Guitar shop observations....

[LukeFRC]

So I went round a few guitar shops today and tried out a couple of jazz basses... a strange experience- here are my observations....

- the shop i went to is great, and I couldn't fault the staff, they got me what I wanted and gave me time to play about.

- put a bass in my hands and I forget all the little lines I know! Yes i know it doesn't help you hear the bass but I must have sounded like a muppet!

- appalling set ups- now I can play pretty much anything, I tend to have quite a high action- but I realised today there is a difference between high action and a bad set up leading to high action.... do they not check the relief on the necks?

-amps... now red dog in edinburgh will stick you infront of the best amp in the house- of course everyhting sounds good. This quitar show stuck me through a aguleria set up. Actually probably the best to hear what is going on, but if you're used to an ampeg sound or a ashdown mud anything you try is going to sound odd...


amoungst the basses I tried.....
- US standard: felt like plastic. the neck didn't feel good (needed a set up may be it) very new and dead. Uninspiring to say the least.
I may be spoilt as all my instruments are over 20 years old, but it felt odd. The new jap p bass I used to have felt far far better in terms of feel and neck quality.
Everything else (finish, build etc) was fine but uninspiring and dead sounding/feeling. not what i was expecting.

- Highway one: still felt very odd, neck far far better, the whole thing felt more resonant, better deeper richer tone. didnt really like the colour or the satin of the finish but hey. Wasn't expecting to like it, but It wasnt bad. It had the sound I have been looking for!

so in total.... uninspired by new guitars! Another shop near has a roadworn so may try that too. (as well as make my mind up on a offer someone on here made me)

Luke's conclusion.... without question, unless you can afford the real top end american vintage RIs or something (by which point other makers come into the equation) buy a japanese fender!

[Lozz196]

Thats a very interesting post. Have to say, my MIA Precisions are the instruments that feel and sound best to me, tho my CIJ 51 Reissue is of amazing quality. Just goes to show though, its what feels best to the person playing the instrument, not the viewpoint of another.

[LukeFRC]

I think another thing is that pretty much everything I've had has had a rolled fingerboard- this makes a difference.
I think it is mainly the neck I'm reacting too to be honest, it was a funny shape (very clubby when compared to my flat P bass or smaller warwick) and not that nice.
The body was perfect in terms of finish, it felt quite thick though, but thats the same on the jap instruments I've had.

[lojo]

[quote name='LukeFRC' post='945068' date='Sep 3 2010, 11:34 PM']Luke's conclusion.... without question, unless you can afford the real top end american vintage RIs or something (by which point other makers come into the equation) buy a japanese fender![/quote]

I've got a japanese P and a J, both brought from here, and Im very happy with both

Recently brought a epi thunderbird new for someone else, I had to ask the shop to set it up before I collected it, if I hadn't insisted they wanted to charge £50 (1/4 of the cost of the bass), but to be fair they did it quickly and for "free"

[bh2]

heh... I hate guitar shops, especially when I'm skint. The last time I tries some basses out the one that I was most impressed with was a CV 60s P in sonic blue... that damn colour gets me every time!
A/B'd with Custon Shop Jazz, RW Jazz, RW pres, CV Jazz (this was also nice).

[Cat Burrito]

[quote name='LukeFRC' post='945068' date='Sep 3 2010, 11:34 PM']- put a bass in my hands and I forget all the little lines I know! Yes i know it doesn't help you hear the bass but I must have sounded like a muppet!

Luke's conclusion.... without question, unless you can afford the real top end american vintage RIs or something (by which point other makers come into the equation) buy a japanese fender![/quote]
Two thoughts; firstly I don't give a "hoot" what other people think of my playing in shops. If I play badly, so be it. I'm there to try out a bass not audition. I thoroughly recommend this approach - ever since I've adopted my instore playing has improved too, ironically. The store are interested in paying customers, not who can do the best slap funk demo!

Secondly you buy the bass that feels right for you. The last crop of USA standard Jazzes & MIM standards were both excellent - streets better than what I had tried before. Different stores have different standards. Sounds like these were just put on the shelf before they could be set up. It makes all the difference. I'd never have said this before in 16yrs of knowing MIM standards but the last one I tried in Dawsons Reading, I would have bought had I been in the market. I'd buy a Squier if it felt right & I'd avoid a US one if it didn't. And vice versa. The rule is, there is no rule. Not a pop at the OP but the reality is just that owning an instrument is a personal thing & whilst I enjoy reading others opinions, you have to find things out for yourself.

[LukeFRC]

Todays observation involves an unknown shop in a unknown city that has a Fender Jazz bass from the 70's. It's more expesnsive than anything post '73 on vintageandrare's website, more than anything fender the gallery have (bar one '73 jazz), and so on....

handily fender at the time were providing a wee gap in the neck pocket between the neck and the body to store a packet of strings or something....

who's going to pay so much for that?

