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I'm not into expensive basses at all.

#121
Rambazamba said:
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?
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You use what you like and feels right.
I have expensive basses and inexpensive ones and I love them all.
Everyone of them gives me diferent things and honestly I'm in a place right now where I feel that all my bass needs are covered.
So, if you feel that way with your basses, then that's great and just keep enjoying them and making music.
 
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#122
Rambazamba said:
I'm surprised by how many members are apparently offended by my post and how many rather aggressive posts are in this thread. I did not tell anyone to give up on what they're doing. I did not claim that my opinion is the only valuable opinion. I was not offensive by any means (at least I hope so!). Do your thing. I do mine. It's great if you enjoy your gear. Really! I didn't know that this topic would be so emotional to some that they need to be insulting...?
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Your thread is an op-ed piece written to state your opinion and now you're stating that you don't understand why some people don't share your opinion? Newton's third law is: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
 
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#123
Nunovsky said:
You use what you like and feels right.
I have expensive basses and inexpensive ones and I love them all.
Everyone of them gives me diferent things and honestly I'm in a place right now where I feel that all my bass needs are covered.
So, if you feel that way with your basses, then that's great and just keep enjoying them and making music.
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You just nailed why I have played StingRays since 1999—they’re what I like and, more importantly, feel right when playing.
 
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#125
Rambazamba said:
I'm surprised by how many members are apparently offended by my post and how many rather aggressive posts are in this thread. I did not tell anyone to give up on what they're doing. I did not claim that my opinion is the only valuable opinion. I was not offensive by any means (at least I hope so!). Do your thing. I do mine. It's great if you enjoy your gear. Really! I didn't know that this topic would be so emotional to some that they need to be insulting...?
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Well, you kind of have to expect a difference in opinion when you post a thread proclaiming your own opinion. Is it really surprising that people don't agree with you? That others have taken offense, I seriously doubt it. Though, it's their right to do so, I suppose. I'm not personally offended, but I do disagree. I have laid my hands upon instruments created with inferior materials, and I shan't again in my life. I can barely lay mine eyes upon these instruments which carelessly hang from the low racks at Guitar Center without cringing at the many grubby fingers which have fondled its beggarly surface. That's just me though! :smug: I'm mostly kidding, except about only buying expensive basses. That I do.
 
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#128
I'd love some expensive basses if I had the cash. Some of those folks make playable art. Wyn comes to mind. I like neckthroughs and beautifully crafted joints, some of the more exotic woods, fancy electronics. Cheap basses are pretty utilitarian. It's what I play, but I don't appreciate them the same way.
 
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#130
For me it depends on what speaks to you, not so much the price.

If you see yourself playing one of those high end bass in your hands and you know for a fact that you need it, and you just become the instrument, then that's your path.

On the other hand, more $$$ =/= best result. For some people, a more modest bass speaks to them and they connect with their instrument on that level, then that is their calling.
 
#131
I totally get it. I have some really good basses in my collection and love the budget stuff too. I just gigged my Modern Player Jazz V at a show this past weekend. Sounded killer and don't see myself parting with it anytime soon.

Edit: Love 'em all and I don't look down my nose what a person can and can't afford. If you got'em ~ smoke'em.

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#133
Rambazamba said:
I'm surprised by how many members are apparently offended by my post and how many rather aggressive posts are in this thread. I did not tell anyone to give up on what they're doing. I did not claim that my opinion is the only valuable opinion. I was not offensive by any means (at least I hope so!). Do your thing. I do mine. It's great if you enjoy your gear. Really! I didn't know that this topic would be so emotional to some that they need to be insulting...?
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It’s possible some people saw your original post as being holier-than-thou and given the way it was worded, I’m not surprised.

The thing is, for posts like these—proclaiming a price point as the line between good and bad, whatever that may actually be—you should expect a fair enough of pushback.

You may only have $250 invested in your bass; others may have upwards of $30K in their bass(es), but the way your post is worded, it comes across as a slight against those who have more money invested.

I don’t think you’d take too kindly to someone knocking something you’re passionate about that you have a lot of time and maybe even money invested in, even if they were just “expressing their opinion.”
 
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#134
If I'm playing large stages at prestigious venues, which I don't, I think I'd upgrade to something. But in my venue history, I don't want to walk in with anything over $1K because I want to enjoy my evening, not stand guard over my instrument. Yeah I suppose my playing might suffer, but I don't have the critics from Rolling Stone, or Talkbass, for that matter watching every note played. I do ok, but I have fun. Swing my bass head into a cymbal, whatever....bang into a mic stand....hmmm, glad it wasn't my hand. I do put money into amps and cabs though. Harder to walk away with. I don't put drinks on them...
 
#135
walking Bass said:
An old Corolla will get you from place to place, but I'd rather drive a Porsche.
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But as you enter the land of $100 plus oil changes, and multi-thousand dollar clutch jobs, and keying of your paint by the unwashed masses, you will pour money into a depreciating asset at an alarming rate. Don't ask how I know. I had the money, just not the stomach to spend it on a car.
 
#137
PBassin said:
Well, you kind of have to expect a difference in opinion when you post a thread proclaiming your own opinion. Is it really surprising that people don't agree with you?
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I agree but: if someone reads an opinion in a forum, one can be like "well, that's your opinion but I have another" or be like "you must be an idiot because your opinion differs from mine!". I think we both agree on what would be the better way, right?
 
#140
I'm with you. I started on a SX P in which I put SD SPB-1s and roto flats, and got a squier VM jag. I love them both, and properly set up I'd rather play them over many fenders. I did get a custom built jag out of need, but before ordering it I considered modifying a squier, and I wouldn't have regretted it (not that I regret getting the custom one tho)
 

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