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Name a bass that really surprised you?
- Thread starter IGotGas
- Start date
After years of denial I wanted a P bass to see what all the fuss was about.
Traded something for an Indonesian Squier PJ.
I've had a lot of basses but this has it all: great neck; comfy to play; sounds fantastic- put a set of EMG Geezers in it and sounds even better.
Would gig it anytime with no concern.
Traded something for an Indonesian Squier PJ.
I've had a lot of basses but this has it all: great neck; comfy to play; sounds fantastic- put a set of EMG Geezers in it and sounds even better.
Would gig it anytime with no concern.
Attachments
The Peavey T-40.
When they first came out, I picked up one.
Too heavy, too many knobs and switches, funny-looking pups, weird in general.
Then I played it, figured out a setting with all the controls, and fell in love with it instantly.
Honestly trying to remember why I sold it. No idea...
I'd love to have one today and do the 5-string mod to it.
When they first came out, I picked up one.
Too heavy, too many knobs and switches, funny-looking pups, weird in general.
Then I played it, figured out a setting with all the controls, and fell in love with it instantly.
Honestly trying to remember why I sold it. No idea...
I'd love to have one today and do the 5-string mod to it.
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
I bet half the people here can tell ya what I'm about to say 
...
Hint, I always thought it was a quality control crap shoot, and could sound only like an anemic, trebly, beast the likes of the bass tones in Roundabout. Thought it would cost me $2000 too, but it only cost me around $1400. That's 3 hints.
The 4th is that I'm still in love.
...Hint, I always thought it was a quality control crap shoot, and could sound only like an anemic, trebly, beast the likes of the bass tones in Roundabout. Thought it would cost me $2000 too, but it only cost me around $1400. That's 3 hints.
The 4th is that I'm still in love.
My new 2015 Washburn T-25 Taurus.
Back in 2004 I had a T-25 Taurus.
It had a dark punchy tone.But the pickups buzzed.
So I up graded the pickups.
I eventually sold it.
Fast forward to this year.
I buy another T-25.
This one has no buzz.
But the tone is the exact opposite.
A beefy,growly tone.
But there was an issue with the bridge and the electronics.
This was resolved by replacing them.
Back in 2004 I had a T-25 Taurus.
It had a dark punchy tone.But the pickups buzzed.
So I up graded the pickups.
I eventually sold it.
Fast forward to this year.
I buy another T-25.
This one has no buzz.
But the tone is the exact opposite.
A beefy,growly tone.
But there was an issue with the bridge and the electronics.
This was resolved by replacing them.
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I know this isn't what the purpose of the thread was, but...
I recently bought a Rickenbacker 4003. Not a 'moped', I know. I got it extremely cheaply, so wasn't all that bothered if I did't love it. I thought I'd be able to sell it on easily. I've been a Fender-guy for 20 years, playing P's and J's. I know this will be tantamount to treason, but I've never really loved the sound of Ric's. The clanky Ric sound seemed limited to me.
However, having played it at home and in a band situation (me, three guitars, drummer and sax!) it's amazing. Holds it's sonic space, sits in with the guitars and much more flexible than I expected. I suspect I'm a full-time convert.
I recently bought a Rickenbacker 4003. Not a 'moped', I know. I got it extremely cheaply, so wasn't all that bothered if I did't love it. I thought I'd be able to sell it on easily. I've been a Fender-guy for 20 years, playing P's and J's. I know this will be tantamount to treason, but I've never really loved the sound of Ric's. The clanky Ric sound seemed limited to me.
