Wishbass Club pt. 2

[49sfine]

I'm glad you like it, but I knew you would. I kind of hated getting rid of it, but I was just not using it, it just sat, unplayed and lonely. A bass like that needs to get out, make some music, to be heard. Glad it is staying in the Talkbass Wishbass family.

BassDudeSa and Anyone else: I just emailed Wish about what woods were used in the Scarab and the list is long! He wrote: "Oak burl, cedar/mulberry/ambrosia maple - walnut neck". I am assuming that both the top and back are the oak burl because that's what they look like, while the other woods had to be used in the center section of the bass. Is that kool or what?

 

[standupright]

Hello --
I found this forum while trying to find info on a Wish acoustic upright I just purchased. The owner originally got it directly from Steve.

I purchased my first Wish in April of this year - peanut, fretless, four-string, mahogany. I have not done anything to it, besides play it, since April and I really enjoy it.

The upright was posted on Craigslist for $100 and sounds decent - though I am not an upright player. I plan on bringing it out to Steve at some point after the new year so he can take a look and let me know if the bridge needs to be replaced.

Has anyone else had experience with his uprights?

I'm enjoying going through the posts so far. Doubt I'll ever get through all of them, but will keep an eye on this forum going forward.

Thanks, and nice to meet you all.

welcome to the family!

 

[tekresse]

For all you experienced Wishbass owners out there....I received my Hipper #992 for Christmas, and I immediately decided I wanted to do some work on it. Any suggestions on someone I could send my bass to to get some work done....I don't want to mess this thing up myself. New finish, bridge, etc.

 

[49sfine]

For all you experienced Wishbass owners out there....I received my Hipper #992 for Christmas, and I immediately decided I wanted to do some work on it. Any suggestions on someone I could send my bass to to get some work done....I don't want to mess this thing up myself. New finish, bridge, etc.

Dear Tekresse; Congratulations on your new Hipper! I might suggest you go into more details about exactly what you would like done to your Wishbass and perhaps post some photos of it. I think the fact you are in Europe is going to be the hardest thing - not the actual work to your bass. Hopefully someone will step forward. If I had a few more of my own done and under by belt I might volunteer, but it's one thing to work on your own stuff, completely another to be working on someone else's. I wish you well in your desire to improve your Wishbass. (They are pretty darn hard to screw up though, IMO.) Happy New Year too ...

 

[Thunderitter]

For all you experienced Wishbass owners out there....I received my Hipper #992 for Christmas, and I immediately decided I wanted to do some work on it. Any suggestions on someone I could send my bass to to get some work done....I don't want to mess this thing up myself. New finish, bridge, etc.

I'd be happy to tackle it but unfortunatley I too live in the US.

However, refinishing it is not that difficult (depending on where you want to take it of course!) if you have basic carpentry skills - sanding, filling, filing, etc. I've another post about the my refin and here's the link to the description of what I did:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5852656&postcount=64

...(They are pretty darn hard to screw up though, IMO.) Happy New Year too ...

I'd second that as you are starting with a real 'primary' canvas so to speak!

 

[49sfine]

For all you experienced Wishbass owners out there....I received my Hipper #992 for Christmas, and I immediately decided I wanted to do some work on it. Any suggestions on someone I could send my bass to to get some work done....I don't want to mess this thing up myself. New finish, bridge, etc.

Tekresse; Along the lines that Thunderitter just stated - if you might be interested in doing any of this yourself, I would be happy to write out in detail (similar to the excellent link Thunderitter gave you) what I did to the 4 Wishes (the 1 in my avatar and 3 solid-body) I refinished. Perhaps between our stories and that of others on this forum you might be inclined to tackle this yourself. Let us know how we can help further ...

 

[MaddAnthony_59]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140288803332&indexURL=8#ebayphotohosting

so he's made it past 1000 wishbasses. Did anyone on here get #1000?

No, but I just picked up a JB, # 966, off of CraigsList. Traded a beatup Peavey for it!

