I can't really answer this. There are so many bit and pieces that go into it. In no particular order: It needs to look really good, the neck needs to be comfortable. The weight has to be right (lighter is better for me). No neck dive. Balance. Where does it sit on strap. Sound. The various tones that come out of it. And more.
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What are you most picky about?
- Thread starter JimmyM
- Start date
1. Not a fan of owning red basses or tobacco sunburst basses. They just aren't for me.
2. Fender fanboy here. I've tried other makes and models and they just don't suit me or do it for me. Fender or bust.
3. Four strings. I can barely handle the four that makes a bass. I'm not adding more strings to make my life even more difficult. So no five or six string for me. Thank you.
4. Not an active bass fan. I don't want to put batteries in my instrument.
5. I like my basses shiny and new. Straplocks when playing. Cases when moving. Guitar stand when resting.
No offence to all the fabulous players who love/enjoy the opposite to my five listed.
2. Fender fanboy here. I've tried other makes and models and they just don't suit me or do it for me. Fender or bust.
3. Four strings. I can barely handle the four that makes a bass. I'm not adding more strings to make my life even more difficult. So no five or six string for me. Thank you.
4. Not an active bass fan. I don't want to put batteries in my instrument.
5. I like my basses shiny and new. Straplocks when playing. Cases when moving. Guitar stand when resting.
No offence to all the fabulous players who love/enjoy the opposite to my five listed.
I prefer 'flatter than rounder' necks, and a flatter radius than a shorter. I like basses in colors, and they got to look right: I can't be playin' no ugly axe.
Reasonable weight, and more compact if possible: I loved the Alembics, but in long scale, they were l-o-n-g instruments. I once walked in a store with one in its case and the guy asked me (before I opened it) when I started playing keyboards . . . . .
I'm one of the relatively few that really prefers true active pickups and controls (NOT hi-z pickups ganged to active EQ), I prefer the quiet and generally baked in great tone. I'll admit I've been spoiled rotten at this by real EMG setups, much less the Alembics.
But past that, the famous Three Question Test ya got to pass to come home with old JW:
1) It needs to have a reasonable feeling neck and fingerboard that will accept a setup and keep it for a reasonable period of time. DON'T want to be cranking on it every 2 weeks. I generally prefer necks with a rosewood, pau ferro, or ebony fingerboards for the generally added stiffness an extra piece of wood added to the neck can supply, especially ebony.
2) It's got to get in tune and stay in tune for a reasonable amount of time (like I tuned it at 9 and it BETTER still be in tune at last call, which mine usually are). I'm NOT gonna stand there and be one of those dorks that's ALWAYS TUNING A BASS FOR FIVE HOURS. NOT gonna HAPPEN ! So I'm looking for good keys, a proper nut, an accommodating neck, and a good bridge.
3) It's got to be quiet electronically. I don't care if it's single coil or anything else, the only noise I want coming from it . . . . is me. Not WSM and the Opry. No crackling pots, no hum when I take my hands off it, nothing. I will allow for the occasional 'I'm next to the dimmer pack and there's an arc welding shop next door' buzz that nothing could get around, but otherwise, Hey! I want it quiet in here !
Because if I've got to fight bad action, I'm chasing keeping it in tune more than I should, and it's buzzing, it's useless for me, regardless of the price point. Firewood. Door stop. Hood prop.
And ultimately, these things rearing their head on stage or recording is just completely unprofessional, and real pros won't keep you around long if this is ever more than a once in a VERY great while occurrence.
Reasonable weight, and more compact if possible: I loved the Alembics, but in long scale, they were l-o-n-g instruments. I once walked in a store with one in its case and the guy asked me (before I opened it) when I started playing keyboards . . . . .
I'm one of the relatively few that really prefers true active pickups and controls (NOT hi-z pickups ganged to active EQ), I prefer the quiet and generally baked in great tone. I'll admit I've been spoiled rotten at this by real EMG setups, much less the Alembics.
But past that, the famous Three Question Test ya got to pass to come home with old JW:
1) It needs to have a reasonable feeling neck and fingerboard that will accept a setup and keep it for a reasonable period of time. DON'T want to be cranking on it every 2 weeks. I generally prefer necks with a rosewood, pau ferro, or ebony fingerboards for the generally added stiffness an extra piece of wood added to the neck can supply, especially ebony.
2) It's got to get in tune and stay in tune for a reasonable amount of time (like I tuned it at 9 and it BETTER still be in tune at last call, which mine usually are). I'm NOT gonna stand there and be one of those dorks that's ALWAYS TUNING A BASS FOR FIVE HOURS. NOT gonna HAPPEN ! So I'm looking for good keys, a proper nut, an accommodating neck, and a good bridge.
