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Dissapointing High-End Basses
- Thread starter jnammy
- Start date
- Dec 12, 2007
- 2,268
- 43
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Zon Guitars, Tsunami Cables, DR Strings, GK
For me it would depend on how awesome the bass looked and sounded in comparison to my vision. If it turned out to be the most amazing thing I've ever touched, I don't think I'd have many complaints, lol.
I've really wanted to like Warwick basses, but I just can't. Aside from the awkward chunky uncomfortable necks, both BO and NT Thumbs I've owned had this sterile sound to them (Not at all what I would call, "The sound of wood"), and the G string sounded weak and thin in slap style playing (okay for fingerstyle though). Maybe a Streamer or Fortress would be a different story.
- Dec 12, 2007
- 2,268
- 43
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Zon Guitars, Tsunami Cables, DR Strings, GK
I'm pretty easy going and open to ideas, but there would have to be some kind of compensation for that. I mean, that's not cool to give someone something they didn't order and then bring God into it. That's the worst kind of lame. I'd rather hear something like: I'm thinking that this wood might suit your tonal requirements better so I upgraded you for free. If you don't like it I'll take it back but I think it will work better for you... Just good business you know.
Have to agree. Though you can kind of decode what's going on by looking at the reasons they made the choice to begin with. I.e.
- this bad boy sounds awsome
- this neck is ridiculous, fast and awsome
- plays like butta
vs.
- balances on the strap in the way I need it to
- has X pickup type which I need for application Y
- available with features P and Q
- fits in my budget W.
... you get the idea. It's not terribly difficult to figure out which is an informed set of requirements for the job and which is not.
It's also true that a truly informed set of requirements _can_ lead to a high-end bass. I.e. the neutral-sounding tone that Jimmy referred to; that may be obtainable only by a particular instrument that happens to cost 5 or 6 large.
If I needed a good acoustic-ish sounding electric, for example, I could probably justify a Rob Allen (having played one a couple months ago in NYC). I'd likely try the Carvin first, but it's definitely not inconcievable that a RA would scratch the itch for that particular job.
So it's almost a nonsense question to ask: "whats the worst bass you've ever played" or "name the high end bass you hated the most". I can make broad generalizations about some cases where you're really dealing with something substandard, but with most of the stuff on the market today you're pretty safe with mundane requirements like does it fit me ergonomically? Is the tone suitable for what I need? Are the pickups in the right place? And so on.
LS
- Dec 12, 2007
- 2,268
- 43
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Zon Guitars, Tsunami Cables, DR Strings, GK
Any company can put out a lemon by accident. I think the OP was speaking more of the relationship between value/cost. There is a certain expectation of performance between product and dollar spent. Personal preference shouldn't be as important. I've been through a lot of basses because I was searching for what suited ME best. I have no problems with the ones I simply didn't like. But I do with the ones that are lacking some basic expectations in playability and construction.
Also, the idea of gone in a month. It won't take me a month to figure out if I like a bass or not, but for the sake of myself and the instrument, I'll try a few different things to see if it is really not working for me before I get rid of an instrument. Some issues are apparent rather quickly.
Also, the idea of gone in a month. It won't take me a month to figure out if I like a bass or not, but for the sake of myself and the instrument, I'll try a few different things to see if it is really not working for me before I get rid of an instrument. Some issues are apparent rather quickly.
I've only had one high end bass that has disappointed me. But it wasn't a quality issue, it was more that the companies vision for a good sound didn't translate live in the settings it was used in. It sounded great in the Music store. I'm not going to name the company, there were some other issues with the order, but I understand that when I purchased mine they had a bit of a motivational related drug problem in the office that has since changed. 
One thing people have to remember is best (construction-electronics-wood-set up) doesn't always equal a tone and feel that will work for you or in your situation. Most of us need what Mikebass loves to call a generic tone. In other words a sound that will work in a variety of styles and not sound too different from the original recordings. A lot of high end basses are designed to produce a signature or unique sound. That may work great for original bands, or solo bass players. But it isn't always the best solution when your pumping out Mustang Sally for the fourth time that weekend.
One thing people have to remember is best (construction-electronics-wood-set up) doesn't always equal a tone and feel that will work for you or in your situation. Most of us need what Mikebass loves to call a generic tone. In other words a sound that will work in a variety of styles and not sound too different from the original recordings. A lot of high end basses are designed to produce a signature or unique sound. That may work great for original bands, or solo bass players. But it isn't always the best solution when your pumping out Mustang Sally for the fourth time that weekend.
This is why you are a world class player. You concentrated on the music, and not the bass. Switching from bass to bass and not practicing enough is why someone like me is mediocre at best.
