my heroe is Bludger, he play the bass in This Sadly Meloncholy Chaos Badge of Ruptured Apathy, he play a Rouge bass with duck tape holding the strap on, that is all you need.
need dos not = want
need dos not = want
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are boutique basses really worth the $$$ ?
- Thread starter oldfclefer
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I disagree about the Rogue thing, lol those basses are just trash. If you take a completely stock rogue, no it is not all you need.
I spose if you want a bass that plays like crap and sounds horrible unless run throguh a $2000 rig, sure.
I spose if you want a bass that plays like crap and sounds horrible unless run throguh a $2000 rig, sure.
A Couple of points;
1) Life is short and you are dead a long time. If a boutique bass makes you happy, I urge you to go and get your dream bass today. Tomorrow may not come.
2) I believe that guys that get a world class sound spend hours and hours and hours tweeking thier sounds. This involves every part of the sound chain, starting with pickups and cables to amps, processors cabinets and instruments. It's no accident that Marcus Miller, or Jaco or any other of the elite guys which we all recognise as something special, have a world class sound. They may have started with an off-the-rack instrument at one time, but I assure you they have personalized that rig to make it theirs. These elite players all spend tons of time working on this. Some employ bass tech that do nothing but help them tweek their sound. It's no accident you can identify Les Claypool in two notes.
3) We all recognise that after a certain point it's all about the musician and not the instrument. A Squire in the hands of Gary Willis is gonna sound good. A Fodera in the hands of non player is a lot of expensive furniture.
1) Life is short and you are dead a long time. If a boutique bass makes you happy, I urge you to go and get your dream bass today. Tomorrow may not come.
2) I believe that guys that get a world class sound spend hours and hours and hours tweeking thier sounds. This involves every part of the sound chain, starting with pickups and cables to amps, processors cabinets and instruments. It's no accident that Marcus Miller, or Jaco or any other of the elite guys which we all recognise as something special, have a world class sound. They may have started with an off-the-rack instrument at one time, but I assure you they have personalized that rig to make it theirs. These elite players all spend tons of time working on this. Some employ bass tech that do nothing but help them tweek their sound. It's no accident you can identify Les Claypool in two notes.
3) We all recognise that after a certain point it's all about the musician and not the instrument. A Squire in the hands of Gary Willis is gonna sound good. A Fodera in the hands of non player is a lot of expensive furniture.
Dbassmon said:
Even though I would say +1 on the player vs. instrument discussion, I do have to pose one point here.
A lot of what is needed in terms of sound depends on the concept of the music played. For instance, I think we would all agree that Paul McCartney and Michael Manring are fantasic players... but, if Michael had the old Hofner, what impact would that have on his music? If Paul played the Zon, would that much change (after he got used to a fretless neck)?
Of course then the next step is to wonder how much the instrument shapes the musical concept. If Paul had bought a Zon in 1961 would the Beatles had sounded different? For me its hard to image with Paul's love of melody that the Zon (or any bass that had a singing voice) would not have been a big thing for him and that he would have moved the bass to a melodic expression even more than he did.
Planet Boulder
Hey, this is a private residence...man
- Nov 10, 2001
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- I once had impure thoughts. Oh, and I pluck my ear hair.
It isn't a black and white issue, really.
On one hand, if I'm some guy who is just barely scraping by, I would not see the value of spending my hard-earned cash on a $4,000 Fodera.
However, if I won the lottery, guess what kind of bass I'm going to buy? You guessed it - a boutique bass like a Fodera or an MTD.
All depends upon the disposability of one's income.
On one hand, if I'm some guy who is just barely scraping by, I would not see the value of spending my hard-earned cash on a $4,000 Fodera.
However, if I won the lottery, guess what kind of bass I'm going to buy? You guessed it - a boutique bass like a Fodera or an MTD.
All depends upon the disposability of one's income.
the majority of bass stars (who dont play fenders)
didnt hit thier fame playing an off the guitar center rack bass.
they had upgraded to basses that were designed to their specs with thier bass manufacturer to a custom level (even botique level).
I have seen les play and off the rack old fender anf I have seen him play his ct's there is a difference in how well his playing is executed.
same with vic wooten and his fodera. they are all fantastic players but they always sound better on thier customized instruments.
Now you also have to take into account I dont care for the "fender bass floppy strings high action. I haven ever played one that made me go..
hey maybe fenders mass produced basses are getting better."
