Cheap vs Expensive basses...

[Marc DLarosa]

I find the issue here is terms like cheap imply a lack of quality, while expensive implies a higher standard and using them can muddy the waters. Two points to consider, there are always tremendous bargains out there, as well as people paying way to much for perceived value. This dialog should be about relative value not price points.

For instance, I have a German made active Warwick Corvette Standard, with a semi hard roadrunner case which should have retailed when new for over $2,000 10 some years ago. I paid less than $600 for it 3 years ago.

So my question is as a bass purchase, was it cheap, mid priced, or expensive. Is it an expensive bass bought cheap?

My point is, in acquisition, it all about value. What is it worth to you? Not where it was made, or out of.

Finally, when considering instruments, of course let your ears be your guide, but don’t be afraid to pay a little more for better quality, and be patient.

 

[red_rhino]

Oh goody. Another one of "these" threads. I wonder if this will turn out any different than the 3000 other ones?

 

[bassrique]

iirc, a new Fender back around 1970 was probably $350 or so. Adjusted for inflation, that comes to $2650 in 2019 dollars. That gives a little perspective into relative cost.

We are living in the golden age of basses, where you can get a serviceable instrument for $100 new. You can also spend $25K or more. Or anywhere in-between. The parameters for "cheap" and "expensive" are determined by the individual - there is no universal metric.

That said, many on TB would argue that the inflection point for the law of diminishing returns is somewhere between $1-2K plus or minus.

Some of those 70s Fenders did not have good neck-to-body fits. Yes, we are living in a production bass golden age as the cheap production basses of today have better tolerances than many of the 2k basses of my youth.

Young guys, you have it good.

 

[Marc DLarosa]

Oh goody. Another one of "these" threads. I wonder if this will turn out any different than the 3000 other ones?

Yippee Kai Yaaaaay...

 

[phillipkregg]

The true value of any bass is in its playability. That’s the one thing you can’t upgrade.

I own a Skjold that’s an absolutely wonderful playing wonderful sounding bass. It also costs close to 5 grand.

Another bass that I own is a Brubaker Brute 5 string. It cost around $400, and is one of the very best playing necks and some of the best fretwork of any bass I’ve ever played. All it needed was upgraded electronics.

Ultimately only you can decide, there are hundreds of intangible little differences between instruments, and nuances that only you may notice. But you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a fantastic bass.

 

[madbass6]

... yeah... this "Horse has been beaten to death" on here. But... even though I rarely post. I gotta ask... What about the "in between cheap, and expensive?" What is (dollar wise) considered to be in this bracket? Where does "middle" fit? And... "what are the most player friendly."
Comfort, tone, weight, accessibility, aesthetics, etc...

Just curious.

P.S.
Feel free to show us Your "MID PRICED" Basses.

Not sure on price range your asking about as many have pointed out, what you consider cheap others mite consider expensive & vise versa!
I'll say this much, in my opinion I would rather save $800.00 to buy a good used high quality instrument V.S spending $800.00 on brand new no brand NO quality one!

 

[walking Bass]

For my taste from the $1200 Fender American Performer, the $1500 Gibson SG, $1088 Lakland HB-30...

Less is less, more is unnecessary.

 

[Old Blastard]

I don't know.
Got everything from $3,500 custom Drakes to $175 Talman and things in between.

There is a distinct difference in feel and playability but the cheapies are still Fun!

That's what matters, are they fun?

 

[Marc DLarosa]

Not sure on price range your asking about as many have pointed out, what you consider cheap others mite consider expensive & vise versa!
I'll say this much, in my opinion I would rather save $800.00 to buy a good used high quality instrument V.S spending $800.00 on brand new no brand NO quality one!

As I stated... maybe not clear enough... My inquiry was about neither cheap, nor expensive. This is a dead argument, to Me. My curiosity was about "what lies in between."

 

[Blankandson]

Actually a new Fender P in the box was $265. That’s what I paid for mine back in 1975

I paid $175 for a new Fender P bass with hardshell case in 1967.
I'm with the few that are older and have more $$ to spend but don't want to do it on new. My last two basses have both been used and I got a great bass for less than 1/2 of the new price. I may have bought one new if I'd played it first but high-dollar basses are not usually on display in shops even here in Nashville. When we spend winters in Orlando I go to B___ C______ for that. That's what they have hanging on the walls. PM me if you don't know what I just said.

 

[GIBrat51]

Just for the sake of hijacking a dead horse thread, what is your banjo, if I might ask? (I pick a little, build a few, myself..., got a couple that rank up there with my Alembics, so I'm guessing we got that in common too)

It's a 1963 "Boulder" ODE. A Style 3, Model 3 lefty. Made in Boulder, Colorado before the company was bought out by Baldwin. The family got the company back (much like Gretsch did), but, they couldn't get the name. They still make banjos, under the OME name. They are... expensive... Mine has the original case; well, what's left of it, anyway. Boulder ODE cases were made by the company, and can sometimes be worth more to collectors, than the banjo that's in it...

