Expensive basses - any point?

[DeanT]

You're going on the assumption that the retail cost of a bass equals its quality and sound. With most high-end bass's, the large price tag is due to the company's marketing, cost of materials and costs of labor -- all things that have little to do with the bass's sound.

Sure a Sadowsky is put together better/more carefully and uses more expensive parts than an SX. But both basses achieve their sound the same way -- using pickups and electronics.

The real question is, how much does it cost to produce an SX vs a Sadowsky? That would be total cost, from drawing board to getting the bass into the stores. That's the majority of the price tag.

 

[lamarjones]

But personally, I can hear the Warwick woody tone and the cleanness of a Fender Jazz being slapped, but is there really any difference in quality of tone/sound that you get from expensive basses like Musicman, Ken Smith etc?

Straight up, if you hear the warwick tone in a fender jazz, you don't need to distinguish anything past playing what you have. Those tones are very far apart, if you have no reason to differentiate, great.

I have different uses for the growl or a stingray or warwick, the thick aggressive tone of my t-brid, the very nice crisp tone of a jazz, the thump of a P, the near upright sounds of a rob allen, and the all around different tone of an upright.

i dont' assume everyone can make use of all those sounds properly.

 

[Rocky McDougall]

For many years I enjoyed the pleasure of wearing a fine Rolex watch. It fed my ego, felt warm on the wrist, and made me look successful. I had a Timex watch that was more accurate and reliable but I really liked the "Feel" of the Rolex. I just had a really sweet tone.

 

[Rafterman]

interesting topic, i'm glad to see no one 'rich' is getting offended. I owned a Peavey Cirrus 5 USA for 5 years before it got stolen. It took me forever to save up for a new bass, so i went and tried out a bunch of basses recently. I tried a Lakland, a Czech Spector, MM, and basically everything over $1k (cuz $1500 was my budget) I tried out the Ocean TB75 and wow...with that kind of quality in build, tone, and hardware...i paid $487 OTD and still had $1k to spend on an amp...a $300 dollar 100 watt amp Acoustic B100...and still had money left over....but yea anything over $2k, you're basically paying for everything else aside from tone, with some exceptions of course! Shoot i wish i had that kind of money.........

 

[LarryO]

JUST my opinion......in terms of quality you get what you pay for but only up to a certain point.....after that it's about newer technology, more options, custom and or unique features....etc.... BUT, If we were all blind I think we would spend less on gear.

 

[Greyvagabond]

When talking about "recording", I'd have to agree that even the biggest tone-snob would have trouble telling a MIM P bass from a $2k custom job P bass, especially considering most (home) recording is done at 16 bit/96kHz resolution, then further compressed down to an MP3. However, live....you could probably tell.

 

[Rickett Customs]

When talking about "recording", I'd have to agree that even the biggest tone-snob would have trouble telling a MIM P bass from a $2k custom job P bass, especially considering most (home) recording is done at 16 bit/96kHz resolution, then further compressed down to an MP3. However, live....you could probably tell.

I think the speak is about tone, not just frequency response. And yes, there may be some differences to people
who know what they're listening for, perhaps not everyone will, but if you know, well then, you know.
However, If it was the case of recording direct............ without starting this thread in another direction, there will be several other factors, Amp,Mics,DI's fingers etc, when it comes to a recording reference.

 

[RickenBoogie]

Bass prices range from the very inexpensive to the absolute other end in expensiveness. Everyone's needs , and bank accounts are different. Anyone can own a bass. Anyone can own a car. Some people can afford the upper end of both, there's no reason for that to change. Each of us should focus on our playing/driving skills more, and spend less time comparing what other people are playing/driving. I'm quite happy with a trio of basses that land in the "medium" price range, $1000-$2000, but wouldn't turn my nose up to a bass that cost more, or less than that. It's all relative.

 

[fullrangebass]

IMHO "high-end" is up to the point that any price difference results to an improvement in tone, playability and ergonomics. Any cent spent that will not result an improvement in those areas registers under "boutique" for me. It's just my point of view based on my well-spent-hard-earned money

 

[Toasted]

Well, they give me something to spend my money on. I guess that's kind-of-a-point?

 

[Scottgun]

I've always wondered because it seems that the whole boutique vs. cheap/mass-produced/etc seems to be unique to bass in general. Sure, there are boutique guitars to be had, but few guitarists, pros included, thinks twice about sticking to off-the-rack axes. Why is that? Is it just harder to make a really good bass? Is it boredom? Geekyness?

