Dissapointing High-End Basses

[MattyH]

I owned a Warwick Dolphin Pro 1 5 String. The thing looked wild. Dolphin inlays, unique body shape, and just the most beautiful wood you've ever seen. Even for a Warwick this thing stood out. Oh, and I was able to get this $3000-$4000 bass on clearance brand new for $2000. (Really good part about Guitar Center NYC. If they can't move gear, they cut the price in a big way)

Now, the reasons I ended up hating it.
The neck was like playing 5 strings on a 4 string neck. Impossible to slap, and even finger picking could get messy. My fingers are skinny, and it was still so uncomfortable. The electronics felt inconsistent. When I thought I had the perfect tone, I'd plug it back in the next day, and bang, that tone was gone, an I'd have to fuss with it again. The final killer, was that from the B to the G, this thing was all mud. I was listening to a recording I used it on yesterday for the first time in a long time, and it's so undefined. A shame really, it was such a unique and beautiful bass. I held onto it because it was a "Warwick". And when I finally unloaded it, my band mates were pissed. Probably only because it was a "Warwick". They have no idea about the crap we go through with basses that aren't preforming the way we need them to!

 

[thepontif]

Exactly why is this a problem? In the short time I've been playing I've been through 20 basses. Very few of them were actually bad, they just weren't what I was looking for. For all that experimentation I now know almost exactly what I want out of a bass.

In the nearly 30 years I've played bass...27 of them professionally (because after 3 years I'd figured out the E and A strings)...I have owned about 10 electric basses. There have been a few interim basses, like a 4 and a 5 that Fodera loaned me when I was between 6 strings. But in terms of basses a bought because I felt I needed them, about 10. And 2 acoustic basses.

I always felt, as much as it can SEEM like the bass is fighting you (me), a lot of times it's you (me) that's the problem. In the current age of basses that seem to "play themselves" I'm beginning to think that some people actually expect them to.

 

[thepontif]

Nothing like getting constructive criticism, huh, Mike? Maybe in your next advertisement you can write "Improved pre-amp, does NOT sound like garbage"

Seriously, I've never been able to understand how people can just arbitrarily spit out these terms with no explanation ...

HAHA! That's my next tag line!!!

 

[angrypanda]

I bought a new American Spector NS4 and I had to send it back 3 times to get the neck fixed, the rest of the bass was beautiful and the sound was amazing but it was unplayable because of the action.

Now I like graphite neck instruments, never a problem.

 

[spade2you]

Exactly why is this a problem?

Maybe I'm too much of a perfectionist or idealist and maybe I've been here too long, but is it really a solid recommendation if the bass is gone in less than a month? How many "clubs" are formed by someone who loves the new bass so much, but then puts it out to pasture? I'm not faulting people for not finding what they like, but I question their ability to give advice when they also don't know what they're looking for.

 

[P. Aaron]

I have to admit that this happened at GC so it is what it is. I was convinced I wanted a MM Stingray 5. I ran the MM rack at GC including the Big Al, from the stock SR to the high-end MM's, and I know these are not really 'boutique' in the sense that they're production line instruments...but they all lacked a vibe or a thump. I just couldn't connect with them. I ran all these through the same MB amp with controls flat.

When I tried the Fender AM Precision V, it was over: the P had warmth, punch, and a good vibe. Plus, the weight was managable.

 

[Kwesi]

Ever thought that a good overhaul would have done it some justice?

How do you think it would have played and sounded if it was set up to your exact playing specs?

My specs are usually pretty lenient. In fact, to not meet them, the bass would have to have some sort of major issue. I play with medium (some would say high) action and like a bit of relief in my neck. The neck on that particular Smith felt good but was warped. The action on it was actually satisfactory it's just that the neck was flawed. I still got the vibe that I would like the sound from it with newer strings though.

