Hey guys, I'm applying for college and I'm looking around for a high end bass to get me through my four years. But which? I am a jazz performance major, also playing blues, rock funk, and latin. Any suggestions?
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Best Bass in the $4000-$5000 price range
- Thread starter LookMomNoFrets
- Start date
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
In that price range I highly recommend going out there, playing them, and finding out for yourself. It's going to be a very personal thing and everyone is going to have a different opinion.
Holy crap, are you serious?
Play a bunch and you may well find a $1,000 bass you like as well as any multi-thousand dollar basses you encounter. Or a $2,000 bass. Or a $3,000. Et cetera. More $$$ does not equal better, and beyond a certain point (around $1,500 IME) the law of diminishing returns kicks in big time.
Play a bunch and you may well find a $1,000 bass you like as well as any multi-thousand dollar basses you encounter. Or a $2,000 bass. Or a $3,000. Et cetera. More $$$ does not equal better, and beyond a certain point (around $1,500 IME) the law of diminishing returns kicks in big time.
I have to agree. Most of us have never played a $5K bass, so we would just be throwing out names of the boutique builders. I'm a little confused though. A $1K bass will get you through 4 years of college too.
4-5g's???!!!!
Do you not already have a bass? Whats wrong with bringing it to college.
Seriously, spending 4-5 for what ur looking for is a little crazy.
Theres many nice Fenders, Musicmen, Ibanez's and so on that can be bought for a grand, leaving nothing to be needed.
I cant see a Ritter or Ken Smith sitting in a dorm room....wil most likely get stolen/broken/abused in the four years you're there. That is if you treat college correctly
Do you not already have a bass? Whats wrong with bringing it to college.
Seriously, spending 4-5 for what ur looking for is a little crazy.
Theres many nice Fenders, Musicmen, Ibanez's and so on that can be bought for a grand, leaving nothing to be needed.
I cant see a Ritter or Ken Smith sitting in a dorm room....wil most likely get stolen/broken/abused in the four years you're there. That is if you treat college correctly
LOL, these threads are getting out of hands. When you're in the $4-5k region it's more about which bass has the particular brand of platinum wiring you like. What's wrong with what you have now? Do you have any real need to spend so much?
Everything said so far has been true. If you get the chance though, check out some high end warwicks (thumb neck throughs and streamers). never had the chance to play one myself, but I've always loved the sound people get out of them (dirk lance and P-nut for example). then again, a lot of that comes from the players themselves. but yeah, try them out, because at the end of the day you're the one who's going to be playing it.
Curious why you feel you need a "high end" bass to get you through four years of school? I understand that this bass will be a tool you will be using for school. But does it really need to be a $4000-$5000 bass? Will you be able to pay for it without going into debt? Not trying to rain on your parade, just being practical. Sounds like a nice Fender Jazz or other well made Jazz type bass such as a Sadowsky would fit your music style and cost about half as much.
Sorry guys, i just meant no more than $5000. I've played pedullas, ken smiths, and even a few alembics so i was just wondering what u guys thought about high end basses (specific models or builders). I own a fender j and i want to expand you know?
In that price range you shouldn't be asking other people what they think is the best. You should actually be asking yourself what's the best for YOU?
Turns out, I owned a $4000 Roscoe for a while. I think my $400 MIM precision plays and sounds a little better for most situations. By now, I've gone through enough basses to know EXACTLY what I want in every aspect, so I'm having one built right now to my specifications.
If you really don't know what you like, buy used. With used basses, you can buy one, and then if you don't like it, turn it around and sell it for close to what you bought it for. I went through this for 5 years and settled on what I wanted. If you're not sure what you want, DO NOT go all out on a new custom instrument.
Turns out, I owned a $4000 Roscoe for a while. I think my $400 MIM precision plays and sounds a little better for most situations. By now, I've gone through enough basses to know EXACTLY what I want in every aspect, so I'm having one built right now to my specifications.
If you really don't know what you like, buy used. With used basses, you can buy one, and then if you don't like it, turn it around and sell it for close to what you bought it for. I went through this for 5 years and settled on what I wanted. If you're not sure what you want, DO NOT go all out on a new custom instrument.
a guy joins the forum this month named look mom no frets and posts this?
i smell a Invalid Link Removed
i smell a Invalid Link Removed
Just go out and play a stack of basses in different price ranges. For that budget, you have a LOT of different basses to chose from.
I think I should elaborate a bit because I don't want anyone to misunderstand me. I'm not against spending big bucks on a bass but usually when people get into the the $3000 and up range they buy the bass because they absolutely fell in love with them and felt that it was worth the price of admission not because someone told them it was the best bass. These guys with scores of high dollar basses don't have them because someone else told them they liked them they played them and judged the cost for themselves.
I'm in music school now full time. I wouldn't recommend a high end bass. Not necessary at all. Get a GOOD bass, one that is good enough. You're going to be dragging that bass all over God's creation. You'll bring it to ensemble, jazz performance, or whatever academic playing situation you have. You'll bring it to your lessons. You'll bring it out to the Wednesday night jam down at a local pub because you'll be sick of tip-toeing through really challenging jazz stuff during the day in school and want to have the joyful release of a dominant 7 jam song (Sissy Strut, Put it Where You Want It, Stratus, etc.)- somethingthat allows you to groove a little instead of figuring out how you're going to solo over that damn tricky minor seven flat five chord
Your bass is going to get banged and dinged.
Get a good 4 or 5-banger- a Fender, a Sadowsky, a Nordy, or what have you. You'll cover all the bases with that for school and outside of school. By it used, and make sure it's good- the neck responds properly to truss rod adjustments, it feels good in your hands, and so on. Make sure it's all ready a little dinged up because I can tell you your gonna ding it up in school.
Your bass is going to get banged and dinged.
Get a good 4 or 5-banger- a Fender, a Sadowsky, a Nordy, or what have you. You'll cover all the bases with that for school and outside of school. By it used, and make sure it's good- the neck responds properly to truss rod adjustments, it feels good in your hands, and so on. Make sure it's all ready a little dinged up because I can tell you your gonna ding it up in school.
