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Tone vs. Playability

Tone or Playability

  • Tone all the way

    Votes: 27 8.8%

  • Playability for the win

    Votes: 67 21.8%

  • Both are equally important

    Votes: 211 68.7%

  • Other

    Votes: 2 0.7%
  • Total voters
    307
F

funkycoldmedina

Jan 3, 2011
92
0
Wichita KS
#1
Which is more important to you?

I ask this because I have been having a dilemma recently that leads me to question whether or not to sell one of my basses. My 2 main basses are my SBMM Ray34 and my fender del active pbass special. I absolutely love the tone of the Ray soloed and on most songs. BUT, I really find the neck uncomfortable to play. I strongly prefer jazz style necks because I just find them much more comfortable to play. So I usually play my pbass special because I love the tone and the playability.

The personal dilemma I'm having is this: If I find myself not reaching for the ray because its too uncomfortable to play, should I sell it and buy a new jazz bass or the like that I know I will prefer in terms of playability? Or should I suck it up if I like the tone and play it till my hands hurt to get the sound?:hmm:

If you have any ideas on that dilemma, feel free to chime in.

But the general purpose of this post was to get a feel for what other TBer's think is more important to them; Tone or Playability? HAVE AT IT!
 
#2
Playability. Tone is important, but if the bass isn't comfortable, all the tone in the world isn't going to make it a joy to play. Besides, to some extent or another tone can always be changed with swapping pickups and changing electronics.
 
#4
I think playability is first for me. If a bass feels nice 'n easy and is a joy to play, I too will reach for it first. You can always get new p'ups, pots and the like to get a better tone. Getting good feel out of a bad feeling bass would be more elusive.
 
#5
Playability. First and foremost. You can swap pickups, preamp, strings, etc to futz with the tone. If the ergonomics are off, it is FAR more difficult to fix. In this OP's instance we are looking at a neck swap minimum. Not a minor/cheap mod.

Sure if the tone blows I'll probably pass. I always play an instrument unplugged first to see if is even something worth plugging in these days though.
 
#6
Frankly? It doesn't matter. There are SOOOOOO MANY different basses around today that I can almost guarantee that most bass players can find more than one that works well for them. And if you cant? You can build it yourself or have it built for you! With about $1600 you can have a custom bass from someone right here on TB or a number of custom builders. Give Tom Clement is the first that comes to mind but there are plenty!

Can't afford that much? There are LOADS of basses even under $600 that sound and play fantastic! you just gotta look/play around. Guitar Center, Hot Licks, Mom n' Pop Shops there are so many options out there to try that having to choose either playability or tone is virtually a non-issue!
 
#8
I voted playability. Why?

I have found that its much easier to make a bass sound good with new pickups/preamp/etc than play well. I also think that "Tone" is an overwrought, over-rated subject... but how a bass plays REALLY makes a difference, from beginners to veteran players. Picking up a bass that just screams to be played is nothing but a joy, even if it doesn't sound that great; Conversely, a bass that sounds dandy but feels bad isn't going to get played, period (not by me, anyway!). That's what kept me out of the Rick market - by the time I had the spare $$, all I could find was 4003's and I find that they play like baseball bats...
 
#9
This is a good problem to have, I think. You have one bass you love to play & another that you love to hear. I have the same scenario. I have a P Special that sounds awesome & a J that plays like the wind.

Here's the thing: I don't want to sell one in favor of the other b/c I'm a moody sob & my tendencies will change back & forth. If you aren't playing the Stingray a lot right now, that's fine. You'll probably come back to it eventually.
 
#10
Sound first, hands down. If it doesn't sound right, nothing else matters in any way. Given the huge range of choices available, you can find a bass that's playable and sounds good. I can adapt to different necks, fingerboards, etc. a lot easier than I can adapt my ears to something that doesn't sound right to me. The instrument's function is to create good sound.

John
 
#12
I went with both... but honestly what would the steps be to make an uncomfy bass comfy? New neck? Change string spacing and with that would come new pups, bridge, and nut? Increasing the lower cut away? Dropping weight, so new tuners, bridge, wood work? Now, what would be needed to make a bad sounding bass sound better? New pups? New preamp? New strings? New wiring? New pots? New amp? So, playability would be more important.
 
#13
I voted both as that is definitely the best situation, however, I have sold some great basses because of playability, primarily necks that were too large to be comfortable to play for more than a very short time.
 
#15
If a great sounding bass doesn't feel right, I know I won't gig it.

If a great playing bass doesn't sound right, I know I won't gig it.

If a bass doesn't sound or play right, I know I won't gig it.

I need both.

I've found it's much easier for me to make a great sounding bass feel better to play than it is to make a great feeling bass, that may lack somewhat in tone, sound better.
 
#16
If you can only keep one, then it won't be easy to decide. Pencil and paper will help. Things to consider:

Never record? -- Keep the player.
Record a lot? -- Keep the tone machine.
Hands old and back achy? -- Keep the player.
Young and growing? -- Keep the tone machine.
Got a steady twice-a-week stable band playing in mostly dives? -- Keep the player.
Need to impress VIPs who might employ you? -- Keep the tone machine.

etc.etc.etc.
 

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