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Cheap Singlecuts?

#22
Brad Johnson said:
Funny, I thought the object was to look like a singlecut.

:D

Where did you get the idea that you had to glue random chunks of wood together? Why do you think that would be worse than having a center block with two wings, the most common way of building neck throughs?
:hmm:
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If you're not going to use solid pieces of quality tone-woods, you don't have to cover the result with paint. Another reason why single-cuts are almost exclusively presented in Natural or Clear/Dye finishes.
 
#24
peaveyuser said:
good point but if they don't look very ergonomic either and what necessarily would mean it sounds good? You can get a great sounding bass that isn't singlecut also. That said I hate how the custom, or boutique market is basically dominated by Singlecuts and jazz copies, for 4 string atleast.

Anyways thats besides the point for under 1000$ do you really think your going to get that premium sound too? i mean the singlecuts will be less common, less production so the cost cutting has to go somewhere. Unless of course they are going to sell a lot.

IMO I rather have a great sounding bass that has a more mainstream look then a bad sounding singlecut.
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Fortunately those aren't the only two choices.
:D

You seem to be ignoring or be unaware of the leaps in quality on affordable basses ($1k and well below). I seriously doubt it would double the cost of a G&L Tribute to make it a doublecut with a solid finish and it's in the $500 as is. An excellent bass, especially for the money AND versatile. BTW the extended upper horn doesn't remove versatility and most people who've played a variety of singlecuts know that the ergonomic "issues" with singlecuts aren't physical... they're visual.
;)
 
#25
Mark Wilson said:
I agree with you mostly.
But...the custom market isn't dominated by Single cuts and jazz copies. Those are popular. If it's Custom, then they choose it. Ya know?

Point 2: It's the player. Not the gear ;)
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fully agree "tone" is overrated IMO, find something good, stick with it and play:D

The playing is more impressive then the tone anyday of the week. Tone finding IMO is after you had a few beers, band practise is done and your just hanging at the drummers place:smug:
 
#27
Brad Johnson said:
Fortunately those aren't the only two choices.
:D

You seem to be ignoring or be unaware of the leaps in quality on affordable basses ($1k and well below). I seriously doubt it would double the cost of a G&L Tribute to make it a doublecut with a solid finish and it's in the $500 as is. An excellent bass, especially for the money AND versatile. BTW the extended upper horn doesn't remove versatility and most people who've played a variety of singlecuts know that the ergonomic "issues" with singlecuts aren't physical... they're visual.
;)
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I realise the quality in sub 1000$ gear (i play an Ibanez btb 450, love it sounds great,plays great, looks great). Versatility I was saying look wise, come on most people playing, pop/rock/metal/blues/punk (majority) are not going to be liking the look of a singlecut. They might sound great and be very versatile, i don't contest that at all.

Now what i'm saying is they will have less buyers due to this fact that they may not apply to most players. In high production it may be feasible to create a good quality cheaper bass, like Ibanez, Trabben, Spector, Godin etc.... But production may be less which in turn gets the cost up. Just look at BC Rich interesting custom designs but is the sound anything special, compromise is still due.

But whatever I'm sure someone could make a feasable argument how they could make em, but i'm just trying to state why they might not have one in the market at this time.
 
#29
peaveyuser said:
I realise the quality in sub 1000$ gear (i play an Ibanez btb 450, love it sounds great,plays great, looks great). Versatility I was saying look wise, come on most people playing, pop/rock/metal/blues/punk (majority) are not going to be liking the look of a singlecut. They might sound great and be very versatile, i don't contest that at all.
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Does that mean regardless of the singlecut? I honestly didn't know that and haven't seen any backlash on any gigs I've done due to body design.
:D

While you could be right about what people will or will not accept, I personally doubt it. If someone made a decent rainbow bass like Les Claypool's for say $600 I think it would be a while before they could catch up with demand. As basses become more affordable and accessible they become more mainstream. At least in my experience.

