I've owned the following Warwicks: Corvette Standard, FNA Jazzman, Streamer Jazzman, Thumb & FNA Jazzman LTD. I've sold all of them. They look great and feel great. However, I simply could not fall in love with their tones.
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What Bass Was The Biggest DISAPPOINTMENT?
- Thread starter plangentmusic
- Start date
My first disappointment was with my first bass - Aria 1540 J copy. Later on, I think it was decent bass. I would like to have it back.
My second was with my second bass Ric 4001. Neck was like shovel handle. I sold it not even year later. I still want it. Just for a look and for nostalgia reason.
Third one was with Yamaha BB300. It has OK neck (not exactly that I cherish it. But decent) It's too bright and no depth. I tried 10-15 different strings and never sounded what I wanted.
Fourth was fretless Brice 5 strings. I tried 10-15 (I switched from Yamaha BB300 and back) different strings. Nothing. It has great neck (I love it). But, sound is just plain flat without any possibility to manipulate it. Someone might like it. I don't.
My great joy is Yamaha BBG5S, that I payed less than $250 and sounds and handle like it's 10 times more money.
Even greater surprise was TUNE TWB 53. I am so happy with it. I don't need any other guitar to the rest of my Earthy existence (just $400)... Just phenomenal neck, light weight, electronics better than anything I can imagine.
BTW, I cannot stand any Gibson (neck, sound however can be fun) and Fenders (plain sound, too heavy and big body, you have to have 5 different Fenders for one single set of songs)
My second was with my second bass Ric 4001. Neck was like shovel handle. I sold it not even year later. I still want it. Just for a look and for nostalgia reason.
Third one was with Yamaha BB300. It has OK neck (not exactly that I cherish it. But decent) It's too bright and no depth. I tried 10-15 different strings and never sounded what I wanted.
Fourth was fretless Brice 5 strings. I tried 10-15 (I switched from Yamaha BB300 and back) different strings. Nothing. It has great neck (I love it). But, sound is just plain flat without any possibility to manipulate it. Someone might like it. I don't.
My great joy is Yamaha BBG5S, that I payed less than $250 and sounds and handle like it's 10 times more money.
Even greater surprise was TUNE TWB 53. I am so happy with it. I don't need any other guitar to the rest of my Earthy existence (just $400)... Just phenomenal neck, light weight, electronics better than anything I can imagine.
BTW, I cannot stand any Gibson (neck, sound however can be fun) and Fenders (plain sound, too heavy and big body, you have to have 5 different Fenders for one single set of songs)
I have to say out of my stable that I have currently, it would have to be the buzzard. A heck of a lot of greenbacks for what I consider poor sound and electronics that are sub standard (IMHO) and a neck that is difficult to adjust. The Electronics cavity is painted with copper paint which they do in the cheap Korean and Chinese basses. All of my American made basses have copper foil in them soldered at the edges, save perhaps the P bass. Because of John Entwistle I will keep the bass and keep trying to improve it a little at a time. So Far the EMG pickups didn't do it for me...
The 50th Anniversary Fender Jazz. As killer as it looks, the tone and playability just sucks. My real 1973 Jazz Bass is far superior and it cost about the same.
Ken Smith Burner. Puny tone.
Also disappointed with the Fender Deluxe Jazz (alder/rosewood). Couldn't make it cut through and the E would just vanish at a gig. Good dub tone though!
I know these are good axes, I reckon i must have grabbed a bad one of each.
Also disappointed with the Fender Deluxe Jazz (alder/rosewood). Couldn't make it cut through and the E would just vanish at a gig. Good dub tone though!
I know these are good axes, I reckon i must have grabbed a bad one of each.
The Fender MIM 70s Jazz. So much hype. It sure looks the part, too bad it's not even close in tone.
Ibanez gio. I loved it for a while then continually began to hate it until the electronics fried.... Then i wanted to throw i out of a 3 storie window. It has since turned into a project/ crap bass and still has some hate going in its direction because of the neck.