The body is Pearwood. The action is kinda high and the neck has a slight bow in it, so I tuned it down to C#, and surprisingly enough this bass Kicks @$$ on Black Sabbath tunes! With the looser strings it's not so bad to play.

EMG Jazz pickup, and the standard *** bridge...

I'm still not sure I really like it though. The thing seems unfinished, rough & raw. I wish it had a truss rod. I might add a P-Bass bridge. But it does have a decent tone, and plays pretty easy for a Fretless...

 

[49sfine]

MaddAnthony: Don't let a little neck curve and a high action keep you from truly enjoying your JB. The fingerboard can be planed down and then fine sanded/oiled and the corian bridge is so easy to lower - you just have to go slow and keep double-checking how much is going to be too much as you sand down the height. Because of the location of bridge and pup on the JB they have a unique sound and can be a lot of fun. I have one I just completely refinished, lowered the action on and re-leveled the FB - it is coming out very nice. If you have any hand skills at all you can do it all yourself and have a much more improved version of what your JB is now. As we just said a few posts back, they are hard to screw up.

 

[Jeff Roller]

I don't post here often, but I wanted to share my love of Wishbasses and tearfully say goodbye to one. I've owned the gamut, from no name japanese knockoffs (back when MIJ wasn't necessarily a good thing) to vintage Rickenbackers and modern Dingwalls.

I own five Wishbasses, now down to four as of today. If you read this thread often, I don't have to explain the mystique and allure these basses have. I love the shoddy sanding marks, the glue squeezing out of seperating joints, the finish runs and pencil marks. When I play one of these and squeeze the soul out of them, I love every little quirk and blemish. I can have a bass costing literally 10 times the cost of the Wishbass sitting on stage side by side, and which one do you think people want to look at and ask about? If the maker of the expensive bass could be there they would be embarassed! One band I played with summed it up best when he said we really don't have to play a note to gather a crowd, all Jeff has to do is bring out his Wishbasses!

Drat these rotten economic times, I have to let one go to justify a new amp purchase. #866 Scroll. My only consolation is she is going to a fellow TB'r and I know it will be a good home. But she will be missed.

 

[49sfine]

"I own five Wishbasses, now down to four as of today. If you read this thread often, I don't have to explain the mystique and allure these basses have. I love the shoddy sanding marks, the glue squeezing out of seperating joints, the finish runs and pencil marks. When I play one of these and squeeze the soul out of them, I love every little quirk and blemish. I can have a bass costing literally 10 times the cost of the Wishbass sitting on stage side by side, and which one do you think people want to look at and ask about? If the maker of the expensive bass could be there they would be embarassed! One band I played with summed it up best when he said we really don't have to play a note to gather a crowd, all Jeff has to do is bring out his Wishbasses!"

Rollerberg2000; Well, I think you have summed it up for a lot of us with this statement! It is very kool to hear about your live music experiences too - gives me hope.

I too, am considering letting some (3) of my Wishes go. I am really having a tough time doing so, but it looks like I will have to part with my freshly finished Stude (what a beaut!) and my recently acquired early Scarab (#168) and fretted Kewel. Makes me sick in a way, but I just need to free up some money (economy!) and make the room. Oh well, someone else can enjoy these soon I hope. Your Scroll looks like a nice one ...

 

[jbybj]

No, this is not a post about religion, but. Though I am not a born again believer, I feel certain that God has had a hand on my life. Though the true source of many of my life's circumstances is unknown to me, it's AS IF there was an angel taking care of business.

I turn 50 this February, and there has been high expectations from my spouse regarding how I will celebrate, and what I want for a gift. The problem is, though I love to celebrate, I don't know what I would want that is at the same time, significant, and within reason. I don't wear jewelry, my 8 year old car suits me fine, and a month in Tahiti is well...... you get the picture. Then, about a month ago I saw this online. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=390019119103&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=026 and I fell in love. I wanted this bass in a bad way, and spent a month trying to justify the expense. I kept flip flopping in my mind, and last weekend I finally concluded that this was not meant to be. I was at peace with my decision, I just let go of the intense desire, and was moving on.

