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Most Playable Bass?

#41
Malak the Mad said:
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. :cool: :thumbsup:

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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)! :thumbsup:
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That thing is simply gorgeous. And I don't throw that word around very much.

For me, I have to go with one I never owned. At Carter Vintage in Nashville this past summer or fall I ran into a refin '63 P bass. I almost bought that thing for the price of a small used car. I don't even play 4 strings much or I would have. That thing played itself and sounded like the left hand of God on a 20 foot Steinway.
 
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#46
In my current stable, my go to for playability and sound right now is my G&L LB-100. But my most playable neck is my '98 '62 AVRI Jazz...it's just too thin sounding in my band setting for some reason. I'm gas'n for an SB-2 with #8 neck, which I think would give me the best of both worlds.
 
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#48
I play 3 incredibly well set up basses with low action that are a real pleasure to play.
Mod Q5, Mod Bassstar Fretless and American Deluxe Fender J.

But the single best set up on a bass I've ever played had to be a Steinberg XL-2 owned by Matt Malley - who was an acquaintance before he joined the Counting Crows. (I am pretty sure he's no longer in that band.)

You could practically breath on the neck and sweet round tones would come out....
 
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#53
kittywithabanjo said:
My Fodera.View attachment 1032715
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I can agree to this, I had the opportunity to play a friends Fodera 5, it played easy. It was great. Best I have ever played. Here is the ugly one, I have a between bass-bass which is a Squier VM jag, has the jazz neck, tight action that plays easy. But the jag shape does not fit when I sit on a stool. the bottom cut-out does not sit on my leg
 
#54
Wal Pro One fretless, as in my avatar.

I had a fretted 5-string Yamaha BB somethingorother for a while which would be second, such a comfortable and playable instrument and very cheap s/h.
 
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#56
Isn't this like asking, what's the most comfortable pair of shoes?

All my instruments are set up to be comfortable, my Alembic, my Fender PJBS and my Warmoth Fretless J are all exceptionally comfortable. My LB-100 is a little chunkier, as a P-bass should be and my Hayman still needs a few tweeks to be as smooth as my Warmoth fretless.
 
#59
I own 3 Fender Jazz basses, all with maple fretboards and the so called dreaded 3 bolt micro tilt adjustment.

I am now officially a microtilt expert, I can achieve the greatest setups I have ever had by adjusting my necks almost perfectly straight with minamil relief. Combine that with slamming the saddles of the Badass II down as low as it goes then raising ever so slightly to achieve super low playable action.

I play at the bridge position as well.
All three are main players and are all around 9.3 lbs.

Great players.

All 3 are MIJ BTW.
 

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