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I think I stop believing in expensive basses!

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FunkyMan

Nov 27, 2007
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266
#1
I think it boils down to quality control/construction.

The maple you can find in a squier, can be the same quality as you find in a ken smith, if you put a Fodera pickup and pre on another bass with the same woods, it will sound the same.

i know boutique means that you pay more for a better fretboard finish, neck joint, hardware, aesthetic etc etc but..

I've tried many boutique basses with single coil configuration, and the end result is almost the same: a Marcus miller/pastorious, fender jazz bass tone, in some cases a good pre can give you more power and tonal options.

You can see very repetitive between luthiers from around the world, all converging on the same, Hipshot tuners, obp3 aguilar pre, Bartolini pickups, (hey i'm not saying this is bad) different basses using the same parts will sound the same at the end!

All this is just maybe crazy allegations from me, in my humble opinion, i have 3 good basses, one of them a boutique bass, and i'm really tired of saving money to buy more expensive instruments, I need to raise money for other life plans!

At the end, the musician begins to mature in this sense, and only if we have the money and that boutique bass makes us happy, we bought it, but a 5000$ bass will not make us best bassist, we should worry more on study!
 
#4
I think you get a better "out of the box" experience with an expensive bass. You may also get a more "stable" bass - less issues with warpage and seasonal changes from well chosen and well-dried wood.

That said, you can often make a cheap bass very good indeed with time and a small cash outlay.

If I needed a bass fast and I had cash to throw at it I'd get a Lull or a Alleva Coppolo or something and I'd probably be happy with it for the rest of my life. As it is I have a variety of basses that cost between $300 - $1200 and I'm content with most of them. The cheapest is a work in progress and could turn out to be a keeper. I've had $100 used Yamaha BB300's and thought they were a blast.
 
#5
Some valid points made. However, I believe one expects a much higher level of customer service, as well as a modicum of influence into the development of the finished instrument, within a discussion of "expensive" or "boutique" instruments.

Also, I believe there exists a sense of entitlement when it comes to certain levels of product(s). For example, if you're just getting started, it should be a no-brainer that you'll be playing a Squier, or maybe a MIM or CIJ, or MIA Fender vs. a CS. Not that it doesn't happen, but why would you dump the money into a Fodera the day before your first lesson?

Once you've been playing (and like most areas of life), you start daydreaming about that "next-level" instrument. For me, for a long time, it was a Warwick. I just HAD to someday own a Warwick (I've owned and sold three, and have held on to one).

Now that I've been playing for a while (20 years in music at the education/hobby/semi-pro/weekend warrior...in that order...levels) I finally ordered a custom bass. Why? Because it offers the things I've wanted in a bass for years, but haven't found in Fender, EBMM, Warwick, Sandberg, and Lakland basses. I've really dug basses made by those companies, but there was always something missing.

On a final note, I'm at a place in my life where I can comfortably afford a custom bass. I'm not selling my first born to finance. It's the bass "imagined" after years of "if only this one bass had THIS...,or if only this bass was a little more THIS....". Did my old Honda Civic Coupe get me to work everyday? Yes. Does my Infiniti do it with more style? Yes. They both serve the same function. However, as a middle-aged business professional, I feel as if I am entitled to own my Infiniti. I've worked VERY hard to get where I am. I ensure that my family is well taken care of before any thoughts of hobbies are addressed. When I pop the trunk, I'd like to put my first custom bass in there before driving to a jam session with my friends. Because, again, I've worked hard to own it.
 
#6
OK, I'll show you a couple. Now do you believe?

BN5-Twins-full.jpg
 
#7
I like the expectation of quality in certain gear. IMO, this expectation does not fly across the entire spectrum of 'for sale' basses.

In the used department of guitar/bass stores it seems that we generally have to climb over mountains of axes to find a gem in the rough. The process is much simpler if you can pick up one or two (name brand) items with a realistic expectation of 'very good' quality and unremarkably-there's going to be an associated healthy resale (value % or $) that accompanies certain gear.

If a Classic Vibe (CV) or other $200-300 axe is sitting used (or new), I'm going to be very skeptical of quality until I have time to examine it for flaws, or shortcomings in QC. This is is not going to be as challenging of a process with high-end gear! :D
 
#8
I believe if we consider it thoroughly and choose it carefully, there's advantages in the 'expensive' bass(es)..I mean the high price is not for no reason. I will say normally they're better bass(es).
But still I believe that the man who play the bass is the most important factor above all. This factor is so unique that often makes the lower price bass(es) can be as good or better than the higher one.
 
#14
You can pick up the phone and call Ken Smith and he will answer every question about your bass.

I haven't yet with MTD, but I hear its the same.

No bass as a whole will feel as complete and as a whole as many boutique basses.

There is always going to be ones that feel and look like parts slapped together... but if you feel they are made that way, don't buy it.
 
#16
kraigo said:
I think you get a better "out of the box" experience with an expensive bass. You may also get a more "stable" bass - less issues with warpage and seasonal changes from well chosen and well-dried wood.

That said, you can often make a cheap bass very good indeed with time and a small cash outlay.

If I needed a bass fast and I had cash to throw at it I'd get a Lull or a Alleva Coppolo or something and I'd probably be happy with it for the rest of my life. As it is I have a variety of basses that cost between $300 - $1200 and I'm content with most of them. The cheapest is a work in progress and could turn out to be a keeper. I've had $100 used Yamaha BB300's and thought they were a blast.
Click to expand...

Agreed.

I think the pitfall that folks encounter is that they want CHEAP, they want GOOD, but the don't want to do the work that requires. Work??? Yes, WORK - you have to play a ton of basses, pick them up, plug them in, go to store, hunt around.... Great affordable basses exist and are for sale, but you're much less likely to get one by going to MF and buying based on a photo.
 
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