What signature model is actually worth it?

[Jaycephas]

Lakland Skyline DJ5
Fender Roscoe Beck V
Epiphone Jack Casady
Fender MIJ Geddy Lee

 

[Dr. Keebs]

The Fender Roscoe Beck V has been my main gigging bass for ~15 years. The most versatile passive bass I’ve ever known.
Gotta +1 the JMJ Mustang and Flea Roadworn Jazz. Slapped some LaBella’s on them and they’re both killer. (Actually, playing the JMJ on a theatre run right now!)

View attachment 5087196 View attachment 5087198 View attachment 5087199

I’ve owned an RB V and JMJ. Agreed.

 

[jimmyjames77]

Also, Jack actually plays them on stage. How many signature models can you say that about?

Billy Sheehan also plays his sigs.

 

[pfschim]

I loved my original Roscoe Beck IV so much (right amber burst), I bought another (middle, tobacco burst). I made the tobacco burst into a freltess with a custom made rosewood neck (with fret lines). Great basses, and its so cool that they are passive and deliver such a great range of tones. The combination of the Bill Lawrence p/u's, selection, switching and series parallel is pretty amazing. The components and build quality are pretty much close to Fender CS level.

I was aware of Roscoe Beck from his time with Robben Ford and the Blue Line band, and I really liked his playing, but that's not why I bought these. I ran into one in a shop in SF and just couldn't put it down. Of course, this was back a bit when they did not have such a high price tag as they appear to have these days.

here they are with their other stable mates ....

 

[jbl71004]

Sean Hurley Custom Shop P

 

[rockdoc11]

Since I don’t think it has been mentioned … The B24 and B25 Bromberg by Carvin/Kiesel is one of the best basses they have made. You can get them at good prices used too. I have always wanted to try the Peavey version with the Graphite neck and piezos.

Yep! As I recently mentioned in another forum on this site, I actually owned two of the Peavey versions for a while. They played and sounded great, but I grew increasingly worried about the unique nature of their electronic (and other) parts, and the potential difficulties in getting them in the future.

 

[B-Mac]

Crazy good deal considering the regular Zzounds price is $799.99!

Yeah, I know. They did the $200 off ($599) and I was watching it for at least a week, and then I got a message for $539. Couldn't believe it. Wasn't a B-stock either.

 

[nonohmic]

Discontinued Squier CIC Matt Freeman Sig P

When I bought a Matt Freeman in 2015 for $399 new that was the best deal ever in the history of bassdom.

When I sold it for $800 18 months ago it was a deal again for me. You'll have to ask the buyer if they felt it was worth it for that price.

 

[Shooz]

Where are they $599? I'm seeing them for $799

For about one or two months this year they were down to $599, I scored a nice black model and absolutely love it, extremely great bass for the price.

 

[atquinn]

I'm sure someone's already mentioned the Tony Franklin but I'll go ahead and do it again. Guitar-wise, the original HH Suhr Pete Thorn is good. And PRS has a bunch of great wigs, the Tremonti and the DGT are both great.

 

[Salem6127]

I remember trying the Doris Yeh signature ESP bass. Had some funky custom bridge with 21mm spacing. I don't know who needs that much spacing on a 5-string unless you're attempting to chop wood with a pick.

Put it down immediately. Dude wanted like 4k for it too

 

[mcrawfordmusic]

Most signature models (particularly Fender) offer features that aren't available on regular models. So I guess they are worth it for those that want those features.

 

[DRBP]

Fender Roscoe Beck

That pickup/preamp setup is absolutely perfect. I have never owned one, but played one a friend of mine owned several times. I may eventually have to buy one.

yes yes yes and yes. do buy one if you ever find one. they are just a great bass. lots of tones, great neck, cool pickup set with serial and parallel switching. and although i’ve never seen him live, i think roscoe actually still plays these on stage (based on youtube vids and talk bass gig reports) even though he and fender parted ways.

 

[krfoss]

For those who have tried the jack Cassidy bass, how do they compare to the Warwick starbass?

 

[Dust2Dust]

This would be a requirement for me, that the artist actually uses the bass

I mean $6000-7000AUD for a "Gene Simmons" Thunderbird.

Did Gene ever actually use a T-Bird?
It looks cool, but I can't find any pics of him holding one

 

[bigdaddybass12]

None, it’s not like it has pickups made from space shuttle parts, tuners that are designed by Massachusetts institute of technology, wood hand picked from the rain forest……just a signature.

 

[B-Mac]

Where are they $599? I'm seeing them for $799

As per @Shooz these were selling from President's Day through March at a sale price of $599 on zZounds, Sweetwater, Musician's Friend and other online retailers.

 

[Tanner5382]

Did Gene ever actually use a T-Bird?
It looks cool, but I can't find any pics of him holding one

He used a black T bird in the later half of the 70s. You can even see it in that terrible Kiss Meets The Phantom of the Park movie. At some point he swapped the pickups to Dimarzios and gave it a black and/or mirror pickguard.

 

[FunkHead]

My Scott Logan Signature Mayones is absolutely worth every penny I paid. Of course that was a few years ago and they cost over $6,000 these days.
Invalid Link Removed

 

[pb9717]

Sadowsky Will Lee. Best all rounder.