I'm not into expensive basses at all.

[lat]

My top three basses, in current order of affection, are:

Samick Greg Bennett CR4 PJ
Schecter Blackjack atx C-4 HH
Hamer Cruisebass Jazz

Total cost for all three is $830 CDN. Bought them all second hand though.

IMHO, they all play better than Fender pro series basses. I have never been one for paying extra for a brand name. Big waste of money.

 

[2strings2frets]

I like cheapies, I can own more of them.

 

[PBassin]

"The Fox and the Grapes is one of the Aesop's fables. The story concerns a fox that tries to eat grapes from a vine but cannot reach them. Rather than admit defeat, he states they are undesirable"

It’s not unlike the classic story, The Prints and the Pauper. The story concerns a pauper that tries to reach an expensive bass from the higher rack on the wall at Guitar Center but cannot reach them. Rather than ask for assistance, he states they are undesirable. Instead, he picks up a budget bass and fingerprints it up whilst harshly jamming.

There are other versions of the story where the pauper does ask for assistance, gets a hold of the expensive bass too, and fingerprints that one too whilst harshly jamming.

 

[Trouztrouz]

I like things that I like and I don't tend to worry about what other people think about how much or how little I am willing to spend on the things that I like and I certainly don't go soliciting options from other people about how much of my money should be spent on my interests in an effort to either seek validation or suggest that I have special enlightenment attached to my spending habits.

However, maybe the next 20 pages of this thread will convince me otherwise!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I love expensive basses, but most of all, I love Basses that work for me. The most important thing about any bass is that it works for you.

 

[B-Mac]

While many here are really into high end basses from the big players, exclusive boutique instruments or rare vintage gear, I'm absolutely totally fine with my Squiers.

This is 100% honest: I have zero interest in "upgrading" or replacing them with basses that cost 10 times as much or even more.
They sound like they are supposed to do, they are rock solid, they look really cool, they feel good, I enjoy playing them a lot and I'm not afraid of lugging them around on tour or keeping them in my practice room. What more could I ask for?

I'm not even in the "more cheap is more good" camp: I've got a very expensive custom built cabinet for example. But when it comes to cabs, it really makes a difference what you pay for imo. Same with amps or synths. When it comes to basses, not so much. I'm having a great time with my Squiers and I don't see any reason at all to buy more expensive basses. Anyone else?

For the record: I've got a chinese CV Jazz Bass, a fretless Jazz built from VM parts and a VM bass VI. I replaced the pots in all of them and they all are strung with La Bella flats.

To those who are totally into expensive basses: it's all good, I don't mean to offend you. If it's your thing, who am I to judge?

Ahem.....just search for ‘glarry’ or ‘exquisite’ or ‘amoon’

you'll find quite a few who like the low end on the cheap.

 

[PBassin]

I love expensive basses, but most of all, I love Basses that work for me. The most important thing about any bass is that it works for you.

I have learned, over the years, that I love expensive basses, and that only expensive basses will work for me. However, not all expensive basses suit my needs. As such, I am picky, but only amongst expensive, for all others I cannot see.

 

[ToneMaven]

I like Squiers as a mod platform. They are fine out of the box as beginner instruments. The necks are nice, the bodies are fine. Where they lack, in my opinion, is in the electrics, strings and the nut. I have one and I replaced the nut with a Tusq, pups with Fender Original 62s, ebay pickguard, Art of Tone CTS pots, Orange Drop cap(a cap is a cap but...), Switchcraft jack. Total cost under $200 including the bass. Added LaBella flats later and dressed the frets. Sounds and plays like both of my American Fender Ps.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

I'm not into expensive basses either, but I am into basses that sound good. Just OK doesn't cut it. They have to sound better than that.

I'm always checking out less expensive basses. I'd rather not have so much cash tied up in instruments, but almost all of the basses I've chosen to own since the 90's have been on the more expensive end of the scale. There's only one reason for that. They sounded better to me. I can play anything, any $50 bass, but if I choose it's going to be based on the best tone and so far that has come at a certain price.

Agreed. There is a point of diminished returns that I arbitrarily set at roughly $1500. I guess each person's dividing line differs. There's craftsmanship and there's style.

 

[Real Soon]

As the owner of a small stables of basses that range from naughty to nice, I find it interesting that in the TMBG dvd series around Lesson 10, Mr. Roy Vogt is seen switching from his presumably custom Carvin to a Squier. And rocking righteously on it.