Now what i'm saying is they will have less buyers due to this fact that they may not apply to most players. In high production it may be feasible to create a good quality cheaper bass, like Ibanez, Trabben, Spector, Godin etc.... But production may be less which in turn gets the cost up. Just look at BC Rich interesting custom designs but is the sound anything special, compromise is still due.
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No offense to BC Rich but I hardly consider that any kind of yardstick.

As it is now most players can't afford singlecuts because they aren't affordable. Lots of players would like to have them... I'd bet even some of the sour grapes players:D

Whatever I'm sure someone could make a feasable argument how they could make em, but i'm just trying to state why they might not have one in the market at this time.
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I think they haven't done it yet mainly because of oversight. It wouldn't be the first trend manufacturers have missed:D. OTOH boutique builders don't do it because it would cut into the exclusivity of their higher end instruments... and I don't blame them one bit. IME IMO
 
#30
Steveaux said:
If you're not going to use solid pieces of quality tone-woods, you don't have to cover the result with paint. Another reason why single-cuts are almost exclusively presented in Natural or Clear/Dye finishes.
Click to expand...

I'm guessing you misspoke;)

Most bass bodies are at least two pieces. There is no reason one of those pieces could not be the one with the upper cutaway removed.

I mention paint because that is the most cost effective way to build (which I'd think given the topic is very relevant). It does not however mean that the results have to be subpar.

The reason why you mainly see most boutique basses showing some wood is because for the money, that's what people want to see. And surely you must know that most of the pretty woods on the fronts of those basses aren't tonewoods.
:cool:
 
#32
Brad Johnson said:
I'm guessing you misspoke;)

Most bass bodies are at least two pieces. There is no reason one of those pieces could not be the one with the upper cutaway removed.

I mention paint because that is the most cost effective way to build (which I'd think given the topic is very relevant). It does not however mean that the results have to be subpar.

The reason why you mainly see most boutique basses showing some wood is because for the money, that's what people want to see. And surely you must know that most of the pretty woods on the fronts of those basses aren't tonewoods.
:cool:
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No, I didn't misspeak. I was referring to the solid-slab "wings" normally seen on the style of bass in question. An example to which most members can relate would be the up-charge laminate tops available from Warmoth, and Warmoth's disclaimer regarding one-piece bodies and the aforementioned tops. These quality woods are in limited supply ... thus, the premium price.

If you want your single-cut made from MDF, go for it.
 
#33
Steveaux said:
No, I didn't misspeak. I was referring to the solid-slab "wings" normally seen on the style of bass in question. An example to which most members can relate would be the up-charge laminate tops available from Warmoth, and Warmoth's disclaimer regarding one-piece bodies and the aforementioned tops. These quality woods are in limited supply ... thus, the premium price.

If you want your single-cut made from MDF, go for it.
Click to expand...


Let's look at this just a little closer:D:

"If you're not going to use solid pieces of quality tone-woods, you don't have to cover the result with paint".

That would lead one to think that if you are going to use solid pieces of quality tone-woods, you would have to cover the result with paint.

My guess is that you didn't mean to say "not". Am I guessing incorrectly that that was a mistake?


Why would you need to paint solid pieces of quality tone woods... unless they didn't match visually? And if they didn't match visually, would they cease to be solid pieces of quality tone-woods?

The rest of what you're saying made no sense to me. A single cut does not have to have any more or less pieces of wood than any other cut. And frankly, a nice top on a painted back wouldn't cost all that much more either.

As far as MDF, don't knock it until you've tried it:smug:
FormicaBru.jpg
 
#34
#37
Yes. But I asked if there were any cheap singlecuts. Not how woods should be painted... or how woods should be chosen. Haha. No big deal, I got my answer. Get to it though, Im enjoying the internal debate. :ninja:
 
#38
Jordasch said:
Yes. But I asked if there were any cheap singlecuts. Not how woods should be painted... or how woods should be chosen. Haha. No big deal, I got my answer. Get to it though, Im enjoying the internal debate. :ninja:
Click to expand...

Hey, this should be educational then. People have different ideas about WHY the situation is as it is. And how woods are chosen/finished is a big part of that.

You already learned something about Warwick.
;)
 

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