Oh, I forgot to mention the Modulus Genesis 5-string I used to own. It was such a low output, wimpy sounding bass.
Also, most Warwicks have been disappointing, but every now and then I'll play one that sounds OK.
Also, most Warwicks have been disappointing, but every now and then I'll play one that sounds OK.
I only bought this bass cause I didn't want to wait to move to a five string but the rogue lx205b, worst bass ever so many flaws. Neck looks twisted maybe it's just me, g string buzzed until I got thicker gauged strings and when bought bigger gauged strings the low b gauge .135 wouldn't even fit through the bridge hole!! I had to take a slightly bigger drill bit and drill bigger hole. The pick ups suck I'm saving up to shoot for a 6 string Spector or Warwick : )
LOL...aftet all that s been wrote here about Warwicks, you might want to try one a few times... or more that a few... just to avoid future disappointments. Ain't this thread great?
I love the looks , sound , and playability of my 4 string Pedulla thundebass. It would take a lot for me to get rid of it. I've been playing it for almost 20 years.
Both Rickenbackers I had (a few years apart).
Each time I *REALLY* wanted to like 'em, and sorta did for a while, but eventually I realised that I was always choosing other Basses to take to gigs. Nothing was actually wrong with 'em but nothing really grabbed me by the goolies about 'em either.
Having said that, if I was rich I'd probably get another one just to have it in the collection.
Each time I *REALLY* wanted to like 'em, and sorta did for a while, but eventually I realised that I was always choosing other Basses to take to gigs. Nothing was actually wrong with 'em but nothing really grabbed me by the goolies about 'em either.
Having said that, if I was rich I'd probably get another one just to have it in the collection.
It's hard to rank the worst ones I've either had or played, because they were all so awful.
For the ones I've owned:
- my Gibson era Tobias 6 string fretless. This was the classic sounds-great-by-itself-but-worthless-in-an-actual-mix bass - bought used back when I was first experimenting with 6 strings and I was unaware of my own ergonomic and tonal needs. It had these high dollar Bartolini soapbars in it, it was Japanese made with fantastic woodworking (5 piece neck-through). But the sound was utterly unusable. When played solo, it had this very nice thick sound but was awful in a mix. The bridge PU was too close to the bridge and so it gave only this nasally plink that was only useable with an extremely firm pluck directly over it. Neck PU was therefore your only choice, but it was a kind of a runny P bass sound that disappeared soon as you added other instruments. both PU's on, even runnier. Had horrific neck-dive, tho I didn't know this was an actual problem when I bought it. Now I'm amazed these horrible things sold for $3500 +. Fortunately, it was stolen out of my apt. about 1.5 years ago. Thank goodness.
- my 70's jazz bass. Again I'm amazed these things are worth 1000's of bucks now. The E string was the only audible string. The other 3 were basically dead. Even with a pair of Seymour Duncan quarter pounders in it (a desperation move to make it audible), the E string was the only thing you could hear. Very crappy quality and construction - I could easily move the neck from side-to-side in the mile-wide pocket. The wood I think was still slightly green under the 1/2" thick finish. Useless instrument.
- Rick 4001/3. Nicely built and look lovely, but worthless tone. Requires a pick and/or an extremely strong plucking arm/hand to get a usable sound (and then the sound you get is the Lee/Squire type sound which may or may not be suitable for what you're doing). Horrible ergonomics, neck dive and upper horn forces the neck too far away, forcing you to crease your fretting wrist in half to play it on the strap.
Played or borrowed:
- pre and post CBS Precision basses. Pretty much the same story as my jazz bass. Lousy construction, green wood, runny sound worthless in a mix. Again, stunning that these things are now collector's items. Worthless to try to gig with them (again unless your arms/wrists are extremely strong).
- Alembic basses. Very well built and good tone, but they were absolutely gigantic and cost a fortune. You have to be the size of a gorilla to play even the 4 strings. Horrible neck dive. Really badly designed instruments (ergonomically, anyway).
