I think I stop believing in expensive basses!

[chadhargis]

A boutique instrument is like an expensive car, boat, motorcycle, set of golf clubs, etc. It may not make you a better player, but it can give you a sense of pride and confidence that is reflected in your playing. You will enjoy playing more and be more apt to pick it up every chance you get.

I would love to own a Fodera, Alembic, or other high end instrument. They are works of art. Simply beautiful instruments. I don't know that I'd take them to a gig where I'd get a lot of funny looks. Now, if I was good enough that I could back up bringing a $10,000 bass to a gig, then I'd rock it, but bringing a boutique instrument to a gig and playing root, four, five would make me look a little silly.

 

[nickbass79]

Now, if I was good enough that I could back up bringing a $10,000 bass to a gig, then I'd rock it, but bringing a boutique instrument to a gig and playing root, four, five would make me look a little silly.

Or make you look very confident and solid with great tone and taste in instruments Look at the bass players on SNL and Letterman or whomever you watch, many times they sit back in the pocket, not playing flashy, but they do have high end basses.

 

[spade2you]

I still defend the concept that well made basses often are capable of significantly lower action, allowing the bassist to play something that might be just a little too difficult otherwise. Oddly enough, I find that the Peavey Cirrus is one of the few "stock" basses that can hold its' own with boutique basses.

My first bass was a Cirrus and I set it with really low action. Many other basses simply couldn't handle that sort of action without buzzing.

 

[nickbass79]

I agree with the Cirrus. Those are great basses, especially the first run.

 

[Sleeq]

As much as I'm sure a lot of attention to detail has been put into the higher end basses, I'm not sure I like the "hi-fi" tones I always hear (pristine clean sound if that makes sense).

I also associate higher end basses with musical genres that I don't like.

If I could afford such a bass I still wouldn't buy it.

 

[spade2you]

I agree with the Cirrus. Those are great basses, especially the first run.

The ultra low action and radiused pickups had a very significant influence on my preferences and technique. Many years later, I'm still a bit shocked that I base most things off the Cirrus. Too bad their custom shop wasn't more with it.

 

[dustinfennessey]

Modulus are unbelievable IMO...youd be hard pressed to find a graphite necked bass that plays and sounds that well with a cheap price tag.

 

[spector_boogie]

Yeah, sorry. Build materials in your $199 Squier =/= what goes into a Smith Tiger.......

Keep spending $500 to upgrade your $199 SX Jazz tho. You're making a sound investment.

 

[metron]

Dont discriminate. There are a lot of good things about both cheap and expensive basses. Something for everyone is great right?

Of course personal taste is subjective, but high end basses tend to be better quality, better made instruments. Thats not so subjective. Imo the price gap doesnt always equate with real world differences and thats why there are threads like this. Diminishing returns is real but hey, if doubling the price is worth the detail to you, cool! If not, cool! If i can afford it, i want the best because bass is important to me.

 

[nickbass79]

The thing I like about high end bass sound, is that you can achieve ANY sound, from Hi-Fi to a very gritty passive sound(at least the ones I have), therefore making them much more adaptable to ANY genre. As far as looks, who cares what people think of my bass, I have played my CT fretless at many Heavy metal shows. It's my bass and it's what I like. Same said with those who don't like high end basses.

 

[spade2you]

The thing I like about high end bass sound, is that you can achieve ANY sound, from Hi-Fi to a very gritty passive sound(at least the ones I have), therefore making them much more adaptable to ANY genre. As far as looks, who cares what people think of my bass, I have played my CT fretless at many Heavy metal shows. It's my bass and it's what I like. Same said with those who don't like high end basses.

Yet this is often countered with the idea that ONLY a Fender can sit in the mix. Tone is in the fingers, which somehow doesn't apply to high end basses.

 

[spector_boogie]

Dont discriminate. There are a lot of good things about both cheap and expensive basses. Something for everyone is great right?

Of course personal taste is subjective, but high end basses tend to be better quality, better made instruments. Thats not so subjective. Imo the price gap doesnt always equate with real world differences and thats why there are threads like this. Diminishing returns is real but hey, if doubling the price is worth the detail to you, cool! If not, cool! If i can afford it, i want the best because bass is important to me.

That's fine. I've had cheaper basses. But don't make threads and wild assertions that are flat out false like build quality and components and time, machining, etc. is an apples to apples comparison... That's just ludicrous.
Most of these threads seem like people who try to justify to themselves that what they have is good enough, which if it is, why are you so insecure you need to keep making threads about it. Just go with it...

 

[metron]

That's fine. I've had cheaper basses. But don't make threads and wild assertions that are flat out false like build quality and components and time, machining, etc. is an apples to apples comparison... That's just ludicrous.
Most of these threads seem like people who try to justify to themselves that what they have is good enough, which if it is, why are you so insecure you need to keep making threads about it. Just go with it...

Ludicrous false assertions?! On the internet?! Nooooooooo

 

[spector_boogie]

Ludicrous false assertions?! On the internet?! Nooooooooo

I think if we were allowed to use harsher language, we'd see fewer of these n00btastic threads........

 

[Calaverasgrande]

At least the Squiers will be free of the terrible wood-eating fungus's that seem to afflict the tops of many expensive basses! ;^>

Haha. I seriously can't believe people pay extra for spalted tops. IIRC that is wood that got wet and had fungus grow it it.

 

[Pilgrim]

I'm not that attracted to high end basses for the same reason that I'm not attracted to Mercedes AMG cars...I don't have, and won't ever have, the money to spend on one. Equally as important, I have priorities for my $$ and it's not worth it to me.

I have a dozen basses at varying price points, but the one I tend to grab on my way out the door is a simple Squier Bronco with a Gretsch 2202 (TV Jones design) pickup in it. Fantastic bass to play, nice balance, smooth satin finish neck, killer sound. What more do I need??

 

[Batmensch]

Yeah, sorry. Build materials in your $199 Squier =/= what goes into a Smith Tiger.......

Keep spending $500 to upgrade your $199 SX Jazz tho. You're making a sound investment.

Unless , like me, your SX (Ursa 1 in my case) didn't absolutley need any upgrading. Don't automatically assume because it's a cheap bass you MUST spend hundreds on updating it to turn it into a decent useable bass.

 

[Calaverasgrande]

Modern production (and low cost labour) means that cheap instruments are generally of a very high standard...

I would disagree with this. All tht has happened is that they have gotten better at making cheap basses appear to be as good as midrange or better basses.

They still have issues with neck straightness, ragged fret edges, poor pickups, sloppy finish.
The main thin I think has changed is that in the olden times import basses were made by hand. Now they are milled on CNC machines most likely, then put together by hand.
So I am sure that is why we are seeing more consistent cheapo basses. The wood just isnt there, and the QC is not either.
I have seen brand new out of the box basses with necks that were backbowed and truss rods that didnt function.
I actually had a former client call me up and offer me $50 and a 6 pack to confirm that somethign was wrong with their brand new bass. (then they made me get on the phone with the e-tailer to explain it).
The cheapo basses of yore. The Tokai, EKO, Mosrite. They were nice in away. Most of those biggest shortcoming was their pickups. But the bloody necks would be functional!

 

[NML1986]

I WANT TO BELIEVE!

 

[MVPBASS]

Haha. I seriously can't believe people pay extra for spalted tops. IIRC that is wood that got wet and had fungus grow it it.

They sure do. I can't believe that people pay for the same blah finishes that every other joe smoe has. At least spalts and burls are unique. All Burls and Spalts are considered imperfections in wood but they sure command high dollar, whether in basses or furniture.