Bass you can't bond with

[MegaSwing]

The bass I cannot bond with is the one I cannot bring into perfect adjustment. That's only happened a couple of times over dozens of basses, and I attribute it to manufacturing/materials deficiencies. Whether I care to own a particular instrument is a completely different question.

 

[40Hz]

I’ve yet to bond with any of the more recent boutique basses so many players know and love. And I’ve tried my share. Closest I ever got to that was the Alembic I once had. That was a spectacular instrument.

About the only boutique bass I ever got a chance to play that really hit me where I live was a Wal. But the lead time and price tag for getting one of those pretty much guarantees I’m never going to own one. So it goes. Fortunately there’s plenty more great basses to choose from.

Life is good!

 

[808P123]

Gigged and toured on a Yamaha BB425X. It played great and sounds great but even after a year or two of trying we never bonded and ended up going back to P's and J's.

 

[Zanderwestcoast]

Ive bought many basses online before playing them and some are my favourites. I would always be sure to know what the radius and neck profile is, pickups etc, before buying, but having a knowledgable seller that understands your needs and expectations really helps in making sound choices that you don't regret.

Jazz basses, like any other bass, can really vary from each other, but if you get the right one in your hand, they are amazing. Same goes for a nice P bass. Personally, I like a early 60's skinny nut neck profile, with true single coils. I like the aggressive tone and responsiveness they have versus hum cancelling J pickups. Pair one of these up with a high quality tube amp and bingo.

 

[FirewalZ]

I have a 3 band EBMM Stingray I bought new back in the 90's and was my main gigging bass back than. I dig it for nestalgic purposes, but never fully bonded with the thinner G and aggressive tone. I much prefer passive Fenders these days.

 

[mattbass6945]

Ive bought many basses online before playing them and some are my favourites. I would always be sure to know what the radius and neck profile is, pickups etc, before buying, but having a knowledgable seller that understands your needs and expectations really helps in making sound choices that you don't regret.

Jazz basses, like any other bass, can really vary from each other, but if you get the right one in your hand, they are amazing. Same goes for a nice P bass. Personally, I like a early 60's skinny nut neck profile, with true single coils. I like the aggressive tone and responsiveness they have versus hum cancelling J pickups. Pair one of these up with a high quality tube amp and bingo.

I know what you mean. It took me about 5 years to find a p bass I liked. Now I love it! I imagine I'll just have to let the right jazz bass find me.

 

[Zanderwestcoast]

I know what you mean. It took me about 5 years to find a p bass I liked. Now I love it! I imagine I'll just have to let the right jazz bass find me.

What style of music are you playing? Do you often play with a pick?

 

[40Hz]

It took me about 5 years to find a p bass I liked.

This. I’ve been playing a long time and it was only in the last few years I finally found a PB I really liked. Two of them in fact. So I bought both.

 

[mattbass6945]

What style of music are you playing? Do you often play with a pick?

I don't play in a band anymore because my situation at home has changed. Before, I played hard rock and metal. Now i play more classic rock, hard rock and occasional r&b stuff.

 

[GreyBeard]

For me, it is mostly the skinny neck of a jazz. Coming from upright, it just feels like I'm playing a pencil and cramps my hand.

 

[Kmonk]

I bond with MIA Fender, Alembic and Spector basses (U.S. Czech and Korean), M Bass (Boutique builder out of Connecticut, great quality, sound and feel.

Basses I don't bond with: G & L (Love the sound, don't like the neck, Carvin (I have never owned any Carvin product that I've been happy with whether its been a bass, amp or monitors), Pedulla (Don't like the necks on any of the ones I've played)

 

[mattbass6945]

For me, it is mostly the skinny neck of a jazz. Coming from upright, it just feels like I'm playing a pencil and cramps my hand.

I don't play upright, but I have the same feeling. It just puts my fret hand in an awkward position. I imagine I'll eventually come by "the one".

 

[Algo]

Fenders.
They always lack something to my ear.

 

[mesaplayer83]

Anything over 5 strings with quirky electronics and pickups is usually a bust for me.

Same here...

Rickenbacker. Love the way the look and sound,but so uncomfortable to play.

Yeah, I had a nice late 70s 4001, but just didn't enjoy playing it - Ric's ergonomics are not for me...

The only other basses I can think of that I just don't like playing are Fender's P Basses that are 1.75" at the nut, and basses with "baseball bat" necks, like some Warwicks...

 

[mesaplayer83]

Spector's have always been an issue with sitting properly on me in a standing(stage ready) position.. Probably because of the offset strap buttons is my guess..Sitting down they are great and have nice tonal range though..

Yeah, my one Spector bass does feel a little "off" while standing, but I'm able to shrug that off...

 

[Zanderwestcoast]

I don't play in a band anymore because my situation at home has changed. Before, I played hard rock and metal. Now i play more classic rock, hard rock and occasional r&b stuff.

The reason I ask is early 60's inspired J's or vintage early-mid 60's Jazz basses with RW fingerboard's, single coils etc respond very well with all tube amps in my experience. Playing with a pic through an old hand wired Marshall or SVT gives you a grind and definition that sounds like a million rock records you've heard before. It sits in the mix with the guitars awesome. And then if if you want a cleaner mid range bump you can't beat them through a vintage B15 flip top. A properly shielded Jazz with single coils are not noisy either.

 

[ppiluk]

As much as I like them, I have been unable to bond with every Ibanez bass I have owned except for the RKB900. I love this particular bass but it is more like a Fender P-Bass than any other Ibanez bass they make.

 

[scowboy]

The necks seem to jump further out than most other basses due to the length of the upper horn. It makes them and Warwicks uncomfortable for me to play.

I have also found this. It’s no problem if you are only playing Spector or Warwick but when you tired to mix a Fender style bass in at least for me my muscle memory does not easily adapt.

With that said I’ve got a Sadowsky Metro sitting here that I’m really unsure about. I love my Stingray 5, it’s the bass I always come back to.

 

[mattbass6945]

The reason I ask is early 60's inspired J's or vintage early-mid 60's Jazz basses with RW fingerboard's, single coils etc respond very well with all tube amps in my experience. Playing with a pic through an old hand wired Marshall or SVT gives you a grind and definition that sounds like a million rock records you've heard before. It sits in the mix with the guitars awesome. And then if if you want a cleaner mid range bump you can't beat them through a vintage B15 flip top. A properly shielded Jazz with single coils are not noisy either.

For reference, '71Univox tube head, ampeg 1x15, p bass/thunderbird. Beta LM308 stays on a lot.

 

[gelinas666]

Yeah, my one Spector bass does feel a little "off" while standing, but I'm able to shrug that off...

I really like the build quality but I haven't found a comfortable position with one yet. Tried different heights with different style straps. My playing position with it and so on.. Might just break down and move the strap position to the center on the bottom and see if that solves it.. Its more the body of the bass that doesn't sit well on me not the neck being farther out..