Things that you do and dont worry about with basses

[IamGroot]

Care a lot about:
Tone
Intonation
No noise

Prefer:
Active electronics or hot pups
Easy access to high neck
Rotosounds

Dont care too much about (within reason)
Color
Pickguard
Weight
Action
Neck profile
Nut width

I've played a lot of bass over the years and look at a bass as a tool. I try to grab the right one for the job.

 

[lowphatbass]

Care About-

-not uncomfortable to play
-sounds good for what I’m doing
-looks acceptable based on my F’d aesthetic requirements
-how expensive it is/was

Don’t Care About-

-how inexpensive it is/was
-what guitar players think

 

[kodiakblair]

Care About
How it feels.

Don't Care About
Brand name
weight (unless too light)
nut width
neck profile

 

[5StringBlues]

Don't care about:



If it's the best bass for metal.


Do care aboot:

neckdive

 

[Playbyear]

The title said “worry”

Worry: having it stolen.

Don’t worry: if it’s “cool”.

 

[mongo2]

I'm not a worrier. Life's too short to waste time worrying.

 

[nostatic]

Worry? No - if you buy what you want (and know what works for you) then there isn't anything to worry about. Criteria for purchase? Sure...

care about:

most everything - there are so many good instrument choices, you really don't need to compromise beyond budget constraints.
in particular - weight, balance, bridge spacing, nut width, neck profile, woods, pickups, electronics, tuners, strap buttons. They all matter though in varying degrees. If it is something I can easily change, like a strap button or tuners, then it isn't an issue. If it is too heavy or has neck dive or doesn't "feel" right - that's a no-go.

don't care about:

nicks/dings on the body, general wear and tear - they were bought to be gigged
what anyone else thinks about the bass unless it is a bandleader who's paying and has certain requests

 

[gln1955]

Care about:

Overall ergonomics - Short to medium scale, neck not too chunky and under 9 pounds with no neck dive

Tone - can it give me two or three useable tones for playing live

Looks - I'm shallow. I want a finish, fretboard and hardware that look good together​

Don't care about:

How much it costs - within reason

Where it was made

Tonewood - don't care what it's made of as long as the bass sounds good

Resale value - I'm buying a bass to play, not sell
​

 

[Nephilymbass]

Care a lot about:
Tone
Intonation
No noise

Prefer:
Active electronics or hot pups
Easy access to high neck
Rotosounds

Dont care too much about (within reason)
Color
Pickguard
Weight
Action
Neck profile
Nut width

I've played a lot of bass over the years and look at a bass as a tool. I try to grab the right one for the job.

To a certain extent I care about everything. How comfortable it is, playability, weight, sound, looks, all that stuff.

But certain things I don’t nit pick. For example I get it if someone doesn’t want a 16mm spacing if they are used to 20mm but some folks complain about a 1mm difference. To me that’s laughable. I’m like maybe you should just practice a little? As for weight I totally get the difference of say a 9 lbs or less bass vs a 12+ pound bass, but folks complaining about a few ounces? Put some light weight tuners on that sucker or maybe it’s time to take better care of yourself .

 

[CallMeAl]

my preferred bass:
-P bass body, passive pickup
-Jazz neck, modern C, satin finish, clean fretwork
-Rounds, 4 of them

Not really fussy about pickup voicing/maker, wood, weight (within reason,) brand of the bass, Country of origin, color or hardware.

Im OK with other basses, but the further you get away from the above the less I like it.

 

[Nick Danger]

I care a lot about
- being left handed
- being a 5 string
- feel and balance
- tone, I prefer passive electronics / pickups

I don't care as much about
- name on the headstock
- body materials
- color
- what guitar players think

 

[eastcoasteddie]

Don’t care about:
A bass being heavy - my preferred range is 10 to 11lbs.
neck profile (thick or thin)

care about:
Neck stability
Tone
Body wood
Color
Fretboard radius (no less than 9.5”)
String spacing (coinciding with nut width)

 

[mikeoso]

Care about...structural solidity, unplugged volume, tone
Dont care...action, brand, electronics, pickguard, cool factor, looking badass

 

[Kmonk]

Care a lot about:
Tone
Intonation
Stays in tune
No noise
Action
Neck Profile
Nut Width
Color
Comfortable to play

Prefer:
Jazz bass style necks

Don't care too much about
Active electronics or hot pups as long as it sounds good
Pickguard
Weight

 

[Selios]

If we're talking about worrying, I don't tend to worry about breaking strings or using batteries/active electronics.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

I give all my concern to how it feels, fits, responds under my fingers. And pretty or ugly is just a differing set of aesthetics. I can get behind just about anything that feels/plays great.

Oh... if the truss rod works. That's the only thing I can't easily fix.

 

[vvvmmm]

As long as it sounds OK, and the fret ends don't cut me, I'll play.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I only worry until the first Winter in our home is over, because that's the tell if I'll keep it.
If the neck goes to Hell over Winter, then it's gone in the Spring.

 

[Hevy T]

I only worry until the first Winter in our home is over, because that's the tell if I'll keep it.
If the neck goes to Hell over Winter, then it's gone in the Spring.

You must live in a climate like where I live! From summer to winter we can see almost 75 to 80 degree spread in temptress (calcium that is) also the humidity is all over the map as well

 

[sikamikanico]

...75 to 80 degree spread in temptress (calcium that is)...

Poor lady, must be uncomfortable calcified in that position

I used to think I cared about basses, but I’m beginning to realize I can tolerate a lot as long as the bass is fully functional. I can easily enjoy a cheap P bass, with the right strings and a good setup.