Which basses have you NEVER had gas for?

[rmayer]

Without hesitation, the original Steinberger, or Stinkberger as I like to call it. I remember playing one when they first came out, one of the techs in a music store (Tim at Grand Guitars in Englewood, NJ) had just bought one. He raved about, the "future of the bass guitar." From the moment I picked it up, I couldn't stand it. Then, and now, I have always thought they felt terrible and sounded worse. An absolutely dead sound, IMO. I've disliked the sound of all bassists that used them, including one of my favorites, Geddy Lee. I thought his "Steinberger" years were some of his worse bass tones ever, and let's not start on the hair.
My friend has bought and sold Steinbergers 4-5 times, and still would buy another. He loves them. I guess that's why there are hundreds of bass manufacturers. As for me, I wouldn't take one as a gift. Well, maybe if I were stranded in that proverbial boat up a creek...

 

[roccobass]

[QUOTE="Ric5, post: 22832566, member
This is all I can say when I see that bass.

 

[ArteK]

Any overpriced Fender (custom shop, MIA, signature models, etc.) I've tended to go with MIJ Fender Precisions with upgraded Bartolini 8S pickups in my career and they've always been great for me. (I also experimented with MIJ Fender Jazzes, but prefer the fatter sound of the Precision.) I can't see paying another grand for a custom shop or MIA version. And like someone else said, a boutique version of a Precision or Jazz that's a nicer looking or fancier version of the original (but doesn't sound much different from it) seems like a waste of money too. That takes out things like Lakland, Mike Lull, etc.

I've actually gotten over GAS for these basses by trying them and finding out they're not for me: Gibson Thunderbird, GIbson SG basses (not comfortable to play), five and six strings with super-active systems. I actually have found that most of the fancy five-strings I've played haven't sounded much better than a $500 Ibanez BTB405QM. (They all have the same sterile sound to me.)

I've lusted after Ricks, but the maintenance issues have always scared me off. (They're like the MiniCoopers of basses.) Also, from time to time, I've wanted a MusicMan/EB four string or a Pedulla, but the weight and "modernity in sound" has tended to squelch those.

Also, I can't justify cutting into our "family" budget by buying anything over $1500 (basses, electric guitars, acoustic guitars, etc.) I've never spent more than $1200 for a bass or electric guitar, or more than $1300 for an acoustic guitar. (Most have been under a grand, the exceptions being some Warmoth/Fender/Bartolini construction projects.) But I have simple tastes, so I've always been able to find something I liked, even keeping to this budget. Everything else seems too extravagant. Must be that old New England Yankee Puritan streak.

 

[deeptubes]

Jazz basses.
Don't like the separate control plate and pickguard combination. Looks patchwork-ish to me.

 

[beaglesandbass]

This whole thread is pretty much an ugly bass thread, sooooo....