what is the top priority in your instrument?

[GlamJam]

Comfort. It's easier to change the electronics than the rest of the bass. Also, with a good amp and cab and with the right selection of strings any bass can sound good.

 

[bassteban]

all of the above

Pretty much this except for *versatility*- if it gets close to a P then Im good. *Sentimental value* also doesn't really come into play unless we're discussing one I already own.

Edit: Didn't vote for aforementioned reasons- I'd need multiple options

 

[mcarp555]

It might vary from instrument to instrument. My first bass has sentimental value to me, but I don't play it anymore. I have other basses that play and feel like a dream, so sentimental value there would be because they feel/respond so well. I also have a bass that's 'unusual' and a very rare example of its type. Not the best player, not the best tone, but so odd that I wouldn't want to part with it. How would I rate that on the poll?

So, I might like each instrument for different reasons.

 

[lowendblues]

Playability - don't like fighting a crap bass.

Amen.

 

[cnltb]

A bass needs to be comfortable and feel good when played.
Some feel dead when one plays them, some don't .
I like those that don't.

It also needs to sound good and have a stable neck.

 

[Flabass]

all of the above

Me too.

 

[Roscoe East]

Comfort, tone, reliability

^^^This...although they're all tied for first place.

 

[bassbully]

Tone, afterall it is what everybody expects us to have (good) and it is all they hear.

 

[TheAngryPocket]

I voted Sentiment because my bass will have all the other options already.

 

[Wallace320]

If you have to face either heavy downtuned active 7 string guitars (in my thrashmetalband) or ever resoundin organs (in both my bluesband and church choir) you need your basses to stand out loud.

So do mine

Cheers,
Wallace

 

[Mike M.]

Lately, the number one consideration is the weight of the instrument. Anything over 8 pounds is pretty much no go because of my back. No sense playing something that's going to further add to injury regardless of how well it plays or sounds.

 

[bassmanfreddo]

Playability and tonality, everything else is irrelevant.

 

[patlozrox]

For me, I prefer a bass that you can lock in the rib cracking tone that makes you want to be heard. But, comfort is a VERY close second. I most of the time like to find a bass that has more tone than anything though, because your hands can always just adjust to a bass and your preferences may change when it comes to how a bass feels.

 

[nicopiano]

Comfortability/Tonal Attributes (even)

 

[tjrtherealmagic]

Tie between comfort and tone

 

[Nephilymbass]

I probably wouldn't buy a bass if it didn't hit at least three things on this list. But to put them in order for a live bass; versatility followed closely by comfort. Versatility wins because i dont like bringing a bunch of basses to a gig. In the studio everything comes behind tone. The weight, balance, all that I can deal with to get the tone I want.

 

[Fuzzbass]

Comfortabilityness

Me too. Sure, reliability is important, but how many instruments these days are unreliable?

 

[Hopkins]

Comfort is number one, I can't deal with a neck that is to thin. Build quality is second, aesthetics is probably third. I haven't come across a bass that I couldn't make sound decent.