 

[Mulebagger]

Frankly I haven't a clue as to how to design a preamp or a pickup or a speaker or an amp. I'm so pleased that there are people out there willing to try their hands at improving the bass guitar and bass amplification on a daily basis. I feel that once you hit a certain build level in instruments, it comes down to personal preferences vs builder competence. All of the manufacturers mentioned have been highly successful and for the most part deserve the admiration they receive from loyal customers.

I tend to think my experiences were unusual and not the norm. I'd hate to turn someone off to purchasing a killer Elrick or Parker Fly. I'd consider another one in the future to see if I had better luck with them.

In the end, my buddy swears by his Ken Lawrence and I swear by my Modulus. That's just how it goes.

 

[Bass Viking]

Not a problem here.

Yes there is. Nowhere to sit!!!

 

[spade2you]

Yes there is. Nowhere to sit!!!

True dat! I need a bigger couch like Mr. Turner.

 

[Kwesi]

In the nearly 30 years I've played bass...27 of them professionally (because after 3 years I'd figured out the E and A strings)...I have owned about 10 electric basses. There have been a few interim basses, like a 4 and a 5 that Fodera loaned me when I was between 6 strings. But in terms of basses a bought because I felt I needed them, about 10. And 2 acoustic basses.

I always felt, as much as it can SEEM like the bass is fighting you (me), a lot of times it's you (me) that's the problem. In the current age of basses that seem to "play themselves" I'm beginning to think that some people actually expect them to.

Haha, ain't that the truth? Personally, the only reason I've torn through basses the way I have was in search of a particular tone not necessarily feel because I've always been comfortable with just about anything. I'm sure that as I have become a better player, my ability to "create" that tone has improved as well and subsequently I feel less like I need another bass to get me the sound I want. Honestly, I'm at a weird point where I love the way my bass sounds but wish it had a different look, lol.

I haven't been playing bass for long and I'm sure I'm in the minority as far as not really paying much attention to how a bass feels but I can pick up basses that cost literally a 10th of mine and be happy (not as happy as I would be with mine of course). I think that says a lot about basses around today.

Maybe I'm too much of a perfectionist or idealist and maybe I've been here too long, but is it really a solid recommendation if the bass is gone in less than a month? How many "clubs" are formed by someone who loves the new bass so much, but then puts it out to pasture? I'm not faulting people for not finding what they like, but I question their ability to give advice when they also don't know what they're looking for.

Oh, I completely understand you there. There haven't been many basses that I've owned that I've bought and sold in less than a month. I guess it all depends on how much time a person got to spend with that bass. I think I'm averaging 3 months right now though my last 2 favorites have lasted a year or more, lol. I think that's a good enough time to get used to a bass.

 

[Rebop]

I had a Roscoe SKB-3006 for over 10 years. I recently sold it as I'm more of an upright player now and have no need for a high end 6 string. The tone was pretty good but I didn't like the way it sat in the mix for some styles. I still used it for over 1,000 gigs as it was a great bass.
My only complaint with it was that the finish started to cloud up due to moisture or contaminants in the wood leeching into the thick, clear finish. Basically the burled redwood top had a white spot wherever there was a burl, this even happened on the headstock overlay which was almost totally clouded up. This was an issue with the craftsmanship and finish; the bass was still a great bass.

 

[Kwesi]

I tend to think my experiences were unusual and not the norm. I'd hate to turn someone off to purchasing a killer Elrick or Parker Fly. I'd consider another one in the future to see if I had better luck with them.

In the end, my buddy swears by his Ken Lawrence and I swear by my Modulus. That's just how it goes.

This thread is essentially about out of the ordinary experiences, lol. I think that most people reading this thread know that 1) everything said here is based on the personal preference of the player and that 2) these opinions aren't representative of an entire brand or type of bass. The three brands I mentioned, Ken Smith, Warwick, Roscoe usually have fantastic basses but those specific three that I owned/played were just funky (in a bad way ).

