Does it matter where the bass came from?

[Matt Dean]

I prefer basses made in Yucaipa, CA.

 

[mongo2]

I prefer basses made in Yucaipa, CA.

My favorite gig bass was made in Hackettstown, NJ.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

Country of manufacture only really counts when you're trying to sell it. Quality of manufacture counts all the rest of the time.

 

[MNAirHead]

sure.. when you go to sell one.

 

[Phalex]

sure.. when you go to sell one.

Great answer!

 

[bmc]

Does the buy "made in America" apply only to bass gear or to other things like running shoes, TV's computers, cell phones, etc?

 

[Aussie Player]

If we are talking about series basses, for me, yes.
Most of the basses from Asia have woods that are cheap and easy to find in Asia, like basswood, etc.. and these are not so good...
For example, the early Rockbasses were extremely light and cheap with Carolena bodys, nothing more far away from the Warwicks...
Maybe you can find asian basses with good woods, but the price would be the same as an identical bass in usa...

I think this is an interesting argument/hypotheses.

I own a German Warwick Thumb and it features a common fault as the neck lamination dries after a few years creating a small ridge/step berween the laminations. Sure, it is small but common, as I have read about it before from other owners.

The fix is simple because the basses are waxed/oiled and that is to use a very fine steel wool to rub down the edge and reapply the warwick finish that was only $13 a can.

The Indonesian rockbass, especially the latest once are remarkably good in quality and workmanship and for th e$350 or so they go for, I would ratehr have a coupel of these than the German ones as they have superior growl and that is saying a lot, the necks are wonderfully finished, straight and smooth as silk and overall weight is light.

Now after 40 years of playing I thing the greatest BS ia have learned is the benefits of different timbers. Sure, they may be some tonal differnence to argue but in a band situation playing live, it sure ain't worth that much difference.

For a working bass, the Warwick Rock Bass is a tremendous deal im ny opinion.

 

[TaylorO']

Here are some free pieces of life advice from an old guy.

1. It is perfectly OK to buy crap, as long as you know you are buying crap.

2. Never be afraid to spend more money to get a better product.

3. Stay away from entry-level stuff. If something is worth doing, it's worth spending some extra money on.


Entry level stuff is for people who don't know anything. And it's usually bought by people that don't know anything for people that don't know anything.

The thought process behind the entry-level stuff is that you spend a minimum to get started, so if you don't like it or stick with it, you are only out that much money. But the dirty little secret is that you are going to be out that much money anyway. Because if you do something it and stick with it, you are going to have to upgrade, sooner rather than later.

If you are getting something for yourself (not just basses, but anything), invest in yourself by starting off getting something with enough quality to see you through. Your next upgrade should be because you are getting seriously interested and good enough to justify a meaningful step up, not because you only realized what you have is a POS after a month or so of experience with it.

You get the wrong bass now, and you'll regret it forever. It will either be such a pain to play that it will hold you back until you do spend the money for something better, or it will be so bad that you don't even want to practice, and can kill your interest entirely.

This is one of the best things ive ever read on here.

 

[bmc]

Excellent advice. Not clear how it applies to this thread.

 

[Faderoktopus]

The particular basses that I enjoy playing the most happen to be made in America, but I would have absolutely no moral qualms about buying in any other parts of the world. Be very careful in condemning Chinese labor politics based solely on worker income. The fact of the matter is that most essential commodities are also very much cheaper in China, if perhaps not proportionally so, so the buying power of those workers isn't necessarily much lower. And American labor politics are definitely not as saintly as some of the popular comparisons would make them:

The prison industry in the United States: big business or a new form of slavery?

Okay, I admit that this is an extreme example. I don't know how many MI manufacturers might be involved in this globally unique kind of slavery, but I sincerely hope that those who make the tools of art are above such methods.

I am not trying to enter into a political debate, just trying to dispel some of the more widespread misunderstandings.

Peace, Martin

 

[cassius987]

Globally unique kind of slavery? Boiled down, that's been done before, and much worse.

 

[Stanley Pugh]

If a bass is assembled in the US they put a made in America sticker on it. If all the parts are from Asia then where was the bass made?
If the parts and assembly were done in the US then it is made in America to me.
Almost impossible to make an American product you are playing the percentages.

 

[Faderoktopus]

Globally unique kind of slavery? Boiled down, that's been done before, and much worse.

To my knowledge it is not happening anywhere else at this point in time, but even if it were does that change anything?

 

[KillianRussell]

If I was buying new it would only matter because the US is in the midst of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression