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Poll: Tone and Playability or look?
- Thread starter radioripster
- Start date
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- tone
I say looks only because if it doesn't catch my eye aesthetically, I'll never know if it has tone.
If it doesn't look good, I won't buy it. If it doesn't sound good, I won't keep it.
Playability is not that hard. I pretty much know the specs to seek and those to avoid. If the bass has the right specs and is healthy, I can make it play right.
If it doesn't look good, I won't buy it. If it doesn't sound good, I won't keep it.
Playability is not that hard. I pretty much know the specs to seek and those to avoid. If the bass has the right specs and is healthy, I can make it play right.
I'm lucky in that the types of basses I find aesthetically pleasing also tend to be the ones that feel and play the way I want.
1. Tone
2. Playability
3. Looks
I was tempted to put playability first, but thinking back on my bass purchases I've realized I'm comfortable sacrificing playability to get the right tone.
2. Playability
3. Looks
I was tempted to put playability first, but thinking back on my bass purchases I've realized I'm comfortable sacrificing playability to get the right tone.
I'd vote carrots, but there is no "Carrots" in the poll. 
For me, the answer is both. First of all, it has to feel comfortable in my hands and hanging on its strap on me. If it's not comfortable enough for me to play it without fighting it, then no amount of tone is going to make me keep it. That's the reason I ultimately sold my Lakland 55-02 and my Warwick FNA Jazzman. Those basses sounded amazing but they weren't comfortable for me so I played them less and less. Finally, I accepted that they just weren't for me and it wasn't worth having them sitting in their cases, so I sold them.
But, assuming I find a bass comfortably playable and it has tone I like, then I want it to also have the look I want. I realize that my strong preference for burst finishes and tort pickguards makes me one of the most loathed people on Talkbass, but it's what I like. So I'm very patient and wait for a bass that checks off all of my checkboxes before I buy. Sure, I may have passed on great basses in the past but so what? My basses are my buying decision and I "want it all"!
For me, the answer is both. First of all, it has to feel comfortable in my hands and hanging on its strap on me. If it's not comfortable enough for me to play it without fighting it, then no amount of tone is going to make me keep it. That's the reason I ultimately sold my Lakland 55-02 and my Warwick FNA Jazzman. Those basses sounded amazing but they weren't comfortable for me so I played them less and less. Finally, I accepted that they just weren't for me and it wasn't worth having them sitting in their cases, so I sold them.
But, assuming I find a bass comfortably playable and it has tone I like, then I want it to also have the look I want. I realize that my strong preference for burst finishes and tort pickguards makes me one of the most loathed people on Talkbass, but it's what I like. So I'm very patient and wait for a bass that checks off all of my checkboxes before I buy. Sure, I may have passed on great basses in the past but so what? My basses are my buying decision and I "want it all"!
Probably the ugliest thing attached to my bass is the player...ME too, but if it sounds and plays good I'm pretty confident I could do SOMETHING to it to make it pretty. Or at least less ugly. Or just stand in the dark at the back of the stage... Where I belong...
1. Playability
2. Looks
3. Tone
It has to play well and look great. I can get tone from my Tonebone and/or amp.
2. Looks
3. Tone
It has to play well and look great. I can get tone from my Tonebone and/or amp.
Also true. If I've already decided it's ugly I'm probably gonna move along, unless I've heard really great things about it. Then I'll have to at least play it a bit to see.
Why would you settle for a bass that didn't have both? 
My G&L won me over with it's phenomenal sound and feel. Initially, I wasn't into the cherryburst, but it's really grown on me over time. If a bass doesn't sound any good, who cares about its looks?
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
Ergonomics then looks. I can monkey with playability to get it to work, and I can find a useful tone in just about anything with enough messing around. Plus, I'm really shallow. Looks are everything. Ask my wife. Er, maybe don't ask my wife. She's not as shallow as I am, thank goodness!
1. Playability
2. Playability
3. Playability
Tone is in the Hands! Or, hands and fingers!
Looks are in the eyes of the beholder!
All kidding aside, If it's too heavy, uncomfortable, unbalanced or, has a neck that just doesn't feel right the other things can be tweaked. Unless it's too pointy. I draw the line at sawing on a bass.
2. Playability
3. Playability
Tone is in the Hands! Or, hands and fingers!
Looks are in the eyes of the beholder!
All kidding aside, If it's too heavy, uncomfortable, unbalanced or, has a neck that just doesn't feel right the other things can be tweaked. Unless it's too pointy. I draw the line at sawing on a bass.
1) Tone: it must have the specific sounds I want.
2) Playability: no neck dive, and neck must feel right: proper thickness, shape, and taper.
3) Build quality: good materials, no-mod electronics, stable neck design, deep neck pocket, high quality bridge.
4) Looks: classic or retro looks with metal plates and large tuners.
With so many brands and styles to choose from, the bass must meet all the criteria.
2) Playability: no neck dive, and neck must feel right: proper thickness, shape, and taper.
3) Build quality: good materials, no-mod electronics, stable neck design, deep neck pocket, high quality bridge.
4) Looks: classic or retro looks with metal plates and large tuners.
With so many brands and styles to choose from, the bass must meet all the criteria.
I have no idea what the hell I just said.
Playability first.
Then tone.
I couldn't care less what the bass looks like as long as it isn't pink.
If it has Tort on it I'll rip that off anyway on principle.
Then tone.
I couldn't care less what the bass looks like as long as it isn't pink.
If it has Tort on it I'll rip that off anyway on principle.
