Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Higher end production bass vs 'entry' level custom.
- Thread starter nonohmic
- Start date
It's funny that that line is blurring now though, right. For example... this is getting super high praise, and has some amazing options. Yet it's 'mass produced' in Indonesia. Strandberg Boden Bass Prog 4 - Brown
I originally had a preorder down on a new Ibanez headless, but the QC issues coming out scared me off.
I would never buy an instrument I could not easily sell. (just in case)
I understand why some folks might not like the looks of the G&L bridge, but it is excellent for palm muting, so it works extremely well for me. I do think its design could be improved, but in general it's a great bridge.
Given that must boutique makers do not wind their own pickups, mill their own bridges and hardware, or build their own preamps, there is no real difference in quality between lower end boutique and a nicer factory bass. Both will probably be using Bartolini, Nordstrand, or Aguilar pickups and preamps, they will all use Hipshot for the tuners and bridge. Both will probably use CNC to carve the bodies and necks.
Last edited:
$1399 - $1899 is the price point right now for a fairly broad selection of high quality production instruments. A few examples:
As some have mentioned, the more upscale you go, the harder resale gets. I look in the classifieds right now and see a lot of people trying to sell their boutique one of a kind basses at the $3000 and above price point. In normal times it takes a long time to sell those because the buyer pool is so much smaller. Right now it could take forever to sell one. All the brands I mention above (plus many I didn't) are much easier to sell if you want or need to.
If I had to recommend a single bass available new under $2000, it would be a Lakland Skyline Darryl Jones. It's a great passive J-type bass, excellent and consistent components and build quality, slightly downsized body (I think Fender J bodies are too big), sounds like a jazz bass should, and you could use it in any project or on any gig. I think they are $1399 for the five-string, leaving you with a few bucks to invest in a drop-in preamp if you really feel you need one.
- A Lakland Skyline (any of several models spanning modern and traditional tones)
- A USA Fender Precision or Jazz
- A Sadowsky Metro
- A USA G&L L-2000 or L-2500
- Certain Sandberg models
As some have mentioned, the more upscale you go, the harder resale gets. I look in the classifieds right now and see a lot of people trying to sell their boutique one of a kind basses at the $3000 and above price point. In normal times it takes a long time to sell those because the buyer pool is so much smaller. Right now it could take forever to sell one. All the brands I mention above (plus many I didn't) are much easier to sell if you want or need to.
If I had to recommend a single bass available new under $2000, it would be a Lakland Skyline Darryl Jones. It's a great passive J-type bass, excellent and consistent components and build quality, slightly downsized body (I think Fender J bodies are too big), sounds like a jazz bass should, and you could use it in any project or on any gig. I think they are $1399 for the five-string, leaving you with a few bucks to invest in a drop-in preamp if you really feel you need one.
My current basses have cost me 60 dollars to 3K......Speaking only for myself, the boutique thing was a flavor and, once I satisfied the taste, it was no longer an important criteria for myself......
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,350
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
It will all depend on what you're looking at. I have a couple 'high end customs' by a certain bass luthier...and at some point I decided that they were too valuable to take on the road even with full insurance (I'd become sentimentally attached to the one that I was on the road with)...so I 'replaced' those with the same maker's off-shore production basses (Also like your budget, in the 2K range) after having a conversation with him about it. I found that not only is the playability not a sacrifice, but the tone and dependability are still there too. In fact, some of the people in the band like the cheaper ones' tone in the live setting better than the uber-custom ones.
The trade offs can be less hand-work if that means something to you (those curves may not be quite as curvy due to less hand-sanding, etc., few if any customization options, there may be some economization in places like hardware (or not). Many of the higher echelon of 'production' basses which are made over-seas still get attention by the 'home office' before being sold. That's the hands-on QC, the setup, etc.
Do you know what you'd want in a custom bass? I think that's the biggest dilemma for most players looking to go that route.
I'd only go custom if what I wanted wasn't available by other means, and I know exactly what I like. There are just too many what/ifs. If I didn't like the custom I'd likely either lose a bunch on the sale or have a hard time selling it to begin with. What I like isn't necessarily what others like.
I'd only go custom if what I wanted wasn't available by other means, and I know exactly what I like. There are just too many what/ifs. If I didn't like the custom I'd likely either lose a bunch on the sale or have a hard time selling it to begin with. What I like isn't necessarily what others like.
