Wishbass

[Annoying Twit]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bass-Fretless-Five-String-Cherry-Fantasy-Wishbass_W0QQitemZ130261801950QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bass-Fretless-Five-S...0QQcmdZViewItem[/url]

[Ou7shined]

[b][i]"These are without a doubt the best sounding basses on this planet"[/i][/b]

Amazing what you can achieve with a cheap pup and a sucky looking bridge,

[b][i]"NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR SHIPPING DAMAGE UNDER ANY CONDITIONS"[/i][/b]

Ooh, a confidence booster.

[Kiwi]

[i]"Here is the deal. One years gross will get you the brand name, patterns to 70 basses, the website wishbass.com. my customer files and a course in how to make instruments my way. I think one person could make about 200 basses a year, you see what they sell for. I make a little over a hundred a year, myself.

This would be a great opportunity for a mechanically inclined person who has a real desire to work for themselves."[/i]

We could all chip in and buy the company together. We need someone who is 'mechanically minded' though. I can bash things with a hammer if that helps...?

[Ou7shined]

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='304301' date='Oct 11 2008, 09:13 AM']This would be a great opportunity for a [b]mechanically inclined person [/b]who has a real desire to work for themselves."[/i]

We could all chip in and buy the company together. We need someone who is [b]'mechanically minded' [/b]though. I can bash things with a hammer if that helps...?[/quote]
Unfortunately I am an organically based unit so am excluded from the offer.

[budget bassist]

I don't think i've ever seen a bass that's uglier than a wishbass with worse hardware and craftsmanship, it looks like someone with two fingers put it together with nothing more than a chisel!

[Ou7shined]

It's unusual too that they chose to have the grain run diagonally through the body. The first wee knock and those horns are right off like.

[kevbass]

I kind of like the fact they are hand made and rough cut if you like, I think they have character, I'd love to have a go on one, theres an expensive one on ebay in the states that has EMG's and LED's on the side of the neck etc..

[budget bassist]

I just don't understand why they can't just put a bit more time and effort into them, the shapes are a bit of an acquired taste and i'm sure somebody would like them, but why on earth they can't put a decent bridge on there so that you can set the intonation and put some metal ferrules into the string holes so you don't f*** the wood up is completely beyond me. And for a custom 'luthier', and i use the word very loosely, you'd think he'd take a bit more care with actually crafting the bodies, every single wishbass i've seen looks like it's been done with a chisel, sharp edges everywhere, nothing looks even and like it's been done properly, they're just an absolute shambles.

[Ou7shined]

I know what you mean.
This really abrupt break in the flow of the horn to neck scoop is being pointed out as a feature.

I have no issue with the overall design (barring hardware) but it does seem a bit "first year woodwork" instead of cult underdog luthier.
Ye gets what ye pays fer.

[Annoying Twit]

I find it very interesting reading some talkbass threads on wishbasses. There seem to be lots of wishbass owners on that site. It appears that they have to spend a lot of time finishing the instruments themselves.

[url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=448044"]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=448044[/url]

But I think this looks fabulous. It's been finished post-delivery, even to the point (if I read the thread correctly) of narrowing the horns. But it looks like a thing of beauty to me.



You can, it seems, get a standard bridge adjustible for each string, truss rods, etc, for a bit more money.

I'd be sad if he stopped making Wishbasses. I could imagine getting one some day as a "project". Where else can you get a hand made truly unique looking instrument for that price?

Edited October 11, 2008 by Annoying Twit

[Ou7shined]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='304466' date='Oct 11 2008, 05:01 PM'][/quote]
There's no doubt that the finish is much improved on that one.... still, that crappy bridge bleh.

[Annoying Twit]

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='304475' date='Oct 11 2008, 05:13 PM']There's no doubt that the finish is much improved on that one.... still, that crappy bridge bleh. [/quote]

On the talkbass thread, someone swapped the bridge for a normal one. I think it might have been a badass. They said it worked fine.

[Annoying Twit]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.com/Winkle-Gandhi-handmade-bass-guitar-custom-neck-thru_W0QQitemZ270278927902QQihZ017QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.com/Winkle-Gandhi-handmade...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url]

[budget bassist]

looks like it was banged together in a shed

Actually it probably was!

[Mr. Foxen]

More time spent finshing would defeat the point and make him the same as every other custom bass maker. There is nothing stopping you setting the intonation as the bridge is floating, bit like some Carl Thompson fretlesses. If you order one finishing is an optional thing, and you are much better off doing it yourself, paying a luthier to sand is poor economy.

I put a chunky metal bridge on mine and it totally killed it. Just sounded like any other fretless, lost all the woody thunk. And the wood seems plenty hard enough to deal with the strings, no much issue there, was gonna drop washers in the holes, but ~I looked and it was fine.

