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Bass Features: Top Ten Personal Turn-Offs
- Thread starter Debased
- Start date
1. Bassists who say you have to play with your fingers rather than a pick. Can't we do both?
2. Cheap equipment, particularly amps.
3. The price of digitech bass whammies on eBay.
4. Heavy ass basses.
5. Gibson basses - as above - their basses are just their guitars with four strings.
6. Gold knobs - basses are about soul, not bling.
7. Unscheduled battery death - whether in the bass or in a pedal.
8. Wal isn't making basses anymore.
9. Bassists who make a big point out of letting everyone know the bass they own.
10. Did I mention the price of Bass Whammies?
2. Cheap equipment, particularly amps.
3. The price of digitech bass whammies on eBay.
4. Heavy ass basses.
5. Gibson basses - as above - their basses are just their guitars with four strings.
6. Gold knobs - basses are about soul, not bling.
7. Unscheduled battery death - whether in the bass or in a pedal.
8. Wal isn't making basses anymore.
9. Bassists who make a big point out of letting everyone know the bass they own.
10. Did I mention the price of Bass Whammies?
1. 'Relic' basses.
2. Basses that weigh over 9.5 lbs.
3. Loose controls.
4. Cheap hardware.
5. Glossy finished necks.
6. Basses with tiny bodies
7. Opaque finishes on anything but a P-Bass.
8. Neck thru basses- they're not THAT pretty.
9. Singlecut basses, particularly the ones with the HUGE top bit going up the neck. Gross!
10. Ugly wood grain.
2. Basses that weigh over 9.5 lbs.
3. Loose controls.
4. Cheap hardware.
5. Glossy finished necks.
6. Basses with tiny bodies
7. Opaque finishes on anything but a P-Bass.
8. Neck thru basses- they're not THAT pretty.
9. Singlecut basses, particularly the ones with the HUGE top bit going up the neck. Gross!
10. Ugly wood grain.
10. "Handmade" instruments. How many are actually made using only hand tools? Maybe Amish made.
9. Over 5 strings, I play 4, have a couple 5's, but wish I had bought my 2005 LE Bongo HH as a 4 instead of a 5. Over 5 strings, why don't you just learn to play the Sitar.
8. Active basses with no switch to make them passive. I don't always want my Jazz V to be active.
7. Bassists that constantly whine about their tone.
6. Effects...we are not guitar players.
5. Players who get hooked on a specific manufacturer & that manufacturer can do no wrong.
4. Cheap & noisy volume & tone pots. I love my Casady sig, but those controls are cheap & noisy.
3. Noisy electronics.
2. Basses that have an extrememly long top horn that goes half way up the neck.
& my #1 Personal turn off:
1. Manufacturers that cannot come up with an original design & make copies of the Fender Jazz & Precision. (I'm ready for the flaming on this one.)
9. Over 5 strings, I play 4, have a couple 5's, but wish I had bought my 2005 LE Bongo HH as a 4 instead of a 5. Over 5 strings, why don't you just learn to play the Sitar.
8. Active basses with no switch to make them passive. I don't always want my Jazz V to be active.
7. Bassists that constantly whine about their tone.
6. Effects...we are not guitar players.
5. Players who get hooked on a specific manufacturer & that manufacturer can do no wrong.
4. Cheap & noisy volume & tone pots. I love my Casady sig, but those controls are cheap & noisy.
3. Noisy electronics.
2. Basses that have an extrememly long top horn that goes half way up the neck.
& my #1 Personal turn off:
1. Manufacturers that cannot come up with an original design & make copies of the Fender Jazz & Precision. (I'm ready for the flaming on this one.)
Although I agree, it seems to me the ones making the copies are doing it so much better (but definitely not cheaper!) than Fender.
Although, my Fender USA Jazz 5 is pretty bitchin (or it will be by the time I get some Nordy's in there!).
Does that make 2 trolls? I thought this was top ten things we dont like about bass guitars?
dblbass
Commercial User
- Mar 24, 2007
- 368
- 74
- Disclosures
- Owner of MBJ guitars, Maker of fine sawdust for Carl Thompson Guitars
Although I agree, it seems to me the ones making the copies are doing it so much better (but definitely not cheaper!) than Fender.
to me it seems like they are doing it exactly the same. most of the stuff that is wrong with a fender is wrong with a lakland, sadowsky, pensa, ect. they are still heavy, off balanced poorly designed basses with a different name, slightly different headstock and mabey a fancy maple top.
