Ignorant questions about, and/or disparaging others' equipment choice/musical taste/wardrobe/religious beleifs/lack thereof/ethnicity/noobness/string count/fretted/fretless/tube/SS- WHAT IS THE POINT? 
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Expensive basses - any point?
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Ignorant questions about, and/or disparaging others' equipment choice/musical taste/wardrobe/religious beleifs/lack thereof/ethnicity/noobness/string count/fretted/fretless/tube/SS- WHAT IS THE POINT?
Then we wouldnt need Talkbass would we? 
There are a lot of reasons and considerations in buying an expensive bass. Many of them do play noticeably "better" than manufactured instruments and most basses have a sound that is unique to the finely tuned ear.
Additionally, there is a certain build quality, both structual and aesthetic that you get with an "expensive bass".
I have a few expensive basses and a few cheapies. I love them all. The question that I would ask is, "Do you get a lockstep increase in quality".
My opinion is that with basses, like wine, there is a very slippery slope in that after a certain price point, you pay a lot more money for a little more improvement. Some of the cost drivers to consider:
-Cost of labor. It is much more expensive for human beings to build a bass from scratch in a first work country because they have to pay their bills, eat and save up for retirement and college for their kids.
-Cost of materials. Custom builders buy finer woods in smaller quantities so there are costlier components going into your bass.
-Time. With minimal automation, there is less output from the "factory" but similar fixed costs to running a mass production plant (rent, payroll, equipment, etc) so that has to be priced in to the offering.
-Marketing. Let's face it, an expensive bass is in some ways as much a statement as is buying an expensive car or watch. So there is a certain amount of psychological pricing that is factored in as well.
Personally, while I love my Fodera dearly and it was my only bass when I was a practicing musician, I would never dream of gigging it again, given all the other players I have. It has just become too expensive to replace. But I cannot bear to part with it either.
Just some thoughts to consider.
Additionally, there is a certain build quality, both structual and aesthetic that you get with an "expensive bass".
I have a few expensive basses and a few cheapies. I love them all. The question that I would ask is, "Do you get a lockstep increase in quality".
My opinion is that with basses, like wine, there is a very slippery slope in that after a certain price point, you pay a lot more money for a little more improvement. Some of the cost drivers to consider:
-Cost of labor. It is much more expensive for human beings to build a bass from scratch in a first work country because they have to pay their bills, eat and save up for retirement and college for their kids.
-Cost of materials. Custom builders buy finer woods in smaller quantities so there are costlier components going into your bass.
-Time. With minimal automation, there is less output from the "factory" but similar fixed costs to running a mass production plant (rent, payroll, equipment, etc) so that has to be priced in to the offering.
-Marketing. Let's face it, an expensive bass is in some ways as much a statement as is buying an expensive car or watch. So there is a certain amount of psychological pricing that is factored in as well.
Personally, while I love my Fodera dearly and it was my only bass when I was a practicing musician, I would never dream of gigging it again, given all the other players I have. It has just become too expensive to replace. But I cannot bear to part with it either.
Just some thoughts to consider.
Mr. Pope, you are a wise man. All of your posts in this thread are spot on and very 'eye opening.' I'm glad that there are fellows like yourself who are pushing, not only music itself, but also the tools with which we use to perform it.
I'll repeat myself and echo others. With apologies to true artists (I'm simply a hobbyist), basses share many similarities with other consumer goods like watches, pens, cars, and clothes. People buy what pleases them, for whatever reason or emotion they choose. More expensive items may be better, lesser or equal to cheaper ones, but worth (aka value) is in the mind of the purchaser. There is no moral imperative or nobility associated with playing a cheap bass, nor does playing a Ritter make one a better or worse player. Finally, we humans tend to draw irrational moral lines relative to ourselves. For example, I recycle my trash, compost, and vote based largely on environmental issues. It would be tempting to assert that those who don't recycle, drive and don't vote similarly are "bad". That's silly. If that were true, my neighbor who does all that I do and uses only public transit would be good, and I'd be "bad". If you play a 500 dollar base and thumb your nose at those who play a 3K boutique instrument, why shouldn't the dude pounding the used SX look down at YOU? There's no logic to any of it, although much of it smells like sour grapes to me. When I sling my Elrick, it puts a grin on my face......worth every penny.
