Does price = quality/sound

[HMZ]

It's the old, you get what you pay for. Can a cheap
bass sound great? Sure, but I find "better or more expensive" basses
Feel nice. No fret sprouts the necks truss rods
move easly the bridges setup better. I know
someone is going to say this is not the case
so I'm going say Uasally this is the case.

 

[aggrokragg]

It really depends on your skill level and ability to achieve tones out of the particular instruments. I do agree with the folks who speak of "diminishing returns" at a point. You can start to find basses with solid sounds and components once you move into the $500 range that are perfectly playable for the "gigging musician". Especially if you consider buying used equipment.

That said, I think it also greatly depends on what style(s) you're playing. I've had a range of basses from Ibanez, Fender, and a knock off Thunderbird. At one point I found an Ibanez SRX400 at a pawn shop for like $160. It is the definition of a "cheap" instrument, but with a decent setup and some new strings it worked really well for the grind band I was in at the time. It played fast and with absurd volume and growl.

I eventually sold it and I'm still sort of mad at myself about it.

 

[rptrsn2]

My main bass is a MIA Fender Deluxe P. I just bought a SX jazz bass. The SX needs a few upgrades like tuners and bridge but its finished and feels and plays almost as nice as the MIA Fender and only paid $125 for it! I would definitly take the SX over a MIM Fender that runs $400-$500.

 

[smcd]

The player and his/her ability doesn't factor into this issue at all. The point at hand is "are you getting something worthwhile for the extra money you pay for a more expensive instrument?"

 

[therhodeo]

The player and his/her ability doesn't factor into this issue at all. The point at hand is "are you getting something worthwhile for the extra money you pay for a more expensive instrument?"

I think the answer there is, up to a certain point, maybe.

 

[Fuzzbass]

The player and his/her ability doesn't factor into this issue at all. The point at hand is "are you getting something worthwhile for the extra money you pay for a more expensive instrument?"

In general, the answer is yes, as explained by Runnerman:

As a rule....yes.

In practicality there are exceptions to the rule and you may find a gem at the low end and a dog at the high end. The other thing is your perception of what is good and bad sound. That will skew the results. Quality, yes. More money = more time = more attention to detail (in the perfect world).

That said: are the advantages (quality, options, customer service, etc) worth the extra money spent? The answer is completely subjective. Many who acknowledge that a $4,000 boutique has quantifiable advantages over a $2,000 production line instrument will nevertheless argue that the advantages are unimportant/insignificant/barely noticeable, and/or not worth the huge price increase even if easily affordable.

 

[Nick303]

On the one hand you should try to buy the best thing you can realistically afford. On the other you should think about where you are with your playing and what you're going to do with your instrument.
If you're learning get a nice Squier Affinity or maybe a VM, it will do everything you need it to do and they sound great. You can upgrade it to your heart's content as your playing improves and as you start to understand what you need from a bass.
If your in a gigging band you might need something more, buy a Fender or a Musicman. They should (*) be of a better build quality and therefore be more reliable. 'Proper' instruments like these should age well, they wear in rather than wear out and withstand sustained professional use.
Anything upwards of £1200 or so becomes a matter of taste, desire, (healthy) obsession and reward. Not really necessary, but it's the same as anything in life isn't it, cars are a good example. Does it get you from A to B? How does it make you feel? Does it look good?

What's the right bass for you now? I'd like a bespoke handmade 6 string Carl Thompson featuring a number of exotic woods, but I'd still sound like me playing it. So I'll stick to my modded Squiers. For now...

 

[grendle]

Yes and no.
Most basses in the higher price range are built better and have better hardware, electronics, etc. Some also have a signature sound you won't get with other basses.
There are a few of the popular brands of basses where your paying a lot more for the name than you should be for what your getting in the bass. In today's day and age you should not have to sacrifice in quality construction. Play before you buy and look at how it's built. Check the gaps, finishing, etc. and do look at several. Then sit down and play the good ones, then look at price.

Having said that, do take your brand new bass and pay to have a local pro set it up and do some fretwork and or nut work to make it perfect for you. This is the best money you will spend on any new bass.

 

[georgestrings]

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.

