I've had 4 SR5s. Not a bad one in the bunch. They were sold at times when money was tight (my Mike Lull jazz-style bass is my main bass).
I badly want another one. Soon.
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Disappointing experiences with basses you thought you'd love
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I've had 4 SR5s. Not a bad one in the bunch. They were sold at times when money was tight (my Mike Lull jazz-style bass is my main bass).
I badly want another one. Soon.
I was offered a new Status MM5 neck and was going to build a body for it as I have a template. Then I played a factory one for the first time in years and I hated it, except for the sound. Big uncomfortable slab body mainly that hung on me awkwardly was the issue. So that project isn't going ahead without a major redesign and I'd never buy a factory one for that reason.
Stingray 5 String. The current 4 strings were great, but every time I tried a 5, the B String was just terrible.
Alembic. Drooled over Alembics for years. When I finally played one, the neck was too massive, the polyurethane was so thick, it felt dead. Weighed a ton as well, and the model I played had terrible neck dive.
Alembic. Drooled over Alembics for years. When I finally played one, the neck was too massive, the polyurethane was so thick, it felt dead. Weighed a ton as well, and the model I played had terrible neck dive.
Funny timing. I played a Music Man bass for the first time ever just yesterday. I used it to test an amp that I was considering (near mint 2000s Fender Rumble 100 15", which I bought). I now understand why they're popular. It was a delight to play.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]
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I'm just a weekender, never having been serious about playing particularly well until a couple of years ago, so I don't have a particular style or sound, and rather enjoy switching between different basses because they are so different. This means that I love to play all of the basses I own (22 at the moment), and I own them because I love to play them. I rarely play them first because my standards are low.
Of course, the one bass that I did play through an amp before buying was the one I can't stand to play - a Peavey Grind 6 with passive pickups. Beautiful, well built, makes a great sound, and stays in tune, but the neck is too wide and flat for me to play comfortably, and the 35" scale is too long for my short arms and stubby fingers, and it's too heavy for me. It is the first instrument that I will have ever sold, once it sells.
Of course, the one bass that I did play through an amp before buying was the one I can't stand to play - a Peavey Grind 6 with passive pickups. Beautiful, well built, makes a great sound, and stays in tune, but the neck is too wide and flat for me to play comfortably, and the 35" scale is too long for my short arms and stubby fingers, and it's too heavy for me. It is the first instrument that I will have ever sold, once it sells.
When I was in my early 20s, I wanted to get a 6-string. My dad and I drove all the way across the country to pick up a Yamaha TRB (II, I think) and even as I was trying it out, I knew this would not be the bass for me.
It had no punch, no body (figuratively speaking, that is) but I'd just driven a few hours so I figured I'd shell out the EUR500 the soon-to-be-previous owner wanted for it.
Used it for some gigs, even recorded a demo with it, but I never really liked it much. At some point I saw a gorgeous Ibanez Prestige bass in store, and asked them if they took trades, too. They didn't, but the idea was born in my head.
So I mailed a few stores asking if they'd accept a bass as a trade-in, and one store said yes. So I told them I'd paid 1200 EUR for it ( and hushed my idiot guitarist, who'd come along with me). The store gave me 600 EUR credit for it
Incidentally, I tried out a Musician bass that day, and didn't like it (sorry to pile on). But I tried an MIA Marcus Miller 5-string Jazz, and it was decided immediately. That bass ended up being my main bass up until about 3 years ago, when I shelled out for a Tony Franklin (sight unseen). And my god, I love that bass!!
It had no punch, no body (figuratively speaking, that is) but I'd just driven a few hours so I figured I'd shell out the EUR500 the soon-to-be-previous owner wanted for it.
Used it for some gigs, even recorded a demo with it, but I never really liked it much. At some point I saw a gorgeous Ibanez Prestige bass in store, and asked them if they took trades, too. They didn't, but the idea was born in my head.
So I mailed a few stores asking if they'd accept a bass as a trade-in, and one store said yes. So I told them I'd paid 1200 EUR for it ( and hushed my idiot guitarist, who'd come along with me). The store gave me 600 EUR credit for it
Incidentally, I tried out a Musician bass that day, and didn't like it (sorry to pile on). But I tried an MIA Marcus Miller 5-string Jazz, and it was decided immediately. That bass ended up being my main bass up until about 3 years ago, when I shelled out for a Tony Franklin (sight unseen). And my god, I love that bass!!
