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Best expensive sound
- Thread starter pedroims
- Start date
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,964
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
It was very low and really felt like a cock-pit more than an interior. That car was used in 2 James Bond movies; '77 The Spy Who Loved Me (turning into a sub) and '81 For Your Eyes Only.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,964
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
In this context, there's no such thing as "best" either.
MM
...could be best value, the best one could afford, best of the bunch, best for a certain use, best left at home
But you do bring up an interesting point I overlooked - the OP's title being "The Best Expensive Sound" - mostly we're still debating what sounds expensive! He's looking for the best expensive sound. I fold.
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...could be best value, the best one could afford, best of the bunch, best for a certain use, best left at home
Hmmmm... my daughter opening her Chanel purse? (Her husband spoils her!) That's an expensive sound!
Are we getting closer?
Well a familiar sounding Bass that's very expensive and sophisticated, IMO is a Spector NS 5XL USA Bass $4,000 to $7,000
There is some truth to this. A lot of high end builders somehow manage to dial out those crucial low mids that might not make the bass sound amazing on its own, but give it a distinct identity in the mix. I call them "Fender mids" for lack of a better term. But there are also a lot of boutique luthiers whose instruments retain those Fender mids and add their own special flavor to it. My Pedulla is one for example. I would describe it as high definition Fender tone. 3-D as opposed to 2-D. In my opinion, it has a true high end sound, because it incorporates a strong, familiar basic tone available in less expensive instruments, while expanding it dramatically and offering more refined playability.
A good bass should have perfect intonation across the neck, good sustain, no fret buzz or dead spots, have very little electronic noise, and respond well to a variety of playing techniques.
Because basses that have all of those qualities tend to be more expensive, I'd describe a bass that sounded like that (high sustain, even intonation, quiet electronics etc.) as expensive or "high end" sounding. These are objective qualities that define the potential of an instrument. A bass with high sustain and perfect intonation can be muffled or played out of tune deliberately through playing technique or otherwise. It's harder to work with a bass that has poor sustain and bad intonation to begin with.
I'd say that the best expensive sound, then, is whichever bass has the best sustain, best intonation, quietest electronics etc. I don't know enough about modern basses to say which that is, but I'm guessing something Fodera, Modulus, Alembic....
Because basses that have all of those qualities tend to be more expensive, I'd describe a bass that sounded like that (high sustain, even intonation, quiet electronics etc.) as expensive or "high end" sounding. These are objective qualities that define the potential of an instrument. A bass with high sustain and perfect intonation can be muffled or played out of tune deliberately through playing technique or otherwise. It's harder to work with a bass that has poor sustain and bad intonation to begin with.
I'd say that the best expensive sound, then, is whichever bass has the best sustain, best intonation, quietest electronics etc. I don't know enough about modern basses to say which that is, but I'm guessing something Fodera, Modulus, Alembic....
Any bass that cost more than $1000.00 imo is an expensive bass regardless of its construction or features.
I have admit that a P bass on it's own doesn't sound that good, but when in the mix it sounds great.
Here's a good example. Especially at 2:36
I have admit that a P bass on it's own doesn't sound that good, but when in the mix it sounds great.
Here's a good example. Especially at 2:36
It's complicated. No answer for that.
But if the question was a unique sound I would say Sadowsky and Ken Smith.
But if the question was a unique sound I would say Sadowsky and Ken Smith.
Chris Squire pulled off a pretty pricey sound, but he took advantage of the stereo output on the Rickenbackers.
I do not play P basses, but I have never heard the sound of a P bass being called cheap. I am speaking of Fender Precision basses, not knock-offs or other <$200 basses. I have heard plenty of those, that for one reason or another sounded cheap.
Sorry, I disagree with your premise that a P-bass sounds cheap. Unless you have a lead ear, James Jamerson doesn't sound cheap. Can you actually articulate what cheap sounds like?
