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Aversion to higher end basses?

#21
JoshuaTSP said:
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:
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I'm with you, and I give props to guys with big money basses that actually gig with that gear. They have bigger cajones than I do.

While I would certainly play an expensive bass if I owned one, I'm not so sure I'd be taking it to a Thursday night gig at the Fore 'n Aft.
 
#22
this is what I've got now....and would probably sell....


Warwick Corvette $$ 5
Ibanez ATK305
USA Peavey Millennium 5
Peavey T-40
Gibson RD Standard
Gibson RD Artist


keep:
Peavey Foundation 5 USA
Memphis P

I think the warwick is the only one that would sting.....since I love the bass, the way it sounds, the neck, and the tone....but hate the body look. :(
 
#24
I have and understand the aversion to bringing a several thousand dollar instrument into a situation where is can get damaged (through NO fault of your own). That's been the main reason why I have always had one (at lest) that I payed much less (always under 5 or 6 hundred) that I drive around with.
I have seen (much too often) nightmare situations that couldn't be helped.....

* Turning away for a slight moment and a child tips instrument over from a stand into hard angular surfaces. Some people find that "cute playfulness".....
* Individual asks to play and had no experience: bumping the thing like an old-time movie into everything.
* Strap or strap-button fails: serious fall.
* intoxicated individual spills something into active, complex electronics & into hard case (unknown is the worst!)

It's stuff that often can't be helped because it is both accidental & the vigilance needed to stop it would be akin to: "play & put into case in one motion...." :-)
 
#27
I agree, but at the same time, it's pointless to spend big bucks on a bass and put it in a glass case. I've got a custom I ordered last year, I got it a few weeks ago. I didn't even plug it in before I had it on a stage playing it. Couple days later I put my first ding on it. Not a big one, but it's not pristine anymore, but It's mine. I had it built for me, and I'll probably get buried with it after I beat the living crap out of it for the next twenty-thirty years. but hey, to each his own=). On a side note. a cheap plywood bass with tons of electronics in it, is not even close to what you get out of a boutique bass.
 
#30
Higher end basses bug me. My current bass plays fine and sounds great and is less than half the cost of boutique basses. Playing a $400 Schecter, I'm not too worried about it getting dinged up.

Damage list to 2 1/2 year old Schecter stiletto:

-3 deep cymbal dents from tight quarters in a band room
- an odd scent from tea being spilled on it/ incense being burned around it/ sweating on it
- bent pot post from falling down bleachers at a basketball game
- some nasty buckle rash from a rather vicious studded belt
- deep gouges on bottom from a strap failure
- various dents from someone knocking it off of a stand.
- marks from a crappy string mute.
- scratches around EVERY pot from someone with long nails taking my bass out of it's case at school and playing around with it.
- gouges on top of headstock from hitting the ceiling of the drummers basement
- many more dents, dings and finish cracks from unknown events:P

(but I do use a hard shell case btw, gotta have some sort of protection haha)

And she is still rockin. Obviously i'm not gonna get any real resale value out of it, but I also don't plan on selling it ever.

If I owned a more expensive bass, it would probably be treated just as well. Maybe by the time I'm able to afford a fancy-pants bass I won't be in such an abusive music scene though.
 
#31
I think I'll always be buying from the "mid-level" range of instruments, as those are what I seem to like the best and they don't hit the wallet THAT hard.

When I hear someone has bought a fancy bass and decided to keep it under their bed I want to scream. But I don't have a single "collector" bone in me or so it would seem. I have some pretty nice-looking Rickenbackers and every time I've put a ding or scratch in one my reaction is, verbatim, "Meh."
 
#33
LAG said:
Anybody use a higher end bass for metal?
Click to expand...

Yes. I've played rehearsals and I've gigged with Dingwall Prima Artist, Fodera Emperor, Ritter Roya basses. And the playlist was ranging from Ozzy to Dream Theater to Slipknot.

In my understanding, basses are just tools to be used. They need to be treated with respect so they can serve us for a long time. So every bass needs to be gigged.

The ONLY exception to the rule would be a VERY rare/valuable/unique (keep on adding relevant adjectives here) bass that was initially and intentionally bought as an investment. This needs to be kept away to preserve the value. Apart from that, no other exception. Having said that, I do not any any such bass
 
#34
Pilgrim said:
I don't have any aversion to higher end basses....my budget does.
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I think this sums it up pretty well. People who claim to not like higher end basses usually do so because they can't afford them. I have several Alembics and 1970's Fenders that I love but I also own some Ibanez basses in the $200 to $300 range that sound and play great. In my opinion, you should play whatever you like as long as it's within your budget. There is no right or wrong bass.
 
#37
It's not just the idea of taking an expensive bass out of the house, it's the idea that I'm gigging with a $200 bass, and can't imagine a $2k+ bass being that much better. A bass is a bass....I can rock a $50 cheapie or a $6k artsy bass......while I certainly can tell the difference between a $50 Target bass and a $200 Peavey and a $2k bass.....the difference between them becomes less and less the more expensive you get, IMO.

Like I said, most people strive to eventually get that really nice, refined, expensive/vintage instrument........that I don't get either?

I do that in all other realms, upgrade....improve....etc.....for some reason with instruments, I don't see the value in a higher end bass.
 
#38
Pilgrim said:
I don't have any aversion to higher end basses....my budget does.

(Insert rim shot here...) :bassist:
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You too huh? My wallet simply won't let me....

I have no problem playing any bass. I have a '63 P which is worth a few bucks, and I play it at gigs when i feel like it. Of course, I'm going to be careful with it - but I'm that way with all my instruments.
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You said it! I would play any dang bass I wanted, if it felt and sounded good and did what I wanted it ti do. Given my nature I might even deliberately use SX, Rogue, Johnson, Squier etc...just to get a rise out of some folks. Imagine a super gear snob, hears a fantastic bassist, love said bassist and then finds out that bassist is playing an Indiana bass!!
:D
 
#39
I'll bring my expensive basses anywhere I'll play, then again, if I was playing dive bars and such, I'd be keeping a close eye on them between sets.

I find that higher end stuff(or at least my choice in higher end stuff) is pretty well designed to take a beating without issue. I've more than once bashed my Roscoe LG into a wall, and it's come out without a scratch(but once left a big ding in a wall), both headstock end and body.
 
#40
JoshuaTSP said:
It's not just the idea of taking an expensive bass out of the house, it's the idea that I'm gigging with a $200 bass, and can't imagine a $2k+ bass being that much better. A bass is a bass....I can rock a $50 cheapie or a $6k artsy bass......while I certainly can tell the difference between a $50 Target bass and a $200 Peavey and a $2k bass.....the difference between them becomes less and less the more expensive you get, IMO.

Like I said, most people strive to eventually get that really nice, refined, expensive/vintage instrument........that I don't get either?

I do that in all other realms, upgrade....improve....etc.....for some reason with instruments, I don't see the value in a higher end bass.
Click to expand...

You just answered your own question.

Its the law of diminishing returns.

If you are happy with what you have keep it.

I have a USA l-2000 (I consider that a midrange ( bought it used) ) and a back up jazz bass. I will never need more. Keep your gear and enjoy being you. If someone else wants to play an expensive custom thats fine too
 

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