Most Comfortable Bass

Everybody is going to have different taste when it comes to feel.

Here are my choices.

1. Peavey Cirrus. Perfect neck. Effortless playability, for me. Only gripe is that the string spacing is a bit tight for my taste.

2. Zon Sonus. Neck really close in comfort to a Cirrus, again, the string spacing is a little too narrow.

3. Pedulla Rapture with the 19mm spacing option. Perfect spacing. Neck is more comfortable for me than any I have played except for the Zon and the Cirrus.

I really want to try one of the new Zons with 19mm spacing. That would probably be my dream neck, and bass.

 

The bass that feels the best and most comfortable in my hands is my Gibson Thunderbird. Yes, many will call it a headstock-diving, cramped upper-register beast, but back when I went on my first quality bass-quest in '91 or so, I played probably over 100 basses, and the moment I picked up the T-Bird, I knew I had found the "one." I am not sure exactly what it is, but the neck is thin, and the strings are taught (34.5" scale), and gosh darn it, it just feels good!

And for the record, it sounds pretty killer to, in my book. No matter how I amp it or record it, the Thunderbird always seems to retain the punch, power, and clarity that I go for.

Tom.

 

Fender Jazz and P-Basses. But, my Modulus VJ is probably the most comfy bass I have ever picked up. Although, I owned a Gibson SG-Z a few years back and that thing fit me like a glove. I'd love to pick up another one of those some day....

 

My Tune basses (Bass Maniac fretted and fretless) are damned comfy. I'm selling the fretted for something with a more vintage tone, but the Soundgear style body (Ibanez stole the design from Tune), thin neck, and ultra-lightweight body mean I can play for hours without any trouble.

My buddy's 1970 p-bass is comfy, too, in an old bluejeans kind of way. The Tune is more like a lycra bodysuit or something -- everything fits tightly and perfectly. On the Fender, it sort of hangs right.

Maybe it's too early to be writing...

 

My Fender Jazz (MIA '94) with LaBella Flats and the neck on my 5 String warrior is great, but I already own those... the one that I picked up a while ago that was really comfy.. The Elrick 'NY Guitar and Bass Boutique' Model... The Radius of the board, string spacing and the way it sat without a strap was well-balanced.

 

what do you mean by all that? im looking to buy an epiphone t-bird, and i havent been in the bass world long enough to understand what those terms mean.

 

'Neck Dive'=Heavy Headstock, tends to not balance well... many of my basses do that, but I can live with it. Some can't.

'cramped upper-register beast'= Not easy to solo on the higher notes, due to body shape and construction (i.e Neck-thru/bolt-on heel joint issues).

'help?

 

My Warwick Thumb is by far the most comfortable bass I've ever played, one of the main reasons I bought it. Neck dive doesn't bother me though, so that could be why I like it so much and others don't.

 

The first Zon I played was one of those Sonus 5/19...and the only Zon I played too...but I want it sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo bad!!!

 

thanks much for that bit of info

my current bass dives a bit, but the strap i have has 'grip' on the underside, so it sits ony my shoulder nicely. i barely every use the high notes anyway, im a metal fan

 

j-raj explained it well, but let me add that due to the Thunderbird's non-reverse design, you don't have the cutaway for your left hand to access the upper registers like you would with many other basses. However, I myself don't play up there too often, and when I do, I have learned to work around the extended lower "horn" on the T-Bird.

As for the heavey headstock with some folks complain about, it doesn't bother me at all. In fact, with a strap that has a little more friction to it (like suede, versus smooth leather), it doesn't dive on me at all.

Tom.

 

This is REALLY a personal preference thread. A Stage1 5 was VERY comfortable to me, and they weigh a ton!

 

the most comfortable bass i have played is the i banez egrodyne series. it plays great and comfortable. the tone isn't the best but i love it.

 

any one heard of the bass called raj? no one carries them around here but i saw one in the pawn shop for aroun 300....

 

MTD 535.

 

Another vote for Peavey Cirrus

 

Im officially voting for
1. Any of the 10 or so Fodera's I've played (never owned one). Those things just drip playability and comfort. From the small bodied, light monarch to the larger but still comfortable Imperial and emperor models, they all just feel soooo great.

2. Fender Jazz's and P's- for some reason, they all just feel like home to me. I own a Fender jazz 4, and am currently building a warmoth jazz fiver. I just enjoy the jazz feel immensely.

 

Yep, this is definately a personal preferences thing! I also think the comfort of the neck is a bit different from the overall comfort of the bass itself--there are comfortable bodies with necks that are not so comfortable, and vice versa.

Most comfortable overall: David King D-Bass, no doubt. The headless design, long upper horn, and arched, sculpted body just make it feel better strapped on than anything else I've played. Gives "well balanced" a whole new meaning.

Most comforable neck: either the assymmetrical MTD neck or the wide, flat, ultra-fast Curbow Rockwood neck.

Mike

 

Hey,
I play an M Bass, and it has to be one of the most comfortable basses I have EVER held!
The balance on it is wicked! You can hold it with one finger balencing evenly. It only weighs about 6 1/2 pounds.
And Looks, oh my! Theses things are art!! They are all oiled so you can see all the natural wood. Very beautiful!
The way it hugs your leg when you sit, rules! Also when you play standing up, because it is so light weight you don't feel much fatigue.
I know some people thing because it is light weight, it doesn't sound as good, but this is one of the best sounding basses I have played. It is VERY clean and clear with an awesome tone!
The neck is comfortable, and the string spacing is great. The builder will make both to you satisfaction.
I think this is they best way you can go to buy a new bass. The price was SUPER reasonable too!! Plus I can't think of anything I don't like about it! I'm in love with it! Check out the web site MBASSES.COM