''legitimately wonder if I'm even worth it'... Yes, that's a nice dose of reality out into the discussion, there... Very few of us have bottomless funds, I should imagine.
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Expensive vs inexpensive basses
- Thread starter TKnights
- Start date
Play what feels good, what sounds good and most importantly, what you like!
Hi.
My first bass was one of those GSR thingies. A nearby fm station was received very effectively through it. Copper shielding and improved grounding silenced that, but nothing could male up for the rubbery neck. Buh-bye.
I even more quickly unloaded a brand new Rickenbacker that was absolute heaven to hold, admire, and play. Even strung with LaBella DTB's, it lacked oomph in the bottom. So, buh-bye.
My fave right now is, believe it or not, a Chinese SX , modded beyond recognition, and the tone kills.
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Wow...very interesting posts! All I can say is that my Sadowsky RV4 Metro was the best $1850 i have ever spent. I would not trade it for anything. I wish someone would return the 1976 Fender pbass they stole from me...that was the best 300 dollar gift my pop ever gave me.
I believe it depends on the situation. For live music I really enjoy a nice Mexican, Korean or Indonesian instrument. They sound and play incredibly for their costs, but when recording or composing, a better instrument inspires and fits better in the overall tone of the composition. I love my Warwick’s and high end Fenders but it wouldn’t be very smart to take them out for pocket change.
I've had a cheap Ibanez I used for practice/bangaround, it was perfectly playable and sounded good too. I have the highest end Ibanez premium series as my main six string and I like it better than my Fodera or any of my other boutique basses. For less than two grand it's hard to beat Ibanez and ESP. My favorite four string is a modified ESP 35inch scale that only cost me about 700 plus a few hundred for Aguilar pups. Throwing a lot of money at something doesn't always get you a better bass
Save your money buy the bass you love you will be happy long time
Maybe this was said earlier - but what are the boundaries that define an inexpensive bass vs expensive? Is inexpensive being under 1K, $500, $100? Anything above that mark is 'expensive'? I am seeing more an more instruments on Reverb, etc whose price points are between 3K and 5K now. Also, an important point is do you put more cash into your instrument or your amp/cab? That is whole different thread. But - at the Chicago Bass Players Get Together we put some Sire and MIM basses through the Arnopol cabs and they sounded fantastic!
Now I regret having sent back this bass. Same dynamic range and growl as a Fodera. Maybe I'll order back a 4 string one and see if I'm lucky.
I personally believe that once you reach a certain mid-grade level of quality, it's mostly taste that guides your purchase.
Modern manufacturing has advanced to the point where you can get a pretty decent piece of carved wood with frets for relatively little money. Fit and finish is generally acceptable on all but the cheapest crap. The biggest difference I see is in the rest of the hardware. Tuners may be flimsy, electronics substandard, etc. And of course where it's made. I tend to buy USA, although not exclusively. I've seen some Indonesian basses that played very well, although I wasn't blown away by their sound.
If I had a limited amount of money to spend and intended to play live, I'd probably put the bulk of the money into the amp and seek a decent, used player bass. I know that's heretical around here, but man playing with a band through a bad amp sucks.
Modern manufacturing has advanced to the point where you can get a pretty decent piece of carved wood with frets for relatively little money. Fit and finish is generally acceptable on all but the cheapest crap. The biggest difference I see is in the rest of the hardware. Tuners may be flimsy, electronics substandard, etc. And of course where it's made. I tend to buy USA, although not exclusively. I've seen some Indonesian basses that played very well, although I wasn't blown away by their sound.
If I had a limited amount of money to spend and intended to play live, I'd probably put the bulk of the money into the amp and seek a decent, used player bass. I know that's heretical around here, but man playing with a band through a bad amp sucks.
Its good you are happy but Im nit sure that applies to all people. I have a Pedulla, and Ibanez, and an Alembic. All three are very good basses that would make any player happy. But still there is a pecking order..
I would put the Pedulla (second most expensive of the three at a little over 3 grand) third. Very nice bass but it does get bested by the other two.
Second would be the Ibanez, least expensive at around $1700. On that one I did replace the stock electronics with an EMG package which was a nice upgrade in sound. Its equal to the pedulla in sound but for ergonomic comfort and playability its handling is noticably better.
