What was your biggest gear surprise?

[Bill Whitehurst]

I was surprised by my Squier J5.
I got it because I didn't have a J or a 5 string so
I thought I should just kill two birds with one stone.
For $115, I expected to need to replace a lot of stuff.
I found that it wasn't bad, as is and still haven't upgraded anything.

 

[filmtex]

I was very surprised by two purchases last year. A Squire VM Fretless Precision that just sounds great and plays like my other two P's. And an Ampeg BA-108v2 that I grabbed to practice at home and take to auditions and rehearsals. I have used it in a bunch of shows and have just been dropping an SM 57 in front of it and running through the FOH-get lots of compliments on my sound. Best $100 I ever spent!

 

[DennyOnBass]

TC Spectracomp. I just needed a quick and easy comp that wasn't too expensive. I wasn't expecting that I'd find a Toneprint I loved right away without having to program.

 

[CGremlin]

For me, it was a couple of years ago when my 4003W arrived. I was expecting a graceful, tapered thin (front to back) neck like on my earlier 4003, and the thing was a fricking baseball bat with no taper whatsoever. I got used to it though, and the tone is just to die for. I guess it's kind of like when you have an ugly baby - you just fall in love with it anyway.

 

[JRA]

In the age of limitless online purchasing options available. Man people are buying without trying first. Running off reviews, hype, youtube videos or even just general curiosity. Im sure most of us have had some winners, some losers and some we stood there wondering. What piece of gear (bass,amp,pedal etc) exceeded your expectations or took you by surprise?

i've mentioned/elaborated before, in other threads, but: the two chinese built fretless basses i bought online for $129 USD each: for me, they had to have hardware/electronic upgrades, but their necks have been so good they've become my main gigging instruments.

i bought the first one on a lark: turned out so nicely i purchased the second one!


a very sweet surprise!

 

[Davey28]

The first time I fired up my new Ampeg V4B

 

[Ewo]

Opportunities to try out high-end or boutique gear are limited out my way, so I've bought a lot of gear just to check it out. Some things were keepers, some were flippers.

The biggest surprise was one of the least expensive items: a Mooer Tender Octaver. The thing sounds way better than I expected.

 

[garciawork]

I have only bought one bass related item this year, aside from a setup. Ampeg BA110V2. I don't have years of experience or the ear a lot of you guys have, but to me this thing sounds awesome!

 

[Joe Nerve]

Rickenbacker 4003. Hands down. I bought just to get that Squire/Geddy sound happening in my stable should I ever want or need it. HOLY CRAP was I surprised by what I got. Have yet to use that Squier/Geddy sound. So much more that sounds so much better.

 

[cool breeze]

After getting back into the low end after thirty years now considering myself a hobbiest I took my time, played a lot of new low end basses and after a few months found a used walnut SUB as I was always fond of MM.

Then after playing through a Vox mini amp with headphones for a few more months I sampled many combo amps.

I ultimately ended up with a used TC Bg 250. I now have a total investment of 400. and couldn't be happier with my choices.

 

[Pedal2DaMeddle]

This. A 1994 Black label MIM pbass. It's the best feeling and playing P Bass I've ever owned. After adding some EMG gzr butler pups in it, it's the best sounding p bass I've owned before as well. I got it off eBay.

View attachment 1015598

I have a black '94 black label precision and it just feels and sounds right.

 

[birminghambass]

In my 22 years of playing bass these surprised me the most:
Good surprised:
Yamaha Basses. Fantastic instruments at every price point.
Joyo pedals. So cheap, so great.
Fender Mexican Classic series. Just awesome.
Old Warwicks. The pre 98 versions really are something special.
G&Ls. Fender should aspire to produce instruments of this quality.

Bad surprised:
SWR. I spent years lusting after these amps. Hated them in every way.
Modern Ampeg. I've owned, played, seen in-store so many defective Ampeg amps. Really sucks as I used to love them so much.
50% of all the USA Fenders I've played. USA makes a better instrument but MIM QC is better IMO.
Warwick Thumb. Ergonomic nightmare for me.

 

[BassLover668]

Squier Affinity jb with fender original pickups so cheap so good, after that , changed my MIM jb for guitar pedals.

 

[wraub]

Avatar 1x12

I know, right? Mine has never let me down. Great gear for the price and good CS also.

My biggest surprise? How much I love my P bass, and how much it encourages me to really play.

 

[digmeout]

This. A 1994 Black label MIM pbass. It's the best feeling and playing P Bass I've ever owned. After adding some EMG gzr butler pups in it, it's the best sounding p bass I've owned before as well. I got it off eBay.

View attachment 1015598

I have a 1995 MIM Black label Jazz Bass that's just superb.

 

[Biggbass]

My wife bought me a Wah pedal once...now THAT was a surprise.

 

[Lava]

- Mesa Boogie Subway D800 amp. As it is capable of running at 2ohms, I got it as a backup to my Eden WT550, but is now running my 2-210XSTs full time. It's small, light and loud with gorgeous tone.
- Carvin 210MBE extension cab for my MB210. Wow! Transformed my rehearsal practice amp into a killer medium duty 4x10 rig.

 

[AndyPanda]

My biggest gear surprise was something very inexpensive. I had been thinking about and researching various preamps (most of them over $300) - and just out of curiosity I bought this for $29 and I cannot believe how good it sounds. It does exactly what I was after:

 

[DanScott]

 

[Kikegg]

A Dunlop GCB-95 Cry Baby. Hell, I'd never thought I'd buy a guitar cry baby for bass use. LOL!!