Signature Instruments—-What Do We Think About Them?

[brianrost]

All I care about is how it sounds and how it feels to play.

I remember spending some serious time at a local store with a MIJ Noel Redding J back in the 90s and really, really liked it. It came very close to my AVRI 62 J at only half the price and smoked the MIM Js of the era in terms of capturing the pre-CBS sound and feel.

While it’s not a signature model, I own a P bass that was heavily modified by the original owner. Yes, it’s cool that it was played on a #1 record, but if I didn’t love playing it, I’d have flipped it a long time ago. Even if I had no idea who had owned it, I still would have bought it.

 

[ClusterFlux]

Like most folks here, I care more about the qualities of the instrument than the imprimatur of another musician.

That said, I do have a Sire bass, which has Marcus Miller's name on it. Since his name is on all of their basses, the "signature" aspect is not really relevant. I'm not assuming that Miller has much involvement beyond the name.

That said I am occasionally tempted by the MonoNeon signature, mostly because of the color scheme, which is pretty hilarious.

 

[JenderBazzFass]

It *probably* makes a bass less appealing to me most of the time, because you've got to both love the specs AND like the artist to want to be carrying their instrument. (At least I would).

But if it's got that combination like the USA Geddy or the Adam Clayton does, why not? It could be a tribute to artists you admire and who shaped you.

 

[Herrick]

I only know what I’ve gleaned from some TB threads on the matter. Brian chimed in to one of them.

I’m unsure but I have the impression they sort of went rogue on the whole thing and he wasn’t that involved, at least eventually. I’ll try to find the thread.

The Peavey B-Quad and Carvin/Kiesel B24/25 models were approved by him and the Kiesels are still in production.

Edit: found the thread with Brian’s comment.

Thanks I'll check this out.

 

[MegaSwing]

A ’Signature’ model never influenced me one way or another—unless there was something significantly and undeniably different about it. See: Fender Roscoe Beck V.

Signature on the headstock? C’mon, man!

 

[Gopherbassist]

Signature instruments are good marketing, the end.

 

[Lenny JG]

I used to own a GWB35, that was an awesome bass. I think sometimes it just depends; for the money, that bass felt great.

 

[rushgenesis2112]

For me, the Geddy jazz made a great goal and when I play it it feels like home so I have no choice but to be “pro” signature bass.

 

[BazzaBass]

There are mentions of Signature basses (such as the Chris Squire Rickenbacker) all over the “Basses” threads and in some other areas, but have we ever discussed them as a whole? Yes, I know, it is difficult to generalize about them because by nature they are all different because they reflect the wants of the Artist. I DID search by the way!

So, do you have any? Do you like it/them? Why? Would you never buy one? Why?

Interestingly, I don’t have any Signature basses but quite a few of my acoustic and electric guitars are signature models. Why did I gravitate towards them? Well, it ISN’T what many naysayers think about Signature instruments. I am not a Fanboy, nor am I trying to cop someone else’s tone and style. Just the opposite…I like instruments that are unique and stimulate my creativity because they are different.

Examples: my first Signature was purchased because it was the opposite of most Signature instruments. It was NOT really expensive. Just the opposite. It was a Jewel Kirchner “JKSM” Taylor guitar. I knew nothing of her when I stumbled on it when it was new. It played even better than most Taylors. It has a voice that is so sweet. It is a “green” instrument (Jewel wanted sustainability to be the focus). It is simply appointed. But many people gravitate towards it much more than my Martin or other guitars. It even has a sweet smell unlike any other guitar due to its Satinwood. It was $1300. I see one on Reverb for $2000. Anyway, it was the start. My other Signatures are very different and were chosen for different reasons.

So what say you TalkBass members? Let’s try to emphasize basses, but I think it is cool to discuss whatever Signature instruments come to mind.

A marketing ploy

 

[Dave TB Killer]

I had a Geddy Jazz Bass once. I found the neck way too thin. I didn't like the pickups and put Model J's in it. I found out what a pain a Badass bridge could be. I eventually sold it and considered it a lesson learned. I now own an ash slab bodied Jazz with a Precision neck and DiMarzio Ultra Jazz pickups in it. It is my personal signature instrument.

 

[Polfuste]

Mixed feeling. Years ago, i was very influenced by Marcus Miller. at this time, i was coming back from 5 strings to 4 and was looking for a bass to replace my Warwick thumb 5 just gone. As i didn't found any warwick in my taste and price around me, i've found this beautifull Fender Marcus Miller signature. (pré-internet era). But when i tried it, i was very disappointed by the tone: as soon as i was slapping it, i only obtain that Marcus clean and crisp sound, whatever i tweak knobs. So this bass was a perfect signature model cause sound was really close to Marcus one. But i din't buy it, finding it a more too "restrictive" for what i wanted to do.
So this experience made me think signature models were not for me.
Until i saw the Markbass Kilimandjaro/Kimandu. This particular design instantly caught me. I was a little reluctant in first cause Richard Bona is definetely one of my mentors, when Marcus finally not so much; So i was a little afraid to have same experience than years ago.
So i started to look for a Kimandu on internet (Kilimandjaro was out of my budget) and found this lovely green with a 300 euros discount. At 1400 euros i decided to pull the trigger and was thinking about returning it in case of disappointment.
And i've found my perfect bass. Comfort, balance, weight and playing was just perfect to my hands. Sound was already wide and beautifull, with a lot of possibilities with Markbass stock pickups. Few month later i've switched pickups for real Barts and reached my nirvana.
So yes i'm Richard Bona complete fan, but with years of musical maturity later, i can say this bass is just perfect for me; and that if it was not the Richard Bona model, i would have been caught the same way. (i've already been caught by the Zon legacy model design the Kimandu is inspired from, but i've not the money for)

 

[Orpheus55]

The Sting P bass is a great bass except for that inlay in the neck. The Geddy Jazz is one of the best Jazz basses Fender has ever made. If Ibanez ever makes a Gary Willis 4 string, I'll be first in line.

