Do you want your $5k bass signed?

[red_rhino]

It doesn't bother me at all if the builder signs it. However, I'm not a fan of having an artist sign an instrument. Note that I don't mean a "Signature Series", because a signature decal or stamp is implied by the name. But I would never ask or want an artist to sign my bass.

 

[2cooltoolz]

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.

Hi Wally. I personally can't afford a $5000 bass, and would enjoy seeing your collection. I recently purchased this low rent 2003 Fender knock-off for MUCH less than that. I certainly didn't buy it for the signature of whoever the guy is who scribbled on the back, but if you recommend I should try to remove it, I'll break out the lighter fluid, ASAP!

 

[bobba66]

Just clamp it down in the Bridgeport and rip those horrible markings right off of there!

 

[NeonVomit]

MTD and Spector USA instruments are like that. Don't see the problem. Van Gogh and Picasso would sign their works of art, and seeing as custom instruments of that level are also basically works of art, why not?

 

[5StringBlues]

I had B.B. King, Gatemouth Brown, George Porter, and George Clinton sign my Fullerton era Jazz.

They are freakin' legends, why not?


Unfortunately, this bass was stolen. I did get the bass back 7 years later but the signatures had been wiped off.








I had Roscoe Beck sign the back of the headstock of my Fender Roscoe Beck 5 string. No big deal.







Someone send me a five thousand dollar bass and I will report back to the thread.






EDIT: I almost had Chet Helms sign the back of the jazz, but we were having a great conversation and I didn't want to come off like a geek!

 

[cnltb]

Do you want your $5k bass signed?
I don't want any bass signed.

 

[jamro217]

No. I want my rancid Squier signed and the bottom right side of a check signed for the balance of the $5000.

 

[CGremlin]

The only signature I have on any of my instruments is on my Ibanez RB-800. Phyllis Diller was doing a two-week run of shows at a theater that I did pit work for, and I was asked to be part of the trio that played her on/off the stage, with a few other musical interludes. She was gracious enough to sign the RB in black Sharpie after the run. I oversprayed it (badly) afterwards to protect it, and almost 30 years later the signature is still clearly visible. At the time, she said it was the only musical instrument she'd been asked to sign, so it has that bit of uniqueness going for it.

I have no problem with the way Spectors, MTDs, etc. were signed by the builder, though.

 

[Afc70]

A USA Spector 5 is up high on my next bass purchase list, I think they are amazing instruments, & I don't mind at all to see the signature on the headstock. However, I wouldn't want a "celebrity " or famous bass player signing my boutique bass, or any bass.

 

[Kerem Koseoglu]

Do you need a $5k bass in the first place?
Do You Need An Expensive Guitar?

 

[EXCAV8]

That's MY bass. Why the heck would I want someone else's name on it?!

 

[FrenchBassQC]

No but I have a Muckelroy bass and Brady always sign his... But it is not a 5k bass... Ooops

 

[stringthrough]

Yes

If I buy a newly created painting from a famous painter you bet your *ss I want his/ her signature!

 

[DaveAceofBass]

Depends on the builder and their reputation. Roger Sadowsky signed the back of mine.

 

[eddododo]

I don't mind a builder signing their work, but I hope it's not literally just a sharpie scrawl

as far as artists or celebrities, I don't want their autograph on anything at all.. couldn't be less interested

 

[Dr. Cheese]

MTD and Spector come with the back of the headstock signed by the maker. That is there standard look and I like it.

 

[Fun With Dirt]

I can't say I care really. The Jazz I have is a USA Geddy Lee and it has his signature on the back. Granted, it isn't so much sharpie but likely just a decal and is covered by the clearcoat. ...but, either way, I'd just play it really. I can appreciate that Tony Franklin put his signature on the heel plate of his model so it can be swapped out but, if I had that, I would likely just leave it. No point, from my perspective of course, to spend money on replacing something that doesn't matter to me. On the other hand, if something happened to the heel plate and it needed replacing, I would't search the world over for a Tony Franklin plate either. I'd likely just get a basic Fender one. If my current bass had to be refinished due to damage at the signature, I wouldn't make a fuss about replacing the signature. I'd just get it refinished.

 

[lomo]

I see absolutely no disadvantage if it's on the back of the headstock, which is the only place I've ever seen it done. On the other hand, I loathe the aesthetics of any model of anything named after an endorser that has the endorser's "distinguishing mark" on it (for eg Jeff Berlin and Marcus Miller's Markbass offerings).....I would never pay for that stuff.

 

[SteveC]

Roscoes are "signed" on the front of the headstock. I believe it's a sticker that goes on all his basses. I don't mind at all.

 

[BadSanta1281]

Five thousand dollars?

If I paid $5000 for a bass my wife would be signing divorce papers.