Expensive vs inexpensive basses

[Blaze Barlow]

yeah..how would you distinguish between..lets say..a fender jazz bass that costs $1329..and a boutique bass..lets say..an elrick jazz bass for $2985..would the difference in money justify the purchase of either..both are nice..neither are cheap..just as different as a chevy or a jaguar..

 

[Acoop]

Allow me bring you up to speed. A lot has happened in the bass world since the 1950's. There are actually more basses out there than just the Fender Precision and Jazz bass. Those other basses are capable of many different things that the Precision and Jazz aren't capable of. Just doing my best to educate and inform.

Carry on.

On these basses, from which you speak, can you find a G on the 5th. fret?

 

[Acoop]

Though, just the other day I sat down to try on of these Fender 'Elite' models and I was impressed. ... Nicely made and impressive aray of electronics. ... But, I mainly stayed in the passive mod to get a better feel of the instrument itself. ... Not cheap, by any means, but, very nice. ... Just in case this poster ever plans to move up.

 

[scuzzy]

On these basses, from which you speak, can you find a G on the 5th. fret?

i didn't have a certain model or string count in mind, but I was alluding to most every other bass 4 string +, so I would say...yes, if tuned in a manner that would allow it.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

There is a G here too I'm sure.

 

[bassbenj]

.

On these basses, from which you speak, can you find a G on the 5th. fret?

Odd. I have a number of basses both expensive and cheap upon which I cannot find G on ANY fret like you can on my Fender Jazz. That would be because they have no frets.

 

[bassbenj]

There is more to what makes a bass cheap or expensive than just fit, finish, materials, yada yada.

What I"m getting at is the MARKET determines the price. If a bass is rare the price may go up if people want it. Vintage basses for example. Odd basses for example. I wanted a (doubled) 10 string and for a while Dean made this nice inexpensive one. But then they stopped (before I bought one ) and now if you want one you have to go talk to Jerzy Drozd or Pedulla or someone of that price range. And the difference is basically market. And the same goes for the LOOK of basses. People whine about the cost of a Ritter saying a bass is just wood, metal, and wire so how can his prices be justified. Well, it's simple. A Picasso is nothing but some paint on a cheap piece of canvas. OK? There are things that some people do that other people value. And when people with money want to own them it drives the price up. And if nobody cares the price goes down. This effect has little to do with the various factors that went into making it.

 

[trickyric]

I like shiny things

 

[TheCouchBassist]

I would be very much interested in hearing this man's views on brand snobbery.

View attachment 3072909

M. M.

Looks MIM to me

 

[trickyric]

Looks MIM to me

what the heck is that?

 

[Iofflight]

It's a Ritter Bass. The Jupiter to be exact.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

what the heck is that?

Invalid Link Removed

Ritter Jupiter

 

[Bassist Jay]

I've played both high end and low end basses in my day and I have to say I'm getting a pretty good sound and feel out of some less costly basses . The latest addition to my arsenal is a very inexpensive bass . An Ibanez GSR200SM . My wife bought this for me for Xmas a couple of years ago . I don't know what she paid for it . I think it was a "Stupid deal of the day" from Musicians Friend . She said she liked the way it looked . So did I for that matter . After disabling that crappy active PhatII EQ (The pickups are actually passive) it's turning out to be a very good bass . The construction is solid and it feels and sounds great . I find myself using it more often than my other 4s . Furthermore , it came out of the box completely set up . The action and the intonation were on the mark . So you can keep your Foderas , Alembics , etc . I'm happy .

There are some pretty decent inexpensive basses out there. The Made in Mexico Fender’s are pretty good, Ibanez Soundgear basses are really nice for the money, in my opinion. Even though they aren’t made anymore, in 1990, I bought an Epiphone by Gibson Accubass. Brand new they only sold for $199.99. They had some really nice features that are not typically found on inexpensive basses. It had a string through body and matching head stock.

With high end basses, I have also owned quite a few of those too. I think the biggest thing with them is the quality control is much better and more consistent. The woods used are nicer and the pickups and hardware are higher quality. With that being said, if a person takes care of an instrument, there is no reason why even an inexpensive bass can’t last several decades.

 

[bassbenj]

It's a Ritter Bass. The Jupiter to be exact.

I love brand snobbery.
I own a Modulus Q6!
Neener, neener, neener!

 

[TheCouchBassist]

what the heck is that?

I was joking that it was a Made in Mexico Ritter.

 

[BadWithNames]

I love brand snobbery.
I own a Modulus Q6!
Neener, neener, neener!

I *also* own a Q6. Are we equally cool? Or will the price tag determine which bass is the better one?

Does my Q4 count? Or do I need to hack another two strings on there?

 

[fingerbun]

There is more to what makes a bass cheap or expensive than just fit, finish, materials, yada yada.

What I"m getting at is the MARKET determines the price. If a bass is rare the price may go up if people want it. Vintage basses for example. Odd basses for example. I wanted a (doubled) 10 string and for a while Dean made this nice inexpensive one. But then they stopped (before I bought one ) and now if you want one you have to go talk to Jerzy Drozd or Pedulla or someone of that price range. And the difference is basically market. And the same goes for the LOOK of basses. People whine about the cost of a Ritter saying a bass is just wood, metal, and wire so how can his prices be justified. Well, it's simple. A Picasso is nothing but some paint on a cheap piece of canvas. OK? There are things that some people do that other people value. And when people with money want to own them it drives the price up. And if nobody cares the price goes down. This effect has little to do with the various factors that went into making it.

All true, and reinforces that price alone is not a perfect guide to quality.

 

[fingerbun]

Allow me bring you up to speed. A lot has happened in the bass world since the 1950's. There are actually more basses out there than just the Fender Precision and Jazz bass. Those other basses are capable of many different things that the Precision and Jazz aren't capable of. Just doing my best to educate and inform.

Carry on.

Absolutely. They are far more capable of losing you a gig if you turn up with them, for one.

Pass the popcorn please.

 

[kesslari]

@Moderators, could we just maybe have ONE thread about how great or lousy cheap basses are and how expensive basses are more awesome or just awful?
And new threads that start could just be tacked on to that one?
Title could be "Cheap or Expensive Basses - there can be only ONE! (Thread)."

 

[trickyric]

I was joking that it was a Made in Mexico Ritter.

I've never seen one before. Looks more like art than an instrument. How do they play?