[dave_bass5]

[quote name='LukeFRC' post='945106' date='Sep 4 2010, 12:58 AM']I think another thing is that pretty much everything I've had has had a rolled fingerboard- this makes a difference.
I think it is mainly the neck I'm reacting too to be honest, it was a funny shape (very clubby when compared to my flat P bass or smaller warwick) and not that nice.
The body was perfect in terms of finish, it felt quite thick though, but thats the same on the jap instruments I've had.[/quote]

I also found that with the 3 MIA's jazz basses ive had over the past couple of months. These were the first rolled fingerboards ive played and didnt really like them.
I ended up with a HW-one as it feels much nicer, and also has a nicer tone (for me anyway). The neck feels more part of my hand if that makes sense. With the MIA's i felt a bit more detached from the neck and had to work just that bit harder. Still nice necks though.

Edited September 14, 2010 by dave_bass5

[JTUK]

Unless I went to a top shop, I wouldn't expect any on the basses to be up to much, I'm afraid.
I'd welcome being wrong, but most are just not played-in basses..and by that, it seems they haven't been touched with regard to action or playability..and the strings aren't that great either.

It would almost be a leap of faith to be thinking that a play-around with the truss rod, action and some new strings would bring the thing to life if you took it home. Why do not shops do some basic tweaking?
I guess if people still buy them, then why bother..?

Edited September 14, 2010 by JTUK

[Musicman20]

Apart from the Classic Stingray I had, every EBMM bass has been pretty much spot on and perfectly setup, especially the new ones Ive received.

Its still a game of finding the right bass with most manufacturers. The problem with Fender is that you have to find one you like.

If I could get a brand new MIJ 62 Reissue Jazz, for a good price, I would. But I wouldnt want the MIJ pickups, Id have the have the one with the USA pups. Dont get me wrong, back when I bought my MIJ P Bass about 15 years ago (now sold on) for the price, the bass was AMAZING.

Now? I wouldnt pay the prices they charge for a MIJ....and the second hand prices are a little steep.

Not all MIJ/MIA/MIM/Squiers are good, you have to find a good one.

If you buy mail order, send it back until you get one you are happy with!

Edited September 14, 2010 by Musicman20

[dave_bass5]

I guess with us all liking different set ups it would be hard to please everyone. I find most basses ive played have needed a tweak to get it just right for me, so i dont mind if a bass arrives with too high or low action. As long as i can set it up im hapyp to do it. Any other issues ill send it back (most fo the time).
In fact i find that with a new bass it takes a few days to get my set up just where i want it. Not sure a shop could do that in 30mins.

[dave_bass5]

[quote name='Musicman20' post='955763' date='Sep 14 2010, 09:59 AM']If you buy mail order, send it back until you get one you are happy with![/quote]

And this is actually a plus point for buying online as you can spend a week playing it and if you still dont like it you can send it back.
Im sure we aren't advocating doing this regularly but im glad i did it this way with the MIA's i had.

[Musicman20]

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='955771' date='Sep 14 2010, 10:02 AM']And this is actually a plus point for buying online as you can spend a week playing it and if you still dont like it you can send it back.
Im sure we aren't advocating doing this regularly but im glad i did it this way with the MIA's i had.[/quote]

No its not fair if anyone was to take advantage, but I normally know in 1 hour if Im happy with the fit/finish/weight and QC. If I struggle to play it (say its a totally new bass for me) I dont usually let that put me off, unless its a Warwick

[dave_bass5]

[quote name='Musicman20' post='955774' date='Sep 14 2010, 10:06 AM']No its not fair if anyone was to take advantage, but I normally know in 1 hour if Im happy with the fit/finish/weight and QC. If I struggle to play it (say its a totally new bass for me) I dont usually let that put me off, unless its a Warwick [/quote]

Yeah, your pretty observant. It took me a good few hours to notice the gaps under the frets, and almost a week to notice the pups were out. If i had brought that from a shop im not sure what would have happened.
Playing wise, other than the 70's classic i instantly hated and sent back im happy to work at getting a bass playable.

The best experience ive ever had was with Dan at the old Bass Centre at Liverpool st. I wanted the only 5 string Sandberg they had but felt the action was a bit high. Not really a problem but i mentioned it to him. He not only offered to sit and work on it with me, but offered to put new strings on (any brand i wanted that was in stock) just so i could get a good feel for it. With no obligation to buy. He even pointed out that the neck seemed a bit twisted. I ended up getting a Lakand that, surprisingly, was the only bass ive never had to mess with to get it to feel comfortable. Setup was perfect (as were all 7 i tried).

[Musicman20]

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='955781' date='Sep 14 2010, 10:13 AM']Yeah, your pretty observant. It took me a good few hours to notice the gaps under the frets, and almost a week to notice the pups were out. If i had brought that from a shop im not sure what would have happened.
Playing wise, other than the 70's classic i instantly hated and sent back im happy to work at getting a bass playable.

The best experience ive ever had was with Dan at the old Bass Centre at Liverpool st. I wanted the only 5 string Sandberg they had but felt the action was a bit high. Not really a problem but i mentioned it to him. He not only offered to sit and work on it with me, but offered to put new strings on (any brand i wanted that was in stock) just so i could get a good feel for it. With no obligation to buy. He even pointed out that the neck seemed a bit twisted. I ended up getting a Lakand that, surprisingly, was the only bass ive never had to mess with to get it to feel comfortable. Setup was perfect (as were all 7 i tried).[/quote]

I wish id picked up a Lakland back when they hit the UK for the first time!