3) It's got to be quiet electronically. I don't care if it's single coil or anything else, the only noise I want coming from it . . . . is me. Not WSM and the Opry. No crackling pots, no hum when I take my hands off it, nothing. I will allow for the occasional 'I'm next to the dimmer pack and there's an arc welding shop next door' buzz that nothing could get around, but otherwise, Hey! I want it quiet in here !
Because if I've got to fight bad action, I'm chasing keeping it in tune more than I should, and it's buzzing, it's useless for me, regardless of the price point. Firewood. Door stop. Hood prop.
And ultimately, these things rearing their head on stage or recording is just completely unprofessional, and real pros won't keep you around long if this is ever more than a once in a VERY great while occurrence.
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Might agree except for fretbuzz. Nobody's ever cared that my basses have fretbuzz when I dig in, and you can't even hear it in a mix except when you have so much that it manifests itself as light overdrive, which is fine by me.
JM, I adjust mine to that balance point where the neck relief/string heights have got me just to that point where I can hear it rattle unplugged, but not enough to carry through to the amp and be heard. For me, I really don't want to hear it.
It's funny since I don't gig or play often anymore, I'm rusty enough that somehow when I do play for awhile now, about 30 minutes in I lose all the rattles I started with, once my hands finally are warmed up !
It's funny since I don't gig or play often anymore, I'm rusty enough that somehow when I do play for awhile now, about 30 minutes in I lose all the rattles I started with, once my hands finally are warmed up !
Oh geez, other than 3 or 4 minutes here and there, I haven't touched mine for over a month due to this HBP and artery blockage I have making me dizzy and nauseous. Can't imagine how rattly I'm gonna sound!
Thx J, I'm not in any danger of croaking yet, but I am due to get a stent after this code black at the hospital passes.
oh yea, and after reading comments here... if I have a choice (which I don't, with used basses when I'm always bargain hunting)... but if I have a choice, I will NEVER go longer than 35" scale length. 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 strings, regardless. I prefer the feel of a B string on a 34" bass, and have heard no improvement in tone on a 35" bass over a well setup/built 34" bass. Others do hear differences THEY like on THEIR 35"+ basses... but I don't, on mine, and I don't like the stretching.. which is actually pretty noticeable when you're used to playing fretless on a 34" for most of your career.
I've noticed a recurring theme in this thread that I never even thought about being picky about, and that's tone. Obviously I have my preferences (a guy with 4 Fenders/FSO's with the same pickups usually does), but I like such a wide variety of tones, from early jazz/blues/rock to djent (I even like Fieldy's tone in the Korn context), that I never even considered tone as a deal-breaker. Usually money's the deal-breaker for me, and no matter the bass, I can figure out a way to make it work and often have had to since there were many times I only had one bass that I had to get a variety of tones out of depending on the band/songs we played.
So while I'm picky about tones, I'm not overall picky about tone, if that makes any sense.
So while I'm picky about tones, I'm not overall picky about tone, if that makes any sense.
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It’s a Washburn AB45 (the 2013-16 version with the monorail bridge). Is it loud acoustically? Not for anything above practicing. Absolutely killer plugged in. Coincidentally also violates my strap button rule (intonation > ergonomics)
Two more characteristics of instruments that turn me off are active electronics and odor. If the bass needs a battery I put it back. If any prospective bass purchase has some funky odor that seems like it won't go away, that's a pass, too. The '70's Gibson cases with the maroon inside used to rot and stink. You couldn't get rid of it.
I guess I get it if it smells like smoke, but I can't think of ever choosing an instrument based on its smell.
I only appreciate dings and things when I cause them myself. Even then, I loathe them utterly — natural ageing is different
Not keen on poor craftsmanship or shoddy materials, not in the slightest — even epoxy board-resurfacing is very hard to come to terms with, pardon the pun. Coated strings are a no no. And, in general, moving away from the tried-and-true, even shape-wise, doesn't gel with me, except on the rarest of occasions. I can't justify that. That's just fickle old me
What am I most picky about and always have been...well i'm 70 y.o. now so I guess being picky about most things is the norm loll, but my pet hate is treading on guitar cables on stage...so I bought a wireless system with the transmitter in a leather pouch on my guitar strap and receiver on my pedalboard...no more cables in the way and have been smiling ever since, but i'm sure i'll find something else to grouch about at my age lollll.
I'm with you on wireless and rarely gig without them, especially on upright. But while this thread was mostly about the basses themselves, I share your dislike of getting tangled up in cables so I'll allow it
You know, one thing I could never do is keep a bass pristine, so I never sweat it. Some people can use one for decades and never put a scratch on it, whereas I put scratches on them the moment I touch themI only appreciate dings and things when I cause them myself. Even then, I loathe them utterly — natural ageing is different
I admire those who can pull it off.Me too. I gouged a gorgeous Strat once, the first time I pulled it out of the case, on the case itself
