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list your basses' flaws

#61
rappa29 said:
G&L Tribute L-2500: Heavy\balance. Even if I didn't have back issues, the generic tuners make the bass heavy and off balance even with a 3.5" Comfort Strapp.

IMHO, this is an overlooked difference with ANY manufacturer when people always ask "What's the difference between USA vs offshore?"
Click to expand...

Interesting. Mine is heavier than my TBC, but not all that much. Any chance your was made in Korea? Tried a Korean manufactured Trib and found it much heavier.

Mine balances reasonably well.

Biggest problem with both of mine is the nut...standing behind them.
 
#63
Peavey t40- it weighs alot, but i'm fine with it.- as little rust on the tuners, and the E saddle is getting some rust- discontinued parts are very hard to find


thats all i own right now besides my 1st bass and my jazz 24 thats getting sent back
 
#64
Warwick Streamer LX Broadneck 5
Dont get me wrong - its an incredible bass! It is for sale however and I guess for me these things are 'faults' of design maybe!
1. Fretboard is a little flat.
2. 10 pounds - not too bad but I have recently taken on vocal duties for my original band. The vocals need a lot of concentration and I'm finding the weight is probably affecting my performance, which leads me to the next point...
3. I've played 5 strings nearly exclusively for about 15 years. recently played a few friends 4 stringers and I've decided to move back to 4's - tuning 1 e-g, and another b-d. So I guess the fault is it has 5 strings!
 
#65
My 2003 SR506 will only intonate partially. I have to split the difference..****** bridge:rolleyes: Preamp is too bright.
My 2006 HWY Jazz bass does have a dead spot or 2 :ninja:

My 2000 MIM Fretless Jazz has horrifically horrible hum.

My 1999 Warwick fretless thumb has a very limited preamp. At least its passive switchable
 
#66
Ibanez SR700

Pickups either too bright and clanky or too dull.
Find the neck too thin to play for a long time.
Build quality flaws: Nut is cut a bit low on the E. Thats it.

G&L L2000 U.S.

One coil on the bridge pickup went dead. Sent it in for a new one and now all is well.
Build quality flaws: The fretboard dots don't quite line up perfectly with the strings if you look at it straight on. The logo on the headstock is not quite parallel to the G string. both these things just bug the anal retentive side of me and I have actually seen these same flaws on many G&L's. The physical build and the neck are perfect though, and the finish is flawless.
 
#69
Steinberger XP-2
  • Ugly (especially mine - it's white)
  • Has a sterile, "ringy" sound I can't seem to get rid of sometimes
  • Usually doesn't slap well for some reason
  • Too much relief / upper register "flips" up. Can shim but there is no truss rod

78 P-bass
  • DPO did the J-mod
  • Possible output jack issue? (I did the wiring, heh...)

Yamaha BB5000AF
  • Finish, pickup covers & knobs are cheesey
  • Tuners lose pitch a ton between gigs

Warmoth "Wide" 5 Jazz Bass w/ Bartolini pickups & NTBT
  • Heavy as stink
  • Upper register always kind of brittle
  • No passive bypass (Could get off my a$$ and fix that...)

78 Fender Musicmaster
  • Crappy tuners
  • PITA to adjust bridge action & intonation
  • Looks small on me & short scale feels a bit cramped
  • Fret ends stick out beyond fretboard
  • Pickup & electronics suck (oh, wait - not anymore!!)

Nash JB-63
  • Cost twice as much as the others
  • Truss rod can't get the neck straight enough
  • Most of the relicing seems fake to me
  • Other players come up and ask "wow, what year is that" and I have to explain how it's an '08

96 MIJ Fender '51 Reissue
  • Body finish is waaaaaaaaaaay too thick & looks maybe a bit mustardy
  • Vintage-style reverse tuners not as beefy as on the Nash
  • Pots & jack also not beefy (at least the body weight is)
  • Antiquity II SCPB pickup seems VERY tempermental

So those are the flaws, but each axe also redeems itself enough to stay in the stable.

... for now.
 
#70
Ibanez SR 500:
Thin oil finish has worn off and allowed many gouges in the body.
the 'cosmo black' hardware tarnished years ago
the B is constantly going sharp
the EQ is finicky and high maintenance like a 6 figure girlfriend
it chews through 9v batteries with unstoppable gusto
but I love it anyway.
 
#72
Fender US Deluxe J ('98 model): strap button on top horn gets loose
Hamer Chaparral Max Bass: output jack issues (needs a new one, due to age?)
Fender US Deluxe J ('06 model): strap button on top horn gets loose, screw at tuner (G-string) was missing, some rattling at the headstock (trussrod? tuner?) when playing a D-note, deadspot on the G-string on 7th "fret" (D-note), probably from the defect tuner
Gibson Q-80 bass: doesn't fit any standard case because of the huge headstock, finish flaws
Gibson RD Artist Bass: heavy weight, huge case, switches need some cleaning
 
#73
Fodera Monarch (2006): Huge lacquer cracks developed last year that run through the body finish. Fodera want $1250 dollars to put it right... and I'm in the UK... and it's my main bass. Also an infuriating low spot around the 14th fret G that I keep putting off fixing. Still sounds and plays wonderfully though.

