crappy tuners..regardless of the cost of the bass.. the holes in the bridge are sometimes to small,makes replacing strings harder than it needs to be..
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Worst chronic bass design flaws?
- Thread starter BobWestbrook
- Start date
Some of the ricks have REALLY weak necks (near the headstock is their weakest point and they can break near the body too.) Neck warps occur sometimes. Still, their tone is worth all the **** in the world.
Unless the body is extremely light or the neck is extremely heavy and with a big headstock, usually the 12th position gets the job done.
I actually forgot to use the string tree for my D string when putting flats on my Squier. It hasn't had any problems saying in the nut, so I wonder if it really makes a difference at all?
To answer the question, how about screw sizes/types? You can't go into any hardware store and just buy replacement screws for control plates or strap buttons (at least, if you expect them to fit.) They need to be ordered from a specialty music retailer like Allparts. And while it may not be technically "universal," it is nonetheless frustrating that there's no standard dimensions for potentiometer shaft/thread diameter/length.
And don't get me started on the metric/imperial thing...:scowl:
I would say neck dive is a universally hated flaw. It's not inherent in all basses, but it is a death knell to bass. It's hated because not only is very annoying to try to handle an instrument with this problem, but it shows a lack of care on the behalf of the builder/designer. There is really no excuse for this problem if some just paid attention during the design phase.
Exploiter8
Demons run when a good man goes to war
"What do you think is the worst design flaw that is almost universally present in production basses?"
That they look like Fenders?
Shields Up, Red Alert!
That they look like Fenders?
Shields Up, Red Alert!
basses with the strap buttons in the wrong place. I can sometime fix the neck drive by relocating the the bridge strap button.
Others have hit some that sprang to mind, but how about overly sharp fretboard edges? Fender's American Standards and G&L's USA basses have rolled edges, which feel great, and should be the norm IMO.
Kind of hard to play certain barre chords on that thing. I know MY fingers don't bend like that!
I can think of none which are universally present...although I can think of several innovations borne-of-genius that should be incorporated on every instrument available.
Riis
Riis
Tone is not even/balanced enough from string to string. I have yet to play a bass that doesn't suffer from this (unless modded by me 
Never had the chance play a Dingwall, though.
Fanned frets aren't for everyone but I wish more manufacturers would at least use angled pickups like on the Warwick Thumb. Not a cure, but it does help somewhat.
Never had the chance play a Dingwall, though.Fanned frets aren't for everyone but I wish more manufacturers would at least use angled pickups like on the Warwick Thumb. Not a cure, but it does help somewhat.
Yeah I've wondered about things like this. It looks really hard to do maintenance on like fret dressing (as has been mentioned). Also, it seems to mee that with frets like that you're pretty much screwed when you try to bend a note.
It does look like those guitars came from a salvador dali painting, though
Looks. Rock and roll.
I'm with you dude, it's just that there are an awful lot of thunderbirds out there. Some people just prioritize looks and image over comfort and ergonomics.
That is also why skinny women have more suitors than fat women. Me, I like comfort
Neck dive. But weight overall. I'd love to see a five pound (or less), well balanced take on P bass.
Never played (or even seen) one but I've often wondered if the Fender Bass V balanced well because of this. The neck hit the body at the 12th fret and only had 15 frets total, but with the high C string it still had the same range as a 21 fret bass.
Seems like it would be pretty balanced from a strap. Anybody know? Too bad no one ever refined this design.
