Most unforgiving bass guitar?

[Usidore T Blue]

I've sold it decades ago, but my Steinberger L2 was one heck of a rude awakening. It pinpointed - with a brutal accuracy - every flaw in my technique at the time. I've never come across another bass that was as unforgiving, and I've owned and/or played most basses mentioned in this thread.

I wonder if the wooden ones are the same, the NSD instruments have come up a few times in this thread.

 

[Bill Staudt]

My technique cleaned up substantially once I got on IEM's.

 

[sometimes]

I have three five string basses, but the one that gives me the most trouble is my Warmoth Gecko Wide. It sounds amazing (Nordstrand Big Splits, East preamp), but the neck is so big that I was having recurring pain in my left arm in various spots. I figured out how to better position the bass, prepare by stretching and play with a lighter touch and it solved most of this, but it is still a challenge due to the size of the neck. It is most unforgiving if I've recently been playing one of the other two basses more frequently. I'd consider getting rid of it, but it has the best sounding B string of the three.

 

[Turbo Sparky]

A $200 Ibanez lined fretless w/chrome flats.
You are either intonated or you are not. DEFINITELY improved my fretted playing by amplifying (no pun) my technical imperfections; from holding a neck to plucking, from scales to G-C-D specials.
Humbling, yet enlightening. Want to break a bad habit, and improve your fretted playing? Fretless IMO.

 

[madbass6]

If I wanted to work on my chops, and I do, I might use an instrument that revealed every excruciating detail of my technique, or at least crank the tone knob. What's the most revealing bass guitar/strings combo you've ever played? Did it make you better or did you abandon t?

The only thing that will make you better is the 3 Ps!
1.practice
2. practice
3. practice!
No new strings, amps Basses in the world will ever make you a better musician no way around it just need to keep on practicing period! after you master your instrument then worry about things like that. Good luck!

 

[PDGood]

View attachment 3306691
This Precision MIJ A4E has a piezo and a standard P pup. It's lightweight, has a variety of tones and looks great. It is uncomfortable to play without a forearm contour. I'm playing this bass more often often in lieu of the upright and my right wrist and shoulder just ache after a few hours. I am trying out sitting on a stool and it seems to work better. Not giving up on this baby, just yet.

What a beautiful bass. I've never seen or heard of this model. Is it something you made? Google reveals nothing.

 

[BioDriver]

I played a US-made MTD 535 that made me so self conscious about my crappy playing that I didn't want to pick up a bass for over a week. Definitely a humbler.

What a beautiful bass. I've never seen or heard of this model. Is it something you made? Google reveals nothing.

I, too, would like more info

 

[bassdude51]

Any bass with round wound stainless steel and the high end up through the roof!

 

[JimB52]

I would say a music man sterling.

 

[thewildest]

Mothra, I think? I can really hear your love for this bass, thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Tough not to love...here's is back before the piezo install

 

[Usidore T Blue]

A $200 Ibanez lined fretless w/chrome flats.
You are either intonated or you are not. DEFINITELY improved my fretted playing by amplifying (no pun) my technical imperfections; from holding a neck to plucking, from scales to G-C-D specials.
Humbling, yet enlightening. Want to break a bad habit, and improve your fretted playing? Fretless IMO.

I was thinking of getting a new neck for my Squier, and making it fretless at the same time.

 

[Usidore T Blue]

Tough not to love...here's is back before the piezo installView attachment 3307568

That is a beautiful instrument.

 

[Usidore T Blue]

The only thing that will make you better is the 3 Ps!
1.practice
2. practice
3. practice!
No new strings, amps Basses in the world will ever make you a better musician no way around it just need to keep on practicing period! after you master your instrument then worry about things like that. Good luck!

Cannot argue with that! Perhaps I should have made this thread about acquiring new hands!

 

[BioDriver]

Cannot argue with that! Perhaps I should have made this thread about acquiring new hands!

 

[leche]

Verdins white talked about sadowsky basses that way

 

[808P123]

Two scenarios:

The most unforgiving bass is....

1) The first time you plug in direct to a mixer while wearing headphones. Record your practice.

and the adult portion...

2) The first time you are paid to be on a session with people you don't know with music you have never heard.

A couple of times in each scenario does wonders.

 

[rollie 55]

View attachment 3306691
This Precision MIJ A4E has a piezo and a standard P pup. It's lightweight, has a variety of tones and looks great. It is uncomfortable to play without a forearm contour. I'm playing this bass more often often in lieu of the upright and my right wrist and shoulder just ache after a few hours. I am trying out sitting on a stool and it seems to work better. Not giving up on this baby, just yet.

i do like the look of your bass

 

[Gluvhand]

Haven't read all the responses but I would think any bass set up with very low action would accomplish what you're looking for. Or not.

 

[rollie 55]

Haven't read all the responses but I would think any bass set up with very low action would accomplish what you're looking for. Or not.

very true

 

[sugarsand]

An upright bass will cure most players of too many notes. Gone are insipid pops, slaps, fancy meaningless technique that have nothing to do with groove or the beats and rests that serve the song. It makes you play more primitively, and get down to business. It'll cleanup your playing. The rest is ego fluffery.