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Fender Adam Clayton CS Sig P Bass

#41
Would I want a gold sparkle P-bass? Yes.

Would I ever have the cash to buy this? No.

Will I see a $6,000 bass marked down with an eye-popping sale sign for only $4,998.99 since no one else has $6,000 to buy this? Yes.
 
#42
SchizoBassist said:
As usual, it's all about the $$$.
Click to expand...

You hit the sparkly gold Fender nail on the head.

Stick_Player said:
C'mon... the lines are lame.

Excerpt, name the song:

G|--------------------|--------------------|
D|--------------------|--------------------|
A|--------------------|--------------------|
E|-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-|-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-|
Click to expand...

Actually, that's harder than it looks. :hiding:
 
#43
I have no problem with this, or with Clayton as a player...... although I'm not a U2 fan. And if Fender thinks they can sell the bass, then great.

Listen, it's all about finding your "niche" and being the best player for the situation you're in. Other than what we hear on the radio, internet, disc or TV, we have no idea what goes on when they write, rehearse and record. For all I know (or we), the guy can have every Jaco lick down cold....... but it certainly wouldn't be the type of playing that would suit the U2 catalog...... so his being able to play Jaco licks wouldn't mean a whole lot because he's getting it done as is.

BTW.... a quick search and I found that Rolling Stone has them listed at #22 in their list of 100 greatest acts of all time. My guess is that without Clayton, you'd be talking about a different chemistry, and the possibility that we end up never knowing who U2 is/was.
 
#44
crazy_bassist said:
I'm not a huge Clayton fan, but if he didn't play those "lame" lines, they would surely find some other guy to stand there and play the EXACT same bass parts because U2 wants the song to sound that way.

You think many hitmakers that are in the back of a band (drums/bass) like U2 really get a huge amount of say in what's really written? Do most of them even play on their own CD's nowadays, or are they there as the face of the band? I've always seen U2 as Bono/Edge, and the other players just filling in the gaps, so if Clayton didn't play with his style and took away from Edge's simplicity as a guitar player, they would ditch him and find a guy to stand there and play the E string all night no questions asked.
Click to expand...

That may be true for other bands, but not U2. These guys are a band in the true sense of the word. Personally I love U2 and love Clayton's playing. He's a huge part of the sound.

I saw the only U2 concert that Adam didn't play, in Sydney, around '93. We were too far back to see clearly, but we knew he wasn't playing long before they announced it. The band just didn't feel right.
 
#45
Interesting fact is that there would be no U2 without Adam Clayton, he kept the band together in the early days, while other members found religion and he was the driving force in the band moving forward. Can he play bass, of course he can! Anyway it's called popular music, U2 is a household name, Jaco is not!! Who gives a toss who's better, music should not be a competition just enjoy what ya like. I like Jaco and U2 so what.
 
#50
Stick_Player said:
The stadiums are NOT packed because of the bass player (in this band). If he wasn't there, ticket sales would be the same.

But if he floats your Bassplayer-Boat, so be it. ;)
Click to expand...

Everyone in U2 is replaceable except the front man. That's not a reflection on the band, it's the way it works. I hate U2, but Clayton is perfectly fine at what he does. I think 35 years of (inexplicably) stellar reviews and tens upon tens of millions of record sales backs that up.

Why waste time hating Clayton when there's another target in that band so much more deserving?
 
#51
Apparently, Clayton is largely responsible for getting U2's demo tapes into the right hands way back when. He was a tireless promoter because all he's ever wanted to be was a rock star.

I think the magic of Adam Clayton isn't the complexity of the lines, but rather the fact that his bare-bones style fits the U2 sound perfectly. Personally, I'd not be able to resist tossing at least a fill every now and again, but that wouldn't work for U2.

I also find that his bass lines got more complex on later discs, after he went to NYC for bass lessons. Unfortunately, I don't like later U2 discs.

To get back on topic, though: Nice bass, but I don't like the gold sparkle. I didn't like it on his Lākland and I don't like it on this presumably over-priced Fender. I find his taste in basses to be execrable. The Warwick is, in my opinion, crass. That yellow thing he had on one of the later tours? Gross. I'm almost relieved that this time it's just an obnoxious paint job...
 
#52
Beh, I aint gonna waste time beating on a player's chops. Sure His lines are simple but it serves the songs, and thats what really matters IMO. Do I think U2 is one of the greatest bands of all time? No, But they have certainly left their mark and are a known household brand.
On to matter at hand, I do like the bass. Those big metallic flakes remind Me of an old "Bass boat". I am 100% sure it would be priced beyond My means, and it's actual worth as far as basses go.
 
#54
1) Visually/aesthetically this bass, in my own personal opinion (based on my own personal tastes/preferences): is ugly. Doesn't appeal to me at all.

2) But I bet it plays and sounds wondefully, if Fender does a good job with it.

3) I'm laughing at all the bass players who are trashing Adam Clayton, thrashing his playing abilities. Riiiiiight, you guys are so much better than Adam Clayton, :D:D

Your venom speaks volumes about you.
 
#55
Here's my take;

"Psst, Larry. Larry! I think these guys might have something here."

"Me, too."

"OK, here's the plan: Whatever they say, nod and smile."

Being a bit tongue in cheek here. But the one thing I give both Clayton and Mullin credit for is being really, really sensible.
 
#56
ljazz said:
I have no problem with this, or with Clayton as a player...... although I'm not a U2 fan. And if Fender thinks they can sell the bass, then great.

Listen, it's all about finding your "niche" and being the best player for the situation you're in. Other than what we hear on the radio, internet, disc or TV, we have no idea what goes on when they write, rehearse and record. For all I know (or we), the guy can have every Jaco lick down cold....... but it certainly wouldn't be the type of playing that would suit the U2 catalog...... so his being able to play Jaco licks wouldn't mean a whole lot because he's getting it done as is.

BTW.... a quick search and I found that Rolling Stone has them listed at #22 in their list of 100 greatest acts of all time. My guess is that without Clayton, you'd be talking about a different chemistry, and the possibility that we end up never knowing who U2 is/was.
Click to expand...

I've seen and heard bass players (and guitarists, too) try to "spice up" and "complicate" songs, because they avoid playing quarter notes like the plague.

They completely butcher the very melodic essence, meldodic continuity and groove/feel of a song, in doing so.

It's a trainwreck.

There are a lot of different approaches and styles to playing bass and they are all valid and worthy of respect.

From the guys who want to bring the bass to the forefront of the music, explore and utilize all possible options....to the guys who like to play quarter notes and take a more subtle role in servicing the music. It all deserves respect and can all be appreciated.

This superiority trip nonsense is distasteful.
 
#59
A guitar player once auditioned for James Brown.

James Brown: "Can you play an E9 chord ?"

Guitarist: "Yes."

James Brown: "Can you play it all night long ?"



Moral to the story - play the notes that fit the music. (Hint: That's why Paul McCartney plays incredibly simple lines in songs like "Love Me Do" ... a complex line wouldn't fit.)
 

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