Does price = quality/sound

[georgestrings]

Fender and Spector are different companies in almost every possible way: Fender was the first electric bass manufacturer and started two decades before Spector did (which made them the standard by default, there are likely 10x more pro Fender players than all other brands), Fender is now a huge corporation whereas Spector is still runs like a small business (Stuart and a couple other guys still hand-make every US build), their designs and tones are literally nothing alike, etc.

Comparing them really serves no purpose at all, especially considering both brands offer everything from budget to boutique models, aside from starting a 'my-dad-can-beat-up-your-dad' contest

Tell that to the person who brought it up...


- georgestrings

 

[MDBass]

Back to the OP's original question, the answer is definitely yes, but only up to a certain price point.

To continue using Spector as an example, does a $2000 Euro4-LX sound, feel, and play 5x better than a $400 Performer? Yes, absolutely.

Does a $5000 NS-2 sound, feel, and play 2.5x better than the Euro? No. Maybe 25% better.

There are also plenty of touring pros who use the cheaper Korean basses as their main players instead of the more expensive Czech and USA stuff.

The bottom still is play what feels good in your hands and sounds good to your ears, and don't worry about where is was made or what it says on the headstock

 

[LouieLouie16]

Fender and Spector are different companies in almost every possible way: Fender was the first electric bass manufacturer and started two decades before Spector did (which made them the standard by default, there are likely 10x more pro Fender players than all other brands), Fender is now a huge corporation whereas Spector is still runs like a small business (Stuart and a couple other guys still hand-make every US build), their designs and tones are literally nothing alike, etc.



Comparing them really serves no purpose at all, especially considering both brands offer everything from budget to boutique models, aside from starting a 'my-dad-can-beat-up-your-dad' contest

I was comparing their quality control and the actual value of the instrument. I don't care if there's 10x more players, pick up 5 usa jazz standards they all sound different and you're lucky if one of them is actually a decent bass. You're also playing for a high quality finish on the Spector. My point being that you're money goes a long way buying a Spector euro compared to a usa fender. IMHO the fender is not worth the $1200 price tag at all.

An even better example is usa G&L vs usa fender. Both started by the same guy but g&l craps all over fender, concerning build quality and g&l offers more at the same price as the fender.

 

[LouieLouie16]

Back to the OP's original question, the answer is definitely yes, but only up to a certain price point.

To continue using Spector as an example, does a $2000 Euro4-LX sound, feel, and play 5x better than a $400 Performer? Yes, absolutely.

Does a $5000 NS-2 sound, feel, and play 2.5x better than the Euro? No. Maybe 25% better.

There are also plenty of touring pros who use the cheaper Korean basses as their main players instead of the more expensive Czech and USA stuff.

The bottom still is play what feels good in your hands and sounds good to your ears, and don't worry about where is was made or what it says on the headstock

The euros and the usa basses all use the same necks. That's why there's not much of a difference but better finishes on the top woods.

 

[MDBass]

The euros and the usa basses all use the same necks. That's why there's not much of a difference but better finishes on the top woods.

I know, I've been a Spector artist for a few years

 

[smcd]

pick up 5 usa jazz standards they all sound different and you're lucky if one of them is actually a decent bass.

In my experience, pick up 5 USA Jazz Standards and you'll find 5 of them will be a decent bass. I haven't seen a new Fender in years that wasn't well made. Where are you shopping?

Your outlook is a bit extreme. It does seem as if you have a chip on your shoulder against Fender.

 

[topo morto]

That is the definition of bad quality right there....excessive variation.
Point proven.

I meant stock pickups on some models need improving, some don't. You would expect variation across different models.

 

[hsech]

I was comparing their quality control and the actual value of the instrument. I don't care if there's 10x more players, pick up 5 usa jazz standards they all sound different and you're lucky if one of them is actually a decent bass. You're also playing for a high quality finish on the Spector. My point being that you're money goes a long way buying a Spector euro compared to a usa fender. IMHO the fender is not worth the $1200 price tag at all.

An even better example is usa G&L vs usa fender. Both started by the same guy but g&l craps all over fender, concerning build quality and g&l offers more at the same price as the fender.

You keep on buying your Spector basses, but leave my Fender American basses alone. Quit comparing apples and oranges. I could reverse your statement and say that four out of five Spector basses aren't as good as my Fender American bass. See how broad statements work? I could also say that no matter what your Spector Euro cost, it isn't worth it.

 

[I am Soma]

I was comparing their quality control and the actual value of the instrument. I don't care if there's 10x more players, pick up 5 usa jazz standards they all sound different and you're lucky if one of them is actually a decent bass. You're also playing for a high quality finish on the Spector. My point being that you're money goes a long way buying a Spector euro compared to a usa fender. IMHO the fender is not worth the $1200 price tag at all.