I was suckered in by all the hype of Sire basses. I ordered a P7 four string. I freaking hate it. The tone sucks. Only decent thing is the rolled frets on the fingerboard. Never again will I give in to the hype...
I know it's sacrilegious to mention on this board, but I've bought four USA Laklands and sent them all back. Lakin and Pirruccello eras. They all had too many careless build flaws that a top-dollar instrument simply shouldn't have.
subdude67, I totally agree. Every Ric I've tried had a neck that just felt weird and uncomfortable. Someone told me that Rics have asymmetrical necks. That is they are thicker on one side than the other. I don't know if this is true or not, fact is the necks just did not feel "right" to me.
It's not true.
Rickenbacker necks are all kinds of shapes,depths,etc over the years, but they are symmetrical.
I have played a few basses (Tobias,Carvin) with asymmetrical necks, and really liked the feel.
Not to hijack on the OP's subject of disappointing basses we thought we'd love, what about amps/cabinets? I'll chime my amps/cabinets: Orange & Hartke, & my first round with GK 400/800RBs.
Orange was the tiny terror bass - good tone & all, & i had read lots of reviews & people enjoying the dirtyness it gave. I tried it through an ashdown 4x10 cab & i wasn't disappointed, but nor was i excited. It was okay, the EQ wasn't spectacular. I guess it could just get the job done & sound cool too.
Hartke cabs - now i didn't ever expect to really enjoy them in the first place, coincidently this was my first time using a GK 400 or 800RB through 2 410 hartke paper/aluminium cabs. The cabs made me dislike the GK hardcore. After every song, i'd keep going back to try & get a rounder, fuller tone with an edge, but all i got was clank & thiness. I couldn't feel the bass on stage, i heard to highs it projected. Luckily years later, i got to play another 400RB through an eden cab & after a couple of initial tweaks before diving into the 2nd song, i found the tone & growl the GK is known for.
I think an amp that truly disappointed me, in the sense of perhaps "this is ground zero" for bass tone, was the SVT Classic. I'm aware that all my heroes utilized SVT's from the 60's-70's & had that classic bass tone (be it Dee Dee Ramone, Paul Simonon, Gene Simmons, & countless others), so when i played the SVT Classic, with a pbass straight in - i dialled in a good tone, i just didn't get the growl, low mid definition that my heroes had. & this is a popular amp among backlines & such, so i got used to its tone (with a 410 & 810, though prefer the 410 over the classic fridge). Go back 7-8 years & i had played through a 70's ampeg v4b & this had the ampeg growl. So much balls to the wall & great low end, low mid with enough bite for a punk rock bassist like myself
Alas, i've resorted to solid state peavey amps that get teh job done & have been the sound in my head forever. Though if i went tube - i'd go for ampeg V4b hands down.
Orange was the tiny terror bass - good tone & all, & i had read lots of reviews & people enjoying the dirtyness it gave. I tried it through an ashdown 4x10 cab & i wasn't disappointed, but nor was i excited. It was okay, the EQ wasn't spectacular. I guess it could just get the job done & sound cool too.
Hartke cabs - now i didn't ever expect to really enjoy them in the first place, coincidently this was my first time using a GK 400 or 800RB through 2 410 hartke paper/aluminium cabs. The cabs made me dislike the GK hardcore. After every song, i'd keep going back to try & get a rounder, fuller tone with an edge, but all i got was clank & thiness. I couldn't feel the bass on stage, i heard to highs it projected. Luckily years later, i got to play another 400RB through an eden cab & after a couple of initial tweaks before diving into the 2nd song, i found the tone & growl the GK is known for.
