How Long Before You Adjust to a New Bass?

[Kubicki Fan]

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.

I agree with this. I have short, medium and long scale basses with varying nut widths and they were all love at first touch, even the SX 5-string fretless. This is not to say that scale length and nut width don`t matter to me, at all; or that all my basses are high-end instruments.

 

[Yahboy]

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.

Maybe that is the different between 24 fret vs 21 fret , pickups placement , your plucking hand arm rest location and different size bass body while hang on your shoulder.

I play Yamaha trbx, ibby SR and fender/Squier jbass. But not much different on neck profile, but trbx has better neck feel than jazz bass myself.

 

[Jefenator]

I've been able to adjust to all kinds of different electric bass necks. (It's the tone & response I get really fussy about.)
Unfortunately, YMMV.
FWIW I tried a mandolin a few years ago and thought I could never, ever get used to that. But I got one anyway and it eventually started to make sense. (With some lockdown woodshedding, it's becoming downright familiar!)
It seems to me like most bass players should with practice be able to at least cope with a J neck. Ultimately loving & preferring it may be another matter.
This is one big reason I like to buy used. If I don't bond with a thing after an extended tryout, I can sell it at a slight loss (I think of it as a "rental fee"), break even or even turn a profit if I'm lucky.

 

[Eidolon0274]

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!

Or in your case, none of that Jazz....

 

[burgerdj]

If it doesn't feel right in the hand and on a strap, it doesn't come home with me. It's not that I want all my basses to feel the same, but they all have to feel right. I look back to my younger self and now believe this perspective only comes with experience - both good and bad.

 

[Spidey2112]

How long did you stay on the P neck?

Maybe a year, year and a half. It was in rotation with the P neck, so... way more of a Jazz neck fan boi, that's all. More comfortable, for me.

 

[Mechayoshi]

Some good points are brought up here. Recently I acquired an instrument that was a different shape (explorer) than usual. This affected both how it was in my lap and on the shoulder so there were several 'unfamiliar' things about this new instrument but at the same time there were plenty of things 'comfortable' about it too (neck, weight, feel) . Shortly I got used to it and can switch back and forth.

That's the key. If something is different but still comfortable you'll likely come around. If something is different but uncomfortable be wary.

 

[micguy]

The adjustment time depends on a few things. When I started playing 5's a while ago, that took a while. As you get older, sometimes you find yourself walking through the halls of your work, and suddenely having no idea where you're going. I had the musical equivalent of that a few times during my initial practicing on 5 strings - everything was so different, I'd get lost, when on a 4, I just never got lost.

On the other end, a year or so later, I just built a new 5'er. Now that I'm familiar with one, I built this one with the same neck profile, string spacing, etc. - the physical part of playing it is identical to a couple other basses I have. Adjustment time? - none, really.

 

[Mechanical]

Me? Right away.

I have a Kiesel PB4 that felt right from the first note.That's an expensive bass for me.

I just bought a Yamaha TRBX305. That also felt right from the first note. It was a relatively cheap bass.

I've owned a couple of basses (Cort Rithimic V and Ibanez SRMS805) that I sold soon after I bought them because they just didn't feel right. (Also, the Cort's build quality was awful.)

 

[Eilif]

I've adjusted to necks that are slightly different from my ideal, but never to one that feels off or "not right".

There are so many great instruments at so many price points that I'd never recommend a person buy a bass that doesn't feel good, sound good or look good to them.

 

[CallMeAl]

Or in your case, none of that Jazz....

Failed to mention, it's a Jazz neck on the P bass. So some of that jazz

 

[CallMeAl]

Maybe a year, year and a half. It was in rotation with the P neck, so... way more of a Jazz neck fan boi, that's all. More comfortable, for me.

I mean, it's been 20 years of 1.5" nuts for me, it's in my constitution. I've tried a bunch of P basses in stores over the months after the swap, but my J neck just feels like home. I think it's just my ego talking!

 

[Lagado]

I'm not too concerned about neck profiles as long as it's not a tree trunk. But I do like full width spacing, and the bridge pickup no further back than a Jazz bass. Too much tension, I like to play over the pickups for the ramp effect. 3mm action at the last fret and 1mm neck relief. If it fits that bill, I'll get used to it straight away.

 

[PWRL]

I learned not to buy a bass with the expectation that I'll eventually get used to it. I either like it quickly or I don't.

 

[bobyoung53]

The more you play a new bass,the quicker you get used to it.

Allen Woody didn't have problems playing different basses.
View attachment 4068489

I saw him at an outside gig during the late 90's in VT, great sound and great player, he was using SVT's when I saw him, forgot the bass, I only saw three tunes, my father was there and it was too loud for him.

 

[JoePDX]

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.

In my case I know pretty quick and my opinion hasn't changed much as I've acclimated, the first impression usually holds long term... I've been using a Sire P7 as the only instrument in the house for all of this lockdown so far...it's never felt comfortable to me and even after playing nothing else for several months. Bought myself an Ibanez EHB a couple weeks back and it instantaneously clicked and has felt purpose-built for me - every time I grab it it just feels *right*. The Sire is a beautifully made instrument and sounds great - and it'll keep chilling in a guitar stand until it finds a new home because I hate how it feels.

 

[bobyoung53]

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.

Depends on the bass and what you're used to. Over the years I have gotten used to many different basses, just keep playing it and you will get used to it.

 

[Auspuff]

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.

As soon as a new Bass gets into my hot, little, hands, it goes off to my Luthier for an overall inspection, and adjustments, if needed.

 

[Johnny Fingers]

I have a main bass and spare which is neck heavy and feels like a log by comparison. It sounds good but I rarely use it so I'll never get used to it and that's fine.

 

[Sean150]

If I get the chance to buy a bass I will only buy it if I like the feel immediately. Even when I do I will often go through another adaptation period of not liking it before settling in to the groove. I don't think I have ever bought a tool (golf club, camera, computer) where I could not use it comfortably first and I would be scared of trying.