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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
#42
Silly question. If the bass is unplayable, guess what you won't play it. If the bass sounds bad guess what, you wont play it. If I pick up a $20 bass at a garage sale the first thing I do is make it playable (any bass can be made playable with some changes). Once that bass is playable I then make the changes to make it sound good. If I can't have both??? That bass has to go.

A better question!!! Would you rather wear your right shoe or your left shoe?
 
#43
JTE said:
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
Click to expand...

This.
I've found through personal experience that the neck's mass affects the tone. (How can it not?) About 25 years ago, I picked up a Fender Precision Elite II with a flat, C-width neck, and it took a lot of work for me to adapt, after playing a P with a "baseball bat" profile, B-width neck. Finally, I gave up and bought a skinnier neck. I put it on and played a gig that night. It sounded like it had gone from Superman to Clark Kent. The original neck went back on the next day, and I went back to work on adjusting to the shape. No regrets.

I eventually sold that bass (I was broke), but now I have a number of basses, all with different necks, and I choose to play a particular one because of its sound. Physically, I have no trouble switching back and forth.
 
#46
It has to feel good or you won't want to play it. Likewise, if it sounds bad you won't want to play it. For the sake of the pole I chose Playability. In practice, there is no reason you can't have both.
 
#47
Playability is a big issue for me, however it is the skinny necks that cause me problems. I have a very nice Am. Std. Jazz that rarely gets played because my hand starts cramping after I play it for very long. On the other hand I can play my 2 Precisions for hours on end with no problems. This is why I'm in the process of putting together a MIM Jazz with an Allparts(maple) P neck, hopefully I can have the best of both worlds!

As far as I'm concerned, the greatest thing Fender could do is offer the option of either a A or C width neck(at a reasonable extra cost) on the Am. Std. basses instead of having to order a bass thru the Custom Shop for twice the price(or more). I mean, how difficult would it be to put a Precision decal on a Jazz neck(or vise-versa)??? :bassist:
 
#48
spade2you said:
Having been in and out of bands on guitar and bass over the years, it's a musician thing. I have no idea why it is, but since I'm more logic/science based, I could never relate to that mindset and usually want it all with the understanding it's quite possible to get it. My mindset often upset musicians. :p
Click to expand...

Exactly, I'm not bashing anyone here I'm just asking if you can realistically find both fairly easily... then what's with the questions, lol?
 
#52
fourstringdrums said:
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.
Click to expand...

+1 and I'd add strings can be changed too.

Or you could get a Sadowsky and not have to choose at all . . . :D
 
#53
Obviously both are important, but tone can be massaged greatly with different strings, eq, pups. If it can't be set up to play like a dream, then it may as well be a nightmare.
 
#54
IME, neither is set in stone. Playability can be improved with a new/different set of strings, a different setup (you might even want to spend the $$ to have a really good repairman/tech go over it). You can even shave/replace the Music Man neck if you need to.
Ditto for tone. You could drop a MM style Bridge pup in the P Bass and have the best of both worlds, change the preamp, whatever. As was posted previously, there are so many choices to mitigate either issue you shouldn't have to choose either/or.
 
#57
Sorry everyone, I stayed out of the conversation because the thread got kind of interesting and I was watching it unfold. Thanks for all the great replies.

I think to sum it up; in a perfect world, we want both but if we had to choose, playability would probably come first because tone is more easily adjusted from eq to electronics.

This helped me to make the decision that there is no reason I can't have a bass that sounds great and feels great, and I shouldn't settle for one or the other thanks everyone XD
 
#58
fourfinger said:
If you can only keep one, then it won't be easy to decide. Pencil and paper will help. Things to consider:

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

etc.etc.etc.
Click to expand...

Excellent! If I had to choose, I suppose I'd keep the player. Fortunately, I don't have to choose. So if there are any VIPs out there who need to be impressed, I'm available. :D
 
#59
If the bass sounds great not plugged in and plays well it is a keeper. I'm not of the school of thought tone can be fixed with electronics. Electronics are to amplify the tonal characteristics of the bass. If it sounds good acoustically electronics can be upgraded.
 

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