Expensive vs inexpensive basses

[Maxdusty]

It can be interpreted as the OP is flipping the bird at those with high end basses.

I don't know, I see his post as more of a surprise he found an inexpensive bass that satisfied him and that bit about the Fodera and Alembic owners was his sense of humor with the acknowledgement of the reputation and quality of those brands have. At least I see it that way.

Thanks, Jeff. I'm not divining his intent, it could be seen in more ways than some can apparently imagine.

That I agree with - we can misinterpret the post and intention without any kind of clarification by the OP. I really don't think he intended any ill-will towards anyone- that's just my take on it.

 

[Brad Johnson]

You know, I read the original post a few times and the way I interpret it, I really don't believe he's criticizing anyone with an expensive bass, he's simply stating that he found an inexpensive bass he can live with and doesn't have to resort to buying a more expensive bass to be satisfied.
"So you can keep your Foderas , Alembics , etc . I'm happy ". I read this as, Foderas and Alembics are his benchmark of high quality and expectations, but he's happy enough with what he has. How does that in any way put down Fodera and Alembic owners? Heck he even mentioned his dissatisfaction with the stock configuration of his inexpensive bass with this statement "After disabling that crappy active PhatII EQ (The pickups are actually passive) it's turning out to be a very good bass."
.

Did I say he was criticizing anyone? Nope. Did I say he was putting anyone down? Nope. What I did was point out that the guy who is complaining about how angry I am about my nice gear and that people with nice gear go into cheap gear threads and the converse doesn't happen is completely full of hot air. The OP wrote what I quoted, no Alembic or Fodera owners came here starting something as the other guy wrongly contends. And apparently he didn't bother to read the thread title either. Who is making a comparison?

That is why this is hilarious.

 

[Brad Johnson]

These kind of threads does seem to be getting a little old to me, but when that is said it still surprises me how many people will still continue chiming in on them just to wave their "I am feeling butt-hurt that someone get great enjoyment out of their cheap budget basses when I have to pay 2000$+ for mine just to be able to allow myself to feel the same level of satisfaction" flag.

Which, thinking about it, is probably the sole reason why people feel the need to make these kind of threads over and over again in the first place.

This might be my favorite in this series. The sole reason why people feel the need to make these kind of threads over and over again, which in this case is a thread started by an inexpensive bass owner, is what again?

Apparently angry people chiming in is the reason why the OP started this according to this guy.

 

[JohnArnson]

Did I say he was criticizing anyone? Nope. Did I say he was putting anyone down? Nope. What I did was point out that the guy who is complaining about how angry I am about my gear and that people with nice gear go into cheap gear threads and the converse doesn't happen is completely full of hot air. The OP wrote what I quoted, no Alembic or Fodera owners came here starting something as the other guy wrongly contends. And apparently he didn't bother to read the thread title either. Who is making a comparison?

That is why this is hilarious.

As you just said yourself, you would have no reason to feel offended by OP's comment, yet it appears as if it indeed stroke you the wrong way, judging from your other comments in this thread.

The only examples you referred to that allegedly was supposed to justify your harsh comments seemed to me to just being people stating that for them their cheap budget bass was as good as any high end bass, however that is not putting high end instruments down or people who prefer those, still yet you claimed this to be a clear sign of being envy and as being ridiculous enough not to admit it, and that just doesn't add up.

That some people have other preferences than you should not be interpreted as a personal offence or attack on you, if all they really do is to state those preferences, and it certainly doesn't entitle you to ridicule them.

Sometimes our own mirror image escapes our attention, happens for everyone, I certainly can't say I am always aware of the full picture behind my motives, in fact I rarely am, and that is unfortunately a perfectly normal quirk that comes with the human condition.

Sometimes it even seems retrospectively as if I deliberately, yet not fully consciously at that given point, have avoided my own reflection.

It's hard if not even impossible to see things 100% objectively, and sometimes we have reasons, consciously or not, to not even at least doing an attempt.

It's easy for me to see that you obviously got some issues, and I am fully aware that I am nowhere even remotely close to not having any flaws myself either, believe me I got tons, and probably more than I am willing to admit too.

I might have exaggerated on your issues and made some fairly wild assumptions in my previous responses to you in this thread, but it just strikes me as really odd why you would feel this need to patronize people who happens to get all they want in a budget bass and ridicule their choices without having some kind of reason, and what I wrote in those previous comments was the best reason I could come up with, genuinely puzzled and I guess perhaps a little too eager to let you have a taste of your own medicine.