I am sure, but stating an opinion is not being a troll. Maybe youre just a tad sensitive...? Am I supposed to censor my views so that your taste in bass guitars is not offended? This is an opinion thread right? The EBMM forum may suit your need to attack those with a differing opinion than yours about certain basses, you may want to try them out.
Um...wasnt it you that dropped the "Troll" thing when you quoted my reference to the number one thing I dislike in basses? That being any bass with EBMM on the headstock? Why would that get your panties in such a bunch, I really dont understand that. I think the one showing their "true colors" is yourself, it does not bother me but I think you may find a more appealing aptmosphere for your attitude at this link:[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
You just dont like a differing opinion, thats all. Sorry, I dont like those basses...SX makes a better clone in my opinion. And its passive, a plus. If you'd liked to discuss EBMM basses and why you are so devoted to them, lets. Or maybe an open and frank discussion of how we feel about the pro's and con's of those basses...do you think you could even do that without getiing all upset? Hey, I am down with Fenders and think they are the best basses ever, I also think Leo fender was inspired by some higher power to create them..but that said I am open to hearing why someone does not like them or not. In fact there is a current thread where they are getting bashed right now but you know what, fanboy that I am for them am I sitting here getting all upset..? Not even, because its that persons opinion. Go check the thread out. EBMM leaves a lot to be desired in a bass for that price IMHO, thats it. And the Bongo is hideous IMHO, sorry if that bothers you but they sound decent and yes I think the peizo systems ARE great on those basses and do provide some solace to someone who foolishly purchased one instead of a Fender. Fender should equip their own basses with such a peizo system, or at least have the option.
Can't really disagree with you, as I have never had the opportunity to play any of those clones. I just go by what the majority says around here and my personal opinion/experience, of course. I am a die-hard Fender Jazz bass fan, so I would probably like them.
There hasta be a reason no one's cloning other brands as much. Money is probably the answer. Bass makers are cashing in on the great Jazz bass design, but adding more options, better quality parts coupled with better fit and finish (this has been discussed to death...)
"Poorly designed" or not is a matter of opinion, but it seems to me the majority approves of the initial Fender design, especially the 2x single coil setup. I sure as heck do!
One of my pet peeves is dead spots. Many believe it has something to do with the headstock/neck design, and is present in many Fender and Fender-type basses.
Another of my pet peeves (as others have mentioned) is bridges without quick release slots. My favorite bridge is the Hipshot Vintage. Damn fine bridge in my opinion.
dblbass
Commercial User
- Mar 24, 2007
- 368
- 74
- Disclosures
- Owner of MBJ guitars, Maker of fine sawdust for Carl Thompson Guitars
Your preferences like or something are a matter of opinion, but design is not. a bass should be balanced, the neck should be in the right spot, the bridge should be in the right spot, the truss rod should actually do something to the neck, you shouldn't have dead spots and the pickups should cover the entire motion range of the string. to me it is obvious that this is not opinion.
if you like a tighter string spacing thats fine but the strings shouldnt be falling of the fretboard on one side and have 3 inches of spare room on th other. if you like a certain scale thats fine too but you should be able to hear all the notes clearly.
people today approve of the initial fender design because they have settled and said its good enough instead of trying to improve on the many things wrong with it. and not stoping until its right.
i dont personally see anything wrong with the design. i play a J, and have no problems whatsoever with balance, dead spots, or truss rod adjustments.
so id have to say that its not absolutely opinion, nor is it absolutely fact. i think it varies from bass to bass, as do most things.
a lot of people have mentioned balance.i think this depends on YOUR size and shape as well as how high/low you wear your bass.i play kinda low so long upper horns don't work for me.they make the bass hang too far to the right (i'm right handed) i think a shorter horn balances better.also everyone mentions truss rods.how often do you adjust yours?i've had one of my basses for 15 years and never needed to touch it.
IDK, tends to be part of a playing style. The form I utilize doesn't support the neck whatsoever. Really, I never notice this until i play a neck diver. I also play my bass in a middle position where it's most ergonomic for my wrists. Hanging a bass too high or low ends up making a lot of things more difficult. People who hang it low tend to lack good access to the upper register. Poeple who hang it too high have more trouble in the lower positions.
As for truss rod adjustments, depends on the bass (obviously), climate, and how sensitive your action is. If you have high action, you might not notice if there is more or less relief than usual. I keep mine ultra low and tend to make the seasonal adjustments since I have extremely humid summers and very dry winters.
