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I was at a hotel for an event one night, and there were a couple bands playing. Towards the end of the night, a guy with an Alembic came up to sit in on a song. That bass sounded amazing. His lows were deep and rich, his mids were powerful and present, his highs were pleasant and singing. He cut though the mix like a hot knife through butter, he was clean and clear and audible throughout the room without stepping on or smothering out anybody else. All this happened with him just plugging into the regular bassist's amp and not changing anything.
So, do I think he needed that Alembic? No, all the other bassists played well and sounded good. But it did make him stand out, and his playing is one of the only memorable things from that night.
So, do I think he needed that Alembic? No, all the other bassists played well and sounded good. But it did make him stand out, and his playing is one of the only memorable things from that night.
2 words: Joe Dart.
One of the baddest cats around, baddest tone, and he's got a $300 bass. I happen to have some expensive ones because I like them, but need them?
I'll let your ears decide that.
One of the baddest cats around, baddest tone, and he's got a $300 bass. I happen to have some expensive ones because I like them, but need them?
I'll let your ears decide that.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Necessary? No. Plenty of people regularly gigging with a Squier. Try out different basses whenever you can, and put some of that beer money into a savings account.
In a practical sense no. In an emotional sense, sometimes yes.
Without reading all the other replies, based on your description of the sound you're after, I think you need a pbass. Doesn't have to be an expensive one at all though--far from it. Just a good, solid pbass. Keep your current bass, and add a decent used or new P to your arsenal and be good to go. My 2 cents only of course.
I own a TRBX-505 and it's a hell of a bass. I also own an 1990 Peavey, an 1979 BC Rich and a 1990 Yamaha Attitude, so nice basses but my goto one is the TRBX-505. I tried a bunch of makes/models before this one and for me it's perfect (except I would like one in natural finish). Remember that you can switch from active (modern) to passive (vintage) mode on which I can get a really nice P sound.
You can also change the brand of your strings if you want a different sound (stock strings are really meh).
But TRBX-505 are really nice basses, whatever the price.
You can also change the brand of your strings if you want a different sound (stock strings are really meh).
But TRBX-505 are really nice basses, whatever the price.
You only need a more expensive bass if that bass offers a tone you want, the playability you want, the aesthetics/style you want or some combination of the three at a price you think is worth the change.
But.... one of my favorite bands tours with a $200 fender and sounds awesome!
But.... one of my favorite bands tours with a $200 fender and sounds awesome!
yes
but it's about when.
look ,your yamaha is great model and have great sound but really for a p tone it wont work .
price change in low range bass to mid you will find a lot of tonal difference you will find better sound but from mid to high lvl it will find it less.
in high to pro ones you will find it even lower.
the difference get smaller and smaller .
other thig is that tone ,like when u need a short scale tone your long scale wont work.your yamaha is not good for country and blue grass that much .it do the job but not perfect fit .
i have yamaha bb 415 ,it is great for most style but not perfect one .
usually expensive ones are more focus on one style .
like lol you wont go play in church with esp
but listen to children bodom song and find what a great tone make in metal .
it is the story of jazz bass and metal
but it's about when.
look ,your yamaha is great model and have great sound but really for a p tone it wont work .
price change in low range bass to mid you will find a lot of tonal difference you will find better sound but from mid to high lvl it will find it less.
in high to pro ones you will find it even lower.
the difference get smaller and smaller .
other thig is that tone ,like when u need a short scale tone your long scale wont work.your yamaha is not good for country and blue grass that much .it do the job but not perfect fit .
i have yamaha bb 415 ,it is great for most style but not perfect one .
usually expensive ones are more focus on one style .
like lol you wont go play in church with esp
but listen to children bodom song and find what a great tone make in metal .
it is the story of jazz bass and metal
I'm trying to spend more time practicing than shopping for gear or reading TB. It's hard because of this damn Internet is such a time bandit. Hours and hours with nothing to show for it. Ridiculous. We have to be working on our craft more than talking about it. And the innocence and honesty of your question should remind us all of that. So whether you upgrade or not; get back to work, all of us. No guitar is gonna help you learn to solo or walk or hear the changes coming, or learn your fretboard or learn to sing and play well, or get your timing together. Only practice. And if you/we put our time in, we'll all sound good on anything decent.
One other thought is that it's a little like the income study they did:
Invalid Link Removed", included an indirect reference to a popular 2010 academic study by psychologist Daniel Kahneman and economist Angus Deaton. Their topic was the correlation between annual household income and day-to-day contentment. They analyzed more than 450,000 total responses to a Gallup weekly survey of households across the 50 states and DC. The survey was conducted in 2009.
A report in the WSJ summarized their findings:
"It turns out there is a specific dollar number, or income plateau, after which more money has no measurable effect on day-to-day contentment.
The magic income: $75,000 a year. As people earn more money, their day-to-day happiness rises. Until you hit $75,000. After that, it is just more stuff, with no gain in happiness."
See the connection?
One other thought is that it's a little like the income study they did:
Invalid Link Removed", included an indirect reference to a popular 2010 academic study by psychologist Daniel Kahneman and economist Angus Deaton. Their topic was the correlation between annual household income and day-to-day contentment. They analyzed more than 450,000 total responses to a Gallup weekly survey of households across the 50 states and DC. The survey was conducted in 2009.
A report in the WSJ summarized their findings:
"It turns out there is a specific dollar number, or income plateau, after which more money has no measurable effect on day-to-day contentment.
The magic income: $75,000 a year. As people earn more money, their day-to-day happiness rises. Until you hit $75,000. After that, it is just more stuff, with no gain in happiness."
See the connection?
No. Find what feels good to play. Expensive basses do you no good if you won't play it.
It's just like being an athlete. Yeah, you don't want to rock Wal-Mart cleats, but you don't necessarily need the gold plated 10x the cost version ever.
Play the gear that will keep you playing, the law of diminishing returns also runs along the same line as your skill set.
As long as you can afford to pay the bills your gear shouldn't ever be a financial burden. When you are good enough to "need" the crazy expensive boutique basses they should be giving them to you
