Just don't get too far into custom spec'ing a Wishbass. He's none too fond of straying from his basic output.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Is Wishbass right for me?
- Thread starter Chemical Wings
- Start date
Went to a gig of an old band of mine last night to see how they were fairing. I was the drummer in that band. The bassist, who has an extensive collection of fine bass guitars of several brands, had a wish alongside the two high end yamahas he's currently favoring.
A wish bass, I said, and my friend said that the sustain and resonance on the wish had to be heard to be believed. He did one song with it, it sounded great.
A wish bass, I said, and my friend said that the sustain and resonance on the wish had to be heard to be believed. He did one song with it, it sounded great.
Here's what a refinished Wishbass looks like:
It looks like some sort of Klingon weapon.
+1 I highly recommend my demo videos. Not only do you get to hear a wide selection, but you get a fair representation of the good, the bad, the ugly, and the spectacular.
After reading about the Vintage modified squier's on TB, I set about playing a few, same with the SX. It may take some work, but for me, the tone of any Wishbass blows them away.
I also second the advice about getting too particular with a custom order. It's best to keep it simple, body shape, number of strings, and your wood prefs, and get it unfinished for certain. Good luck, jbybj
Can I third that advice?
I'd also avoid a truss rod - it's a thick double bass like neck and the design philosophy is that it's not needed. It's also a very belt and braces solution - definitely not everyone's cup of tea. You certain should look through the Wishbass Club threads ( i think it's at the end of the 2nd one) for a picture of the truss rod install before you push the button on that.
john turner
You don't want to do that. Trust me.
the only reason why i would advise against getting a wish as a young developing bassist is that the neck profile is very unconventional - very thick. i would think it would be better for your development as a player to get something a bit more conventional and "standard" for you to continue your learning. there are a lot of options available in the "low price" bracket that are completely viable.
there's a lot of subjective arguments i could make against wishbasses, too, based on the ones i've played, but ultimately they don't really matter, being subjective, heh.
there's a lot of subjective arguments i could make against wishbasses, too, based on the ones i've played, but ultimately they don't really matter, being subjective, heh.
Sir; Thanks for your honest inquiry about getting a Wishbass, or not. As I read thru all these responses, they all seem reasonable but vary greatly. I am clearly a Wish fanatic, and have owned 10 of them this year, now currently down to 7, with 4 Wishnevsky instruments on top of that. They are not for everyone and I admit that I enjoy the refinishing/refining aspect of Wishbass ownership almost more than the playing one. I just got through refinishing a 4 string JB and it came out awesome. The action is so low and sweet on this one, it's a joy. It also has a great tone which is very, very different from my other Wishbasses (which are all different shapes). Part of the reason are the woods used in this particular JB, but most of it the relationship of the pickup to the bridge, which on a JB is very close together. The JB, as a result, has a much brighter tone than my other Wishes. Some of that can be modified by tweaking your amp, or running through a Wishbox (or similar), but fundamently the JB has a different voice than most of the other body styles (I wanted you to understand that in case you are seeking a more traditional tonality). I love mine and would not even consider selling it! I have about 25 - 28 hours of work into it and it was worth every moment. Besides, I love doing the work. I am including some pix. There are more back in the Wishbass Club Part 2 thread on pages 39 and 40. I want to buy another JB sometime later this year or next - hopefully a 5 string.
I currently am writing a fairly detailed guide to refinishing one of these guitars, which will be posted in the Wishbass thread once I get it done - just in case you do get one and might be interested in tackling that part of Wishbass ownership. We wish you well with this. Please check out the Wishbass Club threads - tons of info and should help you decide, one way or another. Ciao ...
I like Wish stuff, and as I said before I've defended him on several occasions. That being said, how hard is it to drill for the ferules in a straight effin' line??? 
Would it be a Wishbass then, though? Hmmmm ....I like Wish stuff, and as I said before I've defended him on several occasions. That being said, how hard is it to drill for the ferules in a straight effin' line???
Seriously consider buying something else or you'll regret. Not that Wish basses are bad basses, I don't know, I don't have any experience with them, but at 400$ + shipping, you can do a lot better, especially in the used market.
The consensus around here seems to indicate that:
a) Most if not all will need serious manhours to bring them to a playable state.
b) I'm not so sure your bass will be "talyored to your needs" as much as you'd want without the price skyrocketing.
c) Something that will be easily and cheaply adjustable by any decent tech trumps an instrument that requires skills to change the string height/intonation, etc.
