Why no love?

[Nephilymbass]

In your opinion, who makes a great playing and sounding bass, but doesn't get any love for their product? Why?

Esp makes a few good basses for the money. I think they just get a bad name because of their branding. The ltd range is too big. It makes people associate the higher ltd models in the range which are respectable with the super affordable starter pack stuff at the bottom of the range. If I was a shot caller at ESP I’d brand what is currently below the 400 series as ltd, make the 400 series the bottom of the line E2 line. With the 1000 series ltd models the top of the E2 line and the current E2 stuff should have ESP on the headstock.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

I think the thing with Yamaha is that they have such a small piece of the electric bass market that a lot of people just haven't had the opportunity to play many. I have never walked into a music shop that had Yamaha basses for sale. Not even GC seem to stock these. Only Yamaha instruments I seem to find "in the wild" is low end acoustic guitars and keyboards.

On a random side note, any Yamaha dealer can order pretty much any Yamaha product. I used to work at a home electronics store that stocked Yamaha stereo gear. I could have easily ordered a bass, at cost.

 

[Nephilymbass]

I think the thing with Yamaha is that they have such a small piece of the electric bass market that a lot of people just haven't had the opportunity to play many. I have never walked into a music shop that had Yamaha basses for sale. Not even GC seem to stock these. Only Yamaha instruments I seem to find "in the wild" is low end acoustic guitars and keyboards.

I wish Yamaha would have gone a different direction. Best Yamaha I’ve tried was the John Myung signature (can’t remember for sure how to spell his last name but the bass player for dream theatre) but I remember when they made some custom basses for Phil from Taproot that were extra long scale and much more modern but they never made a production version of those basses. Seems like they are trying to get more of the old school market and Gibson going bankrupt and fender surviving off of the other brands they own I don’t know why they want to be yet another brand going the old school route.

 

[ezstep]

Some Peavey's. Some Yamaha's.

 

[40Hz]

I think the thing with Yamaha is that they have such a small piece of the electric bass market that a lot of people just haven't had the opportunity to play many. I have never walked into a music shop that had Yamaha basses for sale. Not even GC seem to stock these. Only Yamaha instruments I seem to find "in the wild" is low end acoustic guitars and keyboards.

True that. I recently got a chance to play a Nathan East sig model of theirs and I'd have no qualms about putting it right up there with some of the finest bases I've ever had the pleasure of playing.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Of mass produced bass guitars, Yamaha comes to my mind. I guess consumers think of it as everything else, but a guitar company. That's the price they pay for being so multiversed.

EDIT: It's not that they get "no love", it's just that they don't get love they deserve. Yamaha makes great bass guitars in any cost range.

All, again, all Yamaha equipment I've ever seen, heard, or played is amazing. From drums, to basses, pianos, to PA equipment. They are a multi dimensional, quality company. Yet no one ever says, "Dude, I've almost saved enough for this insane Yamaha down at guitar center!" I totally feel that one.

 

[lowendrachel]

2013/2014 Gibson EB fall into that category. Not because Gibson doesn't get its share of love and hate. Gibson isn't Yamaha, by any stretch. But those seemed to get dismissed immediately and remain dismissed. For whatever reason, those never found a market, never developed any kind of reputation, and didn't sell well. They are inexpensive, versatile, and American made. A little odd looking if you look at them closely, and there were some finish and shaping quirks. But, considering what they can do and where they were made, I would have expected them to sell better.

I regret trading my Gibson EB two years ago.

 

[arbiterusa]

Cort and Samick. I know they both fall more or less under “Ibanez” as far as who makes them, but they do have their own very distinct sounds and looks, they each have a couple of awesome models, and they get no love.

And what everyone else said: Yamaha. Acoustics and drums. Few make better.

 

[GBassNorth]

OP - if "no love for the product" is defined as ignored or overlooked I'd say Ibanez, Yamaha and G&L fit that bill. All great basses but just never really adopted by the masses. No ill will towards them, just not a lot of folks lusting after them.

However, if "no love for the product" is defined as despised and disrespected then I'd have to say Gibson and Rickenbacker. These two companies build great products with a loyal following but for various reasons continue to be the target of many a tirade.

Note: just to show a bit of love for poor maligned Gibby I've updated my avatar.

 

[jamro217]

Guild.

 

[jpmcbride]

Peavey. I have this Peavey Zodiac BXP bass and it plays and feels as good as any Fender I've played.

 

[rtav]

It's true about Yamaha, and I've noticed the same sort of baseless "snobbery" directed at Peavey, Ibanez, and ESP/LTD basses. I've never owned a Peavey, but I have played a number of fine Ibbies and owned a few great six string ESP/LTD's that were nice instruments.

I love my Yammies - RBXJM2 6 string fast-necked BEASTS!!!

 

[sandman357]

I still have the first bass I ever purchased new. It is a Yamaha RBX350. I bought it over 25 years ago and is still my go to bass. I have had plenty of other brands, but keep coming back to "Old Blue".

 

[tgriley62]

I only play older Peaveys because they are good quality instruments that can be found almost anywhere and at any price point but, I think Gibson is one that hardly gets any love

 

[jmlee]

I’ve built quite a collection around G&L, Guild, Peavey, Ibanez Musicians, and now Yamaha BBs, and have to explain virtually all of them to younger or less experienced players. In that sense they’re under-appreciated by the novice crowd. I think that more seasoned veterans are well aware of all of them and there’s sub-groups who are enthusiats for each (or for me all of them).

I’d bring up Reverend as an under-appreciated maker of some fine production instruments.

 

[Giffro]

Here in Australia the big brands tend to rule, but I own a fabulous Australian made Maton fretless bass for many years and I consider it the finest workmanship I have ever seen in any bass that I have owned in over 50+ years of playing. Maton are a Melbourne company and have been making guitars since 1946 and I think here that they are quite overlooked as a great guitar company of world class quality. I don't own a clear pic of my Maton JB4 so the pic supplied is not my JB4 Fretless Pro but is identical.

 

[MrLenny1]

Stambaugh. Chris makes top notch axes.
Very few show up on TB classifieds.

 

[Uncle Hanky]

I agree with Yamaha and Ibby for sure.

I’m gonna throw out Cort basses. I got one in a trade a couple months ago, and it’s solidly become my go-to bass.

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

Schecter!

 

[4SG]

I have an ESP fretless ebony neck from the 80's that is SWEET. Not sure how fabulous their basses were in general.