Best bass

[MobileHolmes]

An by the way, many aspects of a bass can be quantified and rated, unlike a colour.

Sustain
Neck stability
Weight
Tone clarity
Tone range
Comfort
Balance
Output

etc etc.

If you do this, you will come out with what is technically the best bass. Maybe a PhD is required.

In actually have a PhD, though not in anything directly relevant (polisci with a quantitative bent). But I did just have two conversations today about how some things can't really be quantified in any meaningful way. I think that is one of the issues with your list. Beyond that, most of these are subjective in their value. Most people like a lighter bass, but not everybody, and it kind of goes downhill from there. On to some specifics

Sustain-people always talk about this, but I have never played a bass that didn't have more than enough sustain, unless it had set up/fretwork issues

Neck stability- this varies from instrument to instrument even within the same model. My most stable neck us on a no name P bass copy that has never needed a trussrod tweak in 25 years

Clarity- this isn't always a virtue sometimes the song needs a p with flats, tone on zero, through a grunting B15. Sometimes you want that piano clarity

Tone range is nice, but I'll take one awesome tone over a bunch of lame ones

Comfort- totally subjective, and depends a lot on your body shape. SGs poke me in my fat parts , but they don't bother other folks.

Balance- ok, nobody likes neck dive.

Output- amps have input gain controls for a reason

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

Part of the problem is that you still haven't defined what "best" is to you.
Those aspects, while measurable, still tell us nothing.

Sustain: do you want a lot of sustain, or very little? People use foam mutes to cut it down because they want that thump.
Stability: with respect to moisture or temperature.. at what sacrifuce to adjustability?
Weight: light, heavy or in-between? Many people hate featherweight basees.

a Phd is not required to understand this. I know people who never graduated high school that get it.
Most everyone here understands the problem in your questions except you.

 

[47VevetS]

Mine

 

[HaphAsSard]

Posting (perceived) negative evidence against any poster is not a sign of respect either.

There is no need to attack the OP on a personal level here.

I'm sorry, but what?
To clarify on my position, I owe @Lowness the same respect as I do anyone else until personally attacked, but I have not either attacked, insulted, misrepresented or otherwise -ed her myself. I have previously expressed doubts as to whether she is being overly ingenuous or disingenuous, and I do maintain she is conducting things in this thread in a similar way as the one I linked to, which I thought interesting to point out to others. Is it negative evidence against her? is it perceived or actual? a sign of disrespect, no less? It's in the eye of the bystander and quick judge. Or do you mean pointing out past content is always bad form? Sorry, I disagree: I consider myself accountable for what I've posted here so far, and it being fair game to call me out on it, as basically you are doing now. This said, I guess I might as well have directly called her a troll like many here, and not attracted your censure.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

I'm sorry, but what?
To clarify on my position, I owe @Lowness the same respect as I do anyone else until personally attacked, but I have not either attacked, insulted, misrepresented or otherwise -ed her myself. I have previously expressed doubts as to whether she is being overly ingenuous or disingenuous, and I do maintain she is conducting things in this thread in a similar way as the one I linked to, which I thought interesting to point out to others. Is it negative evidence against her? is it perceived or actual? a sign of disrespect, no less? It's in the eye of the bystander and quick judge. Or do you mean pointing out past content is always bad form? Sorry, I disagree: I consider myself accountable for what I've posted here so far, and it being fair game to call me out on it, as basically you are doing now. This said, I guess I might as well have directly called her a troll like many here, and not attracted your censure.

If we were having a conversation at a table would you find it acceptable to enter the conversation and say "this is how this person is, look here is some evidence." That comes across as an attack on the person to me. It doesn't really serve to further the discussion in my opinion.

I think the OP was misguided, I don't think there was any harm intended. Butting our heads and puffing our chests isn't going to make anything better. I don't think the OP is helping herself but she is being attacked from all directions, her reaction isn't totally surprising.

 

[Nev375]

I just want people to make sense. That would be best for me as I get tired of trying to figure out what the hell they are on about.

As you can probably guess, I'm quite unsatisfied in life and growing more cynical about people every day.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

I just want people to make sense. That would be best for me as I get tired of trying to figure out what the hell they are on about.

As you can probably guess, I'm quite unsatisfied in life and growing more cynical about people every day.

Admittedly, I am taking some enjoyment out of your madness. Your posts have been on point for the last couple days!

