Most Playable Bass?

[davy4575]

This one, my current one, an Ibanez Mikro 28,6" scale (with EMG Geezer Butler pickups):

The Jerry Jones Longhorn 30" scale I once owned comes in a close second though.

I just dont understand the appeal of the short neck. I do understand the appeal of the Trace Elliot its sitting next to.

 

[davy4575]

I would have to say my 2001 Fender Zone P/J. love the action and the longer thinner neck compared to a jazz or a p. I would say my dean, because the neck on that is even longer and it has better accessability to higher frets past the octave but I cant stand the pickups on it so I hardly play it anymore.

 

[BassLover668]

Hofner 500/1 with labella flats.

 

[avalancheMM]

Right now my "cheap" cort elrick rb5 with aguilar super singles and ob-3 preamp. Just put fresh hipshot tuners on it and elixir strings

I'll put this up against anything

View attachment 1033170

Cort basses are pretty darn good, even before the mods, but I'll bet it's spectacular with the Aggies!

Regards,

 

[capnsandwich]

I'd say these 2 here are very playable and comfortable. I like the flatter radius on a fretboard and these 2 have that. I also played an MTD and a Skjold that were very nice playing basses.

 

[king_biscuit]

Looks like pretty much everything has been suggested in this thread, so the real answer is:

Any well made properly set up bass that you are used to.

 

[Ekulati]

Believe it or not for me it was my 90's LB70 Carvin...

Me too, my '98 LB70. The one in my avatar, still have it, and consider it number one. Koa and alder body...

 

[Hyball27]

G&L Asat, mid nineties. Very fast neck and sounded awesome.

 

[rmayer]

Definitely my Fodera Monarch Elite. Flat profile neck with vintage size frets makes it play effortlessly, semi-hollow body makes it balance perfectly. Stupid low action with no buzz. What more could you ask for? Besides this walnut top wood.

 

[Charlzm]

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.

I got to play one for a little while a few years ago. I was surprised at how light the bass was and how much I liked the neck. Tone was okay, too.

 

[Charlzm]

The best-playing bass I ever had was a 1987 Rickenbacker 4003S "tuxedo" limited edition. I should have kept the damned thing.

 

[BlueAliceOasis]

-MY MTD Kingston Saratoga
-Spector Legend Classic
-2006 Fender Precision Deluxe
-EBMM Old Smoothie
-Rickenbacker 4003
-Squier Bronco

 

[DigitalMan]

Presently I have to give a nod to my US Geddy.

However, back in the day there was something extraordinary about an Ibanez PL5050. This one pictured is not mine.

 

[Tom Bomb]

Good point, I revise my prior entry. This is the most playable bass I currently own:

View attachment 1033245

Mmmmmmm Choice!

 

[madbass6]

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)?

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)?

SSD SPECTOR !!

 

[GIBrat51]

Most playable bass for me? Of the ones I own, it's pretty much a toss-up between these two. The 4001 fits me like it was made for me - and hangs from a strap just right. It's very well balanced in the position I like to play it in. I never have to think about the controls; they're just there. On the other hand, the Danelectro DC 59 Pro doesn't fit quite as well as the Rick; a 9.7, maybe, to the Rick's 10. Hangs very nicely from a strap, too. It is slightly neck-heavy - if you consider holding up the weight of a candy bar "neck heavy". The controls are... fussy, as stacked pots often are, and aren't as well located for me as the 4001's. Not at all bad; but not perfect, either. It's a lot lighter than the Rick; 6.1 lbs, vs. the 4001's 9.3. Which, at my age, counts for more than a little. But the neck - aahhh, that wonderful neck. Perfect shallow, flattened D profile; not too wide, or too narrow; smooth as silk; and faster than a snake. That neck makes up for everything else. The Rick comes the closest to the Dano's neck of all my other basses - except my other DC 59 - probably a 9.5 to the Dano's 10. So, playability-wise? A toss up, IMO. However... throw in the sound? Well, there's a reason the 4001 lives on a stand, plugged into one of my amps, and not the Dano...

 

[NeverDropTheBass]

My Dingwall NG2
Though i love my trusty old Stingray and my awesome maruszcyc paddock fretless the ng2 gets the cake. I'm a huge fan of the fanned frets and the powerful low b buffed by darkglass. The neck has just the right shape somewhere between stingray and jazz and the overall concept of the design is perfect imho

 

[btmpancake]

So far a old USA Peavey Foundation I owned in '95 and I cannot explain why. I'm sorry I didn't pay enough attention to details back then. I should have at least wrote down the serial#.

 

[mojomike001]

For me, the most playable is an accurate '58 Fender P Bass clone I put together. I also recently borrowed a Danelectro Longhorn from a friend and can't keep my hands off it.

 

[DirkP]

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.

What is the weight of your Star Bass?