For me it has been the bass scale, I had never played a 35" scale bass and I bought a Roscoe LG 3005 and I found out that I couldn't get used to the single inch difference. I sold it and I guess someone is happy with it.
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Dream Bass Let-Down
- Thread starter Kevin Teed
- Start date
As a huge fan of early Geddy Lee (and Cliff Burton), I spent many a teenage night lusting after a Rickebacker. Years and years. And when I finally was able to put my hands on one... massive letdown. Heavy, uncomfortable, clanky tone that wasn't working with my band, everything was off.
The great thing about basses, is that all you need to be concerned with is what works for you. Nothing wrong with that in the least!
I had the same experience with the EBMM Sterling that I got a few years ago. The quality of the bass was great and it sounded good, but I just could not get it to "fit" me no matter how hard I tried. Contrast that with most Ibanez basses which fit like a glove for me. This is one of the reasons I've never ever pulled the trigger on a Wal MKIII, deathly afraid of the same thing happening.
I had the same experience with the EBMM Sterling that I got a few years ago. The quality of the bass was great and it sounded good, but I just could not get it to "fit" me no matter how hard I tried. Contrast that with most Ibanez basses which fit like a glove for me. This is one of the reasons I've never ever pulled the trigger on a Wal MKIII, deathly afraid of the same thing happening.
Funny that you should make this post. I owned a couple of Rickenbacker 4001 basses back in the late 80, early 90s. I have been GASsing for another for better than 25 years and finally had the opportunity to pick up a pre-owned, but in new condition Fireglo 4003S a few months ago. Like you, I just have not been able to make friends with the bass. Also like you, it has nothing to do with the bass. It sounds like it's supposed to, I love the vintage push/pull capacitor...but it just doesn't feel the same in my hands as what I remember. So here I am with what had been a dream instrument, and I am trying to decide whether to keep it or not.
In my quest to find my dream bass I encountered more than a few I expected to be the one that were nothing but a let down. Drooling over something you havent played yet can often result in that. Similarly, I stumbled across many basses that blew my mind that I never expected to be anything better than a middler.
Biggest let downs for me were:
- MTD 535 - it sounded like every other Bart equipped bass and although stunning to look at, nothing else stood out about it other than the cost.
- Fodera - probably the biggest let down of them all...like many I had them on a pedestal because of their endorsers and how good those folks sound playing Fodera...basses were nothing special to me once I owned them. Tried a Monarch as well as an emperor and the monarch wasnt as bad as the emperor but at those prices what a massive let down in feel and tone...just lifeless and stale sounding.
Pleasant surprises:
- Pavel - thats the one that got away...what a phenomenal instrument.
- Bossa - I had never heard of Bossa until I got my hands on one and to this day I still consoder those to be some of the best feeling, playing, and sounding basses that no one cares about.
- Linc Luthier - another in the who has heard of this one category that was just amazing. Looks like a butt but plays and feels like a dream
So many other great ones and let downs along the way but those few really stood out because on the let down side they are 2 of the most revered and in the surprise side I had never heard of or seen one of those basses until I laid hands on them and was instantly impressed.
Ultimately the dream bass that I settled on was the one that not only had been a dream since I first heard of it, but it totally blew away my high expectations when I finally laid hands on one...Carl Thompson. Carl's basses are just perfect for me. Forgetting the look (which I love) the playability is unmatchable by anything...NOTHING I have tried comes close.
Biggest let downs for me were:
- MTD 535 - it sounded like every other Bart equipped bass and although stunning to look at, nothing else stood out about it other than the cost.
- Fodera - probably the biggest let down of them all...like many I had them on a pedestal because of their endorsers and how good those folks sound playing Fodera...basses were nothing special to me once I owned them. Tried a Monarch as well as an emperor and the monarch wasnt as bad as the emperor but at those prices what a massive let down in feel and tone...just lifeless and stale sounding.
Pleasant surprises:
- Pavel - thats the one that got away...what a phenomenal instrument.
- Bossa - I had never heard of Bossa until I got my hands on one and to this day I still consoder those to be some of the best feeling, playing, and sounding basses that no one cares about.
- Linc Luthier - another in the who has heard of this one category that was just amazing. Looks like a butt but plays and feels like a dream
So many other great ones and let downs along the way but those few really stood out because on the let down side they are 2 of the most revered and in the surprise side I had never heard of or seen one of those basses until I laid hands on them and was instantly impressed.