- Ken Smith basses. Same story as the Alembic - absolutely gargantuan and awful neck dive. Decent tone, tho not really anything special that you can't get for many thousands of dollars less. Very bad ergonomics for humans of normal size.
Those are the very worst for me. Fortunately, we're in the Good Ol' Days of bass today with all kinds of choices for better design and more economy that give us alternatives to this other awful stuff. My current favorites are G&L and Carvin but there are now lots of other alternatives....
LS
For the ones I've owned:
- my Gibson era Tobias 6 string fretless. This was the classic sounds-great-by-itself-but-worthless-in-an-actual-mix bass - bought used back when I was first experimenting with 6 strings and I was unaware of my own ergonomic and tonal needs. It had these high dollar Bartolini soapbars in it, it was Japanese made with fantastic woodworking (5 piece neck-through). But the sound was utterly unusable. When played solo, it had this very nice thick sound but was awful in a mix. The bridge PU was too close to the bridge and so it gave only this nasally plink that was only useable with an extremely firm pluck directly over it. Neck PU was therefore your only choice, but it was a kind of a runny P bass sound that disappeared soon as you added other instruments. both PU's on, even runnier. Had horrific neck-dive, tho I didn't know this was an actual problem when I bought it. Now I'm amazed these horrible things sold for $3500 +. Fortunately, it was stolen out of my apt. about 1.5 years ago. Thank goodness.
- my 70's jazz bass. Again I'm amazed these things are worth 1000's of bucks now. The E string was the only audible string. The other 3 were basically dead. Even with a pair of Seymour Duncan quarter pounders in it (a desperation move to make it audible), the E string was the only thing you could hear. Very crappy quality and construction - I could easily move the neck from side-to-side in the mile-wide pocket. The wood I think was still slightly green under the 1/2" thick finish. Useless instrument.
- Rick 4001/3. Nicely built and look lovely, but worthless tone. Requires a pick and/or an extremely strong plucking arm/hand to get a usable sound (and then the sound you get is the Lee/Squire type sound which may or may not be suitable for what you're doing). Horrible ergonomics, neck dive and upper horn forces the neck too far away, forcing you to crease your fretting wrist in half to play it on the strap.
Played or borrowed:
- pre and post CBS Precision basses. Pretty much the same story as my jazz bass. Lousy construction, green wood, runny sound worthless in a mix. Again, stunning that these things are now collector's items. Worthless to try to gig with them (again unless your arms/wrists are extremely strong).
- Alembic basses. Very well built and good tone, but they were absolutely gigantic and cost a fortune. You have to be the size of a gorilla to play even the 4 strings. Horrible neck dive. Really badly designed instruments (ergonomically, anyway).
- Ken Smith basses. Same story as the Alembic - absolutely gargantuan and awful neck dive. Decent tone, tho not really anything special that you can't get for many thousands of dollars less. Very bad ergonomics for humans of normal size.
Those are the very worst for me. Fortunately, we're in the Good Ol' Days of bass today with all kinds of choices for better design and more economy that give us alternatives to this other awful stuff. My current favorites are G&L and Carvin but there are now lots of other alternatives....
LS
Gibson Explorer, back in 1989. Bright red and black, piezo bridge with no visible pickups, looked super cool. Unfortunately, I was a young metalhead and didn't know better, so I bought it based solely on looks. It turned out to be too big, heavy and awkward, and I hated the neck so much that to this day, I still can't bring myself to even touch a bass with a Gibson style painted set neck. It went back to the store in a hurry.
Any bass with a P/J pickup config. I have owned a couple of them at different times, and have never been truly happy with any of them. I always get suckered in thinking about versatility, and end up not being able to get the sound I want out of them.
Fender/Squier 5-string J basses. I have tried and tried to like them enough to buy one, but I just can't stand their necks. They feel like I'm trying to fret notes on a 2x4, which is incredibly disappointing because I really like them otherwise.
