Does it really matter?

[Evil Undead]

Long story short, I don't play in bands at the moment and have two basses. One has an amazing tone and plays ok, the other plays great, and sounds ok.

I keep thinking I should sell one but never can decide which! Which is more important for playing bass by myself, tone or playability?

I know that audiences don't notice tone but I am my own audience...

 

[lomo]

Love is blind. Keep the one you love most....and if you cannot decide which you love most, keep them both

 

[chuck norriss]

how about take the neck off the second one and put it on thte first one but you have to keep the strings from the first unless they have to go with the second

 

[D. Gallis]

you can always modify the instrument

 

[PullThePlug]

I've been playing for about 10 years, and I prefer playability over tone. Tone can be fixed later on with a better amplification system and improvements to technique (very important!)

 

[chuck norriss]

 

[cnltb]

Long story short, I don't play in bands at the moment and have two basses. One has an amazing tone and plays ok, the other plays great, and sounds ok.

I keep thinking I should sell one but never can decide which! Which is more important for playing bass by myself, tone or playability?

I know that audiences don't notice tone but I am my own audience...

Just have them both set up really really well and then see if the ok sounding one sounds a lot better and the ok playing one plays really well. Then ask yourself again if you really wanna sell one of them.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

Mediocre tone can easily be fixed. A mediocre player will usually remain a mediocre player even after a hefty investment.

 

[mcarp555]

Why do you have to sell one?

 

[kodiakblair]

With Mike the Militant Leftie here.

Why the need to sell ? Is one eating you out of house and home ?

 

[Jaco Taco]

Here are two sage words of advice concerning basses:

NEVER

SELL

Keep your basses, all of them. You'll never know if years down the line you will really want to still have a bass that you sold. Never Sell.

 

[wrench45us]

I was just talking about this very question to an online friend. Playability wins out. I have a nice classic precision tone on one bass, when I play it, it doesn't feel al that bad -- until I play the other and that one feels so effortless, then I realize how much goes into wrestling with the classic tone bass. So the classic tone sits in the corner and I play the other.

But I'm not getting rid of that bass-- at least not till I find something that suits me and sounds as good.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Sell them both and buy one bass that excels in both aspects.

 

[zontar]

 

[Awesome Sauce]

Nothing really matters......to me.

 

[Matthew_84]

Sounds like you need one that plays great and sounds great... Maybe get rid of both to afford the one bass you really want?

 

[zontar]

Nothing really matters......to me.

 

[kevteop]

I know from BC you have some issues with physically playing the bass, so don't get rid of the most comfortable bass you own.

 

[4andnomore]

Sell them both and buy one bass that excels in both aspects.

+1 Plenty of great p-basses out there - no need to compromise

 

[zontar]

Now for my serious reply...
I will always choose a bass or guitar on feel over other factors, as you can't really change feel (At least as far as I define feel)
Playability is connected, but can be improved.
Sound can be improved (To a point anyway)

So between the two Playability would be something I'd pick second (After feel)