Is your most expensive bass your best 'player'? - Page 2

dbd1963 · #21 01-10-2013, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NelsonNelson

Finally I'm not the only one!!! I was a "Fender only guy" before getting my German Warwick Corvette 5 in Ash. It was a completely different experience...and so much easier to play.

This is my 3rd Warwick, and I've noticed how well constructed they are. There are some things I nitpick, like how sharp the edges of the nut are, at least on the older models. You can cut your hand on those things.. I don't know if they've since fixed that because mine is a '99.

The reason I prefer it to the Geddy necked Fender is that the notes are clearly audible up and down the neck, whereas with the Fender there are too many spots where the notes get hindered. I think my frets might need some work, but there's probably just your basic dead spots in the neck, too. It's all good because my son loves that bass and now he gets to practice on it.

Jim Nazium · #22 01-10-2013, 07:47 AM

Yes, that's why I paid so much for it.

KCLRbass · #23 01-10-2013, 07:48 AM

Yeah, my Vadim 5 is my most expensive (by a little) and best-playing (by a lot). Doesn't mean the rest of the team sees no action though.

C.Linton · #24 01-10-2013, 07:48 AM

Voted yes. My most expensive bass is my MIA Jazz ($1200 bucks new), and is indeed my best player. However, my two Squiers (VM P and VM J) aren't very far behind.

jphovercraft · #25 01-10-2013, 07:55 AM

I voted 'No' only because my '79 'Ray only cost me $300. My Classic 'Ray 5 is right behind it and cost significantly more.

thebass905 · #26 01-10-2013, 07:56 AM

You know, I'm not sure........ I think it depends on the style of music I'm playing. For jazz, it's my fodera that feels best. For rock, I love the chunkiness and weight of my stingray. For funk I love my Fender Jazz V MIK 24..... I guess my physicality changes with what I play, so my preference for what plays best does too. I mean of course the Fodera would naturally have a better finish and technically precise design, but the difference in quality of the basses is really not so great it makes any one instrument unplayable on comparison to another. Hm.

Turtle71 · #27 01-10-2013, 07:57 AM

I answered yes.

At this point in time my most expensive bass (MIA Fender P) is indeed my best playing instrument, however up until I bought the P, my best playing bass was my MIM Jazz, I chose it over my Tobias Growler everyday (Growler is now gone).

zachoff · #28 01-10-2013, 07:58 AM

Not really. Reverend Rumblefish XL is my most expensive and I don't play it all that often. The neck is butter-licious and the tone is beyond awesome, but the rigidity of the body digs in pretty bad. I don't really play it all that much anymore though... Mostly because I think it's going to be a collector in years to come and I don't want to bring it to punk rock dive shows.

NKUSigEp · #29 01-10-2013, 07:59 AM

Yes (Spector NS4CRFM).

eriky4003 · #30 01-10-2013, 08:00 AM

In a similar predicament as the first poster, my Ricky 4003 is less playable than my Yamaha five-string, which in turn is less playable than my Yamaha BB300 (by far, the cheapest bass). Too bad the BB300 isn't a fiver.

Means2nEnd · #31 01-10-2013, 08:04 AM

No, I paid more for both my Zon and my Warrior and the Warrior out of all my 11 basses can get the lowest action without buzzing over any of my basses there is not enough room between the strings and the body making digging in difficult.

My Steamer Stage 2 although new is almost right there in price I bought it NOS much cheaper and it plays as a whole better than any bass I have ever played and sounds better than them all IMO.

CPplaysBASS · #32 01-10-2013, 08:07 AM

I voted no, but of course, explanation is required ...

I have five bases in total, but the three I turn to most are:
2009 MIA Fender P-Bass
2010 MIA Fender P-Bass, customized with P/J MJS pickups
1986 MIJ Fender PJ Bass

In terms of playing comfort, and almost playing itself (which is how I define "a player"), that goes to the MIJ. I bought it used for $400 last year as a beater bass. It was set up terribly. Once I spent 15 minutes getting the setup correct ... magic bass.

Tone wise , I have to go with my MIA P-bass that I customized to be a P/J. A little less forgiving when I'm not on my game though.

With that said, I consider all five of my basses "good players".

phillybass101 · #33 01-10-2013, 08:07 AM

Yes. My Brute Single Cut fits in my left hand like a glove. Everything is just right there. And with a 3 way coil splitter I'm getting three different tones at a flick of a switch. Mu MJX5 is awesome too but the neck is much wider and I have to work just a little bit harder to pull of the same techniques. I aslo dig my Geddy Lee Jazz as well so IMO it;s.

Single Cut (1st in cost)
MJX5 (black bass) (3rd in cost)
Geddy Lee (2nd in cost)

Still a winning combo for all of my FUNK needs.

thisSNsucks · #34 01-10-2013, 08:12 AM

Overall my Spector plays the best. That neck is just dead straight with low action with no fret buzz anywhere AND its 27 years old with the original frets. It's still an expensive bass, just not my most expensive.

Bufalo · #35 01-10-2013, 08:15 AM

No.
My Peavey Unity was a bunch of money brand new new when I bought it as an eager teenager in the early 90's, but my VM Jazz and my parts-bin P-bass both play better than it. I've never been able to get the Peavey to play fully in tune on the e-string no matter what adjustments I've made, and the 2nd ocatve of the neck feels clumsy to me - buzzy and imprecise. I love the feel of the unfinished Koa and the way it sounds (LOVE the way it sounds) but it's not my best player at all.

Wallace320 · #36 01-10-2013, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bufalo

No.
My Peavey Unity was a bunch of money brand new new when I bought it as an eager teenager in the early 90's, but my VM Jazz and my parts-bin P-bass both play better than it. I've never been able to get the Peavey to play fully in tune on the e-string no matter what adjustments I've made, and the 2nd ocatve of the neck feels clumsy to me - buzzy and imprecise. I love the feel of the unfinished Koa and the way it sounds (LOVE the way it sounds) but it's not my best player at all.

I just beg mods for pardon if goin' OT here

Cheers,
Wallace

Davo-London · #37 01-10-2013, 08:28 AM

Tough call for me. My 2 most expensive basses are:

- 1964 Fender Precision Bass
- 2008 Cliff Bordwell Ball Bass

One is old school mojo and the other is a modern, pianoesque, handbuilt and unique.

So which is easier to play, well technically the CB bass is easier to play but both feel just great and so I'm struggling to answer your question. I love and play them both.

Cheers
Davo

Rip Topaz · #38 01-10-2013, 08:30 AM

My main player is a 2011 60th Ann P, sells new for $1499. Plays AMAZINGLY. Gets about 75% playtime.

My cheapie backup, the Dillion 5204, is a SCPB so it has a slightly different tone. Just under $500 new. It has a totally different neck than the Fender, so it makes me play differently. Because of this, it gets played a bunch too.

The Fender is the better player, though. And the more expensive.

Marial · #39 01-10-2013, 08:35 AM

Yes. My Hwy One Jazz is the only bass I've played live except for a handful of shows when I first got my Squier '51 P. It's the most expensive bass I own.

Herrick · #40 01-10-2013, 08:36 AM

How are we judging expense? What if it was expensive when it was new but the resale value on it is very low & it was purchased used for a lot less? How much were Warwick Corvette Standards when they first came out?

My Warwick Corvette Standard 5 is much more playable than my 5-string Fender P, and a little more playable than my Yamaha BB1025X (but not by much).