However, having played it at home and in a band situation (me, three guitars, drummer and sax!) it's amazing. Holds it's sonic space, sits in with the guitars and much more flexible than I expected. I suspect I'm a full-time convert.
in a nutshell, theres a reason why folks - including myself - went nuts over the V7: the naysayers who have never checked it out (still) refuse to believe that the V7, priced reasonable low, can compete toe-to-toe on almost any point against a Fender American Deluxe Jazz - V7s are made well and sound incredible (studio quiet, too!) with differences in hardware (for example, the Fender has better tuning keys and machines, etc)..... the High End peeps refuse to believe that this bass is capable of competing with instruments three or four times its price but it most certainly can, and - so - the Sire promise that I, as a V7 owner, was hoping they could deliver on for the M7.....For the record, Im not sure if this is because Sire is producing a quality instrument at a very reasonable price-point or if Fender is just overcharging for theirs based on name-value...perhaps a bit of both
However, the M7 didnt deliver on the V7s promise....The Sire nay-sayers will be vindicated here on construction: Even though it has a nice flame top, my V7 looked and felt like a budget bass from Indonesia...Personally, I dont care where a bass is made but the fact the V7 is less-expensive and feels and plays more like a quality instrument than the M7 does, it was somewhat disappointing -- especially considering the hype wave it was riding...... Soundwise, its a very interesting instrument, and it is capable of a wide variety of tones across a great pallette...It certainly is a good Swiss Army bass in that regard but the twin single-coil mode wasn't Jazz Bass-ish enough for me which is a tone I use quite a bit live, especially for slap bass
Also, this is just my opinion.....maybe other M7 owners feel different
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My main bass is a MIA Fender P-bass but I keep an Ibanez GSR200 at the studio, which is only $200/new. I'll go long periods of time without playing the Ibanez but every time I do I'm surprised by how good it feels. The neck is fast, I can get a real nice setup out of it, it has lasted for 15 years without any issues, it's very lightweight, and overall it's very solid! The only real requirement was shielding the electronics.
I recently played an early 70s Guild JS2 that was just amazing. I had almost not even bothered to take it down off the wall, but the thing felt great and was really versatile (it was kind of like a gibson EB in the neck, but with lots of clarity from the bridge and both pickup positions). Alas, It was more spare change than I have right now.
I was really surprised in a good way by Rob Allen basses. So awesome, beautifully acoustic, deep sustain, excellent tone. 
Another Squier story.
Mine is an 07 J5, Affinity, no less!
Solid, plays great, sounds good, no issues except weight.
Best $115 I ever spent.
With Kalium strings, it does a nice, clear piano sound,
including the B string.
Mine is an 07 J5, Affinity, no less!
Solid, plays great, sounds good, no issues except weight.
Best $115 I ever spent.
With Kalium strings, it does a nice, clear piano sound,
including the B string.
I picked up a Spector in the local pawn shop & was almost wishing I'd found that before going all over hell to get a Rickenbacker, LOL!
Spectors have a way of doing that to ya! Nothing growls like a Spector, Baby!
Hers a few of mine:
Killer Squier Precision Special that I never should have sold
Washburn Curbow Proto - Never seen another one like it...still have it, but its awfully "lipstick"
Very cool Jackson P/J....sounded amazing, heavy though....never could take the elephant outta the room...sold it here on TB
I thought those Yamaha basses were pretty good basses especially for the money.
I had an Ibanez SR250 that I pulled off a pawn shop wall and purchased. Ill be darned if that wasn't one of the smoother playing basses I ever played. For being so cheap the fretwork was really good and it allowed for a pretty low action setup.
I didn't like the tone so much so I sold it eventually. However it kinda turned me on to Ibanez a bit. I tried a Talman TMB100 recently and after mulling it over went and bought it. It's a cheap bass but it has the same good fret job as the last Ibanez I had. It feels real nice.
I actually like the tone of this Talman but I'm used to Ps and Js. I also like the body shape more than the SRs. I think my next bass might be a Talman 600 or one of those artwoods.
Anyway, Ibanez makes a great product. Lots of value there. I've always been more of a Fender guy, or more recently G&L.
I didn't like the tone so much so I sold it eventually. However it kinda turned me on to Ibanez a bit. I tried a Talman TMB100 recently and after mulling it over went and bought it. It's a cheap bass but it has the same good fret job as the last Ibanez I had. It feels real nice.
I actually like the tone of this Talman but I'm used to Ps and Js. I also like the body shape more than the SRs. I think my next bass might be a Talman 600 or one of those artwoods.
Anyway, Ibanez makes a great product. Lots of value there. I've always been more of a Fender guy, or more recently G&L.
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