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Does price = quality/sound
- Thread starter mybassisalemom
- Start date
But mine is a Pre CBS bat, with vintage cardboard made from only the finest slow-growth american pine. So it sounds amazing. How does your logic look NOW? Ha!
Yes and No... obviously 
Expensive basses (should) have a higher baseline of quality, which could/should improve sound. However, sometimes the price-point isn't necessarily reflected in the components of the bass, but the name on the head-stock. Sometimes price is also a reflection of 'mojo' and 'collect-ability', and not necessarily a reflection of quality... though, to be fair: most basses that have said mojo and collect-ability are that way because of a long-established record of good sound/quality.
Also, price is relative to an extent. Let's say that you go to a garage sale and find a '62 Fender P bass. You spend $50 on it. Now, you technically have a cheap bass. But, in other avenues, that bass could go for thousands of dollars. But... that's the used market, so maybe that's not the best way to respond to the original question.
Sticking with 'NEW' basses though, it's a similar story. Say, a new MiA Fender is going for $1500. Someone buys it, the online retailer sends the wrong color, the buyer NEVER plays it and returns it. It's now being sold for $1000, 'used'. Does the bass "loose" $500 worth of quality and sound. I would think not.
Expensive basses (should) have a higher baseline of quality, which could/should improve sound. However, sometimes the price-point isn't necessarily reflected in the components of the bass, but the name on the head-stock. Sometimes price is also a reflection of 'mojo' and 'collect-ability', and not necessarily a reflection of quality... though, to be fair: most basses that have said mojo and collect-ability are that way because of a long-established record of good sound/quality.
Also, price is relative to an extent. Let's say that you go to a garage sale and find a '62 Fender P bass. You spend $50 on it. Now, you technically have a cheap bass. But, in other avenues, that bass could go for thousands of dollars. But... that's the used market, so maybe that's not the best way to respond to the original question.
Sticking with 'NEW' basses though, it's a similar story. Say, a new MiA Fender is going for $1500. Someone buys it, the online retailer sends the wrong color, the buyer NEVER plays it and returns it. It's now being sold for $1000, 'used'. Does the bass "loose" $500 worth of quality and sound. I would think not.
There are some exceptions, a few examples:
Dingwall
Knuckle Guitar Works quake bass
Rickenbacker (I know some basses get close but to me nothing matches the tone)
Wal
I however don't really see the point of the top of the line CS Fender, Sadowsky and Lakland...etc. A Jazz doesn't really become any more 'Jazzy' beyond a certain point to me.
Dingwall
Knuckle Guitar Works quake bass
Rickenbacker (I know some basses get close but to me nothing matches the tone)
Wal
I however don't really see the point of the top of the line CS Fender, Sadowsky and Lakland...etc. A Jazz doesn't really become any more 'Jazzy' beyond a certain point to me.
Great post I agree. Allot of this is what do you need to get the job done?
If I was playing allot or a full time musician then yes I would use top end gear. I am a weekend warrior and get by well with solid cheaper gear.
I mod what I need and then compare them to other basses costing much more.
Allot of times see little or no diff in my basses to theirs. Since I use Fenders it is not hard to build say a good Squire to the level of a MIA if you have the time and money. But this is me. I have owned MIA Fenders dating back to early 70's up to 08'. they were all great basses or I would not of bought them but do I miss them? No.
Some will disagree and feel you need top high end gear to even be in a weekend working band...whatever floats your boat.
play what speaks to you. there are examples of crap and examples of diamonds all up and down the price spectrum, not to mention the old ace in the hole that is a great set up.
Not IMO/IME...
I'm not sure what you mean - polls here in the past indicate that a majority believe that generally speaking, higher price = higher quality...
Again, not IMO/IME...
- georgestrings
If you exclude the vintage market, the answer is overwhelmingly YES.
There's that old adage that constantly rings true - "You get what you pay for". That applies to electric guitars the same as everything else. There's a reason professional players are willing to pay several thousands of dollars for high end instruments. There's also a reason that name players who can afford to play anything they want DON'T play cheap guitars. I would suggest that if you truly believe that a MIC Squier CV Jazz sounds and plays as well as a Suhr Jazz bass, then you should put down the electric bass forever and take up accordion lessons.
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
I have bought and sold entry level basses for years, so I have seen a lot of low grade stuff. I have owned piles of Squiers and played even more in the stores, I feel the need to keep looking for these "boutique quality Squiers", I have yet to find one. I have noticed though, as many others, that Squiers quality has increased tremendously.
One of the reason I avoid most cheap basses is the fact that lots of them come from places where no reasonable person would want to work in conditions they shouldn't have to. Take a look into Cor-Tek, they build a large portion of entry level basses for a variety of manufacturers.
One of the reason I avoid most cheap basses is the fact that lots of them come from places where no reasonable person would want to work in conditions they shouldn't have to. Take a look into Cor-Tek, they build a large portion of entry level basses for a variety of manufacturers.
