Inexpesive Bass is just fine!

[dangnewt]

My #1 is more in the mid-range bass category - $300-500 value. I could afford more, but it not only does the job for me - it allows me to own a couple of basses relatively guilt-free. For me to play a $1,000+ bass would only send the talent to gear ratio plumetting into very, very small numbers.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

You get what you pay for. I have played some great low-end basses, but until you pick up a fine-tuned, hand built machine, you don't know what you're missing.

No, there are more than a few high quality basses that can be had cheaply because of their low resale value.

 

[CrispyDelicious]

No, there are more than a few high quality basses that can be had cheaply because of their low resale value.

You know what I mean, don't be silly.

 

[DougD]

IMHO, high price does NOT guarantee high quality. For instance, I have a 1997 Ibanez SR 400 that I paid 400 for, and its WAY better built than the USA Fender that I had. and the Fender cost 3 times as much. Maybe I got a lemon, but at that price, I shouldn't have. This is not a knock on all Fenders, just a comparison. So I vote for the highest quality without regard to cost.

 

[WoodyG3]

i got my 'wick corvette standard for $250 used. it's my main guy. does that count?

No. That does not count. You practically stole the bass at that price.

There should be another choice on the poll, something like I get the best bass I can afford within my budget. How many people can say that money is no concern?

These threads come up all the time. I'm not at all against a good, inexpensive bass. My fretless cost me $150 used and I'll never let go of it. The thing that bugs me about this type of thread, though, is sort of a reverse gear snobbery thing. Too many people seem to be saying, "hey, I'm smarter than you because my cheap bass is just as good as your expensive bass, and since you own an expensive bass you must be a gear snob."

I'm probably over-reacting since this is the hundredth time or so I've seen this kind of thread. Maybe I should just go have a beer.

 

[Bongolation]

IMHO, high price does NOT guarantee high quality.

Of course not. It's total nonsense. Build quality is about the same on most production instruments regardless of price. Good, so-so and atrocious, especially when the company is coasting on brand equity like Gibson [spit!] and Fender.

Some build methods are better on higher-end production stuff (never mind parts and materials) but QC is about the same on most brands because they can get away with it. Doctrine is, "Quality in excess of buyer expectation is waste."

As I've said many times, "It's almost impossible to get a really good or really bad production instrument at any price."

Only a small number of people here (5%, maybe) really know how to objectively and professionally evaluate build quality. I do, and I find absolutely no correlation between build quality and price on production instruments. I've seen superb build quality on $200 instruments and atrocious build quality on near-$4000 instruments with almost no odds on which will be which.

I do know that going up the price range, you definitely pay more and more for less and less...which is how marketing is supposed to work, and does.

 

[lbanks]

I use a MIM Jazz and SX PJ for gigs. The Conklin GT5 and the Ripper stay home.

 

[Honk'n_down-low]

I have played old Fenders for a long time. When I started playing again - I bought a few newer, albeit less expensive Basses.
None of the Basses I have purchased in the past two years cost me more than $500. My current favorites are my Lakland 5 String, Spector 6 String, Spector 4 String and Fender P-Bass with Flats. All of them combined were about $1600 IIRC. Great playing and sounding - but that is not to say I would not buy a Boutique Bass if I had the cash. For less than the cost of one expensive Bass I have 4 that cover all the ground I need to cover.

 

[Badbear79]

I would love to own an expensive bass but Im very accident prone..kinda clutsy at times. If I owned an expensive bass I would be too preoccupied caring about it's safety rather than having fun playing.