A bass you would never consider playing

[City]

I recently picked up a 34" 5 string. I have a Spector 5 string, but it's 35" and since I want to string this one E - C and would like it to be a close string spacing, 34" it is. I looked at quite a number of basses, really wanted another Spector Coda Pro (would be #5) but seeing that it won't get much playing time, I decided to keep it relatively cheap. I looked at Yamahas, LTDs, Ibanez, Sire and even an SX, spending countless hours on TB looking at reviews and NBDs. Then I got thinking about basses I would never consider that have a loyal fan base.

So, what bass would you never consider playing? And let's keep it civil.

If anyone is curious, I ended up with a Yamaha TRBX505

Playing as in buying one? I guess if I needed to I would play anything at a moment I had to, but I would never buy a Beatle bass or a Steinberger, so alas, I have and will not, I suppose, ever play one.

 

[allotabass]

I see it as a matter of design, construction, playability and tone versus hype. Plus a company's attitude towards working bass players who rely on quality equipment that simply delivers. There are things I don't like and don't want in a bass so I steer clear of those things. For example, I have finally come full circle and have gone back to passive only so active electronics simply don't appeal to me anymore.

Nothing by Rickenbacker or Gibson or anything that uses piss-poor hardware, electronics and pickups and ill fitting neck to body joints.
When the price of a Ric is three times the actual "get your money's worth" value, it's time to consider something else. I have never seen a Rickenbacker that hasn't tried to eat itself. They implode under string tension. Something they have never attempted to correct. It's sad when Rickenbacker copies play better than originals and at a price that's acceptable.

Rickenbacker & Gibson among others, have not changed their stance on what actually sounds good and plays well in 50 years. How they can get away with anything is beyond me.

Oh, and any bass that has a single workable sound.....like a Stingray or Spector. I have never played either (and I've owned both) that didn't work outside a specific moment. Like they were designed for one thing only.
You can hate my comments all you want and that's fine but I've owned about 100 basses and dismissed about 95% just because they were not versatile enough. Only after owning them did I figure this out.

 

[raventepes]

I'd at least try anything once, but as for buying, I stay clear of extreme high end instruments like Fodora, Wal, Alembic, and their ilk.

I also wouldn't buy anything that had a built in speaker or had less than 4 strings. I'll play up to 7.

 

[Fishheadjoe]

I will not own anything with Tort! I have despised that look, since I was a kid. To my eye, they look like the owner gave up on trying to be creative and just accepted the look tht the bass came with.
Other than that, I truly enjoy playing anything, the weirder, the better!
Fishheadjoe

 

[Charlzm]

I'd play just about anything as long as it sounds decent and feels good. Weird shapes and paint jobs turn me off, though. I draw the line just on the far side of the Music Man Bongo.

 

[kenneffdupriest]

no red bass guitars and no pointy headstocks

 

[spade2you]

I have a lot of basses. No real need to play other stuff.

 

[Rib 13]

A bass you would never consider playing

Any bass with one pickup...this includes standard model P-Basses, standard model StingRays (and I HAVE one - and rarely ever play it), or high-end boutique basses

also, any multi pickup bass with a pickup right at the neck (my long-gone Alembic Series I being the only exception, only for sentimental reasons)

no hollowbodies of any sort

 

[fuzzychaos]

Rick's and Gibson without question, I just can't find anything to like about them. A P only bass, PJ's are okay.

 

[PeaveyPlayer]

a gibson bass

dingwall

 

[mr_flood]

Never will buy anything that looks like Paul McCartney has played it or might play it.

 

[Benjamin Earl]

First Act, Dean, Washburn, or Traben. However, never say never. I've always loathed the Peavey brand, but currently my main bass is the Peavey Cirrus. Every time I buy one, I want to take a dremel to the logo. I own 3

 

[GMC]

A flying V...sorry if it's your axe...but it's just not my bag.

 

[mantaraya]

View attachment 794645 Conklin Bill Dickens Signature 7 string. Too much for me, although I'm glad they exist.

=

+1. Something like this. Was about to upload a shot of one like this, but yours is a perfect example. Just tooooo much neck to even consider playing.

 

[logicman69]

Only if I absolutely had to:

Funny story, I actually had that same bass, but it was also frettless. I used it on one song with my old band. I hated the way it played, but it sounded amazing.

For me, it would be a Conklin 7 String. Just too many strings for me.

 

[allotabass]

Never will buy anything that looks like Paul McCartney has played it or might play it.

Agreed. Over rated as a player or anything he would consider.
I'll get flak for it but we all know it's true.

 

[4stringfiends]

For me it has got to be anything squier. i just hate them with a passion, sound bad, feel bad, feel cheap, horrible fretting i just don't understand why everyone loves them and swears by them for beginners.
After reading some replies i am realizing how many people hate T-birds and i did at first also but i ended up buying a used one because it was all i could afford and i just starting playing and now i cant see myself playing anything else.
I would kill to have a flying V bass though that would be sick.

 

[Moe Monsarrat]

7 string.

 

[hintz]

An uglystick, or Conklin 7 string...on the otherhand I'd play the Conklin b4 the headless uglystick.

View attachment 794645 Conklin Bill Dickens Signature 7 string. Too much for me, although I'm glad they exist.

This/\and this/\....i used a Conklin 7 for months and couldn't get use to the spacing and super wide neck, it was indeed too much!!

 

[madbass6]

I would have to say a Wastub Bass probably wont cut it for me ! but then again , never say never!