Ultimately the dream bass that I settled on was the one that not only had been a dream since I first heard of it, but it totally blew away my high expectations when I finally laid hands on one...Carl Thompson. Carl's basses are just perfect for me. Forgetting the look (which I love) the playability is unmatchable by anything...NOTHING I have tried comes close.
Glad to see I'm not the only one. I once tried a gentleman's 35" scale Fodera 5-string several years ago. I think it was one of their Standard models. The playability was buttery smooth (the low-B was unreal) and the tone was silky too... but the bass itself did nothing for me. I liked the bass I had at home better.
Still, I thought that Fodera had the best low-B I'd ever played... until I got my Guitar Factory 6 a few years ago. I found it preowned, languishing in the store (because no one wants a 6-string and no one's heard of Guitar Factory) but I could tell that this was a boutique bass, handbuilt by a skilled luthier. The fact that it had been clearly gigged a lot only added to its appeal. 34" scale neck, and the low B straight up crushes every other low-B I've ever tried. Yes, even that Fodera.
It's more bass than I really need and it's pretty much the opposite of what I like and ideally look for in a bass, but I got it for a steal and it's the best bass I've ever owned.
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Maybe not my specific "Dream Bass", but I've had alot of basses that I had put on pedestals turn out to just not be my thing.
I remember when the local GC I worked at brought in 2 Alembics (A high end of some sort and a Burner). I was super stoked to try them and yet neither spoke to me. Same thing happened with a Peavey Cirrus, a couple USA Spector's, a Fodera, the top-end BTB and others.
That is not to say any of these were bad instruments, I just had yet to understand the boundaries of the range of instruments that appeal to me. Even today when I play these instruments I appreciate what they are alot more than I did then, and yet they still don't light a magic light bulb in my head.
Luckily there are a couple instruments that absolutely lit the lightbulb that I was expecting when I played them (Carlo) or after I ordered them (Wendler) and both are still in my possession.
I remember when the local GC I worked at brought in 2 Alembics (A high end of some sort and a Burner). I was super stoked to try them and yet neither spoke to me. Same thing happened with a Peavey Cirrus, a couple USA Spector's, a Fodera, the top-end BTB and others.
That is not to say any of these were bad instruments, I just had yet to understand the boundaries of the range of instruments that appeal to me. Even today when I play these instruments I appreciate what they are alot more than I did then, and yet they still don't light a magic light bulb in my head.
Luckily there are a couple instruments that absolutely lit the lightbulb that I was expecting when I played them (Carlo) or after I ordered them (Wendler) and both are still in my possession.
I keep thinking that if someone opened a used bass store and filled it only with the kind of enthusiast/pro basses and gear that everyone here is clearly interested in, but that most local places such as GC for some reason never carry, they would make a killing, (at least here in AZ and probably most other states except CA).
The action is comparable to my p-bass, but that has the lowest usable action I've had on a Fender.
This was exactly my experience... I even found a walnut and a midnight blue, tried both. Massive letdown. My wife was in awe that I didn't get it.
That store exists, it's called Reverb.
Seriously though,
In Chicago we also have Reverb's brick-and-mortar parent company "Chicago Music Exchange". They have a ton of stuff that you see online but almost never in stores. Their "Bass-ment" is a dream room.
They do very well, though that is likely primarily because they have one of the most extensive vintage guitar selections in the world.
You know, maybe I'm going at this all wrong.
I should have asked what to use with it, 10's, 12's or 15's. ???
I should have asked what to use with it, 10's, 12's or 15's. ???
My oldest brother brought a 4001 home in about 1975. So they've been In my life since before I even played. I certainly get the guys that can't get used to them, though.
Sometimes you’re only the guy who’s getting the instrument to it’s destined owner. Occasionally, you’re the guy destined to own for a time.We choose our instruments, but I also believe they choose us.
Connection didn't happen.
Yep Reverb is great, but I really meant somewhere you can go and actually spend some time experiencing and mixing/matching whatever gear you want before you buy. Also maybe a coffee bar to one side, and atmospehere that encourages hanging out and discussing the gear, music etc. with whoever else is there.
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In that case it's worth a stop to Chicago Music Exchange if you're ever near Chicago. Still alot of standard Fender's and Gibson's of course but there's so many instruments there that you otherwise would likely only see on Talkbass. It's the only place I've ever seen 5 or more Rickenbacker basses on one wall.
Always loved hearing Stanley Clarke play his Alembics. When I finally tried one, I didn't care for it all. Just felt stiff, unresponsive, and the tone was kinda clanky. Not saying I wouldn't have warmed up to it after a while, but the first impression was not a good one.
