One of the top three things I've ever heard played on bass was played on this free POS wonder I have:
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Is a high priced bass necessary?
- Thread starter Bklyn_Bass
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Im not upset at all, this is just text so no need to insinuate that type of stuff. I just don't understand why you asked me the question in the first place if you already had an opinion formed. Just feels like you were trolling me from my perspective. If not, no worries. I will tap out now from this stuff.
Unless my equipment is actually malfunctioning, the only people that have ever judged my stuff based on price or brand are posers. And kids just getting into it. I'm so removed from both now that its not been an issue for a LONG time.
I started bass the same way after playing guitar for 25 years. I did not have a lot of money at the time to spend on an "expensive" bass. I am now glad that I didn't have that money at the time. There are a lot of good feeling, sounding and looking basses out there that are in your price range. I started with an Ibanez GSR200 and to my ear at the time, I didn't know if it was a good sounding bass or not. After I improved my chops I started to play small gigs as a bass player. I would get compliments on how the bass sounded. It was preamped like most Ibanez at the time so that helped of course, but still it was and is still a good sounding bass. I spent $200 over 8 years ago and it is still that price today.
Now, if you are looking for something with resale value, that is a completely different set of requirements. I did eventually buy an expensive bass, expensive to me, but I did so because I liked the way it looked, felt and played. I like a thinner neck so I opted for the American Deluxe Jazz (Natural). I also believe it will hold it's value or appreciate, but who knows. The benefit of a bass that appreciates is that you can enjoy playing it and if you do sell it in the future, it was like you got paid to play what you liked. I have no intention of selling mine but it is a point.
Like others have said here, if you like the tone and feel, then what exactly will more money buy you?
This is the bass I started on and still have today as #2
Now, if you are looking for something with resale value, that is a completely different set of requirements. I did eventually buy an expensive bass, expensive to me, but I did so because I liked the way it looked, felt and played. I like a thinner neck so I opted for the American Deluxe Jazz (Natural). I also believe it will hold it's value or appreciate, but who knows. The benefit of a bass that appreciates is that you can enjoy playing it and if you do sell it in the future, it was like you got paid to play what you liked. I have no intention of selling mine but it is a point.
Like others have said here, if you like the tone and feel, then what exactly will more money buy you?
This is the bass I started on and still have today as #2
Why are you taking this on a personal level? It's a forum where people discuss, nothing more, it's nothing against you. I'm not insinuating stuff.
From what I understand, your basses were all good until the day you started doing studio work. Then you needed to shop for a more expensive bass. Why? You told me you have special needs so you needed to go and get an expensive one (meaning better I guess). It appears to me that you spent a great deal of your life playing with basses you did not enjoy/did not fit your needs. It may just be the case, and it's all good.
My point is simple: looks and big $$ will not make you a pro. Hard work, right attitude will, no matter what gear you play. And I'm not talking about you, I don't mean YOU, don't feel attacked.
Maybe we should just stop it there, it's only a discussion, I don't know you, you don't know me, and I can't really have enemies so... We good?
From what I understand, your basses were all good until the day you started doing studio work. Then you needed to shop for a more expensive bass. Why? You told me you have special needs so you needed to go and get an expensive one (meaning better I guess). It appears to me that you spent a great deal of your life playing with basses you did not enjoy/did not fit your needs. It may just be the case, and it's all good.
My point is simple: looks and big $$ will not make you a pro. Hard work, right attitude will, no matter what gear you play. And I'm not talking about you, I don't mean YOU, don't feel attacked.
Maybe we should just stop it there, it's only a discussion, I don't know you, you don't know me, and I can't really have enemies so... We good?
Absolutely. There is junk out there. But, you can easily get something that is great for recording and performing live for under $500.
After owning basses as expensive as $3K (used price), I am gigging this weekend with my Peavey Fury (with a vintage Bartolini pickup). Looks great. Sounds great. Plays great. Feels great. They go for $200 all the time.
Forget about scale. If it sounds good, it sounds good, and 34" 5-string basses can sound just as good as 35". Listen with your ears, not a measuring tape. Don't be distracted by numbers. If it sounds good and plays well, you're good. If it feels good and looks good, then you have a true winner and it doesn't matter what the scale is.
