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Why your Bass opinions are important:

D

Dr Improbable

Apr 15, 2013
287
3
Wisconsin
#1
Like (I'm sure) a lot of members here, the music stores in my home town carry very few basses. Store #1: 1 Peavey, 1 Epi T Bird, 1 squire in stock (this is a Fender and Gibson dealer that has a wall of Les Pauls and Strats). Store #2: All low end Washburn and Jay Turser stuff.

I really can't go into a GC and try stuff out like some of you can(without driving 2 - 3 hours anyway). So my next purchase will be mail order. So guys, your reviews and opinions are important to me. Keep postin' 'em!
 
#2
I totally agree that reviews and opinions by other players are very important. They will always be a part of Talkbass. But I also live in a rural area, and have driven 3 hours many times to check out basses. Just add music stores to your itinerary when you have to go to the city.
 
#5
MCS4 said:
As a lefty, I'll probably never have the chance to buy a decent bass in a store. Seems like every shop that stocks any lefties has the same selection: a cheap Jazz bass (usually wine red, for some reason) and a couple of entry-level Soundgears.
Click to expand...

I'd never really thought about that. But it makes sense, and man, that stinks. Good thing mail order is an option now. Back in the 80s before mail order were there just a lot more stores around? Mail order kills many small stores. Just the way it is.
 
#6
I live 30 minutes from THE Guitar Center (the first on on Sunset) and I still need more information. GC and Sam Ash have a very shallow bass selection; Fender, Musicman, Ibanez, maybe a cheap Schecter or two and that's it. The only interesting stuff is in the used section.

Nothing drives me crazy more than "Go try one out." Like that didn't occur to me. If I could walk into a store and try out every bass being made, don't you think I'd be spending every waking moment doing that instead of asking for opinions on TB?

My Nirvana would be a 3 story building with nothing but bass equipment in it; basses, amps, pedals, strings, all of it. There would be a setup shop right there and every bass would have fresh strings on it. [drool]
 
#7
It's true. I see a lot of threads where 'go try them all' is the stock response but clearly isn't remotely possible for the guy or gal asking the question. Go to a store and try a Bongo 6? Not going to happen unless you are super lucky. If you don't happen to live near a place like Bass Specialties near Philly or Bass Central in Orlando you hope some one who has played what you are looking for can chime in.
 
#8
Talkbass is great to point you in a direction and make an educated guess based on these forums and purchase something online and be happy. Pretty much my entire rig was bought that way. But basses have been the exception. Its the same deal here, its a ton of ibanez and squire 4 strings. about once a month ill take the family out of town an check out other stores. Most of my basses have actually been bought atleast an hour away
 
#9
My opinions are only important as they apply to me. What one person thinks is awesome, another may think is awful. Opinions are important to have as they establish a baseline of what you like vs don't like, but my opinions are probably not good for any other human being on the planet.


Just saying......
 
#10
MCS4 said:
As a lefty, I'll probably never have the chance to buy a decent bass in a store. Seems like every shop that stocks any lefties has the same selection: a cheap Jazz bass (usually wine red, for some reason) and a couple of entry-level Soundgears.
Click to expand...

If anything, that sounds like a good reason to put in the time and learn to play right-handed.
 
#11
Dr Improbable said:
I really can't go into a GC and try stuff out like some of you can(without driving 2 - 3 hours anyway). So my next purchase will be mail order. So guys, your reviews and opinions are important to me. Keep postin' 'em!
Click to expand...

Well in the old days (pre internet!), most folks including myself that grew up in small towns just drove the two-three hours to the big cities and just made a day of shopping. If you want it, you'll simply go get it, wether its at a store or have it built.
The big help everyone does have today is you can listen to an easy dozen video clips on youtube to at at least give you the approximate idea of what the instrument sounds like solo.

Good thing mail order is an option now. Back in the 80s before mail order were there just a lot more stores around? Mail order kills many small stores.
Click to expand...
"Now"? I don't know which 80's you grew up in, but there were many large mail order places back then, and also tons of shops and distributors that advertised in the guitar magazines if you were looking for obscure instruments.
 
