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Basses that disappointed you...

#241
Gibson Les Paul 4 string - It was in my local Sam Ash. I went in to buy strings, saw it on the wall and had to try it out. I still regret wasting my time finding a rep to lend me a cable to try it out. It's still to this day the absolute worst bass I've ever played. The tone was about as good as taking a dump after bad mexican food.

Hofner Beatle Bass - Just not my cup of tea
 
#243
The limited edition butterscotch stingray from 2005. I played it in the same shop from where I got my '09 stingray and I was so dissapointed. The controls were clunky as hell. Sure you'd be able to set the EQ flat on the bass but you'd have trouble getting out of that! The nikki sixx epiphone blackbird was also dissapointing. The neck was to thin for me and it had the most boring sound i've ever heard from a bass i've played. I really wanted to like it to! Also, the Rickenbacker 4001. A friend came up to me at college earlier this year raving about a Rickenbacker he got for £800. It wasn't worth it! Maybe that was a bad egg but I just don't like the sound of a Rickenbacker bass. Rickenbacker guitars however, yes!
 
#244
Easy one here - The '80-'81 Gibson "V Bass". I bought one new - floored by the look and figured it would sound great one I got it home to my Ampegs. (like my Thunderbird does, right?) Mmmmm... no. Absolutely the worst bass I've ever owned, and people are asking 5k for them now...
 
#246
Went to GC and picked up a beautiful newer Fender Sting signature 1954 precision (MIJ). First, the action was set so high it was barely playable, which was made even worse by the visible bow and twist to the neck (without even looking for it). Also, the E-string magnet on the pu was almost dead! It was a full 15-20db quieter than the rest. The kid at GC said he thought the truss was maxed out or broken. I'm thinking "why are you selling this pos???" Almighty dollar I guess...jeez!
 
#248
Every Alembic that I have ever played. I LOVE the look but the necks were not my thing. Sadly enough the same goes for the few Foderas that I have played. These were great basses, but not for me. Kinda funny, I was not impressed with the two Lamborghinis that I have driven, but the Ferraris and Panoz blew me away ...related to the basses somehow I'm sure...
 
#250
rickenbacker 4001/4003. always loved the way they look and sound (in other people's hands). have tried a few, which were rightys (im a lefty) but even then i can tell if i like a bass or not, and they just aren't my thing. i did get to play a lefty way back when i first started, but it was at an upscale music store in san fran and didnt get a chance to play it much. cant recall anything other than the fact i played it, so it didnt exactly jump out and grab me. not knocking rics, they just aren't for me. warwicks are the same way. dont like the ergonomics, neck profile or tone in my hands. other people can make them sound great though.
 
#257
tuBass said:
It's been a few years since I gave them a shot. Did they change them to make them better?
Click to expand...

the classics are a different breed altogether. the classics have features of the old stingrays with a few modern features as well. its got the string-thru bridge with built-in string mutes, 2-band eq, 6-bolt neck, spoke-wheel truss-rod adjustment. the 5'ers have the same body shape as the 4s. go to Bass Central and check'em out.

edit, they do have a gloss finish neck, if thats a dealbreaker for you.
 
#258
dedpool1052 said:
rickenbacker 4001/4003..... not knocking rics, they just aren't for me. dont like the ergonomics, neck profile....
Click to expand...

I've heard this a million times.....

I believe it's because over 90% of bass players start out on a P or P-copy.

They get accustomed, adjust and lock into the dimensions they're so familiar with.

A RIC will seem very strange.

I am the opposite.

Played only a RIC for 30 years and never a P.

A Precision doesn't feel right to me - especially the neck width (string spacing), mostly in the upper neck.

I believe most players prefer what they started out with (or close to it) as far as ergonomics go.
 
#259
john_martin_sai said:
I've heard this a million times.....

I believe it's because over 90% of bass players start out on a P or P-copy.

They get comfortable and lock into it.

A RIC will seem very strange.

I am the opposite.

Played only a RIC for 30 years and never a P.

A P doesn't feel right to me - especially the neck width, mostly in the upper neck.

I believe most players prefer what they started out with (or close to it) as far as ergonomics go.
Click to expand...
it was the warwicks i was referring to as far as the neck profile/ergonomics. ric necks felt fine to me (except the one 4004 i tried, just too damn big). i did in fact start on a p-bass and the lack of a forearm contour on the ric just makes it very uncomfortable to me.
 

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