Rant: Sig basses...

[Bogster]

...is there anyone here who has a sig bass that they really, really like?

I dunno. To me there's something about playing a bass with another player's name on it that completely turns me off-maybe it's a certain cheeze factor that I attribute to it? I can't quite put my finger on it. The hoppus, The bootsy, The Fieldy (which is actually a decent bass-except it's the "Fieldy" sig and who the hell wants that?), etc. Even players that I really like-Harris and the Tom Araya (Slayer) sigs just leave me cold.

I'm sure I am being an ass about it, but I just can't bring myself to buy a signature bass. I don't know what it is...:shrug:

[Haico]

http://www.leadguitars.fr/images/s-fender-marcus-miller-jazzbass.jpg

I'd rock it. Actually, I'm already rocking it in my dreams. Would you?

[Low Tone]

I would love to have a Reggie Hamilton Jazz someday.

[mlwarriner]

the geddy is nice, as is the marcus.

[Inazone]

I had an Adam Nitti sig bass and still have a Joe Osborn bass. Both are great basses but neither had their name on them. I do agree though, I dont like a players name on a sig bass.

The Adam Nitti sig did have his autograph on the controll plate on the back though, that was kinda cool.:cool:

[Grant Sharkey]

I don't go for sigs either - i'd rather make a bass my own :D

[i_wanna_les_paul]

Well, I like Les Pauls...

[brake]

If the sig bass is good enough, then I'll take it... I was going to buy a Geddy Lee jazz, once, and I still might someday.


I've got a pretty twisted perception of what I like bass to sound like, so it's somewhat rare that I'll find a signature bass that I'll like enough.


Now, if they made a Signature Bongo, I'd be all over it... :D

[NotFSI]

http://www.guitarshop.net//cort/jps5.jpg

[bassaussie]

The Geddy Lee Jazz is great.

[Inazone]

http://www.guitarshop.net//cort/jps5.jpg
Thats a bass Id like to spend some time with.:)

[El Duderino]

There are a few different sig basses that I'd like to own someday. I like the Marcus and Hamilton Jazzes, the Stu Hamm Urge, the Jack Cassidy hollowbody, and the Billy Sheehan Attitude.

[bassnutz]

http://www.guitarshop.net//cort/jps5.jpg

That's been the only signature bass I've ever owned, and it rocked!!! The only reason I sold it was to help purchase my own signature bass.

http://www.bassnutz.com/mybass/5.jpg

http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/1359/bassnutz42nm.jpg

I think I made the right choice! :D

[Otis The Bulldog]

I once picked up a bass, played it, liked it, then realized it said "Sting"

I put it back on the rack and made sure none of my friends saw me.

[cdb]

I never, ever wanted a sig bass. Just holds no appeal for me. I don't want to be/sound like geddy/marcus/sting or anybody. The sig holds no cachet. I wouldn't mind playing or owning those basses, but the sig turns me off. Even Jack casady, one of my heroes.

[basslord1124]

I never really got into sig basses either...not sure why, just haven't. I do remember one of the first sig basses I played was the Stu Hamm Fender sig and thinking how overly complicated it seemed. Too many pickups for me. Now the Geddy Lee jazz is probably the only sig model I can think of that I wouldn't mind having.

[cdb]

I never really got into sig basses either...not sure why, just haven't. I do remember one of the first sig basses I played was the Stu Hamm Fender sig and thinking how overly complicated it seemed. Too many pickups for me. Now the Geddy Lee jazz is probably the only sig model I can think of that I wouldn't mind having.

And thats because its really just a jbass with black block inlays, and nice maple throughout. It is familiar in tone and pup and control set up. Nothing NOT to like about it except the geddy stigma.

[DevilRaysFan]

Well, Guitarists have been doing that for years with the "Les Paul", I guess...

...anyway, I have a Roscoe Beck and I love it regardless of his name on it. The name on this bass could have been Bubba Dingelballs and I still would have bought it..........Personally, I think its ugly but it sounds great
http://img473.imageshack.us/img473/3391/0000000xw4.jpg

[mlwarriner]

I never, ever wanted a sig bass. Just holds no appeal for me. I don't want to be/sound like geddy/marcus/sting or anybody. The sig holds no cachet. I wouldn't mind playing or owning those basses, but the sig turns me off. Even Jack casady, one of my heroes.


the whole sig thing really holds no appeal to me, i couldn't care less whether it's the sting version, the geddy version, the marcus version, etc etc etc. if it's a good bass at a decent price, i'm down. the celeb. endorsement or whatever means less than :2c: to me...

