Instruments you'd buy, but wouldn't...

[NancyJohnson]

Over the years there's been a few instruments I'd have been over like a tramp on chips but for some part of it that just ruined the look of the thing.

Many of you will know that a while back I was haemorraghing money on Gibson Thunderbirds, I loved the look of the Gibson Nikki Sixx Model but (three pointer aside) two things ruined it...the inlays and the scratchplate.  Just thinking about it, I've never seen a photo of Mr Sixx actually playing one, so I don't know what that says.

Moving forward, I have this on/off (mainly on) desire for a Les Paul Junior or a Gibson Melody Maker.  Imagine my delight when I saw the Michael Clifford Signature Melody Maker:

As I'm not 15, I had no idea who Michael Clifford was so I Googl...woah, wait a minute, red crossed inlays??  Gibson, Gibson.  I could live with the red Gibson logo and swapped out the truss rod cover, but come on.  It's a half decent looker, might have put a HB sized P90 in there, maybe some Sperzels later down the line, but the red Xs are a total put off.

 

 

[Lozz196]

Steve Harris Precision, the current one. It ticks many boxes for me but just couldn’t have an instrument with another teams badge on it -and to be honest I wouldn’t want my own teams badge on an instrument either.

[oldslapper]

I’d be up for buying one of these, if the 12th fret didn’t have one those! 
 

[ubit]

What puts me off signature models is the garish stuff they put on them. The Steve Harris with West Ham badge 🤢

That Nikki Sixx with his name written on it 🤢. Why would anyone want to play with these on their guitars?

I have a Geddy Lee Jap. and all that has is his signature written on the back of the headstock. Very tastefully done.

[TRBboy]

2 hours ago, NancyJohnson said:

Over the years there's been a few instruments I'd have been over like a tramp on chips but for some part of it that just ruined the look of the thing.

Many of you will know that a while back I was haemorraghing money on Gibson Thunderbirds, I loved the look of the Gibson Nikki Sixx Model but (three pointer aside) two things ruined it...the inlays and the scratchplate.  Just thinking about it, I've never seen a photo of Mr Sixx actually playing one, so I don't know what that says.

Moving forward, I have this on/off (mainly on) desire for a Les Paul Junior or a Gibson Melody Maker.  Imagine my delight when I saw the Michael Clifford Signature Melody Maker:

As I'm not 15, I had no idea who Michael Clifford was so I Googl...woah, wait a minute, red crossed inlays??  Gibson, Gibson.  I could live with the red Gibson logo and swapped out the truss rod cover, but come on.  It's a half decent looker, might have put a HB sized P90 in there, maybe some Sperzels later down the line, but the red Xs are a total put off.

 

 

If you're keen on an LPJ or melody maker, you should check out Gordon Smith Guitars - their GS1 model is basically the same, but they're hand-built on the UK, much nicer instruments (IMHO), and cheaper. There's usually some on ebay too. I played one back when I was on guitar duty, and it was epic. Later commissioned a GS2 which was incredible and would give any LP a run for its money. Both sadly now long gone.... 😔

Edited July 1, 2020 by TRBboy

[cetera]

2 hours ago, NancyJohnson said:

As I'm not 15, I had no idea who Michael Clifford was so I Googl...woah, wait a minute, red crossed inlays??  Gibson, Gibson.  I could live with the red Gibson logo and swapped out the truss rod cover, but come on.  It's a half decent looker, might have put a HB sized P90 in there, maybe some Sperzels later down the line, but the red Xs are a total put off.

 

Easy, get some plain dot stickers. Job done....

[warwickhunt]

I know what you mean.  It is almost a case of; artist likes a stock bass/guitar, artist plays it and endorses (for said company to make more money), company aesthetically changes the least they can to justify increased price tag over the original model!  Inlays, covers and spray jobs are the least costly, so we'll slap those on... and ruin what was good about the original instrument!  

 

[Woodinblack]

2 hours ago, NancyJohnson said:

Many of you will know that a while back I was haemorraghing money on Gibson Thunderbirds, I loved the look of the Gibson Nikki Sixx Model but (three pointer aside) two things ruined it...the inlays and the scratchplate.  Just thinking about it, I've never seen a photo of Mr Sixx actually playing one, so I don't know what that says.

 

Love that colour, would be happy with that, and put up with the inlays, as I could just get another scratchplate.

Although I have now come to realise that any 4 or 6 string bass I buy will sit around looking pretty until I finally give up and sell it. I need to learn a lesson from that!

He certainly played one with those inlays:

https://reverb.com/uk/item/17117360-gibson-nikki-sixx-owned-played-signed-thunderbird-bass-with-coa-case-motley-crue?locale=en-GB

presumably he just gets them at $1k, plays them at one gig, ships them out for $4k as a nice little earner?

 

 

Quote

Moving forward, I have this on/off (mainly on) desire for a Les Paul Junior or a Gibson Melody Maker.  Imagine my delight when I saw the Michael Clifford Signature Melody Maker:

 

Thats not so bad at all. Again, not bothered about the inlays, but like the black and red headstock.

Edited July 1, 2020 by Woodinblack

[Jonse]

5 hours ago, oldslapper said:

I’d be up for buying one of these, if the 12th fret didn’t have one those! 
 