Agree to disagree regarding your last paragraph - I have yet to see the Squier that can compare to an MIA Fender, and I've owned and played ALOT of them...


- georgestrings

 

[Major Softie]

Hi, I know that my last post was "which bass should I upgrade to". But I think the term of what I've doing is G.A.S.ing and it made me think, fenders look amazing but so do epiphones, and squiers and they are all better then my current bass, aswell as the fact they cost a lot less then the high-priced counter-part So is the quality/sound really worth the price? Is the price proportionate to quality/sound of the bass eg. will an epiphone sound as good as a Gibson?

You managed to ask WAY too many questions here, without even realizing it. If one limits oneself to your question of the price being "proportionate," then it is very simple: no. There is absolutely no "proportionality" in pricing. The more you spend, the less difference that money makes . . . for most "qualities." However, when you spend a LOT more money, you get things that are different measures of "quality." If you want amazing woods, unbelievable beauty, and standout uniqueness, you're only going to get that with lots more money. Those are not qualities that matter to everyone, but, for the people for whom those are really valuable qualities, no $300, $700, or even $1500 bass will ever be able to remotely compare.

As far as "Sound," screw the whole discussion because it's far too subjective. Every S.U.B. bass sounds "better" than every Fender American Precision to someone who wants the Stingray sound. Every Squire P sounds "better" than every U.S. made Stingray to someone who wants the P sound.

As far as "quality," you have to define the term. Significantly more money should always give you a better setup instrument with better hardware and electronics, but you can buy a Squire and put better hardware and electronics in it and have it professionally tuned and setup (or, better yet, do that work yourself if it's within your skill set), and end up with a significantly better playing instrument than an equivalent American Fender and only have spent 1/2 to 3/4 as much money. OTOH, that money is gone, as you'll never recoup the money you put into it, but if you keep that instrument, you have a better instrument for less. So, if you're going to keep it for ever, you get much more for your money one way, but if youre ever going to sell it, you get much more for your money the other way. Who got more for their money? Both and neither.

 

[willop]

What is the higher price getting you?

Better design? That's worth paying for.
Better 'parts' - strings, bridge, pickup, tuners, etc? Yes. Most of these can be added to any bass though.
Different wood or finishes, more 'time' on finishing the instrument. Does this relate to better playing, sound, longer lasting? Probably not.
Just read an article on wood choices in acoustic guitars - different woods sound different but most manufacturers make guitars in many woods..price is secondary.
Assembly location affects cost. MIM vs MIA. But then my subaru made in indiana is not as well assembled and trouble free as my chevy assembled in mexico.

Is 'handmade' as good as 'factory made'? Depends on the person vs the factory doesn't it? I could handmake a guitar...you'd probably not be able to play it!

Now if it makes YOU feel better, WANT to play more or enables YOU to play better (cause it fits you) then YES, it's worth more TO YOU. My son played a beautiful fender mustang special at GC over the weekend. I LOVED it...he didn't. $799.
I like my $99 used ibby 200 better than a $600 fender jazz I played. I love my dean ($269 in it) but then I loved the Rik at the store (used $1800). I don't like stingrays at all.

And no matter the price of the instrument it won't make me play any better.

 

[hrodbert696]

It doesn't really mean anything because you can't quantify quality, but they way I think of it is that, on average, every time you double the price you get a 10% boost in quality. Yes, expensive basses are nicer than cheap ones, by and large. Is a $1200 bass TWICE as good as a $600 one? No, I'd expect it to be 10% better - but you often can't get that 10% boost without paying the extra price.

And having said that - the things that people like or dislike a bass are, in the end, generally matters of personal preference. One of my basses is a Yamaha BB415, they originally sold for something like $500 new, my mother got it for me on sale when they were phasing out the model for $300. I also have a custom John Toon bass I bought used for $800 and a Carvin I bought new for about $1200. Objectively, I couldn't really say the Yamaha is any less of a bass than the Carvin or the Toon. It's just different.