 

[Lowness]

In actually have a PhD, though not in anything directly relevant (polisci with a quantitative bent). But I did just have two conversations today about how some things can't really be quantified in any meaningful way. I think that is one of the issues with your list. Beyond that, most of these are subjective in their value. Most people like a lighter bass, but not everybody, and it kind of goes downhill from there. On to some specifics

Sustain-people always talk about this, but I have never played a bass that didn't have more than enough sustain, unless it had set up/fretwork issues

Neck stability- this varies from instrument to instrument even within the same model. My most stable neck us on a no name P bass copy that has never needed a trussrod tweak in 25 years

Clarity- this isn't always a virtue sometimes the song needs a p with flats, tone on zero, through a grunting B15. Sometimes you want that piano clarity

Tone range is nice, but I'll take one awesome tone over a bunch of lame ones

Comfort- totally subjective, and depends a lot on your body shape. SGs poke me in my fat parts , but they don't bother other folks.

Balance- ok, nobody likes neck dive.

Output- amps have input gain controls for a reason

All you have shown is that comfort is subjective - which I previously agreed to (it was a throw together list so my apologies for not getting it right straight up). The rest of it, you have yet to show these cannot be quantified and hence a bass rated against them.

The truth is sustain, clarity, tone range, balance and output can be objectively measured - it would actually be quite interesting to see this rated across a range of basses (yes, and statistics has ways of addressing production variances).


From these results, whether you care to pay the extra cash to have the bass with the most sustain and tone range....that is up to you.

 

[Lowness]

I'm sorry, but what?
To clarify on my position, I owe @Lowness the same respect as I do anyone else until personally attacked, but I have not either attacked, insulted, misrepresented or otherwise -ed her myself. I have previously expressed doubts as to whether she is being overly ingenuous or disingenuous, and I do maintain she is conducting things in this thread in a similar way as the one I linked to, which I thought interesting to point out to others. Is it negative evidence against her? is it perceived or actual? a sign of disrespect, no less? It's in the eye of the bystander and quick judge. Or do you mean pointing out past content is always bad form? Sorry, I disagree: I consider myself accountable for what I've posted here so far, and it being fair game to call me out on it, as basically you are doing now. This said, I guess I might as well have directly called her a troll like many here, and not attracted your censure.

I haven't read any of this though it seems to be related to me. With all due respect (I don't know any of you) you can be assured that I am not fussed either way.

I care more about assessing a range of basses on the list of quantifiable criteria

 

[BubbaZed]

If we were having a conversation at a table would you find it acceptable to enter the conversation and say "this is how this person is, look here is some evidence." That comes across as an attack on the person to me. It doesn't really serve to further the discussion in my opinion.

I think the OP was misguided, I don't think there was any harm intended. Butting our heads and puffing our chests isn't going to make anything better. I don't think the OP is helping herself but she is being attacked from all directions, her reaction isn't totally surprising.

Hmmm...but this is not a 'one of' situation. Her tempestuous attitude has gotten her banned in the past. Obviously, she's not learned the value of differing opinions and this forum, in essence, is to respectfully trade opinions and ideas. Based on what I've read, she's sincere in her original post, but lacks some maturity when people have differing opinions.

 

[HaphAsSard]

If we were having a conversation at a table would you find it acceptable to enter the conversation and say "this is how this person is, look here is some evidence." That comes across as an attack on the person to me. It doesn't really serve to further the discussion in my opinion.

I think the OP was misguided, I don't think there was any harm intended. Butting our heads and puffing our chests isn't going to make anything better. I don't think the OP is helping herself but she is being attacked from all directions, her reaction isn't totally surprising.

Well, for better or (especially) worse, this is not a discussion at a table. We would be, as a tendency, more polite but also have more clues as to the intent of the topic originator. Believe me, I do get where you're coming from, it's just not a case in which I believe the forum member in question needs to be defended - again, in my most humble opinion and based on what I read in the other thread. Peace out.

I haven't read any of this though it seems to be related to me. With all due respect (I don't know any of you) you can be assured that I am not fussed either way.

I care more about assessing a range of basses on the list of quantifiable criteria

And since I don't particularly like to talk about someone in third person if present: good to know you didn't take offense because none of this was meant to be offensive - I'm not really into it unless provoked, as I said, and also as I said, I kind of knew you can take care of yourself in an Internet forum.

