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What brand has all your loyalty?
- Thread starter Sam Dingle
- Start date
If I had to point to one manufacturer, it'd be Fender/Squier (with tons of love for the old Fender-Japan joint
). Partly, it's the aesthetics, partly it's the sound, but my main reason for going back to them again and again are...- Ergonomics. Most of their designs are what works best in my hands, especially when it comes to Jazz necks and bodies.
- Interchangeable parts. I'm a rabid parts-bass builder who loves to tinker. Call it a form of "artistic expression". I get a charge out of assembling something that looks, sounds and feels excellent to me, and occasionally others, especially if it's something kinda-sorta-unique that can't be found in stores, catalogues or websites.
As others have mentioned, loyalty to a corporation can become a bit sketchy.
Fender of 1962 is not Fender of 1992 nor 2020.
The smaller companies will get a bit more "loyalty" but that is due to great products and service that is often not seen with larger corporations.
I guess Source Audio would most fit the loyalty concept at this point:
Aftershock, Collider, Orbital Modulator and a Spectrum (still on backorder
).
It helps that the CEO and other employees post very helpfully on TB. Much like Doug from Darkglass- great resource and responses to issues and questions. But my DG collection only includes a Hyper Luminal and B7K ultra II -- not looking for DG amps or cabs out of loyalty.
Agedhorse's presence on TB definitely makes me lean towards Mesa products, though I currently own only an 18" road-cased cab.
A Subway+preamp and Roadster or Road King guitar amp are on my near-future list.
Fender of 1962 is not Fender of 1992 nor 2020.
The smaller companies will get a bit more "loyalty" but that is due to great products and service that is often not seen with larger corporations.
I guess Source Audio would most fit the loyalty concept at this point:
Aftershock, Collider, Orbital Modulator and a Spectrum (still on backorder
).It helps that the CEO and other employees post very helpfully on TB. Much like Doug from Darkglass- great resource and responses to issues and questions. But my DG collection only includes a Hyper Luminal and B7K ultra II -- not looking for DG amps or cabs out of loyalty.
Agedhorse's presence on TB definitely makes me lean towards Mesa products, though I currently own only an 18" road-cased cab.
A Subway+preamp and Roadster or Road King guitar amp are on my near-future list.
Ernie Ball on guitars and basses
Rotosound on Basses I want to have a brighter punch
As far as brands of Basses go, I’ve been all over the place. If it feels good to me I like it. I used to be in love with with a 70’s Harmony Jazz bass copy my friends dad had when I first started playing in 5th grade. He got it as a teen in the late 70’s out of a sears catalog and painted it canary yellow. Played on it all through high school and to this day is still one of my favorite Basses.
Rotosound on Basses I want to have a brighter punch
As far as brands of Basses go, I’ve been all over the place. If it feels good to me I like it. I used to be in love with with a 70’s Harmony Jazz bass copy my friends dad had when I first started playing in 5th grade. He got it as a teen in the late 70’s out of a sears catalog and painted it canary yellow. Played on it all through high school and to this day is still one of my favorite Basses.
If I had any money, it would be G&L.
Right now and the foreseeable future, it’s Squier...
Right now and the foreseeable future, it’s Squier...
On CL.. I look for peavey basses more than anything else. When I practice, I have a 2 foundations within arms reach. My Unicorns are Peaveys.
I've got quite a few "better " basses, but my best setup is on a cheap foundation.
I've got quite a few "better " basses, but my best setup is on a cheap foundation.
As far as basses go, I don't really have a loyalty to a specific brand; but I do seem to have a loyalty to Leo Fender & his associated companies.
I'd happily play a Jazz, Precision, Mustang, Jaguar, Stingray, L2000, Wunkay, Fallout and numerous others for my main bass, and I have GAS for various ones all the time.
If I had the disposable cash on hand, and a more robust gigging schedule I could be tempted to break that for a Dingwall, and I'm very curious about trying Reverends, but that's really about it for other brands I GAS for.
I'd happily play a Jazz, Precision, Mustang, Jaguar, Stingray, L2000, Wunkay, Fallout and numerous others for my main bass, and I have GAS for various ones all the time.
If I had the disposable cash on hand, and a more robust gigging schedule I could be tempted to break that for a Dingwall, and I'm very curious about trying Reverends, but that's really about it for other brands I GAS for.
I have a number of basses from different brands. In general, each brand is different in its own way with various quirks. I have more Alembic basses than any other brand, and I play Alembic almost exclusively now. For me, Alembics are quirk free.
I no longer use an amp on a regular basis. Kemper takes care of the need to haul amps and cabs around.
I no longer use an amp on a regular basis. Kemper takes care of the need to haul amps and cabs around.
I build all my own basses at this point, so my loyalties are to parts suppliers:
Warmoth for wood. Good stuff, never had a single reason to complain about their stuff.
Hipshot for tuners and bridges. Again, all top notch stuff. They have shipped the wrong parts once, but that was swiftly corrected.
Nordstrand for pickups. I have cheated on them, because other suppliers make stuff that Nordstrand doesn’t, but if Nordstrand makes what I want, they’re definitely the go to supplier.
I recently found my knob supplier - Sever innovations ( sold on the Jescar site). They make aluminum knobs with a spiral around the knob, so you can see where tge knob is in its rotation easily. A cool idea well done.
Warmoth for wood. Good stuff, never had a single reason to complain about their stuff.
Hipshot for tuners and bridges. Again, all top notch stuff. They have shipped the wrong parts once, but that was swiftly corrected.
Nordstrand for pickups. I have cheated on them, because other suppliers make stuff that Nordstrand doesn’t, but if Nordstrand makes what I want, they’re definitely the go to supplier.
I recently found my knob supplier - Sever innovations ( sold on the Jescar site). They make aluminum knobs with a spiral around the knob, so you can see where tge knob is in its rotation easily. A cool idea well done.
I'm not sure I'm a loyalist to anything 100%, but I've had great success with Warwick (pre-96), GenzBenz, Ampeg, & Euphonic Audio. Honorable mentions to Martin, Fender, Taylor, Quilter and Suncoast.
Not brand loyal at all. If the Kerflubum company came out with a 4 or 5 string gem that fit me and looked great, I'd sell my Fenders, Peavey and Stingray to get it if necessary.
I play what sounds good to me and fits my style.
I play what sounds good to me and fits my style.
I lean towards Fender for guitars and Eden for amps. Yamaha for PA, although my most used vocal mic is an Audix I am beginning to dig Sennheiser.
Dingwall. Sheldon Dingwall and his team do amazing things.
Not a brand, but a great business, Fret Nation gets my dough when I need strings. Jason can set you up. If you don’t see it, just ask. Fast, free delivery, TB discounts, rewards program, and he’s got Dingwall gear too!
Not a brand, but a great business, Fret Nation gets my dough when I need strings. Jason can set you up. If you don’t see it, just ask. Fast, free delivery, TB discounts, rewards program, and he’s got Dingwall gear too!