BTW, Made in America Peavey Millennium 5 strings are 35" scale and they are stellar quality. And when you can find them, they typically sell in the $500 - 600 range. But, there are LOTS of GREAT (used) basses out there under $600.
The first high end bass I bought was my 78 Tobias, new, back around 1980. I bought a BC Rich Mockingbird for $500 to do a straight trade for it. The reason why I bought it was it was the first bass that I'd ever played that I literally did not want to stop playing. People who've experienced that will know what I'm talking about. The playability was effortless, the sound was like nothing I'd ever heard. Did I need it? No... but I sure as heck wanted it. So I got it.
This highlights two very important points. One: You can find high end basses for far less than most people could imagine. It just takes patience and knowing what you're looking for/at. There are some genuine freak deals out there. So while I could've bought a new bass for the $650 I spent on my killer singlecut R bass...
Two: when you find something that blows away what you're used to, do you invest in yourself and get it or end up reminiscing about the one that got away?
I have very few regrets.
This highlights two very important points. One: You can find high end basses for far less than most people could imagine. It just takes patience and knowing what you're looking for/at. There are some genuine freak deals out there. So while I could've bought a new bass for the $650 I spent on my killer singlecut R bass...
Two: when you find something that blows away what you're used to, do you invest in yourself and get it or end up reminiscing about the one that got away?
I have very few regrets.
Not especially, it's more about finding what suits you. I still play my cheapo Peavey in some situations over my expensive Jazz and Thunderbird, because it suits certain styles much better. Besides, I like modding my instruments- you can get a cheap Jazz or something and make it your perfect bass if you want to, and no one else will have the same.
Because the search for better is about vanity? I disagree.
Other than electric guitar and bass, I can't think of another instrument where seeking a better example is considered a vanity purchase. No doubt there's a name for that.
In general you'd get a fine bass in the 500-1000 dollar range. The main problem with cheaper basses is the fretwork and cheaper parts being used. Often there will be unlevel frets that cause string buzz and prevent you from having low action, or the fret edges will be a bit sharp. That being said you can buy a cheap bass, get a fret leveling/crowning/polish and then swap some parts and have something that is very playable. Playability is the number one thing you want in a bass.
Pickups are easy to swap and often pretty cheap to get something upgraded, so I don't worry about that so much. A Squier can sound great with a pickup upgrade, so really the only thing it might have problems with is playability due to unlevel frets or sharp fret ends.
So you can calibrate my comments, these are in my regular rotation (except my granddaughters bass, far right):
Here are the two MIM basses I have been using in the studio this month. In fact, they are the only two MIM's that I own:
Both play and sound great. Both in your price range. I have LaBella Flats on the P-Bass Special and RS LDN on the J.
I've been playing live and studio for 40+ years at all types of venues and in top recording studios as well as home studios.
Here are the two MIM basses I have been using in the studio this month. In fact, they are the only two MIM's that I own:
Both play and sound great. Both in your price range. I have LaBella Flats on the P-Bass Special and RS LDN on the J.
I've been playing live and studio for 40+ years at all types of venues and in top recording studios as well as home studios.
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Yeah, the MIMs can be golden. My point personally was that I was really going after the Pre CBS tone and that is expensive when done right, but worth it to me. I used MIM Fender J's for a long time and really liked some of them, but I got more particular about my tone over time.
My Fender American Standards were a gift to my myself, and I am proud to own them. That being said, I wouldn't necessarily recommend that anyone else buy one, especially as a first Bass. Incidentally, my first Bass was a $200 Dean. For a son or daughter, I'd most definitely buy them a $600 MIM Fender, because they're my kids. I'd even leave the stock Strings on them.
Lakland Slylines in the used market fall close to your price range, 35" scale 5 strings, and really good quality.
+1
The point of diminishing returns happens at a different price for different people.
Any bass with a good setup will play better than any bass with a bad setup.
It's always interesting to watch everyone stake out their position on this once-a-week topic. But I gotta say, it sure seems like there's a lot of low-end gear snobbery oozing out of this thread. I've played basses at just about every price-point, but I put limits on how much (or how little) I spend based upon values and criteria that are only relevant to me.
OP, buy whatever feels/plays/sounds/looks good to you at a price you can live with. Anyone who's judging you by your instrument before they've heard you isn't worth playing with.
