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How Long Before You Adjust to a New Bass?

Mr Cheese

Mr Cheese

Nov 8, 2019
453
619
Buffalo, NY
#1
So about an hour ago me and my friend went to the local GC to check out the Black Friday deals. I went and tried out a MIM Precision and MIM Jazz (Pau Ferro) into a Rumble 200 combo. Both basses sounded good, however I preferred the Jazz sound. Turns out it was %15 off, and buying it was on my mind. But I didn't because it didn't feel very good in my hand. Same with the P. They were both setup good (as far as I could tell), and they both sounded great to me, but it was quite uncomfortable to play. I was unable to play some songs that I could easily nail on my Yamaha. Is this normal? How long before I adjust to the feel of it? I'm still thinking about how good the J sounded; I'd really like to get it, but not if can't play it.
 
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#3
I'm still trying to adjust to my first one! :eek:

Seriously though, I have a hard time going back and forth among different types of basses and/or guitars. My solution has been to buy multiples of the same type and put different pickups, strings, tunings on them for a little variety. It seems others don't have any problem switching things up, but that's not me.
 
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#4
I’m thoroughly a one-bass guy. I have a backup but hardly ever play it. I’m noticing and comparing all the little details, how it doesn’t feel like “my” bass. And the longer I’ve had it, the wider the gap grows...

Im sure I could adapt to another if needed, but I’d guess it would take a good 30 days.
 
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#6
Bought an MIM Precision a couple of years ago, sight unseen, but knew the neck to be slightly larger than what I'm used to. I play out of 'the money zone' quite a bit and noticed I was having difficulty playing songs in those areas of the board.

My solution was to snatch up either a Jazz neck, or as luck would have it, a Precision Bass Special neck (Jazz spec'd).

Problem solved.

Other basses? Depending on how much you practice with them, maybe a couple of weeks? Headless is another story.
 
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#7
i have never adjusted to a bass that isn't comfortable and easy to play, and i've tried several times with basses i really wanted to like. spent months with them, weeks playing only them. never has worked for me. YMMV.

i do have one bass that slows me down slightly, but it's fun to play and i don't try to play fast stuff on it.
 
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#8
The more you play a new bass,the quicker you get used to it.

Allen Woody didn't have problems playing different basses.
Allen Woody.jpg
 
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#10
CallMeAl said:
I’m thoroughly a one-bass guy. I have a backup but hardly ever play it. I’m noticing and comparing all the little details, how it doesn’t feel like “my” bass. And the longer I’ve had it, the wider the gap grows...

Im sure I could adapt to another if needed, but I’d guess it would take a good 30 days.
Click to expand...

The main thing keeping me from every owning more than 1 or 2 basses at a time.

If they are different, i compare them and choose a favorite.

If i own two of a "favorite", I will notice that one sounds or plays better than the other and favor one of them. I've literally owned a string of identical high-end CNC made custom shop basses and noticed differences in them all. Neurosis :(

I can play or adapt to any bass on the spot to play normal gig-type stuff, but to find and adjust to a bass that I can really flow or shred on without thinking is just really difficult, and then GAS hits and i sell it and start all over.
 
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#12
A bass should play well and feel good to you immediately. There shouldn't be an adjustment period (with the exception of perhaps moving from a 4 to a 5 or 6 string bass; and that's just because you're learning to integrate the additional string(s) into your playing style).

Buying a bass that doesn't feel or play well is like buying a pair of shoes thinking they'll break in someday.
 
Last edited:
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#13
Spidey2112 said:
Bought an MIM Precision a couple of years ago, sight unseen, but knew the neck to be slightly larger than what I'm used to. I play out of 'the money zone' quite a bit and noticed I was having difficulty playing songs in those areas of the board.

My solution was to snatch up either a Jazz neck, or as luck would have it, a Precision Bass Special neck (Jazz spec'd).
Click to expand...
How long did you stay on the P neck? For me, it was about 6 weeks between Precision NBD and my neck swap. But that whole time I kept switching back and forth, never fully committed. Sometimes I wonder if I threw in the towel too easily...
 
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#16
Eidolon0274 said:
The main thing keeping me from every owning more than 1 or 2 basses at a time.

If they are different, i compare them and choose a favorite.

If i own two of a "favorite", I will notice that one sounds or plays better than the other and favor one of them. I've literally owned a string of identical high-end CNC made custom shop basses and noticed differences in them all. Neurosis :(

I can play or adapt to any bass on the spot to play normal gig-type stuff, but to find and adjust to a bass that I can really flow or shred on without thinking is just really difficult, and then GAS hits and i sell it and start all over.
Click to expand...
For a while I had a P and a PJ. Nearly identical weight and necks, only main difference was the J bridge pickup. I just couldn’t bond with the PJ...

Sold that for a Jazz style bass. Thought the different pickup configurations would inspire me, but the J simply doesn’t and I’m back to my main squeeze anyway.

Ce sera sera, live and learn, and all that jazz!
 

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