The "cheaper" bass players

Larz48 · #1 03-05-2009, 10:34 PM

I've been here awhile I guess and I get sorta tired of going to the "Basses" section and reading all the-Fender M.I.A., G&L, Lakland,ect,ect,I just bought a $900.00 this and that bass. I just got back into playing after about 25+ years and although I could probably afford it, I see no reason to spend that kind of cash. I'm a sit at home, listen and play along bass player that plays just because I enjoy it. Been in one band that was short lived, we were all about 18-20 years old.
Anyway...I have 2 Washburns, that I love, a MIM Fender P, a Kramer that just sounds great and a Carlos Robelli accoustic that also plays very well. Not one of these basses cost me more that $200.00 and I'm completely satisfied with what I have. I don't need to spend an a$$load of money to enjoy myself at this point. I realize that persons in a band might feel that they HAVE to have the big money rigs but at this point, I don't have to. Anyone else have the same vibe?

**embellisher** · #2 03-05-2009, 10:42 PM

Some guys get defensive or ashamed of their gear when they see some of the amazing stuff that people on these boards own.

Don't let it get to you. I played 'cheap' gear most of my life. There was a point when I was a teenager that I didn't even own a bass. My family was so poor that I dug a busted classical guitar out of the dumpster, defretted it, and strung it up with the heaviest green weedeater string that I could find. That was my 'bass' for almost two years, although we attended churches occasionally where they would let me play the churches bass if there wasn't a bassist at that service.

I now own some very nice basses, but if I had to, I could get by with one of my budget four bangers. After all, that is what I played for most of my life.

T-Bird · #3 03-05-2009, 10:46 PM

Hi.

I'm in the same boat as You are.

I love the looks (and sound

) of a Thunderbird, Explorer etc. and probably could buy a Gibson, but won't.

I have worked on enough Gibsons to never to buy one for the "full" price. The same goes for "real" Fenders. Just not worth it for me.

I can most definitely see someone, or even me, dropping 2 grand on a new bass, but why does it have to be mass produced? For that price there's plenty of luthiers and instrument builders who can match the quality of an mass produced instrument of the same price tag.

Perhaps I don't understand all the finesse behind name brands, but for me, most of the cheapos from the Orient are just as good as the real deals, for a fraction of the price.

So Yes, I think I have the same vibe

.

Regards
Sam

MIJ-VI · #4 03-05-2009, 11:29 PM

"The "cheaper" bass players"?

I haven't changed my strings since '97--even though I've got 5 spare packs.

Dertygen · #5 03-06-2009, 01:47 AM

I whittle my own basses!

SteveC · #6 03-06-2009, 07:48 AM

There are many good "cheap" basses out there these days. Used or new, you can find a very playable, good sounding bass for a few hundred bucks. I am fortunate and am now playing a pretty expensive instrument.

sarcastro83 · #7 03-06-2009, 07:53 AM

When I used to make a really good wage. I could have easily bought myself a nice, rband new car. I decided to just stick with my old, beater 96 Cavalier because it was doing the job just fine...

Same sort of philosophy, I guess. Play what you like, and if it costs less, than you're laughing.

The Golden Boy · #8 03-06-2009, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larz48

I've been here awhile I guess and I get sorta tired of going to the "Basses" section and reading all the-Fender M.I.A., G&L, Lakland,ect,ect,I just bought a $900.00 this and that bass. I just got back into playing after about 25+ years and although I could probably afford it, I see no reason to spend that kind of cash. I'm a sit at home, listen and play along bass player that plays just because I enjoy it. Been in one band that was short lived, we were all about 18-20 years old.
Anyway...I have 2 Washburns, that I love, a MIM Fender P, a Kramer that just sounds great and a Carlos Robelli accoustic that also plays very well. Not one of these basses cost me more that $200.00 and I'm completely satisfied with what I have. I don't need to spend an a$$load of money to enjoy myself at this point. I realize that persons in a band might feel that they HAVE to have the big money rigs but at this point, I don't have to. Anyone else have the same vibe?

There's probably more SX/MIM/Squier/Tribute etc threads than there are about seriously fancy-pants stuff.

I enjoy playing. I enjoy having nice instruments that strike my fancy. If you have a hobby you enjoy and that you enjoy putting yourself behind- that's what having nice stuff around you is about. Whether it's Hummel figurines, baseball cards, Franklin Mint plates, tricking out your car, remodeling your house, or a coveted Bea Arthur underpants collection. People dump money into hobbies that I can't conceive of being the least bit entertaining.

Your'e also mentioning having 5 basses and you don't gig. A case could also be made of saying that I play out monthly, but I only own 4 basses- isn't having 5 overkill for someone who doesn't play out?

The point is, dig what you dig- but don't apply your values to how someone else feels they need to spend whatever they want for whatever they want.

hover · #9 03-06-2009, 01:48 PM

If the instrument is easy for you to play and/or inspires you to play and sounds good and suits your needs you should give a rat's ass what it costs. Good is good, and is not defined by how much money you throw at it.

That said, I had a MIM Jazz that I got, mint, for 25 dollars. It spoke to me, stock, until the day it was stolen 6 years later. It was my only bass for a long long time. I still to this day aven't found a bass that felt as "right". Some would scoff at that, I think that's crazy.

