• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Best Playing vs. Best Sounding

At this current point in time I'm really happy with how everything I own plays AND sounds. They all play like butter, but some just don't sit in the mix well with the band I play with. Which is probably through my own fault becuase it the actives that I have the issue with, so it has to be EQing short comings.
 
  • Like
Reactions: timendous
For me,there is no "Best"
Each one of my basses has it's own sound.
And a different technique is used on each of them.
IMG_1476.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Status Graphite vs Westone Thunder 1-A.
Both sound good but the Status plays easier, but the Westones sound how I want them, so that's what I use, all the time. I'd have to buy a Shuker/Burnel bass to do significantly better. I might then get the ideal match of both qualities, but at nearly ten times the cost. I'm considering doing it, but I don't think my playing justifies it. I'll wait for the day someone hears it and can convince me. :) But I won't hold my breath waiting.
 
  • Like
Reactions: timendous
Provided the weight and neck profile and the basic baked-in tone is in my ballpark, I can adjust a bass to where it plays well AND sounds good. In fact, all of mine are adjusted to the same set of setup numbers.

Why would I settle for only one instead of both? A bass that sounds great but is difficult to play (or the reverse of that) is of no use to me. I've never heard a bass that sounded so uniquely fine that I'd fight the action.
 
  • Like
Reactions: timendous
1) keep the Harley Benton. There’s a lot you can do to cheaply fix a bland sounding bass. There’s not a lot you can do to cheaply fix a poor playing bass.

2) Yes. Through Trial, GAS, and Error I’ve whittled my basses down to the four basses that both play the best, and sound the best for something.

^THIS^
 
Best sounding, for me, depends on too many variables (genre, project, other instruments, style, individual song, etc). A best sounding bass I would use in a variety band with keyboards, cleaner guitars, vocal harmonies, etc would be different than my best sounding bass for a heavy metal band