That Didn't Last Long - Stu Hamm goes to Warwick

[WoodyG3]

I wonder if Michael Jordan really wears Hanes underwear?

I like Stu, and could care less what bass he plays. I'm amazed by the snarky comments that always come with discussions about endorsement deals. A guy's gotta' pay the bills, right?

 

[maplethumb]

I thought the greedy J-P-J pickups on his Fenders were cool

 

[JimmyM]

I wonder if Michael Jordan really wears Hanes underwear?

I like Stu, and could care less what bass he plays. I'm amazed by the snarky comments that always come with discussions about endorsement deals. A guy's gotta' pay the bills, right?

And the funny thing is that there just isn't a lot of money to be made in endorsements. There might be some halfway decent money in doing clinics, but if I were touring the country promoting a brand at clincs, damn right I'd want to be paid, too. And unless you have an immensely popular sig model, there's not a lot of money to be made in sig models, either. Maybe for Geddy Lee there is big money, that's about it. But every little bit does help, especially when you're best known as a sideman who never gets the really big money. I'm not privy to Stu's tax returns, but his career path indicates that he probably makes a comfortable but not spectacular living.

So this whole thread is much ado about nothing.

 

[gpx1200]

Im not drawn to sig basses other than for some of the interesting custom features they add like steve baileys push/pull treble boost, and stus basses allways have interesting pickup combos.
I do love the the promo videos that warwick puts out with all their endorsing artists playing together, id like to see stu in one of those
this is my favorite one

 

[Joe Louvar]

Looks like he's rocking a Warwick now. I guess the Washburn wasn't the tone in his head after all?

Warwick offered Stu a great job that he couldn't refuse... and it's a real honor to be part of the Warwick family too.

 

[cronker]

I was a big fan of Stu when he released Albemuth. Thought it was great! I saw him with Satriani live, and he got an extended solo, which I (haha) watched through theatre binoculars! He was playing the Factor, which was exciting and weird at the time.

But, somehow, he has always left me cold. At the time he was big on the radar, he was in the vein of Satriani, Vai, Malmsteen, etc, but on bass. I grow very tired of pyrotechnic players quickly.
I guess, by that time in my musical journey, I was discovering the joys of Duck Dunn, Jamerson etc. I was learning groove and pocket playing. Sorry, but Stu just never had that for me.

I always loved the Mark King Status, but could never afford one.

 

[TolerancEJ]

I always enjoyed Stu's work. I still have my VHS copy of Slap, Pop & Tap for the Bass. I am happy for Stu. I'm glad that Washburn gave Stu a break after Fender. I felt he just didn't look right holding a Washburn.

Warwick seems to be treating their musicians very well. Consider the roster of musicians directly associated with Warwick. Just a few notables include: Stu Hamm, Steve Bailey, Bootsy Collins, Jonas Hellborg, TM Stevens, Lee Sklar, Andy Irvine, Rob Trujillo, Jack Bruce, and many more.

 

[cronker]

I always enjoyed Stu's work. I still have my VHS copy of Slap, Pop & Tap for the Bass. I am happy for Stu. I'm glad that Washburn gave Stu a break after Fender. I felt he just didn't look right holding a Washburn.

Warwick seems to be treating their musicians very well. Consider the roster of musicians directly associated with Warwick. Just a few notables include: Stu Hamm, Steve Bailey, Bootsy Collins, Jonas Hellborg, TM Stevens, Lee Sklar, Andy Irvine, Rob Trujillo, Jack Bruce, and many more.

Yes, but does that make Warwick a better instrument?

 

[/\/\3phist0]

You guys do realize Stu Hamm is a TB member RIGHT?

 

[tribbledaniel]

The action looks insanely low!!!!

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Im not drawn to sig basses other than for some of the interesting custom features they add like steve baileys push/pull treble boost, and stus basses allways have interesting pickup combos.
I do love the the promo videos that warwick puts out with all their endorsing artists playing together, id like to see stu in one of those
this is my favorite one

speaking of Warwick and Fuss on the bus.. love this sequence Ryan Martinie: starts a 4:54

 

[arjune]

I've never seen a Stu Hamm sig bass that I liked.

 

[gpx1200]

of all of stu's sig basses I like this new warwick the best but im also a fan of the original spector ns2 it was copied from

 

[cnltb]

Im pretty sure its all about the Benjamins and not the instrument.

I guess that may well be so.

 

[cnltb]

Does he still have any pull at all though?
What would warwick , or any other company gain by paying him for playing free instruments?

 

[WoodyG3]

Does he still have any pull at all though?
What would warwick , or any other company gain by paying him for playing free instruments?

What are you trying to say, here? Do you think Stu is some no-name off the streets that nobody has heard of? Do you think he was only a well known bass player for a couple of years but has now gone out of fashion? One look at the number of posts in this thread shows that bass players know the name well.

What will Warwick gain? They will sell more basses.

Whether any of you individually like Stu's playing and music or not makes no difference at all. There is a large body of players who do, and also many players who will be interested in this pickup configuration and design.

 

[mancefine]

I don't get those of you saying that you wouldn't buy a bass because you saw someone playing it. If you heard a song with killer bass tone that you fell in love with and found out the bassist was playing a Warwick and the bass itself contributed largely to that sound, why would you not buy the bass? Endorsing an artist is a way a company can get their basses heard in nationally and internationially distributed material. I remember the first time I heard Good Apollo I'm Burning Star 4 by Coheed and Cambria and the bass tone was like nothing I'd heard before, and I wanted it more than anything. Low and behold the bassist Mic Todd played a Spector, which is a bass that has a VERY distinctive sound that can't be replicated easily with another brand. I fell in love and have been hooked on Spectors ever sense. Giving Mic Todd 2 free basses got them at least 4 purchases from me, and most likely thousands more. Same concept....

 

[lowfreqgeek]

I can't believe how petty some of these posts are! The Internets are ridiculous.

 

[TolerancEJ]

Quite simply, Stu Hamm is an excellent player. Warwick seems to be a great company to work for. They put out the Fuss on the Bus videos, host Warwick-Framus Bass/Guitar Camps. Last year, they hired both Stu and Victor Wooten as instructors, even though they didn't work for Warwick.

As far as free instruments go, I seem to recall someone's interview during last year, that Warwick endorsers only get one free instrument every few years. So, it's not like they will be swimming in free basses out of the gate. Of course they would be entitled to discounts on instruments.

 

[Kaa]

Well, to be honest, I kind of like the look of the Washburn more than the Warwick. Just a taste thing.
And if Stu is making an extra buck or two, or is getting his perfect bass (especially free), kudos to him!