The next day, I get an email from rollerberg2000. In July we had been talking about Scroll #866 and it's potential sale. After a cordial exchange, we decided to keep things as they were. As badly as I wanted this bass (see post #76) I couldn't make it happen at that time. Now, he wants to sell. See what I mean, it's as if an angel were saying, "good for you, you did the right thing and let go of an earthly desire that you couldn't afford, so you will be rewarded with an even better material indulgence, that you can afford". Happy birthday to me.

So, I don't know how these things happen, but I feel blessed, and it's not just about basses either. But for right now, it's all about twin scrolls, #474 and #866. Thank you rollerberg2000

 

[salamandyr]

as per a couple of other folks.. think i'll be letting a WB or two go this year. one is a unique scarab with 2 lipsticks and a lizard inlay on the (fretted) fret board.... pictures will follow in a day or two

 

[Jeff Roller]

So, I don't know how these things happen, but I feel blessed, and it's not just about basses either. But for right now, it's all about twin scrolls, #474 and #866. Thank you rollerberg2000

Wow! Cool stories like jbybj's is what this community called talkbass is all about. Bass players as a general rule are just plain ole good people, my life has been enhanced by interaction with a lot of TB members. Most everyone I've had the pleasure of getting to know makes me wish I could be in a band with them, although you rarely see two bass players on stage

Whatever misgivings I had about selling #866 have been erased by the story jbybj just told. I wish I was in the position to have been able to just give it to him as a gift because he is so pleased to be getting her! It's a real honor being involved in whatever capacity for the blessing of one of my peers!

My birthday is in February also, here is what I'm getting for mine, as well as the reason I'm parting with a few things.

jbybj, it has been a pleasure doing business with you, perhaps our paths will cross one day if I'm ever on the west coast or you wind up in the south east!

 

[jbybj]

Two bassists? Don't forget "Big Bottom" from Spinal Tap.

Your description of Wishbasses speaks to precisely what I love about them. It's those same things that drive the haters crazy. Go figure.

Congrats on your new Phil Jones Gear. When I first saw those cabs at NAMM, my initial reaction was, "there's a goofy gimmick", then I heard them. The word clarity doesn't begin to do them justice.

Enjoy jbybj

 

[49sfine]

I have looked on in fascination at the Phil Jones gear for a while now wondering if they made a difference. Especially the little "briefcase" model! It's good to get a couple of testemonials. I recently missed a near new unit that was sold at a local music store - drat! Otherwise, you never see that stuff in the flesh around here. Thank you.

 

[newfuture]

I have looked on in fascination at the Phil Jones gear for a while now wondering if they made a difference. Especially the little "briefcase" model! It's good to get a couple of testemonials. I recently missed a near new unit that was sold at a local music store - drat! Otherwise, you never see that stuff in the flesh around here. Thank you.

I do a fair amount of live sound for acoustic acts and have run across the briefcase a few times. For double bass at least, it totally lives up to the hype. I've never heard it on a solid electric though.

 

[49sfine]

Well Kids; I did it, much to my chagrin. I listed the walnut Stude on Ebay. Dang! it is such a sweet bass I hate to let it go, but I finally had to admit that the ergonomics of the Stude body style is not for me, although I love the shape. This one is just so smooth and nice now, sometimes I pick it up just to feel the wood. Anyway, hoepfully it will go to a good home. Meanwhile, my plans to refinish and refine my new Scarab go dancing thru my head!

 

[newfuture]

that is a stunning refinish...would that I had the disposable income at the moment!

 

[vbasscustom]

how many "frets" would the peanut have, the bottom of the FB is really close to the bridge?

 

[duckbutter]

No, but I just picked up a JB, # 966, off of CraigsList. Traded a beatup Peavey for it!

The body is Pearwood. The action is kinda high and the neck has a slight bow in it, so I tuned it down to C#, and surprisingly enough this bass Kicks @$$ on Black Sabbath tunes! With the looser strings it's not so bad to play.

EMG Jazz pickup, and the standard *** bridge...

QUOTE]

What is between the D string and the bridge, and why?