What makes a really great electric bass?

[bass12]

Please point to some posts where the ER guys have belittled the less-than-five players. I don't mean rebutting someone's anti-4 comments. I mean insulted the 4-string players, their instruments, their music, whatever....

As much as I pursue this forum, I haven't seen this.

As opposed to "I think I'm done with 5-string basses" and the like. They exist.

I've never noticed this supposed phenomenon either. I've also never been aware of any "extended range community".

 

[bass12]

I've tried 20 to 25 brand new basses off the rack, in different music instrument stores, in the last 3 months, only 1 of those had a decent neck( no, not spectacular, just decent)(also, not counting Fender custom shop stuff which do have spectacular necks).
My own bass(Fender american performer)is currently at Montreal guitar having its neck replaced under warranty.
Don't know if it's the weather here, or manufacturers using wood that isn't seasoned enough, but it is definitely a problem.

The climate here is not ideal for wood instruments but I've never had any problems with necks (knock on... wood). I'd guess the issues you're experiencing have more to do with Fender's totally out-to-lunch quality control than anything else.

 

[Geri O]

I've never noticed this supposed phenomenon either. I've also never been aware of any "extended range community".

RE: Your Avatar

I. Would. LOVE. TO!.....

 

[Wisebass]

Hi JBarz

Welcome back to the "Fenderbass" (= electric bass guitar )

if you blindly played 100 P or J basses (whichever your preference) all setup the same and well, how would/could you go about identifying your favorites?

I would use my ears and my hands

greetings

Wise(b)ass

 

[bullshark]

The climate here is not ideal for wood instruments but I've never had any problems with necks (knock on... wood). I'd guess the issues you're experiencing have more to do with Fender's totally out-to-lunch quality control than anything else.

Actually, there was a bit of everything in the basses I've sampled, in all kind of prices, and the worst, by far, were Sterling, followed by Ibanez. The best of the bunch(save for the two Fender custom shop, which had an impecable action right out... But priced me out entirely)which I almost bought, was a Squier.

 

[bass12]

Actually, there was a bit of everything in the basses I've sampled, in all kind of prices, and the worst, by far, were Sterling, followed by Ibanez. The best of the bunch(save for the two Fender custom shop, which had an impecable action right out... But priced me out entirely)which I almost bought, was a Squier.

Are you talking about a bad set-up or actual issues with the necks? I would never expect a good set-up on an off-the-rack instrument unless it was a newly-arrived "boutique".

 

[Gervais Cote]

Precision pickups are humbuckers. Yes almost 100% quiet. Plug in your Jazz next to the Precision. Do not touch the strings you will hear the Jazz pickup ambient electromagnetic noise. Almost nothing from the simple P. Oh you could fart around trying to balance the Jazz pickups to minimalize hum or if you stand just right the hum will minimize, but who wants to do that? Then again, my Jazz is probably 25 years old and I have no experience with so called "noiseless" J pickups. Maybe someone else can enlighten us on noiseless pickup efficacy.

I have a jazz bass with Dimarzio model J pickups and they are noiseless………….unless I give them a hard time with my finger play or even better when popping and slapping.
Never been impressed with noiseless jazz pickups before but these ones changed my mind and they will stay.

 

[bullshark]

Are you talking about a bad set-up or actual issues with the necks? I would never expect a good set-up on an off-the-rack instrument unless it was a newly-arrived "boutique".

Glaring and major issues. For example, one Sterling I picked up had the neck so warped that I did not even bother to play it, another had a major rattle(no, not fret buzz, a rattle)when playing a b on the e string, another had the nut cut too low, another had gouge mark on the back of the neck from around the 12th fret to the relief etc etc etc.

And yes, sometime it looks like the bass only need a simple setup. But then, as it happened with my American Performer, you can run into problems; in trying to tighten the truss rod, the neck was just becoming "S" shaped rather than straightening, so in fact that neck could not be setup properly and the only fix was replacing it. Thankfully, Fender does have a good warranty, it does count for something.