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How long will you try it out?
- Thread starter timendous
- Start date
I can think of numerous examples of things I thought sounded good in the store, then I get home, plugged it into my rig and within seconds I get this sinking feeling and know it’s not going to work. I might play around with it for a bit (or in some cases, a lot), but I can’t think of a time where I changed something about something I wasn’t really into and it suddenly sounded better.
OTOH, I have had examples of where I knew something was good right away, but over time there was something a little off about it that I didn’t quite like. Those were successful candidates for pickup swaps, strings, whatever.
There’s also been a few things I’ve held onto for awhile and I tried them again on a few occasions, but they never get any better.
OTOH, I have had examples of where I knew something was good right away, but over time there was something a little off about it that I didn’t quite like. Those were successful candidates for pickup swaps, strings, whatever.
There’s also been a few things I’ve held onto for awhile and I tried them again on a few occasions, but they never get any better.
How long? Not very; 10 minutes, at most. To be honest, you could count the number of basses I've tried - and kept - on the fingers of one hand. And, your thumb; ring finger; and your pinky don't count...
Why? I'm left handed; almost of the basses I've ever "tried", are not. Since Ed Roman closed his doors in Las Vegas many years ago, left handed basses that I can actually pick up and play, have been very few and far between. Fortunately, I can play right handed long enough - and well enough - that I can get a pretty good idea about how well a left handed version will feel and sound. Assuming they actually do make a lefty, of course... I'll have to admit, though; I don't pay a lot of attention to how a bass sounds in that scenario. Except insofar as tone pertains to the thing's functionality. The (usually) factory D'Addario rounds on most new basses? Those are going in the dumpster, just as soon as I get the bass home. So... who cares how it sounds with those strings on it? Unless it comes to me with flats? Almost all the strings on a new-to-me bass, are going to meet the same fate. As for how it sounds through the store amp? I have different amps and cabs at home; who cares how it sounds in the store? I guarantee you; the store's amps sound nothing like my '70s Rickenbacker amp, anyway. Especially in my living room... All I'm interested in, when I pick up a bass in a store - or wherever - is; how does it feel - and does everything work. But, since I can't/won't buy the wrong-handed bass I'm trying out at the moment? All I can do is hope that the lefty I might order, based on the right handed one I'm "playing", is at least as functional and as nice as that one is... Being irredeemably left handed means having to be willing to roll the dice, if you want a new bass...
Why? I'm left handed; almost of the basses I've ever "tried", are not. Since Ed Roman closed his doors in Las Vegas many years ago, left handed basses that I can actually pick up and play, have been very few and far between. Fortunately, I can play right handed long enough - and well enough - that I can get a pretty good idea about how well a left handed version will feel and sound. Assuming they actually do make a lefty, of course... I'll have to admit, though; I don't pay a lot of attention to how a bass sounds in that scenario. Except insofar as tone pertains to the thing's functionality. The (usually) factory D'Addario rounds on most new basses? Those are going in the dumpster, just as soon as I get the bass home. So... who cares how it sounds with those strings on it? Unless it comes to me with flats? Almost all the strings on a new-to-me bass, are going to meet the same fate. As for how it sounds through the store amp? I have different amps and cabs at home; who cares how it sounds in the store? I guarantee you; the store's amps sound nothing like my '70s Rickenbacker amp, anyway. Especially in my living room... All I'm interested in, when I pick up a bass in a store - or wherever - is; how does it feel - and does everything work. But, since I can't/won't buy the wrong-handed bass I'm trying out at the moment? All I can do is hope that the lefty I might order, based on the right handed one I'm "playing", is at least as functional and as nice as that one is... Being irredeemably left handed means having to be willing to roll the dice, if you want a new bass...
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Most of the time? Not long. It either works for me or it doesn't. If it doesn't I move it on in short order.
I say "most" of the time because I've spent and enormous amount of effort over 40 years trying to either find or create a J-style bass that works for me. I've decided my current J is my last one. I've altered everything on it except the body and still don't like it. This bass has also cured me of any desire to ever modify a bass again. So that's two fewer things to fuss over, right?
I say "most" of the time because I've spent and enormous amount of effort over 40 years trying to either find or create a J-style bass that works for me. I've decided my current J is my last one. I've altered everything on it except the body and still don't like it. This bass has also cured me of any desire to ever modify a bass again. So that's two fewer things to fuss over, right?
For 200 bucks I’d just keep it. If anything , it can still be a cheap mod platform.