 

[Rebopmass]

Perfect definitionof cheap vs expensive. I bought a Spector Rebop from a guy for 225 dollars. Bass Iis in mint condition swapped out the tone pump pre in it for a Korean 9V spector preamp. Bass kicks serious butt and has a deep low end not found Iin many Spectors. I also have a Euro with tone pump and up graded emgs in it. The Rebop blows it out of the water. Hence why the tone pump is coming out of my Euro for a hazlab pre.

it's all about what works for you tone wise. I think the Korean pre amps Iin the ns2000 series work awesome with emg hzs. Had a few pro players try Iit an they loved the sound of the Rebop.

basically I paid 275 for a killer bass II'd put up against 1500 dollar basses without giving it a thought. It's all about what works for u and what tone u want . Long winded but you can find deals and what not on upper end basses then tailor them to ur needs. I should point out I also got my euro for dirt cheap too. Find what u like and look for deals they are out there.

 

[Major Softie]

It doesn't really mean anything because you can't quantify quality, but they way I think of it is that, on average, every time you double the price you get a 10% boost in quality.

I think the diminishing returns accelerate faster than that. The difference in "quality" between a $350 bass and a $700 bass is much greater than the difference between a $2500 bass and a $5000 bass.

 

[georgestrings]

, but you can buy a Squire and put better hardware and electronics in it and have it professionally tuned and setup (or, better yet, do that work yourself if it's within your skill set), and end up with a significantly better playing instrument than an equivalent American Fender and only have spent 1/2 to 3/4 as much money.

I've seen similar claims, and IME, it's simply not true...


- georgestrings

 

[Mechanical]

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.

Bzzt. Thanks for playing. We have nice parting gifts.

1. Price does not equal quality when it comes to automobiles, for example. Witness all the paint defects in historic Ferraris, and fires in 458 Italias. A 110,000$ Nissan GTR laps faster around the Top Gear track than a Bugatti Veyron Supersport. The Nissan is built in a hermetically sealed factory with special tolerances for their handbuilt engines.

2. Name professional players don't pay for their basses. They're endorsers.

3. I bet you couldn't tell the difference 5 out of 10 between a Fender, a Squier Jazz based upon a blind test. I bet 99% of us can't.

The exit is to the left. I hear the accordions play nicely.

 

[hrodbert696]

I think the diminishing returns accelerate faster than that. The difference in "quality" between a $350 bass and a $700 bass is much greater than the difference between a $2500 bass and a $5000 bass.

Mmm, and how about a $10,000 bass? Probably the model goes out the window completely once we get beyond $2000 or something.

I think I once even put together a comparative cost/quality index, something like this...

Price - Quality index
$100 - 100
$200 - 110
$400 - 121
$800 - 133
$1600 - 146
$3200 - 160

Meaning that, yes, your $3200 bass will probably be noticeably "better," one way or another, than your $100 SX - 60% better, not 3200% better.

Again, not that you can quantify quality or that any of this really means anything - just a way of conceptualizing it.

 

[georgestrings]

You have to wade through a hundred MIA Fenders to find a good one, just like you have to wade through a hundred MIM Fenders to find a good one.

Again, IME - that's not true, either...


- georgestrings

 

[Khronic]

Hi, I know that my last post was "which bass should I upgrade to". But I think the term of what I've doing is G.A.S.ing and it made me think, fenders look amazing but so do epiphones, and squiers and they are all better then my current bass, aswell as the fact they cost a lot less then the high-priced counter-part So is the quality/sound really worth the price? Is the price proportionate to quality/sound of the bass eg. will an epiphone sound as good as a Gibson?

Yes and no. When yes the proportion is not linear; the higher you go on the price ladder the closer are the rungs of difference.

 

[headband]

Reminds me of buying a boat. All different kinds and sizes, from john boats to yachts. Boats can be pretty plain, and although expensive within the reach of the average guy, or they can be outrageously expensive. Some people can't afford the expensive ones, some can. Some that can don't think they are worth it, and some love them and buy them. Value is defined by the consumer, and I would say that a sufficient number of consumers see the value - if not these basses (and boats) wouldn't be made.
Now I have been a boater and a bass player for a long time. I don't own a dingy, but I don't own a yacht, either. I could probably afford a more expensive boat, but it is not worth the extra money for what I would get (to me). Two more feet long? Don't need it. Corian counters? Don't need 'em. That is just the kind of consumer I am. Someone else's perceived value will be different. That is what marketing departments are all about - figuring out what you will pay extra for.