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I think I stop believing in expensive basses!

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#1,041
50hz said:
I'd rather be not that good of a player on a squire then not that good of a player on an alembic. plus, I'd like to think that Clapton could play a squier better then I could play a prs. ( I know that's a guitar reference)
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As mentioned before IMHO the higher end Alembics, for sure, must be played with greater articulation as incorrectly fretted notes will come through, with clarity, as a poorly fretted note - (not saying of course that I'm not guilty of poorly fretted notes). The positive thing with an Alembic, for example, is just that. Great definition (clarity) of the produced note/string being reproduced. As Roy V. pointed out the use of both types of instruments ("low end & "high end") are probably more than not, requirements today for the pro bassist.
 
#1,044
JACink said:
This thread breathes an air of tranquility since certain people went off to their gigs!! :ninja:
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I'm back.
:D

Talk about a long weekend. Glad to finally be done. The three gigs were: Private school prom, wedding and two church services plus Saturday morning rehearsal. I used two higher end boutique basses and one "affordable" high end bass. All worked extremely well.
 
#1,045
JonKim said:
sure a yugo can get you to work but dont you rather goto work in an enzo?
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Not if I have to pay for it. Nope. Totally impractical.

I'm dead serious. This is the problem with these hypothetical questions, they expect you to suspend reality.
:cool:

Reality is an Enzo will get you around 10 mpg if you're lucky. I doubt the insurance premium (yeah, I'd need insurance one just like most folks) would be a hoot. And there's not much chance to use all that horsepower around here. Ferrari maintainence ftw.

If it were totally free, gas was free, maintainence were free, everything was free about it sure I'd pick one over a Yugo. But when does that ever happen?
 
#1,046
I was recently discussing "boutique" basses with a friend and he stated "the fancier the bass, the better you better be able to play it". I don't know if I agree with this, but I found the thought interesting.

Craftmanship is essential, true, but I have played extremely expensive boutique basses that were beautiful, but felt awkward in my hands.

I will take a poor looking, great playing instrument over the opposite every time!
 
#1,047
expensive is relative. to most of us yes $2000+ is pretty expensive. To people who make a great deal of money $15,000 might be chump change. Look at the stars these days. They goto hotels that are $25k/night!
 
#1,048
No Malarky said:
I was recently discussing "boutique" basses with a friend and he stated "the fancier the bass, the better you better be able to play it". I don't know if I agree with this, but I found the thought interesting.

Craftmanship is essential, true, but I have played extremely expensive boutique basses that were beautiful, but felt awkward in my hands.

I will take a poor looking, great playing instrument over the opposite every time!
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Some play great. Seek those out just to be informed.

re: your friend... I think that stems from the idea that if you have a better bass you'd better be able to play "up" to it's quality or some people will resent you for not "deserving" what you own. It's true, some folks do think that..

I ran into a buddy at Atomic Music a while back and he lamented about all of the crap he'd taken since he bought his most recent bass. It had belonged to a touring bassist and was fairly out of the norm...

a deep bodied semi hollow white sparkle 9 string Conklin. I figured he should've expected the comments, he'd been playing a Surine 7 string for years. We took it back to the acoustic room and while I was checking it out someone asked "what do ya need all those strings for?". My answer? I played "My Girl".
:bassist:

If you have thin skin about your gear, what's the point about having gear that draws controversy? Get a sunburst P bass and go on with your life. Barring that, just be secure in knowing that you like what you like and don't concern yourself with other's opinions. It's actually pretty easy unless you actually got the gear to draw attention to yourself. Life's tough.

If you have strong feelings about what other people use I don't know what to tell you. Maybe get a life?
:cool:
 
#1,049
I visit atomic quite often! I think I've seen you before. I remember a brubaker preacher was carrying around that resembles the one in your avatar!
To each his own. I have 1 bass that is pretty expensive but I got it at a steal because I dont like to buy new. It just doesnt make any sense to me now. I buy some cheaper basses new but only if I know they can hold their value.
I love buying cheap basses and reselling for profit. I love to look for great deals. But Ive played countless amount of cheap mid priced basses. With a great set up they all play nice but when it comes down to fit, finish, quality, I can always rely on my more expensive basses. They just feel a lot better to me in my hands and they are worth every penny (used or new) I paid for basses that were $4000+ before and yes they were worth every dollar. I just choose to get it cheaper by buying used....

Well this is the internet, everyone will try to argue for the sake of argument.

If money really didnt matter and I put an average fodera and the world's best set up squire in front of a person. I can guarantee 99.99% of the people will choose the fodera over the squire.
 
