leschirons Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 Never really had a problem with the concept. There's always been guitar and bass heroes but today, I saw the ad for the Robbie Robertson signature Strat. It's £12,000!! It's not as if he's actually a great guitarist or some sort of ground breaking virtuoso. A couple of great songs and the Last Waltz. That's it isn't it? Or have I missed something? Fender must be desperate to simply get a name, any name on a headstock. Wonder how many they'll sell. Rant over, just going to get an hour's practice in on my Angela Merkel jazz 5😎 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 I like fenders but imo I think they are all far to overpriced Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spongebob Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 I think the Flea and Geddy Lee basses are amazing instruments, regardless how you feel about the artists themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 I tried a Jaco next to a USA fretless Jazz & it was a slightly better instrument, but not £500 better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 Fender are aiming for the 'Dentists' out there (ie people with more money than ability). *My apologies to any dentists who are actually very talented guitarists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leschirons Posted July 4, 2017 Author Share Posted July 4, 2017 [quote name='spongebob' timestamp='1499194088' post='3329896'] I think the Flea and Geddy Lee basses are amazing instruments, regardless how you feel about the artists themselves. [/quote] I get that totally. They're both accomplished and worthy hero's to a lot of people and, the basses are financially within reach to the majority of players. Even the Adam Clayton bass I get due to the popularity of the band but most players under 40 probably wouldn't know who Robbie Robertson is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 [quote name='leschirons' timestamp='1499191729' post='3329878'] Never really had a problem with the concept. There's always been guitar and bass heroes but today, I saw the ad for the Robbie Robertson signature Strat. It's £12,000!! It's not as if he's actually a great guitarist or some sort of ground breaking virtuoso. A couple of great songs and the Last Waltz. That's it isn't it? Or have I missed something? Fender must be desperate to simply get a name, any name on a headstock. [/quote] You're not the target audience. There are 60ish-year-old stockbroker Band fans in New York who will queue up to buy these. And... 'a couple of great songs'? Have to disagree with you there. He's one of the greats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 Never heard of him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1499197439' post='3329924'] Never heard of him. [/quote] Same here. I don`t really go a bundle on sig instruments, that said I`ve had Fender Mike Dirnt, Duff McKagan & Dee Dee Ramone Sig basses - still got the Dee Dee. Probably bought them more for the reviews than for sounding like the artist though, whatever bass I have I set it with my sound, not anyone elses. The Dee Dee is a fantastic Precision though, it`s surplus to requirements so I`m offloading - buyer lined up already - but it really is a great bass, the neck is chunk-tastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 I have the Nate Mendel P bass. Not because I am a fan of his. Its just a great bass which I like the look and the playability of. But that is the limit of my foray into signature instruments. I did like the look of the Sting bass until I saw that stupid 12th fret inlay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1499197439' post='3329924'] Never heard of him. [/quote] Too young, I suppose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 (edited) [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1499197439' post='3329924'] Never heard of him. [/quote] [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1499206129' post='3330020'] Same here. I don`t really go a bundle on sig instruments, that said I`ve had Fender Mike Dirnt, Duff McKagan & Dee Dee Ramone Sig basses - still got the Dee Dee. Probably bought them more for the reviews than for sounding like the artist though, whatever bass I have I set it with my sound, not anyone elses. The Dee Dee is a fantastic Precision though, it`s surplus to requirements so I`m offloading - buyer lined up already - but it really is a great bass, the neck is chunk-tastic. [/quote] [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbie_Robertson"]https://en.wikipedia...obbie_Robertson[/url] Played with and wrote many good songs for The Band Edited July 4, 2017 by ead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 [quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1499207442' post='3330040'] Too young, I suppose. [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
project_c Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 I'm pretty sure Fender do a bit of market research before they release a new thing. The high end Fender stuff is retired baby boomer territory, if you're under 45 it will leave you completely baffled both in terms of cultural reference and in terms of cost. The 'dentist' comment above is in the right ballpark, although I'd say it was closer to 'ex-dentist buying himself a retirement gift to congratulate himself for owning 17 rental properties'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acidbass Posted July 5, 2017 Share Posted July 5, 2017 [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1499195593' post='3329914'] And... 'a couple of great songs'? Have to disagree with you there. He's one of the greats. [/quote] I love The Band, but I think even objectively speaking I would have a hard time justifying Robbie Robertson as a guitar great. Agree with OP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SICbass Posted July 5, 2017 Share Posted July 5, 2017 [quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1499207442' post='3330040'] Too young, I suppose. [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted July 5, 2017 Share Posted July 5, 2017 (edited) [quote name='spongebob' timestamp='1499194088' post='3329896'] I think the Flea and Geddy Lee basses are amazing instruments, regardless how you feel about the artists themselves. [/quote] I'm a marginal bass player. Any bass I play will only be marginal at best. Amazing basses will only sound amazing if your playing skills are amazing. Blue Edited July 5, 2017 by blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted July 5, 2017 Share Posted July 5, 2017 [quote name='acidbass' timestamp='1499216005' post='3330071'] I love The Band, but I think even objectively speaking I would have a hard time justifying Robbie Robertson as a guitar great. Agree with OP. [/quote] Songwriting great, I meant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted July 5, 2017 Share Posted July 5, 2017 I find it strange that a musician buys a bog standard instrument, takes a few things off and then the original manufacturer puts a copy of it out at much more than the original version cost. Im sure thats not always the case but it seem like it to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted July 5, 2017 Share Posted July 5, 2017 [quote name='ead' timestamp='1499208137' post='3330047'] Played with and wrote many good songs for The Band [/quote] I have most of the Band albums and think RR is a good songwriter but a guitarist worthy of a signature instrument? I'm not sure about that. There are even question marks on the song writing front. He is alleged to have stitched up the rest of the band when it came to the song writing credits of many of their songs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted July 5, 2017 Share Posted July 5, 2017 I have a Fender catalogue from about 20 years ago and there are over 50 signature Strats listed. It's marketing. Do what all these "famous" guitarists did. Buy the standard model and make your own changes. Create your own signature instrument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted July 5, 2017 Share Posted July 5, 2017 I agree with you re: writing credits, but as mentioned earlier that bronze strat is iconic to some (rich) people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yank Posted July 5, 2017 Share Posted July 5, 2017 If any "Band" member should have been elevated, it should have been Levon Helm, one of the greatest pocket drummers of all time. But then they don't make signature drum sets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jezzaboy Posted July 5, 2017 Share Posted July 5, 2017 Fender recently did a Gary Moore strat, it was around £13000 and they were all pre sold so somebody must love these creations. Good on you if you have the cash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickeyboro Posted July 5, 2017 Share Posted July 5, 2017 I know it's Epiphone, but Jack Casady did create more or less his own bass... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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