I like MAC, because they are like a boutique computer. No problems and easy to use.
I hated it when the kid down the street, who had absolutely no computing skills at all, got a new Mac and we were so poor I had to make due with an old TRS-80.
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I think I stop believing in expensive basses!
- Thread starter FunkyMan
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I hated it when the kid down the street, who had absolutely no computing skills at all, got a new Mac and we were so poor I had to make due with an old TRS-80.
The USA bass has more sparkle and clarity in the treble range, a richer & more complex sounding midrange, and the bottom end puts the Euros to shame - especially when recording. The overall tone is smoother & more refined, and both my guitarist & drummer commented on the superior tone of the USA Spector the first time I played it at rehearsal.
Yes, there is a diminishing point of return - after a certain price point you start paying larger increments of money for minor improvements in performance, but the same can be said for cars, mountain bikes, appliances, furniture - the list goes on & on. For me, the superior tone & stunning beauty of the USA bass justified the extra expense, but ymmv.
No it doesn't. It CAN... it MIGHT... but to act like it's a given is pretty silly.
I'm happy with all of my basses or I wouldn't own them. But I'm not going to pretend I haven't played my share of high end clunkers, basses that fell completely short of what I expect/need in an instrument.
In the real world you can find plenty of folks who weren't blown away by what they thought/hoped they'd be blown away by. That could be the instrument's fault, it could be the buyers, it could be that the two simply didn't click.]
Would anyone care to pretend that this is uncommon?
The problem as I see it is that many experienced bassists can't seem to avoid also passing on their hangups.
You've never experienced a high end bass that didn't deliver? Wow. Short of truly limited exposure, how is that actually possible? If you believe this to be true, absolutely true, I'll let it stand on it's merits.
You're laying this on pretty thick. You do realize that, huh?
This really does seem to get deeper and deeper. I can't think of one builder who believes that every instrument they'd built was a home run. Not one. Particularly when a customer specs something out of their comfort zone. This entire rant just gets farther and farther away from what I'd think most people would consider what's actually going on. Even people like myself who are concerned about quality and the playing experience.
I wouldn't tell anyone that all high end basses absolutely deliver because I know I'd be lying. I don't think you're lying, I get the impression that you really do believe what you're contending. Again, wow.
Guess I should ask... what basses are you talking about specifically... the ones that always deliver, don't have a bad setting, don't need setups or upgrades, don't require effort to get a good sound, etc. because frankly I'm drawing a blank. In my decades of performing and owning a wide array of instruments, I haven't seen one brand that fits that bill... which makes me wonder why you're trying to convince others that this actually exists.
Most people buy what they want to make themselves happy. Other buy what they do to get the attention/envy/approval of others, which then makes them happy. These are the same people that go to the greatest lengths to convince others of how good their stuff is and why you should look on with envy at their things...
...like the guy who gets a brand new Viper, and when you don't pay enough attention to him next to you at a light, he floors it so you can see just how cool he is. But then sometimes you surprise him by flooring it yourself, and even in your minivan don't give him the room he needs to get in front of you and he ends up rear ending a stopped bus. Cool indeed, douchebag.
Basses, like cars, bikes, houses, etc... are bought by different people of different means for different reasons. If someone happens to say they see no need for a Viper, or Cannondale, or 6,000sq' McMansion - they're entitled to that opinion and unless you have some self esteem issues - there's no reason not to leave them to that opinion after exchanging a couple of posts explaining your own viewpoint.
...like the guy who gets a brand new Viper, and when you don't pay enough attention to him next to you at a light, he floors it so you can see just how cool he is. But then sometimes you surprise him by flooring it yourself, and even in your minivan don't give him the room he needs to get in front of you and he ends up rear ending a stopped bus. Cool indeed, douchebag.
Basses, like cars, bikes, houses, etc... are bought by different people of different means for different reasons. If someone happens to say they see no need for a Viper, or Cannondale, or 6,000sq' McMansion - they're entitled to that opinion and unless you have some self esteem issues - there's no reason not to leave them to that opinion after exchanging a couple of posts explaining your own viewpoint.
Brad,
What do you like about Brubakers? I have only played one once and briefly. Just curious.
Thanks
What do you like about Brubakers? I have only played one once and briefly. Just curious.
Thanks
No it doesn't. It CAN... it MIGHT... but to act like it's a given is pretty silly.
I'm happy with all of my basses or I wouldn't own them. But I'm not going to pretend I haven't played my share of high end clunkers, basses that fell completely short of what I expect/need in an instrument.
In the real world you can find plenty of folks who weren't blown away by what they thought/hoped they'd be blown away by. That could be the instrument's fault, it could be the buyers, it could be that the two simply didn't click.]
Would anyone care to pretend that this is uncommon?
The problem as I see it is that many experienced bassists can't seem to avoid also passing on their hangups.
You've never experienced a high end bass that didn't deliver? Wow. Short of truly limited exposure, how is that actually possible? If you believe this to be true, absolutely true, I'll let it stand on it's merits.
You're laying this on pretty thick. You do realize that, huh?
This really does seem to get deeper and deeper. I can't think of one builder who believes that every instrument they'd built was a home run. Not one. Particularly when a customer specs something out of their comfort zone. This entire rant just gets farther and farther away from what I'd think most people would consider what's actually going on. Even people like myself who are concerned about quality and the playing experience.
I wouldn't tell anyone that all high end basses absolutely deliver because I know I'd be lying. I don't think you're lying, I get the impression that you really do believe what you're contending. Again, wow.
