Most unforgiving bass guitar?

[4sight]

Not a bass that's shown up my glaring technique flaws, but a Vox Amplug and some headphones. I now hear every. Single. Mistake.

 

[nilorius]

As for technique, for me it all started with j-bass, later j-bass fretless 4 string. I fealt pretty comfortable but something was slowing me down, then came my bass of my dreams - Ibanez GWB1005 5 string fretless whitch gave a freedom to both my hands and fingers, i felt much better and keep feeling an upgrade.

 

[gelinas666]

For many years, my main bass was a German Warwick Katana. It does have remarkable clarity. The sound is so transparent that it took distortion and effects very easily. I never felt like it revealed flaws in my technique, though.

Agreed. But compare playing a Precision Bass then try playing a Warwick Bass.. That was my point.. Both are great basses but the Warwick is cleaner and cuts through the mix. If you make a mistake on the Warwick,it'll be more noticeable.That's My opinion of course..

 

[jamro217]

The ex-wife signature (on the back of my checks) model.

 

[vegas532]

I used to own a Wal MkII with Maple facings and Ebony fingerboard that I kept strung with DR Hi-Beams. That combination did wonders for my technique because it would put every little squeak through the proverbial bullhorn.
If my technique lacked anywhere, you heard it through this set-up.

 

[Medicine Man]

One man's "unforgiving" is another man's "articulate." Another vote for Modulus Quantum. But I'm one of those who wants every nuance of texture to come through.

 

[brianrost]

I wonder if the NXT series is less sensitive, since it does not have the piezo?

The piezo on the CR and WAV Radius only makes it worse...just resting your finger on a string can make a thumping sound. The EMG pickups plus graphite neck force you to really clean up your technique.

 

[bongostealth]

For me, it's anything fretless with no fret markers. Intonation, intonation, intonation..

 

[dalkowski]

Active basses seem to be among the most common responses. (OT--The darn Bongos keep getting more expensive, just a bit faster than I can save for one.)

Yes, nowhere to hide. My Epi Allen Woody, with flats and neck pup soloed, is quite the opposite.

 

[PaulCISSA]

Not the best photo, but when I married this girl in 1999, it was the single biggest contributor in cleaning up my poopy finger style technique. I learned effective two-hand muting and clean left hand movements. What a wonderful instrument that doesn't miss a thing. Like a camera for your ears. Still loves me some to this day.

 

[Kmonk]

When I purchased my first Alembic, I was shocked at how sloppy my playing sounded. It forced me to work on technique and become a better player.

 

[Turxile]

Several have mentioned Warwicks, rightly so (perhaps except for the $$ models).
I've had a few, and IMO the most unforgiving Warwick, and any other bass I tried, is the Dolphin. Perhaps because of the double J pup that's placed very close to the bridge.
I never had a graphite neck though, those are mentioned quite a bit in the posts.

 

[chris_b]

What's the most revealing bass guitar/strings combo you've ever played? Did it make you better or did you abandon t?

If I hear mistakes then I have to work on and resolve them. I don't want to settle for second best! If the guy in the next band plays better than me, I want it to be because he really is better, not because I settled for sloppy playing. A few years ago I saw a Victor Wooten bass clinic and he said: "Everyone makes mistakes. It's how you get out of them that counts." I've worked hard on the "getting out of them" part.

My US Lakland 55-94, bought in 2003, was a surprise. I'd never heard my playing in such detail before. That bass shone an uncomfortable spotlight into the corners of my technique. Then, just when I thought I was getting somewhere, I bought some Berg cabs and an Aguilar amp, which reproduced every fluff, timing error and dud note in unerring detail. I had just about tidied up my technique by the time my Barefaced cabs arrived. Another eye-opener, especially with the added clarity of my Sadowsky Jazz.

I haven't stopped making mistakes but I like to think Victor Wooten would be proud of "how I get out of them".

 

[ToddOfThunder]

Practice in headphones or iem with a flat eq. That's honest. Bass that made me sound better than I am? Pentabuzz. It has growl for days...

+1 on the headphones. I hear every tiny nuance, it's really amazing how terrible I am but I'm not a quitter! Also recording my practices has helped.

 

[Usidore T Blue]

Not a bass that's shown up my glaring technique flaws, but a Vox Amplug and some headphones. I now hear every. Single. Mistake.

I can attest to this. That is my practice rig at night.

 

[Usidore T Blue]

View attachment 3307480
Not the best photo, but when I married this girl in 1999, it was the single biggest contributor in cleaning up my poopy finger style technique. I learned effective two-hand muting and clean left hand movements. What a wonderful instrument that doesn't miss a thing. Like a camera for your ears. Still loves me some to this day.

So pretty, too!

 

[Usidore T Blue]

When I purchased my first Alembic, I was shocked at how sloppy my playing sounded. It forced me to work on technique and become a better player.

Lot of people attesting to Alembics in this context!

 

[Usidore T Blue]

If I hear mistakes then I have to work on and resolve them. I don't want to settle for second best! If the guy in the next band plays better than me, I want it to be because he really is better, not because I settled for sloppy playing. A few years ago I saw a Victor Wooten bass clinic and he said: "Everyone makes mistakes. It's how you get out of them that counts." I've worked hard on the "getting out of them" part.

My US Lakland 55-94, bought in 2003, was a surprise. I'd never heard my playing in such detail before. That bass shone an uncomfortable spotlight into the corners of my technique. Then, just when I thought I was getting somewhere, I bought some Berg cabs and an Aguilar amp, which reproduced every fluff, timing error and dud note in unerring detail. I had just about tidied up my technique by the time my Barefaced cabs arrived. Another eye-opener, especially with the added clarity of my Sadowsky Jazz.

I haven't stopped making mistakes but I like to think Victor Wooten would be proud of "how I get out of them".

The greatest benefit of theory, or at least one of them!

 

[Usidore T Blue]

Some of my basses will never forgive me.

 

[Usidore T Blue]

The fat guy from Penn and Teller is a bass player. I saw a skit from the Montreal comedy festival where he's playing walking bass lines wirelessly on a Kubicki while explaining how the other guy is doing the illusions. It was pretty cool, and he knows how to play. Might be on YouTube, I haven't looked.

Off-topic, let me say that I am glad that Penn does magic and is not putting all that energy into criminal endeavors.