Do you want your $5k bass signed?

[xnewyorka]

I'd appreciate a signature of the builder. I was too late when I placed my 2019 order for my Spector NS-6H2 to get Stuart's signature. Instead, I went for the option of signatures of all the Spector shop workers. They later added an option for Stuart's signature for an additional fee, but my bass was almost ready for shipment. I didn't want to delay it.

I might get an autograph of a celebrity, but only for example if it's a bass that person is known for. Examples: Victor Wooten's autograph on a Fodera or Gene Simmons autograph on an Axe or Punisher Bass. If I manage to get an instrument autographed, it will become a sentimental item that will not escape my home.

I have gone back and forth many times over whether or not I want to set this beautiful Monarch free.
This was the very first bass I bought with my inheritance money, which was the official start of the growth of my bass collection. I met Victor in 1999 after a show, and he kindly let me try his bass after I inquired about what it was. I told myself that someday, somehow, if I could ever find a way to afford one, I would buy one. So when I saw him again last year, I told him the story of how I came to buy the bass, and I asked him to first play it to confirm that I had set it up perfectly (it got two thumbs up!), and then he graciously signed it with a red sharpie that coincidentally happened to be in my gig bag.
I normally like to keep my stuff as close to brand new condition as possible. However, in this special case, I felt the added "graffiti" was well deserved, and further enhances not only the sentimental value of the bass but probably also the resale value if I ever do let it go.

 

[Relayer71]

To me, it's like a beautiful piece of art with a little ugly graffiti on the edge.

You know artists sign their work, too, right?

 

[CaptainWally]

You know artists sign their work, too, right?

Read above.

 

[micguy]

That signature is worth much more with the picture of Victor playing it - you should keep a copy of that picture for if/when you decide to sell the bass.

I had a friend in college that had a Muddy Waters album that had been signed by Muddy. One night, after a few beers, he told us he was the one who signed it - who knows what Muddy Water's signature looks like?

 

[Lava]

Yes, I'd like seeing Roger's small sig on the back of my Sadowsky headstock. It's a nice personal touch.

 

[jazzyvee]

Its not something id ever seek out but say I owned an alembic and was opening for Stanley Clarke or Phil Lesh Id have them sign the back of the headstock If I could.

When I went to a Stanley Clarke gig a couple of years ago I took the backplate off my bass, took it with me and got him to sign the inside of it. Don't want any signatures on the visible part of the bass.

 

[Ric5]

Do you want your $5k bass signed?

I don't want any bass signed

 

[bearhart74]

Depends on whos doing the signing..Scarlett Johansson or Margot Robbie can sign anything of mine they want as long as its in person.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Back of headstock is fine, on the body - nope.

 

[LBS-bass]

If you're commissioning a handmade build from a top luthier, it's usually understood by the buyer that the piece is not only a musical instrument but also a work of art, and the expectation is that it will be signed. In the world of acoustic instruments, they are usually signed on the inside, usually on a label, but if it's an old instrument there may only be a signature on the wood. I think that these builders of very fine instruments do view their work as artistry and the signature, for them, is the finishing touch. I'm sure you could request that they leave it off but if their other work is signed you'd be devaluing the instrument in the event that their work becomes collectible. Not much is really all that collectible these days, though.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

So does your car have a sticker saying where you bought it? Is that a problem?
I think this is a non problem.

 

[bassballs27]

I personally would not want anybody's signature on an exposed portion of a bass, but inside the neck pocket or back of the neck heel would be cool, if it was a custom build.

As for the "art" example, I feel like I must point out here that it has been common practice for hundreds of years for artists to place a small piece of graffiti in the corner of their work. This is the first time I've ever heard someone speak of that practice in a negative light.

Ken Lawrence does that (signs the back side of the control cavity)

Jimmy Coppolo signs the neck pockets, butt of the neck, and sometimes the control cavity cover. Jimmy we'll add who he built it for originally and some specs!

Fodera signs the back of their headstocks as a tribute, sometimes the entire team signs.

George Furlanetto of Fbass signs his headstocks on occasion.

Wal signs their control cavity covers and also adds the build specs in pen.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Not sure if it's still an option, but getting a Paul Reed Smith signature on the headstock was a $500 option according to someone that used to work at the factory.

 

[Yellow Bang66]

I've seen a number of very high end instruments that have the builder's or endorsing artist's signature scrawled in sharpie on the back of the head stock.

Do people like that? Does that stuff come off?

To me, it's like a beautiful piece of art with a little ugly graffiti on the edge.

It depends on who the Artist is, If I had an EVH striped guitar, Hell yeah I would want Eddie's signature on it!! Imagine if you had a Jackson V with randy rhoads signature on it of course. Now i had a Duff mckagan signature bass model not so much i'd settle for a picture of him holding the bass. IMO autographs mostly look ugly (mars the aesthetic of the instument) + alot of "stars" have bad penmanship,and their autographs are illegible, anyway. so it's a big No for me, unless its a legend. IE. a bandmate bought an Adam Clayton sig J bass, and I don't believe it would've add any value to it. the lead guitarist in the band even remarked "who's that guy?"and who buys his bass? I agreed. who cares & really knows who manufacturers are of most basses. keep your sharpies away from my instrument! especially if it highend!

 

[GIBrat51]

No, it isn't something I want - particularly. But, it isn't something that would make me say "No" to the bass, either. As I've said before, when you're a lefty? Quite often, you pretty much have to take what you can get. And, when I had the chance to get a G&L Custom Shop ASAT bass - for a lot less than it cost new? To get this -
, I'm perfectly willing to put up with this...

 

[nonohmic]

So does your car have a sticker saying where you bought it? Is that a problem?
I think this is a non problem.

F$%k that practice and all. I hate those stickers and pull them off immediately. I don't need to be advertising someone else's business for them for the next 5 to 10 years or however long I own the car.

 

[Maxdusty]

No artist signature on any of my basses UNLESS he/she owned it at one time. Gives the bass meaning and part of it's history. Just getting any random musician to sign a bass he/she has never touched before nor used doesn't really do it for me, sign a piece of paper, not my instrument. That being said, I do have a guitar I bought at a garage sale for cheap ($60) with Eric Johnson's signature on it, not really worth anything to me or was the reason I bought it (to be honest with you, neither I or the seller knew who signed it until later when her son mentioned it), I just liked the guitar his signature was on.

 

[stingray69]

Les Claypool is a huge fan of Geddy Lee, so much in fact that apparently he had Geddy sign a piece of Flame Maple that was later attached to the headstock of one of his Carl Thompson basses.

It's the larger, more square-shaped, piece of veneer on the headstock in this photo.

I'm quite sure this was a prearranged, planned thing, because I highly doubt anyone carries around a piece of flame maple veneer on the off chance of getting a signature, but then again, Les is an odd fellow, lol.

But why bother with signatures when you can simply hang out with your friend?

 

[phillipkregg]

If it's the builder, I think it's a nice personal touch. Like MTD, FBass, Valenti, and some Sadowsky's do.

As for artist signatures, unless it's their specific artist's model, I'd rather not.

 

[Pings Bass]

It's an instrument, a tool if you will. Not a work of art. I'll settle for a little slip of paper in the case saying "inspected by no. 2."