I think I stop believing in expensive basses!

[rubbadubdub]

I have owned (and played) more 'quality' basses than I can remember. I used to be obsessed with finding the right tone. I learnt a few things. First of all, price doesn't guarantee the right bass for the the job or for the individual player. It doesn't guarantee superior either. fender quality declined after CBS took over as they tried to cut corners to maximise profits. Is that customer service? Tokai scared the living daylights out of them and so they produced Squiers in Japan. I have a silver series P which I will never sell. Paid £55 for it. It will never appreciate like the 60 P bass that I should have kept as an investment but how many current fenders or whatever will either.
The second thing that I learned was that at one time a cheap guitar was generally a poor instrument in lots of ways and not much competition for fender and the high end luthiers. That situation has passed. Modern production (and low cost labour) means that cheap instruments are generally of a very high standard. Some better than others and it is essential to try a few out but then then when is it been otherwise? Look at Fender and Gibsons history and their production issues and tell me that everyone of their guitars has left the factory without needing a set-up. Those companies are living on their heritage and the fact that the original designs were excellent. I really think that they have failed to innovate and come up with new designs and are exploiting the fact that people still think of Asian manufacturing as being second rate. We have been conditioned to believe in false idols. A Greco Les Paul is still a Les Paul even if it's not a Gibson. I am pleased that I can have 29 guitars and basses for the price of one of my mates vintage Fenders. I know that they will never be worth anything but I bought them to play music with not as investments. The times they are a changing....

 

[nickbass79]

I guess I like boutique basses because I like the thought of all the time and effort, by one person, to make what I think is a piece of art(that you can play).

 

[spade2you]

I guess I like boutique basses because I like the thought of all the time and effort, by one person, to make what I think is a piece of art(that you can play).

Music is art, why not the instrument itself? If'n I work hard on my technique, I wouldn't mind an instrument where the builder worked just as hard to build it.

 

[nickbass79]

Music is art, why not the instrument itself? If'n I work hard on my technique, I wouldn't mind an instrument where the builder worked just as hard to build it.

Yes Sir!!! My father told me when I was 12, "Quality over quantity, Son". Well, he was referencing my beer selection, but I applied it towards everything in life.

 

[Calaverasgrande]

I'm kinda on teh other end. I spent my first 20 years as a bassist playing sub $300 basses. Of course some of those were epic good. The Peavey T40 is a sleeper classic. And the fit and finish of an Ovation Magnum is pretty high quality (even if the pickups and everything else are a bit odd).
I finally bough my first $1000+ bass back in 2006. I figured I was in my mid 30's. I should stop putting up with basses any kid can afford. The asian import Tobias I had at the time was just...not it. It had no definition. No real attack or fundamental and the neck was mediocre no matter how I set it up.
I picked up a used fretless 5 string Stingray. Early 90's model so it had the gloss neck and beee-YOOO-teeeful figuring in the neck. Sounded absurdly good and the fit and finish was beyond great. I
I own 3 other Musicmans, a roasted Stingray, a Sub and a blue dawn Sterling. I'm fiixing to get another bass when I head to New York in a few weeks.
Maybe a Sadowsky?

 

[Kenthor]

I told myself I was going to read the entire thread before I commented, but I just can't read any more. (I tried, really) One side of me says that people on the cheap side def have some valid points and even some I never considered. The other side of me can't believe this is even debated. Its ok if you like cheap for whatever reasons, but your reasons do not change the fact that they are cheap instruments. Every little detail was not labored over by the hands of what I would call an artist. You are paying for the builders time, skills, knowledge,creativity, parts, wood etc.... in that order. My $400 Cole Hahn shoes look, feel, and walk waaaaayyyy better than my $50 sketchers...there is cheap vs quality in everything, if you appreciate it or not. You may not appreciate my Coles, but the difference is still there. I'm being honest, and of course it is opinion (sort of), I can feel the cheap as soon as I pick it up out of the stand...and I do not own a bunch of high end basses.

 

[1SHOT1HIT]

I'd tend to agree with the OP. My least expensive bass is MUCH better than the others that have cost me 2 & 3 times more.

 

[MVPBASS]

OK, I'll show you a couple. Now do you believe?

I'm sure Squiers are exactly the same as these Fbasses.

 

[MVPBASS]

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!

I think that a player will play better if the bass is easier to play and will sound better if the bass sounds better. I know for a fact that I played and sounded better when I switched from my Fender jazz to my Fodera Emperor, I also play and sound better when I play my Fbass as opposed to my son's Wilkinson Vintage series Pbass. I can still play the same notes on either bass, but there is a difference.

 

[spade2you]

I can still play the same notes on either bass, but there is a difference.

Just a little food for thought, you can't always play the same notes.

 

[Dan Bozek]

I dunno... I think I mainly depends on what you do and what you're going for. I prefer the quirkiness of old/strange passive instruments 99 out of 100 times to boutique instruments. I would play the heck out of a Fodera in my apartment for sure because they're beautiful comfy playing instruments, but I'd probably still end up using my old Fenders, my Stingray, (that I am specifically instructed to bring by a few producers) my Hofner and Tbird, and the stuff I have now when I get calls to do sessions or on stage because they're more representative of my style of playing.

 

[Dan Bozek]

Just a little food for thought, you can't always play the same notes.

Ha. I hardly ever use my G-strings. Why would I need that?! It sure is pretty though!!