I'm not dumping my MGBass Extreman as a result or anything, but it goes to show that perfectly good playability and sound are not at all restricted to the high end.

We're lucky; in the classical world, almost without exception, cheaper instruments are often literally unable to produce the quality of sound expected of pro musicians.

 

[micguy]

My basses are relatively inexpensive musical instruments. I play in churches, where I sometimes play with guys that spend $4K at the drop of a hat for an electric or acoustic guitar. I also play with people that play cello and harp - tens of thousands of dollars. Then there's the Steinway grand that I play next to wometimes - over $100K. A bass guitar at 1 or 1.5 K (mine are in that range) is not an expensive musical instrument, it just isn't dirt cheap. The fact that you can buy a perfectly serviceable bass guitar for $300, and a very good one for 3 to 5 times that means life is very good for us.

 

[Geri O]

I suppose this topic will be popping up from time to time. I have yet to see a post from anyone shouting from the rooftops that can play only +whatever expensive figure they choose. Only folks that proclaim “how cheap they can go”. Why is that? It’s no secret that playing inexpensive basses is completely possible.

I claim to be able to do both. I own a $4000 bass. It’s my heart & soul forever bass. However I’ve done two fly dates where I had to request a bass at the destination. I requested any 5-string Fender or Squier Bass. Worked out perfectly. I just took my favorite set of strings and some set-tools. So I can totally play a less-expensive instrument.

And the only reason that compelled me to write this story is like every other time, after 3-4 pages, it’s like “well, hell, why not?”...

 

[Wisebass]

Hi Rambazamba

I like Squiers! But I like expensive basses too!

What more could I ask for?

Do they swim? Are they lighter than a duck? Do they burn? Are they witches?

Jaws was never my scene and I don't like Star Wars.

greetings

Wise(b)ass

 

[I am Soma]

Ok.

 

[IamGroot]

It boils down to "What you want" vs "What you need"

If the job pays $50 and the bass intonates well and plays well and sounds something like a bass, go with it.

If it's a recording session for somebody on the rise, you may need to play a high end. But I haven't seen a high end job since I left Houston. My $300-$700 instruments are getting all the miles.

HINT: Active Electronics is a great equalizer.

 

[Nakoatron]

What I want in a bass unfortunately doesn’t come in a $199 squire package. My life would be a lot easier if it did.

In fact I envy you.

 

[nostatic]

how about one of each on a gig (house backline)?

 

[dabbler]

Different strokes for different folks. And it's all good.

Me? I like basses. I'm not a pro, my basses are a hobby. I enjoy playing them, modding them and having different models. I don't own any high enders, there's a limit to what I spend on my pleasure of instruments. But let me share my perspective.

1. Quality - people don't like to admit this, but quality is subjective. Some immediately change out the "low quality" small pots in low end basses, because they want "high quality" big ones. I have a bunch of spares as I have replaced some with switchpots with my mods, but I have never had to replace any of the "low quality" ones that are still in use. Now don't get me wrong, there IS such a thing as quality, but many people worry about things that really don't matter in terms of what the audience will hear, OR how long your bass will do what it does. Also, don't misunderstand me to say that people fretting (sorry) over those things are stupid, if it matters to you, it matters to you, but if something doesn't make a difference in a functional sense, there is not a "quality" difference for me.

2. Need - is also subjective and really comes down to people's preferences/desires.

You will seldom hear me use either of those terms in describing my instruments. They help me make music, I like them, and I think they are worth at LEAST (and sometimes more) the money and time I have put into them.

Preferring one type/price/brand of bass over another is not a virtue, nor a flaw, we all just have different values and preferences. It's all good.

Oh, and I'm not against threads like this, and I know that my post is a minority position, but I did want to share my perspective too. Thanks for reading.

 

[Pings Bass]

I love my Tribute L-2500 and my Sterling Ray 4. They are my #1 and #2 BGs, easily ahead of my two Fenders. The Sterling cost less than a new set of strings for my Kay.

 

[Admiral Thrawn]

I’m the opposite, otherwise known as “I’m not into cheap basses at all.” That’s just me though. I started off years ago with a junky $100 instrument and worked my way to where I’m at now. After having experienced the finer instruments, I can’t go back.

Same here. Started on a $100 pawn shop find and spent more time fighting the bass--trying to keep it in tune, trying to get the intonation set up correctly, spending money and time on setups that wouldn't hold, new strings, the works--and then eventually go my first StingRay.

Haven't played anything but 'Rays since.

They're not Ritter prices, but they're not "cheap" either.

They just work best for me.