You could buy something that comes close in feel second hand and mod it or get a luthier to mod it to what you want. EG Squire P bass body bright pink with 20mm fluro green dots all over it, Warmoth Jazz neck, EMG Geezer P pickup, MM bridge pickup routed in the right spot & a 2 band MM preamp on the rear to go with it. A little 50s style humbucker at the base of the neck. 3 volumes and a tone pot for the two passive pups. I just made that up so it might be awful actually.
But think like a person building a hot rod - ending up with something you love that’s unique but could be pretty cheap.
But think like a person building a hot rod - ending up with something you love that’s unique but could be pretty cheap.
I am curious about that squiggly line before the $2k! Can that go up to 2.5k? You raise an interesting point. The price range is unique. My experience tells me you can't go wrong with a Sadowsky or a Roscoe bass as I have kept both in my search for "the" Bass. I wish I had your dilemma. I would save up and try an F bass! Love the look.........
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
IMO few people need custom specs. Also, the more a bass is customized, the tougher it is to sell.
@nonohmic you need to determine what you want in a bass first. For me, it's a thin front to back P width neck, 4 strings (but with extender on E string) 4 string bass, with a satin finished neck, and passive electronics. What's on your list? Are there any production basses that check all your boxes?
@nonohmic you need to determine what you want in a bass first. For me, it's a thin front to back P width neck, 4 strings (but with extender on E string) 4 string bass, with a satin finished neck, and passive electronics. What's on your list? Are there any production basses that check all your boxes?
Check in your area for luthiers and builders. I would bet that you could find one through networking that can provide you custom shop level attention to detail for the price range you are looking at.
I've commissioned 3 basses and purchased 1 complete bass from my local luthier. His prices are half that of most Custom Shop Fenders (i.e. in your price range) and they are certainly worth every penny. Here is a post of the complete bass he had built that I couldnt live without. Peter Jogo Build - Aqua Jazz
In fact, Pete is constantly producing new basses. He has at least a dozen ready to play, and probably 3-5 in various states of build. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] has some photos of his other work with an e-mail in case you were interested!
I couldn't be happier with my collection of his work.
I've commissioned 3 basses and purchased 1 complete bass from my local luthier. His prices are half that of most Custom Shop Fenders (i.e. in your price range) and they are certainly worth every penny. Here is a post of the complete bass he had built that I couldnt live without. Peter Jogo Build - Aqua Jazz
In fact, Pete is constantly producing new basses. He has at least a dozen ready to play, and probably 3-5 in various states of build. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] has some photos of his other work with an e-mail in case you were interested!
I couldn't be happier with my collection of his work.
I felt the same way about G&L for a long time - about both the bridge and headstock. But then I started using my ears instead of my eyes. That bridge is now my favorite design of them all. The saddle lock is ingenuous and a difference maker. There are no sharp edges or exposed screws - palm muting is a pleasurable experience, and I can't say that for vintage bridges. It's made me a bridge snob. I had an opportunity to buy a new StingRay - but their new bridge is a big step backward in stability and function.
It depends on what you want, how well you know what you want, and it's availability: if you know exactly what you want and someone is already making a production version of it, great, go with that. If it's not readily available, then find a reputable manufacturer who will make it for you.
For example, if your dream bass is a sunburst P style with an ash body and maple neck...there's already 10,000 companies doing great versions of that and probably one already sitting in the local store. If you want a headless 7 string half fretless with a carbon fiber neck and a custom finish on fancy wood, well, that's a different story.
Years back, I had a Carvin LB76 built for me because if I was going to spend that much, I wanted it to be exactly what I wanted. 15 years later, it's still my favorite bass, but a lot of that is because I've played A LOT of basses and now know exactly what specs make a bass feel right in my hands.
For example, if your dream bass is a sunburst P style with an ash body and maple neck...there's already 10,000 companies doing great versions of that and probably one already sitting in the local store. If you want a headless 7 string half fretless with a carbon fiber neck and a custom finish on fancy wood, well, that's a different story.
Years back, I had a Carvin LB76 built for me because if I was going to spend that much, I wanted it to be exactly what I wanted. 15 years later, it's still my favorite bass, but a lot of that is because I've played A LOT of basses and now know exactly what specs make a bass feel right in my hands.
If you know exactly what you want, and going the custom route will get you closer to those goals while still in your budget, go for it. If you’re not sure what you want, or if you think a production model will sufficiently satisfy you, that is probably the safer option in terns of sunk cost and/or resale value.
Well, that's another interesting point. With production basses i.e., through Sweetwater that brings in 0% financing. And having recently paid off the wifes car buying a high end 2.5-3k production bass over 48 months becomes feasible. Can't do that with a boutique build however...
