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Boutique Basses are Better: Get Over It!

#21
Dave Bassincus said:
I keep thinking that a boutique leather jacket may be way more expensive than a Schott, finer material, better fit, etc., but if your bike goes down, you want the Schott everytime. I can't disagree about anything you've said about boutique basses, except they do not seem to be the tools that most professional bassists use. Why not? (I'm honestly asking why not, because I'd like to know)
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I think it depends on which pros you are talking about. If you are talking studio pros, many do use Jazz or p style boutiques.
Many urban gospel pros lean towards MTDs, Ken Smith, Warriors, and other "coffee table" basses. A ton of fusion or jazz guys love Foderas. On the other hand, guys playing rock in clubs often prefer factory basses. Different strokes is all I can say.:cool:
 
#22
soloists or spotlight bassists seem to play boutiques, i dont know one bass player in one band i like who plays a boutique bass...suppose its all in what you play but if im giggin in a rock band im rolling with off the rack basses because gear gets trashed and stolen and that boutique isnt gonna make me any better
 
#23
your idol said:
soloists or spotlight bassists seem to play boutiques, i dont know one bass player in one band i like who plays a boutique bass...suppose its all in what you play but if im giggin in a rock band im rolling with off the rack basses because gear gets trashed and stolen and that boutique isnt gonna make me any better
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I know it's not the point, but I'm not a spotlight bassist, and I play a Roscoe LG 3005, running roots in rock n' roll, and hard rock, but then, I'm not currently in a gigging band, so take that fwiw.
 
#24
Darkstrike said:
I know it's not the point, but I'm not a spotlight bassist, and I play a Roscoe LG 3005, running roots in rock n' roll, and hard rock, but then, I'm not currently in a gigging band, so take that fwiw.
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im just saying if im play a bar in the southside of pittsburgh im not even bringing my "nice" p bass let alone a roscoe. even if i had multi boutique money i still wouldnt tempt fate in 90% of rock n roll venues...but thats just me, of course i grew up in a neighborhood/era where if you walked down the street with anything nicer than a set of velcro pro wings on your feet chances are you were gonna have to fight a person over em, so maybe im just gear paranoid:p
 
#26
I agree with pretty much everything that's been said here so far. I've played/owned some stellar factory built instruments (for me, the '08 Fenders fit this bill, as do the Warwicks I've owned/own). But, when it comes down to it, there is something about a few certain boutique basses that I've come across that these others just can't quite cop. Which is probably a good reason why I've got a Roscoe being built to my specs right now---I got lucky and found the builder that makes basses that fit ME perfectly (now if I would have just been smart and bought five string versions instead of the 4 sixers I went through, I wouldn't have had to order this one:rollno:!!)

I gotta admit, when I opened this thread I thought "Man, this one's gonna take some cleaning up!";)

But, in all seriousness, THANK YOU all for keeping with the topic, and not turning it into the usual flame-fest!:)
 
#27
your idol said:
im just saying if im play a bar in the southside of pittsburgh im not even bringing my "nice" p bass let alone a roscoe. even if i had multi boutique money i still wouldnt tempt fate in 90% of rock n roll venues...but thats just me, of course i grew up in a neighborhood/era where if you walked down the street with anything nicer than a set of velcro pro wings on your feet chances are you were gonna have to fight a person over em, so maybe im just gear paranoid:p
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That's completely understandable. Fortunately, I live in an area where that isn't so much a worry, so I can (pretty much) play whatever I want and not think twice about it.
 
#28
your idol said:
im just saying if im play a bar in the southside of pittsburgh im not even bringing my "nice" p bass let alone a roscoe. even if i had multi boutique money i still wouldnt tempt fate in 90% of rock n roll venues...but thats just me, of course i grew up in a neighborhood/era where if you walked down the street with anything nicer than a set of velcro pro wings on your feet chances are you were gonna have to fight a person over em, so maybe im just gear paranoid:p
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Yeah, in fairness, I agree with you there, I'd proabaly be the same, someplace I don't trust, I ain't bringing my babies.
 
#33
Who got you all wound up Cheese? I'll take 'em out for you ;)

I'm sure it's been said before, Just me...... I like the idea of a more "hand made bass", although this term can be taken differently by different folk. Someone who would put "blood sweat and tears" into their craft, which I currently have had the opportunity to build a few guitars, for some people, so I do appreciate that "labor" factor, with a small staff of people. That's just me though.
 
#34
i will own a botique someday soon, im looking at having a custom p bass built. but there again its just gonna be a 5 string version of my current 4 string Boner P, so i dont know how boutique i getting if im just having a knock off of an off the rack bass :D i think alot of it just breaks down to taste and style, i drive a hemi dodge ram now, if i won the lotto tomorrow id probably just go get it modified to taste and not buy a benz...some people would just go get the benz.

ive seen beautiful coffee tables i have mad respect for and played some gems but at the end of the day if i bought one itd probably collect dust or end up as an actual coffee table..i just wish people would use the pride they have in their instrument in a more positive way. when boutique owners stare down their noses at OTR players like we own kids toys it perpetuates a stereotype, when OTR player call boutique guys "gear snobs" the are commiting the same sin.

lets just love eachother , our community and our craft because at the end of the day when we spend all of our time flaming eachother it leaves less and less time to hone and progress our craft
 
#37
All I want is a "good" bass. I honestly don't care if it's boutique or factory. I own and play both. But I despise "bad" basses. And the worst thing I've ever said about a boutique bass was that it wasn't for me. Which is all I really want to say about any bass that I don't agree with. Sloppy construction and defects that escaped factory "QC" should not be a part of the evaluation process!
 
#38
What matters most is that the player likes the feel, sound and playability of the instrument. I have tried and owned many basses over the years including a some boutique basses. I must say that the attention to detail in boutique basses is usually a step up from a factory bass, both cosmetically and in minor things that effect playing. But does that extra quality justify 3, 4 or more times the price of a factory bass, that depends on the player and thier pocket book. To me it does not. My biggest gripe with most factory basses is that the setup and fret dressing is inconsistant and sometimes sloppy. I do my own setups so this is an easy fix as long as the bass is solid otherwise.

Saying that, my main basses these days are ones that I have assembled using Warmoth necks and bodies. I like their selection of exotic wood necks that require no finish. They fit all my requirements and the price is a fraction of what a boutique would cost. Fit and finish is IMO better than most factory basses and on par with most boutiques that I have tried. Plus I know every detail of my basses.
 
#39
ProfGumby said:
I can prove your thoughts with two words. James Jamerson
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Jamerson
His bass was reportedly so messed up that no one else wanted to try and play it, And he did so with totally wrong technique....
.....Great post Dr Cheese!:cool:
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I know I'm wearing this one out, but here's case and point:

btw, not to derail, but I wouldn't call this technique wrong. If you just cruising nice and easy using the same finger is a good way to maintain consistency between notes.
 

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