The bass and sustain which you describe are an inherent feature of the Gibson oval, particularly the pre-Loar paddleheads. It makes them ideal for drones, like those found in Irish traditional music, but suboptimal for bluegrass, which benefits from a quicker attack and faster decay. Of course, you can play any style on any instrument, and if you play long enough, you’ll probably end up with one (or more) of each. For now, pick the one that sings to you and, as JeffD says, play the potatoes out of it!