Very common occurence and I agree, I put little to no stock in the opinion of someone who consistently goes from "This is the greatest ____ I've ever played" to that item soon being in the classifieds due to the hunt for the next "fix". I think I'll start one of my rare threads.
i guess it ain't high end, but a fender "precision" -the one
that looks like a telecaster body- sounded great in the store,
but when i tried it at home, then with the group...it turned to piss.... mushy and thuddy . couldn't hear it .
you'll never know until you try it out.
i suppose it doesn't matter the cost - we're going to be dissatisfied unless it's perfect.
that looks like a telecaster body- sounded great in the store,
but when i tried it at home, then with the group...it turned to piss.... mushy and thuddy . couldn't hear it .
you'll never know until you try it out.
i suppose it doesn't matter the cost - we're going to be dissatisfied unless it's perfect.
The highest end bass I have "owned" is a USA Cirrus 5 (& I got deal) on it & I love it
Over the years I have played lots of high end bass guitars either is stores or other players axes & most of them were very good.
Were they 4 or 5 hundred % better than similar basses that cost 4 or 5 hundred % less .... NO
IMHO no bass is worth $4000.00 - $5000.00 (or more) especially some of the ones that are basically copies of other brands.
I know some of you would & do but I wouldn't give 5 grand for a bass I was going to actually play out at a gig no matter what it was .... but that's just me
Over the years I have played lots of high end bass guitars either is stores or other players axes & most of them were very good.
Were they 4 or 5 hundred % better than similar basses that cost 4 or 5 hundred % less .... NO
IMHO no bass is worth $4000.00 - $5000.00 (or more) especially some of the ones that are basically copies of other brands.
I know some of you would & do but I wouldn't give 5 grand for a bass I was going to actually play out at a gig no matter what it was .... but that's just me
Very common occurence and I agree, I put little to no stock in the opinion of someone who consistently goes from "This is the greatest ____ I've ever played" to that item soon being in the classifieds due to the hunt for the next "fix". I think I'll start one of my rare threads.
I do know more than a few very good bass players in Detroit who seem to never keep their main bass for more than about six months. The ironic thing is a couple of them have such a unique and a good touch everything they play seems to sound like them anyway. I don't know what that is completely, and while I agree with you, and I take their gear recommendations with a grain of salt, I wouldn't hesitate to take a lesson from them.
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 ...
People are sometimes unable to coherently discuss their opinions with real educated reasons as to why the bass doesn't perform the way they want it to. To these people, it doesn't matter if the bass is built by a lutheir god and costs $1mil, if it sounds like **** to the user, the user will not buy it.
I don't understand why bass developers and fanboys gives a care about someone's personal distate for a product, if someone doesn't like something it must mean a) simply, they don't like the bass, or 2) they are just trying to knock other people's purchases. Most of the time it is #2.
I'm not a great player by any means, but I can relate to pretty much sounding the same no matter what I play. I have flipped a bunch of instruments, and I can attribute it to a few things. First, I just love gear, and it has often been easier to trade and swap than to save up for a big collection. Second, I have often been influenced by players I like, and bought basses they had, probably subconsciously hoping that some of the great player's skill would rub off by using the same bass. Third, TB has been a big influence in just wanting to get basses that people I respected liked. Fourth, there have been times I moved basses to raise quick cash.
The good thing that is that I am less worried about gear now than used to be, and that I have just come to trust my own instincts when it comes to gear. I no longer feel a need to have my choices validated by others.
I know players with decades of experience who are amazingly clueless when it comes to gear.
And some folks are just looking for that next high, discarding excellent gear along the way. Sometimes for reasons as basic as the need for a setup they preferred. Been on the receiving end of some killer gear many times.
My most frequent gear recommendation, by a large margin, is keep what you have and figure out how to make it match your needs. Be that setup, tonal tweaks, shed time, whatever. All of which typically cost little to nothing.
It is way too easy to blame gear and way too common IMO.
And if you're going to arbitrarily make a change, regardless of where the influence came from, you'd better discuss it with the customer first. Or let someone else pay for it.
i don't think it matters all that much what another talented bassist
plays or hates . it may be a good place to start... but
whether Charles Mingus or Sid Vicious likes a $100 or a $10,000 bass guitar, won't make me a better player-
a good place to be inspired, perhaps, but not a better musician.
plays or hates . it may be a good place to start... but
whether Charles Mingus or Sid Vicious likes a $100 or a $10,000 bass guitar, won't make me a better player-
a good place to be inspired, perhaps, but not a better musician.