An even better example is usa G&L vs usa fender. Both started by the same guy but g&l craps all over fender, concerning build quality and g&l offers more at the same price as the fender.

No. Dumb.

 

[hsech]

I was comparing their quality control and the actual value of the instrument. I don't care if there's 10x more players, pick up 5 usa jazz standards they all sound different and you're lucky if one of them is actually a decent bass. You're also playing for a high quality finish on the Spector. My point being that you're money goes a long way buying a Spector euro compared to a usa fender. IMHO the fender is not worth the $1200 price tag at all.

An even better example is usa G&L vs usa fender. Both started by the same guy but g&l craps all over fender, concerning build quality and g&l offers more at the same price as the fender.

If your profile was filled out we could see if you now own or have owned in the past any Fender bass guitars you are putting down. As it stands now without that information you are just talking through your azz.

 

[hsech]

True, but epiphone is much closer to Gibson quality than squire is. I've got an all hog, plek'd epi explorer that plays and sounds as good as if not better than most Gibson's ive played, and I'm picky about that. My Gibson buddy's were kind of bummed, and one has been on me to sell it to him. On the other hand ill take a beating if I ever sell it, vs a not as well playing us guitar strictly on the name. But that's how it goes.

What part of "In My Opinion" was misunderstood? Some Epis may be close in the eyes of the owner, but still no cigar. That is why opinions are such a wonderful thing. Don't get me wrong. In a previous life when I played guitar I owned an Epi Sheraton and loved it.

 

[topo morto]

Is this a serious question? I ask because anyone with just a tiny bit of experience in the consumer world knows the answer.

How are basses different from anything you can buy? Hint: it's a rhetorical question, and they're not.

Not all products obey the same "rules". Think of all the various costs a manufacturer has to bear : raw materials , the manufacturing process , the design process, intellectual property licensing, labour and transport costs , marketing / branding, advertising... For every product the breakdown of costs is different, as is the effect of each component on the performance of the product. There are then all sorts of other things that affect price - trends and fashion... the characteristics of the new and second hand sales avenues for the product... the economy and population demographics...


Basses are different from everything you can buy because everything is different to everything else you can buy.

 

[topo morto]

If your profile was filled out we could see if you now own or have owned in the past any Fender bass guitars you are putting down.

Why would he have bought them if he thought they were garbage?

 

[hsech]

For the record I just want to say that fenders in general are over priced. Especially for how unreliable their quality control is. This goes from MIA all the way to squier. My point being, there's a huge difference between the name fender and the name spector(for example).

I get it. You like Spector and think it is the best. Good for you. A lot of other folks like Fender and think they are the best. No opinions will be changed by hating on Fender and tooting your Spector horn. Enjoy your Spector and rock on.

 

[hsech]

Why would he have bought them if he thought they were garbage?

For the same reason I think his Spector is garbage. BTW, not taking the time to fill out a simple profile shows laziness.

 

[therhodeo]

Fender and Gibson both skate by on their name. Epi's and Squiers aren't any better than Gibsons or Fenders but for the most part they're not worse and for the price its really not a comparison. I would love to start tomorrow as Gibson's QC guy and get paid by the number of instruments I'd reject. And yes I've owned all of them except squiers (and played quite a number of them). Some basses and some 6 strings. If you're dead set on getting the best instrument for you I'd put cost and brand out of my head (most psychology says thats not possible but we'll pretend), go play every bass you can get your hands on, and let that decide. You might be surprised at what you find.

 

[MDBass]

Perhaps it would be a good idea to stick to posting responses related to the OP's original query, instead of letting the thread devolve into an embarrassing mud-slinging contest

 

[georgestrings]

I was comparing their quality control and the actual value of the instrument. I don't care if there's 10x more players, pick up 5 usa jazz standards they all sound different and you're lucky if one of them is actually a decent bass. You're also playing for a high quality finish on the Spector. My point being that you're money goes a long way buying a Spector euro compared to a usa fender. IMHO the fender is not worth the $1200 price tag at all.

An even better example is usa G&L vs usa fender. Both started by the same guy but g&l craps all over fender, concerning build quality and g&l offers more at the same price as the fender.

Dude, you don't know what you're talking about - get out of your mom's basement once in a while...


- georgestrings

 

[hsech]

Fender and Gibson both skate by on their name? Are you serious?

 

[Discharge]

wow this thread has really decended into muddy useless crap from being something quite interesting

a bit like the tone you get out of an ampeg..... *runs*