Guess I should ask... what basses are you talking about specifically... the ones that always deliver, don't have a bad setting, don't need setups or upgrades, don't require effort to get a good sound, etc. because frankly I'm drawing a blank. In my decades of performing and owning a wide array of instruments, I haven't seen one brand that fits that bill... which makes me wonder why you're trying to convince others that this actually exists.
Humm......well, you really put me in my place, didn't you?
I really don't care. I stand by what I said, and ironically, every single one of the hi-end luthiers and builders profiled in the recent BP magazines say something identical about why they build basses, and how they feel about their own basses. So again, the internet is right, the pro builders are wrong...and so am I.
and specifically, to answer your question about WHAT basses I am talking about...I will use a couple of Pedullas I tried out as an example. They were superior basses to everything that was in that store that I tried that day. Incredible basses. Works of art. Anyone who has played one knows exactly WFT I am talking about. Sorry, but no Squire or SX has ever, will ever, could ever make me feel the same way as that pedulla did.
I have also played Fodera, Alembic, Conklin.....those are a few that I spent sigficant time with...BUT......I also have been to many of the NAMM shows since the 80s, so I can say I have tried out literally all the famous hi-end and boutiques. Some just jump out at you, of course. Warriors.....the Andreas basking shark, there are too many to even list./
Not to start an argument but I am a firm believer in Fender MIM. To my ear as well as to other listeners' ears, the MIM sounds the best of all my basses.
You are right that the other basses are "already" great basses, it took about $300 in upgrades to get my bass to where it is today, as well as a new (free under warranty) neck.
Don't get me wrong, MIM can be terrible, but there are a lot of gems out there and upgrades to get (IMO) a better sounding fender than a MIA fender.
There really isn't an argument here, I'm just defensive of my MIM haha. If i had to sell all my other basses but one, I'd keep the MIM most likely.
well, they are not terrible basses of course, but to me, nothing special. I own one (with fralin pups) and I dislike it compared to my other basses.
and PS, when I compare it to my MIAs, there is a huge difference...maybe not a 800 dollar difference, but still a difference.
I personally think 1200 for a MIA is steep. These basses should be 800 bucks, if the MIM is 400.
Oh. yes, 100% of the time. Except this weekend, when we are set to play in Palm Springs and it will be 100 degrees. I might bring my MIJ P-bass for that.
Every instrument should be chosen as an individual entity that will be played by an individual who by the very nature of being a human being will have his or her tastes change over time.
General statements about superiority are pretty useless. Furthermore, unless one is in the habit of doing double blind comparisons when shopping for an instrument perceived quality is wholly a subjective thing. As it should be. An instrument is an extension of your self. What helps you play better?
When someone asks me about choosing an instrument here's what I say. Go and pick it up. See how it feels. Play it by itself. don't even plug the damn thing in. Electronics can be changed, but the feel in your hands is pretty much fixed. How live does it feel. How balanced? How comfortable for your hands and body? How well put together is it? Premium instruments do not have a monopoly on any of these characteristics, they are just more likely to have them. With lower quality instruments you just have to hunt around a while, quality control from selection of wood to final assembly will be uneven. Premium brands will be more consistent. No one should pay a premium based on reputation of a brand. You have to do your due diligence and check any instrument out thoroughly. The premium you pay is really less about the instrument itself than what your time is worth. How long will it take you to find a good low cost instrument? A premium instrument saves you time.
General statements about superiority are pretty useless. Furthermore, unless one is in the habit of doing double blind comparisons when shopping for an instrument perceived quality is wholly a subjective thing. As it should be. An instrument is an extension of your self. What helps you play better?
When someone asks me about choosing an instrument here's what I say. Go and pick it up. See how it feels. Play it by itself. don't even plug the damn thing in. Electronics can be changed, but the feel in your hands is pretty much fixed. How live does it feel. How balanced? How comfortable for your hands and body? How well put together is it? Premium instruments do not have a monopoly on any of these characteristics, they are just more likely to have them. With lower quality instruments you just have to hunt around a while, quality control from selection of wood to final assembly will be uneven. Premium brands will be more consistent. No one should pay a premium based on reputation of a brand. You have to do your due diligence and check any instrument out thoroughly. The premium you pay is really less about the instrument itself than what your time is worth. How long will it take you to find a good low cost instrument? A premium instrument saves you time.
ok cool, I thought that this was your band. So again, what kind of bass are you playing in this video?
I can name four or five brands of basses that I really lusted after only to find they didn't work for me. A Wal Mk II and Pedulla Pentabuzz come to mind right away. They sounded exactly as I thought and I still love hearing them in other people's hands, but they just didn't fit me as I would have liked. Not the instruments fault at all in this case.
And I've also played a number of high end basses that just had a tonal range that wasn't for me. Again, not the fault of the bass or it's builder at all.
But I've also experienced legitimate clunkers. Basses from luthiers with well deserved reputations that just weren't great. In more than one case there were noticeable construction flaws but more often it was just a bass that for whatever reason fell short of that maker's normal standards. It happens.
I'm as big a Stambaugh fan as anyone on Talkbass and I've played a Stammie that was a dud. I think that was largely due to the customer's choices (and when you allow complete customization there's a lot of room for error if bad choices are made) but either way, it was not a stellar bass.
Of course, this is all again subjective. Maybe someone loved the tone and feel of that bass as much as I disliked it. Which I suppose is part of the point. Not every high end bass can "absolutely deliver" because it's a different target for everyone.
I'd be interested to hear that answer as well, especially since I've never seen or played a single Brubaker myself. Pretty rare bird by California standards. I've never even spotted a Brute in person.
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