Are Expensive Basses Necessary?

[Hambone 70]

You get what you pay for.

Only to the point of diminishing returns.

 

[ReiPsaeg]

No, but sometimes necessary basses can be expensive.

 

[Batmensch]

If its your profession and your income depends on it, you should have gear suitable for the job. If its just a hobby for bedroom playing or for a garage band, who cares? Unless you are paying your bills playing music, its just a hobby.

Quite true, but that doesn't necessarily mean it MUST be an expensive bass.

 

[shadven]

No. But, it is fun to collect, enjoy the thrill of the chase, play and own historic basses. Some basses just grab me, and I just want a pre-CBS Fender or a late 60's Telecaster bass.

 

[Fergie Fulton]

Rule of thumb is a good player can make a £50 bass sound expensive and a bad player can make a £5000 one sound cheap.
You will learn more about playing, in a broad sense, on an instrument you have to learn to work, than one you don't.

But in the end if the instrument feels good then go with it, how it sounds can be changed easier than changing its feel.

In the picture a Squire P Bass, a JV 1983 by the way, that i paid £125 for in 1987......and is still the best bass i own and have ever played.....to date

 

[klejst]

My opinion is if you have the money then so be it, honestly though if you physically suck at playing a expensive bass is not going to make you an instant great player. I've seen and heard and include myself in this, a lot of players do great on/with a $300 range bass just as much as someone who spent over $1000. Apples to Oranges on the specs and such perhaps but I think you get the point I'm trying to make.

 

[lbbc]

Expensive basses may not be necessary but they are worth it IMHO.

 

[Finnigan's wake]

No, in my opinion.
I paid 200 Eu for a Schecter Stiletto that plays AMAZING.
My modded Mustangmaster is the best instrument ever played.
I wish a lot of money to buy an Alembic...

 

[Jackie Clark]

The biggest difference,in my experiences,with expensive instruments is they tend to feel better most times...My opinion is if it's more expensive,it should feel better ALL the time! However,that's not always the case...spend according to your budget and what actually makes sense to buy.

Even if I were wealthy,I'd still play something that does what's necessary...at some point you have to follow your own ears when you get to that level of knowing what you need your instruments to do.

Make sure to do extensive research and above all,know what you're trying to accomplish before you just start spending because we say what's good and bad..it's your money and investment so just be wise!

Oh and to answer your question...No! Hahaha!

Good luck!

 

[fingerguy]

I have a 2k bass but the reason I went with that is that is what I wanted. I no longer cheap out. If it's 200 or 2000 I will buy what I want. Life is too short!

 

[Wafl]

It's a plus if you bond with your instrument. Once you do, the 'necessary' will obscure the 'expensive.'

 

[SteveHeissner]

Yes, it's necessary. I've got a Squier I'll sell you for $10K.

 

[Fabio_MIJ]

That's VERY subjective, if you really need some improvement you would not ask, it would be clear to you.
My suggestion is to try instruments as much as possible just to know what's out there, without looking too much at the brand name.
You may find something that speaks to you.

Some examples to prove you that it is VERY, VERY, VERY subjective:

_ Ulf wackenius's a 200$ ARIA les paul copy (played for years with legends as Oscar Peterson), fantastic sound.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
_ Mike Stern (Miles Davis guitarist) plays BOSS effects that are really not top-class pedals (no true bypass, noisy, etc...). Does it look like a professional pedal board? He is famous for his own unique sound.

_ Pat Metheny, played for decades her Gibson ES175 with a taped pickuphole and the button strap fixed with A TOOTHBRUSH.

 

[mdogs]

Rule of thumb is a good player can make a £50 bass sound expensive and a bad player can make a £5000 one sound cheap.

Sorry, I don't see this as a rule of thumb. I see this as a tired old line that people, who feel the need to rationalize their purchases of cheap instruments, use.

As I always say, if you are unable to tell the difference between a cheap bass and a quality bass, you should buy the cheap bass. But, please stop telling us that your MIM Fender is as good as your Sadowsky, it just makes you look silly...

 

[rtslinger]

Nope, not in my finding, all you need is one that is reliable and you love to play

 

[Tommyc]

Poor Leo, his chief motivation was to sidestep luthiery and find a way to mass produce guitars and basses whose construction could be effected by largely unskilled workers working from parts bins.
Skip ahead about 3 generations and through the push of association with iconic musicians his Henry Ford approach has yielded an industry where some separate neck, bolt- attached solid body thingy can command more money than a finely built violin made by a single highly trained individual.

 

[lfmn16]

Sorry, I don't see this as a rule of thumb. I see this as a tired old line that people, who feel the need to rationalize their purchases of cheap instruments, use.

As I always say, if you are unable to tell the difference between a cheap bass and a quality bass, you should buy the cheap bass. But, please stop telling us that your MIM Fender is as good as your Sadowsky, it just makes you look silly...

+1

It's easier to make a good bass sound good than a crap bass. JMHO, but I'd like the bass to do as much of the work as possible so I can concentrate on making music.

I'm sure it happens, but I don't see a lot of other professions where people brag about how cheap their tools of the trade are. I can't imagine Greg Lamond trying to win the Tour de France on an old Schwann with bald tires.

 

[Nickweissmusic]

I'm asking this because I wanted to know if there are any reasons to spend more than what I already have on a bass. (Currently own a Yamaha TRBX 505, was around £550 at the time). What I wanted to get out of it was a modern bass sound which is used widely throughout most types of music (I always see bassists using a Fender P or a J bass on stage), I need a bass which can be gig or even studio worthy. I don't really have the equipment at the moment to push my bass to the limits so I'm not sure whether it's good enough but I'm currently saving for some better gear (I am well aware that things like the quality in amps, are equally or even more important than the instrument itself.) Is there any reason to buy a more expensive bass or am I perfectly fine with what I already have. I am generally looking for a bass which can provide a very professional, solid sound which can be used in genres such as indie rock. This could include anyone from 'The Smiths' to 'King Krule'.

So ultimately, the question is. Am I missing out, and do I need to spend more to get a better or a specific bass in order to fulfil the sounds I'm going after? Or am I perfectly fine with the bass I currently have, provided I have the suitable amps and other gear.

TL;DR : I want to know whether I need to spend more for an instrument provided I already have a very good quality amplifier. Bass I currently own is a Yamaha TRBX505, am I missing out or should I be able to gig or even go to a studio with the bass. I am mainly looking for a sound which would sound good in a professionally recorded song as well as be a very good gigging bass.

(I've been playing for over two years now, but I still have little knowledge on what type of basses or qualities, or even if I need to upgrade my bass. Hence why I am asking here)

No, expensive basses are not necessary. If you do find something you like, save up for it. I'm a pro and play basses I've bought (used) from $300 to (new) at $2400.

 

[DiMarco]

Of course. Cheap basses are all crap. Silly question.
What you usually see is people upgrading pickups, tuners, even necks etc. On "cheap" instruments until they cost as much as expensive ones. Oh and they like to slap Fender decals on their squiers because they bloody well know.

 

[Lava]

If you're asking that question then it's probably not necessary for you, at this time. IMO players get to a point where they realize the sound and/or playablity they're wanting can only be had through an instrument that cost more than the average priced model. I think that most of those players also own much less expensive models that they enjoy playing but feel that the more expensive bass will make the live and recording experience easier and more enjoyable to them. I have an older US Fender Jazz that I love but sometimes, depending on the venue, I have to mess with eq to make it work. But with one of my more expensive basses, I very rarely have that problem.