groover Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 As per Ed Friedland's recommendation in his latest youtube.com video, I have resubscribed to Bass Player magazine and just received my first issue since over a year ago. In this issue is a review of the Robert Trujillo Signature bass and I am blown away (in a bad way) at the price of the German made version. $9000!! Really?! That's not a misprint? For that amount of money I would expect to see hand crafted exotic woods, custom designed electronics and a unique tonal quality (there are many builders who do this for less than half the price), but this bass has off the shelf pick ups/electronics and a maple neck and body. The only things I see that make this bass special is the finish, the signature and maybe the neck profile. Don't get me wrong, I think it is a stunning bass and I'm sure it plays and sounds incredible, just don't understand what makes it worth $9000. I'm sure there will be people who will still buy it, even though they can get the Korean version for $1450 that sounds and plays just as good (according to Rod Taylor), and Warwick can set prices anyway they want but still... sheesh! $9000!! Anyway, glad to be getting Bass Player once again. I originaly left because the subscription price went up and the content and quality went down (IMHO). Enjoying this issue and am looking forward to more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcadmus Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 For that price, I would expect Robert Trujillo to come to my house personally and tune it. Daily. "Tours widely in the southwestern tip of Kentucky" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groover Posted October 28, 2011 Author Share Posted October 28, 2011 Maybe if Mr. Trujillo personally signs each and every one instead of the signature being a decal I could see it being worth maybe a few thousand. I don't know, maybe if I got my hands on one and played it might change my mind, I don't know. Am I missing something here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddiePlaysBass Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 It's their call. They can price it any which way they want it. Perhaps these are made-to-order? I would never see myself paying that much (or anything remotely close to that much) for a signature bass. And yes, I have a Marcus Miller signature Jazz It just happened to be the best bass in the store, which was a good reason to buy it IMHO. "I'm a work in progress." Micky Barnes The Ross Brown Shirt World Tour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rumpelstiltskin. Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 considering fender's custom shop cranks out $5,000 to $6,000 instruments, $9,000 comes up at just about the rate of exchange plus profit for the importer. whether it's worth it is a different discussion, but it is an understandable price point. because i like people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 It's the got that little silver inlay at the 12th fret....that must be worth at least a thousand. Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beat Poet Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 Does Rob even own a bass worth $9k? Need real drum tracks for your songs? Visit http://www.drumtracksdirect.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 Well, Rob owns the signature bass because they gave it to him. Whether it is worth $9k is up for debate. The BP review says the expensive one and the not-as-expensive essentially sound and feel the same. Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TazIsTheMan Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Before getting to the $9,000 question let me first say that I have never thought Robert Trujillo to be an outstanding or spectacular bass player. He plays well enough to handle what is expected from the band and seems to be able to hold his own. If I had to elaborate all I would add is that he is an average player that can get the job done. Now for the icing on the cake. Why would Warwick come to him for a Signature bass, especially a very expensive one at that? Do they expect people to grab these up like hotcakes? Not at $9K a pop (in my opinion) and not with ordinary, off-the-shelf components for the most part. I would bet both of my nuts that R.T. would never spend $9K of his own money (when he was first starting out and not now when $9K is a drop in the bucket for him) to buy one of these if he had to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 He gets a signature bass because he's in a big-time band and millions of people will see him playing it. Besides, he's a lot better bassist than you give him credit for. The poor musicians who could really use a new instrument never are going to get an endorsement deal or a free instrument. That's just the way things are. Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wraub Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 Before getting to the $9,000 question let me first say that I have never thought Robert Trujillo to be an outstanding or spectacular bass player...quote] You, apparently, have not heard Infectious Grooves, or to a lesser extent, Suicidal Tendencies. Try 'em both, and then judge. Just sayin'. Peace, wraub I'm a lot more like I am now than I was when I got here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 And in the Metallica movie, they show the auditions for bass. Trujillo was so much better than everyone else (all name players) that it was ridiculous. Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitro bass Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 It is time to replace Lars now.LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plangentmusic Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 It's just a publicity stunt -- ask a ridiculous amount of money and people will talk about it. It gets people interested in the company and more likely to buy something similar for $8000 less. And if some idiot does DOES shell out the 9K, so be it. Most of his career, RT played a $800 Fernandes and an occasional stock P and on occassion a stock J. JAZZ UN-STANDARDS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vE4FoJ4Cr4&feature=related DON'T FEAR...THE REVERB! 60's Instrumentals with MORE BASS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicklab Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 The article sure seems to have stirred up some discussion around here about Warwick. That may have been part of the point of this review. And when you look at the bass landscape of the last decade, it sure seems to have been dominated by Fender and boutique builders who are making their take on classic Fender designs. Will this Trujillo bass shift the market? Not likely. But if Warwick can make some inroads with Metal guys because of this Robert Trujillo bass, I'm sure they would be happy. Obligatory Social Media Link "My concern is, and I have to, uh, check with my accountant, that this might bump me into a higher, uh, tax..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
butcherNburn Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 Even if I was rich and it was "worth the money", I still wouldn't pay $9000 for a single bass. I'd sooner buy a pile of gear, basses, amps and other goodies. In fact I don't even understand why the best of the best should cost over $2500, which I consider a massive sum. In my opinion, anything over $1300 deserves some serious justification. If you think my playing is bad, you should hear me sing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rumpelstiltskin. Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 everyone's got an opinion. and it's always theirs. because i like people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b5pilot Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 And in the Metallica movie, they show the auditions for bass. Trujillo was so much better than everyone else (all name players) that it was ridiculous. I saw that movie too and you're right he killed it. He immediately got a $1 million from the band as a showing of good faith. I'm sure he could buy one if he wanted to. As far as that bass goes I can understand it if it is completely hand made. Suppose you were Warwick and had to pay a skilled luthier $60 an hour, $30 + cost of benefits we are talking Germany)(I'm probably WAY off with that estimate). Consider the bass takes say 100 hours to construct, the price of raw materials, shipping and a profit margin wrote in, I can probably see the price as justified. I doubt it is completely hand made though as Warwick has a number of CNC machines (I saw a factory walk through on Youtube) and it is basically a streamer bass with a fancy paint job. I can't see it being that expensive to make and can't justify the price. If someone gave me one would I take it? Sure! Would I buy one? No way. Lydian mode? The only mode I know has the words "pie ala" in front of it. http://www.myspace.com/theeldoradosband Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.