New Steve Harris signature bass from NAMM

[Falloffthebonetone]

Nonononono I'm not talking about the blue one that's mij.
THIS one is based of the bass that he CURRENTLY uses more accurately; the white one.

http://www.fender.com/basses/precision-bass/steve-harris-precision-bass/0141032305.html#start=1

Has the new Duncan Steve Harris pickup in it and Fender's version of the Badass II and everything.

When I got to play it, I noticed how stupidly heavy it was. Thought it was just coincidence, until I read on the specs sheet that the thing is made of FRICKIN MAPLE. THE WHOLE THING.

This begs the question.... WHY?!?

Does the bass Steve uses live all the time have a maple body too?



It also has Schaller tuning machines, is $200 less than the previous signature model, and is made in Mexico.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: New Steve Harris signature bass from NAMM

His white P-bass is all maple, yes. And he plays through 8 4x12s.

He's Steve F'n Harris, you think he's gonna use Poplar or Basswood? Pfft.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: New Steve Harris signature bass from NAMM

His white P-bass is all maple, yes. And he plays through 8 4x12s.

He's Steve F'n Harris, you think he's gonna use Poplar or Basswood? Pfft.

Alder or Ash or something! That's what was standard in the 70s. Where did he get an all maple body?

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: New Steve Harris signature bass from NAMM

I love ash as a bass guitar body. I do not think I would like a maple body, I don't even like maple necks on basses. I have a pretty heavy bass myself, so the weight is not the issue. I second falloffthebonetone's question though... where did he get an all maple body?

 

[ItsaBass]

New Steve Harris signature bass from NAMM

IIRC, that's the same early-'70's P he's always had, and if so, it certainly is not maple. He had it painted matte black at first, then blue, then white with pinstripes, like it is now. The mirror guard has been on all three paint jobs.

That said, I'd guess he has many copies nowadays, one or more of which might be maple.

Why maple? Probably just to be needlessly different, I guess. Or maybe because his P happens to be a heavy bass, and they could attain that more reliably by using maple.

That seems like a lot of nice specs for the money. Good tuners, good pickup, good strings. I have no experience with that exact bridge, but it looks okay. Nothing on that bass likely has to be upgraded. But I really wish they'd do the matte black version, like the bass looked when he played all of Maiden's IMO best material. That's been on my build list for a while, actually. I've procrastinated because I'm not 100 percent sure how to properly reproduce a '70's P-Bass neck; I need to do more research, as it's a bit different than a '50's or '60's one.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: New Steve Harris signature bass from NAMM

I'm trying to understand this too. Because Harris has a pretty bright bass tone, so maybe he needs brighter?

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: New Steve Harris signature bass from NAMM

I'm trying to understand this too. Because Harris has a pretty bright bass tone, so maybe he needs brighter?

Right? Well, you can't get much brighter than maple, that's for sure!

 

[dystrust]

Re: New Steve Harris signature bass from NAMM

I doubt the body is made out of hard maple like the neck, it's probably made out of soft maple which isn't hugely unusual as a body wood. In the bass world Spector has used soft maple for the body wings of their basses since the 70s, and when using just the P pickup longcat's Spector Euro sounds like a more aggressive P-bass. Maybe they wanted something similar for the signature so that people without Steve's heavy attack could get a similar sound. Similar to using the over wound Texas Special pickups in the SRV Strat to provide a beefy sound without having to use 12s or 13s.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: New Steve Harris signature bass from NAMM

I doubt the body is made out of hard maple like the neck, it's probably made out of soft maple which isn't hugely unusual as a body wood. In the bass world Spector has used soft maple for the body wings of their basses since the 70s, and when using just the P pickup longcat's Spector Euro sounds like a more aggressive P-bass. Maybe they wanted something similar for the signature so that people without Steve's heavy attack could get a similar sound. Similar to using the over wound Texas Special pickups in the SRV Strat to provide a beefy sound without having to use 12s or 13s.

This is a great point!

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: New Steve Harris signature bass from NAMM

FWIW, I don't mind maple bodies. I have two maple guitars (one G&L and one Godin), and they both sound incredible. I'm actually very interested in the new Harris sig. bass, just because it seems like a lot of quality components for the money, and it appears to be MIM Classic Series quality, which is IME significantly better than MIM Standard quality. I don't think I could build an equivalent for a whole ton less. The one thing is that I can't really pull off the whole soccer/football thing. I know nothing about that team, and I only watch the sport once every four years. Maybe I'll get a used, scratch-n-dent, or factory second one and then paint it in matte black auto primer.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: New Steve Harris signature bass from NAMM

I doubt the body is made out of hard maple like the neck, it's probably made out of soft maple which isn't hugely unusual as a body wood. In the bass world Spector has used soft maple for the body wings of their basses since the 70s, and when using just the P pickup longcat's Spector Euro sounds like a more aggressive P-bass. Maybe they wanted something similar for the signature so that people without Steve's heavy attack could get a similar sound. Similar to using the over wound Texas Special pickups in the SRV Strat to provide a beefy sound without having to use 12s or 13s.

