Another Cheap vs Expensive thread...

[Hevy T]

Maybe I am just an idiot, but I really can't hear much of a difference in sound between a $200 Squire Jazz and a $1500 MIA Jazz!

Sure there is difference in quality and more attention is put to detail, but it all comes down to sound and if the stock pup in the Squire don't put out as much, then turn up the amp!!

I think the biggest differences between the two is the name on the headstock and the price tag.

I am not in the position to do this, but can someone in TB land do a blind test between say Affinity Jazz, VM Jazz, MIM Jazz and MIA. Perhaps do the same with the P basses. Hey go wild a $300 Ibanez SDGR and a $1500. Sterling vs MM etc...I would love to see what some experienced gear snobs would choose as being the best to the worst on a few different makes. Might be a good project for some guys that own or work in a music store

 

[LiamR]

There is nowhere as big of a difference as people want to believe.

I'm sure the more expensive basses sound better. They definitely have better quality (attention to detail etc), but the sound is not amazingly different.

For example, the wood makes no difference to tone, etc.

 

[bassteban]

...the wood makes no difference to tone, etc.

I'll come back to see the smoldering crater.

 

[Kwesi]

Then don't buy them. It's quite simple, really.

 

[Mushroo]

Ah, the old "I can't tell a difference, therefore there is no difference" fallacy.

I can't really tell the difference between a $10 bottle of wine and a $100 bottle of wine... but I believe that some people can tell the difference and enjoy spending the extra $90 on something they really like and appreciate.

It's like anything else in life: the difference only makes a difference to you if it is important to you!

 

[ghostdog93]

I am not in the position to do this, but can someone in TB land do a blind test between say Affinity Jazz, VM Jazz, MIM Jazz and MIA. Perhaps do the same with the P basses.

I've been trying to convince the guys at the local GC to let me A/B a Squier CV or VM with an MIA while blindfolded, but they absolutely won't let me do it.

Perhaps it's because they've already heard me play like crap without a blindfold.

 

[wideload]

I split the difference. I play an expensive-ish bass (Alembic Rogue) through a cheap-ish amp (Peavey BAM210). My ability is more SX and Behringer!

 

[Nobody]

Let's all just face it, some basses just sound more expensive and you can't put a price tag on that.

 

[timbob1986]

Personally I don't see the value for money in the MIA's but I'll buy an MIM or a CIJ Fender long before I'll even consider a Squire. It's the little things like the screw holes on the strap buttons not chewing out or the input jack not coming loose and stuff like that. I have the money to spend so I don't see the point in saving a few hundred dollars just to have to be constantly fixing stuff up. But of course in the end its all up to your personal opinion, your playing style and your budget. Although on the budget side of things I'll always try to find a decent mid range, second hand product before I look at a low end, new product.

 

[mmbongo]

With Fenders I can't really tell a difference, but compare that $200 Squire to a high quality bass and you'll see, hear, and feel a major difference.

 

[martinmcfly]

'04' Custom Shop 1964 Jazz Relic vs. 2011 Squier VM Jag.
'73' Fender Precision vs. 2011 Squier VM Jag. SS

Believe me, BIG DIFFERENCE IN SOUND. I won't comment about action cuz the Fender's have been Professional Set up and I set up the Squiers (But they have Super Action but probably could be better). I also only have been playing the Jag lately and REALLY like it. For the money you can't beat it. In the past the only other Squier I played was a Precison one and it was horrible (but hadn't been set up). I now have a much higher opinion of Squiers, BUT, their PU's aren't anything like a Vintage or CS Pickup.

 

[skychief]

I think the biggest differences between the two is the name on the headstock and the price tag.

You have a firm understanding of this concept. I know that American Fender chooses select woods for making slab bodies & necks. The MIMs MIJs MIKs dont. Does that mean these are sub-par quality? Heck no. It just means they gotta fill a few knotholes here and there...but who cares? Most of 'em just get painted and nobody's the wiser.

I paid around $1200 for American-made J bass. I paid $215 for a used MIM Squier J bass. I like the Squier better---its lighter, doesnt have active electronics, the neck seems faster for some dang reason, im not worried about belt-buckle rash or other minor mishaps.

 

[indigobass]

Here's an video comparison of sorts:

Invalid Link Removed

 

[madbassplaya]

People, please! You DO NOT have to justify what you buy. If you don't wanna spend money on more expensive basses you don't have to. If you want to spend the money on expensive basses please do!

Buy what you want and play what you want! Just stop trying to justify it to everyone else!

