Fender to release Steve's West Ham signature bass

[Travis The Dragon]

From: http://www.premierguitar.com/articl...s-geddy-lee-and-steve-harris-signature-basses

Scottsdale, AZ (January 22, 2015) -- Fender is proud to announce the release of several new artist signature bass guitars at the 2015 NAMM Show.

Steve Harris’s galloping fleet-fingered basslines have turbocharged U.K. metal titans Iron Maiden for decades and have made him the most influential metal bassist alive. Harris has stayed true to his battle-hardened Precision Bass over the years, and his signature Steve Harris Precision Bass now comes in his famously regal gloss White finish with special pinstriping, mirrored pickguard and West Ham United F.C. crest. Other ironclad features include a single powerful Seymour Duncan Steve Harris signature model pickup, Fender High Mass bridge, Rotosound Steve Harris Signature flat-wound strings and Harris’s signature on the back of the headstock. Available February 17, 2015.

That sure would make a great collector's item.

 

[kgrubb]

Fender is also releasing another signature model for Dave this time based on his sunburst strat.
http://www.andertons.co.uk/solid-bo...dave-muarray-hhh-strat-in-2-tone-sunburst.asp

 

[Maturin]

It's not a collectors item. It's listed at $999 and is an affordable/cheap everyman's model, very much like the new Dave Murray signature released by Fender.

 

[Brigantium]

$999 is neither cheap nor affordable! I know what you mean, though, it's not a top of the range guitar.

 

[Maturin]

From Fender's viewpoint it is. The Yngwie Malmsteen "Play Loud" Stratocaster was a collector's edition model, and that retailed at $12 500.

 

[Brigantium]

Now that's just silly.

 

[Yax]

To be fair though, they put in a lot of detail into that one, replicating every scratch and bruise. And there are a lot of them.

 

[Gerald Wiley]

If you have a grand to spend on a Maiden Bass, you would surely purchase the blue one with sparkle scratch plate.

 

[Perun]

To be fair though, they put in a lot of detail into that one, replicating every scratch and bruise. And there are a lot of them.

Idolatry will go to strange heights sometimes.

 

[Maturin]

If you have a grand to spend on a Maiden Bass, you would surely purchase the blue one with sparkle scratch plate.

I'm pretty sure this replaced that one. The "Kossoff" Strat has been discontinued with the introduction of Dave's new signature.

If follows the standard pattern with Fender signature guitars and basses - a 5 year initial contract, and then you either become a regular like Malmsteen (198, or you're reduced to a more affordable model or discontinued entirely based on sales, or lack thereof.

Idolatry will go to strange heights sometimes.

Relics (Fender's term) or simply artificially worn guitars has been the thing for years. If it actually aims to reproduce an actual instrument it has more logic in it, from my point of view. What's the difference between Fender making Janick an exact replica of his classic black Strat and they selling it to public if there's demand for it? Vintage instruments owned by pros have become far too valuable to tour with, and replicas are replacing them all the time. I'm wondering if Adrian's Goldtop Les Paul is the original one or of Gibson made a replica for him. If he doesn't tell anyone, there's no way we'll know. Having a famous artist being linked to a specific instrument is worth a lot from a marketing perspective.

 

[Perun]

Relics (Fender's term) or simply artificially worn guitars has been the thing for years.

I know, I just find it ridiculous.

 

[Brigantium]

I've never quite understood those, unless you're in a lookalike tribute band and you want to get the appearance as close as possible.