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Singlecut... Why?

#41
Like asking why the odd shape of the thunderbird or any of the non jazz or p type double cut away basses.

To me its looks and comfort. I think the fact that they sounded better was more the quality of the other basses I played compared to the few high end single cuts I have played. Being a play that where's it high its works perfect. I couldn't see a stereotype emo bass player with a singlecut hanging to his knees. Lol
 
#42
Rob Mancini said:
I do <Snip>
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Then you're not thinking like a business man who has a reputation to upkeep.

If you are a pro luthier and you make fun of other pro luthiers, it kinda makes you look foolish, and thats definitely a person I wouldn't spend my money on.

In this situation, the old addage: "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all" is completely justified, and a far more intelligent way to go about things.
 
#43
Rakie said:
If you are a pro luthier and you make fun of other pro luthiers, it kinda makes you look foolish, and thats definitely a person I wouldn't spend my money on.
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yet we'll elect our leaders by this very mud slinging way...weird right? Because, I totally would not buy a bass from someone who talks crap like crazy.

Anyway...ALL basses are good for whatever particular nitch they fill (even the lowly Wish Bass fulfills some need in this world).

Alan
 
#44
Some singlecuts are really nice, others look a little bit like coffeetables. I believe Carey Nordstrand's laminated singlecuts are some of the most elegant looking instruments I have ever seen...check'em out.

And yes, there are debates as to the functional merit of the singlecut (ie increasing sustain, better neck/body contact, etc.), but in my opinion the single best thing about them is they continue to push the design aesthetic towards newer and more original shapes. Nothing against Ps and Js - I own both - but there's great merit to the variety of offerings available to us bass players.

Lonnybass
 
#46
My Ken Lawrence, is light and sounds great but one of the things I REALLY like about it is that the way it sits, it is designed away that it sits against your body and doesnt dive or move at all,,,I like this in a bass...Very ergonomic....

Was at a bass get together tonight and a few ppl were quite surprised how light it was.
 
#47
I don't think it is ever apropriate to bad mouth any luthier or any one for that matter.
It usually does not help anyone.
There is however a difference between sharing past negative experiences with luthiers and badmouthing them.
 
#48
You guys who don't like luthiers who say bad things about other luthiers wouldn't last 10 minutes in professional wrestling!!!

I'm not saying luthiers should badmouth someone needlessly, but if there's a builder out there who's putting out misinformation or using voodoo to explain why his design is so much better than everyone else's, then I would appreciate it if other luthiers called him on it. There's a big difference between badmouthing and telling the truth. Like when Carl Thompson badmouthed Fender, his complaints about Fenders and his reasons for designing his basses the way he does were legit, so I had no problem with it.
 
#49
I think the argument is about pro luthiers rather than mass produced corporate entities like Fender. With the exception of that bassist from Alien Ant Farm, I haven't seen anything creative or innovative, bass guitar-wise, from this company. This is like comparing Ford with OC Choppers.

I'd be hardpressed to point a finger at a luthier that makes basses by hand...Even many of the first time builds on TB have much more character and attention to detail than a Fender.

Alan
 
#50
JehuJava said:
I think the argument is about pro luthiers rather than mass produced corporate entities like Fender. With the exception of that bassist from Alien Ant Farm, I haven't seen anything creative or innovative, bass guitar-wise, from this company. This is like comparing Ford with OC Choppers.

I'd be hardpressed to point a finger at a luthier that makes basses by hand...Even many of the first time builds on TB have much more character and attention to detail than a Fender.

Alan
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I'll try not to laugh out loud at that, and just say that innovation doesn't always equal quality.
 
#51
Rob Mancini said:
There's a big difference between badmouthing and telling the truth. Like when Carl Thompson badmouthed Fender, his complaints about Fenders and his reasons for designing his basses the way he does were legit, so I had no problem with it.
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I agree up to a point. But Fender (basses) has long stopped being an individual, whereas many small luthiers are still the individuals who named their company after themselves.
 
#52
Rob Mancini said:
You guys who don't like luthiers who say bad things about other luthiers wouldn't last 10 minutes in professional wrestling!!!

I'm not saying luthiers should badmouth someone needlessly, but if there's a builder out there who's putting out misinformation or using voodoo to explain why his design is so much better than everyone else's, then I would appreciate it if other luthiers called him on it. There's a big difference between badmouthing and telling the truth. Like when Carl Thompson badmouthed Fender, his complaints about Fenders and his reasons for designing his basses the way he does were legit, so I had no problem with it.
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I agree on parts of this.
In my experience , the luthiers I have spoken with would never badmouth any other luthier.
Those luthiers I have spoken with would typically argue somewhat like this... " well, they do what they do, I would perhaps do it differently and this is how and why...".
If it is valid and reflected criticism, I do not have the slightest problem with it.
 
#53
JehuJava said:
I think the argument is about pro luthiers rather than mass produced corporate entities like Fender. With the exception of that bassist from Alien Ant Farm, I haven't seen anything creative or innovative, bass guitar-wise, from this company. This is like comparing Ford with OC Choppers.

I'd be hardpressed to point a finger at a luthier that makes basses by hand...Even many of the first time builds on TB have much more character and attention to detail than a Fender.

Alan
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The precision and jazz bass comes to mind when thinking fender a huge percentage of current designs is based on these two.
Yes I am stating the obvious.
If a company has an achievement such as this in their book, I guess "innovation " becomes not so much of an issue.
But that's just my humble opinion.
 
#55
Rob Mancini said:
I'll try not to laugh out loud at that, and just say that innovation doesn't always equal quality.
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Very true, sir. I simply feel that Fender, and this is purely an opinion that is gonna get people steamed, hasn't done anything spectacular since the Precision and Jazz inception. While I'll be the first to admit the Fender sound is good and that I like it, but just because you invent "vanilla flavored ice cream" doesn't mean you get to wipe your hands clean and ride into infinite stardom. Notable historic placeholder: yes.

On the same token, there are coffee table basses that are either one trick ponies or just plain useless. Yes, Fenders are very utilitarian...kinda Swiss Army Knife-ish if you will. But to me, I like to see envelope pushing...Fender is done trying to advance the bass guitar frontier. Without this drive to develop new technologies and tools, we'd never have 5, 6, or more stringed basses, active electronics, fanned frets, etc.

Alan
 
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#57
Ok ok...I opened myself up for all kinds of trouble.

I would like to mention that Fender was incredibly innovative back in the day: Bass V, the split P pick up, etc.

Fenders are also quality instruments...and rugged.

Alan doing the back-pedal.
 
#58
Rob Mancini said:
I do if they think they're improving the old designs with theirs. You mentioned Carl Thompson, and he has said bad things about Fenders many times. I have no problem with that.
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you're definitely right, i should have qualified my comments as below...

i don't think it's appropriate for someone who's secretly connected with a builder (in this case, carl thompson) to bad mouth what other builders do here at talkbass.
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mea culpa. :) every builder i've ever talked to had opinions about the right and wrong way to build instruments, and they usually voiced those opinions in relation to other instruments and other builders.
 
#59
JehuJava said:
Very true, sir. I simply feel that Fender, and this is purely an opinion that is gonna get people steamed, hasn't done anything spectacular since the Precision and Jazz inception. While I'll be the first to admit the Fender sound is good and that I like it, but just because you invent "vanilla flavored ice cream" doesn't mean you get to wipe your hands clean and ride into infinite stardom.
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Actually, it means exactly that. I have a carton of vanilla ice cream in my fridge right now.
 

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