Looks cool, plays crap...

[SingleFish]

Was just wondering if anyone else here has ever bought a bass that looked a lot better than it was easy to play. Of course, this is all down to personal opinion, but I've always thought Thunderbirds looked cool as f***. I had one for about a year or so, and did not really enjoy playing on it at all. Found it quite neck-heavy, with a slightly wider neck than was comfortable. Been a Fender man for a good few years now, but will always have a soft spot for the T-Bird shape. I can mind seeing a Supersuckers video where the singer/bassist had a Les Paul-style bass, wonder what that was like to riff on...

[Muzz]

Every Rickenbacker I've ever tried or owned.

I love Thunderbirds visually, but I'm in the process of making my second Fenderbird (this time with a Lakland neck, so I suppose it'll technically be a Laklandbird) as I prefer the ergonomics.

[Mr Fretbuzz]

Wasn't too happy with my classic T Bird last week but since I've set it up properly I like it ... The neck is ok on mine. The bass I'm sorry I got is a Hofner Ignition Beatles Bass... Looks cool but really don't like it..it rattles and buzzes even with a high action and I don't like the short scale either .... For sale :-D

[marcus bell]

all rickenbackers ive tried, and aria's too

[SingleFish]

Yeah, I tried a Rickenbacker once and would never choose to have one. Had to try it though, massive fan of Motorhead

[chrismuzz]

Rickenbackers again, definitely! They look and sound the bollocks, but where the hell do you put your right hand??

[discreet]

Jazz Basses... love everything about them, but despite all my efforts I just DON'T get on with them!
Edit: They don't play crap btw, I just can't be doing with that narrow neck.

Edited April 25, 2013 by discreet

[SlapbassSteve]

Goes without saying this is all a personal preference thing(and of course this is assuming they've been properly set up and not just left with the mile-high action they were shipped with), but I've had the same with T-birds, love the look but hate the neck... I've owned two so far and will probably end up buying more, even though the necks are a nightmare.

Modern Player Jag bass was a pain too, gorgeous looking thing but a really chunky neck, I played one expecting a Geddy Lee type job and was let down a tad.

Warwick basses I've tried have also been a huge disappointment- the necks are lovely and thin, but too deep(?) of a C shape to be comfortable without drastically altering technique, like an exaggerated Rickenbacker. *ducks for cover*

Best necks I've ever tried... was going to write a list but actually they're all Fenders so you've already got an idea of the kind of stuff I mean . Just not the MP Jag.

[Jono Bolton]

An Epiphone EB-3, the sound was rubbish and the neck dive made for a most uncomfortable playing experience, it was a massive strain on my fretting hand/arm to fret notes AND hold the neck up. Also I found that it didn't look right at any playing position, especially when I wore a long strap on it. I only had it because I'd lent my (now ex) girlfriend some money, and she bought me the bass for the amount that she owed me. I think I'd rather have had the cash than that piece of garbage. I sold it to a fellow BCer for a hundred quid, and was glad to see the back of it.

[thunderbird13]

Ricky copy looks great , not bad to play but the pickups are not centered over the strings ( and it would need a major refurb to do this ) , the truss rod is snapped
oh yes and its made of pine wood !

And can I sell it , can I bugger

[Musicman20]

Rickenbacker 4003/a lot of the Gibson range..(mainly the Thunderbird shape though).

[BigBassBob]

My Rickenbacker 4003... initially. I really struggled to get used to its shape and style after using P basses since I started playing. Once I took off the pickup cover it became a lot easier to play. Then I started to develop a floating right hand which actually improved my technique on the rest of my basses (up until then I'd anchor my thumb to one spot). It's a very playable bass now but certainly no Fender!

[badboy1984]

Gibson and Rickenbacker for me. They look so cool and bad a** but when i actually plug it in to play it certainly doesn't convince me to paid four digit for it.

I can never get on with those 2 brand.

[paul_5]

Rickenbacker for me too. Really tried with the '79 one i borrowed but just couldn't do a thing with it.

[Ziphoblat]

The Gibson G3 I used to own. It didn't even look particularly cool, just had a sort of mojo about. Played a dog and the tone was hard to work with though.

[Fat Rich]

Really wanted a Warwick back in the early 90s but hated the neck.
Never played a Rickenbacker I've liked, they look really cool though.
Steinberger / Hohner stick basses, neat design but hangs wrong, uncomfortable when sitting down, shame.
Gus Basses with the chrome round the edge, slips over if you play it sitting down and needs a rubber stick on strip to fix it. Although I still think they look like an accident in a sausage factory.

[Gust0o]

The older G3s had a neck like a baseball bat. Which is handy. In baseball.

Not sure if it played crap, as a result - I'll admit, all Gibson basses seemingly have their foibles, and in many cases look crap - but they all seem to have something special when plugged in.

Could just be me, mind - am back in love with the brand!

[marcus bell]

warwick aswell for me,wanted one so bad and was majorly let down when i got it...

[spongebob]

I'll never understand why so many people find Rics uncomfortable...always felt very easy to play for me.

Maybe more need to play a contoured 4004 - same big Ric tone, but no pup cover or sharp edges! [size=4] [/size]

[cocco]

Hofner club bass, gibson grabber.

[Schnozzalee]

Spyro the Dragon

[matski]

Ooh, not a lot of love for Rickenbackers in this topic...

Ironically, I've been using my 4003S as my main bass for a few months now, and the other day at rehearsal swapped back to my '79 Precision - my first thought: "feels a bit uncomfortable and odd..."

And yes, I do still have the pickup cover on the Rickenbacker - it's a magnetic horseshoe, so I can't remove it.

[thodrik]

I'd probably go for:

Warwick Thumb (the ones with the club necks)
Fender American Vintage 75 Jazz (one that was terribly set up)
Any 'vintage' Fender that has been poorly set up
Musicman Stingray (never liked the neck shape)
Wal Mark I (same)

[shizznit]

I love the sound of a MM Stingray. By far my favourite bass tone, but I just can't live with the necks for some reason...both on the 4 and 5 string models. The Shuker Uberhorn that Jon is building for me should sound close to a real MM Stingray, but with a neck that I prefer to play.

[Bassman Sam]

[quote name='SingleFish' timestamp='1366894102' post='2058650']
Was just wondering if anyone else here has ever bought a bass that looked a lot better than it was easy to play. Of course, this is all down to personal opinion, but I've always thought Thunderbirds looked cool as f***. I had one for about a year or so, and did not really enjoy playing on it at all. Found it quite neck-heavy, with a slightly wider neck than was comfortable. Been a Fender man for a good few years now, but will always have a soft spot for the T-Bird shape. I can mind seeing a Supersuckers video where the singer/bassist had a Les Paul-style bass, wonder what that was like to riff on...
[/quote]

I feel your pain re: Thunderbirds.

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/126202-disappointed-and-disillsutioned/page__hl__bassman%20sam"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/126202-disappointed-and-disillsutioned/page__hl__bassman%20sam[/url]