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whats the catch with wishbass?
- Thread starter spambot772
- Start date
Okay, I've seen many threads about Wishbass and never wanted to enter the discussion, but I think I should give my humble opinion. Back in 2004 when I lived in North Carolina, I ordered a custom-made bass from Wishnevsky.
I spent a lot of time drawing the body contour on my computer, so that the bass would be exactly what I wanted. Nothing fancy, just a deep lower cutaway for better access to high notes, fretless neck-through design with my choice of easily available woods.
Wish said everything was okay with my design, and I sent him a nice drawing for him to use as a template. A couple months after, I got the first photo of the bass in early manufacturing stage. A bad photo taken at an angle, I couldn't really see the shape of the body. again a couple months later, when the bass was finished, I went to Wish's shop to pick up the bass as it was finished.
I was very disappointed, the body wasn't what I had asked for and I didn't like Wish's take to my design. In fact, I think he just looked at my drawing on his computer, and didn't print it. Anyways, I thought I should still take it and give it a try.
I had ordered the bass without finish, because I knew Wish's finishes were far from the best. I wanted a tung oil finish, and proceeded to sanding and oiling... Then I discovered a major crack in the body's wood, and a few smaller cracks here and there. Also, I found the joint between the 2 body pieces with the neck to be far from perfect (many gaps, inconsistent glue layer). The neck profile itself was inconsistent. The "bridge" was moving freely. The through-body stringing holes were irregularly placed.
Soundwise... The bass produced some "mwaaahh", but I thought the sound overall was "mehhh"... nothing extraordinary. Also I found it was very prone interferences (maybe a bad ground, though I couldn't see any loose soldering).
All in all, I was just unsatisfied with the bass. I think that when someone say "I can make the shape you want", he should just do as he says. If it's not conform to my request, why then does Wish let me order a "custom" bass? It's a matter of respect towards the customer, and I didn't feel respected.
I know some people love their Wishbass, that's great. I'm sure some wishbasses are nice, but I'm also sure that for one nice wishbass, a fair number of bad wishbasses have been made. It's matter of being lucky or not, picky or not.
For less than the price a the wishbass, I bought an SX jazz bass. Not custom at all, looking like every other Jazz bass, but... Much better construction, very nice sound... This one makes me very happy and makes everyone amazed around me.
I care more for the sound and playability than for the extra-terrestrial look in a bass.
I spent a lot of time drawing the body contour on my computer, so that the bass would be exactly what I wanted. Nothing fancy, just a deep lower cutaway for better access to high notes, fretless neck-through design with my choice of easily available woods.
Wish said everything was okay with my design, and I sent him a nice drawing for him to use as a template. A couple months after, I got the first photo of the bass in early manufacturing stage. A bad photo taken at an angle, I couldn't really see the shape of the body. again a couple months later, when the bass was finished, I went to Wish's shop to pick up the bass as it was finished.
I was very disappointed, the body wasn't what I had asked for and I didn't like Wish's take to my design. In fact, I think he just looked at my drawing on his computer, and didn't print it. Anyways, I thought I should still take it and give it a try.
I had ordered the bass without finish, because I knew Wish's finishes were far from the best. I wanted a tung oil finish, and proceeded to sanding and oiling... Then I discovered a major crack in the body's wood, and a few smaller cracks here and there. Also, I found the joint between the 2 body pieces with the neck to be far from perfect (many gaps, inconsistent glue layer). The neck profile itself was inconsistent. The "bridge" was moving freely. The through-body stringing holes were irregularly placed.
Soundwise... The bass produced some "mwaaahh", but I thought the sound overall was "mehhh"... nothing extraordinary. Also I found it was very prone interferences (maybe a bad ground, though I couldn't see any loose soldering).
All in all, I was just unsatisfied with the bass. I think that when someone say "I can make the shape you want", he should just do as he says. If it's not conform to my request, why then does Wish let me order a "custom" bass? It's a matter of respect towards the customer, and I didn't feel respected.
I know some people love their Wishbass, that's great. I'm sure some wishbasses are nice, but I'm also sure that for one nice wishbass, a fair number of bad wishbasses have been made. It's matter of being lucky or not, picky or not.
For less than the price a the wishbass, I bought an SX jazz bass. Not custom at all, looking like every other Jazz bass, but... Much better construction, very nice sound... This one makes me very happy and makes everyone amazed around me.
I care more for the sound and playability than for the extra-terrestrial look in a bass.
Why am I being singled out here?
Admittedly, no, I have never personally played a Wish. But after 6 years of being a member here I have seen and heard enough to form my own opinion about them both through detailed pictures, videos, and audio. Seeing Steve's work on Ebay, his website, and of course getting posted here, I'm just not impressed. It's not hard to see the lack of attention to detail and those are things that he could improve with no extra money and a little bit more time and effort on his part.
I know he's going for a unique handmade piece with character, and they definitely have that. But his basses just strike me as being made by someone who is lazy and just doesn't care about certain end results.
Why am I being singled out here?
...... It's not hard to see the lack of attention to detail and those are things that he could improve with no extra money and a little bit more time and effort on his part.
.
It took me an additional 20 or so hours to get the finish on my bass right! I think SW can make one of his basses in under half of that!
I respect your right not to get him, but some of us do and that's what makes the world an interesting place. It would be awful if we all thought the same way!
He can make the basses in less time because he cuts corners.
-Bad routing
-Subpar wiring
-Position markers in the wrong spot
-Crooked bridges
-Cracks and gaps in the wood
-Unlevel fretless boards
etc.. etc..
I'm not the only one here who sees this and feels the same way even if I haven't personally played one.
Do any of you remember the thread "Let's Buy a Wish"?
and please check this out: It's the Battlestar Galactica Wishbass
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=345792&highlight=wishbass
and please check this out: It's the Battlestar Galactica Wishbass
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=345792&highlight=wishbass
I think that the best part of the farting cow video is actually seeing Mr. Wish.
Seeing his personal sense of style explains a lot about the fit and finish of his basses... some people might consider those cut off shorts to be "unique handmade piece with character" for example.
At first I thought you were being a jerk. Then I listed to the clip. Spot on. After checking out the other clips though, there is some sick, twisted part of me that wants one
Awesome! I love their warranty:
Our warranty: There is no warranty, expressed or
implied. We fully acknowledge our product is crap, and
your purchase signifies that you have entered into an
agreement to buy a product that is lacking in quality,
contains poor materials, and is worthy of much abuse
and destruction. We will in no way provide any
customer service, so don't even waste your time!!!
