[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1424003092' post='2691341']
Best way to buy, IMO... as long as you have the money.
Turn up, like it muchly, and like it enough to commit there and then. Job done.
[/quote]
Yup, but it only works if you have access to a reasonably well stocked music shop. PMT Oxford were very helpful, letting me compare several basses for an hour or more and plugged them through an Ashdown amp similar to the ones I use so that I could get a realistic idea of how they would sound through my own rig.
After last night's gig, our guitarist said 'You might as well sell your other basses, that is the one for you'.