[Kev]

[quote name='budget bassist' post='304430' date='Oct 11 2008, 03:44 PM']I just don't understand why they can't just put a bit more time and effort into them, the shapes are a bit of an acquired taste and i'm sure somebody would like them, but why on earth they can't put a decent bridge on there so that you can set the intonation and put some metal ferrules into the string holes so you don't f*** the wood up is completely beyond me. And for a custom 'luthier', and i use the word very loosely, you'd think he'd take a bit more care with actually crafting the bodies, every single wishbass i've seen looks like it's been done with a chisel, sharp edges everywhere, nothing looks even and like it's been done properly, they're just an absolute shambles.[/quote]
i think your completly missing the point

check the guy's ebay feedback, he has many happy customers

[budget bassist]

Aye he probably does, they might like that sort of thing, and thats fine, i personally just don't see the draw to them.

[alembic1989]

[quote name='BassManKev' post='304922' date='Oct 12 2008, 05:52 PM']i think your completly missing the point

check the guy's ebay feedback, he has many happy customers[/quote]

+1 on that point. I own a wishbass..had it for a few months now. I did all the necessary "googling" and the general concensus from people WHO ACTUALLY OWN ONE (important point), was that the finish was poor but they liked the tone. I like many others did a bit of work on mine ..which basically involved sanding down to the wood,rounding a few edges, and then finishing with teak oil...it took about a week. I really like my wishbass. (I own some very high end basses too)..it has a feel all of its own..very comfortable to play.and a very pleasing tone..and each one really is unique.
The much maligned bridge works perfectly well..no intonation problems at all.There is a lot to be said for simple engineering solutions like that. ..and I've also noticed some high end builders who use a similar arrangement.
More power to Mr Wishnevsky.

Edited October 12, 2008 by alembic1989

[Annoying Twit]

Here's a happy owner. 8 strings, frets, and a regular bridge.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__uCAE1HTIA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__uCAE1HTIA[/url]

[neepheid]

I'm afraid to say that any bass with uneven through body stringing bugs my happines something rotten. There's no doubt that some of his basses are pretty and I'm a sucker for open/slotted headstocks, but the little things show a distinct lack of attention to detail that I just can't admire or respect.

Maybe I am missing the point, but it's just my opinion and I'm not suggesting that people should dismiss these basses on my say so.

[Annoying Twit]

[quote name='alembic1989' post='304991' date='Oct 12 2008, 08:04 PM']+1 on that point. I own a wishbass..had it for a few months now. I did all the necessary "googling" and the general concensus from people WHO ACTUALLY OWN ONE (important point), was that the finish was poor but they liked the tone. I like many others did a bit of work on mine ..which basically involved sanding down to the wood,rounding a few edges, and then finishing with teak oil...it took about a week. I really like my wishbass. (I own some very high end basses too)..it has a feel all of its own..very comfortable to play.and a very pleasing tone..and each one really is unique.
The much maligned bridge works perfectly well..no intonation problems at all.There is a lot to be said for simple engineering solutions like that. ..and I've also noticed some high end builders who use a similar arrangement.
More power to Mr Wishnevsky.[/quote]

How about if you give a detailed review of your wishbass over on the appropriate forum. I'd like to hear of your experiences with your Harley Benton 6er too.

Edited October 13, 2008 by Annoying Twit

[alembic1989]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='305191' date='Oct 13 2008, 08:10 AM']How about if you give a detailed review of your wishbass over on the appropriate forum. I'd like to hear of your expreriences with your Harley Benton 6er too.[/quote]

That's a thought..but I can't upload any pics of my wishbass as I don't have a digital camera.
The Harley Benton..IMHO is a really cracking bass..I bought it to see if I could get along with a 6'er. It played/sounded great right out of the box,very versatile tonally too. I think I paid £120..including shipping from Germany.

[Annoying Twit]

[quote name='alembic1989' post='305662' date='Oct 13 2008, 05:54 PM']That's a thought..but I can't upload any pics of my wishbass as I don't have a digital camera.
The Harley Benton..IMHO is a really cracking bass..I bought it to see if I could get along with a 6'er. It played/sounded great right out of the box,very versatile tonally too. I think I paid £120..including shipping from Germany.[/quote]

If you send me normal photos of the wishbass, I can digitise them and upload if you want.

I'm only in beginner mode as a bassist, but I look at the Harley Benton 6er for that price, read the HC reviews, and wonder if I should buy one and store it away in case I can never buy a usable 6'er for that price again. It's a bit more than £120 now, £124 + p&p, but still cheap.

Edited October 13, 2008 by Annoying Twit

[steve-soar]

Wish bass? if I wished for a bass and one of these turned up, I'd put a brick over my Fairy Godmothers head.
They look like the kind of basses Ren and Stimpy would play.

Edited October 14, 2008 by steve-soar

[Ou7shined]