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Is a high priced bass necessary?

Bklyn_Bass

Bklyn_Bass

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Sep 28, 2014
12
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#1
Before I say anything, I played guitar for 12 years and know the difference between a $200 instrument and a $2000 instrument but I've only been playing bass for 2-3 yrs and am still learning about the instrument. When it comes to guitars, I personally believe that the cheapest guitar can sound good in the hands of a good player but I've been told that the bass is different in that respect. I currently have an Ibanez SR305DX that I bought from a friend for almost nothing and I know that it's a "beginners" bass. My band records and mixes everything in-house and will eventually be playing shows. I can't really afford anything too crazy so my question is, can a moderately/mid-priced 5-string bass be adequate for recording and performing live? To me a high priced bass is $800+. I was looking to get something with a 35" scale and spend around $500-$600. A lot of reviews for basses in that range say things like "Good for practice" etc. Just want some opinions from more experienced players than I. Thanks.
 
#2
A high-price bass isn't even necessary for bragging. I brag about this every day and it only cost $650.
fnsj61.jpg

Plenty of good 5-strings in your price range will get the job done.
In fact, I just looked up 5-string basses on eBay and this popped up.
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I don't really need a bass...or do I?
Don't own a 5-string and this is under $500.
Best thing for me is not to check it out again!
This looks pretty good, too.
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Regardless, plenty of choices for you.
 
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#4
Of course not, a bass is just a couple hunks of wood, some pickups, and some strings. I have a strong suspicion that I could record a song with my cheapest bass (Ibanez GSR-200) and do no fancy mixing techniques, yet people would not know that it's a $200 bass. Maybe the most discerning ears might be able to pick out that it's not a super fancy bass, but a HUGE majority of listeners simply wouldn't even know or care. The important thing is that whatever bass you choose feels/sounds good to you and has no mechanical issues (poor setups are often confused as bad mechanical issues, but really setting up a bass is very easy to do).

jd56hawk said:
A high-price bass isn't even necessary for bragging. I brag about this every day and it only cost $650.
Click to expand...

They have one of these at the Guitar Center near me and I can't stop touching the damn thing. Might be the best MiM I've ever played! In fact, I even nearly had a breakdown!
 
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#8
I just bought a Warwick Pro series Corvette that is every bit as good as it's German counterpart. That's why they stopped making them in Korea in fact.... For $450 bucks.
You're guitar instincts are also true for bass. Cheap can be good. Warwick/Rockbass, Fender MIM, Squier, Sire, 80's made in Japan Ibanez are freaking killer and way cheap, Schecter. Tons of others.

Now is the best time in the history of music to get a very high quality instrument on the cheap. Don't let cost and perception fool you. If it feels good and sounds good, these days, it is good.
 
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#9
Well just remember you're probably going to get to the point where you know the difference between a $200 bass and a $2000 bass. I would at least look for something like a used 5 string American Fender they're pretty good playing and sounding basses and can be had for probably around $800 and will sound very good in a studio.
 
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#10
basslicks said:
Of course not, a bass is just a couple hunks of wood, some pickups, and some strings. I have a strong suspicion that I could record a song with my cheapest bass (Ibanez GSR-200) and do no fancy mixing techniques, yet people would not know that it's a $200 bass. Maybe the most discerning ears might be able to pick out that it's not a super fancy bass, but a HUGE majority of listeners simply wouldn't even know or care. The important thing is that whatever bass you choose feels/sounds good to you and has no mechanical issues (poor setups are often confused as bad mechanical issues, but really setting up a bass is very easy to do).



They have one of these at the Guitar Center near me and I can't stop touching the damn thing. Might be the best MiM I've ever played! In fact, I even nearly had a breakdown!
Click to expand...
I bought mine right after Christmas. Went into GC last week and saw one...they've recently started putting them in the stores again. I fooled around with it for about twenty minutes and was halfway to the counter to buy it when I remembered I already had one at home!
 
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#13
Bklyn_Bass said:
Before I say anything, ...........
I can't really afford anything too crazy so my question is, can moderately/mid-priced 5-string bass be adequate for recording and performing live? To me a high priced bass is $800+. I was looking to get something with a 35" scale and spend around $500-$600. A lot of reviews for basses in that range say things like "Good for practice" etc. Just want some opinions from more experienced players than I. Thanks.
Click to expand...

No.
Do you live in Brooklyn? Go there in the neighborhood and order one of these basses. They are pretty adequate for the job.

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FEDheadstock.JPG
 
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#14
Thanks everyone I appreciate the advice. I don't know why, maybe because it still feels foreign, but bass shopping is intimidating as f*ck to me. The thing with my situation is my band drop tunes. Up until recently, we were strictly drop C and I was tuning CGCFA. About a month ago my 2 guitarists bought 7-strings and are going to be tuning to drop A (AEADGBE). I'm going to be tuning AEADG and that's why I'm looking for a 5-string with a 35" scale. From what I understand that will support a heavier string in drop tuning better than a 34" scale. Unless I've been told wrong...
 
#16
Bklyn_Bass said:
Before I say anything, I played guitar for 12 years and know the difference between a $200 instrument and a $2000 instrument.
Click to expand...

When it comes to guitars, I personally believe that the cheapest guitar can sound good in the hands of a good player but I've been told that the bass is different in that respect.
Click to expand...

Basses are no different in both of these respects.

Take it from someone who has lots of high priced basses, you don't need one.
If you're looking for something specific that isn't made at a lower price point you'll have to spend the money, but otherwise they all just basses.
Just like high priced guitars you're getting top hardware, top electronics, top fit and finish, and top fretwork, and most of it is done by hand. That's what you're paying for.

Bklyn_Bass said:
Thanks everyone I appreciate the advice. I don't know why, maybe because it still feels foreign, but bass shopping is intimidating as f*ck to me. The thing with my situation is my band drop tunes. Up until recently, we were strictly drop C and I was tuning CGCFA. About a month ago my 2 guitarists bought 7-strings and are going to be tuning to drop A (AEADGBE). I'm going to be tuning AEADG and that's why I'm looking for a 5-string with a 35" scale. From what I understand that will support a heavier string in drop tuning better than a 34" scale. Unless I've been told wrong...
Click to expand...

Just go out and play many as you can to get a handle on what you like and don't like. The only part that's tough is hearing how they'll fit into a mix without actually being able to play them Ina love environment with your band...

Although there are great 34" scale basses a 35" will generally handle lower turnings better. You also may want to consider a Dingwall. 37.5" scale fanned fret basses. The Combustion and NG-2 are their lower priced offerings (still higher than your budget) but they'll do exactly what you're looking for and be really awesome at doing it.
 
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#18
My two "best" basses happen to be the two cheapest ones I have. Also, I think the bargain instruments of today are much better overall than they were back in the old days so I don't think you need to spend much money at all. If I were you I'd look through the forums on this website as a start, there's always really good stuff there
 
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