What Matters Most?

[IdealWay]

What's most important to you in a bass: The way it looks, the way it sounds, or the way it feels? I'm mainly concerned with higher-end basses, but this question applies to any bass. For me the sound is always at the top of the list, although the other two naturally have an influence on my decision to buy or not buy a certain bass. What about you?

 

[Disappear]

I bought a bongo partially for it's unique appearance but I love the sound of MM.

 

[Mike151]

I prefer the sound/tone of a P bass but like how others look.

 

[millsbass5]

As long as it sounds and feels good,I dont much care about looks,color.For all I care,it could have lumps of steaming doo on it.BUT,if Im buying custom,it WILL look good too.

 

[VroomVroom]

Sound. Bada boom.

A bass can look good and play good...and I've certainly been lured over the years...but ultimately it's about sound.

 

[LanEvo]

Tough question for me because I consider tone and feel to be more or less equally important.

I won't own a bass that doesn't sound fantastic. Nor would I own a bass that doesn't fit my body properly (good ergonomics) or doesn't allow me to set the action the way I like it (playability). For me, a bass is essentially a tool. And if it doesn't sound good and play well, then it's not doing its job.

 

[seanm]

Luckily, there are so many good basses now that you don't have to choose between sound, looks, and feel. You can get all three.

 

[CapnSev]

Hmmm... Sound and feel are a close match for me, both are uber-important. I would say feel can take precedence of sound for me in most cases, but not by much.

 

[PapaJustice]

Feel, at least for me. If I'm playing a gig for a couple hours I want a good sound of course but I don't want to pay for that sound with a drop in comfort. That is why when I try out a bass at a store, I always start with it unplugged for a little while-- that way I can focus completely on the ergonomics and not be distracted by what could be sweet tone but mediocre feel. Also, it is a lot easier to improve the sound of a good-feeling bass than improve the feel of a good-sounding bass. Just my $.02.

 

[Brad Maestas]

The sound is always what's most important to me. My next consideration would be how it feels.
If those two criteria are covered, I could care less how it looks.

 

[jsingles]

feel.

pickups can be changed.. preamps can be added...
if the neck plays like garbage, you will still sound bad.

 

[jesusfreek8489]

sound is the most important thing... Jaco didn't mind having a "crappy" looking Fender (don't get me wrong I mean that in the best of ways) but tone is most important because.....
WHO doesn't want (at some point) to be able to have that growly jaco tone?

Looks don't matter but the sound/tone defines you as a bassist.

 

[Barkless Dog]

Has to be really heavy and have lots of neck dive, Mahogany content, oh & sound really muddy

 

[jamesie]

feel and sound - no feeling without sound and no sound without feeling

 

[mongo2]

Feel.

I can usually get a workable sound out of most any bass.

Looks is pretty far down the list.

 

[RickenBoogie]

I've got to have all 3 to be completely satisfied with a bass guitar. And, luckily, anyone can find a bass that delivers the whole package.

 

[Solarmist]

I've got to have all 3 to be completely satisfied with a bass guitar. And, luckily, anyone can find a bass that delivers the whole package.

+1 Bigtime ... must have ALL

 

[ExaltBass]

Feel - the rest is what modding is all about!

 

[JTE]

Sound always trumps everything else. It's a musical instrument, hence its function is to create good sound. Without that it doesn't matter how comfortable it feels, or how it looks. It's gotta feel good, but it's a lot easier to adapt to a neck that's wider or more narrow than I prefer than it is to try to adapt my ears to something.

Looks are so far down the list as to be meaningless.

jte

 

[Thunderitter]

Where's the all three selection?