The best is the Alembic. It was certainly pricy at $7800 in 1998 but its paid well for itself for how I have never looked back or wanted for another instrument since that day. It blows away the others in every category. Its sensitivity is extremely high which as long as I have my technique together I can get very expressive playing and my right hand is an effective effects unit. The only warning I would give to anyone is that if you do not have your technique down perfectly an Alembic WILL expose you. They are not forgiving.
So you are correct that higher price does not always mean the instrument will be better for you (key phrase “for you”, the most important factor for any bass is how well it serves specifically its owner). But still those very top end bases do have their elite status for a reason.
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Here's my 2 cents after reading every post on this thread. (is there a reward for this?)
My first bass when I first started playing in high school was a cheap Ibanez copy of a gibson EB-1.
I almost fell over when I handed it to the more experienced player in our jazz band and he completely ripped it up on it.
How did he do that I remember thinking?
I was also studying stand up bass at the time, using a beginners bass, and was making pretty good progress and I was on the Ibanez too, but when trying to play fast, advanced lines, I could never get it to happen on the Ibanez.
After getting interested in funk, fusion, progressive rock, tapping, etc, I started playing every bass that I could get my hands on in every music store I could get to.
The main difference between my Ibanez and the better basses was build quality and the ability to play without as much force in my fingers.
I wound up selling off everything I owned and cleared out my bank account to buy a used Alembic Series One.
At that point everything changed for me technique-wise.
After a while, (a long while), I played without as much finger pressure, and could play faster, more expressively, and could slap, tap, and play with floating thumb technique.
The "better" instrument helped get me there, just as professional string players look for the instrument that allows them full expression and to maximize their technique.
The kicker here is that now that I have a technique, I can pick up a more inexpensive instrument and still play it like I want to because the technique is in my fingers more than it's on the instrument.
In fact I picked up a used, 24 fret, SDGR Ibanez at guitar center for $99, that someone swapped out the active pickups for passive ones, and the bass has GREAT action.
I can rip on it as I can with my Alembic and tap and everything else.
That said, I'm glad that I played the Alembic in my formative years as I believe, from personal experience, that a well built instrument that you practice on seriously can get you to play better.
Now it also certainly depends on the kind of music you want to make.
But if I'm going to be playing something technically demanding from both an endurance, finger stretch, and speed standpoint, I'll take the better built instrument every time.
I had a chat with the guys at Westwood music once who had set up a bass for Jaco and the strings were crazy high, but right for Jaco.
I bought a standup from a very accomplished bassist who told me that I played it better than he did, because it was a better fit for me.
He was, of course, the better player.
IMHO the ultimate answer to the OP's question is, it's not the instrument that's more expensive, it's the instrument that's best built for you that allows you to play your best and maximize your technique and continue to build on it.
Just my 2 cents...
My first bass when I first started playing in high school was a cheap Ibanez copy of a gibson EB-1.
I almost fell over when I handed it to the more experienced player in our jazz band and he completely ripped it up on it.
How did he do that I remember thinking?
I was also studying stand up bass at the time, using a beginners bass, and was making pretty good progress and I was on the Ibanez too, but when trying to play fast, advanced lines, I could never get it to happen on the Ibanez.
After getting interested in funk, fusion, progressive rock, tapping, etc, I started playing every bass that I could get my hands on in every music store I could get to.
The main difference between my Ibanez and the better basses was build quality and the ability to play without as much force in my fingers.
I wound up selling off everything I owned and cleared out my bank account to buy a used Alembic Series One.
At that point everything changed for me technique-wise.
After a while, (a long while), I played without as much finger pressure, and could play faster, more expressively, and could slap, tap, and play with floating thumb technique.
The "better" instrument helped get me there, just as professional string players look for the instrument that allows them full expression and to maximize their technique.
The kicker here is that now that I have a technique, I can pick up a more inexpensive instrument and still play it like I want to because the technique is in my fingers more than it's on the instrument.
In fact I picked up a used, 24 fret, SDGR Ibanez at guitar center for $99, that someone swapped out the active pickups for passive ones, and the bass has GREAT action.
I can rip on it as I can with my Alembic and tap and everything else.
That said, I'm glad that I played the Alembic in my formative years as I believe, from personal experience, that a well built instrument that you practice on seriously can get you to play better.
Now it also certainly depends on the kind of music you want to make.
But if I'm going to be playing something technically demanding from both an endurance, finger stretch, and speed standpoint, I'll take the better built instrument every time.
