What are you most picky about?

[Thumpin6string]

Number of strings. If it is less than 5, I'm not interested.

 

[Gizmot]

I like low action, although I hate buzzes and I’ll raise the action if necessary to prevent them. I can handle a range of string tensions and as long as they’re bendable I’m okay.
I’ve owned a variety of basses with all sorts of neck profiles. I seem to prefer wide fingerboards with thinner necks. My favorites have been Warwick’s, while have a profile like upright basses.
I was going to say that I prefer active basses, but that isn’t always true - my all-time favorite is my Ric 4001 (with mods). If it isn’t active, I need at least two pickups to get some tonal variety.
Oh - one more thing - I don’t play Fenders, but I play and own G&Ls and MusicMans.

 

[Freekmagnet]

Design, color, and overall esthetics.

 

[jonnyJazzBasd]

Low action and string tension for me because I had a wrist injury (unrelated to bass) in my fretting hand during my first year of playing that I still deal with 16 years later. Also neck width and depth were very tough for me for a long time. Most four string necks I can deal with these days but it can still be tough to find a comfortable five string neck. The neck on my Carvin LB75 is probably the most comfortable 5 string neck that I have owned though I have played a few better ones in stores.

 

[Nuage420]

Tone and left hand comfort. I can easily adjust my plucking hand and weight although lighter is preferred I can deal with a chunky monkey if the tone is there. But if the tone isn't there then it's useless to me. And if my fretting hand is cramping or in awkward positions then I'm not going to enjoy playing.

 

[DanDBassist]

The first thing I do is use the slickest nylon strap and test for neck dive. If there is any, then nothing else matters. If it passes that balance test then:

Next is to eyeball down the neck for any twist. Of course it must not have any.

A properly functioning truss rod is an absolute.

Most every thing else I can fix.

 

[Mastermold]

Here's my list:

---Super low action and light strings. I'd rather there be a slight fretbuzz than sacrifice higher action. So I get every bass I have as low as I possibly can, and never use anything heavier than 40-100 or 40-120 for 5 string, even when playing flats.

---Neck radius. Between 9.5" and 12" seems to be my comfort zone for a 4, though I just got a Yamaha 5'er with something like a 24" radius and it feels good. But any rounder than 9.5" and I can't bend strings without choking out or raising the action. And that ain't happenin'.

---Light weight. I wear the term "weight weenie" like a badge of honor and don't care if you he-men "Just go hit the gym" types like it or not. Wasn't always a weight weenie but a chronic should problem, due to a heavy-as-heck Jazz I used to own on a 2" seatbelt strap, put a stop to that. I've got a limit and I do my best to stick to it, and since I've got light basses that I love already, I see no need to buy any that are going to make my shoulder worse.

---Black. If it's not black, it must go back. I don't mind other colors interspersed with the black base color, but a bass has to have black as the base color for me to buy it these days since I scientifically proved that I look the best with a black bass. Any bass you might see in my little collection that's not black was grandfathered in before the testing.

And you?

I like lower action and all things equal will pick a lighter instrument over heavier, but not partial to particular neck shape or weight or color. I’ve got all sorts of necks and weights and colors in my basses. I purchased them primarily for the sound they make over ergonomics. I spent several years chasing tones and the collection I have now is the result. Where you and I are on the same page is we’re both happy with the gear we have. I still look all the time because I like seeing what’s new but I’m really happy with what I’ve accumulated and found the sounds I was looking for.

 

[lokikallas]

It’s got to have a side jack. Top jacks drive me nuts.
No body binding. Binding feels awkward for my forearm.

 

[Lit311]

I’m picky about pickup placement. I don’t like the neck pickup to be super close to the neck.

Idk why, I just don’t find it comfortable.

 

[Kenova]

Good neck and non slab body

 

[logdrum]

I do not like low action, maybe if they are heavier gauge. Best tone for me light gauge but not floppy and medium to medium plus action. The Ernie Ball Cobalt lights do that for me

 

[brianrost]

No black bodies with maple necks.

 

[logdrum]

No narrow string spacing for a bass guitar. The only exception is my 7 string Hybrid guitar

 

[Passinwind]

25536614[/URL], member: 55676"]

And you?

If the onboard electronics were designed and built further than fifty feet from my living room I’m out…

 

[LastJaguar]

1) spouse; 2) friends. I don’t worry about the rest.

 

[Sam Dingle]

I’m picky about string gauge and tension in relation to the other strings. I don’t like equal balanced sets where the G is the same tension as the E. Sets that are 100-45 or 105-50 don’t work for me, 105-45 is best, the only outlier there are D’Addario tapes that are 105-50 I guess.

I dont like the action too low, at the moment my p bass action is too low where I can’t feel under the string and pickup, but I don’t have the tools to fix it atm.

 

[Grinderman]

No black bodies with maple necks.

I'm the opposite. I think maple necks are the best looking combo with black bodies.

 

[sonojono]

I’m surprised the first answer wasn’t weight.

 

[flashgod]

Fret buzz. As a pick player that’s my main issue with basses. I hate it, because it kills the tone. The task is to lower the action as low as possible without having buzz while picking hard. Over the years I created a pedantic tick to control and measure the action constantly. My Spector seems to be the ideal bass providing a very low action. That makes me very happy

 

[okabass]

7ender (or Fender style) bass has to have correct "old" headstock and old Kluson-style machine heads. And fingerboard 7 1/4" radius.