Known simply as the Signature Series, this line of Yamaha produced electric guitars has become one of the most well known in the recording industry. Each and every single one is designed in coordination with an artist and introduced to the world.
One such version was developed in Hollywood, California with the help of Sammy Hagar. It features a solid body and two humbucker pickups. There is a standard Yamaha neck and the bridge pickup is a Seymore Duncan JB. There are separate volume controls as well as a rosewood fretboard with a Cabo Wabo on the 12th fret.
Wes Borland from Limp Bizkit has also helped to develop a Signature Series Yamaha guitar. While in his earlier years in the recording industry he had an official endorsement with Ibanez, they soon asked him to modify one of his guitars so they could market it which ended the relationship. Through his collaboration with Yamaha he was able to design his own guitar from the ground up which became a Signature Series.
There are also several lines of Signature Series basses such as one poduced with the help of Billy Sheehan. Sheehan is known for his work with such names as David Lee Roth, Mr. Big and Steve Vai. This particular design features a body composed of alder and a neck made of maple. It has 21 frets and Hip Shot detuners. It also comes complete with 2 DiMarzio pickups. Each one of them has their very own output. Since Sheehan prefers bolt-on necks, this particular line does not make use of a through-neck design.
Michael Anthony from Van Halen also has his own Signature Series bass. It uses the neck-through design which is commonplace on the BB series only it has been streamlined. The body too has been smoothed out and features deeper cutaways then the standard models. For pickups, this bass uses an Alinco Split single coil, an Alinco V Soapbar and HipShot detuners.
Even Nathan East who is known for his work with names like Eric Clapton, Phil Collins as well as Stevie Wonder has his own Yamaha Signature Series which is a five-sting design with a double cutaway body made of both maple and alder. It comes with a 24 fret neck composed of maple and mahogny as well as two stacked Alinco humbucker pickups. There is also a bridge pickup that has individual saddles to allow for a better inotation. Featuring several control knobs as well as an equalizer, this Signature Series has a lot of versitality.
The Signature Series are aptly names as such. Each one stars out it life as a dream instrument from a big name in the recording industry. Through the effort and collaboration of the recording artists and Yamaha, this dream becomes a reality. Not only does the musician get their dream instrument, but anyone can too. They are a perfect match of style and functionality making them a highly sought-after instrument by many.
