Just two, really, and they've both been mentioned before. Fingerboard edges that aren't rounded, and instruments with active electronics that don't have an active/passive switch.
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#1 pet peeve with basses.
- Thread starter Cliff Bordwell
- Start date
vintage style truss rods, both my Fenders have em, and they end up getting the wood compression at the truss rod nut
wonky pickup screwholes: my MIA Fender has 2 screw holes on the neck pickup, that were either not spaced correctly or were drilled using a hand drill. I cannot lower the pickup because it is distorting the pickup cover
wonky pickup screwholes: my MIA Fender has 2 screw holes on the neck pickup, that were either not spaced correctly or were drilled using a hand drill. I cannot lower the pickup because it is distorting the pickup cover
Some of the things above are actually pretty major issues. I'll stick to pet peeves, which are minor annoyances that can still drive someone crazy.
On a higher end or luthier made instrument, the unavoidable dot markers on the fretboard. I actually hate them on cheap basses too, but on an expensive bass they really get to me. If I can order a bass, pick the color and wood, I should be able to specify no inlays. IMO they make an otherwise elegant instrument look cheap.
On a higher end or luthier made instrument, the unavoidable dot markers on the fretboard. I actually hate them on cheap basses too, but on an expensive bass they really get to me. If I can order a bass, pick the color and wood, I should be able to specify no inlays. IMO they make an otherwise elegant instrument look cheap.
On a more bass-related note, I don't like:
1. Fender style (and size) tuners.
2. Pickguards (there's a complete topic about this one, but I think they're there mainly for aesthetics and most of the time they look ugly)
3. Fender P or J wannabes. The original design is cool. Now everybody are making them. I think non-Fender P or J should bring something else to the table (aka Super P's or Super J's). Dingwall Super J stands above all others IMO.
4. Gig bags on high-end basses. To me every $2000+ bass should come with a branded hard case and the gig bag should be an option (or better: added as a treat).
5. Poor set-up on high-en basses.
6. Thumb-rest devices.... I know they're probably useful (not to me since I float my thumb), I just don't like them.
7. Bridge covers. The bigger the uglier.
Just my humble opinion...
Here's mine:
-not every bass made has to look like a Fender! If I wanted a Fender, I'd buy one!
-high end basses (above a grand) should not have the knobs fall off, when you tip the bass over to have a look at the neck joint/back of the instrument. It seems ludicrous to me that so much time, energy, money was put into getting that instrument ready to be shipped, only to have the set up fail to show off the intruments ability.
-as mentioned above... hard shell cases. I don't know who started the whole gig bag thing, but I certainly will not allow any of my basses out of the house unless they are in a hard shell case. If I have to pay extra for a hard shell case, especially for a boutique bass, well, to me that's reflective of a company that's only money motivated. It leads me to think, what else are they skimping on in the build process. to me, it's a deal breaker!
-wooden knobs and p/u covers... they make the bass look "fake" in my eyes... don't shoot me, it's just my opinion
-poor set up at the store... not necessarily the manufacturer's fault, ok, to some degree their fault.
-manufacturers "exclusive" agreements with retailers! If I want to buy a certain bass, I have to buy it at one of their authorized dealers. I wonder how many manufacturers actually step into these shops to get a feel for how their products are being marketed to the buying public. I've had some good experiences, but, I find the larger shops simply don't care about individual customers. Their approach is oriented toward volume, vs service. "I don't care if you buy this bass, someone else will come in right after you leave and buy it!" Remember, in the eyes of the buying public, your instrument/company/workmanship is being judged by the consumer, based on their experience in the store. And believe me when I say that the store will not hesitate to blame the manufacturer for any preceived problems.
-this one's just a really personal thing... I simply don't like basses that are natural wood finishes! I like them to have colour!
Fishheadjoe
-not every bass made has to look like a Fender! If I wanted a Fender, I'd buy one!