#1,051
JonKim said:
I visit atomic quite often! I think I've seen you before. I remember a brubaker preacher was carrying around that resembles the one in your avatar!
To each his own. I have 1 bass that is pretty expensive but I got it at a steal because I dont like to buy new. It just doesnt make any sense to me now. I buy some cheaper basses new but only if I know they can hold their value.
I love buying cheap basses and reselling for profit. I love to look for great deals. But Ive played countless amount of cheap mid priced basses. With a great set up they all play nice but when it comes down to fit, finish, quality, I can always rely on my more expensive basses. They just feel a lot better to me in my hands and they are worth every penny (used or new) I paid for basses that were $4000+ before and yes they were worth every dollar. I just choose to get it cheaper by buying used....

Well this is the internet, everyone will try to argue for the sake of argument.

If money really didnt matter and I put an average fodera and the world's best set up squire in front of a person. I can guarantee 99.99% of the people will choose the fodera over the squire.
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It might've been my bass. Between Malcolm, Preach and I, we loan each other basses.

On your last example, there is no "average" Fodera. So, like a recent thread, if you had to choose between two basses AND that would be the ONLY basses you'd be able to use for the rest of your life AND you absolutely could not resell/trade/whatever, I'd be willing to bet that your number isn't accurate.

If you like the prestige of owning a particular bass, you'll probably choose the Fodera whether you like that particular one or not (this is saying nothing against Foderas in general, just so we're clear on that). There is no one bass that everyone loves and no one bass that fits every situation. Your conclusion pretty much assumes the opposite.

If sound and playability are paramount and you truly care about that, the obvious choice becomes far less obvious. Real world example... I really like my Fodera Anthony Jackson Contrabass and prefer wide spacing but would I want that to be my only bass? Nope. The 36" scale is noticeable. I know I can get something that works for me with a 34" or so scale length.
 
#1,052
JonKim said:
If money really didnt matter and I put an average fodera and the world's best set up squire in front of a person. I can guarantee 99.99% of the people will choose the fodera over the squire.
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I agree, if you have to play the same bass for the rest of your life, people would pick the "average" Fodera over the best Squier. Average meaning, on average, Fodera basses are spectacular, sure they have made basses that have fallen short (which I'm sure even those are far superior than most).
 
#1,053
Brad Johnson said:
On your last example, there is no "average" Fodera. So, like a recent thread, if you had to choose between two basses AND that would be the ONLY basses you'd be able to use for the rest of your life AND you absolutely could not resell/trade/whatever, I'd be willing to bet that your number isn't accurate.


Real world example... I really like my Fodera Anthony Jackson Contrabass and prefer wide spacing but would I want that to be my only bass? Nope. The 36" scale is noticeable. I know I can get something that works for me with a 34" or so scale length.
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Well, he did say 99.9%. I guess some would be in the .1% that would choose the Squier.
I'm sure that if given the choice of a premium cut steak dinner with all the fixings it a Big Mac value meal, some would choose McDonalds as well.
 
#1,054
Brad Johnson said:
It might've been my bass. Between Malcolm, Preach and I, we loan each other basses.

On your last example, there is no "average" Fodera. So, like a recent thread, if you had to choose between two basses AND that would be the ONLY basses you'd be able to use for the rest of your life AND you absolutely could not resell/trade/whatever, I'd be willing to bet that your number isn't accurate.

If you like the prestige of owning a particular bass, you'll probably choose the Fodera whether you like that particular one or not (this is saying nothing against Foderas in general, just so we're clear on that). There is no one bass that everyone loves and no one bass that fits every situation. Your conclusion pretty much assumes the opposite.

If sound and playability are paramount and you truly care about that, the obvious choice becomes far less obvious. Real world example... I really like my Fodera Anthony Jackson Contrabass and prefer wide spacing but would I want that to be my only bass? Nope. The 36" scale is noticeable. I know I can get something that works for me with a 34" or so scale length.
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Just for the sake of argument, why do you play high end brubakers? Own an Anthony Jackson fodera? I'm sure you can play any gig with just a squier jazz bass but at the end of day the brubakers and fodera bring a whole lot to the table than your normal off the self bass you can buy at guitar center. Am I wrong?
Money aside you have to keep the bass would you choose the brubakers or a fender? I just believe there is a reason for these higher priced basses are expensive.
 
#1,055
JonKim said:
Just for the sake of argument, why do you play high end brubakers? Own an Anthony Jackson fodera? I'm sure you can play any gig with just a squier jazz bass but at the end of day the brubakers and fodera bring a whole lot to the table than your normal off the self bass you can buy at guitar center. Am I wrong?
Money aside you have to keep the bass would you choose the brubakers or a fender? I just believe there is a reason for these higher priced basses are expensive.
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That's what confuses me a well.
 
#1,057
JonKim said:
expensive is relative. to most of us yes $2000+ is pretty expensive. To people who make a great deal of money $15,000 might be chump change. Look at the stars these days. They goto hotels that are $25k/night!
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I've never and will never spend $15k on an instrument. Even on my more expensive ones, I don't see the price as too bad because I plan on using them for the long haul.
 
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