Wal Mach II 5 String: Very, very heavy and a lot of the tones are unusable. However, it does sound incredible.

1977 Jazz: Only fault with this is a slightly sloppy neck joint, but no worse than my `80s Ray. Neck pickup must have died at some point as it has been replaced with a Dimarzio.
 
#75
ESP/LTD JM500: Fretwork a little rough, hardware getting rust spots (although the bass is at least 5 years old), Paint chips and scratches really easily. Upper horn strap button screw came out after about 4 months. But I had an excellent luthier dowl and re-screw it back in there.

Spector Legend classic: there is a drip of finish on the side of the neck at around the nut. Bridge saddles rattle (I think its because its in drop C tuning).
 
#77
I have swapped between 60-70 basses over the last 5 years, so I am pretty happy with what I have.... the only issues are....

Roscoe SKB-3005 - The cedar body dings REALLY easily

1973 Fender Jazz - The tone pot doesn't do much. I love the bass, but not very versatile

1974 Fender P - The frets are almost gone so I have to use flats. This bass is incredible, but I am avoiding refretting it.

Squier Vintage Modified Telebass - LOVE the booming sound but the output is higher than my 18V Fender Jazz Deluxe. can't use it on the same gig as any of my other basses.

30th Anniversary Stingray - Heavy as hell and the mohogany dings easily.
 
#78
Hugh Jass said:
G&L L2000 U.S.

One coil on the bridge pickup went dead. Sent it in for a new one and now all is well.
Build quality flaws: The fretboard dots don't quite line up perfectly with the strings if you look at it straight on. The logo on the headstock is not quite parallel to the G string. both these things just bug the anal retentive side of me and I have actually seen these same flaws on many G&L's. The physical build and the neck are perfect though, and the finish is flawless.
Click to expand...

It is worth mentioning that the MIA G&L's are largely hand-made. Things like the neck contour on the back aren't done by machine, so each one is going to be different.

I forgot a couple on my L2000 (a late 90's 3 bolt model):
- came with a slight ski-jump in the middle of the fingerboard. I played it for years like this noting that the action always seemed slightly high in the middle of board but never connected the dots on there being a setup problem with it. I finally noticed this about a year ago and this summer finally took a sanding block to it to fix it. Took some wood off the last few inches of the heel and it's more or less fixed now. My L2500 has a flawless fingerboard tho.
- stock, the pickups are supported by two springs that fit into recesses in the PU cavity. If I have the PU height just right on the bridge PU, the springs "ring" giving an annoying "plink plink" to the tone out of it. when I fixed the skijump, I had to lower the PU anyway and that cured it by compressing the springs more.
A piece of foam under the PU to mute the ringing of the springs would be a good idea.
- electronics cavity is unsheilded and a little bit of a rats nest of wires. Sheilding and cleaning up the wiring some might make it a little quieter.

The only reason I don't play my G&L's anymore is because of my carvin bunny suddenly appearing and working better for practically everything I do.

But they're some of the most charming instruments you can buy and give a positively nuclear weapon tone. I'm planning on keeping mine even tho I'm a carvin convert now.

LS
 
#79
'04 Lakland 55-94 Deluxe- too darn perfect to take out of the case half the time

'99 Lakland 55-94 Deluxe- just the right amount of wear to not worry about it (one could consider the belt rash on the back and discolored parts of the fingerboard at certain positions both from the previous owner flaws, but I find the wear and look of the bass charming and comfortable).

I'll never "need" to buy another bass as long as I live, but I'm sure I'll find a deal opportunity that I "just can't resist" or a piece I can't live without someday probably sooner rather than later. Darn Lakland GAS is the worst kind I've been infected with.
 
#80
'75 Rick 4001:
-Has a lot of 'mojo' but mojo ain't pretty.
-The bridge pickup was replaced with an identical pickup, but it has a neck appropriate chrome ring
-It looks cool with the bridge PU cover, but I can't play it worth a crap when installed. That's right where I dig in.
-Strings are too close at the bridge for me (I like Fender spacing)
-The G pops out of its seat the bridge when I get rowdy. (Still plays and 95% in tune, the action just sits way off on the G)

Schecter CV-5 prototype with Kent Armstrong PU's (J / MM double J humbucker) and OBP-3
-More tones than I'll ever even try to use (is that bad? I feel like it's a waste...)
-Uhh, string spacing is too close for my to do my feeling dirty about myself pop-slap sh..stuff
-The feel of it is sooo nice that I get very flashy/technical very quickly, I've been told to calm down by my drummer.

SX SPB62 sunburst
-It's not a USA Fender P-Deluxe
-It's not a USA Fender P-Deluxe
-It's not a USA Fender P-Deluxe

Squier VM fretless Jazz Bass
-plastic ebony-wannabe board
-lower end "duncan designed" pickups (Sound good when I dig in)
-it's not the Carvin I have my eye on
-it's not the other Carvin I have my eye on
-FOUR piece body under a sunburst. Ew.
 

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