I'm obviously getting into this discussion late. It looks like Jeff's original message was censored but I think I get the whole jist of the conversation.
This is not a defense on my behalf believe me, I just feel that I should speak my peace.
Brother Paul, I do agree with you about what you said about cheap replicas of signature models. That to me only bastardizes the name of the player and the company. The obvious exception of course being the SC or MK signature models, there's nothing cheap there.
I too am an endorser for lack of a better word for another bass company...so what!!! When I signed on with (oh heck it's no secret) Warwick, it was more so because they are also friends of mine and they were offering me a job as a clinician for their basses. Yeah, I'm not a big rock star so the extra income was well received. Would I have done the same thing for Alembic? You bet your sweet petuties!!!!! And you know what, in a lot of ways I do promote Alembic as well. Whenever I go into a store to do a clinic, if there is an Alembic on the wall, that's usually the first bass I go to. And I make damn sure that it's well set up and clean. And I ALWAYS explain to the sales guys that yes, even though I work for and play Warwick, my old faithful is a 91 Alembic Elan and a fretless Orion and I do have what I would like to consider a fantastic relationship with the Alembic Family... you all being included.
Now one thing that I would also like to explain is that my relationship with Alembic is no secret to the folks at Warwick either. They realize that's how it is with me and that's how it will stay. And, if it someday has to change then maybe I'll be looking for another job.
Now as far as being a professional player, there are times when I am requested to bring a Fender with flatwounds. Do I always like being told what instrument to play? No!!! But when the person writing the check at the end of the session or gig is insistent, you sort of have to respect their wishes.
Now with that being said, I still bring my Alembics and W's because you never know, they may just listen and go, Hey, that's the sound I'm looking for on this particular thing. It's my job as a bass player to suggest other alternatives, if I didn't, I wouldn't be doing my job.
Just like any craftsman though, you have to use the tool that's appropriate for the job at hand. Most of the time that can be done with just one bass, yep, you guessed it! But, sometimes it calls for something more specific. I'm sorry but only a P Bass can truely sound like a P Bass. I can get my Orion pretty close but it's not exact. That can be a good thing and a bad thing too. HA!!!! And yes sometimes it is a visual thing where they just want to see a Fender on stage. That's where I really have to draw the line. First of all if it's a visual thing, then why are you hiring my ugly mug!?!?!
Do I love my Alembics? YES! Do I love my Warwicks? YES! Do I Iove my Fender? YES! Does this make me a traitor? NO!!! I'm a musician that makes his living playing bass for other people. 90% of the time it's my Elan that goes in the gig bag first though.
I've said it before and I'll say it again....
Nobody ever told a poor little kid from Liverpool that he'd never be able to write some of the best rock bass lines on a crappy little Hofner. -remember its the player that makes the instrument.
Now lets get back to making music!!!
Peace,
Dino(bptfo/tafkad)