 

[madbass6]

As I stated... maybe not clear enough... My inquiry was about neither cheap, nor expensive. This is a dead argument, to Me. My curiosity was about "what lies in between."

Oh, ok thanks for clarifying !
that's an easy one,
What lies in between is what ever you can afford or not ! (?)

 

[matante]

I mean cheap/expensive is kinda relative to how much you earn. I think for almost all people outside europe, north america and Japan/South Korea a high end Squier could be viewed as expensive and almost a luxury item.

You have a distorted view of the world and need to travel more.

 

[Mike Sorr]

I just picked up a slightly used Fender Player Series Jazz Bass for $400. I bought it with the intention of modding the daylights out of it with upgraded tuners, pickups, bridge...the works. I wound up putting a set of strap locks on it and calling it a day. In my humble opinion it’s as good as any Jazz Bass I’ve ever owned and I’ve owned a ton of them. It’s every bit as good a bass as my 1972, and any other American I’ve owned. It’s light at 8.5 pounds and it sounds great bone stock. I’d recommend one to anyone. I don’t see the point in spending crazy money for basses anymore, and with the new instruments hitting the market these days you can get great quality without spending a lot of cash.

 

[James Collins]

I never understood why anyone would pay more than $500 for a bass, Then I bought a MM Bongo, and I understand. Now I own that and a Fender Elite, and Ibanez premium 6. Ibanez make great basses at very low prices.

I agree with you. You don't know what you are missing until you find a sound, aesthetic, and quality that really suits you. Once you see a difference in quality, you can't really unsee it though.

 

[shadven]

Middle is a MIA Fender. That’s where the fun starts.

 

[bassbenj]

I never understood why anyone would pay more than $500 for a bass, Then I bought a MM Bongo, and I understand. Now I own that and a Fender Elite, and Ibanez premium 6. Ibanez make great basses at very low prices.

I sort of went through the same thing. I bought a G&L Tribute and was in love. Like you I thought who needs more than this? But then later I scored a couple of USA G&Ls in the same model. And there it was. Yes, the expensive basses clearly WERE BETTER! And Yes, the additional goodness was quite small but nevertheless real. So the bottom line is do you want every last bit you can get out of your bass and don't care what it costs to get it, or is 99% good enough for you? My preference is to have the very last bit out of a bass but pay only $500 for it. Buying used is a big step in that direction.

 

[Marc DLarosa]

Trust Me Guy's... I have NOTHING against Fenders. Not pictured is My Kingman, and '73 Tele. L

eo can do NO WRONG, in My eyes. My '79 Sabre is My #1, and has been since 1988...

BTW... L-R, USA, MIM, CIJ, USA.

 

[benthughes]

In my experience $1000 is the sweet spot in terms of value and getting an instrument that will last you a lifetime. I've owned customs ( Zon, Benavente, Skjold, LowEnd , MTD) and they're awesome but, really, they're not $3000 better than a G&L, import Sadowsky, Lull, Dingwall combustion etc. With modern manufacturing you can get a very good instrument for under $1000. I'm playing the crap out of an Ibanez ATK805 that I got for around $500. It feels better to me than some of the basses mentioned above and sounds great. My favorite bass of all time is my G&L L-2500 and it has a rock stable neck. My most expensive bass right now is a Dingwall NG3 that I actually prefer to the MTD 535 that I owned or my USA Spector.

I think good "middle of the road" basses are G&L, Musicman, Yamaha, older Peavey Cirii , Spector Euros, Ibanez and Dingwall Combustion. These can be an incredible value if found used and make anything over the $2k mark a personal preference decision.

 

[Scott Baiowulf]

I'd consider the $300-$700 range to mid-range basses, price-wise. I own a Fender Precision Bass that I bought for $250 that needed work, and by the time I had it fixed and slightly customized to my liking, it cost me about $400 total (it's the bass in my profile picture). It's a MIM P-Bass, and it absolutely sounds killer. It plays great, has a wonderful tone, works well with my pedals, and sounds good with any amp I've run it through. Can't ask for more than that.

Samesies. The bass in my profile pic is a MIM precision that’s just been a complete killer since I changed the pickup and bridge. Got it used on Craigslist for $300 and spent $165 on upgrades and it plays and sounds miles better than the MIA p-bass I had which was just a dud. I consider my MIM to be low end of the “mid priced” spectrum. My other bass is a Lakland Skyline DJ-4 that I’d consider the top end of “mid priced” and its workmanship is just incredible. Most amazing neck I’ve ever played.