Signature basses

[MrB64]

I feel like I've only had the heavily alliterative Fender Franklin fretless ... great bass, great player, don't listen to any of his music ... oh wait, I had a Dingwall Combustion NG ... great bass, never listened to the music (nor heard of the bassist until after I'd owned the bass).

I guess a related question might be, would you buy your favourite player's signature bass even if it meant compromising on your preferred specs?

I don't think I would buy it, given that condition. If it doesn't feel good to play, it wouldn't be fun. Maybe if I were a zillionaire and had a collection like Geddy's I would, but since I'm not.... nah.

As far as Tony Franklin, I admire anyone who can play a fretless well. That said, the only work I've ever heard of his is the first album by the Firm. I still remember a review of that album calling Tony's bass line on You've Lost That Loving Feeling as "turgid". I have no idea why that's stayed with me for nearly 40 years. I thought he played well on that album.

 

[NNNN]

I don't really like signature basses, but I have a Wattplower. Revered and Mike Watt put a lot of thought into the design, and it shows. Plays incredible, light weight, and great aesthetics (though the colors need work imo). Thankfully the branding is minimal and the anchor inlay at the 1st fret is pretty badass. I never got into the Minutemen or Mike's other projects, except the Stooges I suppose, but I respect the hell out of him and he put together a bass that ticks all the boxes.

 

[Green Knight]

Oh yeah, I had a Wattplower. That’s one I’d like again someday. Didn’t get into the mm much but sure lived that pickup!

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

I played a Yamaha Custom Attitude for 7 years, and didn't know who Billy Sheehan was. I also thought the bass was active, until I learned it's passive and the battery is for the piezzo PU only. I think he's a great bass player, but I didn't know who he is.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I used to own a signature bass that was named after a guitarist! As far as I know, he never played bass.

 

[P. Aaron]

I have a Precision V. It's says Fender named after that old guy that built lotsa cool stuff. Never heard a lick 'o his music tho'.

 

[scuzzy]

I have a big Al, which is based on the EBMM Albert Lee. No idea who he is.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I have a big Al, which is based on the EBMM Albert Lee. No idea who he is.

I saw him a few years ago at a local, now-defunct, jazz club, along with Peter Asher (probably another you've never heard of ).

 

[BadSanta1281]

I have one bass that has the signature of some dude named Squier on the headstock.

Never heard of him.

 

[mellobud]

Not a huge Marcus fan but I love my bass and also have an amp of his. It’s just a great amp for me.

 

[devnulljp]

I have a Fender CIJ Sting Precision Bass. It's the one instrument that I've held on to the longest. I almost never play it, partly because I choose to only play short scale basses now. The Sting model is light weight and actually fun to play. It's brighter tone-wise than what I prefer and that's another reason I don't reach for it often. My wife is a huge Sting fan. I like the guy and we've seen him many times (and will again in August this year) but do I "care" about him? - no. I don't emulate him in any way, musically. Some people are hung up on the autographed 12th fret inlay. Not a problem for me. I did change the huge white pick guard for a black one. I tried mint green and even went with no pick guard (looked sorta like a Jaco jazz, which also didn't turn me on).

I would have bought one of those at least a half dozen times if it didn't have the Sting signature on the 12th fret. I guess I'd just really like a 52 PBass to replace my old Telecaster bass.

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

I almost bought the Steve Harris Fender a few years back and I'm a HUGE fan of Harris (and Maiden), but Fender aggravated me for the last time as I was waiting on the back-order so, I removed my payment and put it elsewhere.

That said, I have a guitar which is ugly (I call it "an Australian hooker's worst nightmare" because not even an Australian lady of ill-repute would be caught dead wearing something which looks like this finish), but sounds amazing.

I care not about the "artist" for whom it's named. I don't think he's much of an artist, but an accomplished cover musician, to be sure.

 

[scuzzy]

I saw him a few years ago at a local, now-defunct, jazz club, along with Peter Asher (probably another you've never heard of ).

I do know Vince Gill. Great at the chicken pickin'.

 

[Killing Floor]

Closest I have is my old Sabre. I was always a big Dregs and Steve Morse fanboy and when he did the first signature Sabre guitar mine is the bass version of that special color combo. And I absolutely knew that going in.

 

[God's Favorite Bass]

Closest I have is my old Sabre. I was always a big Dregs and Steve Morse fanboy and when he did the first signature Sabre guitar mine is the bass version of that special color combo. And I absolutely knew that going in.

Everytime I see your Sabre I think of the trans red/maple Sabre I had once and now no more then I go into the kitchen and slam my privates in the silverware drawer

 

[Killing Floor]

Everytime I see your Sabre I think of the trans red/maple Sabre I had once and now no more then I go into the kitchen and slam my privates in the silverware drawer

Ouch? I really did pick that one over a black one because I was a Morse fan. That’s weird. But true.

 

[RichterScale]

I guess a related question might be, would you buy your favourite player's signature bass even if it meant compromising on your preferred specs?

When I was 20, yes. Now, no.
I was a big Geddy Lee and Chris Squire fan (and still am) and wanted a Rickenbacker when I was a kid just because they played them. I managed to get one when I was 25 and it wasn't very comfortable to play, but after spending that kind of money, I forced myself to get used to it. (spoiler alert: I also learned that it didn't sound like their Rics).
I'm still a huge fan of Rush and Geddy's playing and I like the sound he got from every bass he ever played, especially the Wal. But I don't like any of those basses enough to buy one.

 

[God's Favorite Bass]

Ouch? I really did pick that one over a black one because I was a Morse fan. That’s weird. But true.

It's a beautiful bass man.

 

[J Wilson]

I hate to admit I have a James Johnston Signature Jazz Bass and have no clue who the cat is, and I've never heard the band he's in, Biffy Clyro (and I fairly certain I mis-spelled that).

Pitiful.

 

[vegas532]

I'm not a big Green Day fan but my Dirnt has the PERFECT aggressive P bass growl.