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whats the catch with wishbass?

#23
I really like the sound of the Wishbass on this video:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Z-_pbbxVtps
(edit: Bob beat me to it)

A comment on one of the review sites (or maybe here) sums it up for me and I paraphrase,
"The question you have to ask yourself is this; am I weird enough to play a Wishbass?"
Click to expand...

Well, I am.

If you realize from the outset that you will be refinishing it, you won't be disappointed. Review a few Wishbass threads, some folks have gotten gorgeous results.

I just got one and am really enjoying the neck; I've got big square palms and the thickness of the neck is a pleasure. Others prefer thinner necks so consider that in your calculations. Mine has a fairly quirky shape but ends up being very comfortable sitting or standing.

I got mine because I wanted to mess around with fretless, enjoy that "mwaah" sound, and have some exotic woods in my hands. I can't afford boutique but I can afford some "sweat" equity investment to end up with a fun bass.

spambot772 said:
haha, im an internet noob, i cant find the search button on here.....


anyways, the basses look pretty cool, but if i get one, is it gonna fall apart on me when i play it?

like, what are we lookin at here for deficiencies?

i wanna cheap, good soundin, wicked lookin bass, that i can play like mad, and not worry about it bustin. can i get that out of a wishbass? (minor details arent that important, finish imperfections, assuming they dont inhibit playing or durability, dont matter)
Click to expand...

I don't think you need to worry about breaking it. When I first picked mine up, "Louisville Slugger" came to mind. I suspect you could "educate" reluctant-to-pay club managers between set without going out of tune...

The Wishbass does seem to be one of those things in life that people have a hard time feeling ambivalent about; many like them and many don't.

=wr=
 
#24
spambot772 said:
hey guys, what is the catch with wishbass?

am i seriously supposed to beleive i can get a wicked awesome custom bass for $400-$500?

how do these things sound?

hows the quality?

are they really too good to be true?
Click to expand...
Spambot; Thought I would weigh in here a bit. I got hooked on Wishbasses just a short time ago. In fact, it was in March that I was trolling around Ebay and searched "Custom Bass" that I first saw a Wishbass. It was the "Lobe" bodystyle being sold by an individual, and at the time I thought it was the ugliest thing I had ever seen. Funny thing is, I bought my first Wishbass in April and guess what - it was a Lobe (in curly maple)! Now I love the thing. What I did at first was go onto Wish's website, then Ebay and then Harmony Central and look through all the comments/info about Wishes and a picture started to emerge. Wishbasses are NOT for everyone, and that's okay. They can be played right out of the box, so to speak, but really, they demand further work and refinement, and that is EXACTLY why I love 'em. I WANT to work on my guitars. I want to make them mine is some way other than through ownership (I have my super smooth, easy-to-play Fender Aerodyne Precision for that). Not everyone is interested in that, and some are not skilled enough to improve on Wish's work. Again, it is all good. I reject the claims though, that they do not play well and are not in tune and have nails for side markers. I own five currently (since April -yes, THIS April!) and know of what I speak. Yes, they are all flawed in some way(s), but none of the flaws are uncorrectable or fatal and mostly they are in the final finish and fitment departments.

My Lobe is actually very nice right out of the box, while 2 others I have needed immediate help. My plan is to eventually refinish, refine, and improve all five of them (one is a custom order and as yet has not arrived) - and that is a big part of the fun. Really, if you are not able or interested in doing that, you should consider looking elsewhere.

Mr. Wishnevsky makes a very unique instrument which is part folk art object and part bass guitar. I believe he has been successful at merging the two concepts, all the while keeping his work dirt-cheap. I have not payed over $300 for any of my basses except for the custom order Fantasy, and 2 of them I bought for $200 apiece! Where can you get a new, handmade instrument that has TONS of character and personality for two or three bills?

Read, inform yourself, talk about it on this forum and keep an open mind. As Wish says openly in his auctions, "There are plently of companies out there to supply you". - All the best in your quest for the affordable exotic!
 
#26
BOOCAKE4U said:
this clip always always always makes me laugh...for some reason the first few seconds make me think of a flatulent cow stuck in quicksand

http://youtube.com/watch?v=g_u35sHICjE
Click to expand...

Oh god I'm crying over here *lmfao*

That's terrible, and now that I have the flatulent cow image stuck in my head I don't think I can watch the rest of the video unless I want to p!$$ myself.
 
#30
It's interesting that, with the exception of Munji's comment, the negatives have been pretty hyperbolic and vague (e.g. "they suck") and the positives from people who play and like them have been pretty detailed.

That in itself says a lot.
 
#31
kesslari said:
It's interesting that, with the exception of Munji's comment, the negatives have been pretty hyperbolic and vague (e.g. "they suck") and the positives from people who play and like them have been pretty detailed.

That in itself says a lot.
Click to expand...

Just in this thread. Go read some of the many Wishbass threads and you'll find more than enough reasons as to why Wish's suck.
 
#32
You'll get a bass that plays and sounds good out of the box. The finish will not be perfect and you may have some gaps, etc, but spend a bit of time refinishing and end up with something like this:

DSC_3622.gif


DSC_3588.gif


DSC_3631.gif


DSC_3671.gif
 
#34
BOOCAKE4U said:
this clip always always always makes me laugh...for some reason the first few seconds make me think of a flatulent cow stuck in quicksand

http://youtube.com/watch?v=g_u35sHICjE
Click to expand...

+1. This clip kills me.:hyper: It sounds like a farting contest.

I hate wishbasses and would never own one. Just my $0.02 though.

If you like playing unfinished basses that look like something made in grade 8 shop class and are generally unplayable due to no truss rod, knock yourself out!
 
#35
"Clowns to the left of me, jokers on the right - here I am, stuck in the middle with you."

I thought it was about trying to help answer another guy's honest inquiry about Wishbasses, not slinging one-liners ...

Spambot772 - look at this way; if you buy one and decide it's not for you, let us know and one of us would be more than happy to take it off your hands and give it a good home. I just got done putting my first coat of Tru-Oil on a $200 Wishbass and this thing is going to be absolutely gorgeous (well, perhaps not as nice as Thunderitter's, but close I hope)! Anyone can own a slave-labor camp plastic-coated production special .......
 
#38
I've never seen these things before (back into playing after a long hiatus) but it strikes me as an art school project: "This semester in Multi-media 101 everyone will build a working bass. Only requirements are that it has at least three strings and makes some type of sound, otherwise the sky's the limit"
 

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