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signature bass fail...

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#121
Another good one.... the Roscoe Beck Fender was absolutely killer and the dude actually played it.

One of my favorite and most versitile basses I have played. I have been looking for a reasonably priced 5er for almost a decade.

I wouldn't buy it because Roscoe played with Robben Ford and Leonard Cohen though. Good on him and he seems like a good guy, I guess but wouldn't be part of my decision making criteria.
 
#123
SamJ said:
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.
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I love Alembic. JASON NEWSTED used Alembic from 88 all the way up until LOAD. Then he bought NINE SEDOWSKY basses. Hes never been endorsed by anybody, maybe Ampeg. If he goes to Hartke if done with bass.
 
#125
SamJ said:
not discussing how great the songs are or the musical quality of the band, just saying that I'd expect a bass endorsement to be for a bassist we all aspire to play like.
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Frankly I think he plays more memorable lines than players that some here "aspire to play like" but ymmv. He certainly has played on more hit records. And staying in a band that big for that long requires talents beyond "I can play Giant Steps at 330bpm."

People like different players. I find you can learn something from pretty much anyone who is playing for a living, especially someone who has been on recordings that have sold over 150 MILLION copies and played in front of millions of people over an almost 4 decade career.

Seriously...no problem not liking the guy's playing, but he certainly contributes to the overall sound and success of the band. I don't begrudge him any number of signature basses - good on him.
 
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#127
Signature stuff is for suckers.. Its bad enough you look like him and sound like him and play his songs.. just gotta have the guitar too?? Well at least you're a consistent little clone.

That said I fully support individual freedom and to each his own, and realize I may be wrong (in some rare cases)..
dimebagrootsguitarheader_638.jpg

RIP Dime - The coolest player ever.. but it would be cool to see a jazz player rocking one of these.
 
#128
SamJ said:
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.
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Rex Brown better not go to Warwick. But then again, he could use a new bass,lol

But, Spector is the Rex tone.

DONT EVER GET A CHRIS KAEL SPECTOR, THAT IDIOT TOOK REX BROWNS SHAPE!!!
 
#130
pnchad said:
I just Googled

Mediocrity and there is a picture of AC

Now mind you I'd love to have his percentage of the proceeds but if ever there was a poster boy for luck....

And, don't even get me started on Mr. One Note the Edge OMG it's sad
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That's odd. I googled "mediocrity" and found this. The effects of RichRod live on...

mediocrity-300x422.jpg


I have no issue at all with signature models. I have an Urge I sitting at arm's length, and Stu has been through Fender, Washburn and Warwick. I also have a Nate Mendel P - I'm not particularly blown away by his playing, but you won't find a better P bass. I also have a Sarzo, a Carvin SB, and who knows what else. The Duff bass was just a reissue of a discontinued Fender - it was worth a reissue, IMO. I like the Sting bass better than the '51 RI I have mounted to the wall.

How many different signature models did Les Paul have? He had both guitars and basses, and even signature models of his signature model.

Saying somebody doesn't deserve a signature model is silly, IMO. It is just about selling basses, which drives interest in the instrument, which is something we should all support.
 
#131
...and correct me if I'm wrong, but Warwick doesn't really do signature models, do they? Don't they just do a custom shop one-off for the artist? Sure, you can order a custom shop Warwick to the same specs, but I don't think you are going to see a Warwick AC model at Guitar Center.

Edit: I think there have been some exceptions to this, like Bootsy and P-Nut, but in general...
 
#132
wvbass said:
...and correct me if I'm wrong, but Warwick doesn't really do signature models, do they? Don't they just do a custom shop one-off for the artist? Sure, you can order a custom shop Warwick to the same specs, but I don't think you are going to see a Warwick AC model at Guitar Center.
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what is more important is how many artists they can say use their guitars.. not whether they have signature models or not..

This is a ligit claim... when you think about it, how many bassists (especially when you look over the years) have played Fender P and J basses? probably 3/4's of the songs recorded form the 60's thru today were recorded on a Fender... that helps sell basses (And guitars).
 
#133
Templar said:
Yeah, this topic pops up around here on a regular basis. Not sure I agree with, or even understand some of the vehemence expressed toward the notion of signature guitars. They may be silly, eccentric, amateurish, or cool.

I mean, when Lakland offered their catalog of signature basses no one thought they were "uncool". So what changed?
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Brother... I live in Brazil and you have no idea what this means in musical terms...
I went to US in 2008 thinking about to bring a bass...So?
Well, using the unplugged criteria I bring a Fender Marcus Miller crafted in Japan.
Very good bass, even I play rock, metal and blues.
So after a while, I replaced this bass for a Rudy Sarzo Cirrus bass model. The MM was so heavy for my backs.
In the end of day, these transactions were not made as a fan, but due the instrument construction is really nice - ready solution.
The Sarzo is the best neck I played ever, very very fast!!!
 
#134
SamJ said:
what is more important is how many artists they can say use their guitars.. not whether they have signature models or not..

This is a ligit claim... when you think about it, how many bassists (especially when you look over the years) have played Fender P and J basses? probably 3/4's of the songs recorded form the 60's thru today were recorded on a Fender... that helps sell basses (And guitars).
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Sure, but companies like Warwick can't hope to claim the volume of artists that Fender can. So, they have to rely on promoting a few key artists that use their basses. Fender is just in a position that they can do both.
 
#136
SamJ said:
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.
Click to expand...

Same with Spector ;)
 
#139
nostatic said:
Frankly I think he plays more memorable lines than players that some here "aspire to play like" but ymmv. He certainly has played on more hit records. And staying in a band that big for that long requires talents beyond "I can play Giant Steps at 330bpm."

People like different players. I find you can learn something from pretty much anyone who is playing for a living, especially someone who has been on recordings that have sold over 150 MILLION copies and played in front of millions of people over an almost 4 decade career.

Seriously...no problem not liking the guy's playing, but he certainly contributes to the overall sound and success of the band. I don't begrudge him any number of signature basses - good on him.
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I totally agree. People who outright disrespect a guy that's been functional in a band that long are not likely mature adults or professional musicians. What's he supposed to do, break out Mark King-esque slap parts?

I'll add that I've never listened to U2 on purpose, and am totally indifferent to the band. Heard a couple good songs, admire their longevity and ambition, and that's about it.

The thing with Clayton is, for me, is that I have *never* heard a musician talk about the guy, or seen him mentioned on this board in the type of way that suggests his name could sell a bass. Not sure I've ever even heard a U2 fan talk about him, though I don't know many.... if any... but the few articles I've read, it's always just Edge and Bono.

I'm actually totally perplexed by signature basses in general, mind you. I like some, perhaps even despite the player they're named for not because of, if they have unique feature I covet. Hate the gaudy signatures on the headstock, just because it looks awful. I firmly believe they'd sell *more* signature basses if they put that on the back of the headstock or left it off entirely.

Pete Wetnz signature bass makes total sense to me. Kids dig his band and ask their parents for one for Christmas. U2 fans tend to be grown adults. Not as easy a crowd to influence.

With the Clayton bass it's just about the color scheme, correct? That's partly why it's a total head-scratcher for me. MAYBE there's a certain number of sales to rabid collectors among the fan base who don't even play? If so, then an Adam Clayton sig bass makes far more sense than a Vic Wooten bass. I'll bet there are more rabid collectors of U2 memorabilia than people who have ever heard of Vic Wooten.
 
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#140
Templar said:
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?
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The fact is many of these "signature" basses are just cosmetic changes. I won't pay for one of these basses because money that could go into the bass would instead go for the signature. I don't call that pretentious - I call that smart.
 
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