 

[MVPBASS]

Just a little food for thought, you can't always play the same notes.

True

 

[rjmsteel]

I think that a player will play better if the bass is easier to play and will sound better if the bass sounds better. I know for a fact that I played and sounded better when I switched from my Fender jazz to my Fodera Emperor, I also play and sound better when I play my Fbass as opposed to my son's Wilkinson Vintage series Pbass. I can still play the same notes on either bass, but there is a difference.

Playing on my 2011 Series Alembic forces you to play better, since all your inconsistencies come right through on a precision crafted instrument. Although my other basses sound good to excellent - NOTHING comes close to the tone, depth, highs and clarity, hence playing with articulation, as does my Series Alembic. The single ebony stringer doesn't hurt either!

 

[bassbenj]

I think that a player will play better if the bass is easier to play and will sound better if the bass sounds better. I know for a fact that I played and sounded better when I switched from my Fender jazz to my Fodera Emperor, I also play and sound better when I play my Fbass as opposed to my son's Wilkinson Vintage series Pbass. I can still play the same notes on either bass, but there is a difference.

What you say is true, but what is not true is the idea that a "better" bass requires a lot of money be spent. Tone is where you find it. Yes, music is art and bass building can be art, but putting the two together does not guarantee greatness. For it to work the music and the instrument and the player must be compatible. When they are it all works as you say. When they are not, then it doesn't matter how much you spend on a bass it will just not make things work.

The point is price is set by a lot of things, but mostly by what people are willing to pay. Everything else is negotiable. So you have the example of blues guitarists playing instruments that look like they've been laying in the swamp for years. Yeah, they sound great, they look cool, and usually they have been tweaked by owners or luthiers to sound and play great. Maybe they came from a garage sale, but these days more likely they came from some boutique shop where they sell for a fortune because they are currently a fad. So which is the "right" price? The garage sale or the boutique shop? Again, both and neither. It's just what people are willing to pay.

So if you want to jump on the bandwagon late, well expect demand and expect to pay. On the other hand, if you listen to your own muse, YOU may be leading the pack and picking up that Radio Shack bass for a song before everyone wanted one.

Tone is where you find it. A lot of cash only guarantees that you'll get what everyone else thinks is desirable. That may not be what you need or will properly support the music you play.

 

[spade2you]

Ha. I hardly ever use my G-strings. Why would I need that?! It sure is pretty though!!

Definitely not the kind of bass one would want if you're finding yourself always asking "why"?

I've played in some trios where filling out space isn't a bad thing. I also enjoy being able to play without shifting my fretting hand very much. A fringe benefit is that I can play higher notes in a lower position, which is useful on a fretless where the intonation is a little more forgiving.

 

[Harpo61]

To me a bass has to have Mojo you pick it up and it speaks to you . It could cost 300 or 3000 I can pick up a bass and it could be 5 grand and I can tell if it has it or not .
I play a Fender Jazz and P-Bass I did not find them they found me got them on trades
If I had a disposible income I would want something pricey but I don't .
I love hearing about the guys or gal you has a 200 bass and it is happy with it and If you have a 6000 Fodera and you happy thats cool too. It is all good there is room for everyone just be happy that we are not Guitars Player or Drummers

 

[MrUsefulAlien]

I guess I like boutique basses because I like the thought of all the time and effort, by one person, to make what I think is a piece of art(that you can play).

I don't own a boutique bass, but i feel this statement has validity.

I would imagine, that in the best case there is no tangible difference. But I think the fact that so much human thought, dedication and work go into something, gives it more value than if a machine achieved the same (or even more precise) result.

 

[MVPBASS]

Remember, Fender basses were boutique when they first came out

 

[SJan3]

I have owned (and played) more 'quality' basses than I can remember. I used to be obsessed with finding the right tone. I learnt a few things. First of all, price doesn't guarantee the right bass for the the job or for the individual player. It doesn't guarantee superior either. fender quality declined after CBS took over as they tried to cut corners to maximise profits. Is that customer service? Tokai scared the living daylights out of them and so they produced Squiers in Japan. I have a silver series P which I will never sell. Paid £55 for it. It will never appreciate like the 60 P bass that I should have kept as an investment but how many current fenders or whatever will either.
The second thing that I learned was that at one time a cheap guitar was generally a poor instrument in lots of ways and not much competition for fender and the high end luthiers. That situation has passed. Modern production (and low cost labour) means that cheap instruments are generally of a very high standard. Some better than others and it is essential to try a few out but then then when is it been otherwise? Look at Fender and Gibsons history and their production issues and tell me that everyone of their guitars has left the factory without needing a set-up. Those companies are living on their heritage and the fact that the original designs were excellent. I really think that they have failed to innovate and come up with new designs and are exploiting the fact that people still think of Asian manufacturing as being second rate. We have been conditioned to believe in false idols. A Greco Les Paul is still a Les Paul even if it's not a Gibson. I am pleased that I can have 29 guitars and basses for the price of one of my mates vintage Fenders. I know that they will never be worth anything but I bought them to play music with not as investments. The times they are a changing....

I think today's Fenders are better, more consist instruments with subtle but correct upgrades from the originals.
The only thing better about most 60s basses is that the wood has aged. Most vintage basses are temperamental and difficult to set up. Give me a new American Fender for a fraction of the cost that outplays the vintage axe.