Bass pet peeves

[Danomo]

Unaligned ball ends on bridges...

 

[bassfilthy]

Always trying to find the strap button "sweet spot" on any Thunderbird style bass

 

[JimmyM]

Necks that stick way out from the body and force me to reach way out to play the lowest frets. This is why I can't hang with Explorers, reverse Firebirds, Steinbergers...but what really hurts is not being able to hang with Telecaster bodies because I so love them and would totally have one if it wasn't the case. Not the bass Telecaster bodies...the guitar-style bodies like the G&L ASAT, the only G&L I ever had an interest in playing.

 

[Mark4]

Vintage snobbery and the ridiculously inflated prices that come with it.

 

[walldaja]

Quick-loading bridges that only hold the ball end when tension is applied--I don't have three hands. Trying to get access to truss rod when the strings are in the way (or worse, when the body is in the way). Nose diving basses.

 

[z009]

1. Excessive fret buzz
2. basses that can't get a gritty enough time
3. the look of playing with fingers... Don't get me wrong, sometimes it's necessary to play with them for certain styles and some people can get CRAZY good finger tone... But idk the look of someone playing with fingers has always looked kinda awkward to me

 

[quickfix]

View attachment 619936 Unaligned ball ends on bridges...

Funny you should mention that. I'm the same way. I absolutely must straighten them...and then I put the bridge cover back on (50's P ugly vintage style threaded bridge).
I mean really...how OCD is that?

 

[Dave W]

When somebody starts a thread to illustrate that they don't like matching headstocks, yet show two exceptions, and neither of which actually have matching headstocks.

 

[Marko 1]

I wish all active basses had an active/passive switch.

I'd consider having/keeping an active bass that had that feature.

 

[Marko 1]

OTOH, people who use 'has brand new strings' as a selling point...umm, probably not the ones I use! I can pretty much tell if it will suit me, regardless of what strings are on it.

Hell, I’m not as fussy as some--

I’d totally play whatever those string were ‘till the were daid.

 

[Marko 1]

...
3. the look of playing with fingers... Don't get me wrong, sometimes it's necessary to play with them for certain styles and some people can get CRAZY good finger tone... But idk the look of someone playing with fingers has always looked kinda awkward to me

<bites tongue>

 

[Danomo]

Funny you should mention that. I'm the same way. I absolutely must straighten them...and then I put the bridge cover back on (50's P ugly vintage style threaded bridge).
I mean really...how OCD is that?

Exactly the right amount!

 

[Danomo]

<bites tongue>

Heh, when I first started playing, my parents went to see a jazz ensemble... They commented when they got home about the guitar player who looked so effeminate playing. I made the pose and said: "Like this?", they both started laughing hysterically and said: "Yes, Exactly!".

I bit my tounge that day.... as they didn't realize I'd be playing that way when they'd forked over $75 for my Cortez Mustang bass copy just weeks before. My Mom put it together seven months later at my first Jazz band concert, and actually apologized for laughing.

 

[Daz JP]

Another pet peeve is basses with poor access into the upper positions on the neck. If a bass has 20,21,22,24, or more frets or positions on a fretless, I'd like to be able to reach every last one comfortably. QUOTE]

Yes! Exactly why I tend to look at Spectors but decide against it. My fingers can't bend like that!

 

[Robroy]

I just watched that again last night. The sound perfectly matched what was being done on stage. Rick Danko has a weird way of playing; he can make easy stuff look hard, and hard stuff look easy. Awesome bassist, and an awesome singer as well.

I don't know why yours sounded awful.

The sound was awesome. It was also "too good". I was so disappointed that I googled the movie. The soundtrack was overdubbed and it is actually controversial. My observations were confirmed and even discussed on a lot of sites.

Watch it again. It's most obvious when he's using the fretless.

The interviews didn't help either. At least regarding my respect for the men.

 

[Robroy]

Funny - just watched that (again) too, last week. I saw it in theater on a "first date" when I was 16!!

Anyway - I was really underwhelmed by almost all of the playing *except* Levon Helm. Man, that guy could play. The rest? Meh.

That cracked me up. It was exactly my take. He was amazing.

 

[jd56hawk]

When somebody starts a thread to illustrate that they don't like matching headstocks, yet show two exceptions, and neither of which actually have matching headstocks.

Well, that's why I said they were exceptions.
Regardless, three of my basses do have matching headstocks...I don't own the Thunderbird and who could blame me for buying the P bass?

 

[Robroy]

Matching headstocks are a style. It's not necessarily better. It's art. Art is subjective.

Back in the late 50's a lot of cars had two tone paint jobs. It cost more. It doesn't mean it was better.

 

[jsdratm]

Every active bass should have a convenient 9v battery door. I hated having to unscrew a panel on my Schecter just to get at the battery.

 

[Dave W]

Well, that's why I said they were exceptions.
Regardless, three of my basses do have matching headstocks...I don't own the Thunderbird and who could blame me for buying the P bass?

You know, for some reason I read it as you DON'T like matching headstocks. I'm a dope. Sorry...