Does it really matter?

[Baird6869]

Funny!

That was my first dance wedding song in 1995. We got sick of the parents wanting crappy Disney inspired crap from Phil Collins or Elton John, so we picked this. Big 250 people wedding too. Our friends loved it!

Jason played almost every bass he had then except the Jazz I own that was his in the late 90's/early 80's!

 

[ofajen]

Maybe you just stop thinking you should sell one?

Otto

 

[chuck norriss]

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.

that's like 30 words

 

[chuck norriss]

 

[chuck norriss]

great photo isnt it even though their eyes don't show[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[SirChallsA]

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

I was going to suggest this exact thing. Sell them both, get a bad ass 5 string and don't need for anything after that.

 

[Malak the Mad]

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

I, too, gotta throw in with this sentiment.

I did much the same thing earlier this year when I realized I was getting lousy with Jazzes. I did a ton of research, built up a list of criteria (sonic and ergonomic), determined what "IT" was and started scouring the internet. Eventually, I found what I was looking for from Guitar Center's used database. After doing an over-the-phone layaway payment to secure it, I schlepped my two Jazzes, checked "IT" out and really, really dug what the had to offer. A pair of trades and a little extra cash for the remainder and BOOM!…"IT" is now "MINE".

 

[DennyOnBass]

Yeah, the goal is to have a bass that both sounds AND plays great. Either figure out the best way to upgrade one of them or ditch both.

 

[hamfistUK]

Yeah, the goal is to have a bass that both sounds AND plays great. Either figure out the best way to upgrade one of them or ditch both.

That's what I would do too.

 

[Dead Set Dave]

It's a totally hard question to answer. I would probably say tone is what's important to me. I love playing the hell out of my bass with distortion and crazy EQ (that would never work with my band) when I'm by myself. That being said it's nice to sit in front of the TV with my P-Bass. It's lighter than my other basses, and has a lighter action so I can play it unplugged for hours and enjoy it.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

If you don't have to sell, don't. You will never know how much you will like a new bass after a month or two of playing.

 

[darrenmt]

You should sell both basses and invest in bagpipes or an accordion.

 

[Evil Undead]

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

Nah, won't fit. Both very different basses.

you can always modify the instrument

True. I have put Dimarzio pickups in the Squier which improved the tone from stock, a lot, but it's still missing something. The other one's an active jazz type with two band EQ, sounds amazing.

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.

They're both set up as well as possible really. Low action, light gauge strings. I think it's as good as will get.

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

Very true. I'm definitely one of those. haha.

Why do you have to sell one?

With Mike the Militant Leftie here.

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

I don't have to. In the OP, I said "I keep thinking I should sell one". Not have to. But I'm not likely to be in bands again, so I don't really need two. The money would come in handy.

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

Yeah. I've had so many basses though, I don't think I'm ever going to know what bass I really want.

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.

Very true.

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

Who said I want a p-bass? I'm into j-basses.

 

[kodiakblair]

Wow Evil

That's a lot of posts to reply to. If the money would be handy sell one, no question. Can't help you decide which one though

 

[chuck norriss]

In that case I'd keep the player and get a good pedal that will make it sound mo-better what basses are we talking about here oh I know keep the one that looks better on your person who cares about sound or playability

 

[M.R. Ogle]

My favorite analogy is this:
It's like owning a team of racing cars. One is faster, so tune on the other one and try to get IT as fast as the first one.

So, try different strings, work on the action and neck relief, maybe try some different electronics. Experiment. Of course, if it's just the neck/body contours that make your other bass feel so much better, then you have a lot less options to work with.

 

[bluesdogblues]

I vote for better 'tone'.

 

[elBandito]

I say tone AND playability. You can have both on one bass.

 

[bluesdogblues]

I say tone AND playability. You can have both on one bass.

You're right.. Both,..(and probably some other aspects) in the same bass.
BUT...if I HAVE to choose ONLY ONE of TWO..........

 

[HolmeBass]

Ok, so selling one would help out. I say keep the better feeling one.

Tone can be influenced a lot by signal processing. I feel like a well-made bass's tone must be good, it just needs to find the right amp and signal chain. IME the bass-amp match up is like a game of rock/paper/scissors. Sometimes one bass sounds great with this amp, and flat with another one, while a different bass is the exact opposite. You can also work on strings, setup, pre-amps; there are so many ways to work on tone.

Although others feel that there is a fact of "you can't polish a turd into a diamond" but like I said, *if* you start with the assumption that the bass is fundamentally well-made, then there is a good tone inside of it waiting to be coaxed out. That's my opinion.