Guild JSB II (I think that is the model).Adjusted perfectly, and the tapewounds were the exact touch.
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Most Playable Bass?
- Thread starter Jhu32
- Start date
For me, i have found these two to be the most pleasing to play of the basses i have played over the years.
My favorite comfy bass was probably my Jerry Jones Longhorn built around 1992. Bummer that i sold it! For the bass that I currently own my 4003s is my favorite. Its a tossup really between the Longhorn and the Rick.
Although I hated to play my Rickenbacker 4003 (I liked the sound though), and didn't mind at all it got stolen, apart from the money lost, I also loved my Jerry Jones Longhorn, and regret much selling.
Such a delight to play, the bass with the second best playabillity after the Mikro that I own now, and such nice unique tone as well.
After quite a few adjustments, my Warwick Vampyre SN has become supersmooth to play. That Just-A-Nut really does it.
The best basses I've played were 2 Foderas and a Ken Smith. . . . in a shop. Another level of quality.
All the basses I can afford have been my most playable. I wouldn't have bought them otherwise. That's a Fender, a Wal and a couple of Laklands and a couple of Mike Lull basses.
All the basses I can afford have been my most playable. I wouldn't have bought them otherwise. That's a Fender, a Wal and a couple of Laklands and a couple of Mike Lull basses.
My Fender Am Jazz.
For some reasons, it can have very little neck relief (0.01") at 8th fret
and very low action (G string 1.6mm at 12th fret)
And my play style is really dig in the strings, no matter how hard I try, it never buzz.
I have other higher end basses and none of them can achieve this.
For some reasons, it can have very little neck relief (0.01") at 8th fret
and very low action (G string 1.6mm at 12th fret)
And my play style is really dig in the strings, no matter how hard I try, it never buzz.
I have other higher end basses and none of them can achieve this.
This was a tough call for me, as I have some great playing basses that fit me like a glove. My 73 Ricky feels great and I love the neck, my Ibanez 505 has the most wonderful feeling neck and the body feels great. My Spector body same way, it just forms to my body.
But the bass I pick up the most and is just a joy to play is my 1994 black label p bass. The neck is a cross between a jazz and a p, the body is light and resonant, and with the added emg grz pickups, it sounds as good as it feels. I may not be a very expensive but it is a truly a great playing and sounding bass.
But the bass I pick up the most and is just a joy to play is my 1994 black label p bass. The neck is a cross between a jazz and a p, the body is light and resonant, and with the added emg grz pickups, it sounds as good as it feels. I may not be a very expensive but it is a truly a great playing and sounding bass.
So what? We're just showing off and talking about our favorite…
…JAZZ HANDS!!
View attachment 1035713
...OCTOHANDS!!
The CS is good for everything. Compared to the rest of my hoard tonally, it has a "middle of the road" sound but in a good way. Not extremely anything-sounding. By comparison, I have an Alembic that is a trebly, snarling, biting monster, an Epi EB-0 mudmachine, etc. These are great for the one thing they do better than anything else, but the CS always works in any situation.
I've developed Carpal Tunnel from my job, and this is the only one I can still play comfortably. It always fit like a glove and, back when I could still pick, was miles ahead of anything else I've played that way.
I think its safe to say that most of us are going to name our Number 1s because -- after all -- their playability is usually a big part of why they are our Number 1s......For me, its my G&L ASAT (4 String) and Sire V7-5 (5 String) ...Its also safe to say that, while both these basses play well, a bit of that was just me (the player) adjusting to them
So, to answer this thread fairly, the basses that I can just arbitrarily pick up at any music store and - provided they are setup correctly - I can go to town on them at any given notice is usually any Ibanez SoundGear and most Peavey basses
So, to answer this thread fairly, the basses that I can just arbitrarily pick up at any music store and - provided they are setup correctly - I can go to town on them at any given notice is usually any Ibanez SoundGear and most Peavey basses
I just bought a used korean made Warwick Star Bass II 4-string. Different from the chinese made RB Starbass, it has a 34" scale.
I like the neck a lot, but due to the location of the bridge on the body, the '34 scale feels like a '36. You have to stretch the fretting arm significantly more to reach the 1. fret than on a classic Fender design.
My Squier Matt Freeman P bass is one of the best playing basses I've tried, granted I haven't tried any top of the line models. But this bass is amazing imo. I have some Rotosound flats on it and it just feels great to pick up and jam.
This is probably a minority opinion, but I find my Hofner extremely comfortable: the short scale, narrow string spacing (and thin but round neck), light weight, good balance, etc. I also like how the tailpiece pushes the bridge closer to the center of the instrument, which puts the raised bridge in the perfect spot for palm muting. Playing with a pick is a joy (ergonomically and tonally), as is thumb and fingerstyle. One nit to pick would be the lack of forearm contouring, but it's not a big deal.
The problem is 100 different people will give 100 different answers. We have different bodily dimensions and experience that gets us use to moving or feeling things a certain way.
Ergonomics have to be tailored to the individual, which is why physical therapists and whatnot even have jobs.
It's best to test various basses and figure out what the ones you like have in common. For me, my G&L with a #8 neck is perfect, but I also really loved the Fender Road Worn 50s neck. Both are 7.25-7.5" radius.
For me, too thin of a neck from front to back makes my hands start cramping. If I use a thicker Jazz bass neck profile it's perfect, or really any P neck profile I've tried.
I've also noticed that if the nut width gets wider then I need the radius rounder for comfort but I like a rounder radius even on 1.5" nut necks.
I've owned a lot of basses for n my years, but I've never seen anything come close to the joy I get out of playing my Warrior basses. The neck is the best of any bass I've ever had in my hands. They are both light weight at 8lbs a piece. They are simply perfect for me in every way.
Hofner beatle with ti flats tuned down a half step. Extremely light, tiny neck, narrow spacing. My speed has increased a lot by playing this thing. 5 fret positions even down the neck. Its almost cheating. Im glad i started on long scale to build up hand muscles, but now that they are there, short scale with flexy strings is the way to go.
And the tone is incredible, which makes it even easier to play. I think the full hollowbodies with flats, especially ti jazz, are the most euphonic basses there are, better than upright. I used to lust after carl thompsons and alembic brown basses, but my 67 hof makes me never want another bass, apart from a custom violin bass of my design.
And the tone is incredible, which makes it even easier to play. I think the full hollowbodies with flats, especially ti jazz, are the most euphonic basses there are, better than upright. I used to lust after carl thompsons and alembic brown basses, but my 67 hof makes me never want another bass, apart from a custom violin bass of my design.
