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Aversion to higher end basses?

JoshuaTSP

JoshuaTSP

Sep 26, 2008
3,734
41
#1
I know this is a common subject here....but I was thinking about it today.

It crossed my mind to sell a few of my basses (RD standard, RD Artist, PV Millennium 5, ATK305 and T-40) to fund a used Low End LET Thunderbird.
After I got over the idea of selling nearly my whole inventory.......I came to the realization that, while the bass looks amazing, I'd never gig it. I'd be too afraid and paranoid to gig it. At that point, what's the point?

I know the bass is just a tool, they're made to be played, etc......I just can't seem to get over that feeling.

:confused:
 
#3
NICE! :)

It seems like the natural progression or evolution of a player is to strive for a more expensive basses or a dream bass.

I've done my fair share of buying, selling and trading....mostly sub-$1k basses....but I feel like I've learned a lot about my taste, preferences and what can be the best value out there.

I have gigged with a few $1k-ish basses before, but right now my #1 is a USA Peavey Foundation 5. My backup is an old 70's Precision bass clone.....probably not worth too much more than the Peavey.
Both are really great basses, IMO. I prefer them both to other far more expensive basses.

That LET is certainly attractive, but I know I'm not going to dig the 19mm spacing (I can deal with it, just prefer tighter....the P clone is 19mm or so :o). The rest just oozes awesomeness. :)
 
#4
I bought it to gig it. And I do.

d5-21.jpg
 
#6
I suppose my ability and skill factor into the equation as well....I probably don't feel like my skill necessitates a more expensive bass.

I think the bass I play most is more than sufficient.

To be honest, I don't play the Peavey because it's cheap....I play it because it kicks ass, it's better than the MIA Fender Jazz V I once had.

Then why am I even looking at another bass, especially a higher end one, you ask?
Not sure either? Just looking to get rid of some basses (I play them all equally, but rarely gig with anything but the Foundy) try stuff out, and I've always fancied Thunderbirds.

I play guitar as well, and both of my "workhorse" instruments are slightly cheaper as well. I just find them to sound and play better than anything else I've found. Even $2k vintage Gibson LPs or whatever else is out there.
 
#7
I play dive bars from time to time. I actually dinged the neck of that playing The Mint in LA earlier this year as I was in a hurry to set up due to traffic. Luckily Rob was able to fix it.

If I was 18 and playing drunken frat parties then I likely wouldn't take that bass. Then again, if I was 18 I likely wouldn't own that bass either. :D
 
#10
I do not own higher end basses because I do not have the money, I am sure that the day I make $ 750,000 per year I will fly to NYC, walk into Sadowsky shop floor and buy couple of those beauties he always showing in his web page.

Having saying that, I played and take care of my basses the same way, does not matter if I paid $ 100 or $3,000
 
#11
I used to feel the same way about my custom 8-string. I keep all of my instruments in hard cases, I don't wear belt buckles, I wipe them down after use. After thinking about how I treated my instruments, I wondered why I ever feared playing it on stage. I've come to realize that I care more about the playability, feel, and look of my instrument while playing "when it counts" versus some cheaper instrument designed to take a beating.

Also, I've put more little dings or scratches into my instruments at home than I ever have while playing live.
 
#12
Just to put things in perspective, a lot of classical string players are regularly playing centuries old instruments worth tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars. Granted, they're not playing dingy bars, but they're not wearing white gloves either and those orchestra pits can be crowded places with many opportunities for picking up a ding or two.

I often think to myself that if Leo could know how some people are sticking vintage Fender stuff away in closets never to be seriously played again, that he'd roll over in his grave. The man was a utilitarian, not a Leonardo.

My opinion? Fine art is meant to be appreciated from a distance. Instruments are made to be played. Treat them well, yes (at least, I try to), but as I see it, the value of an instrument is at least in part proportional to its playability. Doesn't matter if it's a Stradivarius or a Stratocaster, any signs of normal wear and tear just speak to its being one of the great ones.
 
#13
I fall under the mentality of basses are meant to be played, regardless of value. Even basses like Ritter, which look like art, are still (from what I've heard) great sounding and playing basses. Now there are scenarios where I would avoid bringing a high value bass, but I wouldn't prevent myself from owning one simply because of those scenarios. I used to own a lot of cheap instruments, which let me learn what I like and don't like in a bass, and I've slowly upgraded over (a relatively short period of) time. Now I only own two basses, both of which are worth a fair amount more than I ever expected to pay for a bass. They aren't the most expensive out there, but also aren't cheap. Yet, if I were in a band currently, you can count on it that I'd still bring them and play the heck out of 'em! I'd just be careful and probably wouldn't leave them unattended for very long. I'm also not a big fan of relic basses and worn basses, but I also don't think a little damage is the end of the world. They all add character and tell a story, and it all goes back to the fact that it's just an instrument and is designed for use. So get the Thunderbird and go to town! Though I will say, just make sure it's a bass you really do want...nothing worse than dropping that kind of coin, only to discover it's not what you were looking for!
 
#14
Every club gig I have played in the last eight years has been with my Alembic. The only precautions I take are pulling my belt buckle to my left hip (which I have done for 35 years anyway), using a stand with one of those flip-bars on the neck support, and to put it back in the case immediately at the end of the set. No dings, no dents, no harm no foul. The bass would still grade out at 9.5/10.
 
#20
Because I don't play dingy taverns any longer(at least, not on a regular basis), I've invested in better instruments. When I was playing dingy taverns on a regular basis(and a less experience player to boot), I played a Fender Performer I acquired used and a new (Korean)Washburn Bantham 6 thru a GK 400RB into a Peavey 210TX(both new). I took good care of them. They treated me quite well, and I sold them knowing I got my moneys worth out of them. If I were to go back to playing dingy taverns again, I would likely invest in another Korean built instrument like a Skyline or Kingston and GK/Peavey again for amplification.
 

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