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Signature Basses

#42
Even though this topic has been covered before and I have commented on those threads I will comment again. I have to disagree with the OP, at least when it.comes to me anyway. While yes I am influenced by Geddy I did not.get my Geddy Lee bass because it is his Sig!!! I got it because it is a Jazz that I really dig the looks a lot. I really like the.necks on them and the pups!!! The neck on these from my understanding is unique to the Geddy Lee Jazz. So what else would I buy?

I own a Gene Simmons Axe because, well because I think it looks cool and I wanted one. Those are the only two signatures I have owned out of all the basses that have passed thru my hands.

Short answer is if you don't like Sig basses then don't get one. If you do like Sig basses them get one ;)
 
#43
It's all about a distictive feature set not found on the typical, common production models. Sometimes, the features add up just right and you get a Superbass.

Examples;

Reverend Brad Houser 5: Take an already terrific sounding Rumblefish 5L, add two twin-jazz pickups w/coil taps, a Hipshot Type A aluminum bridge, widen the neck width, install Hipshot Ultra lites...voila, Superbass.

Fender Roscoe Beck: Arguably the best bass Fender has ever built, with a sweet set of features, including an assymetrical neck profile. Superbass.

Conklin GT Rocco Prestia: Too many unique features to list, this aint yer average Groove Tools. Superbass.

Apart from Rocco Prestia, I'm totally unfamiliar with Beck's or B. Houser's work. So really, it doesn't have to be about trying to emulate a famous artist's style. More about using a particular combination of features to help create Your Own style. Isn't that the end goal? I think it is.
 
#44
maybe some of us play and collect basses and see them as an
investment. I have a chris squire signature bass i bought new for$1150. I'm keeping that untill i retire. I recently bought a
noel redding jazz because I like the japanese vintage copies
but they only made about a thousand of them and i'm hoping
it will increase in value.
 
#45
The reason manufacturers offer signature products is to increase sales. Besides the stubbornly-indepenent-rough-and-tumble-incredibly-experienced-modern-day-TeddyRoosevelt's here on TB, most people buy a brand because they see people they admire playing that certain brand of bass. Signature basses are celebrity endorsements. And if you don't think brand identification through celebrity endorsements makes a difference, then you're nuts.
 
#50
I clearly understand your point! If that bass was made for someone special, then he MUST play that! But..in the other hand, there's a couple of one's that shouldn't be taken in the same bag, and one of them is the Fender Roscoe Beck. Cause this bass was designed BY (in conduction) and FOR Roscoe's specs. It has special features NONE Fender bass has, so it gives to it its special taste. As far for some, lets say, Mark Hoppus, Marcus Miller, Steve Harris and some more, they are, at least IMHO, merely marketing, cause the merely add of a Badass bridge, 2 band eq, "artist color" at least for me, its just nothing. but, as i think, the Fender RB is unique (in a Fender way). Of course, at the end, you might be right, some of us bought it cause's Roscoe's playing and sound. We are all victims at the end jajaja.
 
#51
I don't own any signature basses, but it has seemed to me over time that many of those signatures have features which have been included by players and not just marketers (new color!). While some of them do seem to be more marketing than anything else, some of them seem to be rather trustworthy instruments.
 
#52
Jack Casady Epi. He plays em stock. Gives his setup specs on his website and tells you what strings he uses. These are truly the best value on the market for basses in the $500 price range. Toneful with classic looks and actually played nightly by the guy bearing its signature.
 
#53
mantaraya said:
I clearly understand your point! If that bass was made for someone special, then he MUST play that! But..in the other hand, there's a couple of one's that shouldn't be taken in the same bag, and one of them is the Fender Roscoe Beck. Cause this bass was designed BY (in conduction) and FOR Roscoe's specs. It has special features NONE Fender bass has, so it gives to it its special taste. As far for some, lets say, Mark Hoppus, Marcus Miller, Steve Harris and some more, they are, at least IMHO, merely marketing, cause the merely add of a Badass bridge, 2 band eq, "artist color" at least for me, its just nothing. but, as i think, the Fender RB is unique (in a Fender way). Of course, at the end, you might be right, some of us bought it cause's Roscoe's playing and sound. We are all victims at the end jajaja.
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I am not sure about all of them, but the Mark Hoppus bass is really a unique bass- a jazz body with reverse P-pick ups, yes the harris has a badass bridge- but also seymour duncan pick ups (good mods IMHO), things that some experienced players would be happy to have without having to DYI.
 
#55
Yeah, I hate signature basses too! Oh wait! No I don't! ;) :p

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#56
I got a Marcus Miller sig because I liked the aesthetics and options. My Reggie Hamilton sig satisfied my active P/J wants. My Geddy Lee sig filled the passive/70's spacing sound. I didn't purchase any of them because of their endorsers,but because they had the options I was looking for..
 
#57
I think it just depends. If the bass is designed to be similar in sound and feel to what the artist uses, and you want similar for your own style, then it makes sense.

I'll use Geddy as an example. He said he felt Fender got very close to his original '72 Jazz bass with the sig model, so people who want that particular bass sound as part of their style would probably be well served by one.

If you pick one up and really like it enough to buy, who care about the name. A good bass for you is a good bass for you, regardless.

If you buy one hoping to become Geddy Lee overnight, or just because you're a Geddy fan, but in fact hate the bass, you've missed the mark.
 
#58
I don't have a problem with the signature basses. I own two of them. The only bass I ever owned for 30 years was my Ric. I wanted to get a jazz and the Geddy felt and sounded the best to me and it was very affordable as I found a used one in great shape. I then wanted a precision and I liked the way the Sting model looked and sounded. I do not like the signature on the 12th fret but it wasn't enough to change my mind. Again found a nice used one at a great price. I would say this, if you like the look, sound and feel then what's wrong with owning one. However I would never buy one brand new as I feel they are over priced. If you can be around $500 to $600 for these basses they are as solid as it gets in that price range.
 
#59
pgolliher said:
I am not sure about all of them, but the Mark Hoppus bass is really a unique bass- a jazz body with reverse P-pick ups, yes the harris has a badass bridge- but also seymour duncan pick ups (good mods IMHO), things that some experienced players would be happy to have without having to DYI.
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Don't get me wrong, i was just giving some general examples. Actually, haven't tried them (except for the Steve Harris) and of course those basses have some cool features, its just that some of them, with all due respect, just because of some bridge or PU add, special color, they don't seem to justify the "signature" thing. I was defending the Roscoe just because as i capitalized was design by and for an Artist. Of course, it doesn't give or take anything to an instrument, in fact, those Sig could be someones dream bass. Cheers
 
#60
iriegnome said:
I would like to know what is up with signature basses. Never in a thousand years would I play someone else's signature bass. IMHO, I just don't know why someone would. Of course I realize that there are specifics to the bass that make it special (At least I think that is what it would be), but really, why would you play a signature bass? It isn't going to make you play like that person. It is not going to give you that person's sound. It will not give you their vibe. So, humbly, I ask, Why would you play a signature bass? And please no haters.
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It's irrelevent.

If a bass plays well, feels perfect in my hands, feels right against my body, and sounds great. I couldn't give a rat's hairy butt who's "Signature" is on it or what model it is:D

I don't have any Signature models at this moment, but if I find one that meets the above mentioned criteria, I'll buy it.
 

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