Yep, same for me. What were they thinking? Just disgusting. 

[bassbiscuits]

5 hours ago, ubit said:

What puts me off signature models is the garish stuff they put on them. The Steve Harris with West Ham badge 🤢

That Nikki Sixx with his name written on it 🤢. Why would anyone want to play with these on their guitars?

I have a Geddy Lee Jap. and all that has is his signature written on the back of the headstock. Very tastefully done.

Totally.

I‘ve had a Epi Jack Casady Bass, plus an Epi Gary Clarke Junior Casino and a PRS Se Bernie Marsden signature.

Each was very discreetly a signature model with a small signature on there at most. 
 

Edited July 1, 2020 by bassbiscuits

[Reggaebass]

7 hours ago, ubit said:

What puts me off signature models is the garish stuff they put on them. The Steve Harris with West Ham badge 🤢

A friend of mine has one of those, it plays and sounds great but I just couldn’t get past the big badge on the front, I thought it spoilt it, and I was born in West Ham 😀

[Dan Dare]

What also puts me off so-called signature models is that they are the same as standard models, but with an inflated price tag and a few badges, etc.

Edited July 1, 2020 by Dan Dare

[ubit]

32 minutes ago, Reggaebass said:

A friend of mine has one of those, it plays and sounds great but I just couldn’t get past the big badge on the front, I thought it spoilt it, and I was born in West Ham 😀

Same mate, I wouldn't want my team (who shall remain secret) on a guitar as it would attract unwanted attention and would spoil the intention. I said on another thread that it's like people who wear replica strips everywhere. I just don't like it.

 

edit: It's most likely for the American market where they don't know the tribal rivalry that goes hand in hand with British football.

Edited July 1, 2020 by ubit

[Barking Spiders]

Larry Graham is one of my fave players evah and this here is one's he's associated with. There's a lot going for it but the white fingerboard! 

[Cuzzie]

Pretty much most Warwicks, when I hear guys like Norwood Fisher playing them I love it, but then I remember that Hans is a complete plum I don’t want to line his pockets, and their basses can look like melted candles drawn by a kindergarten class

[ped]

29 minutes ago, Cuzzie said:

Pretty much most Warwicks, when I hear guys like Norwood Fisher playing them I love it, but then I remember that Hans is a complete plum I don’t want to line his pockets, and their basses can look like melted candles drawn by a kindergarten class

Met him a while ago and thought he was a legend. 

[Cuzzie]

4 minutes ago, ped said:

Met him a while ago and thought he was a legend. 

Never met him, so I bow to you on that, and I deliberately used the work plum for that reason so it’s hopefully not to offensive.

Things I have heard about his strategies, how he treats people, plus how he prevented Status producing a buzzard bass whilst simultaneously making a poo version puts me off

[ped]

Just now, Cuzzie said:

Never met him, so I bow to you on that, and I deliberately used the work plum for that reason so it’s hopefully not to offensive.

Things I have heard about his strategies, how he treats people, plus how he prevented Status producing a buzzard bass whilst simultaneously making a poo version puts me off

All we talked about were cars and paint for some reason. Not sure how he does business but tend to think of that as separate from everything else as a lot of what’s said is hearsay anyway. Although there was a room I wasn’t allowed in with a lot of screaming coming from it.

[Cuzzie]

13 minutes ago, ped said:

All we talked about were cars and paint for some reason. Not sure how he does business but tend to think of that as separate from everything else as a lot of what’s said is hearsay anyway. Although there was a room I wasn’t allowed in with a lot of screaming coming from it.

Fair play - could have just been an ooompah band

[SH73]

11 hours ago, Lozz196 said:

Steve Harris Precision, the current one. It ticks many boxes for me but just couldn’t have an instrument with another teams badge on it -and to be honest I wouldn’t want my own teams badge on an instrument either.

Lovely bass though, lighter than the sparkly royal blue, more comfortable neck. Nice colour but that badge....

[ubit]

1 hour ago, Barking Spiders said:

Larry Graham is one of my fave players evah and this here is one's he's associated with. There's a lot going for it but the white fingerboard! 

I could definitely live with that!

[Woodinblack]

1 hour ago, Barking Spiders said:

Larry Graham is one of my fave players evah and this here is one's he's associated with. There's a lot going for it but the white fingerboard! 

Would love a bass with a white fretboard. Its a shame that fretboards are so rarely coloured.

Still kick myself for not getting a fender flip-flop strat.

[oldslapper]

15 hours ago, Jonse said:

Yep, same for me. What were they thinking? Just disgusting. 

Thing is, I’m a fan of Mr Sumner, as a musician and composer. But don’t feel the need to advertise it every time I play. Bit sad really. 

[rasher80]

Harley Benton PB50.

For under a ton it's prob a no brainer and I really want to try it but I know it would do my head in.

- Slab body 

- Baseball bat neck

- Weight

[T-Bay]

I don’t think we are the target market for signature models. They are mostly aimed at the fan market- have ‘the bass your idol plays’ and you will surely sound exactly like them, or perhaps not........ I bet most end up sat in a corner or on a wall hanger.