Geezer Butler- Available to the highest bidder.

[obimark]

Don't get me wrong, love Geezer's playing and believe he added a great deal to the bass world. But I open the new issue of Bass PLayer, and sure enough now he is endorsing Ashdown Amps, when about a month ago he was swearing by his Hartke gear.

Don't manufacturers realize the public isn't that stupid?

 

[A.K.]

Gear and gear loyalty often don't matter much to big name players. They can get high-end stuff that sounds great from almost any manufacturer, so they often don't get too attached to one brand. There are exceptions, of course.

Carmine Appice is one of the worst about this--he's played Ludwig, Slingerland, Mapex, d-Drum, Pearl, Tama, and at least one or two other brands in his career. He swore by them each, and would never dream of playing anything else.

 

[blue4]

Paul Stanley is the worst at this that I've noticed.

 

[bassbrad]

Some artists endorse different equipment in various countries or continents. Part of this is business and part of this is logistics, very often the supporting company provides a back up plan in case of damage, theft or repair. So for example Hartke in USA and Canada, Ashdown in the UK.....

I do not know the particulars for Geezer, this based on my experiences touring and working for manufacturers, one reason I used Peavey for all those years.

 

[petrus61]

Doesn't really matter, since 8 out of 10 times, the sound you're hearing is probably coming from an SVT hidden under the stage anyway.

 

[JimmyM]

Who gives a rat's ass?

 

[alembicguy]

Who gives a rat's ass?

Agreed! More power to them.

 

[fantasticplanet]

Don't manufacturers realize the public isn't that stupid?

you sure the public isn't stupid?

 

[obimark]

you sure the public isn't stupid?

I guess you're right. Otherwise they wouldn't keep paying these folks for endorsements, that switch at the drop of a hat.

 

[JimmyM]

I guess you're right. Otherwise they wouldn't keep paying these folks for endorsements, that switch at the drop of a hat.

So you've never bought gear you liked at one time, then changed your mind about it? If not, congratulations because you're one of the few. If so, then what makes you think famous rock stars shouldn't be allowed the same courtesy? Because they get deals with free gear? Please!

 

[obimark]

So you've never bought gear you liked at one time, then changed your mind about it? If not, congratulations because you're one of the few. If so, then what makes you think famous rock stars shouldn't be allowed the same courtesy? Because they get deals with free gear? Please!

Keyword is "bought"--- Yes- but I didn't endorse ANY of it, saying "This is the best bass amp I have ever, ever played in my career" THen switched to company X two months later.
They aren't buying ANY of this stuff- they are using what they are paid to use apparently. So as a consumer, the fact that Geezer uses, Company X now, makes no difference at all in my choices.

 

[Mvilmany]

Doesn't really matter, since 8 out of 10 times, the sound you're hearing is probably coming from an SVT hidden under the stage anyway.

Or a sansamp or similar.

 

[Mvilmany]

I once saw a cardboard cutout of Michael Jordan holding up a hotdog(I fogey the brand.). This was at the height of his career and his face was on everything. I thought that was the funniest thing in the world, because the professional athlete would probably never want to put a hotdog in his mouth.

 

[two fingers]

Don't get me wrong, love Geezer's playing and believe he added a great deal to the bass world. But I open the new issue of Bass PLayer, and sure enough now he is endorsing Ashdown Amps, when about a month ago he was swearing by his Hartke gear.

Don't manufacturers realize the public isn't that stupid?

The stupid part is that you actually thought his sound came from Hartke gear before. Odds are he's been playing through a nice preamp back stage for decades. The stage rig is for looks. You get that, right?

 

[petrus61]

I once saw a cardboard cutout of Michael Jordan holding up a hotdog(I fogey the brand.). This was at the height of his career and his face was on everything. I thought that was the funniest thing in the world, because the professional athlete would probably never want to put a hotdog in his mouth.

I believe the brand was Ballpark franks. Not sure why I remembered that!

 

[Mvilmany]

I believe the brand was Ballpark franks. Not sure why I remembered that!

YES!!! I think that you're right.

 

[Chris 'Wighat' Jordan]

An endorsement works as a marketing tool if the artist has influence in the market. And that endorsement has to be perceived as sincere. I believe the OP is saying some doubt has been cast.

 

[JimmyM]

Keyword is "bought"--- Yes- but I didn't endorse ANY of it, saying "This is the best bass amp I have ever, ever played in my career" THen switched to company X two months later.
They aren't buying ANY of this stuff- they are using what they are paid to use apparently. So as a consumer, the fact that Geezer uses, Company X now, makes no difference at all in my choices.

Mine either, but when you are a Geezer Butler, you have every single amp company on earth offering you sweetheart deals, and you have your choice out of all of them. Who are you to say that he's playing gear he doesn't like for the money?

 

[JimmyM]

An endorsement works as a marketing tool if the artist has influence in the market. And that endorsement has to be perceived as sincere. I believe the OP is saying some doubt has been cast.

And I would say who are they to question whether an endorsement is sincere or not?

 

[FunkHead]

I love Hartke but I'd dump them in a heartbeat too for some Ashdown gear.