Basses that just sound BAD...

[Tim Schnautz]

No, they are different. the Mustang, had a split/coil pickup like a P-bass, which was designed AS a bass.

The Music Master had a single coil...out of a tele or strat guitar. I don't know why Fender did that, because it dowsn't cost any more to build a bass pick up compared to a guitar pick up... maybe pennies if any difference at all?

 

[The Owl]

WHAT?!?!?!?
Have you ever played a Thunderbird, A Ripper, A G3, A RD Artist, A Les Paul bass? You must be jumping on the band wagon with people because all these basses provide great lows and great highs. The only Gibson basses that were "MUD" were the EB basses, Because of the Big Bucker right at the neck. The EB-3 had the bridge pickup which helped even out the sound, But its still muddy from what Ive heard.

Ive owned a Ripper and currectly have a Thunderbird as my main bass. The Ripper to me, Was like a P bass, but just with more "umph" and volume. Aid buy one again before a Pbass anyday. My Thunderbird is just "IN YOUR FACE", Its got amazing low end (clear low end too) and very good treble, its not at rickenbacker status but its not "MUD" at all. Infact, Nothing about the bass would make you think mud.

Ive only played the Les Paul bass and only heard the RD Artist. The Les Paul is similar to the Thunderbird in sound, But not exactly. Ive only played an early '90's one (With the Bartolini's), But I can definitely say it ws As in you r face as my Thunderbird.

There are a few guys on here who owned or still have a RD and From what ive heard them say, the bass is great. And from the songs Ive heard the bass on, I can say that It sounds good with a band and cuts through the mix well.

Please tell me you had a bad experience or where just jumping on the wagon. Because That comment sounded very close minded.

Not being one to jump on bandwagons, I can tell you my Gibson panning came from bad experiences trying all the different ones, the tone AND the physical feel of the instruments just did nothing for me personally.

 

[Pennydreadful]

No, they are different. the Mustang, had a split/coil pickup like a P-bass, which was designed AS a bass.

The Music Master had a single coil...out of a tele or strat guitar. I don't know why Fender did that, because it dowsn't cost any more to build a bass pick up compared to a guitar pick up... maybe pennies if any difference at all?

I believe Squier's Bronco has a strat single coil. It's weird, but I like the tone- a real trebly BARK.

 

[SundanceChile]

ick, walking into starving musician playing this knock off hofner beatle bass. god, i had the thing running through the one hiqh quaility ampeg head running through an ampeg 8x10, the thing was just making me never want to touch a bass again.

 

[bbocaner]

fender jazz bass -- is it a sin that I don't like the sound? It's all "thump" and no pitch

warwicks -- hollow sound, no character

 

[PaulMacCnj]

I was in the market for a Fender Jazz bass for several months. Late in July of this year, Fender released the "JAZZ 24", quilted top, made in Korea. Being that I have a Fender GB-41 SCE acoustic/electric, made in Korea, and am very happy with it, my hopes were high for the new Jazz 24. But, I've played two and I must say that they are disappointing. Playing-wise, they are decent, but the sound is simply wierd. First, that signature Jazz sound is nowhere to be found. With 5 pot controls and a switch you think you would be able to get a lot of different, satisfying sounds. Instead, I could not get anything out of it that convinced me to buy the bass. Every setting gave a hollow, thin sound. :scowl:

Now, talk about a vintage Fender Jazz and they are my favorite sounding basses. For an example, listen to the studio version of B.B. King's "Why I Sing the Blues" with Jerry Jemmott on the low end. Oh, that sweet low end growl!

Paul

 

[AmazingGracePlayer]

I'd have to say Fender basses are the worst. They all sound soo muddy.

 

[GabeN]

I was in the market for a Fender Jazz bass for several months. Late in July of this year, Fender released the "JAZZ 24", quilted top, made in Korea. Being that I have a Fender GB-41 SCE acoustic/electric, made in Korea, and am very happy with it, my hopes were high for the new Jazz 24. But, I've played two and I must say that they are disappointing. Playing-wise, they are decent, but the sound is simply wierd. First, that signature Jazz sound is nowhere to be found. With 5 pot controls and a switch you think you would be able to get a lot of different, satisfying sounds. Instead, I could not get anything out of it that convinced me to buy the bass. Every setting gave a hollow, thin sound. :scowl:

Paul

Same here. I played a Jazz 24, and while it played great it just didnt put out any good tone. It was all a perfectly sterile sound. It played a note, but not much more beyond that.

