Blu DeTiger?

[Dave W]

Blu DeTiger on designing her "dream" bass, and cultivating the new generation of bass players

Admittedly I don't try to keep up with newer bands and players, but it looks like playing bass on TikTok can get you your own Fender signature model. Times have changed.

She's a good player, though.

[gearHed289]

I've seen clips of her on Instagram and YouTube. She's a very good player. I haven't yet seen anything longer than a "reel", so I'm not sure what she's all about musically.

[ilan]

Maybe she can play but she can't design.

[Rob]

Maybe she can play but she can't design.

Might call it a little cheesy

[hieronymous]

I've become a big fan of hers. I love the song Vintage - the song has really grown on me, I've listened to the EP on and off and that's growing on me too. I like the electronic elements with the r'n'b style bass. I also appreciate that she shares her knowledge about music in instructional videos. I know some people aren't impressed, but I'm psyched to see a bassist who is also making their own music and singing (while playing) and even soloing! There's a vid of her playing bass solos to a packed house at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley - how many people get to do that?!! I think she is representing bassist/musicians well.

So I was psyched to finally see her sig bass in person, in Tokyo no less!



My favorite aspect of her bass is the bound neck with dots! There was a period in '66 I think when Fender added binding but didn't switch to blocks right away - Fender Japan did a reissue when I was living in Japan in the 2000s that I considered getting. The Blu sig felt good to me - no noticeable dead-spots on the G string - that was something I was actively checking. Wish I could have played it through an amp but still glad I got to play it. She's making an in-store appearance at the end of the month there at Fender Flagship Tokyo in Harajuku - I would love to go to that!

[BTL]

Yeah, I'm bringing back B&D necks as Allparts 65. The cool kids know what's up.

[ajkula66]

I haven't yet seen anything longer than a "reel", so I'm not sure what she's all about musically.

I have, and I don't believe that you've missed on anything.

She's good-looking, plays well and communicates even better. She'll do fine, IMO.

[Dave W]

I've become a big fan of hers. I love the song Vintage - the song has really grown on me, I've listened to the EP on and off and that's growing on me too. I like the electronic elements with the r'n'b style bass. I also appreciate that she shares her knowledge about music in instructional videos. I know some people aren't impressed, but I'm psyched to see a bassist who is also making their own music and singing (while playing) and even soloing! There's a vid of her playing bass solos to a packed house at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley - how many people get to do that?!! I think she is representing bassist/musicians well.

So I was psyched to finally see her sig bass in person, in Tokyo no less!



My favorite aspect of her bass is the bound neck with dots! There was a period in '66 I think when Fender added binding but didn't switch to blocks right away - Fender Japan did a reissue when I was living in Japan in the 2000s that I considered getting. The Blu sig felt good to me - no noticeable dead-spots on the G string - that was something I was actively checking. Wish I could have played it through an amp but still glad I got to play it. She's making an in-store appearance at the end of the month there at Fender Flagship Tokyo in Harajuku - I would love to go to that!

Fender and Gibson/Epi seem tobe able to get their product into Tokyo stores, while potential buyers here are waiting.

My guess is that Tokyo must be a better market.

[hieronymous]

Fender and Gibson/Epi seem tobe able to get their product into Tokyo stores, while potential buyers here are waiting.

My guess is that Tokyo must be a better market.

That's a really interesting point! Reflecting on the visits to guitar bass stores in Tokyo, it is definitely a pretty intense market - so many basses - so many stores - besides the visit to Ochanomizu with the insane ratio of guitar stores, I just saw a sampling. There definitely appears to be a market, from relatively cheap stuff (I noticed Made in China Bacchus basses for example) to mid-range Fender Japan and Yamaha, to pretty expensive Japan-made stuff like Atelier Z, to Fender America/Gibson/etc., to used and vintage stuff. There is a range of vintage stuff, but a lot of '70s and earlier Fender, for example.

So who is buying this stuff?!! Are there still rich Japanese people? Apparently so, though I didn't actually witness anyone actually buying anything. Another related question is the relationship between the yen and the dollar. The exchange rate is really good for the good ol' USA, at 150 yen=1 USD. That trio of Jack Casady Signatures in the Ikebukuro store was impressive, and I was surprised how cheap they came out to be - basically $700 USD vs. the $849 at Sweetwater. I found a Blu sig new at Ishibashi for 242,000 yen/a little under $1600 USD, basically matching the Sweetwater price. Gibson most likely isn't that popular, so they need to offer stuff cheaper? Where is the Jack Casady Signature made? I guess that's a question for a different thread!

[morrow]

I would love to see the music , and camera shops in Tokyo. A friend was teaching English there for some years.
I remember him telling me that he taught the best way to make a sentence demonstrative was to begin it with "Lord thundering Jesus" (a local maritime expression) I can still imagine little School age kids saying that ...

[Chris P.]

I met Blu, she has a Dutch father, and she's great.

I mentioned all of this before.
It's interesting how things change. I know people reacted badly when the first Youtubers got a signature. Like MarloweDK. Now it's normal and people seem to love the Rick Beato sigs. Now a Tiktok player gets a signature. I don't mind. I have some friends who are bass teachers. Most new students - especially female students - pick up the bass because of people like Blu or Victoria from Maneskin. If you like them or not - and we old grumpy Bassoutposters aren't their audience - thy're good for bass world. As long as people make kids pick up the bass it's good for music world, for the instrument industry, for bass mags and websites. So yeah: Great for Blu!

My new Goldfoil Jazz has the bindings and dots too and I love it!

[Alanko]

Blu gives off heavy 'industry plant' vibes.