Willie G. Moseley Posted April 6, 2008 Posted April 6, 2008 Seems like a while back, someone on this forum alluded to Sarzo endorsing Hamers at one point. I may, however, have misunderstood on accounta I skimmed over it, since I don't pay much attention to anything about Sarzo...one primary reason is due to his numerous endorsements of other brands---there was Aria, Washburn and Peavey, at the very least, so I'm wondering if and when he had any connection to Hamer.In the late '80s and early '90s, there were a couple of other Peavey endorsers with more-or-less signature models---the Palaedium (sp?) was designed w/ the input of Jeff Berlin (he didn't want his name on it on accounta he thinks signature models are pretentious), and Randy Jackson of future AMERICAN IDOL fame apparently had same type of input on the RJ-IV...but only his initials are on the model. In more recent times, Berlin's been endorsing Dean, and I've been told Randy Jackson endorsed another brand or brands as well---or maybe it was just other gear, not a bass model per se. I'd be interested in knowing about any "multiple brand endorsers" and the total number of brands of instruments they've endorsed, including further adventures of the three individuals cited above. The three Peavey basses of theirs were decent instruments, FWMOW, and it's intriguing that the Sarzo, the only one with a straight-on artist name on it, was the best seller. Star power rules?Would also like to know what average players and enthusiasts think of such marketing ploys. As might be expected, this is research for a writing project, so thanks in advance for your help.
cmatthes Posted April 6, 2008 Posted April 6, 2008 To my knowledge, Sarzo was not a Hamer endorsee - he certainly didn't have a sig model or anything. I HAVE seen several graphic Hamer basses on eBay being alluded to by uninformed sellers as a "Hamer Sarzo Bass". He didn't invent that stuff, by any stretch, but many people assume that a rising sun or stripe/print two-color graphic makes it a Sarzo. He was such a gear whore in his day, it's not surprising !! I don't really have a problem with the name game marketing thing on a signature model. It sells guitars, because there is always a kid (or even an adult!) who wants to buy the same guitar their hero plays. Apart from the Les Paul, the first one I was consciously aware of was the Ibanez Paul Stanley model (PS-10 or PS-1000, not a true Iceman, according to the Ibanez experts). Obviously, there were others before that, Gibson and Gretsch (and others) had signature models dating back decades. The Gretsch Chet Atkins, Gibson Tal Farlow, Trini Lopez, Barney Kessel, Mosrite Ventures models, etc. It seems like these days, every flavor-of-the-month player has his/her own signature model. It stopped being something I could keep up with in the late '90s, after the Fender, Rickenbacker, Gibson, Ibanez, PRS, Schecter, and every other brand started churning them out on a regular basis. Some people have a problem with it, but although I don't own any (I have owned a PS-10 in the past), some of them are pretty cool and if it encourages some kid to pick up a guitar and play guitar like Billie Jo Armstrong, Mark Tremonti, SRV or EVH, I support it 100%. Better that than two turntables and a microphone or some heinous boy band crap! BTW - One of my favorite players, E. Easton has had Sig models by Kramer, Gretsch and Gibson. He was also an early Dean endorsee and played a fair number of Hamers over the years.
Willie G. Moseley Posted April 6, 2008 Author Posted April 6, 2008 Easton's also had a signature Martin. One thing that figures into the endorser line of thinking ought to be the involvement (if known) of the endorser. Moreover, for purists, whether the endorser is a "musician" or a "rock star" would probably also figure into how much there were involved w/ sig or endorsement models...but that wouldn't necessarily count for more sales...
BubbaVO Posted April 7, 2008 Posted April 7, 2008 It's like the guy who thought putting Ted Williams signature on a baseball glove would sell more gloves. And it worked.For me, however, the instrument has to stand on its own. I'm cynical enough to think that money spent on the endorsement means there were compromises made on woods/hardware/electronics to offset the additional expense. The endorsement really doesn't matter and if I think they had to shell out a lot of money, it'll be a negative.I don't expect to be able to hit like Ted Williams if I have a bat with a copy of his signature on it and I don't expect a Rudy Sarzo bass will help me play like him. But the companies swear by it and keep do it. And they've even taken it to the next level with the biggest hoax yet - the signature relic (E.g., the "Lenny" strat). But the companies will milk this tried and true formula over and over and folks will put their money into it. Their apples, my lemons I guess.
kurtsstuff Posted April 7, 2008 Posted April 7, 2008 Anybody want a near mint Washburn Sarzo bass?????
Stike Posted April 7, 2008 Posted April 7, 2008 Anyone remember the Beaver Felton ads? He was a bass shredder who as far as I could tell pretty much only had instructional tapes but that guy endorsed all kinds of shit. I seem to remember he even endorsed some kind of gloves for playing?
cmatthes Posted April 7, 2008 Posted April 7, 2008 Didn't he have a Carvin signature something too?I remember that blond mullet.
