Do Americans need more expensive basses?

[frankieC]

Do you have a big family or was this a particularly extravagant vacation? $10,000? In Mexico?

Not Mexico, Thats NEW Mexico.

No judgement on my part, get down with your bad self, but spending $10k on a vacation in Mexico is kind of extraordinary.

NEW Mexico, not Mexico, and yes, I was with my family. Extraordinary? Not hardly.
just figure $225.00 for a suite, for 19 nights, plus a 17% hotel tax is over $5000.00 alone. Add to that meals and air fare for 4 people, plus a car rental and daily expenses.... $10K for 3 weeks for 4 people isn't extraordinary, or extravagant, at all.

 

[AaronVonRock]

I never understood this logic. You're right, as long as it sounds good the audience doesn't care, but I care.

I usually don't hear the difference, either.

 

[phillybass101]

I was under the impression that all Fenders produced in North America are to varying degrees made by Mexicans.

No that would be Pizzas

 

[Jeff K]

Even better, we like to take shiny stuff and make it look old and worn out artificially.

 

[LutherHeggs00]

Not to get too political here, but... If I have the option to afford a US made bass I'd rather buy that to employ US citizens than supporting Chinese factory towns. Last time I checked, they were still a communist country.

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/chin...ize-zippers-umbrellas-santa/story?id=12150627

 

[David Jayne]

Wait... We live in Georgia. We spent 3 weeks in New Mexico (about a 2 day drive, or a 3 hour flight from Georgia) 4 years ago, and it cost me nearly $10K!

Would have been cheaper to rent 'Napoleon Dynamite.'

 

[Marial]

Not Mexico, Thats NEW Mexico.



NEW Mexico, not Mexico, and yes, I was with my family. Extraordinary? Not hardly.
just figure $225.00 for a suite, for 19 nights, plus a 17% hotel tax is over $5000.00 alone. Add to that meals and air fare for 4 people, plus a car rental and daily expenses.... $10K for 3 weeks for 4 people isn't extraordinary, or extravagant, at all.

Ah, dig it. Somehow my eyes missed the 'New', and 19 nights adds up no matter where you are.

 

[lomo]

It won't last. That's the design... Keep buying replacements.
Remember, we live in a recycle or discard world. Longevity isn't part of that mindset.

That's because until we put either the consumer or the manufacturer on the hook for the disposal/ end of life of the product, it will be designed with a very limited lifespan and discarded. We are all about today, at the self-destructive expense of tomorrow. Welcome to the human condition. In the end, in spite of our opposable thumbs and huge frontal cortex, we are behaving on this planet in exactly the same way bacteria do in another, more familiar closed system, the petri dish. We are overpopulating our limited space, exhausting our resources and drowning in our own waste. The same instincts and drives that led us to dominate the planet are threatening our demise. Humans are only intelligent enough to be dangerous to themselves and other living things. Happy Tuesday.....it is what it is.......

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I think US players playing expensive basses is more of a Talk Bass thing rather than a US thing.

 

[smcgov]

I think US players playing expensive basses is more of a Talk Bass thing rather than a US thing.

I don't remember Mark King or John Entwistle playing Ibanez

 

[Dave W]

Would have been cheaper to rent 'Napoleon Dynamite.'

I think that's Idaho

 

[David Jayne]

I think that's Idaho

Still.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I don't remember Mark King or John Entwistle playing Ibanez

I mean that the appearance that all American players play expensive basses is warped by looking at American players that are on TalkBass. I make no statement about players in any other country.

 

[JimmyM]

The question of price is usually raised by people who think they are cool because they play cheaper instruments.

People who play more expensive basses almost never seem to question why those who buy cheaper gear do so.

I don't know about that.

 

[smcgov]

I mean that the appearance that all American players play expensive basses is warped by looking at American players that are on TalkBass. I make no statement about players in any other country.

oh I'm with you....I think the question is biased....search roscoe basses on youtube and many of the players are in South America. I know plenty of American dudes who own one bass and bought it used for 500 bucks.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I don't know about that.

Not sure, I've definitely seen a lot of "All you need is an SX" (until they changed their headstock and then nobody needed them). I can't recall anyone saying that you need an expensive bass. Of course, when people say that they're on a budget the forum generally steers the person towards buying used, but that's just getting bang for the buck.

 

[bassdrop]

*insert popcorn eating gif here*

 

[JimmyM]

Not sure, I've definitely seen a lot of "All you need is an SX" (until they changed their headstock and then nobody needed them). I can't recall anyone saying that you need an expensive bass. Of course, when people say that they're on a budget the forum generally steers the person towards buying used, but that's just getting bang for the buck.

I have seen quite a few arguments where those with expensive basses claim that a cheaper one could never sound as good. And yes, SX basses often get mentioned in there.

BTW, that newer headstock does look cheesy

 

[pedroims]

Please tell me how much Chinese junk you're going to buy at Wal Mart that will be around in 100 years. I can't get a plastic shovel to last one season, when I was growing up near chicago, we had 2 metal shovels my entire lifetime.

Chinese people built the great wall that still exist after more than 2000 years, of course they can built a shovel that can last for 100 years, but they won’t do it unless their customers ( American companies ) ask for it. And that won’t happen because what American companies want is to have customers ( You and me ) spending money on regular basis. Steady income for them.

 

[peterpalmieri]

*Warning this is my opinion*

When we look at how musicians normally buy instruments, under the wing of a teacher they choose to look for an instrument that better suits their needs as their skills enhance. You develop a budget and set out to get the instrument that best suits your needs within your budget. As you develop your own skills you refine those preferences and the qualities you desire in an instrument. For true students of the instrument this is where a custom built instrument comes into play.

More specific to guitars and basses, there is a pop culture that exists where folks buy really cool instruments that are refined in ways that may have no benefit to them. On the other side of it are working players whos budget is rather limited. Because of this you may see a cover band bassist playing a Fodera through a $3000 bass rig, doing classic rock covers. Then at a cocktail party see a super talented cat playing a squire through an old amp just killing it.

There is nothing wrong with any of this, some are very talented with a limited budget and some have a daytime job that allows a big budget regardless of skill level. Others are just dreamers or more of a collecter than player.

This all works to our benefit as bass players, someone like Fodera simply couldn't stay in business making a few basses for Anthony Jackson and other artists they cater too.

That all being said there are quite a handful of players who can just knock it out of the park on a MIM P bass.

As for our UK friends, simply pick up an issue of Bass Guitar Magazine and take a look at the preview of the 2014 London Bass Guitar Show, you'll find some killer players attending and the list of gear on display nothing short of high end boutique quality stuff.