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Basses you like that everyone else said sucks.
- Thread starter Shifty eyes
- Start date
The basses I did not buy because everyone said they sucked. No but seriously the Hofner 500/1 I was given when I was 12. I was apart of a crappy neighborhood punk band and the rest of the guys said it sucked and wasn't cool so hell I didn't know any better. It looked old and outdated to me so I traded it at a local music store for a black epiphone jazz bass, still have this hunk of junk. Went back in the store a week later to get some other things and my old bass was in a display case for sale with a $1800 price tag on it. Damn that Major Music! They shortly later went out of business. This was around 85-86 ish
My experience exactly. Didn't matter what it was, someone always offered their (unsolicited) "opinion" on my axe.
+100 to that!
The funny thing is that the overall build quality of guitars today is sooooo much better than it was in the 60s and 70s when I was growing up. Back then you HAD to buy a Fender or Gibson or Gretsch or (insert other big name guitar maker here) because everything else was sooooo bad.
I'm still amused when I see a "vintage" piece of crap that was totally unplayable when it was new going for $300+ on ebay. Just because it's old doesn't make it vintage, or valuable.
Pretty much anything that's made today either doesn't suck or can be made playable. You couldn't even make most of the old stuff playable, let alone sound good.
As far as I'm concerned, today's instruments are among the best. Best of all, they're available at every price point. It's a great time to be a musician.
Do you suppose it was the kid or the Dad that made that exception? I ask that because I remember reading on the Fender forums once a post from a father who said he had tried "Hundreds"eyebrow
Naw… in this case it was the kid. The dad (guitar home-player) and I are buddies and he’s got nothing against Fenders or the like. The kid and his buddies are more into that harder screamo kinda stuff and who knows what they like. Plus he played some guitar and probably wants a skinny neck.
I know they were looking at a $200 Ibanez.
I...
Have a Samick. 5er, used to be active, P/J setup. J pup growls nicely when soloed, P pup is deeeep when soloed. Together, the pups sound a bit weird but that may be the fact that I practice with a Fender guitar amp. Finish looks like the bottom of a pond, rocks n all.. sorta.
Well, I like it. People mock Samick but it works well for me.
On another note, some of the basses mentioned here were completely unknown to me. I learn new things here all the time
Have a Samick. 5er, used to be active, P/J setup. J pup growls nicely when soloed, P pup is deeeep when soloed. Together, the pups sound a bit weird but that may be the fact that I practice with a Fender guitar amp. Finish looks like the bottom of a pond, rocks n all.. sorta.
Well, I like it. People mock Samick but it works well for me.
On another note, some of the basses mentioned here were completely unknown to me. I learn new things here all the time
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Basses you like that everyone else said sucks.
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RICKENBACKERS
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RICKENBACKERS
I love basses with Western Australian Jarrah as the body wood. A lot of Luthiers have told me that it is far too dense, and not resonant enough. I thought it sounded perfect for a P bass.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,630
- 222,217
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
If as an audience member, a noticeably unpleasant sound was coming off the bandstand, I'd look to determine where it was coming from and why, but I would have to believe generally that it would not be because of the way any of the instruments looked or what brand they were. 
yah I know, we are all aware of our peers, but the instrument (regardless of look or brand) is what delivers the sound/tone which is why someone is listening (or not). Not to mention the player's input, which is ultimately what makes people listen.
yah I know, we are all aware of our peers, but the instrument (regardless of look or brand) is what delivers the sound/tone which is why someone is listening (or not). Not to mention the player's input, which is ultimately what makes people listen.
^^"...said sucks" RICKENBACKERS is a great dream, 5 string is in haven 
Ric5 could tell-me if the 5 string space, is less than the 4 mode?
I have A Kahler bridge, with a slot for a B string...
Ric5 could tell-me if the 5 string space, is less than the 4 mode?
I have A Kahler bridge, with a slot for a B string...
+1.
I have done a lot of gigs this year with a Squier VM fretless Jazz and a Fodera together. Nobody ever seems to know what a Fodera is, but some seem to think that a a Squier is a cheap, mass produced, terrible quality Fender.
Yes the Squier was $299, but it is a great sounding and playing bass. I love the VM fretless as they are well made and I like the fingerboard.
In any case, one guy was asking me why I played such a $h!tty bass a couple of months ago at a gig. He said I was a good player and wondered why didn't I play a Fender. I got all Glengarry Glen Ross on him and told him that I play the Squier because my other bass cost more than his car. He didn't like that, but he was an ass.
I really don't know why anyone cares to make derogatory comments on other people's gear. Poor conversationalists, maybe?
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
^^"...said sucks" RICKENBACKERS is a great dream, 5 string is in haven
Ric5 could tell-me if the 5 string space, is less than the 4 mode?
I have A Kahler bridge, with a slot for a B string...
A stock 4003s5 will have a string spacing at the bridge that is 2 1/16". They can be modified to have a spacing of 2 1/4" or 2 3/8". The older 4004s can be converted into a 5 string with 2 1/2" spacing.
I have converted 4 string Rics into 5 string Rics with the Kahler bridge.
I picked up an MIJ Fernandes fretless jazz bass recently, and my friend immediately told me that its crap because it isn't a fender or something popular (I own a fender and a ric, but cheap basses are still good when they're good quality). Its actually quite nice, with a thin neck and pretty loud, jazz bass sounding pickups. The headstock looks cool too, like a laid back version of the fender one. Plus it was only 200 bucks.
I was going to try the 5 string conversion with a Rick copy. it was a neck through and looked to be fairly decent construction, but family medical issues got in the way, and took up my time... I got rid of the bass, and now regret it.
I'm a big Ibanez fan in general, but am particularly fond of my 2 plastic-bodied EDA905s. They smell like gasoline, the silver one has a broken lower horn (I bought it that way from a TBer and got a great deal) and the orange one looks like a big Cheeto, but that's all part of their charm. They're super light and comfortable to play. I also have a wood-bodied EDB405 that plays great. I wish Ibanez would resurrect the Ergodyne series.
I don't think the Ergodyne basses suck but I'm with you- a lot of people said otherwise. The Luthite body being what most people were critical about.
I too had an EDA905 (in that coral red color)- a fellow TB'er called it a melted looking bass lol.., an EDC700 (the best of the Ergodynes imo) and a EDB600.
