In the world of basses, and just instruments in general, playability of an instrument is a major key to the musician. What is the best playing bass you have ever played/own(ed)?
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Most Playable Bass?
- Thread starter Jhu32
- Start date
Have to give it to the Schecter in my Avatar. It's beat to hell now and rarely gets played as I put it down a few years ago but the light weight combined with it's absolutely fantastic low action makes it the clear front runner in terms of playability. I own 9 basses.
Peavey T40. But I've been told it weighs much more than other basses. I've also been told I weigh much more than other bassists too.
For my playing, the Fender USA Geddy Lee Jazz.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
My main player is a '75 J body, '73
neck bass which I've owned for over 30 years. A little heavy, but plays and sounds like a dream. But you might say I am a little accustomed to it.
neck bass which I've owned for over 30 years. A little heavy, but plays and sounds like a dream. But you might say I am a little accustomed to it.
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My Ibanez basses are super comfortable to play. Light with thin necks. The same goes for my Fender Precision Lyte. But, I'd have to say my Warwick RB Starbass is the most comfortable. Neck is pretty thin, and being a 32" scale means fingers don't have to stretch as far. I just wish is was a little lighter.
Of the staggering number of basses I've owned, nothing plays quite like a Roscoe.
This one has been my #1 for a few years now, nothing has come close yet.
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This one has been my #1 for a few years now, nothing has come close yet.
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My EBMM stingray 5hh by far, if not that probably a lakland aj55 I played in some guitar shop last year or the frank bello esp sig
For me, its a tie between my USA Spector NS-4 and my CIJ Fender Geddy Lee Jazz.
Very different feeling basses, but they both have that "almost plays itself" thing going on.
Very different feeling basses, but they both have that "almost plays itself" thing going on.
The bass in my avatar. '57 CS P. I don't "love" the relic job but the feel of the back of the neck is incredible. Also doesn't hurt that it's under 8 lbs. plays like a dream.
My 2001 MIM Fender Deluxe j-bass that originally had Suhr era electronics.
The neck is slim and fast! It also has perfect weight and balance.
The neck is slim and fast! It also has perfect weight and balance.
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The best playing bass I've ever touched was a Dingwall ABI5 loaded with TI flats. It weighed 8.1 lbs, if it would have been a short scale I'd still own it. My SJ5XXX and SPJ5 Dingwalls may be as nice, but they aren't wearing TIs, just love the strings on them so no change til they die.
I absolutely love Aerodyne Jazz necks! And while I've been able to adapt to the sharper-edged forearm cut (FYI…it's a great way to teach you to keep your forearm up and off the body), I'm terribly happy with the Mighty Mite Jazz body I scored. 'Tis as lightweight as it is beautiful! So, I gotta go with my "Projekt Blue" parts-bass. 
EDIT: Upon further reflection, I feel the need to give a big ol' Honorable-Mention/Shout-Out to the Squier Classic Vibe Jazz. Every one I've encountered has been incredibly "playable", neck and body alike. And they sound pretty damn good too! If I found myself ever in need of an amazing bang-for-the-buck in a hurry, I'd snap one up in a heartbeat…doubly-so if it's a James Johnston-sig Jazz (basically, a CV-J in disguise)!
EDIT: Upon further reflection, I feel the need to give a big ol' Honorable-Mention/Shout-Out to the Squier Classic Vibe Jazz. Every one I've encountered has been incredibly "playable", neck and body alike. And they sound pretty damn good too! If I found myself ever in need of an amazing bang-for-the-buck in a hurry, I'd snap one up in a heartbeat…doubly-so if it's a James Johnston-sig Jazz (basically, a CV-J in disguise)!
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My Musicman SUB which I've had for give or take 5 ish years at this point. I bought it I believe the end of my first semester in college and all and it's been sweat on, dealt with getting worn in via garage band practices in the middle of Texas summers.
I kind of think you kind of get accustomed to instruments as well, just how they feel and sound and where the notes are and all of that as well.
I kind of think you kind of get accustomed to instruments as well, just how they feel and sound and where the notes are and all of that as well.
Best I've tried was a Dingwall Super J with P/J pickups. It played beautifully, and I got used to the fanned frets in about 20 seconds.
Best I've owned was a 2006 G&L L-1500 with the #8 neck (1.5" nut, 12" radius). I ended up selling it, and about a year later saw a guy hang it up on the wall at GC after testing it, who said, "That's the best playing bass I've ever tried." (I know it was mine because it had the hex key saddle adjustment screws I installed.) It really was spectacular in that respect. I now have two G&L's with the #8 neck and they both have excellent playability that's close to that L-1500, but not quite there.
Best I've owned was a 2006 G&L L-1500 with the #8 neck (1.5" nut, 12" radius). I ended up selling it, and about a year later saw a guy hang it up on the wall at GC after testing it, who said, "That's the best playing bass I've ever tried." (I know it was mine because it had the hex key saddle adjustment screws I installed.) It really was spectacular in that respect. I now have two G&L's with the #8 neck and they both have excellent playability that's close to that L-1500, but not quite there.
Guild Pilots from the mid 80's to early 90's, the pre-Fender ones. Fast, slim neck, light weight, tight string spacing, just ergonomically correct (for me at least). I still have one, but it doesn't get used that much now. The original J pickup and pot died and I replaced them... but not happy with the replacements. But I've got reincarnation plans for it still. Going to drop new pickups like the originals back in it.