Phalex · #10 03-06-2009, 02:21 PM

Let me tell you something sonny.......

Back when I was a boy, there used to be a fairly big difference between "cheap" and "higher end" basses. The electronics in the cheap basses of yore, were noticeably inferior back in those days. Now a days, all the electronics come from Asia anyway. The cheap stuff has much better components than it used to IMHO.

I played a Rickenbacker for years. I'm talkin years!

I bought a beat to crap Hoppus Sig P bass on Ebay for $350.00 to abuse and, I love that thing! I don't play the Ric much at all anymore.

fishtx · #11 03-06-2009, 04:30 PM

Sorry to say this, and I don't want to appear arrogant, but almost across the board, I prefer the high end stuff...for a lot of reasons...ie tone, feel, fit, resale, etc...sorry...but I just do...

I started out with a Sears Silvertone Bass...and have owned squires and other "cheaper" basses along the way...but in no way can I say that any of them was better in any way than the high end gear I have now, or have ever owned...to me, there's no comparison...

spade2you · #12 03-07-2009, 10:31 AM

Feh, people worry too much about price and image. Boutique gear takes entirely too much flack these days.

hover · #13 03-07-2009, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spade2you

Feh, people worry too much about price and image. Boutique gear takes entirely too much flack these days.

I have not seen any flak against boutique basses in this thread, and I certainly don't dispense it. It's all relative, use what works for you is all I was saying.

etechstan · #14 03-07-2009, 07:31 PM

Used to play Fender and Kramer back in the day. Now I just do the Praise and Worship band and am extremely happy with my $100 Vinci (which is about to undergo some serious mods for the fun of it) and my $129 SX 4+1 Jazz. I could afford just about anything but like my Malibu, simple things make me happy. I don't need an ego stroker.

fishtx · #15 03-08-2009, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by etechstan

Used to play Fender and Kramer back in the day. Now I just do the Praise and Worship band and am extremely happy with my $100 Vinci (which is about to undergo some serious mods for the fun of it) and my $129 SX 4+1 Jazz. I could afford just about anything but like my Malibu, simple things make me happy. I don't need an ego stroker.

I don't think people play higher end gear to "stroke their ego's"...I think they play higher end gear for a myriad of reasons...If none of those reasons apply to you, and you are "happy" playing a $129 SX bass...hey, good for you man...

spade2you · #16 03-08-2009, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishtx

I don't think people play higher end gear to "stroke their ego's"...

Big +1. Very common myth among bassists. I think you'll find that the small amount of boutique players are more about having something with better action and ergonomics and not at all worried about having some sort of status symbol.

hover · #17 03-08-2009, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishtx

I don't think people play higher end gear to "stroke their ego's"...

Ok, but by way of fairness, I've seen PLENTY of that on this here website....mainly by brand whores, but still. To each their own.

fishtx · #18 03-08-2009, 04:26 PM

OK...you are always going to have a few people who buy stuff as a status symbol...I will admit that...but "in general", the people playing high end stuff are "not" doing it as a status symbol...they are doing it, again, for a myriad of reason...ie (as mentioned); feel, action, options, range, ergonomics, tone, etc...but as a status symbol?...eh, a few maybe...but not the majority...

Yes, some of the budget and mid-priced instruments feel good and sound pretty good, some even better than pretty good...And yes, some of the high end Basses fall into that "feel good and sound pretty good" category as well... But some of them just sound freakin amazing...and feel so natural to play....

IMO, finding a "cheaper" bass that just sounds and plays amazing is finding a diamond in the rough...I'm sure there are a couple out there...but very few and far between.

cb56 · #19 03-08-2009, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larz48

....... I get sorta tired of going to the "Basses" section and reading all the-Fender M.I.A., G&L, Lakland,ect,ect,I just bought a $900.00 this and that bass. I just got back into playing after about 25+ years and although I could probably afford it, I see no reason to spend that kind of cash.

Some folks here would consider my $900 bass to be a cheap bass.
Play what you like and don't sweat it.

Pilgrim · #20 03-08-2009, 06:04 PM

As mentioned above, today's budget instruments are much better made then those of the 50's and 60's (that now sell for silly money on Ebay). I happen to have a 1963 P, but only because my parents bought it for me in 1967.

Aside from that, check out the lineup of basses I've gained without paying over $250 for any of them. It pays to shop Ebay, be patient, and check local pawn shops......

2000 MIM Jazz:

1970's Univox 335-copy:

2006 Rogue VB-100:

2007 Jay Turser JTB-401 clone of '54 P:

2008 Epiphone EB-3 (photo from Ebay auction):

70's Lyle SG-Clone:

70's Kay KB-2 (right side in this shot):

And this Aria Diamond, predecessor of the Univox Hi-Flyer, a project that I paid under $100 for. I have pickups for it and the refin supplies I'll use on it cost about $40 from ReRanch:

I realize that there may be advantages of more expensive basses, but the sound and performance of the ones I have do NOT incline me to spend more money. I do have a yen for an Epi Jack Casady bass, but I'll wait until I can find one for under $500 at the very most.