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What Bass Was The Biggest DISAPPOINTMENT?

#781
I think my biggest disappointment was the Rickenbacker 4003. I wanted one for YEEEAARS.. got one, played it for ten minutes and thought I shoulda saved my money. I kept it for two weeks to try to get used to it, but no matter what it felt just plain wrong on my body, and I couldnt get a tone I could stand let alone like.. Everybody else gets greatness out of em... but not me.
 
#782
Im another Sadowsky Metro dispointee. I had an MV5. It had a thin lifeless gawky sound to it. The neck felt horrible too. I swapped out the electronics for an OPB3 and set of Big Singles. It was better sounding for sure, but still couldn't get used to the feel of the neck. The Metro's neck could never have came close to the feel of my Lakland 5594. So far, my Lakland 5594 has been the best feeling, best sounding tone machine I have owned so far.
 
#784
g4string said:
Im another Sadowsky Metro dispointee. I had an MV5. It had a thin lifeless gawky sound to it. The neck felt horrible too. I swapped out the electronics for an OPB3 and set of Big Singles. It was better sounding for sure, but still couldn't get used to the feel of the neck. The Metro's neck could never have came close to the feel of my Lakland 5594. So far, my Lakland 5594 has been the best feeling, best sounding tone machine I have owned so far.
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The Metro's cannot really compete with the USA Lakland IMHO. The NYC Sadowsky Vs the Chicago Lakland is a much closer race IMHO.... both TOP NOTCH basses, but the Laklands seem to have more old-school personality and more versatility. Ive tried several Sadowskys and they all share a certain snappy, zingy sort of sound, not really "thin" to me but I can see how some people may find them to be so.
 
#786
My biggest disappointment was a 4003 Ric. I always wanted one and when I got a fair deal on a Mid Blue I jumped. They do look very coooooool.

I actually got a "good" mid blue...But the tone and poor design IMO, of the pickups (insanely noisy more than other single coils I've heard), turned me off and the 4003 was also not "my sound" with rounds or flats. All due respect to those who love Rics:bassist:

Unlike a couple posters, I like Gibson's and have only had a few complaints about their QC. They have been small issues but if Fender in Corona CA can turn out perfect cosmetic Bass, so should Gibson in Nashville, TN.

I like the deep old school tone of TBird Pick ups.

As far as anyone with SG issues, first remove the round wounds and go with "short scale" flat d,adario chromes. This will bring out a beautiful old school tone in a fun to play short scale bass.
 
#787
Warwick Katana neck thru 5 I purchased on EBay. The bass was from Warwick's custom shop, in fact there is still a photo of it on their website in the custom shop gallery. Never could get a decent sound from it, eventually added an Aguilar preamp which helped some. Lousy fret job also. The bass was visually beautiful, but I think an instrument that just did not go together right. Really a let down.
 
#789
I purchased my ubass (KALA) at the Bassplayer Live in October. By December I noticed that the notes in Half Position were dead, the neck had warped. The until then the sound is awesome, especally when I use my NE-1. But dealing with support had been a stream of broken promises, i.e., promised RMA and Call tag that never arrived. Says that they do not received my email unless I virtually broadcast from every email I own and flood their inbox. I will update. The best bet is to purchase the instrument from a authorized dealer that is close by! I live in Nevada and purchased it from West LA Music: which has awesome follow up and customer service. KALA seems to avoid dealing with end users. I have to say that I own a KALA Uke and never have had and issues with it. Thank god!
 
#790
okc-zee said:
Ric 4003...Love the way they look,but just felt so foreign and uncomfortable to me...I actually went back for a second shot at one...Sold that one too...I really tried to like it...
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There are basses I wanted to like such as Stingrays and Rics, but they never worked for me.
 
#793
Spector Euro Rebop 5. Bought it on eBay. A nice looking bass, and in great condition. I really wanted to like it. Couldn't get the setup right no matter what I did. I think that I spent more time working on it, than I did playing it. Unplugged, the tone was very good. Plugged in, it was mediocre at best. Kept it for 3 years then finally sold it on consignment. Got what I paid for it. Whoever bought it got to try it out first. I guess they liked it.
 
#794
pablomigraine said:
The Metro's cannot really compete with the USA Lakland IMHO. The NYC Sadowsky Vs the Chicago Lakland is a much closer race IMHO.... both TOP NOTCH basses, but the Laklands seem to have more old-school personality and more versatility. Ive tried several Sadowskys and they all share a certain snappy, zingy sort of sound, not really "thin" to me but I can see how some people may find them to be so.
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Pablo.....I agree. I prefer Lakland over Sadowsky. Although, Sadowsky does make me some sexy basses. However, my Metro experience has turned me off to their products.
 
#795
For me it was a Fender PJ special (active).
The J pickup was a "noiseless" only by name. The P pickup was mediocre and the onboard active EQ had horrible choice for frequency it adjusted.
Oh and the real pisser was that it didn't have a active/passive switch on it.....always active.
 
#798
NOLA Bass said:
There are basses I wanted to like such as Stingrays and Rics, but they never worked for me.
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It's so funny because I have heard so many say that about Rics. I bought one at age 15 and have played almost nothing else since, except very occasionally my first bass which is a Japanese 60s RI P bass.

Honestly, I have never played another Ric I like. Mine is a 4003S and for some reason has a chunkier neck. I had all the gloss taken off the fretboard and back of the neck too. The most even neck on any bass I've ever played ... which is why even though I tried to play the P bass more I just couldn't Fenders are incredible but not consistent with neck evenness in comparison.

My worst was a 62 RI USA made Jazz. It was in Lake Placid blue. Beautiful. Wanted to love it. I didn't love the thin neck and the neck also moved every week. I had to set it up constantly. For a bass that listed at $1900 at the time that was unacceptable! Especially when my Japanese P need a setup once every year or two!
 
#799
Steinberger L2. Wanted it so much to work. Figured the composite neck wouldn't require a ton of adjusting, and the active EMG's would give solid bottom end that my Rick 4001 couldn't give. Sold a bunch of beloved basses to buy it from a guy who worked for Steinberger (it was his personal build). Drank the kool aid for a few years until I realized it was like the Yamaha DX7 of basses. One sound, and synonomous with '80s pop and not much more. So much happier with my Fender Jazz - warm tone, neck like butter...
 

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