I had a chat with the guys at Westwood music once who had set up a bass for Jaco and the strings were crazy high, but right for Jaco.
I bought a standup from a very accomplished bassist who told me that I played it better than he did, because it was a better fit for me.
He was, of course, the better player.
IMHO the ultimate answer to the OP's question is, it's not the instrument that's more expensive, it's the instrument that's best built for you that allows you to play your best and maximize your technique and continue to build on it.
Just my 2 cents...
I played a Mitchell FB 700 at the store and loved it. Pondered it for a while and finally pulled the trigger. It's been a few months now and my P that cost more than double has been sitting in it's case ever since.
Wow!. Back in the day, boutique instruments had some things that mass produced basses didn't. Like i.e laminated woodwork, massive bridges, high end preamps and pickups. Much of that is now available on medium range mass produced instruments, (https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-TRBX6...e=UTF8&qid=1531323417&sr=8-1&keywords=trbx605) and now boutique instruments are going nuts, with luxury details, truly exotic over the top woodwork, etc. Is nice to have a gig worthy bass for $700, and if you happen to have a beautiful boutique instrument, you can give it a rest on some rehearsals and annual neighbor reunion gigs using the cheaper bass.
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Owning a handful of basses ranging from $200 to $1,200, I can say that I have each for a very specific reason, and have situations where I would prefer them. As far as the instruments go, all have great setups, and all play a bit differently. I wouldn't say any of them are easier or harder to play than others, just different. My Ibanez Sr1305e, the $1,200 instrument, I prefer for when I'm in a very professional setting, like musical pit orchestras. It plays like butter, and has incredible tonal flexibility. My Yamaha TRBX174 was dirt cheap, and with a few upgrades (EMG Pups, High Mass Bridge, Tusq Nut, Flat Wounds), it's able to create some incredibly stinky PJ bass tones unlike anything I've heard before, and I prefer it over any of my other basses when I need that sound. It may not be like playing my Ibanez, but it plays like I intended it to, and I love it. I make the best of the tools I've been given, and have never felt I truly would have benefited from having a more expensive instrument to do anything.
Now, amps on the other hand, I feel slightly differently about, but that's not what this thread is for, so I will keep it to myself.
Edit: Added pic of the Yamaha because I think its cool and feel like sharing.
Now, amps on the other hand, I feel slightly differently about, but that's not what this thread is for, so I will keep it to myself.
Edit: Added pic of the Yamaha because I think its cool and feel like sharing.
I often ask myself.... would I prefer one really nice Sadowsky, or three G&Ls? And the answer is always the same... “yes”.
Cool. I love my Ibanez SR250 (my first bass), but hate the fact that the battery goes dead frequently. I also love my new Fender P Bass which is so much easier not having to deal with the battery. You have me wondering if I can disable the EQ somehow and make it passive... Any info you can provide would be greatly appreciated! I have only been playing for a little over a year, so I am on a very steep learning curve! Thanks!
I own to basses, a 5 & a 4. I rarely pick up either because I don't play in a band ( as I did 40 years ago)
Fact of the matter I don't even remember how I became a member of this forum.
But these emails pop up routinely and I rarely go into the forum - with the exception of today.
(BTW, I have a $2000 Fender J Bass and a $160 SK from Rondo Music....but who cares?)
I thought, except for the last sentence, TKnights posted an interesting experience and insightful thoughts.
Now to the reason for this post.....with a number of decent exceptions, there were a surprising number of
rude, smart-ass replies. I know many bass players and I doubt any of them say would things like many folks did to a guy just making an observation. So it's been discussed before...you don't have to read it.
And I've never heard anyone use the term "reverse-snobbery". That was a treasure.
Well crap, that was a waste of 15 minutes. Damned ADHD.
Fact of the matter I don't even remember how I became a member of this forum.
But these emails pop up routinely and I rarely go into the forum - with the exception of today.
(BTW, I have a $2000 Fender J Bass and a $160 SK from Rondo Music....but who cares?)
I thought, except for the last sentence, TKnights posted an interesting experience and insightful thoughts.
Now to the reason for this post.....with a number of decent exceptions, there were a surprising number of
rude, smart-ass replies. I know many bass players and I doubt any of them say would things like many folks did to a guy just making an observation. So it's been discussed before...you don't have to read it.
And I've never heard anyone use the term "reverse-snobbery". That was a treasure.
Well crap, that was a waste of 15 minutes. Damned ADHD.
