Has to look good.
Why even bother picking up and plugging in something that doesn't look good?
I don't like pointy basses.
I don't like blobby basses.
Why would I even con6 trying out one of these, for example?
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What is important for you in a bass?
- Thread starter LowNloud1
- Start date
Why even bother picking up and plugging in something that doesn't look good?
I don't like pointy basses.
I don't like blobby basses.
Why would I even con6 trying out one of these, for example?
I can boil it all down to the neck, for me. Just about everything else, including the body itself, is replaceable. If the neck feels good, it'll likely work for me.
Feel by a mile. Everything else can be changed. If it doesn't feel good in my hands I have no use for it.
Tone is the most important factor.
Feel, which I am interpreting as a mix of playability and ergonomics, is next.
The third factor is the toughest, but I went with "two pickups." While I do have a p bass that I enjoy playing as a change of pace, my default bass tone is heavily based upon the sound of a two-pickup bass with both pickups full-on. There a number of choices that could have easily taken this slot, though.
Feel, which I am interpreting as a mix of playability and ergonomics, is next.
The third factor is the toughest, but I went with "two pickups." While I do have a p bass that I enjoy playing as a change of pace, my default bass tone is heavily based upon the sound of a two-pickup bass with both pickups full-on. There a number of choices that could have easily taken this slot, though.
Surprised that no one has mentioned sustain, or lack of dead spots. These are very important, along with tone and feel.
Tone is number one. When shopping for a bass, I have a certain tone in my head I'm looking for.
Secondly, obviously a good set up is imperative, as an unplayable bass would not work, but one that might not be the right size of string spacing, nut width, or neck board radius are things I could acclimate to.
Thirdly, since I play in an oldies band, history, like what was used on songs we're are covering is important.
I chose tone and feel (as many others did), but also who uses it. And hear me out I got a real good explanation for that. I don't mean that as in I only buy exact models that my favorite artists also use, but instead I buy certain basses because my favorite artists use very similar basses (similar pickups, scale such). Mainly because that way I can play my favorite songs while having my technique be as close to what my favorite artist does. Generally that makes playing these songs really easy and more fun, because most musicians develop their technique based on what they need to play these songs. And it helps me with copying their tones.
I mean, in a way we all want to be a bit like our heroes, right?
I mean, in a way we all want to be a bit like our heroes, right?
I have been playing the bass uninterruptedly since 1969 and have used, abused and owned so many basses that it's hard to remember. Through my hands passed Fender, Ibanez, Yamaha, Hofner (beatle bass), Peavey, Kramer (the one with the aluminum neck), Steinberger (the headless one) and even an Alembic. Notably missing is a Rickenbacker although I was loaned a 4001 of a week or so.
I still keep 2 Fender Precisions basses, 3 Fender Jazz basses (one converted to fretless a million years ago when Jaco was still alive), a Rondomusic 6 stringer and a few Jazz Bass Asian clones. I will be crucified for saying this but I'm old and I don't care what most would think. I'm truly in love with a cheap (very cheap) Jazz clone that weighs an absurdly low 7 pounds. It sounds like any other passive Jazz and lets me play it all day long without any sign of shoulder or right thigh numbness.
Concluding, for me the most important attributes in a bass are: Tone, Weight and Cost.
I still keep 2 Fender Precisions basses, 3 Fender Jazz basses (one converted to fretless a million years ago when Jaco was still alive), a Rondomusic 6 stringer and a few Jazz Bass Asian clones. I will be crucified for saying this but I'm old and I don't care what most would think. I'm truly in love with a cheap (very cheap) Jazz clone that weighs an absurdly low 7 pounds. It sounds like any other passive Jazz and lets me play it all day long without any sign of shoulder or right thigh numbness.
Concluding, for me the most important attributes in a bass are: Tone, Weight and Cost.
I'm only looking at 5's in a Jazz with single coils.
I might stretch to Hum cancelling.
I want active and max of 22 frets.
4 and 1 and slotted bridge.
So, within that I then want sound, and playability.
Weight is 9lbs and a bit... but not a total dealbreaker.
Then something colourwise I've not got coloured.
I might take same colour or make if the pickups and pre differ.
Having said all the above, I'm having a second glance at Ken Smiths of late...lol
I might stretch to Hum cancelling.
I want active and max of 22 frets.
4 and 1 and slotted bridge.
So, within that I then want sound, and playability.
Weight is 9lbs and a bit... but not a total dealbreaker.
Then something colourwise I've not got coloured.
I might take same colour or make if the pickups and pre differ.
Having said all the above, I'm having a second glance at Ken Smiths of late...lol
Does it feel good?
Does it sound good?
All I care about. Everything else dont matter.
Does it sound good?
All I care about. Everything else dont matter.
