• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

What Bass Was The Biggest DISAPPOINTMENT?

#701
There's one theme that is echoed a few times here -- don't buy something unless you've played it.
There are some perfectly fine basses trashed here because - for whatever reason - someone just didn't like them, the way they sound or the way they felt. And I respect everyone's right to play what is best for them.
I've NEVER bought anything I didn't try out first - and you shouldn't either.
 
#703
In my haste to say something I felt, I forgot to answer the question!@#$!
The only bass I've ever been disappointed with was the first bass I ever owned - a Gibson-made Kalamazoo bass. It had a beautiful psychedelic paint job and it had a big boomy sound - however, it had a broken truss rod and it couldn't be adjusted to have decent action. The combination of no tone and hard to play did me in. However I only paid about $50.00 for it so I didn't get ripped off and it didn't change my financial destiny that much.
 
#704
Bass was a 93 Warwick Fortress Masterman. Well built and Loved the neck, but tone was ultimately lacking. I never could get a great sound out of it. The biggest issue was poor string balance. No pro adjustment could fix it. Plus the pre was troublesome and had to be replaced.

Amp was a Trace Elliot 300 watt 2-10" combo. It was a late 90's model. Sounded great but totally unreliable. It spent equal time in the shop as at gigs and practice.

I have been dissapointed personally with Stingrays. There is nothing wrong with them, they have just never worked for me. I want to like it, bit the tone never seems to work with my style, technique, etc in a band context. Just one of those things.
 
#706
Gizmot said:
There's one theme that is echoed a few times here -- don't buy something unless you've played it.
There are some perfectly fine basses trashed here because - for whatever reason - someone just didn't like them, the way they sound or the way they felt. And I respect everyone's right to play what is best for them.
I've NEVER bought anything I didn't try out first - and you shouldn't either.
Click to expand...

Very, very true. But unfortunately I have bought basses I tried out thoroughly in the store and didn't fully "get to know" until after a few practices and gig sets. I think it's sometimes hard to tell in a music store what a bass is going to sound like in a full band and how the neck will feel after performing a couple sets. Having said that, I agree that people should minimally try something out before purchase.
 
#707
hmm, ricks for starters.. tried the 4001, 4003 and the vintage C models.. and nothing, not inspired at all, esp when it came to that long scale neck and that flat tone, yuck. Second to that would have to be fender jazz basses, sorry but it's a personal pref.. my fingers are big and playing a jazz feels awkward, ditto MM sterlings. Spector ns-2, beautiful to look at.. uninspiring tone, maybe if the pups were tricked out it would be better but IMHO emg's always sound too sterile... and that leads me to my all time HATE basses, and I mean collectively.. anything, and I mean anything, in the ESP Ltd range.. Utter &%$.. and yeah I agree with everyone on the alembics, nice to look at, crazy ass necks and sterile 'too clean' tone.. not a fan anymore, sorry stanley. Hmmmm.. what else?.. epi's and gibsons.. with the exception of the sg bass, pretty much everything gibby makes is expensive rubbish.. the tbirds dive to the floor, the money basses aren't worth the money you pay for em, the lp's are only good for the looks, and the ripper and grabber makes wierd barking noises no matter what you do.. okay, ibanez's next.. unless yer going prestige series ferget they even exist, I have owned bout 11 nez's in the past, from btb's to sr's, all of them sounded okay solo.. but.. in a band setting.. ugghh.. and those 'bartolini' pups are a frickin joke, not even close to the real deal

think I'll stick with my ray, streamer and jazzman fer now

oh and i agree bout sadowsky, the metro's are pretty to look at.. but sounded thin and nasally, and I'm certainly not gonna throw the extra $$ for a nyc, sorry roger.
 
#708
1. MM Stringray - Back in 2002 I was at a GC. Tried a Stingray, which I always wanted, and found it to be clunky and dead sounding. It was probably the setup and old strings but the model I tried didn't sound like a Stingray at all. Tried a MIM Fender Jazz and was amazed at how good it sounded. Clean, punchy and very easy to play even though it needed a good setup. I didn't have much respect for Fenders before actually trying that Jazz. I bought it.

2. Steinberger - A friend loaned me a headless Steinberger for a gig. I was stoked since I love that Steinberger tone. Playing it was a nightmare. I couldn't get used to not having a headstock on the bass. I felt like I was going to fall off a cliff. It had a very nice tone though.
 
#709
Picked up a 1991 Gretsch Broadkaster. Had it cleaned up and set up - it was dead sexy. Nice tone but not very powerful, body was not comfortable for playing and I just could never get used to a 30" neck. Like a beautiful woman who couldn't "dance".
-
G&L ASAT - Loved the neck but those p/u are just tooooo hot. The tone didn't work for me.
-
I'd love to play every bass I've bought ahead of time but that's just not a reality in a small market. Thank goodness for TB and the ability to buy and sell used.
 