Its just not my style although i am going to get a standard jazz shape one day from a custom maker
because i laike the clasic look on some level but G&L and fender just dont make an instrument I can get down on.
my>.02$
didnt hit thier fame playing an off the guitar center rack bass.
they had upgraded to basses that were designed to their specs with thier bass manufacturer to a custom level (even botique level).
I have seen les play and off the rack old fender anf I have seen him play his ct's there is a difference in how well his playing is executed.
same with vic wooten and his fodera. they are all fantastic players but they always sound better on thier customized instruments.
Now you also have to take into account I dont care for the "fender bass floppy strings high action. I haven ever played one that made me go..
hey maybe fenders mass produced basses are getting better."
Its just not my style although i am going to get a standard jazz shape one day from a custom maker
because i laike the clasic look on some level but G&L and fender just dont make an instrument I can get down on.
my>.02$
To answer the question "are boutique really worth the $$$" the definative answer is...... if you think so, they are.
IMO they are .
Here's the proof of my convictions....
Warrior Signature 6. Warrior, Signature 5, Warrior Soldier Fretless, a Fender Custom Shop Jazz, Roscoe 3005 Fretless, and Spector NS2 Fretless.
PS. I also believe that expensive amplification is worth the $$$ too.
IMO they are .
Here's the proof of my convictions....
Warrior Signature 6. Warrior, Signature 5, Warrior Soldier Fretless, a Fender Custom Shop Jazz, Roscoe 3005 Fretless, and Spector NS2 Fretless.
PS. I also believe that expensive amplification is worth the $$$ too.
I think it's a decreasing returns situation. All of this said "generally" and to illustrate a point. Don't ask me for model comparisons, that's not what I'm getting at:
An $800 bass might sound and feel twice as good as a $400 bass.
A $1600 might sound and feel twice as good as the $800 bass.
A $3200 bass might (might) sound and feel twice as good as the $1600 bass.
Beyond that, I think mostly you are paying for rare materials that don't have a distinct effect on tone or playability.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] is what Marcus Miller thinks.
An $800 bass might sound and feel twice as good as a $400 bass.
A $1600 might sound and feel twice as good as the $800 bass.
A $3200 bass might (might) sound and feel twice as good as the $1600 bass.
Beyond that, I think mostly you are paying for rare materials that don't have a distinct effect on tone or playability.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] is what Marcus Miller thinks.
Is the bass worth it?? Maybe... I have a few basses and each has its "thing". The Kia to Porsche may be a bad analogy but what about comparing a Chevrolet Tahoe to a Cadillac Escalade. Basically, the same vehicle, but one has a few nicer appointments. Some people are willing to pay the difference and appreciate the differences between the two. It's all about percieved value. In music, the nuances with how you make music can be the difference between artistry and noise. The same can be said for boutique instruments. Does one instrument make you better?? Maybe
Often the sound in your head may not be in the $500 bass, but it maybe in the $5000 bass.
Often the sound in your head may not be in the $500 bass, but it maybe in the $5000 bass.
i must say i experienced, for the first time, a true "the more expensive bass is better by miles"
i went to a more exclusive dealer, and played better basses than the GC standard... and i found a dingwall. it IS the sound in my head. and it also is the money in my bank account.
many of the basses sounded to me like similar versions of my ibanez sr400. however, this dingwall. its something else. and much much better.
i went to a more exclusive dealer, and played better basses than the GC standard... and i found a dingwall. it IS the sound in my head. and it also is the money in my bank account.
many of the basses sounded to me like similar versions of my ibanez sr400. however, this dingwall. its something else. and much much better.
James Hart said:I'm worth the money
Bingo. Nothing is more precious to me than my TIME. I can always make more money. My time here is finite, and I'd rather spend it improving my playing than struggling with a budget equipment trying to find "my" sound.
I entered the BP world later in life after having played other instruments, and this argument never ceases to amuse me. For the price of an entry/intermediate-level "real" instrument, you can buy a top-of-the-line bass. Why wouldn't you? If you were a serious player, would you buy six $400 student clarinets, or one pretty good one? I don't get it.
You could probably build a house with a $2 hammer. But would you? I'm guessing not. Whether you play bass or build houses, you should buy the best tools you can afford and not worry about what anyone else thinks. Period.
Sure they're worth it. They may not be necessary, but they're definitly worth it.
I don't pay attention to wether or not my skill level merits a certain kind of bass. I don't think in a way that makes me have to "deserve" a good instrument.
Yes, if you're a good player you can get a good sound out of a beatup old fender, but let's face it guys: sometimes you really want something that looks and sounds good. In my opinion, when you can get your ultimate bass, you should get it.
