My most and least expensive ones are the ones that my hands are loving the most, right now. That's a limited edition Warwick, and a Peavey Millenium BXP AC4, respectively. It's not that I don't love my G&L's, tho'.
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Your most playable bass?
- Thread starter benthughes
- Start date
Steinberger L2 from '83 for me. So comfortable and ergonomic. Playing anything else feels like more work.
My most playable bass was my RIC 4003, but I just bought a 2012 Fender American Standard Precision and I can't put it down. It's light, comfortable sitting down, and has that perfect classic tone that I expect to hear from a Fender. I've actually owned 3 Fender P basses over the past 30 years, and I have to say that the new ones are the best I've played.
Out of my stable the most comfortable bass that I have has to be that little guy on the far right.
Left to right:
1) LTD-TA600
2) Ibanez Ashula 6-string (EADG fretted and repeatd D & G fretless)
3) Carvin LB76 "The Blue Beast" (It weighs a ton but sounds amazing!
4) Squier P-Bass Special that satisfies my Steve Harris wannabie moments.
Sorry for the self indulgent pic
Left to right:
1) LTD-TA600
2) Ibanez Ashula 6-string (EADG fretted and repeatd D & G fretless)
3) Carvin LB76 "The Blue Beast" (It weighs a ton but sounds amazing!
4) Squier P-Bass Special that satisfies my Steve Harris wannabie moments.
Sorry for the self indulgent pic
Just picked up a Fbass vf5 and it blows away all my other basses (past and present)....my Ernie Ball Stingray 5 and MTD 535-24 are close seconds.
I love my Lakland 55-94 and my EBMM Stingray 5 fretless but I'd have to say they don't have the playability and tonal flexibility of my "new to me" Nordy VJ5 Modern
It's such an incredible bass that I may never buy another bass...and IF I do, chances are it'll be another Nordy
It's such an incredible bass that I may never buy another bass...and IF I do, chances are it'll be another Nordy
Fender Custom Shop 64 jazz relic, so light, nice low action, super straight neck, so easy to play, everyone that has played it has commented on how easily it plays...
I expect this to change when my Loïc Le Pape jazz bass is ready, but until then it's my Fame Baphomet NTB4. A cheapish Warwick copy made by Mayones I bought used & unseen for 350€. It's got a fat, chunky unlacquered neck which I didn't expect to love at first. Now I've grown used to it, it's definately a keeper.
At the time I had a Mayones custom shop bass, which I sold back ! Same manufacturer, 4 times as expensive (on a "new" basis), yet somehow it wasn't as good (to me).
At the time I had a Mayones custom shop bass, which I sold back ! Same manufacturer, 4 times as expensive (on a "new" basis), yet somehow it wasn't as good (to me).
After 20+ years of playing I've found I can play pretty much any bass to the required standard.
kevteop said:
I don't think the question is about skill level, it's about personal preference opinions on bass playability.
I don't think you need to spend over $1000 to get a really sweet playing bass, maybe not even that high....ymmv
True that, the used SUB4 I bought from the TB classifieds sounds and plays insane (preamp upgraded with an SGD Lutherie and a setup from Chuck @ Bass Emporium)
It's just a matter of setting a bass up to suit your playing style . I find my chunky old Stingray is every bit as playable as my old thin necked Ric . I have a number of Pbasses that fall in between those two in terms of neck size . I set the action to medium low .
Although recently I've been mostly playing the cheapest one I own , a Korean Longhorn .
Although recently I've been mostly playing the cheapest one I own , a Korean Longhorn .
It's a tie between my Aerodyne Jazz bass and my Lakland Skyline 44-64 Custom. They both play great...the Fender might have just a slight lead over the Lakland though. Plus, with the P/J pickup config it always sits well in the live mix.
