• 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 is your "giant killer" bass?....

#81
Mine is a relative giant killer. When I first got this bass, it was one of fourteen basses, and it's intended purpose was to be a backup to a $2500 bass. Over time, it worked its way up the ranks. After a gig on a sunny and moist pool deck, it made the most of its opportunity and became my number one. Eventually, I realized that I took it everywhere for everything, which made having all the other gear seem unnecessary. Now it's my one and only. Again, it's a relative giant killer, meaning that it was in the bottom 25% of cost relative to the rest of my collection, but it was still just under $1000 when I got it new back when the first batch came out.

IMG_0082.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Volker Kirstein, JRA and 31HZ
#82
I too have a Lakland that is a giant-killer, a 55-94 that just sounds fuller, deeper, bigger and just plain "rounder" than anything else that I might bring to practice/gig. For this particular band, there's nothing else that can touch it -- including offerings from Smith, Zon, Fbass and MTD.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mattj1stc
#83
Claymore said:
Ok, so you've got a few high-end basses and there's nothing wrong with them. You dig the tone, how they play and they're worth every penny you paid....... Then you've got this lesser, maybe even crappy bass that might be the red-headed stepchild of anyone else's bass collection but you love it. You can't put your finger on exactly why but you can't put it down and it gets a disproportionate amount of play compared to your more expensive instruments. I want to see the basses that hit way over their weight in your collection. The uglier the better. If you understand why the particular bass is so special, please elaborate. I submit my Ibanez TMB310. Definitely on the cheaper end of the scale but that bass has a thump that none of the others have and the neck is super-comfortable. More often than not, I find myself grabbing for that one over the others. So, what's your underdog bass??View attachment 3968826
Click to expand...

My initial response was my Fender frankenstein, parts build ,but in itself is a giant, with wenge warmoth reverse headstock Neck it sounds HUGE! but rereading your post, its gotta be my Schecter Stiletto elite bass, looks killer and with the active electronics its a beast! its got deluxe appointments, quilt top, neck through construction, beautiful trans red dye finish & gold hardware. I always get a lot of compliments when I play it out. Its built like a tank and plays like a dream,& sounds massive with the active innards. I dont hate loving it, but I wish my frankenstein got as much love when played out, it gets some, but not like the stiletto does.
 
#88
gigetto said:
Some bass of the thread are not cheap. I intend as giant killer a cheap bass that sound great as an expensive one.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I agree but "cheap" is relative. To me, a cheap bass is maybe $500 and under. To other people, cheap might be under $2,000. I guess it doesn't matter... One person's giant-killer is another person's bass they will never be able to afford. ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Giffro and JRA
#89
my foray into cheapies for the last ~decade was all about "giant killers" --- for way less money than i had previously spent on luthier-built custom axes. i build 'em (assemble great parts) myself, for less, in order to do more (more of the qualities i like/need). so, i feel like all of mine "punch above" their weight (they're all lightweight as a 'design' element) and they're all "giant killers" compared to other axes i've owned (i used to think that $$$ alone determined the overall quality of the playing experience).

my main player: ugly, lightweight, great feeling board, quarter pounders (not shown), schaller bridge, VBTT:
kapok1b.jpg
main player backup: different pickups, but same idea --- almost interchangeable with the ugly one, sometimes i prefer it:
DSCF3170.JPG
i've been playing around with P-basses lately, and here's my two. these are my "looks are for kids" (but must play great!) cheapies:
front2.jpg front.jpg back2.jpg
and this one is the real surprise for me --- ugly/odd enough, 34" scale with a medium scale reach, lightweight, superb feel, yada yada:
no flash front.jpg no flash back.jpg

i'd gladly kill a giant with any one of these! i look forward to hunting giants when gigging returns for me and my band(s). :laugh:

disclosure: all of the axes started as cheapies, but some of the parts/features built into them are fairly pricey. that said: the most expensive among them is ~$675, the average being ~$500.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Giffro, Claymore, KaraQ and 5 others
#93
I'm not really qualified to say since I've never owned a giant (unless you count a 76 P). My mid-line imports (MiM fender, MiK tribute) do everything I need them to do, and my ultra cheap imports (SBMM and Douglas) far exceed every expectation for instruments that cost me less that a set of DB strings. I've never spent more that around $500 on a BG, and feel like I'm better off not knowing how much better a $2K+ bass might sound and feel.:laugh:
 
#98
Dynomuttasaurus said:
Ibanez EX405 = my most recorded bass. Super light, insanely fast/thin neck and a pair of wonderfully decent reverse split coils all in a $200 bass. And, at no additional cost....1989 pointy goodness.

All-me original from a couple months ago recorded on a Tascam 8-track. The bass can be heard isolated at :30.


View attachment 3969333

View attachment 3969330
Click to expand...

Let me know if you ever choose to part with the Westone. It was my first bass new.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back