• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

sound or comfort

Which is more important?

  • sound

    Votes: 86 58.5%

  • comfort

    Votes: 61 41.5%
  • Total voters
    147
  • Poll closed .
#22
Sound, but in this instance neither.

If it makes your hand hurt who cares what it sounds like. If it was. Merely the fact that the other bass felt "better" that would be another matter.

Plus, I dunno as Jesus was such a good bassist anyway, overrated. :rolleyes:
 
#23
patlozrox said:
Okay, so I am looking to buy a new bass. One of the basses sounds like Jesus himself played it, but the other feels like Jesus himself built it. The bass that feels better doesn't have the best sound, yet the one that sounds better makes my hand hurt after about 15 minutes of playing. So my question would be what matters to you more, comfort or sound.

Rock on!!!
4STRINGS 4 LIFE!!!!!:bassist:
Click to expand...

There is no need to compromise on either count.
Keep on looking.:)
 
#24
jedw said:
If it makes your hand hurt who cares what it sounds like.
Click to expand...
+1
If it makes either of my hands hurt, it's a non-starter, no matter how great it sounds.

Also, as others have said, strings, pickups, and electronics give you a lot of flexibility to change the sound of an instrument. I don't think you can alter the ergonomics appreciably without permanently altering it and reducing the resale value.
 
#28
You can alter Sound in many ways. There's equalizers, pedals for just about anything you can imagine, swapping out pick-ups,... Plenty of things that can change the sound of a bass more to your liking. I'm not saying it'll turn every possible bass into that godlike sound you're looking for, but you'll get close. '
Comfort is a different matter though... There are no pedals to make a bass guitar more comfortable and it's quite a bit less convenient to swap out the body for a more comfortable one. You may be able to cope with a few discomforts as a trade-off for a good sound, but there's no point in risking potential injury for such a thing. Another thing is that if you're not feeling comfortable playing, you won't enjoy playing as much as you could. Isn't that truly the reason why you want to play music, because you enjoy it?

That's why comfort will always be priority number one for me.
 
#30
nolezmaj said:
I vote for both - sound and ergonomy. I would rather make small compromise on both, than a bigger compromise on only one.
Click to expand...
I agree with this. But comfort and playability is a bigger factor for me. The tone can be affected by strings, the amp, and (most of all) technique. If the bass isn't comfortable, I won't want to play it - in that case, it doesn't matter how good it sounds.

The sound has far more to do with the bassist than with the bass.
 
#31
patlozrox said:
okay, do you have any recomendations that would be best for me. i play bass in a rock band and i have some pretty fast and complex lines i need to finger pick.
Click to expand...
Any bass made would work.

BTW, when famous people go do my gigs for me, I will listen to them. Always fun to hear what they have to say, but in the end, YOU have to make the hard choices and go with your gut, and don't just do it because some famous person who plays well did it. Like I'm pretty sure there are things in Marcus' setup I would hate, even though I have a ton of respect for him as a bassist and good person.

Anyway, put me down as a both'er. I have a chronic shoulder problem that gets made worse by heavy basses, and it's so not worth it if a bass sounds great but gives you headaches and shoulder pain like I used to get till I lightened up. Heavy amps I don't mind, but I only carry them for a couple minutes at a time.
 
#33
I put comfort, mostly because I personally don't feel like I can change the parameters that make a bass feel good as readily as I can change a pick up, or twist a knob to get the sound that I want. And in the comfort category, it is the neck shape and width specifically that I look for. I could play a trash can or a brick with rubber bands if it has a great feeling neck.

Obviously, finding a bass tha tfits both areas is the best. For me it is Fender P's and J's
 
#34
I always thought Jesus would be more of a singing frontman than bassist.

But I'd go for an instrument that has both in decent amounts. Thought I would give the edge to comfort - there are several variables for sound such as strings, amplification, effects, technique, setup, pickups, EQ, that CAN be changed.

If an instrument doesn't feel right, it will never feel right unless it's an issue of fretboard action and of course that can be changed, but if it's the neck radius or thickness or the body not feeling comfortable or balanced, you're out of luck.
 
#35
Sound and comfort both rank very high, but if I had to choose, I'd choose comfort. If the bass is not comfortable to play you may set yourself up to develop any number of injuries that will make playing any bass a burden, if not an impossibility.
 
#38
Both are equally important. If one can replace the pups and electronics on the one that plays great but doesnt sound so good. With the same pups and electronics as on the great sounding on. Then might have good bass. Otherwise keep shopping untill you find the combo of sounds great and great comfort both.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back