Basses that surprisingly impressed everyone at a gig/practice

[steve_rolfeca]

DeArmond Ashbory "rubber bass". 18" scale, and I'm 6' 2" and 240lb, so I looked like a circus bear riding a tricycle whenever I played it.

I was gigging out with a lot of different bands at the time, and it was always the same: I'd get all kinds of ribbing when I first pulled it out of the gigbag, but the guys would fall all over themselves once they heard it.

I originally bought it just for the odd song that called for a pseudo URB sound, but it wasn't long before it was getting more hours than my "real" bass. I didn't run into the problems other people report with string breakage, so all in all it was a pretty good deal for $225 brand new.

Call me shallow, though, it bored me stupid playing the simple lines that it seemed to call for, and my good bass (the fretted 5-string in my sig) was jealous, so I sold it.

Plus, if I'm honest, I didn't really enjoy the ribbing...

 

[Hot Rats]

what are these two? never seen them before but they look sweet!

The first one is an Alembic Epic.
The second one is a Stambaugh.

I miss the Alembic, but the Stambaugh is still kicking butt at some of my gigs.

 

[Chad Michael]

Korean, musicyo "tobias" toby deluxe 5. Cheap ass bass, disgrace to the Tobias name, built with cheap labor and cheap materials.

But - it sounded big fat funky and good . Guitarists, bassists, drummers, audience members, sound men - all loved the tone. Sold it to a working bassist friend of mine, he has been gigging this bass for about 9 years now.

 

[pit7]

I had that with my Geddy Lee Signature Jazz Bass.

Prior to the first rehearsals it was just a pretty good bass guitar.
Now the guys go like "yipiiieee" when this thing comes out of the gig bag.

 

[blipndub]

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Two gigs this weekend with this one. Easy to play, great consistent tone. Traded a couple guitar pedals for it, i really like it.

 

[wideyes]

The whole band says this one better be my main bass they loved it so much.

I tend to agree with them about the Dingwall. It is incredible.

The Universe tends to agree with them about the Dingwall!

 

[Lester4string]

My Wishbass always gets inquires. People say they love the way it sounds, I think they love the way it looks, and for most the looks are more important (that bugs me). Most importantly I love the way it sounds. Now if I could just play in tune 100% of the time instead of 85%

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[Jim Carr]

My punkish rockabilly trio compatriots love my late 2008/early 2009 fiesta red Road Worn Fender Jazz bass though two 210 Epifani cabs driven by a GB Shuttle 6.0—Why? They say "the tone."

Here it is in action, oddly a pic from the only song I played thumb-style in that show.

 

[capnsandwich]

I used to own a Cirrus, too. Here in Norway, Peaveys are not highly regarded, in fact, they have a pretty bad rep (probably cause they ever only imported the cheapest models). Anyway, after the gig, I had several people come up and compliment me on my sound, and that amazing Warwick. There were quite a few jaw drops when I told them thanks, but that's way superior to a Warwick, it's a Peavey!

Yeah, there's a BIG difference between the USA Cirrus and the import Cirrus basses. I'd hate it if all Peavey ever had were the BXP models. The USA Peaveys are IMO America's best kept secret.

 

[Diogenes]

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Two gigs this weekend with this one. Easy to play, great consistent tone. Traded a couple guitar pedals for it, i really like it.

I have the same bass with what I assume are the same flats (D-Chromes?). It's actually a very well built and attractive bass with a great tone.


Just about anything that I own surprises most people with their tone... these especially since they cost less than $90:

mid 70's Kingston

a parts bass
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my main gigging bass... another parts bass
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[blipndub]

/\ yeah, it's got chromes on it. I'm surprised at how much range this thing has, very versatile little number

 

[BartmanPDX]

Sound guys and the band always love the tone:

Nothing else sounds like an old Steiny.

The other bass which always surprises on gigs is my Reverend Rumblefish PJ, which really sounds great in the mix. It's my lead singer's favorite bass.

 

[MNAirHead]

Purple Axcellerator.. guys were laughing until they heard it.

 

[Bass4LifeRS]

Purple Axcellerator.. guys were laughing until they heard it.

Nice, love to prove my bandmates' eyes wrong

 

[invalidprotocol]

Purple Axcellerator.. guys were laughing until they heard it.

Peavey Axcellerators are one bad machine! That and the later model Foundations. I've owned both.

My sleeper is an Ibanez SR300M which reminds me a lot of the Peaveys. There's something to be said about its maple fretboard. It has serious growl and bite that you won't hear on the SR300's with rosewood.

 

[mongo2]

I couldn't care less about what others think but I have been suprised at the positive attention my DIY "Paddle Axe" EUB and Krappy EUB get.

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[iamdenialNJ]

That thing looks so badass.

 

[funkydjembe]

That thing looks so badass.

yeah,,you just cant help(stop) the feeling of wanting to play that thing

 

[mongo2]

Pic of mine:

I've been looking for one of those to convert to an EUB for a year or so.

 

[bad_andy]

huge sound from a tiny package. my ubass amazes everyone, including me!

This is consistent with my experience. The audience loves how it looks and the band loves the sound. That U-Bass 2 was the best $400 I've spent on an instrument in years.