I’m the wrong guy to ask an opinion about advice on buying a bass. I’ve bought exactly 3 new Basses in the last 50 years, the last one 24 years ago I bought for my son. The two Basses I have now were bought used,my ‘Warwick Corvette Standard that I got about 5 years ago only because the music I am playing requires a 5 string. The other was used and bought by my son 16 years ago when he was in Iraq and worked out a deal for it trading some gear.
Needless to say, I highly recommend, more than brand, or quality, or price points, be patient, and buy gently used instruments. You can save thousands of the retail price on a good quality axe.
Production basses always punch above their weight (economies of scale) and custom basses almost never do (exception: small c custom basses can be a good value if there's a high level of automation and you don't go overboard with fancy woods and off-menu options. See: Kiesel).
Ultimately, the choice is yours - if you go down the custom road, you'll be getting a bass that might suit your preferences better, but will have a horrible resale value. It will not be as good a value as a production bass, because it simply can't be.
As well, at the price point you're shopping, you also need to be extremely careful about who you commission. $2k might be a lot for you, but in terms of how much time it takes to build a one-off musical instrument, the builder should be charging $10k+ unless they've got their process dialled in and are shipping 5-10 basses a day. The internet is replete with stories about small "artisan" builders offering great deals for custom work on music forums and then either producing total crap or flaking out and disappearing with your money. Caveat emptor.
For my $2k, I'd be looking for an in-stock Kiesel Bromberg with most of the options I want (typically $200-300 cheaper). Meanwhile, if I had $2.5k+ burning a hole in my pocket, I'd be on the phone with Chris Hong when they open today.
Last edited:
I think that price range (give or take) is a sweet spot for a very nice bass guitar. For production stuff, yes, this is a great place to be.
That budget opens up a lot of possibilities to find very cool vintage stuff, new high end production stuff, and some very nice custom / small build stuff.
I think you open things up even more if you are willing to go used - my only advice there is play it first, be sure, and don't get starstruck by a cool vintage bass or whatever. TAKE YOUR TIME. Know what you want, and wait for it, and be ready.
My experience is that about 10-15 years ago I was able to buy a used Fender CS NOS '64 Jazz bass for $2K. That was a LOT for me at the time. It had some marks in the finish - now it's yellowed, has chips and even more marks in the finish. I've done hundreds and hundreds of gigs with it, and made a few records too. It is an exceptional bass and a work horse.
On the P bass side of things, I've bought more than a few in all kinds of price ranges. I did buy a AVRI, which was super nice, but the 60s P neck didn't work for me. The many Ps that I bought in the cheeper price range just didn't speak to me or play that well. Just -meh. I was finally able to save some $$ and found the sweetest P. Almost exact specs of what I wanted and it is just an incredible instrument. Built custom for another dude by Brady Muckelroy. I was able to scoop it up for under your budget, and feel like I got the deal of a lifetime on a one of a kind. I honestly don't know how I could get a better instrument...
OP, you are going to be able to get a fabulous musical instrument, and IMO, something that punches above it's weight... especially if you wait for it to come to you and don't impulse buy.
That budget opens up a lot of possibilities to find very cool vintage stuff, new high end production stuff, and some very nice custom / small build stuff.
I think you open things up even more if you are willing to go used - my only advice there is play it first, be sure, and don't get starstruck by a cool vintage bass or whatever. TAKE YOUR TIME. Know what you want, and wait for it, and be ready.
My experience is that about 10-15 years ago I was able to buy a used Fender CS NOS '64 Jazz bass for $2K. That was a LOT for me at the time. It had some marks in the finish - now it's yellowed, has chips and even more marks in the finish. I've done hundreds and hundreds of gigs with it, and made a few records too. It is an exceptional bass and a work horse.
On the P bass side of things, I've bought more than a few in all kinds of price ranges. I did buy a AVRI, which was super nice, but the 60s P neck didn't work for me. The many Ps that I bought in the cheeper price range just didn't speak to me or play that well. Just -meh. I was finally able to save some $$ and found the sweetest P. Almost exact specs of what I wanted and it is just an incredible instrument. Built custom for another dude by Brady Muckelroy. I was able to scoop it up for under your budget, and feel like I got the deal of a lifetime on a one of a kind. I honestly don't know how I could get a better instrument...
OP, you are going to be able to get a fabulous musical instrument, and IMO, something that punches above it's weight... especially if you wait for it to come to you and don't impulse buy.
