on the headstock: Les Paul. Quite the crackerjack player I’ve heard. Later I thought a lot about another signature model, the Byrdland, named after 50s Nashville cats Billy Byrd and Hank Garland. One of my friends owned an Ibanez George Benson model. Seems to be less of an issue with guitar players than bass players.

 

[JTE]

On the other hand, a signature bass like the Epiphone Jack Casady was designed as a unique instrument from the ground up, ...

But it's simply not. Cassady happened across a Les Paul Signature and really liked the combination of the semi-hollow body andbthe scale. When working with Gibson they started with the Signature. Had to work out how to produce the pickups because didn't have the molds any more, and the AR person he was working with suggested making it outside the US as an Epiphone to keep the retail price down.

There is no substantial difference between the Epi Jack Cassady and an original Gibson Les Paul Signature.

 

[bobyoung53]

I would say for 95% of them it's all hype, I have a TF Fender fretless though and I believe he did mod his first bass that it was patterned after and it's probably my favorite bass right now but most of these signature basses are just off the rack basses. The Chris Squire sig bass was also patterned after the bass he modded so those two are real but most all just a rack bass with a name on them.

 

[telecopy]

I know that the Wattplower, Mike Watt's Reverend signature bass is a pretty unique instrument that was created with years of input from Watt. There's an interview I read a while back where Mike said that Reverend gave him a bass to play and asked for his feedback and he basically told them it was crap and he hated it. He didn't think they'd do it but they took all he said in to account and made the changes. After a few years of doing that they came up with his signature bass.

I think that's a great way to do it in order to create a really unique instrument that will stand out. One of these days I'll get myself a MkII Wattplower!


joe

I liked the MKI so much I've reserved a MKII. Hurry November!

 

[telecopy]

yeah, i love the wattplower also. they look like they are built like tanks

They are shockingly light and.. dainty?
But it is solid as any I've ever played. Amazing little boom stick.

 

[franklindayala]

Gary Willis signature Ibanez GWB has unique features, easy to play but it's all in the hands as Jaco once said.

 

[JoshS]

Signature instruments are just a marketing ploy to get you to buy an instrument. There is nothing particularly special about them.

As opposed to a manufacturer trying to get you to NOT buy their other, non-signature instruments?

 

[Ric5]

Are Signature Basses Special?

They have a special price!

 

[fhm555]

Production sig basses tap into that aspect of hero worship so prevalent in many aspects of our society. They may be a slight tweak of an off the shelf bass, a complete departure from anything previously offered, or a stock production bass in unique livery. Whatever their variation they appeal to fans of the basses namesake.
Everyone after all wants to be like Mike.

 

[Ostie]

I would still like my JC if it wasn’t a signature model. I’m really Gassing for an Allen Woody.

 

[chadds]

Production sig basses tap into that aspect of hero worship so prevalent in many aspects of our society. They may be a slight tweak of an off the shelf bass, a complete departure from anything previously offered, or a stock production bass in unique livery. Whatever their variation they appeal to fans of the basses namesake.
Everyone after all wants to be like Mike.

That is indeed some folk's motivation for purchasing.
I don't own a one.
Meanwhile whatever bass I bring my tech, beater, ABG, booteequee, it's setup is specifically for me.