Dollar Value

[lastnotleast]

What do you get when you spend allot of money on a bass contasted with a less expensive one?
I am perfecrly happy with my Yamaha BBN5s for which only paid $100.00 and $200.00 respectively.
My question is sincere and I admit ingorance in this matter but am confident that I will receive some (mostly) helpul feedback here.

 

[TolerancEJ]

You are the ultimate judge of your own sound. If you like what you hear, that's all that counts. I have always held the belief that one person's sound is 80% the musician / 10% the instrument / 10% the amplification. Imagine Victor Wooten could pick up a Hondo and make it sing.

 

[AudioDwebe]

Better woods, better electronics, better craftsmanship, better name recognition. Better bass? Not necessarily.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

There are tons of of posts here about the $200 Squier that someone liked better the their $4000 custom build.

 

[bassbully]

This is to me one of the most misunderstood issues a bass player can face. Overall the cost of a bass means nothing if it plays, feels and sounds good. Some can get "their sound" by spending little money others need to go large to find it. The guys who say they need little to get "their sound" will never agree with those who spend more and vice versa.

In the end its your money and your sound. Only you can say how much money you need to spend to get it. As for myself a decent/average bass player in a weekend warrior band its not allot.

I have spent almost 2k on a bass in the past but in time have found for me its just not needed for my level of skill and needs. Today my basses are $200 or less.

 

[lastnotleast]

I have always held the belief that one person's sound is 80% the musician / 10% the instrument / 10% the amplification.

This is what I thought so couldn't agree with you more.
The bass choice was easy (I'm Scots-Irish AND Presbyterian) and the older, sealed Acoustic speaker cabs was easy (uh, for the same reason).
I have spent too much money on different amps but chalk it up to having only played bass (in a band) for a couple years or so.
I needed more volume/head room and agression. Started with an Acoustic B200H, then a GK BL600 (love the silky tone), then a Hartke HA4000.
Finally (?) settled on a Hartke LH500 and a Carvin BX500 which is an amazingly agressive little amp for under 6 lbs.

 

[TolerancEJ]

This is what I thought so ouldn't agree with you more.
I have spent too much money on differnt amps but chalk it up to having only played bass (in a band) for a couple years or so.
I needed more volume/head roon and agression so have finally settled on a Hartke LH500 and a Carvin BX500 which is an amazingly agressive little amp for under 6 lbs.

While I collected more pieces in recent years, my main bass had been my 20-year old Ibanez SR885 for pretty much all of my music-life. I had always received compliments on the sound in both live and recording situations.

 

[lastnotleast]

My transition bass was an Ibanez ErgoDyne 4 string. Perfect for guitar player to start because of the narrow neck.
Found the first Yami BBN5 on CL for $100.00. Took a while to make that transition but, once I did, I sold the Ibanez to get the other Yami BBN5.

 

[A-Step-Towards]

I can gig and I have gigged with a Squier Classic Vibe exclusively for months or a 80s Ibanez Roadstar. However since I have the extra cash to put into gear I rather buy nicer instruments used, take care of them and then when I sell them I recoup my inital purchase price, to me all I am doing is renting my used gear, I care for it and likely only loose money on 1 out of 10 basses I sell. The difference between my roadstar and a USA Fender is less then 1% IMO, neither is better then the other and a roadstar is 50-70% less used.

 

[Deleted member 269102]

Better woods, better electronics, better craftsmanship, better name recognition. Better bass? Not necessarily.

There are tons of of posts here about the $200 Squier that someone liked better the their $4000 custom build.

Quoting both of these for truth. It comes down to how a particular instrument sounds/feels/plays to YOU. The name on the headstock should be irrelevant

/I used to be a gear snob, but I got better.
//My attitude that is. My playing... not so much

 

[bassbully]

Another thing. In most cases the only person who gives a rats crap about what you paid for a bass or your equipment is you yourself.

 

[lastnotleast]

Yeah but wouldn't I look cool with a stereo Rick like Randy Meisner?

 

[tedious1]

Another thing. In most cases the only person who gives a rats crap about what you paid for a bass or your equipment is you yourself.

Well, generally the seller gives a rats crap too... Although with the price tags on most boutique basses, capybara crap might be more accurate...

 

[lfmn16]

I would suggest you try the search engine because this is argued at least every two weeks. Yes Victor could make a rubber band nailed to a broom handle sound good but most of us aren't Victor and we can use all the help we can get. If someone thinks their $200 Squier sounds as good as their $4,000 custom, either they got screwed on the custom or they have wooden ears. Not that Squiers aren't fine instruments, but some people get carried away with the hyperbole.

In the end the only question that matters is can YOU tell a difference.

 

[DavC]

life is not about other people opinions ... been there , done that ... be happy and thankful for what you have ...... more expensive toys won't make you better ... !!

 

[StayLow]

If you're "perfectly happy" then you'll gain nothing other than perhaps a bit of reliability in setup or quieter operation, and online bragging rights, all arguably also inconsequential if you're "perfectly happy".

If you are not perfectly happy and you spend more, you still might gain nothing or not much vs. money spent.

Practice and lessons ... HUGE gains in playability, tone, etc. on any instrument.

 

[spaz21387]

I used to be all about cheaper basses till I got my musicman. the jump from a sub ray 4 to a 3 band stingray is a big one. the electronics are way better and meaner sounding. the fretwork is perfect. really all you get is better QC and over all a better sounding instrument. but if you can get by with a cheap bass go for it. I bet your wallet thanks you... mine isn't happy haha

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Well, one man's trash is another man's treasure, or so they say.

My expectations/requirements have increased over the years, so what passes as "good" to me now costs more than it it did 20 years ago - no shock there.

That said, there's always a point of diminishing returns. For me, that's right around $1700. Anything more than that and the bass better wash my car and feed my cat too!

 

[ColonelZulu]

Vaaaaaast difference between high end basses and most entry level/bargain type basses that I've owned.

Nothing in the sub $1k level can touch a Wal, Fodera, or Ken Smith for the responsiveness and voice. Same hands, amp, speakers. So there must be some difference.

Now, if I preferred thuddy, buzzy, or twangy basses, and a good set up and reliability weren't important to me, then I guess the extra dough wouldn't be worth it.

I play better when I feel the response of the bass to my playing.

 

[hsech]

The difference is you get what you want. I like more expensive basses if I can afford them. If you like lower priced basses then that is the way to go for you. When I buy a higher end bass, I look at electronics, fit and finish, frets, neck and resale. Resale value is important to me, but may not be to others.