Bass Guitars - what features do you LOVE?

[Cameronj279]

Fan frets
Fancy "coffee table" woods
5 strings
Multi coil pickups
Versatile preamps

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='MoJo' timestamp='1457797456' post='3001897']
A body, a neck, strings, bridge, tuners and pickups
[/quote]

... and possibly frets?

[ead]

To pick a few things:

Single coil pickups
Ash necks
Natural finish
Banjo frets
The complete absence of frets
Basses that balance well on the knee as well as the strap
NS body shape
Most varieties of Jazz and Jazz-type basses

[LukeFRC]

[quote name='ead' timestamp='1457961652' post='3003346']
To pick a few things:

Single coil pickups
Ash necks
Natural finish
Banjo frets
The complete absence of frets
Basses that balance well on the knee as well as the strap
NS body shape
Most varieties of Jazz and Jazz-type basses
[/quote] ash neck? Never seen that

[Geek99]

I quite fancy one change to my precision - a rounded off heel and one of those neckplates that has a rounded off corner somewhat like a sandberg. Classic looks but a bit more useable.

sunburst,
maple
blocks and bindings.

[keefbaker]

I do love an ebony fingerboard, and no markers.

[ead]

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1457963476' post='3003387']
ash neck? Never seen that
[/quote]

Some ACGs have them. Mine is on this bass and all I can say is that it's the best neck on any of my basses: http://www.acguitars.co.uk/acg_admin/wordpress/portfolio/0200ss-j-type-4/

The third pic down shows it a bit.

[discreet]

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1457699007' post='3001050']
If it looks like a Precision is the main thing for me.
[/quote]

This. And if it actually IS a Precision, then it's a bonus.

[such]

I've had a three-piece ash neck (with a beech body) in one of my first basses. Ash necks are somewhat popular in custom Foderas and MTDs too. On mine, the neck was really light and the body rather heavy, so strapped it stayed in whatever position I wanted it to. Soundwise - not sure. The bass sounded rather dark with lots and lots of sustain, the darkness might have been down to the pickups though - they were kinda handmade no-name Ps (two of them).

[Telebass]

4-string.
No more complex than a passive PJ setup, electrically.
Nut width around 40mm, between P and J.

A bass realisation of the KISS principal, in other words...

In other words, I like what's in my sig. Maple board if possible, but not really worried if not.

Edited March 15, 2016 by Telebass

[PlungerModerno]

[quote name='Cato' timestamp='1457688267' post='3000913']
. . . Natural finishes on non- exotic wood. Ash is pretty much perfect.

Rarely seen all together on the same bass. ( Is this the point where somebody suggests I order a Maruszczyk?).
[/quote]

I couldn't agree with you more about the beauty of "everyday" pretty plain wood (not an oxymoron, I mean plain wood to be wood that's not highly figured but still gorgeous, and lovely when finished well). Ash is a favourite for the same reason bubinga is a favourite of many - pleasing grain no matter what way it's cut, and while ash does really take a fair bit of filling before finishing (ha ha, no pun intended!) it's always worth it IMO.

P.S. might I suggest an ACG?

[discreet]

Back to the source for me - you can't beat the simple brilliance of Leo's 51 and 57 P Basses. Anything you can't play on a P isn't worth playing, IMHO.

[tauzero]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1458134915' post='3004997']
Back to the source for me - you can't beat the simple brilliance of Leo's 51 and 57 P Basses. Anything you can't play on a P isn't worth playing, IMHO.
[/quote]

And anything you can play on a P, you might as well play on a decent bass instead.

[discreet]

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1458149094' post='3005140']
And anything you can play on a P, you might as well play on a decent bass instead.
[/quote]

*¥£% #$$ &€% @#$£@*&!! Thhhppp!!

[bassbiscuits]

Jumbo or medium jumbo frets
9.5" radius fretboard or flatter
Through-body stringing at bridge
Reasonably chunky neck
Preferably some tort on there somewhere!

Two of my three basses tick all these boxes, so i'm a happy chappie.

[gsgbass]

Basically what my Am. Std.'s are now, except I would like a 12" radius on the fretboard. That's about it.

[jonjo86]

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1457699007' post='3001050']
If it looks like a Precision is the main thing for me.
[/quote]

+1

[Kex]

[quote name='clauster' timestamp='1457699292' post='3001053']
Simplicity
[/quote] With you on that one, still looking for one like this to match my ability

[Spoombung]

The Carl Thompson design

Narrow nut

Multicoil pickups

Short scale

Lightweight

[SH73]

Old fashioned p bass and jazz bass

[keefbaker]

Decent minibar.