This might be my favorite in this series. The sole reason why people feel the need to make these kind of threads over and over again, which in this case is a thread started by an inexpensive bass owner, is what again?

Apparently angry people chiming in is the reason why the OP started this according to this guy.

See, again you are making wrong assumptions and taking them for facts, and then using those misconceptions to justify your ridiculing and patronizing responses, which I've noted is a recurrent theme of your posts in this thread.

What I meant with that was that since some people seems to be convinced that cheap budget instruments still can be great instruments, which I don't disagree with, but other people continuously, and often in a quite patronizing and aggressive manner, categorically deny that there possibly can be any truth to that, it is only natural to make attempts on convincing them otherwise by giving actual real examples.

If people weren't so aggressively offensive against even just the thought that a budget bass can in fact still be a great instrument, and didn't write off the people actually coming with real examples that proves this as fools that doesn't know what they are talking about, no one would feel the need to keep trying to convince them otherwise.

Just as you, if in a considerably more aggressive manner than usual is the case with the OP in these kind of threads, that really just tries to prove their point by giving examples, usually without really offending anyone, is very eager to get your point through, as am I, as is most people really.

The only thing that I guess remotely could be seen as absurd here, though not really funny, tragic rather, in my opinion, is you insisting on interpreting just about everything in the absolute worst possible way and then use those misinterpretations as indisputable given facts.

 

[mika77270]

Well, it's a natural belief to think the expensive things are better than the cheaper. That's a fantasy. Everybody think a BMW or a Mercedes is quality cars but they are not even in the top 10 of most reliable cars. I owned more than 40 basses from 50 bucs to 2000 bucs and there is absolutely zéro trend based on the Price i've paid. Sole cheap basses were woodfire others were absolute keepers. Same for the expensive one, actually in all honesty the two worst bass ever i've own were a fender Roger water pbass 800 euros, and a Wild custom High end handmade french bass (1600 euros) . The best basses i own are and from a Big margin, a classic Vibe 60 pbass first gen (390 euros new) a musicman sub usa ( 600 euros new) 2 ATK , and a cheap SX jazz bass 1 st gen. Either for the quality of assembly, paintjob, fret but also for the sound. Thèse days when 99% of the basses are manifactured in indonesia , in jawa timur cortek facility who works for squier, sire, lakland, sterling, Yamaha,Ibanez etc , every wood dried in hoven , the same employée, well the only différence is charge Book and quality control. Then you paid for a nice decal on your headstock, that's it.

 

[spade2you]

This might be my favorite in this series. The sole reason why people feel the need to make these kind of threads over and over again, which in this case is a thread started by an inexpensive bass owner, is what again?

Apparently angry people chiming in is the reason why the OP started this according to this guy.

One thing never changes. Angry dude with chip on his shoulder is able to recruit plenty of guys in the same mindset.

 

[JohnArnson]

One thing never changes. Angry dude with chip on his shoulder is able to recruit plenty of guys in the same mindset.

Yeah, well, the post you quote Brad Johnson for there is based on a complete, I suspect even deliberate, misunderstanding of the post by me he refers to in it.

Here's my response to that, explaining what I meant by saying that the fact that these kind of threads keep popping up might actually be a consequence of similar threads always being bombarded with often quite aggressive and patronizing responses from people who for some reason don't like the thought of a cheap budget bass actually turning out to be a great instrument:

What I meant with that was that since some people seems to be convinced that cheap budget instruments still can be great instruments, which I don't disagree with, but other people continuously, and often in a quite patronizing and aggressive manner, categorically deny that there possibly can be any truth to that, it is only natural to make attempts on convincing them otherwise by giving actual real examples.

If people weren't so aggressively offensive against even just the thought that a budget bass can in fact still be a great instrument, and didn't write off the people actually coming with real examples that proves this as fools that doesn't know what they are talking about, no one would feel the need to keep trying to convince them otherwise.

 

[squarepeg]

Hey, I have a cheap bass, a medium-priced bass and an expensive bass, and I enjoy playing them all. Please don't hate me!

 

[JohnArnson]

Hey, I have a cheap bass, a medium-priced bass and an expensive bass, and I enjoy playing them all. Please don't hate me!

Your kind is the absolutely worst of all the scum of Earth, checks all the scum boxes from every possible scum angle in existence, you despicable bass-tard.

 

[squarepeg]

Your kind is the worst of all the scum of Earth, checks all the scum boxes from every possible scum angle in existence, you despicable bass-tard.

