Are high-end basses, amps and cabs really necessary?

[DWBass]

We have a thriving music community here in Hampton Roads, Virginia (7 cities). Have seen all sorts of gear but never any really high end gear except for a couple cats. One has the newer Genzler cabs and amp and plays a Roscoe bass. Another guy played a Ken Smith Burner but he just passed away (RIP). Another guy has a really nice Musicman 5 string $$. But that's just a couple guys out of thousands of musicians in this area. Plenty of Jazz and P-basses and middle of the road amps and cabs. Have never seen a Berg or Epifani or the like around here. Nor any other boutique brand basses besides what I mentioned above. Not even a Sadowsky.

 

[Snert]

anything above pro grade I refer to as Lawyer Bate. AAAA+ burl maple flame chambered Fodera painted with only royal ember paint with a mike pope 12 band eq, 32volt preamp, 24k gold hardware, and a rhino skin case. can’t call it unnecessarily if someone has the money and buys it to make them happy

Couldn't agree more, and this is from someone who's owned a lot of high end basses like Alembics, Steinbergers (still do) etc. Now the modest mass produced instruments like my Ibanezes are very well made and more than good enough for any gig I could envision, whether 30 people in a bar or a Taylor Swift arena gig. I have a wonderful new $150 guitar that I'd also play on any gig, with the exception of the tuners, which are OK, but I'd spend another $50 for a set of quality locking units if I was being paid to play in more than the bar - otherwise, it's simply awesome in every regard.

I could find the money for a boutique axe, even a new Alembic Series II if I really wanted one, but I wouldn't as I see no need for it in any regard, in the same way I don't need a Philip Patek watch to tell time. It's beautiful and wonderfully crafted, but as a timepiece it offers no benefit or value behind exclusivity, cache etc.