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I think I stop believing in expensive basses!
- Thread starter FunkyMan
- Start date
- Status
Alright, you got me. Confession time:
I once got kicked out of a club because I was too good looking. All the girls wanted me bad.
The other ugly guys didn't like it and got the bouncers to kick me out.
The girls all followed me out of the club and we had our own party and all the other guys got real mad.
Oh wait - nevermind, wrong place for this story.
I once got kicked out of a club because I was too good looking. All the girls wanted me bad.
The other ugly guys didn't like it and got the bouncers to kick me out.
The girls all followed me out of the club and we had our own party and all the other guys got real mad.
Oh wait - nevermind, wrong place for this story.
It was a figure of speech. Sorry that wasn't apparent to you. Let's just say it annoys me to see non-talented players with top-of-the-line gear. It annoys me, but I don't lose much if any sleep from it. It annoys me the same way as if someone like you was tailgating me on the freeway when i am already going fast. It annoys me the same way I am annoyed when someone drives through my neighborhood playing loud rap music and making the whole house vibrate.
Are we now clear, or do you want to try more of your trial-lawyer twisting of words with me?
Okay Okay I got one - promise.
I pulled up to a red light, and waiting there next to me was a very poor looking older man in a 1989 Honda Civic that looked like it was about to fall apart. His wife and kids were in the car too.
I drive a 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8.
Light turned green and I toyed with him for 15 minutes laughing my face off.
Oh wait... - nevermind, wrong place for this story too...
(heavy sarcasm, both stories never happened)
I pulled up to a red light, and waiting there next to me was a very poor looking older man in a 1989 Honda Civic that looked like it was about to fall apart. His wife and kids were in the car too.
I drive a 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8.
Light turned green and I toyed with him for 15 minutes laughing my face off.
Oh wait... - nevermind, wrong place for this story too...
(heavy sarcasm, both stories never happened)
If we're going to get back on track, there's something else that hasn't been touched on in this thread (and if it has, I'm totally NOT going to dig through and requote it):
Rising prices might leave the buyer with diminishing return on investment.
Take a car, for example. The difference between a $1,000 junker and a $5,000 used car is huge. The junker could be moving garbage, the used $5,000 car could be servicable. The jump between $5,000 and $10,000 is even larger, and around $15,000, you can start getting decent new cars. But the higher the price climbs, the fewer amenities you recieve, per dollar, over the lower cost options. When you get to racing quality cars, you have to factor in ADDITIONAL costs, like high octane fuel, usage of tracks to attain max speed, extra insurance, just to UTILIZE the benifits of the car.
The same, to an extent, follows with instruments. A $50 import bass is probably loads worse than a $150 import bass (that $100 dollar difference could contain such important benifits as the ability to intonate properly, frets that are firmly seated, working electronics...) A $300 Squier approaches the quality of a $500 MIM Fender, and so forth. Beyond that, what are you paying for? Minutia? Cosmetics?
Nothing wrong with that! If that extra change, even small, makes you play more comfortably, it's totally justified. And like I said before, something hand crafted, something that contains artistic or personal value, cannot be easily priced.
I think many people get upset that the idea that the price hike, past a point, doesn't give you as much as you might expect. Whether or not your expectations are wrong. If my only goal is to attain distinguishable bass sounds, note by note, through amplification, I'm going to be pretty underwhelmed by the changes beyond $200.
Rising prices might leave the buyer with diminishing return on investment.
Take a car, for example. The difference between a $1,000 junker and a $5,000 used car is huge. The junker could be moving garbage, the used $5,000 car could be servicable. The jump between $5,000 and $10,000 is even larger, and around $15,000, you can start getting decent new cars. But the higher the price climbs, the fewer amenities you recieve, per dollar, over the lower cost options. When you get to racing quality cars, you have to factor in ADDITIONAL costs, like high octane fuel, usage of tracks to attain max speed, extra insurance, just to UTILIZE the benifits of the car.
The same, to an extent, follows with instruments. A $50 import bass is probably loads worse than a $150 import bass (that $100 dollar difference could contain such important benifits as the ability to intonate properly, frets that are firmly seated, working electronics...) A $300 Squier approaches the quality of a $500 MIM Fender, and so forth. Beyond that, what are you paying for? Minutia? Cosmetics?
Nothing wrong with that! If that extra change, even small, makes you play more comfortably, it's totally justified. And like I said before, something hand crafted, something that contains artistic or personal value, cannot be easily priced.
I think many people get upset that the idea that the price hike, past a point, doesn't give you as much as you might expect. Whether or not your expectations are wrong. If my only goal is to attain distinguishable bass sounds, note by note, through amplification, I'm going to be pretty underwhelmed by the changes beyond $200.
- Jan 12, 2011
- 4,578
- 2,460
- Disclosures
- Artist, Trickfish Amplification Bartolini Emerging Artist, MTD Kingston Emerging Artist. Artist, Tsunami Cables
There's nothing wrong with expensive basses. There's often many things wrong with Cheap Basses 
Often does not mean all the time, it implies a high frequency. The only problem with expensive basses is they may be cost prohibitive. But as someone much more wiser than many of us once said to me. Every good player deserves to have his or her signature bass. I believe in this too.
