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Are Expensive Basses Necessary?

#81
It depends on what you mean by necessary. Is it necessary to spend a ton of money? Certainly not. Is it necessary to have a reliable instrument that inspires you, feels great, and has all the options you care about? I would say absolutely. Sometimes you have to spend a lot to get all those things. Sometimes you don't. My favorite bass of all time (heavily modified over the years) is my Japanese Jaguar Bass that turned 10 this year. It originally cost me $700 or so. I have been satisfied for 10 years.
 
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#82
Depends on what you consider expensive bass. For me any guitar over $1200 is expensive. Factor in bass evolution and today's modern technology and manufacturing: mid priced basses from $500 to $1K sound, perform, feel, and are built as good as basses costing 2x as much. And that's good enough for professional work. IME these mid level basses don't need any after market mods, as they are good as is.

The only time I would spend over $1500 on a instrument is an acoustic steel string. That is where tone wood and craftsmanship play a huge part in tone/sound.

And, no offence (not slamming any low end guitars), but I would not pay the low price for a low end guitar either. My experience is, with low end guitars, they feel cheap, and always leave me wanting better feel, electronics, and materials. And in the end, I end up getting a higher priced guitar.
 
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#84
Sorry, didn't read all the replies.

Short answer: no.

Real answer... play the bass(es) you like the best and play the best. If the bass that sounds the best and plays the best *for you* costs $4000, then you need to spend $4000. If the perfect bass for you costs $200, then you need to spend $200.

I have a lot of basses. Most fall in the $1500-$3000 range. But I didn't really care about the price, I just got the instruments that feel/sound/play great in my hands. Sometimes you just fall in love with an instrument and you *have* to have it... so you should have it.
 
#85
For the record...ive had a $50 bass and a $3800 bass (but i didn't pay that for it!). The basses in the $800-1500 range are really sweet usually. The $3800 bass is great, but just a different flavor of great in a band. It looks cool, but doesn't have $2000 worth of better tone by any means.
 
#88
RedJag said:
It depends on what you mean by necessary. Is it necessary to spend a ton of money? Certainly not. Is it necessary to have a reliable instrument that inspires you, feels great, and has all the options you care about? I would say absolutely. Sometimes you have to spend a lot to get all those things. Sometimes you don't. My favorite bass of all time (heavily modified over the years) is my Japanese Jaguar Bass that turned 10 this year. It originally cost me $700 or so. I have been satisfied for 10 years.
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Necessary?! Is it necessary to drink my own urine? No! But it's sterile and I like the taste...
 
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#90
I have a MIM Fender Jazz and a Ric. I used to have way more but I felt like I needed and wanted a Ric. So to make a long story short, I traded in a mim jazz, and jazz deluxe, mim p bass, sterling ray 34 and a strat to get the Ric and though I do love the Ric for its tone, I find myself going for the MIM Jazz that I am actually just renting because now I cant afford to buy it because all my buckaroo bucks went to the Ric!!
 
#92
JACink said:
Did you read the same thread I just did?
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I don't know, what thread did you read?

5+ years of listening to TB whining about people who spend more than $100 on a bass may have colored my perception of what I read. And for the record, my main bass was $600, so I'm not an expensive bass snob. I just get sick of some people telling other people what they need. ;)
 
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#95
Gopherbassist said:
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.
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While I'm not doubting that it was a nice bass, it is possible that you became enamored at the fact that it was an Alembic, which affected your perspective of his performance.
 
#96
lfmn16 said:
I read about this on TB but have never seen it myself. The great players I have seen all play professional grade equipment. Just my experience.
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Agreed - but there's "Professional grade" and then there's "conspicuous consumption"; But yes - folks who insist that all you need is what amounts to a $200 knock-off Fender are kidding themselves, just as folks who insist that you simply MUST play a $3000 bass to be taken seriously.
 
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#97
I've owned some pricey basses over the years (Sadowsky, Ken Smith, Lull, Elrick, Lakland) but these days my go to bass is a parts P-bass (Fender Roadworn body, Warmoth neck, Delano pickup). I don't miss those basses as this bass pretty much does all they could AND it was assembled using parts I selected, making it more of a personal bass.... Long answer, short, no you don't need an expensive bass.
 
#98
I have been playing about as long as you have, sir. I have gone through a few basses already with my band and I realized out of the ones I went through and have played in shops, the price after a grand really gets down to aesthetics, doesn't it: they're mostly hand-built at that point, and the parts are great. once it's over 3k, I think one or two basses like that, and if they cut through the band, are all you need
 
#100
I tell ya what. I just saw Tower of Power on Saturday. Rocco plays an ESP which new costs $900. In this months Bass Player magazine he was voted number 19 out of a 100 of the greatest all time bass players and I saw and heard first hand just why that is. All I know is I need to stop worrying about my gear and start practicing a whole lot more.
 
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