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Boutique Basses are Better: Get Over It!

#81
blmeier7 said:
I can see where the original poster is coming from but i don't totally agree that a boutique is better. Here are a few examples:

I purchase a Roscoe SKB 3005 brand new and had to send it back to Roscoe to have the neck pocket re-cut because it would not allow the bridge saddles to go any lower for a lower action. I was able to shim the neck and it worked until it could send it off to have Roscoe perform the work. Customer service was great and they did take care of me, but IMO this shouldn't happen on a $2,000+ dollar bass. Maybe the wood changed enough with climate changes or during shipping to make this happen...who knows for sure.

I purchased a MTD 535 brand new and there was a truss rod rattle that we couldn't get to go away. Mike was super nice and tried everything by email to get this resolved but we just couldn't. I also was surprised that the finish was a little rough on this bass. For $3,000+ on a bass I expected a perfect finish.

Part of the issue is probably I'm more critical on a boutique type bass than I am on a MIM Fender. While I've owned over a dozen Fenders I have never had to send one back for repair or have any repair work done on them for that matter. Some Fenders are definitely better than others though.

So I can agree to an extent on what is being said, but over the years I have found I prefer the simple sound of a Fender bass, they just feel right to me. I think there are a lot of production basses out there now that have excellent construction, fit and finish. I would love to try an Alleva Coppolo someday and that is just about the only boutique bass that interests me...now.
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This is a good post. While one of the things that separates 'boutique' (meaning high price, small batch made basses) from the rest is consistency. However, consistency never means 100%. I had a HORRIBLE experience with a Fodera, had to send an FBass back due to truss rod problems, etc.

The good news is, as you post, you will be 'made right' in virtually all cases, but bad stuff can still happen.

The boutique guys that really seem to have it down (Sadowsky comes to mind) are those who us machines to do the grunt work, so things stay VERY consistent, and then put their time into final assembly, fretwork, etc. That's the 'sweet spot'. You mention Jimmy Coppolo's basses, and he is also moving to a CNC machine to do the rough stuff to increase consistency in the early stages of the process (I assume cutting body blanks, etc.), and will continue to hand finish and assemble the instruments.

This, IMO is the 'sweet spot' between efficiency of manufacturing on the one end, and 'hand made precision, quality, and attention to detail on the other.

IMO!
 
#85
engage757 said:
do you disagree? do you not agree that someone telling someone else what they have to play to sound better is not very intelligent? everyone has there own sound.
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no it has nothing to do with me agreeing with you or not. I just thought it was funny that for the most part the past few pages have been saying(for the most part) just what you said but you're the only one that came off as pissed haha
 
#86
cybersnyder said:
Most of the time boutique basses are of higher quality than factory built basses, but that difference is diminishing year after year. Will the drunks in the audience care if you're playing a $600 bass or a $6,000 bass? Nope. They just want to hear "Free Bird".
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so true! hahha.. the only time i have seen an Alembic played live was at a hole in the wall restaurant/bar and it was the karaoke band!
 
#87
Last week I was in the area of a Bass Emporium in my city. I had looked at their website and knew that they specialized in high end collectible and boutique instruments, so I just wanted to look around. Now let me say that I am an intermediate player / hobbyist and a boutique bass is just not in my radar at the moment. As I eyed the extensive collection of almost every dream bass you could imagine I spotted a "Devon Diamond P".
I had never seen or heard of this bass before, so I had no preconceived notions of what it would be like to play. I'm not a P Bass loyalist, but this was the coolest looking P Bass I have ever laid eyes on. It has the classic P vibe, but more modern and elegant looking. I took it off the rack and decided I had to see how it played and sounded. I plugged it in and was blown away by the feel and the lush warm tones. The neck was the best I have ever played, and It was priced at less than 1/3rd of list. It was an absolute joy to play. Now I want it!
 
