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I'm starting to hate my bass

#61
mankybass said:
Have any of you went through a situation where circumstances render you with only 1 bass, which you grow to hate the more you play it? I've forced myself into thinking that this (violin) bass' shorter scale and 14mm string spacing are beneficial to easier playing but I've grown to hate how it sounds. A new bass would be nice but my money's playing tag, and I'm it. It's been with me for almost 2 years but I just can't seem to get along with it. Can you all offer me words of wisdom?
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Word of wisdom 1- :98.7% of working musicians only own one instrument. This bass is simply a tool - think of it as a hammer.

word of wisdom 2 - I’d love that violin bass if playing it meant feeding my family.
 
#63
I love violin basses but I would never have a violin bass as my only bass. They have a very distinct feel/tone and they aren't always the best choice, at least not for me. The narrow string spacing is great for using a pick but unless you've got really small fingers they can be a bitt fiddly for fingerstyle.

If you fight a violin bass, it will fight back. It will never sound of feel like a P-bass. You need to play to it's strengths and to me that means Pyramid Gold flats and only use it for certain genres or certain types of songs (although people use them differently all the time of course, whatever works for YOU!).

Then there's the question of what exact type of violin bass we're talking about here. A real "Made in Germany" Höfner is a work of art and can be a lot more versatile than most people give them credit for. A new (different) set of strings could transform it into something completely different.

But if we're talking about one of the many Asian copies... well, they're more like "fun" basses that you would want as a third or fourth bass after you've got your basics covered IMO. No disrespect intended to anyone who loves their cheap Asian violin bass, more power to you for making it work, but cheap violin copies aren't the most versatile of the highest quality instruments out there.

Normally in a situation like this I would suggest trying a completely different type of strings but if you've hit the wall with a violin bass... don't bother. Trade it for something else if you can (go safe and get a passive P or J) or start saving up.
 
#67
After 30+ years of screwing around on the bass, I've finally come back around to the PBass. I honestly feel I could be happy for the rest of my life with just one good PBass.

If you're going to have only one bass, might as well pick a classic. The Hofner is one of the classics, but for my tastes it's a little too niche. I'd sell it and get a PBass, Jazz Bass, Music Man, or whatever "mainstream" bass you like.
 
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#70
You might want to try this.
Many good reviews, ridiculously low price...$119 but shipping is around $65, and it sounds great!
harley-benton-pb-20-sbk-standard-seriessatin-black-jpg-cf.jpg

 
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#71
Time to get a P bass ;)

But seriously life is too short to play a bass you hate. If moneys tight Squier Affinity, Ibanez TMB, Yamaha BB, Harley Benton can all be had for 3 bills. Less if used. I was playing an Affinity PJ last week, and it just knocked my socks off. It’s incredible they can make a bass like that and sell it for 229.

best of luck
 
#75
ejaggers said:
It's kindda hard to advise with so little info.

What is it about the bass you don't like?
What bass do you think would work for you that's in your budget, if you sold yours?

What strings are you using?
Could it be your amp rather than the bass?
057912
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Some days it feels fine, others not so much but lately I've been changing up the strap height so it'd sit right. It's actually a good bass for fingerstyle.. most of the time, well it was crap until I set the action down. It also has a poopie-ton of high frets at the higher register, particularly at the 12th and 16th frets, which makes slides sound uninspiring as hell coupled with the shorter scale. I guess I just want to actually get better on a more jack-of-all-trades instrument. And it's not like I actually wanted the damn thing, since it was given as a gift to my dad by a distant friend I more or less don't have that much of a choice (especially when it comes to parting ways with it). For strings I use roundwounds, flats tend to exacerbate the sound qualities that I absolutely hate with violin basses. As for the amp I often practice songs through a rumble 500 lent by my dad's praise and worship group. Since it's a shared bass I don't have much I can do in the way of selling or trading it, so I'm kind of just stuck with it and have nothing better to play lol.
 
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#76
fretno said:
a bass guitar is easily improved . A setup and fresh strings first , then on to hardware and electronics upgrade . I don't think one can really hate a musical instrument . A instrumentalist yeah but not an instrument :D
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I'm not so sure about that. I had an early '80's 'S-series' Fender Jazz that had a particular 'overtone' or 'colour' in the voice. It wasn't massively unpleasant and at first it didn't really dominate, but it was somehow there. Within a short time I became 'sensitised' to it and could not ignore it. I tried technique, setup, strings and pickups but I could always hear it lurking in the background. I felt like I was always fighting that bass to get a good tone. Over time I started to loathe that bass and so I just stopped playing it. Within a year it was gone. So I do have a level of sympathy for the OP.

At the same time, I think that this was probably a rare thing and I agree, through experience, that most can be changed with simple parts swapping.
 
#77
fretno said:
a bass guitar is easily improved . A setup and fresh strings first , then on to hardware and electronics upgrade . I don't think one can really hate a musical instrument . A instrumentalist yeah but not an instrument :D
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Idk about this thing, it feels quite weird. Never sits right no matter how much I adjust the strap height. If only my father lets me service the damn thing I could probably whack (or sand) the high frets or smth, I'd probably gun for a refret if I had the money. All-in-all it's basically what you'd expect with a cheapo VB copy.
 
#80
DwaynieAD said:
If it's tone that you don't like then strings and eq but I'm sure you already tried that so that leaves you with playability.

The good thing for you is that with the rise of cnc machining you can get an import bass nothing short of great brand spanking new.

People like to boohoo on it around here but affinity Squiers are wonderful nowadays. Sterling by musicman has the SUB line that is remarkable

I'm not a fan but Ibanez has offerings that tons seem to love for not a lot of money.

Jump into the used market and your options open up even farther.

You've got options. Just gotta sell that turd.
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I'd kill for a squier tbh, if I lived during the early 00s an antoque burst squier standard p special would certainly be right up my alley. I do like how quirky the VB is, it's just weird to play. I believe it'll benefit from a refret. The fingerboard's dry as hell and the fretd aren't looking too good either.
 

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