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Basses you like that everyone else said sucks.

#141
A Lot of people on TB claim the Squier Affinity Jazz bass sucks. So I had completely written that model off the list.

I went to Sam Ash a few years ago to buy a MIA Jazz 5 I had tried earlier in the week and fell in love with. While there I also saw a nice MIM Jazz hanging next to it for a few hundred less. So out of curiosity I tried it and wasn't really that impressed. My mind was set on the MIA. While the sales clerk was looking for the case to put it in I decided to noodle around on a Jazz 5 near the counter. It was a Squier Affinity Jazz 5 - and it played Fantastic. Felt and looked every bit as good as the MIA and played even better. Much to the sales clerks disappointment I bought the Squier instead. Cost for the Squier was about $250 out the door vs $1400 for the MIA IIRC.

Lessons learned - try before you buy and A/B your desired bass against less costly basses to see if it still shines.
 
#146
I'll echo the older (late 90's) MIM Fenders.

I play a '98 MIM Precision, it was purchased used, now it's my main bass and has carried me through several bands, several recordings, and countless live shows in the heat and cold, it practically plays itself, and has a tone that is just flat out gorgeous.

When I bring it out of it's case it always gets compliments on it's appearance (midnight blue), and every band I've been in has gushed over its tone (funny how even other musicians seem to forget and be amazed how good a plain ole Precision sounds).

Great looks, great tone, no fuss, iconic bass from an iconic manufacturer, bought used for not much coin, what more could I ask for? :cool:
 
#147
My Dr. Tech MM clone bass I got for $85 (normally $99 but I had a coupon discount). It's a lot better than one would expect from a throwaway bass. Very playable after doing setup on it. (change string, adjust truss rod, string height, file a couple of frets down a tad). I'll change the pickup and add a preamp later on down the road (not necessary right now, as it sounds fine as it is), but that thing plays awesome- very similar to the OLP clones. Nice feeling neck, looks good except for headstock, I'm playing it more than my Fender Jazz V I recently bought...
 
#148
SMILEYSIXX said:
My '84 SQ P bass. It says "Squier" on the headstock. I guess that translates to "crap" for a lot of people. Ironically enough, it was made in the japanese factory. The one that produced instruments with high enough quality that fender eventually took it over.
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I have an early 80s Squier P bass that the previous owner slapped a J pickup at the bridge and took the decal off the head. So I guess now it's a no name bass. It is heavy as CRAP but plays like a dream and sounds great. It would be my main player if I liked 4 stringers.

Also, I made a TON of money playing a low-level Ibanez BTB 5. I just loved that bass. I pretty much "wore it out". That's the only reason I let it go. I literally did a couple thousand gigs with that bass. Again, heavy but good.
 
#155
Maxdusty said:
My Dr. Tech MM clone bass I got for $85 (normally $99 but I had a coupon discount). It's a lot better than one would expect from a throwaway bass. Very playable after doing setup on it. (change string, adjust truss rod, string height, file a couple of frets down a tad). I'll change the pickup and add a preamp later on down the road (not necessary right now, as it sounds fine as it is), but that thing plays awesome- very similar to the OLP clones. Nice feeling neck, looks good except for headstock, I'm playing it more than my Fender Jazz V I recently bought...
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That's cheap! I was curious about Dr Tech.
 
#157
AHDBassist said:
I play metal and everyone hates on my Fender Jazz, but loves my Ibanez SRX. Go figure.
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My neighbor came over to hang out, and mentioned that his son (great kid) wanted to get an inexpensive 5-string bass (to replace his recently-gotten 4-string) and was looking for some advice. My first thought was to hook him up with (as in give him) my Squier Jazz V, but then he said “but it can’t be anything Fender-like”…

Oh well. :o
 
#158
My Luna Phoenix gets weird looks, and most of the oddball imported stuff I use/have used from the 60`s and 70`s gets me comments like "Why didn`t you bring your good bass?" Also, people can`t seem to wrap their heads around that I am playing cheap instruments older than myself. On purpose. :bassist:

-Jake
 
#159
I've seen very few basses that I would say "suck," and those are ones that had some sort of major defect or damage. Really, I can get along with most any bass you put in my hands. Of course I have my favorites, but when people say a bass model or whole company "suck," I tend to think that the person is either a fan boy to the extreme, and only his favorite model or brand is worthy, or else he just wants to feel superior for buying at a higher or lower price point than average.

So far in this thread, nobody has mentioned a bass that I wouldn't play. Not a one.

Anyway, some people think older Carvin electronics "lack personality," but my Carvins from the '90s to mid '00s are absolutely my favortie basses tone-wise. Oh, and I like the pointy headstock option, too, which some people dislike.
 
#160
Woody, you haven`t seen all of mine(the old imports, mostly Japanese). They are not terrible basses, but they aren`t high quality/price either. They sound good(to me anyway), and they are cheap so I don`t worry about playing them out. I am working on a super short scale Kent now, because I like how it plays, but the finish and tuners were messed up. Plus the stock bridge didn`t allow you to intonate it….

I do agree though, nobody has posted anything here that is useless as a bass. May not all be to my tastes, but that`s why they are you guy`s basses.
 

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