I knew it. Sob.

 

[dabbler]

And farther down the rabbit hole you go.


You seem to be ignoring the context of my original comment. And now you're saying that you can buy basses at reduced prices in several price range and that "Either way, you are losing the same percent off original price".

How? That makes no sense.

I agree it makes no sense, but only in context. I do believe that the percentage losses selling used are closer than people want to admit.

But what that means is, if they both lose 20 percent I could buy a $1,000 bass and lose $200 when I sell it, or I could buy a $200 bass and lose $40 when I sell it. Guess which one I choose?

I really don't care what others buy, different strokes for different folks. But I agree that discussions about which bass is "better" or even which is a "better value" are moot. What feels good, sounds good or looks good to me is for me... and all of that is subjective. Unless 2 people have the same tastes, hand sizes and playing techniques opinions will not match

Same goes for how much a person needs or wants to pay to get a bass that they are happy with... different strokes for different folks!

 

[Oleg BassPlayer]

I've gone from cheap beginner's basses to MIM Jazz bass as of now. The latter is the most expensive instrument I've ever had so far and also the best one. To a certain point, bigger price usually means better materials, better fretwork, finish, hardware and quality control/consistency. I suspect that when you reach a certain limit further price increase pays off less and less. There are exceptions, but they only confirm the rule.

Upgraded instruments is another story. After you replace pickups, tuners, bridge, do shielding and sand frets on a cheap bass it may feel much better. Or it may not. Anyway, after a thorough upgrade it's cost increases, so it's not the same stock ax.

 

[Brad Johnson]

I agree it makes no sense, but only in context. I do believe that the percentage losses selling used are closer than people want to admit.

But what that means is, if they both lose 20 percent I could buy a $1,000 bass and lose $200 when I sell it, or I could buy a $200 bass and lose $40 when I sell it. Guess which one I choose?

I really don't care what others buy, different strokes for different folks. But I agree that discussions about which bass is "better" or even which is a "better value" are moot. What feels good, sounds good or looks good to me is for me... and all of that is subjective. Unless 2 people have the same tastes, hand sizes and playing techniques opinions will not match

Same goes for how much a person needs or wants to pay to get a bass that they are happy with... different strokes for different folks!

Context seems to be the enemy in this thread.

What do you lose if you keep the bass?

 

[Brad Johnson]

One thing never changes. Angry dude with chip on his shoulder is able to recruit plenty of guys in the same mindset.

I see a new gold standard at work. Sad.

 

[Brad Johnson]

As you just said yourself, you would have no reason to feel offended by OP's comment, yet it appears as if it indeed stroke you the wrong way, judging from your other comments in this thread.

The only examples you referred to that allegedly was supposed to justify your harsh comments seemed to me to just being people stating that for them their cheap budget bass was as good as any high end bass, however that is not putting high end instruments down or people who prefer those, still yet you claimed this to be a clear sign of being envy and as being ridiculous enough not to admit it, and that just doesn't add up.

That some people have other preferences than you should not be interpreted as a personal offence or attack on you, if all they really do is to state those preferences, and it certainly doesn't entitle you to ridicule them.

Sometimes our own mirror image escapes our attention, happens for everyone, I certainly can't say I am always aware of the full picture behind my motives, in fact I rarely am, and that is unfortunately a perfectly normal quirk that comes with the human condition.

Sometimes it even seems retrospectively as if I deliberately, yet not fully consciously at that given point, have avoided my own reflection.

It's hard if not even impossible to see things 100% objectively, and sometimes we have reasons, consciously or not, to not even at least doing an attempt.

It's easy for me to see that you obviously got some issues, and I am fully aware that I am nowhere even remotely close to not having any flaws myself either, believe me I got tons, and probably more than I am willing to admit too.

I might have exaggerated on your issues and made some fairly wild assumptions in my previous responses to you in this thread, but it just strikes me as really odd why you would feel this need to patronize people who happens to get all they want in a budget bass and ridicule their choices without having some kind of reason, and what I wrote in those previous comments was the best reason I could come up with, genuinely puzzled and I guess perhaps a little too eager to let you have a taste of your own medicine.



See, again you are making wrong assumptions and taking them for facts, and then using those misconceptions to justify your ridiculing and patronizing responses, which I've noted is a recurrent theme of your posts in this thread.