I think an amp that truly disappointed me, in the sense of perhaps "this is ground zero" for bass tone, was the SVT Classic. I'm aware that all my heroes utilized SVT's from the 60's-70's & had that classic bass tone (be it Dee Dee Ramone, Paul Simonon, Gene Simmons, & countless others), so when i played the SVT Classic, with a pbass straight in - i dialled in a good tone, i just didn't get the growl, low mid definition that my heroes had. & this is a popular amp among backlines & such, so i got used to its tone (with a 410 & 810, though prefer the 410 over the classic fridge). Go back 7-8 years & i had played through a 70's ampeg v4b & this had the ampeg growl. So much balls to the wall & great low end, low mid with enough bite for a punk rock bassist like myself
Alas, i've resorted to solid state peavey amps that get teh job done & have been the sound in my head forever. Though if i went tube - i'd go for ampeg V4b hands down.
Everything is personal. I find the combo of my Warwick Thumb 6 and the Alpha Omega pedal is absolutely beautiful for when I want a driven sound. It's the nicest bass overdrive I've heard. Responds to dynamic playing, and isn't just a fuzz out, it maintains note clarity despite being a dirty sound.
Ken Smith (forget what model). Had only one terrific sound. Turn any knob slightly and it was gone.
My first bass was a Hofner copy. Sounded like bad case of gas. Worth $49 of the $50 I paid.
New Warwick Corvette bolt-on. Last four frets filed down almost flat and still buzzed. Lots of hum. Returned to China.
Older Pedulla just ok. Older Tobias just ok. Older Rick. Not my style. Older Yamaha (with piezo) pretty darn good.
Today I only have a fretless Warwick Thumb neck-thru while I make something special.
My first bass was a Hofner copy. Sounded like bad case of gas. Worth $49 of the $50 I paid.
New Warwick Corvette bolt-on. Last four frets filed down almost flat and still buzzed. Lots of hum. Returned to China.
Older Pedulla just ok. Older Tobias just ok. Older Rick. Not my style. Older Yamaha (with piezo) pretty darn good.
Today I only have a fretless Warwick Thumb neck-thru while I make something special.
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Alembics and Stingrays/Sterlings. Many years ago I bought a used Persuader and a couple of years later bought an Excel. I have briefly laid hands on a Mark King 5er. They were all ridiculously heavy (well over 10 lbs, even the 4 bangers).......and none played or sounded any better than my basses at the time. They were, however, all built to withstand a 10 megaton blast and a pleasure to behold. I have also never bonded with a 'ray......sonically or ergonomically.
For me, two basses come to mind:
Firstly a custom Yamaha TRB6PII. It was absolutely gorgeous with a bubinga top and sounded incredible (and weighed a metric tonne, but I'm still young so I don't mind), but the 6 string bass thing really just didn't work for me.
more recently an Fbass BN5. Also a great bass, but somehow I just can't make it work for me and the music I play. I still have that one, but since I can't bond with it I'm probably going to let it go soon...
I never had any problems with my P or J bass though, so I guess the classic basses just suit me better.
Firstly a custom Yamaha TRB6PII. It was absolutely gorgeous with a bubinga top and sounded incredible (and weighed a metric tonne, but I'm still young so I don't mind
), but the 6 string bass thing really just didn't work for me.more recently an Fbass BN5. Also a great bass, but somehow I just can't make it work for me and the music I play. I still have that one, but since I can't bond with it I'm probably going to let it go soon...
I never had any problems with my P or J bass though, so I guess the classic basses just suit me better.
I bought a stingray once... i thought it would have the 'bernie and/or the "chuck mangione live on the midnight special" bass sound, but was far too "flea" for me, even with my favourite flats the high end dropped all the way. The feel and playability were really great, though. I still find myself drooling over the old 2-banders. Oddly enough it was seeing a local band playing children's music at the farmer's market that keeps the GAS alive for one of those. The guy was playing a late '70s one and sounded crazy great.
I've drooled over Alembics but the couple I got to play in stores were kind of underwhelming. I'm sure there are superb ones out there though.
There's a praise and worship thread in the Band Management forum. Maybe we should have one for Basses!
I bought a Fodera Monarch Standard as a retirement gift to myself (ordered from Bass Central). Well made, played fine, sounded good but didn't do anything a bass half the price couldn't do. It was definitely an example of the law of diminishing returns. I played an Emperor last year in a store. It was nice but again the high price made it underwhelming.