Opp's I meant the other way around. Most agree a few don't
I know we will never agree George and its cool. But for the life of me I could never say the MIA 08' P bass I had was better than my 83' MIJ SQ Squier P bass...can't... won't.
BTW ..looks like I'm going to that shop to buy back my 83' MIJ SQ today.
I have never regretted paying more for a "name brand" bass (I've owned Fender and Gibson mainly) and have always been satisfied with the quality of the instrument. I don't have a lot of experience with cheaper basses, so it's tough for me to do a comparison. I always say, you get what you pay for (with few exceptions).
Sometimes custom gear isn't all about sound. Improved low B string, better ergonomics, lower action, lighter, etc. Sometimes specific tones inevitably will come from higher end pickups like Nordstrands, Aero, etc. A few companies have entirely proprietary electronics that aren't available anywhere else.
The question is too broad.
But, if you can narrow down the parameters, like strictly comparing a classic passive Jazz bass configuration (bought new, not vintage) , then....YES... higher price pretty closely coincides with higher quality. Better finished instrument, better quality woods and hardware. It's more a long-term investment and dependability issue.
Higher price = better sound is more tricky.
A Dano with lipstick tube pickups is nobody's idea of expensive, and the quality is "questionable", but, jeez, what a sound!
If that's too one-trick pony example, try a G&L Tribute l2000. Tons of great sounds, again not very expensive. Those Tributes are (iMO) some of the basses closing that price-sound gap up to very narrow.
Obviously, the bass is just one component of the sound. A Peavey Fury through an SVT can be jaw-dropping, much more so than a Fodera through a Behringer.
But, if you can narrow down the parameters, like strictly comparing a classic passive Jazz bass configuration (bought new, not vintage) , then....YES... higher price pretty closely coincides with higher quality. Better finished instrument, better quality woods and hardware. It's more a long-term investment and dependability issue.
Higher price = better sound is more tricky.
A Dano with lipstick tube pickups is nobody's idea of expensive, and the quality is "questionable", but, jeez, what a sound!
If that's too one-trick pony example, try a G&L Tribute l2000. Tons of great sounds, again not very expensive. Those Tributes are (iMO) some of the basses closing that price-sound gap up to very narrow.
Obviously, the bass is just one component of the sound. A Peavey Fury through an SVT can be jaw-dropping, much more so than a Fodera through a Behringer.
No prob - agree to disagree, with no hard feelings whatsoever...
I will note that you tend to try to frame the discussion with the "good enough for the job at hand" angle - which isn't mentioned at all in the OP...
By all means, go get that bass back, if you really liked it that much... I *used* to flip basses/guitars to buy others, and made the mistake of letting a few really nice instruments go that I wish I had back... Nowadays, I only keep ones that both play and sound great - and just add to my modest collection if something comes up that I want and can reasonably afford...
- georgestrings
tough question... I always buy cheap basses, the most expensive bass I ever bought was my 64 P, and that was only 800 Pounds in England, 27 years ago, and I bought it knowing it would be my workhorse and I'd have it forever. But since then I've bought Epi's etc and they're fun and great players and sound very good.
In a recent store tryout the bass that felt best in my hands and sounded amazing as soon as I plugged in was the Squier Classic Vibe precision, the LPB 50's style... wish I'd bought it. It was $260...
In a recent store tryout the bass that felt best in my hands and sounded amazing as soon as I plugged in was the Squier Classic Vibe precision, the LPB 50's style... wish I'd bought it. It was $260...
Up to a point, maybe. Then the law of diminishing returns kicks in. I'd buy a Fender long before any Epiphone, though.
You are right I did refer to it as a workingman's bass and that is not what the OP was asking.
So yes in most cases Price does = Quality and sound. To say a Squier sounds as good as good and is built as good as a Sadowsky is foolish.
But I base allot of my info on basses costing maybe $1500 or less. To me that is not a high priced bass. A boutique bass is a totally different story in this fight.
Since I play Fenders I really only can go on my view on say a $400.00 Squier or MIM vs. a $1300 MIA Fender.
I have been on my soapbox for years around here so I will not go there again
I tried to find other basses that were as good as a MIA P bass to save money and to really see if it could be done. It can but you have to be choosy and find that bass. I found a few and might go get one that did it for me before.
I'm in the group that prefers high-end instruments, some over $4k. Some typical improvements over production instruments:
- Fretwork
- Materials
- Construction
- Fit and finish
- Customer support
- Options for customization: fingerboard/body wood, figured woods, custom electronics, custom paint/finish, etc
OTOH, I'm the first to say that nobody needs a $1000+ bass (unless they have a special need such as 8 or more strings). I've seen many street artists and some touring pros absolutely kill on low end imports. James Jamerson did his thing on a stock P-bass with old flatwounds, and he could also have done it on an MIM P-bass set up the same way. Unless the tool is so bad that it hinders performance, the player will always be the far more important factor.
I'm just an average weekend warrior. I don't need my fancy boutiques (or any of the advantages they provide), but I do want them, and can afford them, so that's reason enough.
