Do you want your $5k bass signed?

[Ooba Tooba]

Doesn't bother me either way about instruments. I seem to enjoy posters and flyers more, personally. And pictures.

 

[bassstrangler]

I personally don't like that, but get who do. I don't even like when the authors/artist sign their books/CDs etc.

I recently bought a used Squier Affinity J for $70, and removed Victor Wooten's signature from it (I love Victor btw, met him, and have attended his workshops multiple times)

You probably sanded off most of that bass' monetary worth.

 

[the yeti]

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.

by the builder? sure, if that's their thing. by another bass player? not a chance.

 

[wraub]

...tbh, I don't even like brand names on mine.

Tape and creative decals ftw.

 

[Hambone70]

Celebrity worship. IMO, a sad indictment of society.

 

[CatchaCuda]

It depends.
The signature of an up and coming luthier on a custom made bass? Yes.

An musician's signature on a bass? No thanks.

A Lucille Ball signed early P bass? Absolutely.

 

[interp]

I had a 1962 Jazz bass that I was planning to give to my son, a professional bass player. Before doing so I had a chance to meet and hang for a while with Steve Swallow, who signed the top front bout of the bass with a brief personal message. The bass is now in my son's hands. He and I are both delighted to have that signature on the bass. We don't care a whit whether that affects the bass's potential resale value because it will never be resold.

 

[J.Wolf]

Always gotta stir the pot, dont you Wally? ;-)

I for one say that I think if its part of the builders process, I honor it as part of their process. If I respect a builders work, I respect their desires for how they want to "sign" their instrument. End of the day, most builders do *something* in their process that I would potentially do differently. But in respecting their work and their craft I accept most things they do as part of their uniqueness and their preferences. And no, I dont mind that Mike Tobias signs the back of his headstocks with a sharpie. I think it gives those basses a personal and unique touch, which is a welcomed glitch to an otherwise pretty formulaic and systematized process.

Roscoe's logo is Keiths signature, and thats on the face of the headstock. Is that different as a decal than a sharpie sig on the back of the headstock?

 

[M.R. Ogle]

Okay, as a slight aside to this conversation.... I've had to both preserve and remove signatures from guitars and basses for my customers several times. This is what I've learned:
1) If you plan on having an instrument signed... FIRST... clean it thoroughly to get and oils or polishes off of it that would interfere with the Sharpie "bonding" to the finish. If you then want to really prerserve the signature, you can use automotive spray clear acrylic lacquer to protect it. Start with a very light mist coat, as a heavy, wet coat of clear has a very good chance of "melting" the sig and it blurring out.

What if you want to REMOVE a Sharpie-d signature? 90% of the time, Denatured Alcohol takes Sharpie RIGHT off... it's like Kryptonite to permanent markers. You don't even usuually have to rub it, just wipe.

 

[DavC]

only if they pay me about $3k to sign my bass .. !!

 

[maeda]

Signed by the builder? Absolutely, it's a piece of art and they should sign their work. If it's just a factory bass, then no, not at all. If it's a signature bass, I guess sure put a signature on it from the artist, but I would prefer it without. Love the Flea '62 jazz signature basses but first thing I would do if I owned one is get a different neckplate lol

 

[Shlabotnik]

Nope, not unless there was a good story involved with that particular instrument. Otherwise I simply want it to play like a $5k instrument and I will help create its own story.

 

[LBS-bass]

Some people in here are talking about a builder signature and some are talking about getting autographs. I think the OP was asking about builder sigs.

Autographs are a funny thing, though. I don't know if I'd be able to ask someone for one. When I worked in a music store back east we had famous artists coming through there all the time and my default with that was to just pretend I didn't even know who they were. I figured they had enough people fawning all over them whenever they'd go somewhere and they didn't need that when they were just out checking out gear. So I left them alone and just helped them like I would any customer if they needed my help.

But it probably makes some people feel good to be asked for a signature. So if you're the kind of person who values that, why not? I know several people who have removed pickguards and drum heads that have been signed to put them in frames.

 

[CaptainWally]

Always gotta stir the pot, dont you Wally? ;-)

I for one say that I think if its part of the builders process, I honor it as part of their process. If I respect a builders work, I respect their desires for how they want to "sign" their instrument. End of the day, most builders do *something* in their process that I would potentially do differently. But in respecting their work and their craft I accept most things they do as part of their uniqueness and their preferences. And no, I dont mind that Mike Tobias signs the back of his headstocks with a sharpie. I think it gives those basses a personal and unique touch, which is a welcomed glitch to an otherwise pretty formulaic and systematized process.

Roscoe's logo is Keiths signature, and thats on the face of the headstock. Is that different as a decal than a sharpie sig on the back of the headstock?

I think a signature logo is different than a sharpie Hancock. It is generally well thought out and executed ..like the rest of the bass.

No issue with my Mike Lull logos on the headstock.

As I mentioned, when an artist signs a piece, it is generally consistent and cohesive with the piece. If Picasso stuck a "Pablo" sticker on "3 Musicians"...that would he weird.

 

[JIO]

As a designer/maker, I sign/date my basses in the neck-pocket and shoot a pic for reference.

 

[CaptainWally]

Nice.idea.

 

[JIO]

Nice.idea.

Premier finisher Marty Bell (SoCal) stamps a small MB branding into the neck pocket for a body he's finished. Simple, established, differentiated. What more does anyone need?

Having said that, I understand consumer product "branding" and how it is incorporated to establish a base of support=income - a sort of propaganda really. (in a broad sense) So branding is necessary, but personally I want it understated. (as in, otherwise who are you trying to impress?) It's like that thing that's becoming a thing of the past; a bank check (or cheque) with your John Hancock on it. Or artwork - scribble a consistent "brand" (your name) on it and you are good to go. Not mocking this - for things produced by hand... it's not that common anymore... (not a corporate brand - an actual human mark)

 

[CaptainWally]

i have 2 marty bell finished pieces...

 

[JIO]

i have 2 marty bell finished pieces...

I work with two masters of guitar finishes - Marty and Pat Wilkins, both from SoCal (nearer to you than me) - the best.

 

[JIO]

It depends.
The signature of an up and coming luthier on a custom made bass? Yes.

An musician's signature on a bass? No thanks.

A Lucille Ball signed early P bass? Absolutely.

Too bad I didn't think of having Andy Warhol sign my bass when he signed my sketchbook after drawing a Campbells soup can back in the 80's...