General question

[DRut]

I have read a few posts about players, falling in love with a bass, because it feels right the action was perfect yada, yada yada. However isn't that more of a function of the person who setup the bass. Not the actual bass itself?

 

[Gorn]

I think there's a little bit of hyperbole when someone is professing love for an inanimate object. A really well made bass that's well set up is going to play better than a crappy bass that's really well set up.

 

[dc-upright]

Not IMO, to me it is sort of a spiritual experience! When an instrument is right it is just right! I have a P bass, an old upright and a Telecaster that I just knew from the beginning it was my instrument!

I went through a few Ps and 3 or 4 uprights before I found home!

 

[MuseChaser]

Setup is very important, but there are LOTS of variables that also influence just how comfortable and "playable" a certain bass is to an individual. Neck width, neck shape, scale, string spacing, texture of the neck, fingerboard texture, balance, shape of body, etc..... it's not all setup.

 

[DRut]

Ok those responses make sense to me. Its kind of like an old sweat shirt it just feels right.

 

[bholder]

I think there's a little bit of hyperbole when someone is professing love for an inanimate object

 

[fhm555]

Setup is very important, but there are LOTS of variables that also influence just how comfortable and "playable" a certain bass is to an individual. Neck width, neck shape, scale, string spacing, texture of the neck, fingerboard texture, balance, shape of body, etc..... it's not all setup.

For me, my preference is a Fender Jazz bass. Any Fender made variation of their Jazz bass is my ideal. Personal preference is no binding on the neck, but I can make a bound neck work for a sit in, but I won’t have one for regular use. As far as setup, if it’s a J with no neck issues I can set it up to where it feels right for me. I’m sure I’m missing out on a world of different flavors of bass, but I don’t feel cheated or slighted by my preferences. I can load different jazz basses with different pickup, string, and control choices and get just about any output I want, but for the ideal body shape and neck profile, give me a Fender Jazz and I’m a cappy hamper.

 

[Polfuste]

It's also about the player body and how the bass fit on it, how he can catch the F note on the E strings without too much fatigue in the left shoulder, the neck confort for his particular hands, etc.. i've had several basses like us all, and my last one (Mark bass Kimandu) is the better i've had so far. All seems to have been shaped for me. No fatigue, easy playing, killer sound.

 

[sissy kathy]

Setup is very important, but there are LOTS of variables that also influence just how comfortable and "playable" a certain bass is to an individual. Neck width, neck shape, scale, string spacing, texture of the neck, fingerboard texture, balance, shape of body, etc..... it's not all setup.

...as far as I'm concerned the setup is the icing on the cake. A good setup makes a good bass, a very good bass.