 

[Hevy T]

With Fenders I can't really tell a difference, but compare that $200 Squire to a high quality bass and you'll see, hear, and feel a major difference.

I agree with you there. A $200 Squire vs a Roscoe or F Bass etc... There is no comparison.

But between the different Fender lines there is minimal difference in value for maximum price. I can't find hardly any difference between a MIM Jazz or Precision as compaired to their American counterparts. Yeah you might have turn up the amp 1/2 a step or adjust your eq a bit but I would rather make a couple adjustments and keep the extra $600 in my pocket for other things.

I wish I could hear a sound demo on those new Blacktops, these I think will throw a cog in my gears. I think they will sound amazing, especially the P wth those double humbuckers. But once again 2 humbuckers will give a totally different dynamic over the traditional split pups

 

[Windreaper]

As far as Jazz Basses go, I can understand where the OP is coming from. I also believe the tone is mostly about strings and electronics (as far as just the bass is concerned). It is not that hard or expensive to make a good-sounding single coil pickup.

I have a pair of very nice JB pickups wound by a very respected Finnish luthier Matti Nevalainen. Quality materials, thin wire, proper potting. They're very sensitive yet absolutely whisper-quiet. Worth every penny. Could I tell them apart from Squier JB pickups in a mix? I doubt it.

If one cannot appreciate better materials, hardware, playability and overall fit and finish, there is no reason to buy the MIA model. You can get most of the tone with a cheap Squier. Get a proper fret job done and you are mostly there playability-wise too.

 

[grendle]

In the fender line, no there isn't much difference at all in tone. Pickups being the major factor. Alder is alder, maple is maple, plastic is plastic etc. What you do pay for is attention to detail in the finishing #1 being the neck. And also the addition of graphite on the MIA basses. The lower priced lines have gotten MUCH better in the past few years. Before they were fire wood at best. Funny thing is look on you tube, watch the fender Mexico tour....see all the white people??? Now watch the USA tour.....Lots of Mexicans working there....lol. just an observation. Not saying that a craftsman is any better or worse based on nationality. Just funny to get a usa bass made by Mexicans in the us or a mim bass made by Americans in mexico. Lol

 

[Florox]

Ah, the old "I can't tell a difference, therefore there is no difference" fallacy.

I can't really tell the difference between a $10 bottle of wine and a $100 bottle of wine... but I believe that some people can tell the difference and enjoy spending the extra $90 on something they really like and appreciate.

It's like anything else in life: the difference only makes a difference to you if it is important to you!

Just before the thread continues with misunderstandings like these and thus turns into a flame war and thus takes away the point of the discussion:

THE OP HAS NOT TALKED ABOUT VALUE OR WETHER ANYONE HAS TO JUSTIFY WHAT THEY BOUGHT OR WETHER MORE EXPENSIVE IS WORTH IT OR NOT. HE OBVIOUSLY MENTIONED QUALITY IS HIGHER ON EXPENSIVE INSTRUMENTS, WHICH IS GENERALLY WHAT MAKES OR BREAKS AN INSTRUMENT.

HE'S JUST SAYING THAT HE CAN'T HEAR MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FENDERS OF DIFFERENT PRICES. THEREFORE, HE'S PROPOSING THAT MAKING BLIND TESTS WOULD SHOW HIM HOW GOOD HIS HEARING ACTUALLY IS AND IF THERE'S SOME SORT OF PLACEBO EFFECT.

 

[fokof]

It will always make me smile to see guys with 3000$ and up basses who wants their amp miked.

 

[mstott25]

Thanks for posting this in extra large letters.
Sometimes I have trouble seeing the value of different posts based on merit, obviously size trumps content so I can be assured your post is super important.

Just before the thread continues with misunderstandings like these and thus turns into a flame war and thus takes away the point of the discussion:

THE OP HAS NOT TALKED ABOUT VALUE OR WETHER ANYONE HAS TO JUSTIFY WHAT THEY BOUGHT OR WETHER MORE EXPENSIVE IS WORTH IT OR NOT. HE OBVIOUSLY MENTIONED QUALITY IS HIGHER ON EXPENSIVE INSTRUMENTS, WHICH IS GENERALLY WHAT MAKES OR BREAKS AN INSTRUMENT.

HE'S JUST SAYING THAT HE CAN'T HEAR MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FENDERS OF DIFFERENT PRICES. THEREFORE, HE'S PROPOSING THAT MAKING BLIND TESTS WOULD SHOW HIM HOW GOOD HIS HEARING ACTUALLY IS AND IF THERE'S SOME SORT OF PLACEBO EFFECT.