Fender introduced an "Adam Clayton"
Today I see a new Warwick "Adam Clayton" bass.
eh... rather a marketing fail, I think.
Today I see a new Warwick "Adam Clayton" bass.
eh... rather a marketing fail, I think.
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signature bass fail...
- Thread starter SanDiegoHarry
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It's only a "fail" if it doesn't sell.
Manufacturers are constantly poaching endorsing artists from each other, and some artists apparently have non-exclusive agreements. Don't know which this was, but it happens.
Sure - but this seems rather... abrupt. Didn't that wildly overpriced Fender AC model come out just a few months ago?
The fail to me is that Clayton isn't really a very remarkable player... His band has sold more records than there are grains of sand on all the world's beaches, and a lot of it is very good music. But I'm not sure what other than the name recognition of U2 would make any manufacturer want him as an endorser.
Perhaps because he's less expensive than getting Geddy Lee to endorse?
Umm...what do you think the point of an endorser is? To be a great player, or to be well known?
Hint - the first part pales in comparison to the second part
...and he plays a Lakland most of the time.
Yeah - U2 is very well known and Clayton's bass lines are a key part of their sound, but he doesn't stand out as an influential bassist, which ithe idealist in me always imagined would be the purpose for such an endorsement deal.
Looking at it from the manufacturer's point of view, though, it becomes more about name recognition as much as anything else. There are only so many Victor Wootens, Geddy Lees and Steve Harrises that you can sign, so it becomes a broader plan to simply associate yourself with as many well known bands/players as possible.
If you're the size of Fender, it makes no sense to me that you'd bother with such a deal that isn't exclusive, but not knowing the details of the contracts, it's hard to say. If you believe their IPO prospectus, all they do for endorsed players is provide a couple of free instruments every year, while putting out a signature bass would involve a more lucrative arrangement for the player based on volume of sales, etc...
If anyone knows the ins-n-outs of these sorts of deal, please PM me to discuss.
.
Looking at it from the manufacturer's point of view, though, it becomes more about name recognition as much as anything else. There are only so many Victor Wootens, Geddy Lees and Steve Harrises that you can sign, so it becomes a broader plan to simply associate yourself with as many well known bands/players as possible.
If you're the size of Fender, it makes no sense to me that you'd bother with such a deal that isn't exclusive, but not knowing the details of the contracts, it's hard to say. If you believe their IPO prospectus, all they do for endorsed players is provide a couple of free instruments every year, while putting out a signature bass would involve a more lucrative arrangement for the player based on volume of sales, etc...
If anyone knows the ins-n-outs of these sorts of deal, please PM me to discuss.
.
Sounds like a win on his part. He's getting paid!
The first question that comes to mind whenever I see the term 'signature bass' is, "Are we so enamored with other players that we want an instrument with their name written on it? Are we so star struck that we want an instrument just like they play?" 
And if we are the kind of individual that buys into sig models, what do we do when our 'bass hero' changes brands? Which many seem to do on a regular basis. Are we going to change brands every time our hero does?
Sorry. Just thinking out loud.
M. M.
And if we are the kind of individual that buys into sig models, what do we do when our 'bass hero' changes brands? Which many seem to do on a regular basis. Are we going to change brands every time our hero does?
Sorry. Just thinking out loud.
M. M.
As one who doesn't really buy basses based upon what artist's signature is on the headstock I couldn't really care less how many bass companies Clayton endorses for.
Though, if I'm ever looking for a green jazz bass with matching headstock, rosewood board and inlays then I'd be happy to purchase an Adam Clayton model as it'll have the features I'm looking for.
I like U2 well enough, can't stand Rush and never been a Rancid or Foo Fighters fan but I'd own any artist model if its what I'm pursuing in sound production or design.
Though, if I'm ever looking for a green jazz bass with matching headstock, rosewood board and inlays then I'd be happy to purchase an Adam Clayton model as it'll have the features I'm looking for.
I like U2 well enough, can't stand Rush and never been a Rancid or Foo Fighters fan but I'd own any artist model if its what I'm pursuing in sound production or design.
Apparently Warwick poached the bassist from Pantera from Spector recently as well..
One thing I've always admired about Alembic (And I have no hate for Spector or Fender, as I own both), is that they have never given a single instrument or a single dollar to an artist to endorse anything... sure, they're not played by everyone, but those who play them do so because they bough them.
Individuals with alot more marketing brains than any of us are making these decisions...
Adam Clayton is easily more recognizable than a guy like, say...Victor.
Endorsement deals are more about brand recognition than virtuosity. Get the instrument in the hands of a popular player, they are probably much less worried about how many bassists are drooling over the basslines than with the overall number of people that are exposed to the brand.
Adam Clayton is easily more recognizable than a guy like, say...Victor.
Endorsement deals are more about brand recognition than virtuosity. Get the instrument in the hands of a popular player, they are probably much less worried about how many bassists are drooling over the basslines than with the overall number of people that are exposed to the brand.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
A page full of Stanley Clarke Signature basses. So, Stanley lets them use his name out of the kindness of his heart?
The first question that comes to mind whenever I see the term 'signature bass' is, "Are we so enamored with other players that we want an instrument with their name written on it? Are we so star struck that we want an instrument just like they play?"
And if we are the kind of individual that buys into sig models, what do we do when our 'bass hero' changes brands? Which many seem to do on a regular basis. Are we going to change brands every time our hero does?
Sorry. Just thinking out loud.
M. M.
Your first question triggers a counter-question..."Are we so full of ourselves, or so envious of famous players, that we consider playing a bass "with someone else's name" on it, to be beneath us? Which is more pretentious?
Hardly the big money endorsements of Warwick or Fender..
I do stand corrected on two instances.. hardly a major "Deal" like the Fender one mentioned above or Warwicks..
From their Wiki article .. having talked to Mica on this very subject, I can attest that this is true. They've given away 3 basses in total to the below mentioned artists.
No endorsements[edit]
Alembic has always followed a strict "no endorsement" policy: artists have always had to pay for their instruments. According to [Invalid or Expired Link Removed], co-founder and CEO, "the most successful artists can afford to pay for their instruments – but if we gave them endorsement deals the cost of those instruments would have to be recovered from customers who are far less able to afford it".[citation needed]
Alembic has made two exceptions to this rule. Stanley Clarke was given a specially inlaid instrument to celebrate 30 years of working together. Mark King, in 1986, received two 34"-scale Series 2 basses and then ordered two more in identical woods with 32" scale.[citation needed]
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Which is not to say that Alembic hasn't built "signature" basses.
In fact, I think Alembic may have invented the artist-spec'd (read; signature) bass. It's certainly how they got their start, am I right?
They invented a few things (Active Electronics, 5-string bass), but this wasn't one of them...
well, they started out as the sound guys for the Grateful Dead, but Rick Turner and Ron Wickersham both build a few guitars for them as side projects and later those turned into production.. The first bass went to Jack Casady (Jefferson Airplane/Starship) in 1972. They also build a bass for Stanley Clarke who was still relatively unknown, but as he became known, he brought their name to some attention.. I was told by Mica that at one point he had a bass stolen and "Borrowed" one from them... he ended up paying for it, but they did gift him a single custom bass..
The use of his name (as well as Mark King) does not come with royalties..
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