Any bass with a P/J pickup config. I have owned a couple of them at different times, and have never been truly happy with any of them. I always get suckered in thinking about versatility, and end up not being able to get the sound I want out of them.
Fender/Squier 5-string J basses. I have tried and tried to like them enough to buy one, but I just can't stand their necks. They feel like I'm trying to fret notes on a 2x4, which is incredibly disappointing because I really like them otherwise.
LOL...aftet all that s been wrote here about Warwicks, you might want to try one a few times... or more that a few... just to avoid future disappointments. Ain't this thread great?
Just because some people had unpleasant experiences with certain brands & basses, it doesn't mean others don't love 'em.
I hate all Fenders and I know I'll never own one again, but most ppl love them to death and it's by far the most popular brand, so there you go
Opinions are personal, especially when it comes to feel, ergonomics, tone, ad so on; you can't just say all the X or Y basses suck as an absolute and universal truth - for every player that doesn't like a certain instrument, there's another one that plays and likes that very same bass
Fender Am.Deluxe Jazz 5 str., not a bad bass but also not a good low B, and the string spacing was not for me, too narrow, beautiful look and very well crafted on the other hand. I own a Warwick Streamer Stage I 5 str., better active modern bass, and I love the wide neck, maybe the sound is a little "peculiar" (it has SD basslines pickups), but I prefer when I have to use a 5er.
My main bass is a '65 Pbass, no original pickups but I love the feel.
My main bass is a '65 Pbass, no original pickups but I love the feel.
Rickenbacker 4003.
Saved up for a year and waited for this one to be made. Even bought the Ric-o-sound unit to go with it.
Sounded great, played great, however the third fret was not located properly and was constantly sharp on all four strings.
Because I changed strings to non-Ric product in hopes that different strings would intonate better, I voided the warranty and Ric refused to do any work to remediate the issue. Plus after buying the thing, I was tapped out financially and could not afford to have the fret issue fixed myself (ie get the board stripped, the fret located properly and then refinished).
Sold it, disappointed in the company immensely.
Saved up for a year and waited for this one to be made. Even bought the Ric-o-sound unit to go with it.
Sounded great, played great, however the third fret was not located properly and was constantly sharp on all four strings.
Because I changed strings to non-Ric product in hopes that different strings would intonate better, I voided the warranty and Ric refused to do any work to remediate the issue. Plus after buying the thing, I was tapped out financially and could not afford to have the fret issue fixed myself (ie get the board stripped, the fret located properly and then refinished).
Sold it, disappointed in the company immensely.
Just because some people had unpleasant experiences with certain brands & basses, it doesn't mean others don't love 'em.
I hate all Fenders and I know I'll never own one again, but most ppl love them to death and it's by far the most popular brand, so there you go
Opinions are personal, especially when it comes to feel, ergonomics, tone, ad so on; you can't just say all the X or Y basses suck as an absolute and universal truth - for every player that doesn't like a certain instrument, there's another one that plays and likes that very same bass
Of course, taste is a very personal thing and me not knowing what makes people pay big bucks for a Warwick ain't gonna change that. You're absolutely right. But I never expressed my opinion as universal truth. In a thread such as this one all opinions are by default personal.
This is a thread about basses one hates...so...I'm sorry but, I guess... the fact that many love their Warwicks (...) isn't gonna impress those who hate them. Fender or Alembic lovers, I'm sure, aren't feeling much better right now
I have had two such experiences. The first was with a Ric- Jet Glow, 4003. There was something wrong with the neck, it would twist and warp everytime the season changed here. I sent it back 3 times and every time it did the same thing. Probably somehow my fault, but left a bad taste in my mouth nonetheless. The second was a Fender Roscoe Beck 5 String. I ordered one because Roscoe Beck has been one of my favorite players for a long time. When I got mine it just left me flat. I've never been so underwhelmed! I was so disappointed and fortunately the store was able to keep for stock.
