[DAWgEAR]

Many good points.

Here's another angle: is it really the bass that is off?

If other aspects of your arrangement aren't working with the bass rhythmically and sonically, no amount of expense will sound right. The kick drum is particularly noteworthy if it is not locked in with the bass and if the frequencies, attacks, and releases of the kick and bass are not complementing one another.

It has been my experience that once the arrangement grooves with the bass and the drums (kick particularly) are properly compressed and EQd, the bass sound that previously was "sucking" magically falls into place with very little additional fuss.

My experience is that how the kick is compressed and EQd has a lot to do with how the bass will be percieved.

Something to consider.