-high end basses (above a grand) should not have the knobs fall off, when you tip the bass over to have a look at the neck joint/back of the instrument. It seems ludicrous to me that so much time, energy, money was put into getting that instrument ready to be shipped, only to have the set up fail to show off the intruments ability.
-as mentioned above... hard shell cases. I don't know who started the whole gig bag thing, but I certainly will not allow any of my basses out of the house unless they are in a hard shell case. If I have to pay extra for a hard shell case, especially for a boutique bass, well, to me that's reflective of a company that's only money motivated. It leads me to think, what else are they skimping on in the build process. to me, it's a deal breaker!
-wooden knobs and p/u covers... they make the bass look "fake" in my eyes... don't shoot me, it's just my opinion
-poor set up at the store... not necessarily the manufacturer's fault, ok, to some degree their fault.
-manufacturers "exclusive" agreements with retailers! If I want to buy a certain bass, I have to buy it at one of their authorized dealers. I wonder how many manufacturers actually step into these shops to get a feel for how their products are being marketed to the buying public. I've had some good experiences, but, I find the larger shops simply don't care about individual customers. Their approach is oriented toward volume, vs service. "I don't care if you buy this bass, someone else will come in right after you leave and buy it!" Remember, in the eyes of the buying public, your instrument/company/workmanship is being judged by the consumer, based on their experience in the store. And believe me when I say that the store will not hesitate to blame the manufacturer for any preceived problems.
-this one's just a really personal thing... I simply don't like basses that are natural wood finishes! I like them to have colour!
Fishheadjoe
I can tolerate a lot of minor issues, but these stick out...
Fretwork/fingerboard along the edges. Why would any bass player want to be scraping their hand on the edges of frets when playing? I mean c'mon! That has got to be my No. 1 top of all time complaint on ALL basses. There is so much room between the edge of the fingerboard and where the outer strings lie, why can't the fingerboard and frets be rounded off?
I want SOLID NECKS!!! The best neck I ever had was a Warmoth custom made neck. Yeah, it's a bit heavier because of the steel rods, but IMO the neck IS the bass. For me it's the deal breaker. I don't care what kind of wood you use for the body or what shape it is or how it looks, what kind of hardware, pickups, etc. that are used, if the neck sucks. Damn, what is it with so many basses having such unstable necks in this day of technological advances?
As another has mentioned, those "training wheel" dot markers on the face of the fingerboard. My god, those are so ugly and useless. They really ruin the look of many otherwise fine looking instruments. They just scream..."This is the third fret, this is the fifth..." like we bass players are total idiots. At least the mother of pearl block inlays look like it was part of the designed beauty and not something to help us lazy musicians find our place on the neck!!!
Rosewood fingerboards as stock on so many basses. Is there some stockpile of rosewood somewhere that all bass manufacturers must use up first? God, I think rosewood is so blah. It's not really figured all that well, it's not dark enough for contrast like ebony or as clean looking as a maple neck/fingerbaord. I see rosewood, I think CHEAP!
Strap buttons. Even if you are buying a cheaper bass, why in the heck aren't straplocks, or at least wider, more secure strap buttons (anchored in to never pull out) just a stock item? Geez, automobiles have seatbelts for crying out loud. How can ANY bass manufacturer put those tiny little useless strap buttons on ANY bass? And even if they do that, why in the heck do they skimp on the smallest screws that will eventually pull out?
You'd think most of these things would have changed in the last 40 years. I cannot understand how any mass production manufacturer (much less any custom boutique builder) would still be doing things this way. Especially boutique builders...when they don't even have to worry about mass production, and given the price they go for (which I still believe is worth it).
It seems that most all bass players go gaga over exotic coffee table laminate bodies (which I dig), but the rest of this stuff isn't even on anyone's radar.