I've been playing the Sting bass three times a week for twenty-five years (I'm 73) in hundreds of different venues, and no one has EVER commented on the "Stinglay."

 

[Nolan Tremblay]

Like most folks here, I care more about the qualities of the instrument than the imprimatur of another musician.

That said, I do have a Sire bass, which has Marcus Miller's name on it. Since his name is on all of their basses, the "signature" aspect is not really relevant. I'm not assuming that Miller has much involvement beyond the name.

That said I am occasionally tempted by the MonoNeon signature, mostly because of the color scheme, which is pretty hilarious.

Not a fan of the colours, but I'm a real fan of the hardware and pickups on that one!

 

[Nolan Tremblay]

A marketing ploy

Yeah, it's clearly marketing on both sides of these relationships, but that's what all of it is anyway.

It's an American Ultra II Jazz Bass V and not a quiet spec improvement to the 30 year old American Deluxe Jazz V. It the Ernie Ball Music Man Custom Design Experience and not just the same ability to custom order instruments but with more options available for 2024. I accept that all of these companies are marketing in order to maintain or gain business.

On signature basses, I'm interested when there's something novel added to the instrument that reflects the artist in it. I personally don't care about signature instruments that are a finish option.

To me, a great signature instrument is the EBMM Majesty. Everything about it is new for John Petrucci. New design, new tremolo, new pickups from Dimarzio, etc. A lot of thought went into this bass.

The Geddy Lee Jazz Bass is one I'm pretty ho-hum over. It has a different bridge that really isn't that much different and I think anyone who simply swapped a stock Jazz bass bridge for any of the Badass bridges has the same thing. This did not require much thought.

 

[rushgenesis2112]

Yeah, it's clearly marketing on both sides of these relationships, but that's what all of it is anyway.

It's an American Ultra II Jazz Bass V and not a quiet spec improvement to the 30 year old American Deluxe Jazz V. It the Ernie Ball Music Man Custom Design Experience and not just the same ability to custom order instruments but with more options available for 2024. I accept that all of these companies are marketing in order to maintain or gain business.

On signature basses, I'm interested when there's something novel added to the instrument that reflects the artist in it. I personally don't care about signature instruments that are a finish option.

To me, a great signature instrument is the EBMM Majesty. Everything about it is new for John Petrucci. New design, new tremolo, new pickups from Dimarzio, etc. A lot of thought went into this bass.

The Geddy Lee Jazz Bass is one I'm pretty ho-hum over. It has a different bridge that really isn't that much different and I think anyone who simply swapped a stock Jazz bass bridge for any of the Badass bridges has the same thing. This did not require much thought.

In defense of the Geddy, when it came out did Fender offer a Japanese thin-profile black jazz bass with 70s pickup spacing? I feel like for a long period of its existence it was kind of the only way to get that color combo, neck style, neck profile, and seventies spacing, and it also came with a Badass Bridge.

But, maybe I’m mistaken. I am biased, I love mine!

 

[pfschim]

A ’Signature’ model never influenced me one way or another—unless there was something significantly and undeniably different about it. See: Fender Roscoe Beck V.

Signature on the headstock? C’mon, man!

I agree, except in my case it's an RB IV.

Very unique and exceptionally well built Fender. I like Roscoe as a bass player, I saw him play with Robben Ford a few times, but that had nothing to do with me searching for and buying one (actually two) of his signature models.

 

[Nolan Tremblay]

In defense of the Geddy, when it came out did Fender offer a Japanese thin-profile black jazz bass with 70s pickup spacing? I feel like for a long period of its existence it was kind of the only way to get that color combo, neck style, neck profile, and seventies spacing, and it also came with a Badass Bridge.

But, maybe I’m mistaken. I am biased, I love mine!

I had one for a couple of years, and it was a very nice Jazz. I don't discount that it's a very good instrument, evidenced by its popularity, I just don't really view such a thing as very "signature". Just my opinion and certainly not meant to take away from Geddy, whom I love his music, or the instrument. It really, to me, sits very far into the marketing aspect vice a novel instrument that is truly signature of the artist.

 

[JimmyM]

If there was an sig model that met my needs and I was in the market, I’d be crazy not to buy it based on it being an sig model. I support buying as you see fit, but I find that anti-sig sentiment strange and a little shallow. But the only sig gear I own are EMG GZR pickups and I’m getting a couple Tommy Aldridge Danmar beaters for my drums.

 

[pcake]

i've never (yet) played a signature bass i liked enough to buy.

that being said, there are 2 eric clapton martin acoustics and 1 tim o'brien martin acoustic that i would own now if it weren't for my damaged shoulder. with eyes closed, they sounded sooo nice...

 

[Jeff Scott]

i've never (yet) played a signature bass i liked enough to buy.

that being said, there are 2 eric clapton martin acoustics and 1 tim o'brien martin acoustic that i would own now if it weren't for my damaged shoulder. with eyes closed, they sounded sooo nice...

There used to be a 000-28EC at my local GC years ago that was very nice, but I did not get on with the V neck profile. The Martin I have has the Low Profile neck which is wonderful feeling (to me).