Often does not mean all the time, it implies a high frequency. The only problem with expensive basses is they may be cost prohibitive. But as someone much more wiser than many of us once said to me. Every good player deserves to have his or her signature bass. I believe in this too.
Diminishing returns has definitely been discussed in this thread and i believe its the main premise behind the sentiments expressed by those who get a cheapie and think hey this is pretty good, why spend 10x more? A phone game or two later and there are hordes of people claiming to be experts on tb who think their cheap bass is better than the best basses available and spend all their time shoving it down everyones throat.
The problem is that hyperbole, misunderstanding, misinterpretation, assumptions, opinions stated as facts, blowing things out of proportion, etc are serious inhibitors to decent meaningful conversation on this forum and the net in general. And in real life. Its a bummer.
The problem is that hyperbole, misunderstanding, misinterpretation, assumptions, opinions stated as facts, blowing things out of proportion, etc are serious inhibitors to decent meaningful conversation on this forum and the net in general. And in real life. Its a bummer.
I'm itching for a Cliff Bordwell Ball Bass because I love the way it looks. I'm a fan of fine woods and I'm a fan of anything that's handmade. If I had the cash right now I'd buy one.
I have absolutely no delusions that it would help me play better or even sound better. In fact, I defy anyone to tell the difference between a $5,000 bass and a $200 bass with good pickups in it, just from listening to a recording.
I have absolutely no delusions that it would help me play better or even sound better. In fact, I defy anyone to tell the difference between a $5,000 bass and a $200 bass with good pickups in it, just from listening to a recording.
Not to mention that in any other field of endeavor, quality counts....but not, apparently, in the bass world. In the bass world, any old piece of scrap wood with 4 strings on it will work the same as an Alembic, and give you the same result, according to TB.
Someone made the point that Kobe Bryant could still out-play you wearing 40 dollar shoes....ok, good point. Then why does he wear 300 dollar shoes?
Could it just be possible that the 300 dollar shoes are markedly better? More comfortable, work better, give you an edge, or even just LOOK better?
Cliff is a great builder. One of my favs for sure. He gets a lot of repeat customers!
I sold both of my Pedullas because I prefer the tone from my Indonesian G&L L-2000.
Your turn, self-appointed TalkBass HYPE-and Armchair quarterback buster!
Your turn, self-appointed TalkBass HYPE-and Armchair quarterback buster!
Matante- I agree in many ways. A lot of it is feel though. Not worh it to some, worth it to others. got my first botique in 20 years of playing a month ago - a fretless 55-94. Sick bass, great tone, wonderful quality. Feels amazing! But when i go back to my jazz it feels good too. Familiar yet not as refined. Sometimes i even think it sounds better. It was worth it to me though because i wanted it. Simple.
In the end there is a place for basses of all price points just as there is a place for all opinions, right or wrong.
if people dont get it then... Well i guess there is a place for that too. 
In the end there is a place for basses of all price points just as there is a place for all opinions, right or wrong.
if people dont get it then... Well i guess there is a place for that too. Quick. They need you over on the SX thread, where you can spend time with all the other people who own Alembics but prefer their Squires and SX basses.
You missed my point. You contribute to the hyperbole and misunderstanding here. Things are not so black and white as you make them out to be. Isn't it possible that one might like a Squier over an Alembic? It definitely is.
The only inherent feature of an expensive bass is that it is a bass that costs alot of money. Costing alot of money is not a positive feature.
The only inherent feature of an inexpensive bass is that it is a bass that doesn't cost alot of money. Not costing alot of money is a positive feature.
The only inherent feature of an inexpensive bass is that it is a bass that doesn't cost alot of money. Not costing alot of money is a positive feature.
Why are so many of you anti-quality or anti-boutique?
I am not suprised Just Thumpin (Fodera) didn't come back to a thread with so many people with crazy, crazy ideas.
Why do you celebrate mediocrity so much, and scorn excellent craftmanship?
This thread is tiring me out. Seriously.
You would think on a bass forum, that brands like Fodera and Alembic would be held in a much higher regard.
I am done. I think I have nothing in common with any of you, and therefore, nothing more to say. Some people do their shopping at 7-11, others at trader Joes. To each their own, I guess.
I am not suprised Just Thumpin (Fodera) didn't come back to a thread with so many people with crazy, crazy ideas.
Why do you celebrate mediocrity so much, and scorn excellent craftmanship?
This thread is tiring me out. Seriously.
You would think on a bass forum, that brands like Fodera and Alembic would be held in a much higher regard.
I am done. I think I have nothing in common with any of you, and therefore, nothing more to say. Some people do their shopping at 7-11, others at trader Joes. To each their own, I guess.
I shop at both, as well as at Quick Check, Wawa, Wegmans, Foodtown, A&P, and Target.
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