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buying a bass unplayed

#41
Flintc said:
Seriously, can anyone here name a brand of bass (with the possible exception of something sold by Rondo) so unreliable that they wouldn't dare order one of their desired spec (color, number of strings, etc.) for fear they'd get a lemon?
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There are basses from almost every builder that I think didn't really have the magic that I had seen in other examples. Some were merely slightly different in a way that I just didn't really care for, but just the same I wouldn't say there were terrible, just not great. There are a few Sadowsky Metros that were merely ok to me, and a fair bit of them are just freakin awesome. I really could toss this about many brands out there, thus the need to be a little conscious about price.

Even ones I custom ordered didn't turn out exactly how I wanted it. In fact, I have spec'ed 3 basses amd only one of them really turned out winners to me, I've definitely had better luck with existing axes.
 
#42
lamarjones said:
There are basses from almost every builder that I think didn't really have the magic that I had seen in other examples. Some were merely slightly different in a way that I just didn't really care for, but just the same I wouldn't say there were terrible, just not great. There are a few Sadowsky Metros that were merely ok to me, and a fair bit of them are just freakin awesome. I really could toss this about many brands out there, thus the need to be a little conscious about price.

Even ones I custom ordered didn't turn out exactly how I wanted it. In fact, I have spec'ed 3 basses amd only one of them really turned out winners to me, I've definitely had better luck with existing axes.
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yup, that is how i generally feel about instruments. they are made of wood and can be rather intricate in their parts, how it all comes together and how it feels to the individual will vary greatly. besides, us humans are irrational creatures!!

and yes, tobias is on that list of great rep basses. i gotta try them all!!!!

so, again, anyone have a great shop in the midwest where i could road trip too? i am quickly becoming convinced i will have to go on the road to find my next baby.
 
#43
oh, and here is another complaint about my thin, fast-necked washburn: after several winters of adjusting to the cold, dry air and settling down, it decided to bend again... this week. i picked it up at practice last nite and the first four frets, while playable, have lost their tone. VERY sensitive to fret buzz. espscially on the D & G strings. unfortunately, i have a gig tonite!! grrrrrrrrrr.

it ain't gonna be pretty.
 
#44
EBodious said:
hi gang,

i know it sounds crazy and goes against the ultimate advice (pick the bass that sounds and feels right to you), but i live in a corner of the midwest that offers me practically no choice. i have read many posts about all these cool sounding basses, but can't touch any of them!!! grrrr.

i am (finally) in a position to spend about $1500-1700 on a good quality instrument, but am frustrated that i can't pick and choose in person.

i am hoping all of your collectivee wisdom can help me "logically deduce" a few good choices. then i can either go online for a new one (and go thru the buy / return cycle) or take a leap of faith on a used listing here.

here is a quick list of pertinent facts: i play fingerstyle. i am in an original rock band - we call it prog-rock for lack of a better term. i love the round, hollow, "boingy" sound (technically i believe this is a serious lo-mid scoop). i play thru an eden wt head and get the scoop by turning their "enhance" knob up around 11 o'clock. i also play in a blues band and use a more traditional sound for that (no enhance knob). my current bass is a 35" scale, 5-string, neck-thru t-25 (best i could do at the time). its got a fast neck and feels good. my issue with it is that it is real noisy on the upper strings on the upper frets and the intonation is mushy across the whole of the neck/ strings (it is only a $500 bass). i am using a friend's '78 p bass with flats in the blues band (fits great), but i can only borrow it so long....

i am looking for a 5-string. i would like it to be solid and fast. i guess i need some versatility too, though.

i have read about many great basses, but i have yet to wrap my head around the idea of buying a bass i have never played!

any advice?

thanks a lot
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Judging from what you've been player (35" 5er) I would recommend a New Lakland Skyline either a 5502 or a Joe Osburn 5 string. The 5502 is a real jack of all trade type sound with a lot of tone flexability. The Joe Osburn is a passive Jazz bass design. The build quality of the Skylines is outstanding accorss the line. They are 35" scale like you are use too. I think either of these basses would be a very good bet for you.
 
#45
GreyBeard said:
Judging from what you've been player (35" 5er) I would recommend a New Lakland Skyline either a 5502 or a Joe Osburn 5 string. The 5502 is a real jack of all trade type sound with a lot of tone flexability. The Joe Osburn is a passive Jazz bass design. The build quality of the Skylines is outstanding accorss the line. They are 35" scale like you are use too. I think either of these basses would be a very good bet for you.
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am i rite in remembering that the 55-02's have 19mm spacing? i think i have 17mm on the t-25. how big a difference do fingers feels in those 2 tiny mms? i don't slap and i wanna be able to move fast between the strings...
 

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