Is a high priced bass necessary?

[Blankandson]

On a similar vein, I would have never considered a Lexus L 460 sedan for my next car. Then my father-in-law buys one. I drive it. I ride in it. Now I want one. I would never have considered a custom shop Warwick, but then I played one for several hours at the Warwick shop in Nashville. I now own and play one. How did I afford it? I sold my other bass, saved for a year, and paid cash. So who knows, we sometimes have to eat our words. But it's worth it when I pick the bass up and began to play it. Probably the same with a Fedora, or Concklin, or __ __ __. You don't have GAS for it until you play it. After that it's hopeless. You gotta have it.

 

[Spidey2112]

Oh what a lovely bass kit.

Shhh, don't tell the wife... It's a 'double-secret-probationary' ploy to keep the kids away from the real ones....

 

[DavidEdenAria]

Not in the slightest. That's not to say many aren't nice instruments but for me, I'd rather buy a $300 bass, change the pups and hardware out with stuff I want, end up with about $600 in it and like it leagues better than a $1500 bass. My dual P Mockingbird with Hipshot ultralights sounds better than any P bass for double the cost. My old Kamans with EMGs, hipshot hardware play better than any $1500 bass I've owned.

Now that's not to say those expensive basses aren't worth it, because they are. I'm talking bout personal preference.

Cliff Burton did most of his playing on $500-700 Arias. In fact he recorded with them.

Are expensive basses great? sure, sometimes although I've seen just as many that definitely weren't worth the price. But you can play something far cheaper and with the right modifications still be well under the cost of stock expensive basses and play and sound better. Play what sounds good to you ears and feels good in your hand. If you're ok carting it around on stage all night and it sounds good, then rock on.

But those Japan Aria basses are very high quality.

 

[DavidEdenAria]

I think it REALLY depends...but a great AMP and lotsa practice with your hands makes a difference.

That said folks, a cheap instrument quite often leads to another costly investment; if people buy quality basses and guitars initially I think they learn what works for them, because they practice more.

A great amp and speaker combo are crucial imo.....lotsa practice.

Otoh, learning on a cheap instrument that is decent quality is fine.....learning how to setup a bass is crucial imo as well.

ALL of my USA Peavey basses and my Japan Ibanez SR800 were bought cheap because of setup issues mainly.

LEARN to setup a cheaper bass and you will be way ahead of the game when you move up to a better bass....setups are EVERYTHING!

 

[Canadian APII]

But those Japan Aria basses are very high quality.

The Aria basses are definitely high quality but very good examples can be had for cheap. I got this Aria Pro II CSB B&G for $150. This I would put up against anything.

 

[Kirk Bryant]

Yes a very expensive bass is absolutely necessary. You should sell all your cheap instruments and buy something like a custom Fodera or an Alembic. Go into debt if necessary and go for it you only live once.





(Sarcasm alert)

 

[jaybones]

All 3 of my basses probably cost about $800. I have a partsbass J copy I built myself (GFS red burst body, MM neck, 18V Bartolini pups, Fender WBW PG and other misc HW with DR Lo Beams), a vintage Rivoli (~1970 MIJ bolt on neck, paid $90 for it with OHSC and put a couple hundred in getting Dan Erlewine to repair the neck block) and my last acquisition, a Squier Affinity P (Baltic blue, replaced the single ply white PG with a Fender 3 ply red tortoise, a used Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound pup, and La Bella tapewounds- all together I have $200 in it, and that includes $20 for a Guitar Center bag in a box gigbag).

What I guess I'm saying is that as long as the bass is set up right, and has decent pickups and electronics, it doesn't matter how much it cost.

 

[Margus Alviste]

My recent buys are all considered cheap - two Squier JV Precisions, Tokai Jazz bass, but they sound shockingly good! Fender purists might send an assassin after me but I say these basses sound better than my 63 P and 69 J. Despite all that I still enjoy looking at my top dollar Fodera, MTD and Alembic in the corner.

 

[Watchootognbout]

In this case,YES!!

 

[Jeff Sarsippius]

In this case,YES!!View attachment 970966

Um......dare I ask?

 

[Morris2103]

Nope

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

In this case,YES!!View attachment 970966

 

[bass71]

At the end of the day its all in the fingers anyhow....if you aint got the chops it wont matter what you play, you may not sound the way you would like to.

 

[KillerEddie]

But those Japan Aria basses are very high quality.

Exactly but they were never terribly expensive. Really, they still aren't when you look at them compared to other basses. Look at the 80s MIJ BC riches. Same thing except word got out on those and the prices soared but back in the day those were considered cheap.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Um......dare I ask?

Do I own this?
No.
Not unless I find $4000.00 laying around.
I'm not sure of the price.But something about this bass says $4000.00 and up.Invalid Link Removed