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Wishbass Club
- Thread starter BassDudeSA
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Hey, a new Wishbass design...
http://cgi.ebay.com/Bass-Fretless-F...oryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
what would you call it? I say Nessie.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Bass-Fretless-F...oryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
what would you call it? I say Nessie.
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Dude read like four pages above this, there is a very well written review of one of his uprights that was played at a store in Chicago.
I think you will find your answer there.
I don't have one... but I do have a bass viola da gamba that Wish built. It's about the size of a cello and you play it sitting. It has a 35" scale so that puts it inbetween the stand up bass (41") and a standard cello (about 26").
The pup is a LL Baggs piezo built into the bridge. The body is hollow, but the top, back and sides are very thick mahogany... it doesn't really make enough sound accoutically to play with amplifcation. The gamba is 6 strings and fretless.
The sound is dead on stand up bass. I've recording some jazz things with it and no one can tell that its not a standard accoustic bass.
Since mine is smaller, less inclined accoustically, and a shorter scale that the Wish 3/4 bass is going to sound very good. I have two solid body BG's, one fretless and one fretted and the sound there is warm and full sounding (use flatwounds).
Dude read like four pages above this, there is a very well written review of one of his uprights that was played at a store in Chicago.
I think you will find your answer there.
Sorry I didn't see that. Thanks.
What I don't under stand is that the guy shows some excellent wood working/luthiery skills (IMO) yet he continues to whip up so many cheap wish basses and sell them off like peanuts.
Why doesn't he take his time, put that little extra effort into each bass and use some decent hardware/electronics and some actually appealing designs? He could make a fortune with his skills, yet he's off making rubbish with recycled wood and nails...
Why doesn't he take his time, put that little extra effort into each bass and use some decent hardware/electronics and some actually appealing designs? He could make a fortune with his skills, yet he's off making rubbish with recycled wood and nails...
Well, I guess that's just his style, obviously it's what he feels comfortable with. Yeah, the guy is very skilled, but being detail oriented just isn't his thing. That's fine, that's why you can buy a custom made one of a kind bass for as little as $300, even $200 sometimes when it doesn't sell the first time around on Ebay. Where else can you say that?
Just because its "custom made" doesnt make it the best possible bass in its price range though...
You might check his website and his blog. Steve is truly an original guy. He has a couple of books published covering different subjects including a fine bio of American WWII general and a sci-fi. He build hot rods and is politically active. From what I have seen, and I've never talked to him personally, it does appear that he has little interest in 'a fortune' and more of an interest in doing the things he loves to do.
In the things he has written and interviews he's given there is a clear message that he is interested in getting good sounding and unique instruments in musicians hands without extracting a large fee.
Are you sure that those that follow your suggested path are wealthy? I wouldn't automatically assume that they are.
A few years ago, I read a story (probably in The Bottom Line) about a respected luthier who was out of business because his shop burned down and he couldn't afford to rebuild.
I suspect that there are more financial rewards in being Ken Smith than being (insert the name of your favorite luthier here).
On a related note, I once attended one of Michael Manring's SWR clinics and someone asked him why he chose to do what he does rather than being in a band playing Led Zep covers. He initially responded by saying that he'd probably make more money playing Led Zep covers...
I currently have a bass on order from Wishbass, ought to be showing up within the month... it's going to be a six string, fretless, archtop hollowbody. I sent him a list of specs that were important to me and said, "The rest is up to you." Will post pics when I get it and give a full report.
I have no expectations that this is going to sound like anything I've ever heard before. Of course, no bass on the planet has had That Sound In My Head yet, so maybe this will be the one...
I have no expectations that this is going to sound like anything I've ever heard before. Of course, no bass on the planet has had That Sound In My Head yet, so maybe this will be the one...
I got my aluminum "flame maple veneer" control covers and installed them this weekend. They look alot better than the aluminum ones they came with, but still required a bit of work. I had to mark and drill for the screw holes, and one of them just barely fit (it was smaller than the original one).
I made the mistake of thinking that Wish had a template he used for these aluminum control covers.
I'll post some pics tomorrow so you can see what I mean.
I made the mistake of thinking that Wish had a template he used for these aluminum control covers.
I'll post some pics tomorrow so you can see what I mean.
Thanks, I especially like the part about it being "well written".
FoT bassman: if there is anything else you want to know, let me know, the experience is still pretty fresh in my mind.
One thing that seems to be pretty constant is that in terms of finish, attention to detail, frettwork, etc., Wish doesn't have the skill or patience to do really fine work. I don't believe his work would hold up in a higher price range.
I would like to own a wishbass someday, and I think his basses probably do what they are supposed to in terms of getting a good earthy tone in a unique and sturdy, if somewhat rough, package. I don't think however, he has the will or ability (I don't know which) to compete at a higher level of construction or price.
Also, as he has been able to churn out instruments at a fantastic rate, with what seems to be incredibly inexpensive, servicable-to-good quality, materiels. I would not be surprised if he is as financially successfull as many other small independent but "higher end" custom builders.
What I like about wishbasses is that you can get a custom design made for only a few hundred dollars, have it shipped unfinished and finish it yourself. if you know how to finish them.
and even if you don't, there are plenty of guides on talkbass to begin to learn how to do so.
and even if you don't, there are plenty of guides on talkbass to begin to learn how to do so.
OK I just stumbled onto this thread today, but I think I can answer Scott01's question. I bought my first (of many more to come) Wishbass last year and since then I have come to know Mr. Wishnevsky fairly well. He mentioned to me once that the reason he doesn't take his time on details like the finish, fine sanding, etc. is because he knows that people like us are going to do stuff to it ourselves anyway. He's not going to spend all his time putting on finishing touches when most of his customers would rather do it themselves anyway. Besides, the guy has alot on his plate lately, and has a habit of getting carried away with to many projects at once. You should see the collection of half-built cars in his back yard, and on top of that, he just finished his third book. Hes a busy guy and would you really want to spend that much of your precious time on something that most of you customers are just gonna go and tamper with anyway?
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