What is the most important characteristic to consider when buying a new bass?

[Splinky]

Originally Posted by xxfaux_punkxx

Feel. It doesn't matter how great it sounds if you can't get the right feel for it you'll never be able to play comfortably.

+1

The bass is entirely voided if it feels bad. May love the tone but it doesn't matter if you can't play it properly.

[GreaserMatt]

It has too feel good; everything else can be changed...

[Buslady7803]

The feel of it. I don't want to play something that doesn't feel right, even if it's drop dead gorgeous with a killer sound.

[Lightning Rider]

1. Tone
2. Feel
3. Looks

[cnltb]

Originally Posted by Addison

I'm surprised that your list didn't have "build quality" or "fit and finish," and I'm even more surprised that nobody else brought it up... not that I saw, anyway.

To me, solid quality construction is the most important... everything else comes after that.

When you look over a bass with a critical eye and you can see the love and care that went into every single fret and joint, there's a confidense in the instrument that comes with that... I've played some crap in my day, and there's not a worse feeling, IMO.

I think "feel" is totally overrated, especially when it comes to picking up a new and different bass for the first time.

My Roscoe six-string was a TOTALLY different feel than anything else I had ever played (USA Laklands for several years)... I was very worried that I wasn't going to like it... but, I spent a lot of time with it, got over the adjustment period, and now I love it.

I was thinking that built quality should have been on that list too.
I do not think however that feel can ever be over rated because if an instrument isn't comfortable to play, I won't play it.

[Sav'nBass]

For me it is feel.. Is it too heavy? How does it feel in my hands? Is it comfortable for my body when standing and sitting?

Tone is secondary because truth be told... tone is probably one of the most fluid characteristics of a bass... you can do a lot to modify the tone... but if it puts a knot in your shoulder when you play it.. there isn't much you can do about that unless you can change your body on the fly..

Then looks.. There are certain basses I would just probably never play no matter how good they played.. and looks are indirectly linked to feel.. a P body will feel different from a J.. and look different too..

Lastly price... I am a firm believer in you get what you pay for within a certain range.. I have bought cheap and been pleased on occasion.. but the norm is the other way around..

[Altemo]

Should have chosen Tone, as I'd adjust to any inconvenience if the bass was an eargasm.

Should have chosen Looks, as thats how I chose my bass (Schecter Elite 4) Online, without playing it, plus reviews and price.

But from my experience now, Feel is utmost. Tone can be improved (upgrading mine right now!) and I'd play a flaming, bacon wrapped raccoon if it felt and sounded good.

[Shmone]

Feel for me.
If it doesn't feel right I won't be able to make it sound right.
Besides, I believe that most of the tone comes from you

[Addison]

Originally Posted by cnltb

I do not think however that feel can ever be over rated because if an instrument isn't comfortable to play, I won't play it.

I do definitely agree with you... and I was probably exaggerating my assessment a little.

But, I think "feel" is adaptive in many cases. A brand new bass that is different than what you're used to can certainly feel a little off, but, if you spend enough time getting to know it, having it feel perfect can sometimes come later.

But... thinking about it now, my world is WAY different from many of you because I am left-handed. I don't have the luxury of walking into a shop and trying everything on the wall to see if it feels right.

Every major purchase I have ever made, I have had to buy without ever being able to try one out first... so "feel" has almost never been a factor in my purchase decision.

I am so used to having to adapt to each bass I own at this point, that it's hard for me to think of it any other way.

[Aspidites]

Originally Posted by Bongolation

"Other": Resale greater than price paid. Or as close as possible.

Make or break, no other factor comes close. I won't buy an instrument I can't get out of ahead.

You can -- and will -- change your mind about everything else, and when push comes to shove, this is what will matter. If you can get out of it money ahead, it's never a mistake to have experimented and learned from a bass you can get out from under a few bucks to the good.

This comes from watching people with instruments for over forty years and is the best advice you'll get.

I really could not care less what the resale value is, I pick purely on what feels right to me and if I get hosed on resale it doesn't matter to me in the least.

[Bongolation]

Originally Posted by Aspidites

if I get hosed on resale it doesn't matter to me in the least.

Must be great to be rich!

[FromTheBassMent]

Originally Posted by Altemo

Should have chosen Tone, as I'd adjust to any inconvenience if the bass was an eargasm.

Should have chosen Looks, as thats how I chose my bass (Schecter Elite 4) Online, without playing it, plus reviews and price.

But from my experience now, Feel is utmost. Tone can be improved (upgrading mine right now!) and I'd play a flaming, bacon wrapped raccoon if it felt and sounded good.

Dude, I'm quoting you in my sig!!

[Fuzzbass]

Originally Posted by Addison

But... thinking about it now, my world is WAY different from many of you because I am left-handed. I don't have the luxury of walking into a shop and trying everything on the wall to see if it feels right.

Every major purchase I have ever made, I have had to buy without ever being able to try one out first... so "feel" has almost never been a factor in my purchase decision.

I am so used to having to adapt to each bass I own at this point, that it's hard for me to think of it any other way.

After 30-odd years of playing I know what I like, and when it comes to feel, I know the specs: string spacing of at least 19mm, moderately chunky neck profile. And 1-7/8" nut width... that's for a fiver, back when I was playing fours I preferred 1-5/8" or 1-3/4" at the nut. Anyway, if the bass has my specs, then I'm 98% sure I'm gonna be comfortable.

Tone is a completely different story because of all the variables.

[skyneed]

TOOOOOOOOOOOONE!!!

I have a serious problem that if I really love the tone, I will start to like the look and the "feel" as well....but not the other way around.

[Beginner Bass]

Feel, Cost, Tone

[A Rock]

I dont know if others have experienced similar, but many basses hanging on the wall of large music instrument stores (GC, SamAsh) dont seem set up properly. My cheaper bass with a nice set up and new strings felt better than a lot of higher end basses hanging up on the wall. I remember as a beginer, picking up an american standard off the wall with high action and couldn't understand why it cost over a grand. I had my cheaper ibanez set up w/ a low action with nice DR strings. Im sure if the fender had proper strings, setup..it would have felt sweet.

[cassanova]

Originally Posted by Aspidites

I really could not care less what the resale value is, I pick purely on what feels right to me and if I get hosed on resale it doesn't matter to me in the least.

That's how I am. I don't buy my basses on what value they might sell for down the road, I buy them because they suit my needs and have some sort of value to my needs as a musician at the time of purchase.

[Mr. Lovejoy]

Originally Posted by themacinator

"Will it get me the chick in front of the stage" should have been an option to select but since it wasn't I went with feel.

Usually tossing the Bass altogether increases your chances tenfold.

[Munjibunga]

Looks. 1,000 percent.

[Altemo]

Originally Posted by FromTheBassMent

Dude, I'm quoting you in my sig!!

Cheers man. Made my day.