 

[jim777]

I heard a story first hand recently about a guy who received a very expensive bass he had custom ordered from a manufacturer I won't mention which arrived configured much differently than was ordered. When confronted about it, the manufacturer simply said...not word for word, but precisely the meaning...that God told him he should build it that way and that he wasn't going to argue with God. So should you (the customer) be arguing with God? Oh boy. As I understand it, the bass stayed the way it was delivered.

I'm stunned Mike! Did the bass at least go back to the manufacturer for a refund, as God may also have intended?

 

[Darkstrike]

The only really expensive bass that I played that was horrible was a Rickenbacker that had a tag of 2100 GBP on it, wanted to love that bass, but the action was severely high, like 5mm on every string, maybe more, and it still buzzed all over the neck. And I pluck pretty lightly too. Binding was horrible as well, tore my arm up, and binding usually it doesn't bother me.

 

[Bass Viking]

I played a 70s Alembic at a local store and it was big and cumbersome, tone was kind of dead, and they wanted $3000. I'd love to own an Alembic someday but not that one.

I've played a Fender Custom Shop P bass relic and a Jazz bass relic, both over 3 grand. I just don't see the appeal of these instruments when the recent regular MIA Fenders are of good quality. The P bass was light but the back of the neck was sticky. I guess the idea is that the nitro finish is supposed to wear off and eventually you're playing on bare wood, but the MIM I tried just felt much smoother. The J bass had a sizeable neck pocket gap. Yes, sure it doesn't affect the tone but I feel this is unacceptable on an instrument of this price. The tone wasn't all that great either, kind of dull. Maybe it needed new strings. Neither the P or J sounded any better in my opinion than a regular Fender.

 

[Kenner]

I remember the first time I played an Alembic, it was the worst sounding bass in the whole guitar store--i was fairly new to bass playing and after playing Kenner's alembic at the GTG I realized how much that bass was in need of a setup and new batteries in the preamp, as well as a good dusting. You'd think the guitar store owner would have kept a high end bass in good shape, but he might also not have known what he had (and based on playing it, I bet you that he didn't know what he was dealing with!)

Kind words dude!

Sometimes, not always, just a few tweaks are all some basses need. But issues like necks not being comfy can't be gotten around. As far as "tone" goes, try different strings, different eq'ing, etc. Mess with the trim pot a bit in some of actives with preamps. Mostly though, tone comes from you.

 

[capnsandwich]

Depending on what you call high-end (I think anything over $1000 is high-end), I used to own a Warwick Corvette Standard that cost me $1250 at the time. The thing was a boat anchor for a 4 string and the neck was so chunky at the nut that every time I'd play a set at my church or at a gig I'd end up with cramps in my fretting hand and in my left shoulder. I also had a hard time getting a hot slap tone out of it. The pickups were very dull and too weak for my tastes. Also, the nut had these stupid little tabs and they were so brittle that one of them broke the second time I changed the strings, and believe me, I was very careful when I changed them. It was like the cheap piece of plastic that they called "nut" was dry-rotted.

Warwick=never again...

 

[Kwesi]

I heard a story first hand recently about a guy who received a very expensive bass he had custom ordered from a manufacturer I won't mention which arrived configured much differently than was ordered. When confronted about it, the manufacturer simply said...not word for word, but precisely the meaning...that God told him he should build it that way and that he wasn't going to argue with God. So should you (the customer) be arguing with God? Oh boy. As I understand it, the bass stayed the way it was delivered.

Lol, I think I know who that builder is ! I've heard similar stories about him, although not firsthand. Despite that weirdness he's turned out some sweet instruments... that is, if we are talking about the same guy .

 

[metalstorm]

I always felt, as much as it can SEEM like the bass is fighting you (me), a lot of times it's you (me) that's the problem. In the current age of basses that seem to "play themselves" I'm beginning to think that some people actually expect them to.

Exactly. You are bound to be disappointed if you're expectations are are impossible.