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A theoretical game....

TheArchitect

TheArchitect

Aug 4, 2009
2,215
3,068
#1
You just got a ____________ bass. The one you have wanted for ages... In reality its not living up to the hype/expectations out of the box but its not returnable... Where are you going to start in your efforts to dial it in.....?

EDIT
Let me clarify. I am not talking about setup issues or build issues. It just doesn't sound as you had imagined. What are you changing? How far are you willing to go to get it there?
 
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#2
Way too open ended.

- If setup related, handle the setup issues.
- If sound related and I think I can get it to where I want without too much additional cost/effort... try strings, try different playing techniques, try pickup/preamp swap if I have a clear idea of what to swap in.

Noting I have to like it enough to want to try the above. At a certain point you are better off recognizing the bass just was not for you and selling (even if it is at a loss).
 
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#3
Probably I would start on my workbench like I always do, but your question implies too many hypotheticals. If I've got hum or buzz I'm going to look at the wiring first. Poor intonation, I'm going to adjust the bridge, and so forth. Most people are going to start with the most discernable problem, which your question overgeneralizes.
 
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#6
If it's only sound and not fit, balance, hand comfort or anything like that, I would spend a fair amount of time playing it in different ways to see if the problem might be my technique.

Then, if the problem is it feels lacking in a particular frequency range, I might see if EQ or a new preamp might help. If it lacks the punch or sustain I want, I might look into the pickups. If it's fretless and lacks "mwah" that's a setup issue... if I slap a fretted and it rattles too much, that's also a setup issue...

I see guys here who seem to buy basses every other week and immediately declare them deficient in something and they proceed to apply the same "fix" to every one of them, depending on whether their obsessions are bridges or pickups or electronics or the finish. They're not actually paying attention to what they have or what they're trying to achieve, they're just turning one random thing into another random thing, so they'll never actually have a bass they like.
 
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#11
Back in 1984 the guitarist in my band suggested I change one pickup in my 1978 Rickenbacker 4001 which I bought brand new back in 1978.
I installed a brand new EMG pickup.
I was young and foolish and whoever swapped out the pickup never gave me my original pickup back.
I ended up selling that Rickenbacker 4001.
From that day on I prefer to not keep the instrument instead of trying to modify an instrument.
 
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#12
Only had a couple of basses immediately did not like that went straight to classifieds or eBay / reverb for loss or whatever. Only from mail order. The rest got what they needed to make them sing. Many still with me on honeymoon, but as with some basses they may beg for divorce in time so others may take their place. "So many basses, so little time." "The GAS wants what the GAS wants." lol
 
#14
TheArchitect said:
Where are you going to start in your efforts to dial it in.....?
Click to expand...
I'd record it at a gig or rehearsal and before judging anything.
I have absolutely experienced a "meh" solo tone turn out great in the mix.

Also I'd put it away and try it another day, because our perceptions change daily.

But: the "always wanted" bass for me is Lull PT4.
I'm confident I could live with whatever tone it came with.
 
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#15
TheArchitect said:
You just got a ____________ bass. The one you have wanted for ages... In reality its not living up to the hype/expectations out of the box but its not returnable... Where are you going to start in your efforts to dial it in.....?

EDIT
Let me clarify. I am not talking about setup issues or build issues. It just doesn't sound as you had imagined. What are you changing? How far are you willing to go to get it there?
Click to expand...

Cut it loose in its original, un-modified form. It's worth more at that point even if you have to resell it for a marginal loss, and you'll move it/recoup your investment faster.

As it is with people, when you pursue a relationship with another person, don't expect to get with them and then succeed in immediately, drastically changing them to suit exactly what YOU want.... especially if you have unrealistic expectations - or 'perfection'.

I owned one bass which fit this exact scenario. I got a FANTASTIC deal 20+ years ago on a fretless Warwick Corvette. I had lusted after a Warwick in general for years and I really, really wanted to like it. The tone was never exactly what I wanted, even after a few string changes, and the neck, body ergonomics, and weight never clicked with me. I owned it for a couple of years and then cut it loose. It was never a consideration to modify it in any way. Just sell it and move on.
 
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#17
I have a similar problem with a Gibson Thunderbird Non-Reverse. It is extremely uncomfortable with that very "long" neck (due to the bridge actually being "inside" the body rather than at the edge). It is quite dark with those chrome-covered pickups, so it needs quite the treble boost - not a big problem, really, but it's annoying. The neck itself is really thick, and I have small hands, so I find it doubly uncomfortable.

But. It sounds thick and straight to the point, and it fills the low end in a way that a Fender-style (my preference) just doesn't. And most of all, I look and I feel extremely cool wearing that bass (yes, I'm shallow sometimes). So I'm fighting it. And I'm winning, because I am getting used to it. It doesn't sound right in those songs I wrote with a Fender Precision in my mind and hands, because it just lacks that upper mid "string attack" that a Precision is associated with. But its naturally "compressed" tone works wonders as a foundation. Also, I think I need to get some brighter strings. I have D'Addario Pro Steels on at the moment, but I think I'll mount a set of Rotosounds.
 
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#18
TheArchitect said:
You just got a _Fodera__ bass. The one you have wanted for ages... In reality its not living up to the hype/expectations out of the box but its not returnable... Where are you going to start in your efforts to dial it in.....?
Click to expand...

TheArchitect said:
EDIT
Let me clarify. I am not talking about setup issues or build issues. It just doesn't sound as you had imagined. What are you changing? How far are you willing to go to get it there?
Click to expand...
Strings would be about it I suppose. I wouldn’t start replacing pickups and electronics. I’d learn to live with the sound even if it’s not my ideal perfect in my head sound.
 
#19
TheArchitect said:
You just got a ____________ bass. The one you have wanted for ages... In reality its not living up to the hype/expectations out of the box but its not returnable... Where are you going to start in your efforts to dial it in.....?

EDIT
Let me clarify. I am not talking about setup issues or build issues. It just doesn't sound as you had imagined. What are you changing? How far are you willing to go to get it there?
Click to expand...
Give it time - let it grow on you. Play it as much as possible
 

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