Basses under $1000 that put $2000+ basses to shame?

[vindibona1]

Y'all will have to forgive me. I've only been a "serious" bass player for roughly 3 years. And while I have spent a lot of time with guitars in all price ranges, I really don't have any experience with expensive basses beyond Fender's Elite series due to lack of time with this and access to more expensive basses.

This thread isn't meant to troll folks, because pros should have the best tools they can afford and many instruments are works of art in addition to just being a musical instrument, and I can appreciate that...

But I was just wondering if there were basses under $1000, that with a different name on the headstock, marketed well, could be marked up and sold over that $2000 price level- with the buyer being totally satisfied having paid a higher price- maybe a much higher price?...

So here's your chance to say which basses might be worth exponentially more than what they currently sell for (and possibly which expensive basses you might favorably compare them to.

 

[Clark Dark]

This thread isn't meant to troll folks, because pros should have the best tools they can afford and many instruments are works of art in addition to just being a musical instrument, and I can appreciate that...

I extracted this sentence because a lot of artistry goes into building the upper scale, boutique, or some basses that are $2K or higher in price. The more hands on (or less CNC machining) a builder does he/she will demand a higher price on the finished product.

The thing to consider next is the quality of electronics, bridge, nut, and tuners involved in the build.

 

[vindibona1]

I extracted this sentence because a lot of artistry goes into building the upper scale, boutique, or some basses that are $2K or higher in price. The more hands on (or less CNC machining) a builder does he/she will demand a higher price on the finished product.

The thing to consider next is the quality of electronics, bridge, nut, and tuners involved in the build.

1) In case I wasn't clear, I'm really trying to exempt artistry from this equation/comparison, at least to the extent that a less expensive instrument might have that "wow" factor as well. Personally I have a deep appreciation for wood and stone and how to a large extent it represents history of the world. I appreciate builders who are trying not only to make musical instruments, but works of art. But, while making gorgeous works of art, do their instruments live up to equal musical standards?

2) If we consider "quality" of the components, what do they do to aid the player in producing the best sounds and playability possible? Sure there are examples, such as premium ultralight tuners and premium bridges and certainly preamps. Are some of those features available on less expensive instruments, evening out the playing filed a bit?

3) Perhaps the one element that we may take for granted that wasn't mentioned is PRESICION OF FINISH. Price doesn't always reflect precision and total quality control. As an example, in 2017 I bought a $4000 Taylor acoustic guitar. Granted, that even in its price range it is an "assembly line" instrument. But you'd think that for that much money it would be absolutely perfect and passed the strictest quality control, right? Well, brand new, out of the case it had some unlevel frets. Fortunately that's all the problem and I'm 10 minutes from an authorized Taylor service center and they fixed the problem in a day; but a problem that never should have been present.

 

[Jim C]

I don't know about "put to shame" but the Skyline series for Lakland, Tribute from G&L, and especially the Sandberg Electra series are all amazing players at under $1K. I have samples of each and they all come from either Indonesia or Korea.
The difficult part (for me) is finding examples under 8.5 lbs but after considerable searching, all of mine are.
All play extremely well with very nice hardware, and tone.

 

[eJake]

Disclaimer: I heavily gig $300 basses.

The fit and finish of a >2k bass will very seldom be put to shame by a sub 1k bass.

 

[walking Bass]

You get what you pay for. I have several basses and guitars including a Gibson SG. I visited a local GC to try the Epi version because of it's low price and my curiosity. It may have been a bad sample, but even the clerk commented on how heavy it was and the finish work was poor. Same with the Fender mustang's - the American performer has better fit, finish and hardware.

 

[someguyfromNC]

The Epi SG always kind of sucked and was even a bit low end in the epiphone line up. The high EPI Les Pauls though can be pretty damn nice. My worse two instruments I've ever owned was a Gibson SG and a Gibby LP Custom. Had maybe half a dozen LP Traditionals that were amazing though. I love Gibsons but sometimes they let things go that is worse than an average epiphone.

I think once you reach about 750 new everything is pretty damn good.

 

[LowEndLobster]

FGN. The quality and attention to detail is nuts.

 

[MorningSound]

I think anything out of the Schecter Diamond series line up is truly top-notch. I have owned a Model-T Session and a Nick Johnston signature strat. I can't speak highly enough about them. I though both instruments QC remained on par with my MIA fender and Musicman instruments. Plus the used market is very buyer friendly with Schecters. I sadly had to sell the Model T because I was tight for cash. I do see myself grabbing a J-4 or P-4 in the future.

 

[vindibona1]

Disclaimer: I heavily gig $300 basses.