Fretwork/fingerboard along the edges. Why would any bass player want to be scraping their hand on the edges of frets when playing? I mean c'mon! That has got to be my No. 1 top of all time complaint on ALL basses. There is so much room between the edge of the fingerboard and where the outer strings lie, why can't the fingerboard and frets be rounded off?
I want SOLID NECKS!!! The best neck I ever had was a Warmoth custom made neck. Yeah, it's a bit heavier because of the steel rods, but IMO the neck IS the bass. For me it's the deal breaker. I don't care what kind of wood you use for the body or what shape it is or how it looks, what kind of hardware, pickups, etc. that are used, if the neck sucks. Damn, what is it with so many basses having such unstable necks in this day of technological advances?
As another has mentioned, those "training wheel" dot markers on the face of the fingerboard. My god, those are so ugly and useless. They really ruin the look of many otherwise fine looking instruments. They just scream..."This is the third fret, this is the fifth..." like we bass players are total idiots. At least the mother of pearl block inlays look like it was part of the designed beauty and not something to help us lazy musicians find our place on the neck!!!
Rosewood fingerboards as stock on so many basses. Is there some stockpile of rosewood somewhere that all bass manufacturers must use up first? God, I think rosewood is so blah. It's not really figured all that well, it's not dark enough for contrast like ebony or as clean looking as a maple neck/fingerbaord. I see rosewood, I think CHEAP!
Strap buttons. Even if you are buying a cheaper bass, why in the heck aren't straplocks, or at least wider, more secure strap buttons (anchored in to never pull out) just a stock item? Geez, automobiles have seatbelts for crying out loud. How can ANY bass manufacturer put those tiny little useless strap buttons on ANY bass? And even if they do that, why in the heck do they skimp on the smallest screws that will eventually pull out?
You'd think most of these things would have changed in the last 40 years. I cannot understand how any mass production manufacturer (much less any custom boutique builder) would still be doing things this way. Especially boutique builders...when they don't even have to worry about mass production, and given the price they go for (which I still believe is worth it).
It seems that most all bass players go gaga over exotic coffee table laminate bodies (which I dig), but the rest of this stuff isn't even on anyone's radar.
Mine would have to be Glossy finishes on necks. Gloss just feels too sticky to me.
Also gotta agree with Straplocks. I always install Dunlops on my basses, so I guess it might be nice to skip that step.
Also gotta agree with Straplocks. I always install Dunlops on my basses, so I guess it might be nice to skip that step.
No real *pet peeves* for me but I think it's silly to put 24 frets on a neck & then deny good access to them.
Lack of proprietary pickups/electronics in high end instruments. It makes the biggest difference in the sound of an electric bass and hardly anyone uses it to differentiate their product. Let's face it... how many bartolini-equipped basses do we need out there? 
+10^3 on Dead spots........... especially frets 4,5,6 on the G string....................but what is a Wolf tone???
Active electronics. Some of the basses I really want because of the pickup configuration, or the neck/body combo are active. I don't want to deal with changing batteries, no matter how infrequent it may be.
I used to think this until I started running my amps flat and tweak the sound from the on-board preamp. Now the crappy electronics that some manufacturers put in basses just to call them "active" that's another pet peeve
Fender designs....why? Too many out there.
Tight string spacing on the mass produced instruments, who decided this was best?
Boutiques costing well over $3500 is beyond reasonable comprehension for me.
Never, everevereverever will I do or understand relic'd instruments.
Tight string spacing on the mass produced instruments, who decided this was best?
Boutiques costing well over $3500 is beyond reasonable comprehension for me.
Never, everevereverever will I do or understand relic'd instruments.
Balance. The only reason I got rid of my special edition Thumb bass, even though it was the best sounding bass I've ever owned. : (
I think it would depend on the particular pickup. However, even it it were purely cosmetic, so is paint, and that is a deal breaker for a lot of people too.
there are a lot of good thoughts here... just like to add: too many knobs! i love my passive basses, i can do plenty from my amp... just plug and play.
