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What Bass Was The Biggest DISAPPOINTMENT?

#661
The entire reason I started playing bass was Chris Squire and listening to yes. Was lucky enough o score a white and black used ric with case for 450.00 ( almost 20 years ago, but still a good price), and needless to say I hated it.

Second biggest disappointment was the brand new USA Spector I paid 3000.00 for 15 years ago. Beautiful bass but the neck kept going out and it was at the shop ( before I learned to work and build instruments myself) more than my house, I also never liked the feel of that bass.
 
#663
The Ibanez Soundgears have to be my least favorite basses of all time. I've played some all right ones, but most (IMO) are of awful build quality. I hate the necks too- they're way too slick and tiny for my taste.

Also, I've never met a Rickenbacker that I liked.
 
#665
Biggest dissappointing bass for me, though I never owned one, are the Ken Smith basses. I've done general setups on a few of them at the music store I work for and play-tested them and was very let down. The tone wasn't anything to write home about IMHO and the neck dive was horrendous!

On the upside, though, their Ken Smith guitar polish is the best I've ever used :P
 
#666
Tobias Model T

I always loved the looks of the older Tobias basses, than I finally got my hands on one. It was a great sounding bass, but something with the body just did not sit right with me when playing it. Maybe I am too use to Jazz style bodies, but I was just not comfortable playing it. So it had to go......at a loss no less.
 
#667
Pedulla MVP5 custom, my bass teacher sold me for the price you couldn't pass the deal.
bought it, it just didn't work for me.

Warwick Thumb Bass 5 BO, recently I got this bass because I worked for a friend, he use this bass to paid me...just don't like it, planned to trade it with a Warwick stage steamer alway
 
#668
Lakland 5594 Classic: passive mode didn't sound very musical, and the preamp (Bartolini, I believe) absolutely could not produce the upright-like 'whump' that one can get using a palm-muted pick.

Sadowsky Metro M5-24: great sound, great construction, beautiful instrument--but the neck radius was too big around for my too-small hands.

Ah well. Have since gone the Ken Smith route (older CR-5) and am VERY pleased to have found MY feel and MY sound.
 
#670
Curbow fretless
Zon Sonus

Both were very well made and top of the line instruments, but those composite necks just don't do it for me.

G&L 2500
Stingray 5

Again, very well crafted instruments, but I couldn't jive with 'em both tone-wise and the neck shapes both bothered me.

Love my Ric 4001, and Warwick Thumb NT4 ... both seem to get some flack here for neck ergonomics ... go figure. To each their own. :bassist:
 
#672
Another vote for Rickenbacker.

I absolutely love the tone that all the greats who used one got from them, so I finally got my hands on one, a '74 4001, and I immediately lost interest in owning one. Never even plugged the thing in.

Maybe that one was a dog, maybe they've improved the design over the last few decades, but I no longer GAS for a Rick just on the feel and ergonomics of my limited encounter.
 
#673
Ric, had it about 3 weeks, looked great..........that was it. :rollno:

Wal, 4 hours to london by train, had the cash in my bag (was 19 at the time and could have bought a car with change, instead) I sooooooo wanted this bass. Picked it up and nearly burst into tears, it had the most obscure uncomfortable neck profile I have ever played. I Struggled on for an hour or so, willing myself to fall in love, but had to leave it there. Heart broken! :bawl:

I can just feel the love I am going to get for this one, FENDER....all of them (inc MM). Dont know what the fuss is all about, never fallen in love with one and cant justify the price. Here in S.A. a USA P is about $2,500.oo (u.s. depending on exchange) and a stingray is more, a Bongo $3000.oo. Ok said it, off to dig a hole to hide in now. :hiding:
 
#674
Biggest "disapointment": Fender (Jazz). I was always a "fan" of the Fender Jazz-Basses - until i could play one my own. It's not that i don't like them, i was just heavily disapointed. They're still good, but i won't buy one. I just didn't get the sound-versitility out of it as i was expecting it. Maybe my expectations were too high...

angrypanda said:
Looks like Ricky's are gonna win this one!!!!!
Click to expand...

First of all: i didn't play much basses in my life yet, but i got a ricky copy at home and i have to say one thing: I can fully understand if people don't like the sound of it... BUT it also takes some time to get into it. And since i got into the ricky sound and the sound versitily i get out of my ricky copy, i totally LOVE it. :bassist:

Gotta admit i haven't played a real ricky yet - theres just no store in my area and beyond that has one (it's not that they don't want one, they just can't get in hand of any because theres no distributor in Germany).
 
#679
Tommygunn said:
MM Jazz does not nail the MM tone!!!

Beyond that: I played a Alembic once acoustically. It just didn't seem worth what they go for. It was nice, low action and no buzz, but I've played Squiers that were easier to play. Something seemed missing for all the hype it gets.
Click to expand...

The thing about Alembic is the electronics, actually it's something for a lot of basses.
 

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