Actually this is a complaint that I have with a lot of modern synths, but Z3TA+2 in particular. 

Admittedly I haven't learned how to create sounds from scratch in Z3TA yet. But the presets should give you a pretty good idea of the kind of thing that can be done with it, and they should be good starting points to start tweaking. However I don't think there's really a half decent bass sound in the 100+ bass presets that's in there. It's nigh impossible to discern any definite pitch in any of them, they all seem to be tuneless variations of a very low pitched fart. In fact most of these should be classed as sound effects, not bass. Let's have some more musical bass presets please!

I've had a lot of fun with the bass stuff with Zeta, so I register my disagreement. What about those goofy halloweeny ones. They were fun. I did a mix with one of those that was really smiley. My kid said it reminded her of the sound track from the Garfield DS game in the dungeon. Perfect for halloweeny sounds. :-)

The Halloween stuff was Rapture, no? 

But this is what I mean, most of them seem to be goofy or fun sounding. I'm a big fan of retro electro bass sounds, but as long as they're musical (i.e. of a definite pitch). 

many of the bass sounds use several oscillators that are detuned, or warped... hence a 'what note is that" result.. so pick a potential patch and tune that puppy in..lol.

Hmm sounds like I really need to watch the Z3TA tutorial video so that I'm not blindly groping around in the dark! Still think there should be more "musical" presets though. 

Sorry for chiming in with something totally off base. Kinda spacey, especially when it's late. Yes, it was Rapture. I do sometimes use Zeta, but that one was rapture. Did you watch the crazy Zeta video? It was really interesting. I'm thinking it might help you create sounds useful for your style of music.

http://blog.cakewalk.com/learn-sound-design-with-z3ta-2-free-video-by-digital-sound-factory/

Z3ta has a lot of potential once you learn how to program it. I still have a lot to learn but I am getting so as I can create useful sounds. I forgot about the Video. I shall have to watch it.

I think the presets are aimed at a certain type of music, but the synth is capable of much more.

I'm definitely going to watch that video. I need a crash course in synths in general. I can get to know a particular synth quite well, in that I work out what the settings do by trial and error (even some of the really wacky Reaktor synths which are great fun) but I never have a clear cut idea of what I'm doing and why things are reacting the way they are. 

Perhaps if I watch that video some of the stuff I pick up will apply to things like Massive as well. 

I know that a lot of people are selling off all their hardware stuff and going 100% in the box.  But...I have yet to hear any soft synths that can compare to the hardware stuff.  I have a Roland XV88 with the SRX02 concert piano card...a Korg 03R/W rack module...a Yamaha V50 synth from the early 90's, etc. and even the 20 year old stuff sound better than any of the soft synth stuff.

Of course, I am talking about actual "usable" musical instrument sounds.  The old hardware stuff has plenty of the wacky space sounds too...which is about all I have found in the soft synths I have which pretty much consist of what came with SONAR X1 and X2.

Then again....this is just my opinion....and you know what they say about opinions..... :) .

A source for some synth reading material. Some free, some for fee, some CW specific. http://noisesculpture.com/