Really instruments in general, especially mass produced ones, but also boutique as well.
I don't pretend to know how much it costs each builder to make a bass, but what exactly makes something $2000 vs $4000 vs $10,000? If a guy like Brian Barrett can build the LEJ and sell it for $3,500, what makes a Fedora worth 10 grand? Why is a Sadowsky $4,500 when some of the build is outsourced? And then Roscoe / MTD adds another $2000 on top.
It just makes me wonder when I see these basses that already cost thousands, and then you're presented with options like a different pick guard for $300 or block inlays for $400. This is even worse with some mass produced stuff like Gibson, who will sell the same (low quality) guitar for $1500 more because of some random ornaments.
I'm starting to feel like these instruments are so valued simply because they have high price tags and bring with them 'prestige' due to the name. There's another topic on here about a unique crow-looking bass from a builder in Germany. Even though it is unique and was hand-built over two years, lots of people were scoffing at it due to it costing $5000 and being from a 'no-name builder.' Yet I also see people defending the cost of more expensive boutique builds who come from people who weren't always so well known either.
While I'm sure they are quality instruments, I think the affection is mostly psychological in conjunction with the name on the headstock. My friend swears that the few Gibson LP's he's played just "felt different and better" though he couldn't figure out why. So despite the evidence of shoddy builds, there are people who will love Gibsons no matter what. On the other side of the spectrum, I've seen people say they like their Squier more than their $6000 boutique. Personally, I believe most instruments will sound and play around the same given a proper setup and specs to your liking.
I don't pretend to know how much it costs each builder to make a bass, but what exactly makes something $2000 vs $4000 vs $10,000? If a guy like Brian Barrett can build the LEJ and sell it for $3,500, what makes a Fedora worth 10 grand? Why is a Sadowsky $4,500 when some of the build is outsourced? And then Roscoe / MTD adds another $2000 on top.
It just makes me wonder when I see these basses that already cost thousands, and then you're presented with options like a different pick guard for $300 or block inlays for $400. This is even worse with some mass produced stuff like Gibson, who will sell the same (low quality) guitar for $1500 more because of some random ornaments.
I'm starting to feel like these instruments are so valued simply because they have high price tags and bring with them 'prestige' due to the name. There's another topic on here about a unique crow-looking bass from a builder in Germany. Even though it is unique and was hand-built over two years, lots of people were scoffing at it due to it costing $5000 and being from a 'no-name builder.' Yet I also see people defending the cost of more expensive boutique builds who come from people who weren't always so well known either.
While I'm sure they are quality instruments, I think the affection is mostly psychological in conjunction with the name on the headstock. My friend swears that the few Gibson LP's he's played just "felt different and better" though he couldn't figure out why. So despite the evidence of shoddy builds, there are people who will love Gibsons no matter what. On the other side of the spectrum, I've seen people say they like their Squier more than their $6000 boutique. Personally, I believe most instruments will sound and play around the same given a proper setup and specs to your liking.
