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Basses that disappointed you...

Fender Precision Bass - I love the look of a worn sunburst P bass.
I simply did not like the tone I wa getting out of 'em

MusicMan SUB - Dull sound, DULL GROWL

Nikki Sixx Blackbird - No tone or volume knobs!!
 
The one that broke my heart was an Ibanez Roadstar 5 string approx 1985 that was given to me by a guitar playing friend. Looked great, sounded great but the strings were just too close together. Aside from that: Music Man Sterling (same thing with no room to work),any Warwick(baseball bat neck), Rickenbacker(neck too skinny). I might sound like the Ogre of neck shape but I have 20+ basses that I love.
 
1971 Tele Bass.
I was never happy with the tone, changed pups, still not what I wanted to hear.
The neck was like a 2X4 just sanded enough not to give you splinters, and slightly twisted, so I couldn't get the action nice and low.

I loved the slab body, though, and it wasn't very heavy at all.
 
Warwicks. Sound phenomenal, but I don't like the way they play. I used to want a Thumb NT 5 so bad..... Until I actually played one, it just felt wrong all the way around. For a bass that looks small and sleek, they're very big and clunky feeling.

Also anything expensive with EMGs. Why would I drop over $1000 for a bass with them when I can buy a cheapy and drop a set in and get the same sound?
 
Have to join the anti-active crowd. I possessed some nice ones, well built, played fine (Spector, Blade, Frankenfender with Sadowsky electronics) and the soul just is not there (especially with neckthrough basses) . No matter what i do, the tone stays the same, it's great for the 1st 5 minutes, but then....boredom, greyness and depression set in.
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stevorebob
'76 Gibson Grabber... I know some love them now, but it was a horrific creation.
What didn't you like about them ?

Can you elaborate ?

PS: I don't own one, have tried two or three of them here and there... not sure I like... SOmetimes I do sometimes I don't !

Nitram


The Grabber was a bass designed by marketers not musicians. It worked; I bought it for it's looks -- really cool in the '70s. But it disappointed me once I got over the coolness. First, it has an awkwardly large body, especially the butt end. Just not comfortable. Second, the body is light and the top horn short, so there is a serious neck-dive issue. Those issues would be acceptable if it had a great sound; it does not. So third, the combination of a light body, lightweight bridge and weak humbucker pick up gave it a "nothing" tone. But I looked cool...
 
Danni Moe said:
The Ibanez Ashula. The extra D and G strings are... just extra. I'd kill for a four string model though.

You could put a high c and f# on there, or a low b and high c? Just a thought, you might have to do some adjusting with the trus rod and maybe a new nut, but hey why not...