Do I Deserve a Boutique Bass?

[smtp4me]

I have to go with the crowd here and say that if the boutique bass inspires you to play, then it is worth it.

 

[fhm555]

I lusted after a coffee table bass for years when I couldn’t possibly afford one. When i got to where I could i had one made just like i wanted. It was a real beauty and played like a dream but i discovered i was reluctant to take it out of the house because I spent all the time it was out concerned it was going to get dinged or stolen. I finally sold it and have been happy with my off the shelf Fender basses since then.
All that said, you will never know until you are sitting in your home music space with the bass of your dreams, and everyone should chase their dreams. It’s what makes life worthwhile.

 

[BurningSkies]

Ok so i laid my hands on a Dingwall Combustion and was very impressed. I didn't play one, but the local dealer has an AB1 Afterburner in stock. I am very very tempted by that. I understand the difference among the Canadian basses and they seem worth it. Honestly it's actually rare that I'm in the position to afford one. I am only half joking about deserving it, but I really am a hack. I see players better that me constantly. In fact most seem to be especially among my age. My only real confidence stems from the fact that other people want me to play for them. I have never considered that kind of money for a bass, but that B string is to die for. Even the Combustion makes my Stingray 5 feel like an old clunker! Aaaaaagh!!

I bought a Dingwall Afterburner 1 in 2005. It was my first 'real' high end bass (minus a vintage Fender and a PRS I had for a handful of years). I bought it sight unseen and loved it from the moment I bought it.

There's no such thing as 'deserve' or 'worthy'...If it inspires you and you love how it plays and sounds and if it might push you to hold it in your hands more hours a day than your other basses. Buy it.

...now, 16 years down the line I still love Dingwall basses and have everything from an NG3 to a fretless Combustion, a super custom Z, a 'vintage' Voodoo Prima and a Super P.

It did make me pick up a bass more and longer and it did make me a better player in the long and short term.

 

[Bass Viking]

Sometimes, a choice piece of gear can actually make you a better player.

For instance, my intonation improved vastly on my upright after I bought my Greenboy cabinet because I could hear myself so clearly.

If you have the coin and the desire, I say go for it!

+1. I hear so often on Talkbass “a more expensive instrument won’t make you a better player”. But in reality it can if it inspires you to play more.

 

[chris_b]

I bought a Lull pbass this past year. This was my first (and only) boutique bass, which I got used but in pristine condition.

When I bought my Mike Lull bass the possibility that someone might call it a "boutique" bass, or that I had to be at a certain standard to own it, never crossed my mind. It's one of the best P basses I've played and that was the only consideration when I decided to buy it.

 

[AboutSweetSue]

Well, the way I see it is that we can either buy something we really like while we're around to enjoy it, or we never get to know what it was like to own one.

Absolutely, within reason...it’s a good way of looking at things. This applies to experiences as well.

 

[lfmn16]

It's really sad that this is a question. There is no board that hands out permission slips to get good basses. If you want it, and you can afford it, then buy it. My only suggestion is that make sure you can afford it long term, not just now. If you don't have an emergency fund, you can't afford it. I'm seeing tons of ads from people who are being hit hard by the current situation and are selling their gear.

 

[Bass Viking]

Asking on Talkbass if you deserve a boutique bass is like walking into a bar and asking if you deserve a drink!

 

[Wfrance3]

To chime in with the 68th opinion on the thread title; "Do I Deserve a Boutique Bass?"
My personal little litmus test. Not a flow chart really because no decision tree-ing is involved. It's more of a - Keep going if the answer is yes, stop if it's no.

1. Can you you afford the bass?
2. Does it do something your current bass doesn't? (have an extra pickup, preamp, 5th or more string(s)...)
3. Is it an improvement from your current bass?
4. Is it truly more playable (comfortable to play)?

If you can be brutally honest and answer these questions you can talk yourself into or out of your decision. - Oh, one last thing (said with my hand on the door frame as I prepare to exit) Don't buy a bass just because it looks cool unless it survives the above 4 questions. No matter how awesome a bass looks; too heavy, too wide of a neck, etc. gets old pretty quick. I've done it (sadly more than once), at the expense of moving a bass that regretted selling to finance it...

