“Shape” bass that doesn’t suck?

[BigRedX]

9 hours ago, JPJ said:

The original and best combination of funny shape and playability imho😎

Nice bass 😉

[prowla]

On 15/10/2021 at 17:43, BigRedX said:

Does it specifically have to be pointy? Or will just unusual do?

 

If so:

 

Gus G3-5

I've had a go on one of the members here's Gus - it is a very fine instrument indeed!

[prowla]

.........................................................

Edited October 16, 2021 by prowla
duplicate due to internet blip

[prowla]

Ever thought of a buzzid?

[pete.young]

You might find an Aria ZZB - they crop up second-hand on Ebay and here occasionally. Here's one on Gumtree which apparently needs a bit of work.

 

https://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-instrument/aria-pro-ii-zzb-deluxe-bass-guitar-red/1415441193

[Lfalex v1.1]

Basslab L-Bow.

Edited October 17, 2021 by Lfalex v1.1
I'd have suggested the Ibanez Iceman, too, but was beaten to it. I already own an Ibanez EDA900...

[Hellzero]

Good idea @Lfalex v1.1.

 

Here is the link to the website gallery page of the BassLab L-Bow : https://basslab.de/l-bow-gallery/

 

 

[Bassassin]

On 16/10/2021 at 07:28, Hellzero said:

Or even better, the original ones :

 

Much better - but much rarer and dearer too!

 

And far, far fewer vulgar colours! 😎

[jd56hawk]

Musicvox MI-6

Not what you'd call a typical pointy bass  but of all the unusual shaped basses out there, the only one I could see myself playing.

[MrDinsdale]

I built this about 18 years ago when I was about 16 (fortunate my dad is a luthier 😃) which is like a melted warwick thumb 🤣. It's remarkably inconvinient, if I did make another bass it would be a very different shape but this thing sounds amazing.

 

[Dood]

The Dingwall D-Bird. I've only tried the very first pre-release prototype, but even that was incredibly well behaved in the balance department, even before hearing how good it sounded too. 

[Muzz]

On 17/10/2021 at 10:24, pete.young said:

You might find an Aria ZZB - they crop up second-hand on Ebay and here occasionally. Here's one on Gumtree which apparently needs a bit of work.

 

https://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-instrument/aria-pro-ii-zzb-deluxe-bass-guitar-red/1415441193

I had a ZZB - in fact I've got one at the moment stashed away, because it needs lots of work, but although they're not heavy (they're a 32" scale, too) IIRC there was some neck dive...and that's from a Fenderbird lover...

 

I've played a Buzzard, and (again IIRC) it wasn't light; it had that Warwick Brick Outhouse Build to it, tho...unless you tuck it right up under your right arm a la Entwistle, the nut can get a lonnnng way away...

 

+1 for the Dingwall D-Bird/D-Rocs; not heavy at all, and the body curves and balance are exemplary...

[Muzz]

3 hours ago, MrDinsdale said:

'... remarkably inconvenient...'

I do like that...sums up quite a lot of basses I've owned and played... 😁

 

 

[Muzz]

If you're looking at Gus/Buzzard sort of money, tho, it brings you into luthier territory; if I had a couple of £k, I'd be talking to Jon Shuker about a light, balanced Thunderbird/Fenderbird, built exactly to my requirements...

 

The one on the left started life as an Epiphone (tho there's only the body wood and neckplate left), and is only half a Shuker, but it's not heavy, and balances just fine...the strap button has been moved, tho...

 

We don't mention the upper fret access, tho (it was kind of an accident, involving a 22-fret Lakland neck and a lot of ill-advised giddiness)...not that I ever really venture up into Nosebleed Territory...

[Paul S]

The 80s Squier Katana/New fender Katana basses are pointy in a lopsided and very marmite kind of way.  I had one of the Squiers and liked it lots.  Extremely lightweight, 32" scale.

[Lfalex v1.1]

1 minute ago, Paul S said:

The 80s Squier Katana/New fender Katana basses are pointy in a lopsided and very marmite kind of way.  I had one of the Squiers and liked it lots.  Extremely lightweight, 32" scale.

Lop-Sided! Another idea!

 

Yamaha SBV?

[BigRedX]

32 minutes ago, Lfalex v1.1 said:

Lop-Sided! Another idea!

 

Yamaha SBV?

 

The 5-string version of it is extremely rare (only 50 were made) and extremely big and heavy.

 

It does look cool though...

 

[Guest]

45 minutes ago, Paul S said:

The 80s Squier Katana/New fender Katana basses are pointy in a lopsided and very marmite kind of way.  I had one of the Squiers and liked it lots.  Extremely lightweight, 32" scale.

 

Look at 0'40" for a very, er, fluent bit of neck dive

 

 

[Paul S]

Strange.  Mine never did that.

[P-Belly Evans]

On 15/10/2021 at 14:28, NicoMcJ said:

I do like my pointy and funny shaped 6-string guitars. Sadly I’ve always struggle to find a suitable bass version.  I did have a Sandberg 48 that balanced nicely but it weighed as much as a large dog or small pony.

 

So, my question is, does a well balanced AND lightweight pointy exist in the bass world?

 

NB - bonus points for 5 strings.

 

NNBB - please don’t mention wide straps or anything like that,  I’m looking for something that fundamentally works well without needing hot fixes or workarounds.

 

NNNBBB - please don’t just list pointy basses, I’m looking for real world experiences here 😊

No browny points for the fiver, but my Gibson Thunderbird is really light, really well balanced and has a lovely slim neck. Just a  tweak of the pickup volumes will get you quite a versatile set of tones too. I have no idea why people say the opposite to all of the above - baffles me. 

 

Case in point attached. I can get it to do funk wonderfully well (careful as it is a bit sweary) - apparently such behaviour is virtually impossible on a bird......

Dick Shammond Played by a player 26.05.21.mp3

[dave moffat]

Manton had a really cool looking 5 string bass at the Midlands bash, kind of gothic 'batwing' shape.

[alyctes]

22 hours ago, jd56hawk said:

Musicvox MI-6

Not what you'd call a typical pointy bass  but of all the unusual shaped basses out there, the only one I could see myself playing.

That looks like a Danelectro with a hangover.