#14
socialleper said:
GC and Sam Ash have a very shallow bass selection; Fender, Musicman, Ibanez, maybe a cheap Schecter or two and that's it. The only interesting stuff is in the used section.
Click to expand...
Very true. My GC's new selection is always kinda lame.


socialleper said:
My Nirvana would be a 3 story building with nothing but bass equipment in it; basses, amps, pedals, strings, all of it. There would be a setup shop right there and every bass would have fresh strings on it. [drool]
Click to expand...
Someone should build this. Now. :bassist:
 
#15
Dr Improbable said:
Like (I'm sure) a lot of members here, the music stores in my home town carry very few basses.
Click to expand...

This is why many of us get tagged with a certain image. In order to try basses, we need to buy and sell - sometimes a lot of them - to get to what we want.

If you are lucky enough to live near a BassNW, Bass Central, Bass San Diego, Rocket Music, etc. count your blessings.
 
#16
I live in a decent sized city (Pittsburgh) with two GCs and a couple of decent guitar/bass shops as well. I still rely on TB for ideas and opinions.

An example is strings. The only flatwounds I can find in stock in this city are Chromes. Which are okay, but I wouldn't know what else was out there as far as strings if it were not for TB.
 
#17
Dr Improbable said:
Like (I'm sure) a lot of members here, the music stores in my home town carry very few basses. Store #1: 1 Peavey, 1 Epi T Bird, 1 squire in stock (this is a Fender and Gibson dealer that has a wall of Les Pauls and Strats). Store #2: All low end Washburn and Jay Turser stuff.

I really can't go into a GC and try stuff out like some of you can(without driving 2 - 3 hours anyway). So my next purchase will be mail order. So guys, your reviews and opinions are important to me. Keep postin' 'em!
Click to expand...

I have ordered several custom basses of brands that I had never played based solely on reviews posted here. My first high-end custom was a Lakland 55-94. I had never even seen one in real life. Same with my LeCompte. I also bought a Jerzy Drozd (which was custom built for someone else) without ever having seen one in person. I learned of these brands here at TB. I've never been disappointed with what I received.

I also make sure to buy only brands that get universally good reviews. (Of course there will always be the occasional grump that has a bone to pick with even the best builders, but I'm pretty good at filtering them out.) There are some builders that get too many complaints about quality, service or business practices here, yet for some reason people still place orders with them. Don't do that, K?

As far as the bigger companies like Fender, there will be more complaints because they sell many more basses, and some of them are bound to have minor issues. You kind of have to make a mental assessment of which way the preponderance of comments go. There are certain models, even in the budget lines, that get generally good reviews. It's possible you may get one with issues when you buy on line, since you can't try several of them out. Don't be shy about returning it if you aren't completely satisfied with it.
 
#18
SteveC said:
This is why many of us get tagged with a certain image. In order to try basses, we need to buy and sell - sometimes a lot of them - to get to what we want.

If you are lucky enough to live near a BassNW, Bass Central, Bass San Diego, Rocket Music, etc. count your blessings.
Click to expand...

Very true. I hang out at BSD so much, they gave me a cot in the back room.
 
#19
socialleper said:
I live 30 minutes from THE Guitar Center (the first on on Sunset) and I still need more information. GC and Sam Ash have a very shallow bass selection; Fender, Musicman, Ibanez, maybe a cheap Schecter or two and that's it. The only interesting stuff is in the used section.

Nothing drives me crazy more than "Go try one out." Like that didn't occur to me. If I could walk into a store and try out every bass being made, don't you think I'd be spending every waking moment doing that instead of asking for opinions on TB?

My Nirvana would be a 3 story building with nothing but bass equipment in it; basses, amps, pedals, strings, all of it. There would be a setup shop right there and every bass would have fresh strings on it. [drool]
Click to expand...

Years ago, Hollywood GC carried a lot more basses. They had nice U.S. Laklands hanging on the wall. Now their (overpriced) vintage section seems to have more basses than the new section.
 
#20
Caca de Kick said:
Well in the old days (pre internet!), most folks including myself that grew up in small towns just drove the two-three hours to the big cities and just made a day of shopping. If you want it, you'll simply go get it, wether its at a store or have it built.
The big help everyone does have today is you can listen to an easy dozen video clips on youtube to at at least give you the approximate idea of what the instrument sounds like solo.


"Now"? I don't know which 80's you grew up in, but there were many large mail order places back then, and also tons of shops and distributors that advertised in the guitar magazines if you were looking for obscure instruments.
Click to expand...

Lol. In the 80s I didn't have a credit card. :)
 

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