The fit and finish of a >2k bass will very seldom be put to shame by a sub 1k bass.

Fit and finish? If you exclude electronics which contribut to the sound on some of their less expensive basses, Yamaha comes to mind. I've got a TRBX605 that I paid $550 for... and it was not only flawless, but gorgeous as well. At some point I might explore different pickups and/or preamp. Does this bass compete with $2000+ basses? No. But I'm not sure a few hundred $$ couldn't make it so. [Sorry for the crappy quality photos]

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I have owned a number of basses that would have cost me $4-$6k if I bought them new today. No new sub $1k bass will have the fit and finish or hardware of a high end bass. There are sub $1k basses that are very competitive with $2k basses like Sire and I am sure the Roger Sadowsky Design basses will be great too. The Yamaha BB series are great at all price points, and Ibanez also has some great value models.

 

[JRA]

Does this bass compete with $2000+ basses? No. But I'm not sure a few hundred $$ couldn't make it so. [Sorry for the crappy quality photos]

what a looker! nice!

if headstock 'posing' isn't a factor: any parts bass (e.g., bolt-ons) can be made to 'better' any other instrument made in the same way. e.g., a $500 - $1000 parts piece could easily out-do (quality/features/customization) axes which cost 2-3-4 times higher which are also just an assembly of parts. we think of "parts basses" as "cheapies only" but that's exactly what fenders are = parts basses!

 

[FishDub]

I will go out on a limb here and say(IMHO)--My 60s CIC CV P blew the doors off the "now sold" AVRI 62 P I played side by side. What name was on the headstock made no difference...and still doesn't.
And- An AM standard jazz I owned(not $2000) didn't sound or feel nearly as good as my Road worn 60s jazz..2 cents.

 

[RickyRocknRoll]

Those "under $1000 that put $2000 basses to shame" won't be the same quality - wood, electronics, hardware, etc - but in the end, the audience to whom you're playing to won't notice a difference. If you're tight, sound good and have a good tone, you're good to go. If one can afford a 5k bass, then he should go for it by all means. But not all of us can fork that amount of money for an instrument. A good player will make almost anything sound good, regardless of price/brand.

 

[Mike N]

I don't know about "put to shame" but the Skyline series for Lakland, Tribute from G&L, and especially the Sandberg Electra series are all amazing players at under $1K. I have samples of each and they all come from either Indonesia or Korea.
The difficult part (for me) is finding examples under 8.5 lbs but after considerable searching, all of mine are.
All play extremely well with very nice hardware, and tone.

Of the 30 or so Basses I've owned, the Lakland 55-01 I had was probably the best sounding and feeling Bass of all. Why I ever sold it is still a mystery to me.....

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Going to stick with new prices since everyone has found a steal of a deal at some point and it's not a fair comparison. In general, if a sub-$1k bass beat a $2k bass, it would be sold for $2k. Components are going to cost roughly the same for the $1k builder and the builder. I think you can cut a decent amount of labor if you use a PLEK machine, but those are expensive and will likely jack the price up at least initially while the builder recoups their investment in the PLEK.

I'll say this pretty much anytime a bang for the buck type of thread comes up - if you can get away with four strings, keep an eye out for a used US Fender P or J in the TB classifieds or Reverb or, if you don't hate it as much as I do, Craigslist. You can find one under $1k without too much trouble and that bass can be used on anything from your 20 member church's praise band to a stadium tour with the Rolling Stones. Good luck beating out Daryl Jones, heh. But my point is that you can et a any stage, any audition instrument for under $1k. And don't forget to have an adequate amp.

Or if you can find a used discontinued Musicman Caprice for ~$1100, grab that even though it's not sub $1k. Arbitrary numbers sometimes miss better choices.

 

[jd56hawk]

And the award for "Best-kept Secret In The Bass World" goes to...
The Reverend Thundergun!
I've posted before that it does indeed put some more expensive basses to shame.

I think it is a work of art and a very finely crafted instrument. A lot of thought went into this bass and a lot of care went into the finished product.
The people at Reverend really care about what they make and they have pride in what they sell.
Sure, it's about the money but for these guys it's also about the player.
Look at the prices Fender's asking for some of their MIM basses...$1,200 or more. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people calling them out on this, but hey, no one's forcing you to buy them.
Seriously, I'm surprised Reverend isn't asking more for the Thundergun. I would buy one even at $200 more.