EDIT: to be thorough (but I implied it throughout) and to the point, I'm among those who think the "best bass" thing is an absurd question, so I'll bow out.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

All you have shown is that comfort is subjective - which I previously agreed to (it was a throw together list so my apologies for not getting it right straight up). The rest of it, you have yet to show these cannot be quantified and hence a bass rated against them.

The truth is sustain, clarity, tone range, balance and output can be objectively measured - it would actually be quite interesting to see this rated across a range of basses (yes, and statistics has ways of addressing production variances).


From these results, whether you care to pay the extra cash to have the bass with the most sustain and tone range....that is up to you.

The truth is that sustain, clarity, tone range, balance and output can be ojectively measured but that will not determine which one is objectively best. One would have to determine that criteria in order to determine which is "best." Since there are no objective ways of determining the best that is impossible.

The "best" is a matter of opinion. I am sorry to tell you this but that is not a matter that is up for debate.

 

[lbbc]

I think the best bass is subjective......for me... my 1986 Alembic Persuader has stood the test of time. Next to that a 2013

Dave Pushic Custom Bass....made of the "best of the best" materials of every bass that I've ever owned

 

[lbbc]

I think the best bass is subjective......for me... my 1986 Alembic Persuader has stood the test of time. Next to that a 2013 View attachment 716752 View attachment 716755 Dave Pushic Custom Bass....made of the "best of the best" materials of every bass that I've ever owned

 

[Lowness]

The truth is that sustain, clarity, tone range, balance and output can be ojectively measured but that will not determine which one is objectively best. One would have to determine that criteria in order to determine which is "best." Since there are no objective ways of determining the best that is impossible.

The "best" is a matter of opinion. I am sorry to tell you this but that is not a matter that is up for debate.

They way I see it:

More ranges of tone = better
More sustain = better
Balanced = better
Stronger out put = better
Clear = better

Money aside, would you choose to have less tone range, less sustain, unbalanced, less output, and murky sounds?

Remember, this is money aside - whether you need this for a purpose, is another matter - not needing a bass that ranks highest on these items doesn't make the bass any worse.

 

[PsyDocHill]

They are terrible basses.

Really - the most underwhelming things I have played.

"Underwhelming" for you. The Stingray5 H is my go-to bass. As such it's my "best."

 

[Lowness]

It is like a car - you can objectively rate a $200k car as better than a $50k car.

Whether you care to have the extra options for $150k is another matter entirely (subjective) though the $200k car is still a better car.


More sustain = better than less sustain

More tone range = better than less tone range

More stable neck = better than less stable neck.

etc. etc.

All of these are measurable.

 

[Matt O]

An by the way, many aspects of a bass can be quantified and rated, unlike a colour.

Sustain
Neck stability
Weight
Tone clarity
Tone range
Comfort
Balance
Output

etc etc.

If you do this, you will come out with what is technically the best bass. Maybe a PhD is required.

Well, I typed all your criteria into the best bass algorithm machine and this is what it came up with:

Enjoy your Warlock!

Don't even try to argue with this, I used math.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

They way I see it:

More ranges of tone = better
More sustain = better
Balanced = better
Stronger out put = better
Clear = better

Money aside, would you choose to have less tone range, less sustain, unbalanced, less output, and murky sounds?

Remember, this is money aside - whether you need this for a purpose, is another matter - not needing a bass that ranks highest on these items doesn't make the bass any worse.

I have highlighted the operative part of your post, this is how YOU see it.

There are plenty of bassists who want less sustain. I know guys who immediately remove any hi-mass bridges and drop in a bent plate.
"Clear" isn't really clear at all. If you think clarity is the best feature you should read up on "mudbuckers," plenty of people prefer them for their murky sound.
Stronger output does not mean better pickups that is a very common misconception. Just because pickups are louder than others does not make the tone more desirable.

I hope this helps you understand why "the best" isn't for everybody, only for yourself.

 

[Lowness]

I have highlighted the operative part of your post, this is how YOU see it.

There are plenty of bassists who want less sustain. I know guys who immediately remove any hi-mass bridges and drop in a bent plate.
"Clear" isn't really clear at all. If you think clarity is the best feature you should read up on "mudbuckers," plenty of people prefer them for their murky sound.
Stronger output does not mean better pickups that is a very common misconception. Just because pickups are louder than others does not make the tone more desirable.

I hope this helps you understand why "the best" isn't for everybody, only for yourself.

Ok,

The way the entire world of economics sees it..................