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What Bass Was The Biggest DISAPPOINTMENT?

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plangentmusic

Inactive
Jun 30, 2010
1,922
45
Manhattan
#1
Have you ever gotten something that you thought would be just perfect -- and then the more you played it, the more you hated it?

I've had two.

One: The Fodera: That was going to be my dream bass. Everything built to my specifications. Cost me a bundle. I WANTED so much to love it. I just don't like the sound of it. Changed the pickups. I still don't like the sound of it.

And more recently...

The Marcus Miller Signature J Bass: Let me preface my remarks by saying I'm not the biggest MM fan so that wasn't the reason I got it. (He's great at what he does, but it's a little one dimensional for me). Be that as it may, his sound is KILLER. I always wanted a J and I thought this would be the perfect choice -- one that can be run in either passive or active modes.

Not so.

In the passive mode you don't have any control over the tone! And the active mode isn't so much of an "active " sound, or even a pre-amp volume boost -- it's more like an EQ, with extreme highs and lows. I can get THE SAME EXACT sound from a heavily EQ'd Classic Vibe. And it plays better.

How about you? What bass have you gotten that was like that hot girl you always wanted...but then after dating her a while , you couldn't wait to break up with her.
 
#8
Musicman Sterling. I really wanted to love this bass, but it had a hollow and sharp sound that could never be tamed. The construction and build were top notch, of course...but that tone..to bright and trebly. Absolutely wrong choice for any roots style music (or blues).





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#11
I had a love/hate, mostly hate relationship with my Thumb BO 5er for years. Only recently with some setup tweaks, preamp swap, and a MUCH better understanding of EQ do I finally love the bass again. But for years I contemplated selling it. I hated the sound, weight, and balance, but I'm ok with all that other stuff now that I have it sounding awesome.
 
#15
Schecter Stiletto Custom-5. Wicked high action that just couldn't be dropped no matter what was tried, or who tried it. The sound was weak and just plain bland, even with real EMG's and a Bartolini pre. Bought it for a heavy project, used it in the studio for the recording, then sold it.
 
#16
lucas vigor said:
Musicman Sterling. I really wanted to love this bass, but it had a hollow and sharp sound that could never be tamed. The construction and build were top notch, of course...but that tone..to bright and trebly. Absolutely wrong choice for any roots style music (or blues).





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Funny you should say that. That was the reason I got the MM! As playable as the Sterling is, and as HOT as it is, I always thought the sound was too bright and clanky. Then I discovered the middle switch with the bass and middle turned down and the lows all the way up. Unbelievably fat and warm and still plenty of output!

The MM, to me, is THE most versatile bass I've ever played. Again, everyone's taste is different. But I think you have to work with a MM for a while to see what it can do soundwise.
 
#17
an old alembic I put my hands on for a few minutes was def. not what I was expecting it to be ... didn't feel right at all.

the american Fender Jazz i grabbed at the shop last week was ... not Jazz-like ? The neck seemed thicker than it should be and the bridge pup solo sound didn't have any body at all. If ever I saw a lemon ...
 
#19
Peavey Cirrus. I have a couple of friends that play them, and I think they sound amazing. When I play them, well..... Let's just say they don't. That kinda cemented my preference for passive basses.
 
#20
I smell a lock!

Spector Euro 5 string with active EMGs. It was a beautiful bass and I like EMGs, but the sound was more sterile than my Alembic Epic and Ken Smith Burner. I like a little grind in my tone, so all 3 of those are gone.

Actually I want to add a more recent one: Yamaha Attitude 5. I like Billy Sheehan and 5 string basses, so I thought a combination of the 2 would rock. I was disappointed; the neck profile is uncomfortable and the bridge pickup is nearly useless. At least it's pink... I ought not kid, I bought it from a TBer.
 

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