SPLIT BRICK NECK
Strong lows and highs, open mids. Like a vintage P bass pickup but with more beef, yet retains clarity. 43 gauge wire, ceramic magnet, 8.5K ohms.
THICK BRICK BRIDGE
Warm and thick with strong mids. Output and punch like an active, but more organic sounding. 42 gauge wire, ceramic magnet, 7K ohms.
PICKUP PAN CONTROL
This control allows you to blend the two pickups with one knob. Roll in the bridge pickup for more midrange punch, or bring up the neck pickup for more low thump and open highs. Dialing in the perfect tone has never been easier!
PURE TONE JACK
All Reverends use an upgraded jack by Pure Tone Technologies. The Pure Tone jack has dual contacts for improved grip, audio signal and reliability. The most dependable guitar jack available
CUSTOM JACK PLATE
The proprietary jack plate features four mounting screws, instead of two. The extra screws prevent the plate from tearing out of the body. Made of steel for durability, the laser etched logo adds an extra touch of class!
10% POLY CAPS
Caps with a +-10% rating. Our caps are made to tighter specifications, so they're more consistent. Made of polyester, they're also longer lasting, and less affected by temperature than cheaper ceramic caps. Typically used in expensive boutique guitars.
10% POTS
Alpha control pots with a +-10% rating, tighter and more consistent than a standard pot. Typically used in expensive boutique guitars, but standard issue in all Reverends.
HIPSHOT ULTRALIGHT TUNERS
These tuners have a housing made of aircraft grade aluminum that makes them extra-light. The difference in weight can be as much as 2-3oz less in the headstock, which means a more balanced bass that's more comfortable to play. And the tone is great! Your bass is more defined and enhanced with the Hipshot Ultralites.
KORINA BODY
Korina (aka White Limba) is a medium-light weight wood, highly prized for consistency and tonal qualities. Often found in boutique and vintage instruments, all Reverends feature Korina bodies. A highly resonant wood, Korina is a key factor to producing our lively, responsive instruments that are rich in harmonics.
INITIALED HEADSTOCK
Every Reverend is hand initialed and serial numbered on the back of the headstock by one of their highly skilled technicians who sets up, inspects, and tests every instrument.
BONEITE NUT
They use "Boneite," a synthetic bone nut, that is more consistent than natural bone, on all Reverend instruments. It reduces friction, allowing the strings to slide through the nut slots smoothly, improving tuning stability.
DUAL-ACTION TRUSS ROD
The dual action rod adjusts in both directions, allowing back bow or forward bow. This assures correct adjustment range is possible regardless of string tension, extreme climate conditions, or the effects of long term aging. It's also located at the headstock for easy access.
HIGH MASS BRIDGE
The bridge features heavy duty saddles in combination with a massive base plate. This substantial mass of metal enhances clarity and attack, and produces bell-like sustain. It's also a versatile bridge, that can be strung string-thru-body or top-load.
And to top it off, the newer models have the Blackwood Tek fretboard

 

[OptimalOptimus]

For a new bass. That won't happen sorry.
A 2k bass will feel just better and be better. Of course it doesn't matter to make music and it doesn't matter to play rock in bar gig.

and I do think Fender or fender-isn object aren't good comparison because they look to the same and feel the same at whatever the price tag.

but go play an EBMM or Warwick or Spector or even Lakland ... they are miles above Fender or Scechter or low priced Ibanez.

it is funny because a 300 violin isn't s good as Stradivarius no matter how hard you try.

 

[burk48237]

I've played a few $2000 or right around that price point basses that would be embarrassed by some sub $1000 dollar basses. But I'm not sure the inverse is true, I've never seen a sub $1000 retail bass that had the level of fret work/set up/components/QC that the better basses like Musicman /Sandberg /Sadowsky/ etc. provide at around $2000. Having said that there are plenty of sub $1000 basses that you can certainly play a serious Gig With.

 

[otp57]

Y'all will have to forgive me. I've only been a "serious" bass player for roughly 3 years. And while I have spent a lot of time with guitars in all price ranges, I really don't have any experience with expensive basses beyond Fender's Elite series due to lack of time with this and access to more expensive basses.

This thread isn't meant to troll folks, because pros should have the best tools they can afford and many instruments are works of art in addition to just being a musical instrument, and I can appreciate that...

But I was just wondering if there were basses under $1000, that with a different name on the headstock, marketed well, could be marked up and sold over that $2000 price level- with the buyer being totally satisfied having paid a higher price- maybe a much higher price?...

So here's your chance to say which basses might be worth exponentially more than what they currently sell for (and possibly which expensive basses you might favorably compare them to.

Square fender if setup can hold p to some very hi ends,the key is to have the bass setup.If parts are upgraded a Square can really hold up to a hi end Bass.I upgraded a Hammer Bass with hi end parts and it is over the top.