What I meant with that was that since some people seems to be convinced that cheap budget instruments still can be great instruments, which I don't disagree with, but other people continuously, and often in a quite patronizing and aggressive manner, categorically deny that there possibly can be any truth to that, it is only natural to make attempts on convincing them otherwise by giving actual real examples.

If people weren't so aggressively offensive against even just the thought that a budget bass can in fact still be a great instrument, and didn't write off the people actually coming with real examples that proves this as fools that doesn't know what they are talking about, no one would feel the need to keep trying to convince them otherwise.

Just as you, if in a considerably more aggressive manner than usual is the case with the OP in these kind of threads, that really just tries to prove their point by giving examples, usually without really offending anyone, is very eager to get your point through, as am I, as is most people really.

The only thing that I guess remotely could be seen as absurd here, though not really funny, tragic rather, in my opinion, is you insisting on interpreting just about everything in the absolute worst possible way and then use those misinterpretations as indisputable given facts.

Issues? Holy crap.

 

[JohnArnson]

Issues? Holy crap.

Yes, issues, we all got a whole bunch, always easier to spot other people's than you own, and if you are of the conception that you are any different in those regards you are even more conceit and ignorant than I would have guessed, but at least that would explain a thing or two about the general attitude you display in most of your posts in this thread.

Have a nice life, hope you get better soon.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Yes, issues, we all got a whole bunch, always easier to spot other people's than you own, and if you are of the conception that you are any different in those regards you are even more conceit and ignorant than I would have guessed, but at least that would explain a thing or two about the general attitude you display in most of your posts in this thread.

Have a nice life, hope you get better soon.

Thanks.


Still cheaper than cable.

 

[MordBass]

Well, it's a natural belief to think the expensive things are better than the cheaper. That's a fantasy. Everybody think a BMW or a Mercedes is quality cars but they are not even in the top 10 of most reliable cars. I owned more than 40 basses from 50 bucs to 2000 bucs and there is absolutely zéro trend based on the Price i've paid. Sole cheap basses were woodfire others were absolute keepers. Same for the expensive one, actually in all honesty the two worst bass ever i've own were a fender Roger water pbass 800 euros, and a Wild custom High end handmade french bass (1600 euros) . The best basses i own are and from a Big margin, a classic Vibe 60 pbass first gen (390 euros new) a musicman sub usa ( 600 euros new) 2 ATK , and a cheap SX jazz bass 1 st gen. Either for the quality of assembly, paintjob, fret but also for the sound. Thèse days when 99% of the basses are manifactured in indonesia , in jawa timur cortek facility who works for squier, sire, lakland, sterling, Yamaha,Ibanez etc , every wood dried in hoven , the same employée, well the only différence is charge Book and quality control. Then you paid for a nice decal on your headstock, that's it.

While your comparison is certainly true, its not the whole picture since reliability is only part of the ownership equation.
Go take a 335ci out for a spirited drive on a frontage rd and you'll understand. From the feel of the seat, to the tolerances on the interior build... the feel of the wheel... the way that it handles like it weighs nothing while riding like it weights a million pounds.

Same goes for instruments.

FWIW I would never buy a german car. lol

 

[buldog5151bass]

Well, it's a natural belief to think the expensive things are better than the cheaper. That's a fantasy. Everybody think a BMW or a Mercedes is quality cars but they are not even in the top 10 of most reliable cars. I owned more than 40 basses from 50 bucs to 2000 bucs and there is absolutely zéro trend based on the Price i've paid. Sole cheap basses were woodfire others were absolute keepers. Same for the expensive one, actually in all honesty the two worst bass ever i've own were a fender Roger water pbass 800 euros, and a Wild custom High end handmade french bass (1600 euros) . The best basses i own are and from a Big margin, a classic Vibe 60 pbass first gen (390 euros new) a musicman sub usa ( 600 euros new) 2 ATK , and a cheap SX jazz bass 1 st gen. Either for the quality of assembly, paintjob, fret but also for the sound. Thèse days when 99% of the basses are manifactured in indonesia , in jawa timur cortek facility who works for squier, sire, lakland, sterling, Yamaha,Ibanez etc , every wood dried in hoven , the same employée, well the only différence is charge Book and quality control. Then you paid for a nice decal on your headstock, that's it.

Reliability is hardly the reason most people buy cars like BMWs or Mercedes. They are more powerful, more comfortable, more luxurious, and have more toys. It's comparable to getting a fancy wood top on a bass, or more expensive pickups. A better comparison would be a Toyota Yaris to a Camry.