What I want in a bass guitar tends to cost 1-2 thousand. I believe without a doubt that I play and sound better than I would with a starter bass or most less expensive bass guitars.
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Does a High Quality Bass Improve Our Playing?
- Thread starter Zeus_Mutation
- Start date
you need to want to make music with your instrument, whatever it is...
playing with good players improves playing, and purposeful practice and exercise improves your playing.
while liking your instrument is important if it is a source of inspiration, there are many "musical instrument owners" who don't play very well...
look at the resale market for 5 year old Taylors, and Les Pauls, "like new" because they never got played...
playing with good players improves playing, and purposeful practice and exercise improves your playing.
while liking your instrument is important if it is a source of inspiration, there are many "musical instrument owners" who don't play very well...
look at the resale market for 5 year old Taylors, and Les Pauls, "like new" because they never got played...
No, but according to the principle that an expensive bass will instantly make in a better player (jk)
buying that instrument would automatically give one Jaco's chops!
Learning to work on your bass(es) is the best way to make sure that the gear never holds you back. Once you learn to clean up fret edges, level high frets, solder electronics, etc. the original $ value of the bass is pretty inconsequential. To me, my squier p bass feels and plays just as well as my friend’s sadowski.
A better bass will improve your playing if:
-Its ergonomically well-suited to you, enabling you to play better with ease.
-If the higher price tag comes with better functionality as affects playability
-The tone of the instrument inspires you and/or makes it easier to hear how well (or how poorly) you are playing.
I've mostly left cheap basses behind as I've found custom instruments that fit me ergonomically. Mostly in the 1-2k range, which truthfully isn't very expensive for a quality instrument. I know full well that probably no one in the audience is going to be able to hear the difference but at the end of the second set I'm feeling the difference in my fingers (and my back) and playing better and having more fun as a result.
As for not wanting to take an expensive bass out, that's your issue to work out for yourself. My bit-more-than-$2k Carlo (bought used) comes to nearly every gig. It's gotten some nicks and scratches and I simply couldn't afford to replace it (3-4k probably) if it were broken or stolen. However, the neck is like almost nothing I've ever held and it is a fantastic instrument that definitely makes me a better player. IMHO, there is no point owning an instrument that does that for you and then leaving it at home.
-Its ergonomically well-suited to you, enabling you to play better with ease.
-If the higher price tag comes with better functionality as affects playability
-The tone of the instrument inspires you and/or makes it easier to hear how well (or how poorly) you are playing.
I've mostly left cheap basses behind as I've found custom instruments that fit me ergonomically. Mostly in the 1-2k range, which truthfully isn't very expensive for a quality instrument. I know full well that probably no one in the audience is going to be able to hear the difference but at the end of the second set I'm feeling the difference in my fingers (and my back) and playing better and having more fun as a result.
As for not wanting to take an expensive bass out, that's your issue to work out for yourself. My bit-more-than-$2k Carlo (bought used) comes to nearly every gig. It's gotten some nicks and scratches and I simply couldn't afford to replace it (3-4k probably) if it were broken or stolen. However, the neck is like almost nothing I've ever held and it is a fantastic instrument that definitely makes me a better player. IMHO, there is no point owning an instrument that does that for you and then leaving it at home.
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Quality doesn’t have to mean expensive. A solid instrument with a good set-up is hard to beat. I’ve spent a bunch on expensive instruments over the years. I don’t regret it, but few have made any real difference in my playing. Setup, on the other hand, can make a big difference in playability and sound.
Yesterday I couldn't even spell bass player, today I went out and bought an Alembic and I are one.
I dig what you and others are saying, just don't forget your ability is your ability, not the bass's. If you can play an expensive bass well you can do the same on a least expensive bass. Conversely, if your ability needs work, no amount of money spent on a bass is going to improve that. That always comes from work, woodshedding not, buying basses...
The interesting point is how many boutique basses are high end Jazz Bass copies. The Fender Jazz Bass isn't exactly an unknown quantity in bass circles. Were the specimens from the 1970's so bad that other companies had to step in to make proper examples of how the model should be manufactured? Surely the Fenders of today have regained their reputation from a bad period in the industry overall. Remember, Norlin Gibsons from that time weren't exactly perfect, either. That's how lawsuit instruments came to be. Fascinating history, but forty years later there are at least a dozen companies making Jazz Bass copies and some are charging upwards of $2500 for one. Unless the materials are the absolute top grade, how would you justify the price? By top grade, there's no proof that highly figured curly maple will sound any better than a piece of maple with a bland grain pattern. Pickups? Bobbins, wire, magnets... not that much of an expense. Bridge, tuners, pots (many use the same suppliers of products: Switchcraft and CTS). The amount of time and care given to each instrument must be where this extra cost comes from. Fit and finish. If you don't mind a mass produced bass with average components for a decent price, a Squier may be your choice. If you wish to upgrade it you'll be able to do so with plenty of universally sized parts available. The fit and finish will not rival a Lakland, Lull or Sadowsky. If you require the level of attention to detail those companies offer, don't bother looking for a Squier. Fender may be in the middle ground somewhere. It does make you wonder how many versions of this basic model are really necessary.
At the same time, he didn't stop playing because he didn't have one before that. Telecaster bass anyone?
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I'd go along with you here. Beyond 2k you're deep into the land of diminishing returns. Yeah, you'll get more complex electronics. Fancy woods/finishes and more custom options. Better playability? Not likely. Better sound? I've not heard a sound I like better than that made by a decent P, J, HH or Ray and they can all be had for under 2k.
Lets also remember that "high end" is relative. Compared to almost any other instrument, electric guitars and basses are hilariously cheap.
AKA 'hippie sandwich.'Yep, furniture basses
Not that there's anything wrong with that if that's what you want. But that's what it is. : D
Well, there are "Hippie Sandwich" & "Furniture Table" high-$$$ /high-quality basses for sure; there are also expensive basses that are Fender clones- Sadowsky/Lull/ Alleva come to mind first-that cost quite a bit more than their Fender counterparts.
However-Expensive is in the mind and checkbook of the beholder. If the funds are there, there are those (like me!) who don't mind spending the money to own a bass that they feel is built to a very high standard.
The difference is apparent to me in my hands. Example
Ibanez ATK: My Prestige Japan-built 1200 version (discontinued) costs double the current Indonesian (?) 810 Premium.
Many ATK lovers are more than fine with the lower-cost bass, I get it.
But to me- the feel of the build is more than evident & worth the price.
Same holds true IMO for a 3K Lull or a 5K Sadowsky or Alleva "Fender".
...And really enjoying how your bass feels WILL make you play better. My .02.
However-Expensive is in the mind and checkbook of the beholder. If the funds are there, there are those (like me!) who don't mind spending the money to own a bass that they feel is built to a very high standard.
The difference is apparent to me in my hands. Example
Ibanez ATK: My Prestige Japan-built 1200 version (discontinued) costs double the current Indonesian (?) 810 Premium.
Many ATK lovers are more than fine with the lower-cost bass, I get it.
But to me- the feel of the build is more than evident & worth the price.
Same holds true IMO for a 3K Lull or a 5K Sadowsky or Alleva "Fender".
...And really enjoying how your bass feels WILL make you play better. My .02.
If the tone is amazing and the neck and fretwork is spectacular then I can easily see folks paying $2500 for one.
What I find a bit silly about the Jazz bass is that if you stick close to the original proportions, it's a notably bigger and heavier body then it has to be. Proof, I think that tradition and a certain look is the driving force for many folks, something I simultaneously think makes sense and no sense.