I'd second the SX comments. You have a double bass. If you want double-bass sounds, play double-bass. And I doubt an SX will sound like a double-bass.
The consensus around here seems to indicate that:
a) Most if not all will need serious manhours to bring them to a playable state.
b) I'm not so sure your bass will be "talyored to your needs" as much as you'd want without the price skyrocketing.
c) Something that will be easily and cheaply adjustable by any decent tech trumps an instrument that requires skills to change the string height/intonation, etc.
I'd second the SX comments. You have a double bass. If you want double-bass sounds, play double-bass. And I doubt an SX will sound like a double-bass.
Sir; Thanks for your honest inquiry about getting a Wishbass, or not. As I read thru all these responses, they all seem reasonable but vary greatly. I am clearly a Wish fanatic, and have owned 10 of them this year, now currently down to 7, with 4 Wishnevsky instruments on top of that. They are not for everyone and I admit that I enjoy the refinishing/refining aspect of Wishbass ownership almost more than the playing one. I just got through refinishing a 4 string JB and it came out awesome. The action is so low and sweet on this one, it's a joy. It also has a great tone which is very, very different from my other Wishbasses (which are all different shapes). Part of the reason are the woods used in this particular JB, but most of it the relationship of the pickup to the bridge, which on a JB is very close together. The JB, as a result, has a much brighter tone than my other Wishes. Some of that can be modified by tweaking your amp, or running through a Wishbox (or similar), but fundamently the JB has a different voice than most of the other body styles (I wanted you to understand that in case you are seeking a more traditional tonality). I love mine and would not even consider selling it! I have about 25 - 28 hours of work into it and it was worth every moment. Besides, I love doing the work. I am including some pix. There are more back in the Wishbass Club Part 2 thread on pages 39 and 40. I want to buy another JB sometime later this year or next - hopefully a 5 string.
I currently am writing a fairly detailed guide to refinishing one of these guitars, which will be posted in the Wishbass thread once I get it done - just in case you do get one and might be interested in tackling that part of Wishbass ownership. We wish you well with this. Please check out the Wishbass Club threads - tons of info and should help you decide, one way or another. Ciao ...
That looks great! Did you use lacquer or some sort of oil rub?
Thanks for the kind words. I took this one from rasp and file out thru 2000 grit sandpaper. The wood is primarily walnut (nice and hard) and felt polished by the time I put the finish on it. What I used was TruOil Sealer (1 coat) and TruOil (5 coats). It is rubbed on by hand, and scuffed with #0000 steel wool in between all of those coats. I spent a lot of time getting all the contours even and flowing into each other gracefully, which came together once the TruOil was applied. Tung oil would be a similar material to use and would be applied the same way with a similar result.
I think BillyRay's comments are well worth considering. I don't recommend getting a Wishbass unless you plan to work on it. If I had to farm mine out to someone else to fix or improve, I am not sure it would be worth it to me. For me, the whole point IS having to work on them, so if you are not into that, getting something else (IMHO) is wisest.
Hey, it gets much worse than that! Not only are the string-thru holes not drilled across in a straight line, but the 2 outer holes are actually slightly too wide for the neck, putting those 2 strings out too close to the edges of the fingerboard. It's hard to see in the photo, but I actually had to notch the bridge piece a bit to steer those 2 strings inward enough to make them comfortable to play. (Usually you don't want to notch the bridge in order to keep the string contact points as sharp and minimal as possible, but on this bass I had to file little grooves for each string to route them correctly up the neck.) Still, this bass now plays so nicely and sounds so awesome (lots of mmwwah & sustain with a more treble affect) that I don't mind the lack of attention to detail since it was correctable and, the bass only cost $202 brand new! Like I said previously, if these "features" weren't present, would it be a Wishbass?I like Wish stuff, and as I said before I've defended him on several occasions. That being said, how hard is it to drill for the ferules in a straight effin' line???
They ain't for everyone folks!
The WB posted on page 1 looks like a good instrument if you want to kill someone with it. Kids aren't typically the most pragmatic of persons, but...if money is an issue, the most pragmatic approach is to order an SX for a hundred bucks.
Or, you could go with the "banana":
...I believe this is the tune that Spock played with the space hippies.
Or, you could go with the "banana":
...I believe this is the tune that Spock played with the space hippies.
