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Disappointing experiences with basses you thought you'd love
- Thread starter Gothic
- Start date
Back in the '90s i wanted to try a 5-string and I got a crazy good deal on a Fender Roscoe Beck 5er. I was convinced from the reviews that it was going to be just the bass for me. Passive, newly designed pickups, lots of switching options. But no matter what I did I just couldn't bond with it. The sound, to my ears, just had no personality or character to it at all. After struggling with it for a year or so, I sold it for double what I paid and got a (Keith) Roscoe SKB and found the 5 string sound I'd been seeking.
If we mention guitars, the Gibson Firebird is at the top of the list. Always wanted one because I love Johnny Winter. It felt like the whole guitar was moved so far toward my fretting hand that I wanted to pluck the strings behind the bridge. Weirdest feeling guitar ever.
Original 1977 Stingray which I bought in 1980. Neck never stayed in one place with that awful three bolt tilt neck. Weak PU and heavy, still I played it for ten years cause P basses were totally out of fashion at the time, but that tone - it always felt like something was missing....not enough lower mid heft for my taste.
Interesting how few comments are talking bout P basses here...still not surprised, been playing them for years, it was like coming home after that Stingray.
Interesting how few comments are talking bout P basses here...still not surprised, been playing them for years, it was like coming home after that Stingray.
Mid 90's Washburn Bantam XB-500 Natural Finish 5-String..just couldnt bond with the J style offset body..weak pickups/output too.
An Ibanez EDA905F that I bought back in the early 2000s.
There was a lot I loved about that bass. It was my intro to fretless, I loved the various tones offered by the magnetic and piezo pickups, and although it's got a weird looking body shape, it was the most comfortable bass body for seated playing I've encountered.
But the neck relief simply would not adjust out to anything like it should.
There was a lot I loved about that bass. It was my intro to fretless, I loved the various tones offered by the magnetic and piezo pickups, and although it's got a weird looking body shape, it was the most comfortable bass body for seated playing I've encountered.
But the neck relief simply would not adjust out to anything like it should.
I've owned several, and now own none and have explained why before.
If you post you don't like FSOs then there is a certain section here that will go all shrill Karen and call you a hater, a sad little pejorative if ever there was one.
The first 5 string I owned was such a lemon. It was an Ibanez SR205 that I got a good deal on because of a small crack in the finish. Couldn't even really see the imperfection so I was over the moon, thinking that I got a steal. But the low B was incredibly floppy, and the tone of the rest of it was so flat and uninspiring. I only owned it for a couple years before I flipped it for more than I bought it.
From that experience, I had officially sworn of 5 strings because it left such a bad taste in my mouth. Thankfully, I gave it another shot and I'm having a much better experience with the 5er I have now.
From that experience, I had officially sworn of 5 strings because it left such a bad taste in my mouth. Thankfully, I gave it another shot and I'm having a much better experience with the 5er I have now.
Love the Dr. Cheese quote!! The bass is a beauty !!Stingray 5
I really wanted to love it -- it was a stunner! -- especially since I put hundreds of gigs on an FNA, but the G-string being right up against the edge of the board didn't work for me, and the tone wasn't an immediate winner.
I had no trouble finding a good home for it, though. [edit: I'm having trouble attaching the image from my phone]
View attachment 4351569
I suspect it would've,too. and I normally am all for modding my basses, but just kinda gave up on it.
It was also a bit too blingy for my taste with the blue quilt maple and yuge abalone inlays.
I may try another Spector out someday……
4001. Never again. Don't ask why. Everyone knows it.
Perhaps many of us to not have enough Benjamin Franklins to buy a Tony Franklin.
Actually, one of my most loved basses, and the only one I *had* to sell, was a 1959 EB2 with the banjo tuners. I liked everything about that bass, in spite of it having the center block. Of course that was fifty years ago when weight was no kind of issue at all.
Also true is that many here plenty plenty basses and could certainly well-afford a TF.
If a lined fingerboard were an option I'd happily risk disappointment.
I almost put these on my list. They are true hollowbodies and offer neither the weight nor balance challenges of other Gretsches, even if they have oversize tuners like I put on mine. But I agree about the pickups; they are . . . uninspiring. If you loaded these basses with original Supertrons or (for roundwound strings) Maxon pickups, you'd have something.
I haven't read all of the comments, but I'll bet I'm the only one to say this…,
When G&L instruments first came out, I was quite eager to play one. It wasn't until the early 80s that I got the opportunity. I immediately thought, Leo Fender couldn't have possibly had his hand in developing this bass. It felt like a dead piece of wood in my hands. Lifeless, no soul. How on earth could this be?? Well, these basses won't be around very long….
HA!!!!!! I guessed that all wrong, correct??…
But subsequent G&Ls have felt no differently over the years. So it's definitely me. But it's my money and sensibilities, too.
I'd love to play a current model, but having found my heart and soul forever basses, I'm not inclined to actively seek out a G&L instrument.
When G&L instruments first came out, I was quite eager to play one. It wasn't until the early 80s that I got the opportunity. I immediately thought, Leo Fender couldn't have possibly had his hand in developing this bass. It felt like a dead piece of wood in my hands. Lifeless, no soul. How on earth could this be?? Well, these basses won't be around very long….
HA!!!!!! I guessed that all wrong, correct??…
But subsequent G&Ls have felt no differently over the years. So it's definitely me. But it's my money and sensibilities, too.
I'd love to play a current model, but having found my heart and soul forever basses, I'm not inclined to actively seek out a G&L instrument.
I would have to say Stingray 5.
I used to own two Stingray 4's, and loved them. I still love a Stingray 4 whenever I get to play one.
But the Stingray 5 just doesn't gel with me. I can't get a good tone, or even the "Stingray Tone" out of one, no matter how many I've played.
I have, however, fallen in love with the USA Sterling 5…
I used to own two Stingray 4's, and loved them. I still love a Stingray 4 whenever I get to play one.
But the Stingray 5 just doesn't gel with me. I can't get a good tone, or even the "Stingray Tone" out of one, no matter how many I've played.
I have, however, fallen in love with the USA Sterling 5…
