Your best sounding bass . . .

[Baird6869]

Depends on the music I am playing. Either my 1997 MIA Fender Precision RI or my Sadoesky MS5. Totally different sounding basses but both amazing in their own right. This has been my gigging combo lately.

 

[GreyBeard]

close match between 3 basses. 96 SR-5H, 96 MIA P-bass, new ATK305
The best sounding straight ahead R&R it has to be the SR-5
For oldies, P-bass with flats
Slap tone ATK305.

 

[Rickett Customs]

Has to be my DP custom fretless 6, that thing just oozes tonality :

Followed by my Euro 5:

 

[funkybassplayer]

alembicplyr... the DP custom is SWEET.

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

Despite how it looks, how many strings it has, how cool or trendy it is, etc.

Which one always just brings it home?

Mine is my US Glaub(with Duncan PUs) or my Jerry Jones Longhorn.
Wouldn't be caught dead at a serious session without either one . . .

Which one always just brings it home?

It depends on the gig. I do enough different kinds of music that the sound of the bass which is the right one for one band/genre is not the absolute best one for another band/genre. If there was that perfect bass that was always perfect sound for every genre and style, I'd have only one bass. The perfect bass is the one that has the right sound for that song, at that moment.

If I'm doing jazz standards/ballads using a fretless jazz bass for one gig, and high-energy pop/jazz-funk on a fretted Ibanez for another gig, neither one of these basses, if used for all my gigs would be able to "just bring it home."

Best to you.

 

[Rickett Customs]

alembicplyr... the DP custom is SWEET.

Yeah, I love it to death. My wife accuses me of cheating on her when I play it.

When I get back from vacation, another TB'er is going to put a real finish on it and epoxy the fingerboard. I can't wait!

 

[funkybassplayer]

Yeah, I love it to death. My wife accuses me of cheating on her when I play it.

When I get back from vacation, another TB'er is going to put a real finish on it and epoxy the fingerboard. I can't wait!

PM'd

 

[buzzbass]

Zon Sonus 5
Valenti #43
Bongo 5 H/S

I know that no matter how bad all the other gig factors are, I can get a great sound out of one of these 3.

 

[lonote]

I'd have to say my '96 Hamer 2-TEK Cruisebass (with ancient D'Addario Chrome flats). It sounds like a passive J-Bass should sound. Actually, I'm happy with all my basses.

 

[pbass2]

YAMAHA BB1200 4 string
EMG P/J Pups
3 way toggle Neck-P/Both/Bridge-J
1-Volume Knob
1-Tone Knob
Both played wide open, all the time...
Hipshot D-tuner
Have Recorded Direct to Tape with no DI or Comp/Limiter at Cherokee Studios...
Every engineer FOH or Recording ALWAYS makes a positive comment about it...
Yep... Brings it home.

Man, I've two of those over the years--let 'em both go foolishly . . .

 

[fullrangebass]

My best bass is definitely a Dingwall. They all sound huge and defined (24 at my disposal this very moment IIRC ).

Now getting down to the best of the best, my "Uber Alles" Prima, along with my avatar Z1 and my NVT Villex-loaded Prima cover everything in the best way

 

[dean82]

If I had to pick one, my Sadowsky 24F5. The tone is very versatile and as the Sadowsky does, it cuts through the mix in a very pleasing way. In other words, Guitarists hate me, drummers and sound guys love me. (Just kidding, drummers and sound guys hate me to.)

 

[dean82]

My best bass is definitely a Dingwall. They all sound huge and defined (24 at my disposal this very moment IIRC ).

Awesome! You have one for every business day of the month plus a couple of backups just incase.

 

[b_carville]

Mine is a mexican Fender sunburst 50's classic.It's every bit as nice as any P I've owned & I've owned a lot from all the era's.

The soundman in my main band says my best sounding bass is my Hondo 830 deluxe.I got it for cheap recently expecting to use it for parts.It's made nice.Strings through the body,brass bridge,good tuners.It has that"ROCK" P bass sound like a 70's Fender.Great highs & fat tight lows.It's a bit mid shy though(& I like mid-cut!) & I'd like to put a DiMarzio model p in it,but my soundguy would strangle me! If I bring any other bass out with my main band I gotta listen to him bitch all night.

 

[Jools4001]

Wow, this is great fun -- some very interesting and varied replies. Lots of surprises instead of everyone saying, "My Fender P-Bass," "My Fender Jazz," "My Sadowsky whatever," and "My Ric 4001."

Oh go on then....My Ric 4001


Closely followed by my Patrick Eggle Milan V fretless with EMG's

 

[staindbass]

spector legend. my music man's, carvins, g&l's are in the closet, seasoning up for ebay in about 10 years. johnny a

 

[Nedmundo]

I have seven basses. They all sound great, and of course it depends on the material, but the most consistently amazing have been:

DiPinto Belvedere Standard semi-hollow; and
2003 American Series Jazz with noiseless Fralins.

I think my 2008 American Standard Jazz V and G&L SB-2 are in this league, but I haven't gigged or recorded with them yet to make sure. The Jazz V sounds close to my 2003, but has more high end sparkle with the pure single coils. It's a monster. The SB-2 is the only solidbody I've played that sounds about as huge as the DiPinto, and is thus even more of a monster.

 

[Zoidberg523]

My Epiphone Goth Thunderbird has never let me down.

 

[Lowbrow]

Oh go on then....My Ric 4001


Closely followed by my Patrick Eggle Milan V fretless with EMG's

LOL! Thanks for keeping us honest and a little trebley!

Lowbrow

 

[spade2you]

Depends on the music I am playing.

I'll take it a step further. Depends on the individual song I'm playing.

Too often these threads are really asking, "OMG, what's teh best bass in the world?!!" Then everyone responds "OMG, the _______ (2-3 max) are the best in the world, and guess what, that's what I play!!!"

There is an abundance of great tones, none of which are the best or work best in every single context. Embrace the variety.