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#1 pet peeve with basses.

#21
Ugly headstocks. I have to laugh at what designers where thinking :hmm:

Setups. It makes me wonder how companies can ship a bass AT ANY PRICEPOINT with a horrible setup. It also makes me wonder how stores even as busy as GC or Sam Ash can put them out on the rack like that. At my local GC, there are probably 6 basses that are almost unplayable due to the setup.

Ugly wood combinations on high end basses. Some look like they were made from whatever materials were left in the shop and combined for maxium visual impact :hmm:
 
#23
-hardware that corrodes or rusts easily
-thick necks
-cheap electronics
-loose input jacks or jacks that don't stay tight for very long
-basses with bridges too far forward to where it's hard to find a good position for your plucking hand to rest
-finishes that flake or chip or crack easily
-soft wood that dents easily
-poorly set up basses from the factory. Why spend over $1000 on a bass and then have to spend more money for a set up? This is probably more of a gripe with the store, not the builder.
 
#25
1. Dirty, broken, beat up basses hanging in stores. The last Fender Jazz I played had scratchy pots and a messed up bridge pickup.

2. Probably should be #1, and I don't know why it bugs me so much, but when the strings do not line up correctly inbetween the poles on the pickups. I just hate it. I don't even know if it affects the sound much. I just can't buy a bass with them not lined up correctly. :D
 
#29
joel the bass player said:
1. Dirty, broken, beat up basses hanging in stores. The last Fender Jazz I played had scratchy pots and a messed up bridge pickup.

2. Probably should be #1, and I don't know why it bugs me so much, but when the strings do not line up correctly inbetween the poles on the pickups. I just hate it. I don't even know if it affects the sound much. I just can't buy a bass with them not lined up correctly. :D
Click to expand...

According to my repair guy/luthier, Jim Mouradian (and he's a master), the strings lining up perfectly between the poles is unnecessary, sound-wise. Makes no difference. Purely cosmetic.
 
#31
Things I tend to dislike
Bad Fretwork
Bad Electronics( well, any onboard electronics really
Bad Finish
Thin Necks
Poorly balanced instruments
Relatively high prices
Adjustable nuts
Badly cut nuts
Brass nuts
Narrow string spacing.
Fancy tops that don't do anything for the sound but just look a certain way
Heavy instruments ( to me light ones tend to sound better)
Many different woods in one instrument

One thing that shocked me tho was when I Tried a rather exoensive bass from one of the most highly esteemed companies around, which had Fretsprout ( that's what it's called when the frets are sticking out , no?)
That was at a music show( Frankfurt MusikMesse) a few years ago.
 
#32
Cliff Bordwell said:
What is your number one pet peeve with basses you've played?
Click to expand...

- Poorly finished fret ends or frets blooming out of the sides of the fretboard. Fret work is a basic part of lutherie and it only takes a few minutes to properly trim and finish the fret ends.
- sloppy routing and unnecessary routs on $1500 instruments - yes Fender I'm talking about the oversized neck pockets, pickup "channels" and that hole under the pickguard...I always thought that CNC machines are supposed to help make tolerances tighter...
- oddly shaped, overly bulbous "boutique" designs or basses that are more glue joints than wood (aka Hippie Sandwiches).
- Noisy active electronics.
 
#36
Protruding fret ends- I've seen far too many expensive basses with this problem. Yes , I understand climate differences, but if the neck is going to shrink THAT much, you (the manufacturere) didn't use properly seasoned woods (Required IMO)

Black Hardware-Screams cheap 80's gear (required IMO) Yup, even on high end stuff. Hate it. ;)

Ugly Headstock- Hate to admit it, but this will turn me off of even the nicest bass.

Too heavy- There's no reason for a 4 banger to weigh more than 9 1/2 pounds. Again to poor wood selection IMO. What else did you cut corners on?

Skinny Necks- for me a Jazz bass is about the outer limits of what I can stand, and even then I'm not going to be too happy. I prefer a neck that feels bigger than a broom stick. (required IMO)

Scratchy feeling Satin finished necks- Blech! Feels like you forgot to finish the job.
 
#40
#1. Unstable necks. I have owned a few basses that I had to constantly readjust the truss rods. I am not talking about climatic changes..I am talking about a neck that won't stay and the action constantly rises. I have experienced it with older Rickenbackers, a F bass and an early Fender Geddy Jazz. My Warmoth, Modulus Genesis, US Fender (with graphite rods) have been fantastic. I will note that the basses that I had trouble did not like being strung with Rotosounds (higher tension).
#2 Dead Spots on Vintage Fenders..If your G string has fretted dead spots you got problems.
#3 Sharp Body edges. I love the sound of my Washburn AB-90..but my picking hand suffers from the sharp edge on the body. (God Bless Leo when he designed the body contours)
#4 Sharp fret tangs sticking out
#5 Extra Heavy Basses..Why?
 

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