I said feel and size. Really size just means I don't like gigantic things except for my goofy monster ABGs. Feel is really the neck profile. I like classic 60s style C more than anything. Everyone has different shaped hands.
I don't care at all about spacing or neck/nut width. Doesn't matter if it has 1 or more pickups as long as it fits a need and sounds good. I have a few colors that you'd guess are my favorites like Daphne or black or some red but I have a lot of colors in my collection of basses and guitars. Could be any weight, I can 1-arm 10 pounds so the difference between a heavy bass that weighs the same as a 6 pack of beer and a light bass that weighs 5 beers is just one beer. So drink a beer. I prefer to buy domestic (US) but it's not top of the list. All things equal I'd pay a little more for that but I wouldn't start with that intent. So my Fenders and MM things are made in US but I have import basses too.
Wood type is not a huge issue although most of mine are ash, I also have paulownia, mahogany, and a couple I don't even know. I have active and passive instruments.
I'd say next bass I buy I have no idea what color or electronics configuration or even how many strings. But it will have a classic Precision neck profile to fit my oafish mitts. All the other specs I can work with. Super thin necks feel great to me for a little while but eventually I'll cramp and feel like I'm making a fist to play it. I still have a vintage Kramer like that as a sentimental thing but don't spend a lot of time on it. Price is always a factor but if I want something higher I can be patient. I wouldn't buy something I don't love even if it was a great price.
Moral of the tale, play what brings you joy.
I don't care at all about spacing or neck/nut width. Doesn't matter if it has 1 or more pickups as long as it fits a need and sounds good. I have a few colors that you'd guess are my favorites like Daphne or black or some red but I have a lot of colors in my collection of basses and guitars. Could be any weight, I can 1-arm 10 pounds so the difference between a heavy bass that weighs the same as a 6 pack of beer and a light bass that weighs 5 beers is just one beer. So drink a beer. I prefer to buy domestic (US) but it's not top of the list. All things equal I'd pay a little more for that but I wouldn't start with that intent. So my Fenders and MM things are made in US but I have import basses too.
Wood type is not a huge issue although most of mine are ash, I also have paulownia, mahogany, and a couple I don't even know. I have active and passive instruments.
I'd say next bass I buy I have no idea what color or electronics configuration or even how many strings. But it will have a classic Precision neck profile to fit my oafish mitts. All the other specs I can work with. Super thin necks feel great to me for a little while but eventually I'll cramp and feel like I'm making a fist to play it. I still have a vintage Kramer like that as a sentimental thing but don't spend a lot of time on it. Price is always a factor but if I want something higher I can be patient. I wouldn't buy something I don't love even if it was a great price.
Moral of the tale, play what brings you joy.
#1 is feel = playability. I cannot let any physical aspect of the bass hinder my playing style and ability to translate my ideas smoothly into the wood. There is definitely a "level of compromise" that will still allow acceptability, i.e. a little neck dive if the rest of it smokes. It doesn't have to be perfect, just suitable for me.
#2 is tone - an extremely flexible point with the options available, but if a bass kicks right out of the box I'm done. I do not consider a possible pickup change to be an issue.
I want the bass to sing (you will know this aspect when you hear it) and play easily. Lord knows, almost everything out there is at least "decent", but at this point in my life it better grab me by the nuts.
98% of my basses are used and I've been pretty fortunate with my grabs.
#2 is tone - an extremely flexible point with the options available, but if a bass kicks right out of the box I'm done. I do not consider a possible pickup change to be an issue.
I want the bass to sing (you will know this aspect when you hear it) and play easily. Lord knows, almost everything out there is at least "decent", but at this point in my life it better grab me by the nuts.
98% of my basses are used and I've been pretty fortunate with my grabs.
If it doesn't feel good to play, I'm not going to play it.
If it doesn't sound good, I'm not going to play it.
And if it doesn't look good, I'm not going to play it.
If it doesn't sound good, I'm not going to play it.
And if it doesn't look good, I'm not going to play it.
Size - It has to be a short scale bass
Feel - String spacing is important and I don't like a painted neck
Tone - That one speaks for itself!
Feel - String spacing is important and I don't like a painted neck
Tone - That one speaks for itself!
It has to be light enough that I can play it for hours.
It has to balance - on a non-grabby strap, it has to stay put even if I jump up and down.
The neck has to be stiff, straight, and stable.
Everything else I can fix - it has to start with those, or it's not a viable instrument.
It has to balance - on a non-grabby strap, it has to stay put even if I jump up and down.
The neck has to be stiff, straight, and stable.
Everything else I can fix - it has to start with those, or it's not a viable instrument.
For me, it's feel, tone, weight (or it's lack of) and to add a forth…looks. All four are equally important to me. If a bass doesn't have all of these attributes, I'm gone. I'm too friggin old to compromise.