[The Lurker]

best I can say for the idea of the sig bass is that sometimes it gets unconventional or unique designs onto the market-- the Jack Casady, for one; how many people were making hollowbodies until that came out?

[sunburstbasser]

I'd rock a Reverend Brad Houser.

*waits for KK*

[El Duderino]

the whole sig thing really holds no appeal to me, i couldn't care less whether it's the sting version, the geddy version, the marcus version, etc etc etc. if it's a good bass at a decent price, i'm down. the celeb. endorsement or whatever means less than :2c: to me...
Those are my thoughts exactly.

[i_wanna_les_paul]

best I can say for the idea of the sig bass is that sometimes it gets unconventional or unique designs onto the market-- the Jack Casady, for one; how many people were making hollowbodies until that came out?
I agree with you - the basses that are unique and have someone else's name on them are more likely to get me to play them - because they're unique.

A turnoff for me is how a company will market a signature bass and I won't like the artist's tone at all. That bass could possibly be my favorite ever, but I probably won't play it if the artist's tone sucks.

I just don't necessarily appreciate the Fender signature instrument mantra - take a standard instrument, change one - or maybe two to splurge - things about it, slap someone else's name on it and market it to death. They do this more with Strats than basses, though.

Dustin

[sunburstbasser]

I swear half of Fender's Strats are the same thing in a different color.

"Vintage 50s shape neck with Vintage Hot pickups on an alder body with maple/rosewood neck and fulcrum tremolo."

[Croissant Seven]

the whole sig thing really holds no appeal to me, i couldn't care less whether it's the sting version, the geddy version, the marcus version, etc etc etc. if it's a good bass at a decent price, i'm down. the celeb. endorsement or whatever means less than :2c: to me...

The only sig bass I've ever even paid attention to is the GL Jazz, but it has a couple of features that I like (thin, maple neck, BAII), and it's not overpriced.
Other than that, there are only a couple of sig basses out there that I could see a picture of, and be able to name who's signature it has on it.
The silliest sig bass out there is the Mark Hoppus.:D
C7

[El Duderino]

The silliest sig bass out there is the Mark Hoppus.:D
C7

I would agree, though I can see how it would be cool if it had a different paint scheme and a DarkStar. The TM Stevens Cort is even sillier though, but I wouldn't mind trying one; I think the built in wah would sound pretty cool.

[The Lurker]

I would agree, though I can see how it would be cool if it had a different paint scheme and a DarkStar. The TM Stevens Cort is even sillier though, but I wouldn't mind trying one; I think the built in wah would sound pretty cool.
what do you find silly about it:confused:

[citizenralph]

I wanted a Jazz but never liked the original Fender bridge. I could have bought a J and added the BAII to get what I wanted. Of course it would have to be black and it would be real cool if it had those black inlays. So I went with the Geddy. So It's got some squiggly sig on the back of the headstock. No big woop.

[basshunter]

the whole sig thing really holds no appeal to me, i couldn't care less whether it's the sting version, the geddy version, the marcus version, etc etc etc. if it's a good bass at a decent price, i'm down. the celeb. endorsement or whatever means less than :2c: to me...


Crap, I agree with Matt on something :smack: ;) :D
________
Honda Dream E (http://www.cyclechaos.com/wiki/Honda_Dream_E)

[bassment zombie]

I'm not naturally inclined to be attracted or interested in sig instruments, however, I've been open minded enough to try some, and really like a few. I wouldn't buy any instrument simply because its an artist's sig model, that's silly. I definitely would buy it if it were a good instrument, a good value, and was one that I liked.

For example, the Sting. Yea, I could definitely do without the 'Stinglay' at the 12th fret. That said, its a great bass and a great buy, and its not one you can get in other forms. Yes, there are 51 RIs, however those are slab bodies with no contours, and the contours are very important for me. Very uncomfortable for me to play, otherwise. The only other options are the blue flower and pink paisley single coil precisions, and those are discontinued. The stings have ash bodies, the blue/pinks have basswood, etc. To part/build your own version of a Sting with Warmoth parts is significantly more expensive unless you get deals on every single piece and are able to do the assembly and setup properly yourself.

I have experience with the Bob Glaub Laklands - great Precision basses, and no 'name' on the bass anywhere to be found.

The Cassady sig. is a rather unique model, etc...

These basses definitely have their places. That said, there are a load of Fender guitar sig models that are simply upgraded finish options among other cosmetic things. Some people prefer to have those finishes and options. What difference does it make? If that's what they want, then more power to them.

[El Duderino]

what do you find silly about it:confused:
Mostly the finish.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v685/El_Duderino676/tmstevens.jpg

I'd forgotten that they made the plain vanilla variety:smack: