Boutique Basses are Better: Get Over It!

[john turner]

sorry, I have just seen this topic a million times, and it reminds me of someone repeatedly bashing their head into concrete. Not pissed, justt can't believe it is even a topic! IMO

there's over a half a million threads here at talkbass.com. if this one aggravates you so much, feel free to grab one of those other ones and have a ball. .

or, even better yet, start one of your own .

 

[rcarraher]

That is confusing. I tend towards a "big tent' definition. I would argue that a boutique is a bass made by a small operation that involves a lots of hands on work. These basses tend to be expense. Almost all are over $2,000 with most between $2,500-$4,000.

Large companies like Fender, Peavey, Warwick, and Yamaha, have models that are made on order at boutique style operations which produce basses comparable to genuine boutiques. I think $4,000 Warwick Streamers and $3000 Yamaha Nathan East Signatures do add to the confusion.

Heck Custom Shop Cirruses with Hipshots and Millennium style mid controls approach boutique status too.

I agree here, I have an 08 Custom Shop Jazz that I paid real close to $3K for, but I wouldn't (and have said many times in this thread and others) consider it a "Boutique" bass. Master Built maybe (It is hand assembled and finished by a Fender Master Builder after all), It isn't built from parts that you won't find in other Fenders but from the absolute best hand picked parts that you will find in other Fenders. The body wood gets extra scrutiny for faults, the finish is applied and hand buffed and sanded and inspected for flaws that might pass scrutiny on an off the shelf bass. The neck pocket is tight. Tighter than what might get through the inspection of the same standard model, it is setup by the best and uses all the most desirable and personally selected parts But its not a boutique.

 

[your idol]

i just think everyone should agree to disagree or perhaps lend me some $$$ for a boutique of my choice and make a believer outta me

 

[Steve!]

The title sounds like a wrote it.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Just a reminder to all the boutique haters and lovers. Sadowsky makes some very good basses, but how did he start out? He made his name, not building basses but in modding, customizing and improving on Fender J's for some of the great pros. He became so good at this that he started building his own basses, and even now the lions share of his basses are modeled after Fender J's. In other words, he was so good at taking standard, off the shelf basses and turning them into boutique basses. So good that he could finally build his own boutique basses.

That should be an encouragement to you guys modding your SX'x and Squires as well as something to appreciate for us Boutique fans.

That's a great point. and the same could be made about Mike Lull too. I'm guessing the same could be said of Brian Barrett also.

 

[Emmaemme]

Jaco got lucky. He found the one Squier that sounded good. The rest of us got the lemons.

 

[john turner]

so, i'm guessing the "boutiques" this thead is talking about are limited to fender-style instruments?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

so, i'm guessing the "boutiques" this thead is talking about are limited to fender-style instruments?

That's not my intention. The only boutiques I ever owned were Hippie Sandwich basses like Alembic, Ken Smith, Spector, and Roscoe.

 

[Hawaii Islander]

so, i'm guessing the "boutiques" this thead is talking about are limited to fender-style instruments?

I thought I saw Alembics, Lulls and a few others mentioned here and there as well. No discrimination in this thread.

 

[rcarraher]

That's a great point. and the same could be made about Mike Lull too. I'm guessing the same could be said of Brian Barrett also.

You are most likely right, although I haven't really studied Lull or Barrett (need to) I have always admired Sadowskys work. I really should have gone with one of his basses when I bought my 08 CS Jazz, but it was sort of spur of the moment, had almost every option I wanted in a Fender Jazz, and the color (I had seen on a P just before) was to die for (for me)I fell in love with it, ordered it and had it in ten days. And I still love everything about it.

 

[john turner]

I thought I saw Alembics, Lulls and a few others mentioned here and there as well. No discrimination in this thread.

are lulls not fender-style instruments? thought they were.

 

[Hawaii Islander]

are lulls not fender-style instruments? thought they were.

Caught me!

There's still Alembics and others.

 

[rcarraher]

so, i'm guessing the "boutiques" this thead is talking about are limited to fender-style instruments?

I wouldn't think so....Just the pinnacle of boutique basses, for me is J type basses and especially Sadowskys. Although, Overwater has some real nice ones as well.

I don't go much for the wilder shapes, or things like composite necks. What can I say? I'm an old fart who is pretty conservative in tastes on bass shapes. Not that the others aren't great examples of great builds and craftsmanship, I could just never see me playing one visually.

 

[peterpalmieri]

I agree here, I have an 08 Custom Shop Jazz that I paid real close to $3K for, but I wouldn't (and have said many times in this thread and others) consider it a "Boutique" bass. Master Built maybe (It is hand assembled and finished by a Fender Master Builder after all), It isn't built from parts that you won't find in other Fenders but from the absolute best hand picked parts that you will find in other Fenders. The body wood gets extra scrutiny for faults, the finish is applied and hand buffed and sanded and inspected for flaws that might pass scrutiny on an off the shelf bass. The neck pocket is tight. Tighter than what might get through the inspection of the same standard model, it is setup by the best and uses all the most desirable and personally selected parts But its not a boutique.

Call it whatever you want...when you put it that way I can't think of anyone who wouldn't want that level of detail taken to their instrument Great post!

 

[john turner]

Caught me!

There's still Alembics and others.

sorry, i'm not trying to be a wiseguy, just wanting clarification. the bulk of the conversation seems to be focused on the fender-style stuff, and i have very little to contribute to that.

on the other hand, if we're talking custom/boutique instruments outside the bounds of the fender paradigm, then i'd certainly have a little bit to add .

 

[otis_thick]

Every once in a while someone posts about gear snobs or wonders if boutique basses are really worth the money. Some, like myself, have wondered if they are really that much better than factory basses.

The bottom line is most boutique basses are better made than most factory basses. That does not mean that the boutique bass will give a particular player the sound that he or she is after, and it does not mean that a given boutique will be comfortable or look appealing to any given player. What quality means is that compared to a similar factory bass, the boutique will have better fit and finish, will likely take a better set up, will probably be quieter, and will have better components like tuners, pots, etc.

The fact that the boutique is better than the factory bass does not mean that the factory bass is bad or that it wouldn't be a great tool for a music career or hobby. Just look at all the pros who can afford boutiques who use factory basses!

I know I'm not saying anything new. I just think that we need to face facts and move on. Most importantly, we need to play good music regardless of the price of our gear.

Your Headline should have read ...."Boutique basses are Better Quality Controlled.... than just plain "better" but I think you wanted someone to talk too if not debate

 

[DeluxeRed]

I think what we have here is a generation or two raised on A Charlie Brown Christmas who think you can take any ol' stick and wrap Linus's security blanket around it and magically transform it into the bestest, purdiest one you ever did see.

Snoopy was the one who knew the real score.

 

[Darkstrike]

on the other hand, if we're talking custom/boutique instruments outside the bounds of the fender paradigm, then i'd certainly have a little bit to add .

Fire ahead!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Your Headline should have read ...."Boutique basses are Better Quality Controlled.... than just plain "better" but I think you wanted someone to talk too if not debate

Fair enough.

 

[Ziltoid]

sorry, i'm not trying to be a wiseguy, just wanting clarification. the bulk of the conversation seems to be focused on the fender-style stuff, and i have very little to contribute to that.

on the other hand, if we're talking custom/boutique instruments outside the bounds of the fender paradigm, then i'd certainly have a little bit to add .

You and ure conklin fetishism