A custom or boutique instrument may not make you a better player, but it'll make playing more enjoyable, you'll want to pick up your bass and practice/play more, and that WILL make you a better player.
Plus, logically, you should buy the best instrument you can afford so you don't have to keep wasting money trading in mediocre instruments.
I don't pay attention to wether or not my skill level merits a certain kind of bass. I don't think in a way that makes me have to "deserve" a good instrument.
Yes, if you're a good player you can get a good sound out of a beatup old fender, but let's face it guys: sometimes you really want something that looks and sounds good. In my opinion, when you can get your ultimate bass, you should get it.
A custom or boutique instrument may not make you a better player, but it'll make playing more enjoyable, you'll want to pick up your bass and practice/play more, and that WILL make you a better player.
Plus, logically, you should buy the best instrument you can afford so you don't have to keep wasting money trading in mediocre instruments.
GSRLessard14 said:
very good points.
now, to apply this to whether or not i shuld get a flame maple top on my dingwall ab I......
A lot of people on here have settled with having the rather sad hobby of buying bass equipment. Sure, they might say "What makes it so different to liking cars?" or whatever, but really having a collection of boutique basses is not worth it.
I'd rather have 3 basses eventually - a 12 string tri-octaved one, 4 string vintage (or reissue) Jazz/Precision, and a modern bass. These could cost probably $6000 I'm guessing - and I bet I could make a lot better music than the vast amounts of guys on here who seem to collect and look at their basses more than they play them.
I'd rather have 3 basses eventually - a 12 string tri-octaved one, 4 string vintage (or reissue) Jazz/Precision, and a modern bass. These could cost probably $6000 I'm guessing - and I bet I could make a lot better music than the vast amounts of guys on here who seem to collect and look at their basses more than they play them.
This subject is always going to be a double-edged sword.
On one hand, I won't put a price limit on my bass lust. If I played an ultra-expensive bass that made me feel like I just found the Holy Grail, then I'd find a way to buy it. And screw anybody who said I didn't need to spend that much.
On the other hand, I'm the one who has to identify the Holy Grail. Maybe my Grail is the Jazz I Frankensteined for around $1000. Maybe it's a $5000 Alembic series II I haven't seen yet.
IMHO, buying custom boutique instruments gets you what you want (if you know what that is), and it might encourage innovations in bass design from those smaller builders. I love Fender basses, but let's face it: the last time they did anything truly new in bass design, most of us weren't born. They do their thing, and they'll slowly bring in features that the market shows them we want. We just got a 24 fret Jazz this year! So I hope buying boutique basses funds the work of the next Ned Steinberger or Ron Wickersham. That's cool.
And after all that, it's funny that my three favorites, Jack Bruce, Jaco, and Jamerson, used production-level instruments while doing their best work. No doubt Jaco modded his bass, but it was a pawn shop Fender in the end. Jamerson's P and Bruce's EB-3 were stock as far as I know.
So we all play what we want. It's a poor surgeon who blames the scalpel!
On one hand, I won't put a price limit on my bass lust. If I played an ultra-expensive bass that made me feel like I just found the Holy Grail, then I'd find a way to buy it. And screw anybody who said I didn't need to spend that much.
On the other hand, I'm the one who has to identify the Holy Grail. Maybe my Grail is the Jazz I Frankensteined for around $1000. Maybe it's a $5000 Alembic series II I haven't seen yet.
IMHO, buying custom boutique instruments gets you what you want (if you know what that is), and it might encourage innovations in bass design from those smaller builders. I love Fender basses, but let's face it: the last time they did anything truly new in bass design, most of us weren't born. They do their thing, and they'll slowly bring in features that the market shows them we want. We just got a 24 fret Jazz this year! So I hope buying boutique basses funds the work of the next Ned Steinberger or Ron Wickersham. That's cool.
And after all that, it's funny that my three favorites, Jack Bruce, Jaco, and Jamerson, used production-level instruments while doing their best work. No doubt Jaco modded his bass, but it was a pawn shop Fender in the end. Jamerson's P and Bruce's EB-3 were stock as far as I know.
So we all play what we want. It's a poor surgeon who blames the scalpel!
Vosk said:
That may be, but that does not mean a boutique bass is not worth it. It is not worth it to you. For those who have the money and want the basses, it is worth it.
Smallmouth_Bass said:Go for the flame top! I love my ABI flame top.
yea... and i can see that bass of yours sure loves his bass...
(ur avatar). its sweet.
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