Armitage Posted April 7, 2008 Posted April 7, 2008 That dude from Heart was the endorsement king for ages...
teleman Posted April 7, 2008 Posted April 7, 2008 Joe Walsh has got to be near the top of the heap of endorsements too.
Rhys Posted April 7, 2008 Posted April 7, 2008 Anyone remember the Beaver Felton ads? He was a bass shredder who as far as I could tell pretty much only had instructional tapes but that guy endorsed all kinds of shit. I seem to remember he even endorsed some kind of gloves for playing?I was going to mention good old Beaver. Here's a list of his endorsements from a Guitar World ad from May 1991: Beaver Felton uses carvin basses & amps, GHS, Hipshot, Kleen-axe, Seymour Duncan pickups, Kahler, The Guitar Glove, Ultracase, ART effects, Silver Eagle straps" I'm sure he endorsed the "Riff Grip" and various hair care products as well.Lets not forget Steve Stevens, a total endorsement whore - the guy would endorse a turd if you put strings on it.
Guest JackButler Posted April 7, 2008 Posted April 7, 2008 Felton's a cool guy and a great player.. live here in Columbus GA for a while.. he and Dave LaRue (Steve Morse, Dregs, Satriani, Petrucci, etc.)have a bass shop in Florida..iirc Bass Central or something like that.. he's wheelchair bound was in an auto accident..again...iirc.The Beav's done a lot of studio stuff also.
Willie G. Moseley Posted April 7, 2008 Author Posted April 7, 2008 +1 on Beaver's chops, and how he doesn't let himself be hampered in his career by the fact that he's physically-challenged. He's often been seen at Nashville NAMM shows.That being said, he's still not a name bassist, even as a player's player, although his ads for his instructional courses (which included the product endorsement list cited previously) would try to make you think such.Could be worse. Could be Doug Marks.
cmatthes Posted April 7, 2008 Posted April 7, 2008 Jimi Hendrix? Well, after he was dead, of course. A whole slew of pedals, the Schecter, Fender and Gibson signature model guitars, straps, strings... No?
Jones Posted April 7, 2008 Posted April 7, 2008 What about that dude Les Paul. Seems like I see his name everywhere.
mc2 Posted April 7, 2008 Posted April 7, 2008 Felton's a cool guy and a great player.. live here in Columbus GA for a while.. he and Dave LaRue (Steve Morse, Dregs, Satriani, Petrucci, etc.)have a bass shop in Florida..iirc Bass Central or something like that.. he's wheelchair bound was in an auto accident..again...iirc.The Beav's done a lot of studio stuff also.+2 for Beaver Felton. Super-nice guy. He's a monster player, has been a magazine columnist for more than a decade and owns one of the major Bass Guitar retail stores in the US with Dave LaRue. He was doing instructional audio cassettes and then videos/DVDs before almost anyone ever thought of it...and they are some of the best ever made (unlike a lot of the "name" guys, who haven't a clue how to teach.)I have to give Felton a lot of credit for managing to still make himself a viable career in the music business after he became paralyzed from the waist down when his car & trailer overturned coming back from waterskiing.I know he only endorsed stuff he actually used and believed in, not for endorsement money. Considering he reached a perfect demographic for manufacturers with his instructional series and the gear was featured in all his videos...I'd say he was a dream endorser for companies. Wouldnt you want your product in an infomercial watched over and over by kids wanting to learn how to play or improve? Chances are that they will try your product.Plus he was a big Carvin endorser, the original direct mail-order gear guys. Seemed like a good match with both doing innovative direct marketing stuff back in the 80s-90s.
Rhys Posted April 7, 2008 Posted April 7, 2008 I have to give Felton a lot of credit for managing to still make himself a viable career in the music business after he became paralyzed from the waist down when his car & trailer overturned coming back from waterskiing.When did this accident happen? I never heard anything about it 'til this thread.
MTM105 Posted April 7, 2008 Posted April 7, 2008 Let's not forget Zakk Wylde. ditto. Marshall, BOSS, Gibson, Epiphone, MXR, Monster Cable, Dunlop, Guitar Player, Guitar World; the list goes on........Super Cuts for the Homeless looking. near beer and someday if not sooner, alcoholics anonymous. What about that dude Les Paul. Seems like I see his name everywhere. Didn't he endorse Gibson at one time?? 1950's I think.
guitarzandstuff Posted April 7, 2008 Posted April 7, 2008 Paul Stanley?Yeah, the Silvertone endorsment has to be the absolute lowest and winner of the "Shittiest Endorsment" award!
Steve Haynie Posted April 7, 2008 Posted April 7, 2008 Allen Woody and Warren Haynes were the big endorsement whores at one time, especially Woody! There was no product he would not pose with!
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