- Apr 24, 2004
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- Disclosures
- Designer Fodera Guitars/Michael Pope Design, Inc., Trickfish Amplification
Right on! If you're a hobbyist and you find something appealing in a particular bass you can afford, buy it! By all means! I love BMW's and I won't own anything else. A Camry will get me to the same place and I won't have to work on it nearly as much, but I don't WANT a Camry and I can afford the used bimmer as long as I do my own work. It's just what I want to do. If you're learning the bass and you can afford a nice ax, you should have it. Why not?
Just a side note, as a "hobbyist" I don't feel it's fair to have my musical ability judged because I have a different day job. Certain geographic regions don't support musicians very well and that's where I happen to live. Teaching or working in a music store all week and playing shows all weekend might get ya paid about the same as a teacher, minus healthcare, PTO, and retirement benefits. Obviously my playing would be better if I had the luxury of practicing bass on the job, but I still manage alright.
No?
And isn't that what's really important?
No?
- Apr 24, 2004
- 1,359
- 53
- Disclosures
- Designer Fodera Guitars/Michael Pope Design, Inc., Trickfish Amplification
Well hopefully no one is belittling being a hobbyist. And IMO just because you have a day job to pay the bills, you're not necessarily a "hobbyist". If you take your playing seriously and strive to the best of your ability to learn and grow and improve, you're more than a hobbyist in my book.
Not in this thread (yet?), but sometimes it happens here. I get annoyed with most boutique threads when brands like Fodera are considered "doctor/lawyer" basses that get dusted and polished more than they're played.
If you step back and consider the source... it should be good for a chuckle at the worst. Probably someone who wishes they could have one to dust and polish... so be nice.
we have a winner...
I've heard very expensive basses played very badly... and very cheap basses played well... and I know what I prefer...
I'm working my way up... my Squier VMJ is excellent for my blues playing and I'm having great fun with my two Tanglewoods...
Of course I'm not dissing hobbyists. I consider myself one. I simply meant that one needn't have wild chops to enjoy a great or expensive instrument. I'm a player who began at 39, 6 years ago, and can devote no more than 60-90 minutes per day to it. That does not reduce my enjoyment of a great instrument (or rig, for that matter), or my right to buy what I want and can afford. I didn't steal the bass from some poor player who is now left with a ruler and 4 rubber bands because of my heinous act. In fact, believe it or not, I helped keep the cost of a boutique bass down and supported a great luthier. Heck, if someone wants to buy a dozen Ritters and hang them on the wall as decorations, there is NO harm or shame in that, either. I don't believe there is a LOGICAL reason to diss anyone because of the instrument he/she chooses to play (unless he stole it); there are only childish, illogical reasons for doing so.
I prefer an expensive bass in the hands of a great player (eg Antony Jackson and Mike Pope on a Fodera, Lee Sklar on a Dingwall etc)
Whenever I have a gig, I never talk about my day Job. I want to be judged as a bass player, not as a hobbyist and my equipment allows just that
That's assuming that everyone who owns an expensive bass doesn't know how to play it. It's almost as if people want the guy with the nice bass to play bad so that they can wax on and on about how much better they are, and they don't need an expensive bass to prove it.
The point, though, is that there are alot of great players out there making great music on great basses. It's irresponsible to entirely dismiss a whole world of basses based solely on their price.
I play full time and own a Pedulla, I don't think expensive basses are "doctor/lawyer" basses. As a full time player I wouldn't want a cheap bass, sorry, they don't work for me. I've never had a problem with my bass in the studio, live, or in any situation. It sounds and plays better than any inexpensive bass I've looked at (and yes I consider Fenders cheap).
Truth be told I think people need to buy what they want, stop seeking justification, and play MUSIC! Has everyone forgotten about music?
Truth be told I think people need to buy what they want, stop seeking justification, and play MUSIC! Has everyone forgotten about music?
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