It WAS pretty heavy, but not enough for it to totally throw me off guard, especially for the depth and shape of the body as opposed to like Ricks or something where they are made of maple but are also much thinner. Soft maple sounds right.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: New Steve Harris signature bass from NAMM

It WAS pretty heavy, but not enough for it to totally throw me off guard, especially for the depth and shape of the body as opposed to like Ricks or something where they are made of maple but are also much thinner. Soft maple sounds right.

Did you notice whether the team logo was under the finish? Or is it something that can be peeled or flaked off? Did the pinstriping look well done, or kind of rough around the edges?

 

[uOpt]

Re: New Steve Harris signature bass from NAMM

Not buying a single word of that maple.

Also love it how signature guitars are always 100% accurate, until the more expensive version, by the same manufacturer, comes along.

Excuse me while I do the endursement puke in the back...

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: New Steve Harris signature bass from NAMM

Did you notice whether the team logo was under the finish? Or is it something that can be peeled or flaked off? Did the pinstriping look well done, or kind of rough around the edges?

The first thing I did was feel it. It's painted in. Not a sticker or anything. Pinstriping looked fantastic. The West Ham crest is the only thing turning me off about the bass. Love the look, awesome parts making it up, I can handle a heavy instrument. I would've even probably sold some of my gear to buy it. I thought it was the real deal actually until I saw that it was flawless and said made in Mexico on the back of the headstock.

But yeah, basically a badass II bridge, big flats, Duncan pickup, fat neck, 2 piece body, not overly expensive, what's not to love?

I always thought the stripes were just black stripes with,blue in the middle, the outer stripes are actually sort of a maroon color to match the logo and the silk string ends.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: New Steve Harris signature bass from NAMM

Not buying a single word of that maple.

Also love it how signature guitars are always 100% accurate, until the more expensive version, by the same manufacturer, comes along.

Excuse me while I do the endursement puke in the back...

Well, this version costs LESS than the previous blue one, and to be fair, his rig has been updated since the spb-1 royal blue bass days.

If you picked it up off the wall, you probably wouldn't doubt it was maple of some kind. It is a good deal heavier than the average P bass. I thought it might have been because it was made of hard ash like a lot of 70s Fenders were and that contributed to the weight. Could still be the case I guess but why bother lying?

 

[uOpt]

Re: New Steve Harris signature bass from NAMM

If you picked it up off the wall, you probably wouldn't doubt it was maple of some kind. It is a good deal heavier than the average P bass. I thought it might have been because it was made of hard ash like a lot of 70s Fenders were and that contributed to the weight. Could still be the case I guess but why bother lying?

Of course it's the cheap heavy ash. And many instruments made from it sound great.

These guys just believe their own legends is all. Probably nobody remembers who started it.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: New Steve Harris signature bass from NAMM

Somewhere, stashed away in a box, I have a collection of ancient British music magazines. Amongst these is a cover story interview with Harris in which he explains the origins of the white WHFC pinstripe P Bass. When I get time, I shall attempt to locate that magazine. Perhaps, a version of the story from when it was fresh will be in the interview?

 

[BlueTalon]

Re: New Steve Harris signature bass from NAMM

FYI, Warmoth offers maple bodies. It's easy enough to order whatever body you want in maple.

Where did Steve Harris get his maple body, and is it even maple? Don't know, can't say.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: New Steve Harris signature bass from NAMM

FYI, Warmoth offers maple bodies. It's easy enough to order whatever body you want in maple.

Where did Steve Harris get his maple body, and is it even maple? Don't know, can't say.

Of course Warmoth offers all maple bodies and many other woods too. Is it possible Steve is playing on a Warmoth body? Highly unlikely, but they are licensed by Fender so you never know on the origins of Harris' original maple body (if it is maple).

 

[BlueTalon]

Re: New Steve Harris signature bass from NAMM

I didn't mean to imply that Warmoth is the only source for maple bodies. The point I was trying to make is that if they are readily available at Warmoth, they're probably available elsewhere as well, which would mean acquiring one would be relatively easy -- and that's assuming Fender didn't make it themselves.