Probably treading on dangerous ground here but I can't help thinking that there is a serious amount of "babying" going on with basses.....
They are tools at the end of the day aren't they??
Surely I'm not the only on who has the opinion that a bass sounds better if you beat the living crap out of it.... am I?
I know not all styles of music allow crap beat-age...
I understand keeping them in good working order, but they are built to be played after all.