Old Smoothie is alder. Many Pre-EB espacially the Sunbursts were poplar. I own a natural ash from 1979 myself. Ernie Ball continued this way (poplar for blueburst and black, alder for transred, ash) with exceptions until around 1997.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
I Love Stingrays, but $7,000?
- Thread starter Michael Jewels
- Start date
Is it foolish to spend money you've got on things you want?
I knew somebody would react to f word.l apologize, do what you want with your money.
As a researcher in AD (on state funds) I feel this amount of money might help for only a small part of researches ($5000 = 100 litres of cell culture)... But it might accumulate to something big. Thanks anyway 
Too bad it's fine print at the bottom. Should be front and center IMO.
- Dec 5, 2002
- 4,165
- 2,254
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Ernie Ball Music Man/Sterling By Music Man
I think that's awesome. If it's a bass and I want it and I have the disposable cash, I buy it. Sometimes I even do that with guitars, although don't tell the others.
I honestly don't understand why anyone on TB complains about the price. I regularly see prices that shock me, given that the instruments in question are P or J clones that are assembled by certain persons. There are plenty of basses - owned by people right here - with outrageous price tags, but if someone wants to imagine that a Fodera (or name your fave 'custom' builder) Anthony Jackson is worth 35K, I got nothing to say about it. I mean, think about it: a bass. 35 thousand dollars. It goes "boom boom boom". It's a bass. But I just shine it on because I don't imagine I have anything meaningful to contribute.
So if you watch the video about making the Cliff Williams bass, it's certainly labor-intensive. And it's not like EBMM had an assembly line ready to go to do this stuff. Numbers are limited and proceeds go to a damned fine charity. It was in many ways a labor of love. And no, I'm not going to - I could not - pay 7K for a bass. Any bass. Ever. But if you CAN and you DO, I say this: "Good for you."
I like discussions about these kinds of things, but if all you got is, "That's too much money" then why even bother? It doesn't add much, does it?
I'm glad that things like this happen. It gives us stuff to yammer on and on about. But again, if your only thought is it's too expensive, is that worth typing out?
YMMV, etc. IMHO and so on.
They're making 26, and betting that there are at least 26 guys who are:
1) Bass collectors, and
2) Cliff fanboys , and
3) Have that kind of cash lying around.
A limited run has start up costs that you don't get to amortize over a big number, so you price them to cover that, plus.....they likely are taking some profit - I don't think they did this just for grins.
If you want the price of such things to come down, then don't buy one. If nobody buys them, the manufacturers will learn, and either make more and charge less (Think Geddy's), or not do runs like this.
1) Bass collectors, and
2) Cliff fanboys , and
3) Have that kind of cash lying around.
A limited run has start up costs that you don't get to amortize over a big number, so you price them to cover that, plus.....they likely are taking some profit - I don't think they did this just for grins.
If you want the price of such things to come down, then don't buy one. If nobody buys them, the manufacturers will learn, and either make more and charge less (Think Geddy's), or not do runs like this.
Its only seems excessive because it's not a marketing tactic normally associated with EBMM. Fender has been charging that for "masterbuilts" for decades, and I personally would totally pay $6K for an active fender Jbass 5 string built to spec by one person. I mean not right now...nevermind.
Basically Warwick and Spectors marketing tactic. List MSRP for bass at $9000 so your network of dealers can wait a year before dropping the price down on your LTD basses to $3000.
How many players out there would be kind enough to donate all proceeds to a nonprofit for Alzheimer’s? Good on Cliff, good on EBMM. No one is going to force anyone to buy it. But those who do will likely really enjoy it for any number of reasons.
Last edited:
"All proceeds from the sale of this Cliff Williams Icon series bass will be donated to The American Alzheimer’s Association Gulf Coast Chapter who provides support and resources for those living with or caring for someone with Alzheimer's or other dementias".
The no pickgaurd part is the real punch in the gut to me. (WITH SCREW HOLES TOO)
Cliffs original bass surely came with a pick guard. If anyone is so dang passionate about trying to be a Cliff clone, they should also have the will to remove a pickgaurd, as Cliff did.
Cliffs original bass surely came with a pick guard. If anyone is so dang passionate about trying to be a Cliff clone, they should also have the will to remove a pickgaurd, as Cliff did.
Sacrilege!
. But seriously, Cliff Williams holds AC/DC together like JB Weld epoxy. IMO, he's the epitome of the "pocket" rhythm section foundation. True, he has a really understated tone, though.As for the CW sig bass, well why not? It's a good way to promote your brand and, sounds like, a good way to get some money going for much needed charities too.
I'm not a Music Man type of guy, so it doesn't appeal to me too much, but if I were a collector with deep enough pockets, I'd definitely consider it...
L
Well, there was a limited run of Geddy Lee basses from the Fender Custom Shop too with an MSRP of $8,000. They just happen to have a regular production model as well (one of which I’m looking to get soon).
Yes, Fender did what was probably most profitable for them - mine the high end with an expensive model first, then (having seen the success of that), move down market.
Meh. Collectors piece, only a few made, proceeds go to a cause people believe in... I don’t really see the issue. Pricey for most of us sure, but for the 26 people who are gonna buy em? 7k probably ain’t a big deal.
Remember years ago when EVH guitar released the Frankenstrat replicas? $25,000. Although I guess now their value will likely go through the stratosphere.
Remember years ago when EVH guitar released the Frankenstrat replicas? $25,000. Although I guess now their value will likely go through the stratosphere.
