What do you look for in a bass?

[shamus63]

What are the things you look for in a bass...tone, feel, looks, price? Is it to serve a certain purpose such as covering a particular style of music, or does one-size-fit-all? Is it the flavor-of-the-month?

For me, it goes in this order:

*looks (first attraction)
*feel
*tone
*does it compliment my style of playing, as well as the majority of the music I play?
*price...is it do-able w/o going into a year's worth of extra debt?

Chime in...

 

[TSanders]

I usually amke sure it has one of the following words on the headstock:

StingRay
StingRay5
Sterling
Bongo

Then color.
Then price.

If all fall in line, Im then, in trouble

 

[hankSRay]

What Travis said. I've wasted too much money on other basses already. Now I stick with the good stuff.

 

[SharonG]

Tone and feel first. Looks count, too, but it doesn't matter how pretty it is if it sounds like a washtub with old rubber bands....

and then there's always the kicker - price!

 

[MingusBASS]

Tone and Feel are the two most important factors for me. I would put Tone slightly above Feel though. I would play a bass that sounded sweet but wasn't totally comfortable to me but if the tone isn't kick'n I'm not going to waste my time. Price depends on where Tone and Feel meet. I'd be less likely to drop big bucks on a bass if I felt like one of the two was compromised. If it's in a sweet color, jackpot but if I have to, I guess I'd play a awesome sounding/feeling bass if it was plain 'ol black. The body shape isn't huge but you wouldn't see me playing a B.C. Rich or a Warwick anytime soon.

The Bongo is truely the perfect bass for me:

Killer sound, playability,versatility in an unique and innovative design.

 

[AnthonyD]

Feel - as in how it feels in my hands is first, followed by tone...

Spent a long time looking for my Sterling. Most of the basses I picked-up I put right back down without ever plugging them in.

Once I had what felt right, ensuring it sounded right sealed the deal!

 

[Motojunkie]

What are the things you look for in a bass...tone, feel, looks, price? Is it to serve a certain purpose such as covering a particular style of music, or does one-size-fit-all? Is it the flavor-of-the-month?

For me, it goes in this order:

*looks (first attraction)
*feel
*tone
*does it compliment my style of playing, as well as the majority of the music I play?
*price...is it do-able w/o going into a year's worth of extra debt?

Chime in...

I have to pretty much agree with what you're saying here with the exeption of whether it compliments my (lack) of style. If I dig it and I have the cash then I buy it. I rarely try to justify purchases to myself....although I find that I have to justify them to my wife all the time.

 

[Aussie Mark]

I can get my own tone from pretty much any bass, strung with the right strings, so that's not such a big purchasing question for me. The top things I look for when purchasing are -

Build quality
Neck feel
Look/Colour

 

[Figjam]

I generally go for the one bass does it all thing. The only bass where that isnt the case is my fretless one, that was never my main bass, it has always just been around.

Looks wise I like something classy that is nice to look at while not being distracting. I need something with a comfortable neck. Sterling, and now SR5, does this.

 

[shamus63]

I can get my own tone from pretty much any bass, strung with the right strings, so that's not such a big purchasing question for me. The top things I look for when purchasing are -

Build quality
Neck feel
Look/Colour

Good call, Mark! Don't know how I overlooked that...probably took it for granted.

We are spoiled around here, aren't we!

 

[Figjam]

Yes with EBMM we have that taken care of

 

[Lazybite]

Feel/playability
$$$
Look

 

[82Daion]

I tend to look at it relative to what I already own. Sure, it should look good, sound really good, and be built well, but it should also fit my playing style and do something different or better than what I already own. This is why my next bass won't be a Bongo-I don't need two basses that do the same thing. It may still be an EBMM, though-some of the HH/HS Sterlings/Stingrays have been quite appealing...

 

[nocluejimbo]

• EB/MM brand name
• Maple FB
• Trans Finish
• Affordability

 

[maddog]

First, it must look like a Bongo.

Second, it must feel like a Bongo.

Third, it must smell like a Bongo.

Fourth, it must taste like a Bongo.



Good thing we not step in it.


Oh yeah, and Steve-o has had to lick it.

 

[SteveB]

Dude, take note that so far not a single person has mentioned the presence of your DNA as a criterion...

 

[Mr Light]

...It has to be Ash/Maple for funk reasons...

 

[maddog]

Dude, take note that so far not a single person has mentioned the presence of your DNA as a criterion...

I fixed that.

 

[4metta]

Sound and feel in that order

Also, I prefer light weight if available

 

[adouglas]

Sound and feel in that order

Absolutely agree, but I'd add aesthetics after those two. I can handle homely (as in beat up/funky like a pair of old gym socks), but if it's TOO geeky I just won't want to play it. It's gotta have good design, but a sharp-looking bass is much less important than one that sounds and feels killer.