Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
What brand has all your loyalty?
- Thread starter Sam Dingle
- Start date
No longer active, but Genz Benz
LaBella flats
LaBella flats
None. Brand "loyalty" is a self-humiliating idea.
I didn't even think strings. I'm basically a DR nerd, got high beams on my 5 string and 4 string jazz and flats on the p bass, the music master has d'addario tapes as DR doesn't make tapes or short scale strings, and the fretless has some type of ernie ball flat, whichever was bright.
I was a Fender guy for many years. 3 years ago I found a great deal on a Yamaha BB1025. I was actually shopping for a Fender P5 but thought I would try the BB because being discontinued it was 60% in a January blow out sale. Hmm! Took it home that day and now I own 3 Yamaha’s and one Fender. A 1991 P California special. Amps have been GK for me for many years. Bought my first in 1985 a 800rb great amp.
Sandberg and Orange
I also like Dunable a lot.
I also like Dunable a lot.
The only musical thing that I am really loyal about is Elixir strings for my guitars. Unfortunately they don't do flats, short scale or 8 string so I don't have any of them on my basses.
The reason i'm loyal to them was their fantastic customer service back in Australia. I had just bought my second set of them after finding the first set really, really good for acoustic guitars. The coating on one string started falling apart after only a few days so, considering they cost $25 in Oz back then, I emailed them about it. The Aussie importer emailed back within 24 hours and asked for an address to send a new set to me. When he saw the address he asked if I knew a local muso who was an Elixir endorsee. As it turned out I had just booked him that week to play at the club I managed. Anyway, after a bit of email chat I sent him some videos of my daughter playing Santana songs live (she was only 8 at the time) and instead of one set of strings he sent a set for her guitar too.
It wasn't long after that he sent some strings for her electric, plus some Elixir brand leads to try and report back to him (me being an ex roadie he was interested in my feedback).
Making a long story a little less long he eventually said to not bother buying anymore strings and just drop him a line when we needed any. He was good to his word for around 10 years until we moved to NZ.
I'll still only buy Elixirs for all our guitars..... especially the ones that don't get played often. My 12 string acoustic has had the same strings on it for over 7 years now and sounds nearly as good as the day they went on.
The reason i'm loyal to them was their fantastic customer service back in Australia. I had just bought my second set of them after finding the first set really, really good for acoustic guitars. The coating on one string started falling apart after only a few days so, considering they cost $25 in Oz back then, I emailed them about it. The Aussie importer emailed back within 24 hours and asked for an address to send a new set to me. When he saw the address he asked if I knew a local muso who was an Elixir endorsee. As it turned out I had just booked him that week to play at the club I managed. Anyway, after a bit of email chat I sent him some videos of my daughter playing Santana songs live (she was only 8 at the time) and instead of one set of strings he sent a set for her guitar too.
It wasn't long after that he sent some strings for her electric, plus some Elixir brand leads to try and report back to him (me being an ex roadie he was interested in my feedback).
Making a long story a little less long he eventually said to not bother buying anymore strings and just drop him a line when we needed any. He was good to his word for around 10 years until we moved to NZ.
I'll still only buy Elixirs for all our guitars..... especially the ones that don't get played often. My 12 string acoustic has had the same strings on it for over 7 years now and sounds nearly as good as the day they went on.
The only "brand" that I endorse is me. Building killer mutts using a variety of quality components from several manufacturers is the best possible choice. Like ala carte dining. You have the option to pick (or more importantly UNpick) what goes on your plate and what you eventually pay for. You control every aspect of the project from beginning to end. QC problem with pots? Send 'em back. Like the design of a certain model but hate the hardware? No problem. You don't have the same type of dealer markups with parts as you do with whole instruments. Buying in bulk from parts distributors shaves the cost down to next to nothing per unit. You can build a better instrument in your basement these days than many manufacturers are able to deliver for the same price. You really see the savings pile up when you get into custom designs. If you wanted a P bass with a mudbucker in the neck position and a J pup in the '60's bridge slot what would you be charged by a custom shop? Compare that with getting an after market body. A few minutes with the router and voila. Despite this, there remains the aging process that occurs with instruments that in some cases enhances them dramatically. The mutt you built in the eighties is just now approaching it's peak.
Fender does pretty well at providing a complete bass system, since the introduction of the Rumble amps. I don't have anything but the 40, but if I had to replace my PF-800 with a Fender, I could go for the Rumble 500 and be perfectly satisfied. I have a few basses that aren't Fenders (G&L, Music Man, Jolana, Eastwood), but if I had to, I could use nothing but Fender bass gear without missing much.
I used to be really big on G&L, but in the past few years, they've seriously rubbed me the wrong way on pretty much every single dealing with them, so they're pretty close to being dead to me (though I will keep my old ones).
I used to be really big on G&L, but in the past few years, they've seriously rubbed me the wrong way on pretty much every single dealing with them, so they're pretty close to being dead to me (though I will keep my old ones).
Just George
Fingers on 4 Flatwounds
- Dec 29, 2008
- 412
- 413
- Disclosures
- Artist Relationship: Wilkins-Ampeg-La Bella
I'm not sure I have a single brand I'm "loyal" to. I have certain brands I trust and come back to regularly, but I'm open to playing around with others and trying new ones. This applies to basses, amps and anything else gear related.
I'm "almost" all Fender. I have:
Two Fender P basses
Two Fender J basses
Fender Super Bassman 300-watt tube amp
Fender Bassman 100T 100-watt tube amp
Pair of Fender 410 Neo cabs
So where does the "almost" part come in??
My fifth bass is a Ric 4003S.