#91
engage757 said:
to YOUR EAR maybe, and that is all that matter! do you disagree?
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Truth is, it happens. ANY company can unwittingly produce a dud, at ANY price point. Years ago I had a bass built for me by a very well known, high-end company. Absolutely gorgeous, AAA flame maple top, neck-through construction, ebony fingerboard, the best hardware/electronics that money can buy, and it sucked. And it wasn't just me- I had other folks try it and we all agreed that it was a dud. Didn't sound good, didn't feel good, and it cost 4 grand. Took FOREVER to sell, at a huge loss. You can never be sure of what you'll get when you order custom, even though in my case the bass would be considered a standard model for that company, with the exception of the position markers.
I now play an off-the-rack Fender that blows it away in every regard, except possibly looks.
On the other hand, I own another bass by the very same high-end company that is very, very nice.
 
#92
Bone said:
So the boutiqe bass will sound better?




So the boutiqe bass will be better? Looks like your in agreement with the OP.:D
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I didn't say that, at all. but I can see how it might sound that way. allow me to clarify. A bass that has been custom built for someone, will sound better to their tone. the craftsmanship will certainly be better than an off the rack bass, but the tone is to your ears and no one elses!
 
#93
dmusic148 said:
Truth is, it happens. ANY company can unwittingly produce a dud, at ANY price point. Years ago I had a bass built for me by a very well known, high-end company. Absolutely gorgeous, AAA flame maple top, neck-through construction, ebony fingerboard, the best hardware/electronics that money can buy, and it sucked. And it wasn't just me- I had other folks try it and we all agreed that it was a dud. Didn't sound good, didn't feel good, and it cost 4 grand. Took FOREVER to sell, at a huge loss. You can never be sure of what you'll get when you order custom, even though in my case the bass would be considered a standard model for that company, with the exception of the position markers.
I now play an off-the-rack Fender that blows it away in every regard, except possibly looks.
On the other hand, I own another bass by the very same high-end company that is very, very nice.
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completely agrred! my point was, I have owned a lot of basses, and still do. from boutique down to ibanez and various oddities I would never play live! I have had good and bad, all across the pectrum! if you like your cheapo bass, then play it and who cares about what people think! and vice-versa! I happen to love Warwick basses, but I have an endorsement to another company, so I play their basses. might not be my top choice, but I CAN GET MY TONE OUT OF IT, and I enjoy playing them. bottom-line, play what you want, and don't let someone tell you what you love is wrong. :)
 
#94
Man, I just dig all the basses I have, regardless of price, beauty, or rarity. I let the joy of music come through in any way possible and don't get caught up in the rest. If I don't like a bass, I don't keep it long. If I like it, I keep it.
 
#100
engage757 said:
this is ridiculously unintelligent. any fool who compares basses in this way is ridiculous. the "better" bass? boutique or production models? play what you play and enjoy it. hey moron, a $100 "SX" will not sound the same as a $5,000 Elrick. Argue all you want, until you are blue in the face, but it is all PREFERENCE. If you like your cheap Chinese made bass, then play it! same with your $5,000 Ritter! just play the damn bass and shut up about which one is better! you simply CANNOT say something as foolish as "boutique basses are better". FOOLISHNESS! That's like saying brown pencils are better than yellow ones. whichever you want to play, play it! there is no better in this case. do you really think a $100 Chinese SX or whatever will outperform/play better than a Handmade, labor of love? NOT EVEN A QUESTION. BUT, if you prefer your Chinese one for what you are playing, then play it! And shutup. everything is relative.
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Since I started this post, I need to remind you that I said that just a because a certain class of basses tend to be better made, that is no reason not to enjoy the bass you have.

More importantly, a better made bass may not be comfortable for you or have the sound you like. For years, I wanted a Streamer, and bought one a week ago today, but when I took it to a serious rehearsal, it hurt my arm so badly, I returned it, and I am currently playing a super cheap Affinity Jazz, and it suits me much better than the Warwick although the Warwick is 100x better. In fact the Squier sounds so good (although it needs shielding) I am tempted to keep it!;)

I started this thread to state the obvious because too many arguments having started over something that makes no sense. It's kind like saying that generally a bigger person will win a fight, it doesn't mean that every big person is tougher than every small person, but all things considered, size makes a real difference in a fight.:eyebrow:
 

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