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Wish Bass - Your Experiences?

The Owl

The Owl

Aug 14, 2005
5,398
14,882
GA
talktobears.hearnow.com
#1
Well, this Owl is thinking of ordering a Wish 5-string fretless later this fall. After trying a number of mass-produced axes, still haven't found THE ONE yet.

After perusing the site, it seemed like just what the doc ordered for a guy who has Fodera taste but a Schecter budget. :D

So, before I take the plunge, I'd like to hear of your experiences with the instruments themselves, dealing with them as a business and all that.

This Owl awaits your thoughts and comments.
 
#5
Jared Morante deleted his account and all of his posts, which effectively deleted the original "Let's Buy A Wish" thread which contained about a dozen opinions of a Wish. I had a turn that lasted about a month.

My experience from my turn with it was that it was the worst bass I've ever touched. For the same money I thought a buyer would be 1000 times better off buying a fretless MIM Fender and popping in a new set of pickups.

The thing about the Wish was that it did have an earthy, natural look to it, and it did make me want to pick it up whenever I looked at it. Unfortunately, the construction, playability, and design made me want to immediately put it back down.
 
#7
The Owl said:
Well, this Owl is thinking of ordering a Wish 5-string fretless later this fall. After trying a number of mass-produced axes, still haven't found THE ONE yet.

After perusing the site, it seemed like just what the doc ordered for a guy who has Fodera taste but a Schecter budget. :D

So, before I take the plunge, I'd like to hear of your experiences with the instruments themselves, dealing with them as a business and all that.

This Owl awaits your thoughts and comments.
Click to expand...

You should do a search... you would of found what you are looking for by now.
 
#8
No, I think the owl has a point in wanting a thread based on actual Wish-experience. And I don't mean the 'Let's pay the crap out of a Wish' -kinda experience, though it's certainly valid in other ways. Let's hear it from some real Wish-users. See this Middlebit has been toying, half seriously, with the idea of getting a Wishbass too. You know, just to have around the house (or maybe the holiday house). Ooh, I see there's another thread a'brewin'!
 
#10
middlebit said:
No, I think the owl has a point in wanting a thread based on actual Wish-experience. And I don't mean the 'Let's pay the crap out of a Wish' -kinda experience, though it's certainly valid in other ways. Let's hear it from some real Wish-users. See this Middlebit has been toying, half seriously, with the idea of getting a Wishbass too. You know, just to have around the house (or maybe the holiday house).
Click to expand...

Thank you middlebit! :D

I did manage to find and bump a thread up with some commentary. The sense I get is really OVER-communicate with Steve on what you want and expect. I hear he listens very well and will do his darndest to accomodate.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=108405
 
#11
Poor construction with little attention to detail, but they sound kinda cool. I had one with a flat spot in the neck that could not be adjusted, except for major sanding on the fretboard. They look like wish went sifting through the waste of other builders and put together the best scraps.
 
#13
I have 2 Wishbasses. One is a 4 string fretted bass guitar that I ordered from Steve. The other is a 6 string fretless bass viola da gamba that I bought on eBay from the original owner.

If you are looking for a bass that is beautifully built and flawless in execution with a professional finish, you may need somewhere else... and pay for it. Wishbasses are rustic in build and have a homestyle character about them. The main thing I love about my Wishbasses is that they sound wonderful. I was playing a '76 4001 with some modifications to bring out lower end. I bought the Wishbass BG just to see what it was all about and loved it. It took it to a rehearsal and the band really liked the sound and the look, so I played it that weekend. I had planned to play it for one set, but after that first set the sound guy said that he didn't want to see the Rick again. So, I've played the Wish every weekend since them (6 months).

You'll read a lot of negative stuff here about Wishbasses, and some of it comes from people who bought them some years ago. I think the quality is much better now. Some people love them for the sound. Some players are nervous about not having a truss rod, but ask Steve about that and he'll send you some things that he's written about truss rods. Some people just like to poke fun at Wishbasses.

The neck is thick. Very much like a DB. I had played a Rickenbacker and before that a BC Rich Eagle, so I was used to thinner necks. I got used to the Wish neck in no time at all, and now I find it much more comfortable than the thin necks. I causes me to use a more conventional hand position and I have found that I can play for longer periods of time without cramping and withing arm stiffness the following day.

If you do order one, get it without a finish. Its cheaper. Mine was pretty smooth when I got it and about an hour of work with some "0000" steel wool had it ready to go for finishing. My personal choice was about 6 coats of Tung Oil. I like the finish.

The members of the band I play with like the Wishbass. Of the 9 other members of the group 4 of them have played bass professionally with other bands. They have described tone of my Wish as "60's style sound", "warm" and "Manly".

If you have any further questions, please PM me and I'll be glad to answer.
 
#16
i played the "let's buy a wish part II" wishbass and i actually liked it. the sound was beautiful through my guitar player's nemesis bass amp after a little bit of EQ'ing, and i didn't have to fight the bass to play it, so it didn't play poorly...

my only gripe is the build quality is not the greatest, and could use some work...otherwise i really want one for myself, i just can't justify the 300 bucks for another bass when i am saving up for my dream bass :)
 

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