• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

I think I stop believing in expensive basses!

Status
Not open for further replies.
#1,061
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.
Click to expand...
This thread has gone on so long because some people are so concerned with what other people are playing and justifying what they are playing.

If people played the brand that their skill level dictated and not their pocketbook, there would be more people playing Squiers and Fodera would be out of business. :D

I don't know why we can't be happy with what we play (except for GAS of course) and support other people being happy with what they play.
 
#1,064
lfmn16 said:
If people played the brand that their skill level dictated and not their pocketbook, there would be more people playing Squiers and Fodera would be out of business.
Click to expand...

Well put!

I have owned many expensive basses (none over $5k new and I almost always buy used) and have also owned/gigged Squiers. My Sadowsky NYC might have looked better and sounded better on stage than my Squier VM, but not 10x better as the price difference would reflect.

Funny enough, one of the absolute worst bassists I know locally plays a $7000 Smith and one of the best plays a mangled early 80's Japanese Squier.

I love nice basses, but I could never justify paying $10-15k for any bass.
To each their own though....
 
#1,067
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.
Click to expand...

As a statistician, I must say I'm 98% sure that this is statistically impossible unless you chose the entire control group and that the majority of those chosen were into the specific aesthetic of a fodera, as opposed to the aesthetic of a fender. I'm also fairly certain I can name a few forums whose members would mostly all pick the Squier.

Personally I'd pick the fodera, because I haven't played one in person before. If I had played one I would go for the Squier, because I prefer the aesthetic and feel of a bolt on neck instrument with a big artistically cut pick guard. P-bass / J-bass over the fancy wooden carved basses like Fodera and Warwick anyday in my beck of the woods and the majority of local musicians here in Newfoundland that i play with and associate with agree. Function over form. If you upgrade a Squier's electronics and hardware they are no different from a fender as long as the wood is good.
 
#1,068
One man's expensive is another man's crazy. Expensive is subjective. I consider $1000 and up expensive, and at one time couldn't imagine spending over a grand on a bass. Then I bought a Ric and figured that was as high as I'd go.

After all, I live in a double wide.

Pricing is also subjective. I just received my "expensive" custom and I feel I got a smoking deal on it. The builder charges what he feels is fair, but I feel he could've charged more for my bass.

Now that I replied to this stoopid thread again, you'll find me in the corner crying.
 
#1,069
MVPBASS said:
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.
Click to expand...

Like I said, too often people toss out these example and many folks don't really think them through. If you'd like to believe that 99.9% of all bassists would prefer a Fodera over a Fender, cool. I don't. And that's nothing against Fodera... 99.9 % of bassists rarely agree on anything to that degree.
 
#1,070
Brad Johnson said:
Like I said, too often people toss out these example and many folks don't really think them through. If you'd like to believe that 99.9% of all bassists would prefer a Fodera over a Fender, cool. I don't. And that's nothing against Fodera... 99.9 % of bassists rarely agree on anything to that degree.
Click to expand...

I know how superficial humans are and most would choose the $8000 instrument over the $300 instrument just because its an $8000 instrument.
 
#1,071
MVPBASS said:
I know how superficial humans are and most would choose the $8000 instrument over the $300 instrument just because its an $8000 instrument.
Click to expand...

And I have witnessed it first hand at bass get togethers, people gravitate to the high end basses, not the cheapos. Do people even take Squiers to those get togethers? I've never seen any, but I did see Foderas, Roscoes, Smiths, Sadowskys, Curbows, Celinders, Laklands, Skjolds, closest thing was a Fender Custom Shop.
 
#1,072
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.
Click to expand...

I think I've already explained why I play what I play. And here's what I'd guess you're missing... I am not the typical bassist and I know that. I've taken an above average interest in the instrument as a whole, I'm a bargain hunter (that's how I got the AJ), my playing requirements in the instrument aren't the norm and I wouldn't expect everyone else to desire what I do. For example, I couldn't care less how many watts a guitar player has, I'm not going to multiply it by any number to figure out what amp I need.
;)

There are plenty of reasons why expensive basses are expensive and obviously (I hope) I don't have anything expensive basses in general. Do some of you actually think I do? That makes no sense.

I do have a problem with the ridiculous idea that because of price you can expect xyz. That makes no sense. If it did you'd get the same results with ANY $2000 bass and again, I'd hope some people know better than that.

As to what bass I'd keep in one of these not even close to real life scenarios I think I already mentioned what I'd choose re: my AJ vs. a Fender and gave the logic behind it. That was this thread, right? A bass being worth more really doesn't come into play IMO IME unless you're selling it, bragging about it or using it as collateral. Doesn't mean it'll be even a good bass, let alone a great one.

If it were a Brubaker I didn't love vs. a Fender that I did, I'd take the Fender. Vice versa I'd choose the other way. Make sense?

And if I loved both I'd find a way to keep both... which coincidentally is what I've done IRL.
:D


I'm confused as to why any of this seems so confusing to people.
 
#1,073
Pelliparius said:
Personally I'd pick the fodera, because I haven't played one in person before. If I had played one I would go for the Squier, because I prefer the aesthetic and feel of a bolt on neck instrument with a big artistically cut pick guard
Click to expand...

So, speaking from zero experience, you'd pick the Fodera unless you have hypothetically played one, then you know for sure that you would pick the Squier. ?????
 
#1,076
MVPBASS said:
I know how superficial humans are and most would choose the $8000 instrument over the $300 instrument just because its an $8000 instrument.
Click to expand...

Then that's a firm basis for this tangent. Fodera, the superficial choice*.
:D

I know lots of musicians personally who are concerned with what an instrument allows them to do and they'd pick what works. IME most of the truly superficial folks aren't all that serious about music... or they wouldn't be superficial.

Frankly, and I've said this for decades, there are few things as annoying as a really nice looking expensive high quality bass that does NOTHING in my hands. It happens and I can guarantee that would be my idea of musical hell to be stuck having to use that. I guarantee I'd rather have a decent Squier as the alternative to actually gig and make music with. Guess I'm a .1%er.
:D




*Once again, no offense to Fodera and I own one... just following the logic:D
 
#1,078
MVPBASS said:
And I have witnessed it first hand at bass get togethers, people gravitate to the high end basses, not the cheapos. Do people even take Squiers to those get togethers? I've never seen any, but I did see Foderas, Roscoes, Smiths, Sadowskys, Curbows, Celinders, Laklands, Skjolds, closest thing was a Fender Custom Shop.
Click to expand...

People take whatever they have to get togethers around here. Why wouldn't they? Sounds like you're dealing with something most of the bassists I've interfaced with IRL aren't.

Check in with the guys at the first MD/DC/VA GTG and ask them what I spent time playing. And it was a nice bass. Then again, I don't dwell on the price. It makes no sense to me.
:cool:
 
#1,079
MVPBASS said:
And I have witnessed it first hand at bass get togethers, people gravitate to the high end basses, not the cheapos. Do people even take Squiers to those get togethers? I've never seen any, but I did see Foderas, Roscoes, Smiths, Sadowskys, Curbows, Celinders, Laklands, Skjolds, closest thing was a Fender Custom Shop.
Click to expand...

Quoted yourself? Sweet.
;)
 
#1,080
I can say from experience that I would pick any of the Foderas, Fbasses, Celinders, Alleva Coppolos, Pedullas, G&Ls, even Fenders that I have owned over the Squier that I owned. In fact the only basses that I would have chosen the Squier over was a vintage Electra Pbass with a bowed neck and a Charvel with a bowed neck a Benavente Tbird with a baseball bat neck and a no name japanese Teisco copy. Nothing anything that anybody says can sway me
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back