I find this to be a tough question. I wanted a Warwick. I had never played one, but I wanted one (Thumb bass NT). I saved for a while and gave up / life got in the way. Then my wife found an '03 Corvette on Ebay that was a great deal and scored it for me. I played it for 3 or 4 years exclusively...then I played a Sadowsky Metro at Bass NW in Seattle and realized I didn't like the neck profile, string spacing, or weight of the Corvette (I do love that growl though). Point is, I didn't realize that didn't like until I tried something else.
So, I think if I was considering a new bass (either before or after I owned it), before I paid for upgrades I would be comparing it to other basses to confirm I like the bones of the feel of the bass. I think the most I would do is a proper set up / new strings. Neck profile is really important to me.
So, I think if I was considering a new bass (either before or after I owned it), before I paid for upgrades I would be comparing it to other basses to confirm I like the bones of the feel of the bass. I think the most I would do is a proper set up / new strings. Neck profile is really important to me.
I don’t know, I’ve never paid for a bass I hadn’t played first. Sure strings are part of the deal. An Audere pre-amp undoubted improve the tone of the bass, but there are other options on preamps/pickups that are not that expensive.
I’m of a bent that molding an inexpensive bass is a great way to go considering you like the components, and the way it plays. Just be prudent on what you buy.
Nice looking bass. The Yamaha in my current avatar (July 20, 2022) had a return label printed for it and I was on day 29 of a 30 day trial. Just before packing it up I decided to see what it sounded like with different strings. Slapped on some DR Pure Blues and changed my mind entirely. Ultimately the go-to strings on this bass is Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats, but sounding good, but differen with D'Addario NYXL's. If it plays great but the sound is "close" try some strings, but make sure you leave enough end length so you can put them on other basses if the trial doesn't work.
As for the Audere preamp... I have a Pro Z 4 band Audere and like it a lot. I wouldn't discourage you from buying one, but the one thing I miss with the Audere is that ability to go passive. John East makes a similar preamp with an active/passive switch and I might have gone that way.
I don't think it's a matter of looking at it as a $200 bass with equal $'s of improvements IF YOU INTEND TO KEEP IT long term. But if you upgrade it and want to sell it you'll take a haircut on the parts and will sell the parts off separately after restoring the original parts on the bass.
As for the Audere preamp... I have a Pro Z 4 band Audere and like it a lot. I wouldn't discourage you from buying one, but the one thing I miss with the Audere is that ability to go passive. John East makes a similar preamp with an active/passive switch and I might have gone that way.
I don't think it's a matter of looking at it as a $200 bass with equal $'s of improvements IF YOU INTEND TO KEEP IT long term. But if you upgrade it and want to sell it you'll take a haircut on the parts and will sell the parts off separately after restoring the original parts on the bass.
If it's a bass I really like, I 'll make it work for me.
I subscribe to the philosophy that "I will never let a bass beat me". I know that if I spend enough time with it, I will ultimately become comfortable with it. I guess I look at it as a challenge... and I feel that it makes me a better bass player.
Not long. I don't keep anything I don't intend to use, unless it has sentimental value or costs more to get rid of than it does for me to keep it.
If I pick up an instrument set up near my specifications and it doesn't click, I have found it very rare that it clicks down the road.
If I pick up an instrument set up near my specifications and it doesn't click, I have found it very rare that it clicks down the road.
While I don't subscribe to the challenge notion, I do agree fully that we can/will adapt to our instruments. If I may inject a personal anecdote...
I needed a 5 string bass and due to circumstances I bought my Ibanez BTB675. I was enchanted by the look and I swung a deal on the spot knowing little about 5 strings and being relatively new to bass in general. I got it home, and it felt big, almost huge. 35" scale length, wide fingerboard (coming off of a 4 string jazz with slim neck). I ha 45 days to return it and had nothing else. So after research, I ordered the Yamaha TRBX605 that is currently in my avatar.
The Yamaha came and was super easy to play out of the box but didn't sound so great (with the stock strings). But I hung on to the BTB675 and cycled between them as I was just developing my ear and getting acquainted with 5 strings. And so the 30 day mark of both basses came. The short story is that I kept both of them, as different as they are to each other. I thought the BTB was way too big for me, but the more I played it the more natural it became. These basses are almost extremes to each other, but I love them both and can play both with equal ease. Oh... and I have a Fender MIM Jazz 5, different again with a 9.5" radius which I love too. And the truth is, that if I could only have one bass (it would definitely be a 5er) and could be any of the basses I currently own.
[You want to talk about feel and adaptation... ask me about trumpets and their mouthpieces!]
songwriter21
I have an obsession for wood. The musical kind.
Anywhere from utilizing the full return period...14, 30, 45 days...to less than an hour, if the neck won't straighten out. If it's the latter, then I couldn't care less about the sound.