 

[sotjian]

I'd be curious to hear someone speak about durability. I play at home for fun. I don't tour but if I was play 200+ a year would I benefit from a higher priced bass? A bass that was built to be solid and has more expensive components that won't rust or fall apart in a month. I love the Squier Jazz fretless but would you tour the states w/ one?

 

[stoob]

Due to the OP question....Stoob,Have you played all the instruments (listed), or own any of them to make a positive assumption yet? (You did not fill out your profile with any of your own instruments)

That's because I am currently waiting for my Warwick to turn up which the shop says that is still in the production line!

My question is that I love woody sounding Warwick basses, virtually everything I hear on albums that are by other basses sound pretty much the same, such as Victor Wootons, there isn't any distinctive tone to them imho, Marcus Miller has a distinctive tone even though I don't like it, but the Fender Jazz is quite cheap (I know obviously MM's ain't).

I've played around with some and higher priced guitars are more solid but the tone isn't all that. Saying that I just heard Reggie Parker, gospel bassist for Hezekiahs Walker band, using a Rudy Pensa which is really tasty. I've seen many people play with Music Man and Bongos but I have never been over impressed, am I right or totally wrong?

 

[spade2you]

If the bass of your dreams doesn't exist in production form, sometimes you gotta find someone willing to make it happen and pony up the dough.

 

[Rickett Customs]

That's because I am currently waiting for my Warwick to turn up which the shop says that is still in the production line!

My question is that I love woody sounding Warwick basses, virtually everything I hear on albums that are by other basses sound pretty much the same, such as Victor Wootons, there isn't any distinctive tone to them imho, Marcus Miller has a distinctive tone even though I don't like it, but the Fender Jazz is quite cheap (I know obviously MM's ain't).

I've played around with some and higher priced guitars are more solid but the tone isn't all that. Saying that I just heard Reggie Parker, gospel bassist for Hezekiahs Walker band, using a Rudy Pensa which is really tasty. I've seen many people play with Music Man and Bongos but I have never been over impressed, am I right or totally wrong?

No, you're not wrong (I thinks it may be the sound that "floats your boat", more than anything), but me thinks this has to do with honing in your sense of listening for particular bass tones, most basses have their own sound signature. Not all basses are going to be 100% distinguishable 100% of the time, but you will have a good idea when you know what you're listening for.

 

[kesslari]

Expensive cars...
Expensive whiskey...
Expensive clothes...

Any point?

 

[Groovin]

I'm going to get flamed for this but:

What a stupid question.

To all the communists out there that think we should all wear burlap and live in cinderblock huts and play squier P basses:

We live in free economy that allows various markets to expand to fill the demand of the various buyers in it. The low end for you socialist minimalists, and the 100k Ritter Royal Flora Aurum for the rich.

 

[Rickett Customs]

I'm going to get flamed for this but:

What a stupid question.

To all the communists out there that think we should all wear burlap and live in cinderblock huts and play squier P basses:

We live in free economy that allows various markets to expand to fill the demand of the various buyers in it. The low end for you socialist minimalists, and the 100k Ritter Royal Flora Aurum for the rich.

Whoa, man.....No need to do that :scowl:
This is a prime example of why threads get closed and infractions get handed out.

Why don't you try less adjectives, i haven't seen anyone on this thread go to the fender extreme, don't you think some of your post is a little uncalled for? . There is a such thing as co-existance

 

[spade2you]

I'm going to get flamed for this but:

What a stupid question.

To all the communists out there that think we should all wear burlap and live in cinderblock huts and play squier P basses:

We live in free economy that allows various markets to expand to fill the demand of the various buyers in it. The low end for you socialist minimalists, and the 100k Ritter Royal Flora Aurum for the rich.

Quiet you, or else you vill go to Siberia. Now eat your borscht.

 

[Flintc]

few guitarists, pros included, thinks twice about sticking to off-the-rack axes. Why is that? Is it just harder to make a really good bass? Is it boredom? Geekyness?

Basses are far more variable than guitars. Unlike guitars, you have a choice of anywhere from 1 to (I've seen) 15 strings, scale lengths vary maybe 10 inches, fretless is common and fan-frets are options, etc. With guitars, you have about 1" scale length variation, always 6 strings always (except classical) with the same string spacing.

The upshot is, no single maker of basses can cover everything fairly commonly found across the range of basses, without making them custom to order. That costs. In guitarland, you make a decent-quality Strat-copy, and you're done.