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What makes a bass better?

#21
Cliff Bordwell said:
Let's hear it, anything that you think makes a bass better.

I know when I set out to make the best bass for myself I had certain things that
I wanted to achieve. There were a lot of different areas to address and I just want
to get other players opinions on the this subject.

It can be concerning feel, comfort, playability, tone, looks etc...
Click to expand...

A good Plek job changes everything.

Anymore my Plek'd basses get played almost exclusively...
 
#23
bassteban said:
I do this w/bikes as well as basses- strap the bass on, let go(no neck dive, please); now close your eyes & reach for it. Is it right where you put your hands? Great- it fits. I don't know the formula for this but I know what I like.
Click to expand...

+1 The only thing I would add is good fret work. I always have to adjust trussrod and strings and pup to my liking anyway. Yep...Good balance and good fretwork.
 
#25
This is gonna get me flammed....

1st The color
If I don't like the color then I know the bass will be left too rot I guess I'm vain

2nd The sound options
I already got a passive and active bass so I know next time I get one what to look for if it's passive simple and easy to use tone controls, if active responsive EQ and if at all possible a pickup/tone switch

3rd and lastly The brand
I'm the first to admit I don't care about fancy clothes, or name brand jeans but, something in me refuses to buy a Fender sure Leo invented the bass as we know it today but, as far as inovations Fender sucks!
 
#29
Yerf Dog said:
Nougat
Click to expand...

I disagree. Cookie give's me a much nicer, cruncier tone than Nougat does.

But I digress.

Things that make a bass better in my opinion?

- No sticky finishes on the back of the neck (Argh!)
- SOLID construction (I don't want to feel like I'm playing a Ming vase)
- Classy, elegant contours and lines (I really like more traditional looking shapes)
- Clean, tidy, solid wiring.
- versatility
 
#32
XtheDeadPawn said:
This is gonna get me flammed....

1st The color
If I don't like the color then I know the bass will be left too rot I guess I'm vain

2nd The sound options
I already got a passive and active bass so I know next time I get one what to look for if it's passive simple and easy to use tone controls, if active responsive EQ and if at all possible a pickup/tone switch

3rd and lastly The brand
I'm the first to admit I don't care about fancy clothes, or name brand jeans but, something in me refuses to buy a Fender sure Leo invented the bass as we know it today but, as far as inovations Fender sucks!
Click to expand...

:rollno:
 
#34
To me strings make the biggest difference in bass sound.

So what I would love to see at some time is a bass with a zero fret that comes with interchangeable nuts (the zero fret makes it possible because the nut then is literally just a string guide and holder). I often need to change strings, and most of my basses when I get them can't accomodate a set like the Labella FM 0360 "Jamerson" set nor can they easily accomodate the most available nylon flat wounds. In addition, I often go thinner and while the nut slots allow you to put the string in sometimes there is a little too much room and you get a buzz or weird vibration.

So for me that would be a great addition to a bass manufacturere. Interchangeable nuts.
 
#35
I've owned 2 CB's (still have one)...here's my pet peeve: re-think your truss rod configuration. I'm not too fond of the dual-expanding jobby with 3 mm nut...too easy to strip out and cannot be replaced without removing the fretboard. Go with either a MusicMan-esque wheel or Fender-esque slotted nut

Riis
 
#36
I like the idea of a MM style truss rod. That would make on the fly adjustments super easy.

Apart from that, balance and ergonomics are at least as important as weight as far as I'm concerned, otherwise I would have ditched my 14 lb TRB long ago. But the neck doesn't drop and it sits comfortably fairly high up my chest, so it stays.

As others have mentioned, the acoustic sound and feel of a bass in hand is worth something. It's nice to feel a slight resonance and be able to hear the tone without plugging in. Of course, this probably isn't possible for some wood combinations.

The zero fret is an interesting idea too, especially if it makes the open notes indiscernible from fretted. And a slotted V type nut would allow different string gauges to be used too, that'd be quite nice.
 

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