What Features Do You Tend To Avoid When Choosing A Bass?

[DennyOnBass]

I try to avoid sharp, spinning metal blades and insect infestations, but they aren't necessarily deal breakers...

 

[DRafalske]

A deal-breaker for me is a shiny finish on the back of the neck. Just can't deal with it.
Not a deal-breaker, but I'm not wild about 2+2 headstocks.

D

 

[zachoff]

First and foremost... Active electronics. Batteries are a PITA.

Anything more than 4 strings. Just don't need em and they get in the way.
Fretless basses. Have no use for one.
Headless basses. Super ugly.
Anything with a J pickup. I like 'buckers & Ps

 

[Valerus]

i'll be avoiding active basses, purely because of tone preference

 

[ghostdog93]

Personally, simpler is better. That usually means a passive 4-banger that doesn't way a ton. I also have a preference for maple fretboards, non-glossy necks, and more traditional bodystyles.

So I tend to avoid active basses, on board electronics, 5 strings and rosewood boards.

 

[MarTONEbass]

Personally, I avoid passive basses, anything less than 5 strings and anything less than 35 inch scale. I also avoid single pickup basses.

 

[Fuzzbass]

For MY basses, I don't like:

Narrow string spacing
Heavy
Excessive neck dive
Natural finish
Ultra fancy exotic figured top
Boutique sandwich look (e.g. multi-lam neck-through)


Don't get me wrong, I admire fancy boutiques, but they're not my style.

 

[HaMMerHeD]

I avoid split-coil Precision pickups, "road-worn" finishes, pickguards, maple fingerboards, cloverleaf tuners, chrome hardware, and single-pickup basses.

 

[gjbassist]

I avoid split-coil Precision pickups, "road-worn" finishes, pickguards, maple fingerboards, cloverleaf tuners, chrome hardware, and single-pickup basses.

So then this would be your ideal bass!

 

[HaMMerHeD]

So then this would be your ideal bass!

Quite right!

 

[cnltb]

Right up front I want to say that this IS NOT meant to be a disparagement of anyone's choices. (I know some people get a little touchy). It's meant more to be personal opinion of what works or doesn't work for you.

Some PERSONAL examples FOR ME are...

Jumbo frets: They have some advantages but ultimately are undesirable.

Neck through design: Too much sustain. Less "chunky" sounding.

Headless basses

Super hot pre-amps: I feel there's a point where the pre-amp gives too much overdrive. The overall volume needs to come down to compensate and that affect the tone. This is a subtle thing.

Lots of options: Buttons, switches, knobs, toggles. Too much to think about!

Now again, this is MY opinion. It isn't a derision of anyone's choices.

What are some options that may be popular but you tend to avoid?

On-board electronics( including passive tone shaping and volume control) .

Any gimmicks like fingerboard inlays and lights etc.

Narrow necks and string spacing.
Relic'd basses
Neck diving basses are a big no no and so are heavy ones.
I prefer single pickup basses.
I wouldn't spend any money on "fancy" tops, but if the bass underneath is good...well who knows.

Now if I am having one made it will be light , passive ,have one pickup, a one piece body( if going for bolt on or set neck)a wide neck with wide string spacing at the bridge.
Quite likely it would be bolt on.

 

[Rockingbird]

The only bass I'll ever say outright "No" to is a 4 string, and only because I learned on a 5. Also, fretless is just too hard for me to handle. Short-scale is too close to guitar scale for my liking. Beyond that, I'm open to pretty much anything.

 

[MD]

I can't see myself buying another bass for the rest of my days, but if I were...
Not terribly keen on lined fretlesses or gold hardware.

 

[audiomitch]

Relic'ing.

+1

 

[SurferJoe46]

I avoid:

Used basses with or without mods.
Basses without a Fender or Ibanez headstock.

 

[de la mocha]

For me? Single coil pick ups. I hate the fact that I had to buy a seperate device just to debug the hum. To me soloing a pick up is useless if it adds a wasp nest to the recording or song.

I still do not know why single coil pick ups aren't standard issue in jazz style basses, to me the feature of blending pick ups is useless with all of that unwanted noise.

I'd rather go with soapbar pick ups.

 

[Yerf Dog]

Shipping and sales tax.

 

[IngerAlb]

I don't like a bit: bulky & wide necks, no space between pickups or pickups placed dead center on the body (like on W $$), any Fender type body shape and headstock, neck diving, more than 4 strings, EMG-HZ pickups. Anything else - I can live with

* later edit: Oh yeah! And I don't like pickguards or pickup covers either

 

[capnsandwich]

I don't like:

narrow string spacing
passive basses
P Basses (unless coupled with a single coil in the bridge position)
jumbo frets
brass nuts
figured neck wood (figured fretboard wood is fine but figured neck wood tends to move too much)
And it's got to have a truss rod.

 

[pie_man_25]

what do I NOT like.... hmmmm
I'd say pointiness, lack of balance, and excessive weight.
active electronics/excessive amounts of knobs and controls on either bass OR amp.
anything that isn't comfortable.
anything shaped like male genetalia.