Kubicki. Wanted to love it and it was mostly great. Ergonomics and feel were fantastic. More comfortable and balanced than any other bass I've ever played. Great design. Tone was great too. It had a drop tune mechanism that would go from E to D. Great idea but when in place it wouldn't hold the string 100% in position so when playing an open E, it would buzz and just feel a little loose. And the intonation was always off when tuned from E to D and back again. Nothing I did would solve this problem.
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.
Most Disappointing purchase
- Thread starter Bill Murray
- Start date
Eh, must be some bad luck. Mogami's I have are hands down the best I've used so far. Stupid expensive, but they've never once failed me.
OregonMike
Not a bass, but bought a Zoom 506 BASS "Compact Multi Effects Processor" pedal many years ago.
While the effects DID work, I never found them overwhelming, nor did I really find they made the bass sound any "better"*. Wish I'd never wasted the money. A decent amp was easily a better investment all around, plus the one I bought (TC Electronic BG250 with the single big speaker) also had effects that were tons better.
*better: for comparison I have a very old Korg Guitar A4 pedal set that I use with my Ovation 12-string. The chorus & flange alone make the 12-string sound incredible. When I gigged with that rig, I used to get positive comments all the time about the sound.
While the effects DID work, I never found them overwhelming, nor did I really find they made the bass sound any "better"*. Wish I'd never wasted the money. A decent amp was easily a better investment all around, plus the one I bought (TC Electronic BG250 with the single big speaker) also had effects that were tons better.
*better: for comparison I have a very old Korg Guitar A4 pedal set that I use with my Ovation 12-string. The chorus & flange alone make the 12-string sound incredible. When I gigged with that rig, I used to get positive comments all the time about the sound.
For me it was probably the Yamaha NE-1 preamp. I was really hoping to love it because of the mid shift. It was just ok.
Similarly I didn't love the Aguilar DB924.
Didn't really do much for the basses I was using it with at the time. Finally found my pre with the Mesa Boogie Subway DI.
Similarly I didn't love the Aguilar DB924.
Didn't really do much for the basses I was using it with at the time. Finally found my pre with the Mesa Boogie Subway DI.
I bought a Modulus Quantum 5 and I felt it sounded very sterile. To each his own but to me there's nothing like the tone of an all wood instrument. I even had a few Steinberger XL2s over the years and sold them all for the same reason.
Years ago, I purchased a Modulus 5. I loved everything about it, except the 35” scale length. I have little hands with a tiny spread <insert joke here>. After that experience, I never bought another 35” scale length bass. I’m happiest playing a 32” medium scale, but a nice 34” works too.
Recently, my most disappointing purchase was a Schecter Riot 4. I loved the looks and the sound, but hated the neck profile. Above the 7th fret, it felt like a Louisville Slugger baseball bat.
Regarding guitars, I scanned eBay and Reverb for almost a year looking for a BC Rich Mockingbird NJ Classic 6-string guitar. When I finally got one, the neck was too wide and the thing weighted almost eleven pounds. Sold it the following week.
Regarding non-music related items… I regret buying my ex-wife’s wedding ring. Enough said.
Recently, my most disappointing purchase was a Schecter Riot 4. I loved the looks and the sound, but hated the neck profile. Above the 7th fret, it felt like a Louisville Slugger baseball bat.
Regarding guitars, I scanned eBay and Reverb for almost a year looking for a BC Rich Mockingbird NJ Classic 6-string guitar. When I finally got one, the neck was too wide and the thing weighted almost eleven pounds. Sold it the following week.
Regarding non-music related items… I regret buying my ex-wife’s wedding ring. Enough said.
That’s kinda ironic, as Geddy ditched the Ric during the recording of that album. There’s a whole lot of Jazz bass on MP.
I bourght my 1st Bass in approx 1983. which was a P Bass copy . . . no idea what the make was. Sold after buying an Aria ProII Cardinal Series CSB-380 in trans blue with black grain for £130.00, which I still have and gig with. I then purchased a Westone Thunder 1 which had been defretted and I kept it for maybe a year or so . . . it had a weird tone and was a neck diver, cost £90 and sold for £70 and haven't seriously looked at buying anything else since . . . . the Aria fits like a glove and sounds fine to me. The only thing I have had done is a Fret dress due to some fret buzz probably about 15 years ago.The Aria still sell for more than I paid for it after all these years ! I have never had the spondulix to shell out on some of the basses I see on TB and I am amazed at what people are prepared to spend on modifications, especialy when they have sometimes cost so much to purchase in the 1st place. I dare say there will be less opertunities to try out a new or used Bass after Lockdown finishes but I would personaly travel to where there are a few musical instrument shops, London and try out as many different basses as posible so that I had some idea of what different makes could do for me . . . . but at 64 yrs, I don't see me needing another bass.
Aaahhh Modulus.......the sound of plastic. Hated mine...twice!
Had a similar experience with an Mts Kingston 5, didn’t spend so much on it and was able to get what I paid back when I sold, but was not for me
I’ve gone all Mogami as well. Flawless but yea expensive. I did have one die at a gig but brought it to GC (where I purchased it) and was able to leave with a brand new replacement in hand.
lifetime warranty is actually real with these ones
I didn't have string breakage, but the tone and the feel of the Cobalts was completely undesirable to me.
Many years ago I got a whale of a deal on a '72 Dan Armstrong bass. $150 bucks!!
Sadly, the bass sucked to high heaven. To be fair, the problem was the pickup. It sounded like pure mud. This was before the invent of the internet so finding a replacement was impossible. I sold it for $950. The crazy thing is, now that parts (and reissues) are available I'd love to buy another!
Sadly, the bass sucked to high heaven. To be fair, the problem was the pickup. It sounded like pure mud. This was before the invent of the internet so finding a replacement was impossible. I sold it for $950. The crazy thing is, now that parts (and reissues) are available I'd love to buy another!
Last edited:
I have an early 90s Thumb neck thru 5 that sounds great, but playing it is like wrestling a small awkwardly shaped animal. Putting it on a strap is painful for my left shoulder as first position has my left arm extended fully.
Add to that, the truss rod broke and I had to take it to five different techs before one was able to remove the old one and replace it.
Bass plays well while seated and I do use it for some recordings. Playing it for live shows is only possible in small bursts, and I'll switch back to one of my four string basses whenever possible
It's heavy as hell, awkward to play but does sound good. I wouldn't want it as my only bass.
True, I have read that he used the '72 Jazz on most of Moving Pictures, but at that time all the MTV videos had him with the Ric.
I had almost the same reaction. Brought back a memory. It stuck around for only 6 months.Long scale Gibson Les Paul bass. It exactly matched my '80 deluxe, so why not?Well, I tried to make it work, I really did, but sold it after a couple of years. Heavy, clunky, neck dive, didn't hang well, neck was too thick, scale too long for the design, so the nut was a mile away, and the tone was okay but not great. An emotional purchase that just didn't stick.
I've never bought one, but it all has to do with Stingray basses. I always looked the way they look and every time I heard somebody play one, I just loved the growly tone. Every time I play one, it sounds and feels like the bass only produces "clacking" tones. All I can hear, with every note I play, is CLACK!!!!
I have a similar problem with Rics. They sound great when OTHER people play them. Exception was a vintage one I played at Willie’s American guitars maybe 15 years ago. Probably should have bought it.
All three Rickenbacker basses I've owned. Hopefully I've learned my lesson....