#710
sifi76 said:
hmm, ricks for starters.. tried the 4001, 4003 and the vintage C models.. and nothing, not inspired at all, esp when it came to that long scale neck and that flat tone, yuck. Second to that would have to be fender jazz basses, sorry but it's a personal pref.. my fingers are big and playing a jazz feels awkward, ditto MM sterlings. Spector ns-2, beautiful to look at.. uninspiring tone, maybe if the pups were tricked out it would be better but IMHO emg's always sound too sterile... and that leads me to my all time HATE basses, and I mean collectively.. anything, and I mean anything, in the ESP Ltd range.. Utter &%$.. and yeah I agree with everyone on the alembics, nice to look at, crazy ass necks and sterile 'too clean' tone.. not a fan anymore, sorry stanley. Hmmmm.. what else?.. epi's and gibsons.. with the exception of the sg bass, pretty much everything gibby makes is expensive rubbish.. the tbirds dive to the floor, the money basses aren't worth the money you pay for em, the lp's are only good for the looks, and the ripper and grabber makes wierd barking noises no matter what you do.. okay, ibanez's next.. unless yer going prestige series ferget they even exist, I have owned bout 11 nez's in the past, from btb's to sr's, all of them sounded okay solo.. but.. in a band setting.. ugghh.. and those 'bartolini' pups are a frickin joke, not even close to the real deal

think I'll stick with my ray, streamer and jazzman fer now

oh and i agree bout sadowsky, the metro's are pretty to look at.. but sounded thin and nasally, and I'm certainly not gonna throw the extra $$ for a nyc, sorry roger.
Click to expand...

Not "sticking up for the Rics", but they have a slightly shorter scale than most basses...

EDIT:

Unless you're talking about ESP LTD basses...and not saying especially...ROFL
 
#712
One I bought online and one I tried to like in the store but couldn't:

Modulus 4: NAMM show build with Bartolini electronics and an amber lacewood top. It was gorgeous and had lots of "sounds." Unfortunately the "sounds" all disappeared the second the drummer took up, and the neck profile was unbearable for me (slim front to back and barely any taper.)

Fender "Road Worn" Precision: Same problem with neck profile for me here. It sounded just the way I though it would and I really wanted to like it. Saved some money I guess.
 
#713
An 80's Rickenbacker in blue finish. Looks 'great' (that unusual, funky 'gimmicky' great), felt horrible.
My immediate style to jam is funky, tasteful - and I'll try to get my slap-happy chops in if I can...but this bass was having none of it.
Changed my attitude to a nice finger/muted thumb reggae fill - still nothing - a very hollow, empty sound.
It seemed that no tweaking of the eq on the amp would allow me to have this bass feeling good that night hahaha. Oh well, let's chock it up to the learning curve!
Why are these priced so expensively?
I'm surprised to read how many player don't like the feel of Alembics! Never played one myself...
 
#714
JackANSI said:
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.
Click to expand...

Had the same experience, then sold it and bought a studio-5FL.

All the above problems fixed themselves immediately. Just a little more expensive =P
 
#716
sifi76, you and I agree about soooo much, except the BTB's.

The Barts might not compare to real customs, which I have had on a #$%&@!, but I am very impressed and in a band mix the 4BTB's I have all sing.

As for the original OP and his Fodera...well...I thought we were recently told that there is nothing like having a bass made for you.....you should not judge by just one Fodera...

I guess since one might only be able to afford almost one Fodera in their lifetime, the one that they order that is made for them should be IT, but then again that would be judging Fodera by just one instrument.

Forget Custom. Play before you play.
 
#718
sifi76 said:
hmm, ricks for starters.. tried the 4001, 4003 and the vintage C models.. and nothing, not inspired at all, esp when it came to that long scale neck and that flat tone, yuck. Second to that would have to be fender jazz basses, sorry but it's a personal pref.. my fingers are big and playing a jazz feels awkward, ditto MM sterlings. Spector ns-2, beautiful to look at.. uninspiring tone, maybe if the pups were tricked out it would be better but IMHO emg's always sound too sterile... and that leads me to my all time HATE basses, and I mean collectively.. anything, and I mean anything, in the ESP Ltd range.. Utter &%$.. and yeah I agree with everyone on the alembics, nice to look at, crazy ass necks and sterile 'too clean' tone.. not a fan anymore, sorry stanley. Hmmmm.. what else?.. epi's and gibsons.. with the exception of the sg bass, pretty much everything gibby makes is expensive rubbish.. the tbirds dive to the floor, the money basses aren't worth the money you pay for em, the lp's are only good for the looks, and the ripper and grabber makes wierd barking noises no matter what you do.. okay, ibanez's next.. unless yer going prestige series ferget they even exist, I have owned bout 11 nez's in the past, from btb's to sr's, all of them sounded okay solo.. but.. in a band setting.. ugghh.. and those 'bartolini' pups are a frickin joke, not even close to the real deal

think I'll stick with my ray, streamer and jazzman fer now

oh and i agree bout sadowsky, the metro's are pretty to look at.. but sounded thin and nasally, and I'm certainly not gonna throw the extra $$ for a nyc, sorry roger.
Click to expand...

You really love basses!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back