Most Playable Bass?

[64lusso]

My MTD 435 is the best playing bass I have, its a combination of the neck shape and the Wenge wood I think. My MTD Kingston 4 is also pretty darn good especially considering it origins. Of course what is my current go to bass? My 66 P bass with flats which is not the easiest to play creature I own by a long shot!

 

[jd56hawk]

This beaut, my '89 G&L L-2000.
View attachment 1033027

Ha, beat ya to it @jd56hawk !

Bridge looks great in black.
Powdercoated, right?

 

[mikeyjm2]

I don't have a good pic of it, but I have a MIA Fender Jazz Deluxe (2011) I keep going back to. I absolutely love the neck on it - white binding w/ block inlays.

 

[buzzbass]

Mid 90s Zon Sonus 5

 

[inthebassclef]

My lakland 4460

 

[twinjet]

I find this quite comfortable.

Bridge looks great in black.
Powdercoated, right?

Black crinkle is what it's called. I don't know exactly what G&L did to it.

 

[jd56hawk]

I've only seen them a few times.
Definitely wish they offered an option.

 

[static0verdrive]

A toss-up between my Squier James Johnston sig jazz and my Fender AVRI'75. The Fender is tear-jerkingly sweet, but I really dig the smaller frets of that JJj.

 

[Warpeg]

I had a 2006 or 2007 Fender MIA Standard Jazz that was the most comfortable bass I've played. The neck fit my left hand perfectly and the weight sat very well on my right leg while sitting. Tone wise, it was average, however.

 

[micguy]

I have a small herd of basses I've built for myself. After a few "experiments" (later donated) where I figured out what I do and don't like, I'm able to build myself basses that really work for me almost all the time. Even if they sometimes have

surprising features. This one is "The Holey Bass" I play it in church a lot - somehow seems appropriate.

 

[Nickweissmusic]

This one is playable by 2 bassists at once, so definitely in the running for most playable.

Derek

• Nickweissmusic
• Jan 17, 2017
• 1
• double neck

Smalls

 

[Thunder_Fingers]

My '06 Peavey Cirrus USA 4. I have owned quite a few basses, but this one have something "special" even if I absolutly loathe the ABM bridge.

In terms of how low the strings can go however: A newly plecked ESP Horizon II bass. Got them so low that it was uncomfortable, most of you will probaly call that playable.

 

[Brian Reihms]

Anything made by New York Bass Works and Skjold...effortless playability.

 

[joinercape]

I have also owned a lot of electric basses, and built more than a few. But in all honesty the most perfectly built, set up, and all around playable instruments I ever had the pleasure to own were two NYC Sadowsky basses, the vintage 4 P in my avatar, and a vintage 5er....Roger and company have it down.
With uprights, it's definitely Gary Upton's instruments.

 

[Ric Vice]

I can't think of an easier playing instrument than my Lakland 55-94.
Lightweight, great sound, and most importantly the neck is extremly playable. Lakland Skylines are less expensive and very close to the Lakland U.S.A.'s
Ric

 

[Systolic]

Honestly any small bodied and reasonable necked basses feel super comfy for me.

The first that come to mind though:

Spector 4's
Warwick - Corvette's, Streamers, and Thumbs.
EBMM Sterling's

after playing 5's & 6's for so long, 4's all feel like fighter jets.

 

[Ballin'bass]

Besides my Carl Thompson, I'd have to say it's my Modulus Quantum 4. Super low action and perfect neck shape. Light weight too.

 

[Kubicki Fan]

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.

I second that. G&L's are very playable; to the point that I get withdrawal symptoms if I don't practice. Couldn't choose between the lb100 and the m25k and I won't.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

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.

+1

Love my ABZ-5, w/Dingwall nickel rounds. Feels incredible, balances beautifully, super-low action doesn't change with the seasons. Recessed strap lock in the back of the body moves the whole bass to the right just enough, that the first fret on the 37" B string is closer to my left hand than the 1st fret on a 34" Fender. Under 8lb, as well.

The only thing I've played that is more sleek, is the Dingwall Z series, but I find them too much of a good thing. I prefer the slightly thicker neck and body on the ABZ, as I'm a pretty big guy.

If I was shorter or had smaller hands, my #1 would be a 4-string Dingwall Super P or Super J- Sheldon's short-scale basses. Imagine what a Fender Aerodyne would be like, if Fender had them made by super-genius space aliens in a rocket factory...

 

[pcake]

if i had to pick on, my green ibanez mikro, but honestly my favorite neck is on the SUB ray4 and the mikro's body is insanely comfortable. if i could find a short scale neck with a profile like the SUB ray4, a gloss or semi gloss neck and a very small body with angles on the upper bout like the mikro, i'd be a happy camper.