Another bass that I abhor is pretty much any/all Ibanez's I've played. They have a very indestinct sound. It's hard to pick one out in a band because it's mostly a very backgroundy sound.

 

[-Sam-]

There was a lot of talk about soundgears being the worst. I play a soundgear as my main bass and i realy like the sound, however i have never really experienced some of these really "good" sounding basses.
I have AB'ed it up against various fenders, stingrays, warwicks and spectors but while all of those basses sounded good i felt that tone wise my ibanez at least matched everyone of them and in some cases sounded alot better. plus i dont think any of them played nearly as well as my bass. However i know this is all in my opinion and your results may vary

PS my favourite P bass ever is a hondo copy with string through, but then again havent actualy played that many p basses

 

[AmazingGracePlayer]

fender jazz bass -- is it a sin that I don't like the sound? It's all "thump" and no pitch

warwicks -- hollow sound, no character

Word. I will print this quote out and worship it =)

 

[raoulduke]

I pretty much hate all washburns and cheap fender copies.

I have to agree, my first bass was a Washburn-XB 125. When someone stole it from me it was almost like a favor, now I have a Fender Jazz Bass V.

(This is my first comment in TB )

 

[mcapote]

personally I haven't heard a stingray live that Ive liked the sound on it. Also the lowend $200-$300 Ibanez sound like total ass to me. and pretty much anything at my local G.C. sounds like ass but im suspecting that's from their expert setups considering the 1 bass I bought from them needed a ridiculous adjustment on the truss rod to straighten the neck LOL.

 

[schmig]

I have a couple of early 80's Aria Pro II SB basses (an SR-80 and an SBR-150), while beautifully built and very solid, they are very quiet and honky at best. I can see the SBR150 (active) has had the electronics replaced at some point, may be related.
Picked up a fender jazz last year, the Arias haven't been out of their cases since...

 

[Dark Horse]

I've never met a bass that couldn't be made to sound good. Strings, adapting your technique, etc all make 'em tick.

 

[MrRumble]

Gibson EBO, as said before, total mud.
Any Warwick played with a pick.

 

[NortyFiner]

Ditto the Gibson EB-0. I picked one up in the store the other day, plugged it into one of those Ampeg dream stacks that guys here GAS about, and it sounded like a fish flopping on the floor...just a wet THUD-THUD-THUD. Tweaking the EQ didn't seem to help much either. Yuck.

 

[Dark Horse]

Clearly some of you are having problems understanding the concept of a bass being DESIGNED to sound a certain way. Just because YOU don't personally find that sound useful to YOU, that doesn't mean it is a "bad sound".

Take the EB-O for example. It was never designed to give a "piano like bass tone". It was designed from day one to give a big, fat, thuddy low end rumble, and if you need a bass that gives that sound, it is a amazing sounding bass. For that sound, a Jazz Bass... not so much. But the EB-O won't do what a Jazz Bass does either.

A guy who drives a Ferrari might think that a Ford Explorer is a "crappy vehicle" simply because it doesn't fit his needs. However, that doesn't really mean the Explorer is a crappy vehicle - he is simply trying to use it for something that it wasn't designed to do.

Stop trying to fit "square pegs into round holes" and you will be much happier in life.

 

[OutToPlayJazz]

I had another pro bass playing friend round last night and as well as playing a lot of basses, we also discussed the fact that there aren't really any bad models of basses out there, just that even two instruments manufactured in the same place on the same day to the same spec can also be totally different.

If I had to generalise, I'd have to say that the one I really don't like is the Fender Precision. It's a great bass when you're listening to the music, but from a player's standpoint, it's just a one trick pony that gets buried in the mix.

Contrary to some other opinions on here, I've always liked the sound of cheaper Ibanez & Yamaha basses, but the more expensive Ibanez models always seem to lack something for me. Too sterile sounding.

Again, I'm generalising here & obviously some of you will have some amazing Precisions, Ibanez models that you'll rave about and love playing. It's a good job we're all different, isn't it?

 

[Treybass]

any bass with JUST a single coil jazz pup near the bridge. ew haha

 

[Babunar]

Holy thread necromancy, Batman!