 

[nickpc]

My Sadowsky made/makes me a better player in two ways:
1. It plays like a dream. It's just so easy to play, feels and sounds so good.
2. Being a hack myself, it makes me want to play at the level it deserves to be played.

So I say go for it!

 

[Kukulkan61]

Heck Ya!!

 

[Bass Viking]

If builders could only sell to people who “deserved” it they’d be out of business!

 

[bassdude51]

If you want it, buy it. If you can afford it, buy it. If your wife or whoever is OK with it, buy it.

Don't base your thoughts on your bass playing ability. There's always someone or others that play better than us.

As to whether you deserve it, only you can answer that question.

I imagine that there are many who own boutique basses and can hardly play. If they can deserve them, so do you.

Buy it!

 

[Thundertips]

Ok so i laid my hands on a Dingwall Combustion and was very impressed. I didn't play one, but the local dealer has an AB1 Afterburner in stock. I am very very tempted by that. I understand the difference among the Canadian basses and they seem worth it. Honestly it's actually rare that I'm in the position to afford one. I am only half joking about deserving it, but I really am a hack. I see players better that me constantly. In fact most seem to be especially among my age. My only real confidence stems from the fact that other people want me to play for them. I have never considered that kind of money for a bass, but that B string is to die for. Even the Combustion makes my Stingray 5 feel like an old clunker! Aaaaaagh!!

I think these Basses are Made In China aren't they?

 

[lug]

I recently got a new monitor that has great resolution, refresh, clarity, and speed but my eyes are bad. Not sure I deserve it.

 

[groove pump]

I lusted after a coffee table bass for years when I couldn’t possibly afford one. When i got to where I could i had one made just like i wanted. It was a real beauty and played like a dream but i discovered i was reluctant to take it out of the house because I spent all the time it was out concerned it was going to get dinged or stolen. I finally sold it and have been happy with my off the shelf Fender basses since then.
All that said, you will never know until you are sitting in your home music space with the bass of your dreams, and everyone should chase their dreams. It’s what makes life worthwhile.

Exactly what's made me reluctant to buy something beyond the $600-$800 instruments I have now. I want to support the terrific builders out there, but if I got a really expensive bass and wanted to use it at a show, I'd need to put it in a gig bag and sling it on my shoulder just to go to the men's room!!

Ok so i laid my hands on a Dingwall Combustion and was very impressed. I didn't play one, but the local dealer has an AB1 Afterburner in stock. I am very very tempted by that. I understand the difference among the Canadian basses and they seem worth it. Honestly it's actually rare that I'm in the position to afford one. I am only half joking about deserving it, but I really am a hack. I see players better that me constantly. In fact most seem to be especially among my age. My only real confidence stems from the fact that other people want me to play for them. I have never considered that kind of money for a bass, but that B string is to die for. Even the Combustion makes my Stingray 5 feel like an old clunker! Aaaaaagh!!

There's a world of difference between carrying yourself off like you're "all that 'n a bag of chips" just because you bought a fantastic instrument vs. having something really terrific like that Dingwall, appreciating it, and staying humble and happy as you keep learning.

Since you sound like your heart's in the right place - you're not looking to get that bass to decorate yourself - my vote is that you deserve it. You really like it and it's going to inspire you (and also support the music world!). If the buy won't cause hunger or hardship in your circle, I'd say you're good to go

 

[BarfanyShart]

You are a bassist so you deserve to play any bass you like. What you prefer, what you can afford, how many basses you want to take care of ... that's all your choice.

 

[Johnny StingRay]

Yes!

 

[Kipp Harrington]

I'm definitely a "hack" and that's why I'll never own a boutique bass.

 

[BurningSkies]

Asking on Talkbass if you deserve a boutique bass is like walking into a bar and asking if you deserve a drink!

I love 'talk me out of buying...' threads.