A cheap bass with a great setup will serve most better than an expensive bass with a bad setup
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Is a high priced bass necessary?
- Thread starter Bklyn_Bass
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The idea that an instrument that feels and sounds better to you can't inspire you is one of the sillier things I've seen trotted out on TB. And that could be a bass in any price range.
Last night I had a ball playing a bass most would consider too heavy and many would consider too expensive... and I couldn't care less about what they think. When you get to that point as a musician it's a wonderful thing. Just having fun using what you like, doing what you do. The day I buy a bass to make someone else jealous will be a sad day indeed. And not one of my basses is overpriced.
Other than having a scale length an inch longer, there is no given advantage of 35" over 34". It depends on the bass in question. Besides, even if there were an advantage... would it be "needed"?
I just did a quick search. These Mtd Kingston basses are great! This, For Sale - MTD Kingston KZ-5 Bass Tobacco Sunburst, Maple Neck, Upgrades , will work perfectly for what you want and it is only slightly higher than your budget.
Don't be afraid of buying used through the TB classifieds. Some really great deals to be had.
Don't be afraid of buying used through the TB classifieds. Some really great deals to be had.
I've been around more than half a century. Trust me, for what you are willing to spend, you can get yourself a great instrument. My main bass is a high end jazz type, but I have a Squier I keep for a spare, that I customized somewhat. For what I have into that bass, it sounds better than some I have paid two to three times as much for. I play it for the whole gig at times, and still I'm amazed how great it sounds. Does it play as well as my main bass, for my hands no, but I guarantee it would fit someone like a glove.
I'm replying to the actual question posed by the OP rather than just reading the title of the thread and waxing philosophical. 35" scale is a component of that question.Other than having a scale length an inch longer, there is no given advantage of 35" over 34". It depends on the bass in question. Besides, even if there were an advantage... would it be "needed"?
There's a "depends" regarding cost and getting what you pay for. What kind of music do you play? If you are playing fusion, rock or jazz with solo bass, then $800 may or may not cut it. Most other music genres can be performed with a $300 to $400 bass. But there's other factors like amp and cabs and effects to get the tone you want to achieve. Those may amplify (ha ha) the quality or lack of quality of your bass guitar's electronic hardware. That's when you find the $2,000+ bass guitar owners club laughing at you. Just kidding. They chuckle quietly while caressing the neck of their Fodera, Sadowsky, or other $2,000+ bass guitar.
Me too. You can do alternate tuning on 34" scale basses too. And I'd be willing to be that even a better designed and built cheap 34" will work better than many of the cheap 35's I've come across. So one can go by a single spec or look at the entire bass. You can probably figure out which side of that line I fall on.
Guess you didn't think that's what I meant.
The value of a good setup cannot be overstated!
Becoming an accomplished player is probably the best "gear" choice you can make. My favorite P bass is a $175 super lightweight parts bass I picked up a few years back, with a 24" scale Samick Greg Bennett Corsair running neck and neck with it. but I didn't limit the rest of what I use to that price range.
As mentioned, try as many basses as you can. Figure out what you like and don't like. Learn how setup can affect your satisfaction with any instrument... and how every other component in your gear affects what you're trying to do. This will figure out what makes you happy. We all have different goals so I understand if anyone chooses not to do this.
As mentioned, try as many basses as you can. Figure out what you like and don't like. Learn how setup can affect your satisfaction with any instrument... and how every other component in your gear affects what you're trying to do. This will figure out what makes you happy. We all have different goals so I understand if anyone chooses not to do this.
Very true... and setups aren't usually permanent. That screws up the equation IMO.
Nope, I didn't. I get it now.Me too. You can do alternate tuning on 34" scale basses too. And I'd be willing to be that even a better designed and built cheap 34" will work better than many of the cheap 35's I've come across. So one can go by a single spec or look at the entire bass. You can probably figure out which side of that line I fall on.
Guess you didn't think that's what I meant.
I'm all about enjoying what I'm doing, whatever I'm holding. It helps keep what I do from feeling like work most gigs. The price isn't the determining factor. I use stuff I like to play and typically at some point on a gig I'm blown away by what I'm able to get out of it. Again, life's too short...
No.... but I did and don't look back.
There are a slew of squier lovers on here but I am not one.
Squier was meant to be a cheap alternative to fender...now the people who love the cheap squires swear that they are just as good.....maybe if you are Chinese... It's good for you're economy.
I am not Chinese and enjoy a US made fender Bass.
There are a slew of squier lovers on here but I am not one.
Squier was meant to be a cheap alternative to fender...now the people who love the cheap squires swear that they are just as good.....maybe if you are Chinese... It's good for you're economy.
I am not Chinese and enjoy a US made fender Bass.
Same principle you know as a guitarist applies here, too.
I've been gigging with a major session guitarist in LA and right now his main guitar is a Squier and he destroys it every time.
I had a cheap Epiphone and upgraded to an Ibanez that cost twice as much, expecting a huge difference. Nope.
I've owned a nice range and currently my "cheapies" are my Road Worns, but I am just as inspired by them as my Zon and Ric.
Some good advice here, just make sure it's setup well and you'll find out what you like or don't over time.
I've been gigging with a major session guitarist in LA and right now his main guitar is a Squier and he destroys it every time.
I had a cheap Epiphone and upgraded to an Ibanez that cost twice as much, expecting a huge difference. Nope.
I've owned a nice range and currently my "cheapies" are my Road Worns, but I am just as inspired by them as my Zon and Ric.
Some good advice here, just make sure it's setup well and you'll find out what you like or don't over time.
From what I've been reading on this very board, it seems not since some folks fork high dollars for an instrument but then are afraid to take it to a gig, so they go get some "cheap" bass as backups...
I mean, whatever floats yer boat. If you have the means and really want some expensive bass, why not? But if you don't wanna spend a lot, it's all good too. On a gig, most of the audience don't give a hoot about what you play, get something comfortable that you like and play the hell out of it, expensive or not. Musicians give a lot of importance about this, not your average dude - or dudette - in the audience. You can sound good with expensive gear, and you can sound good with cheap gear. We should be playing a lot more than buying/flipping gear.
Go with your budget and don't sweat it.
I mean, whatever floats yer boat. If you have the means and really want some expensive bass, why not? But if you don't wanna spend a lot, it's all good too. On a gig, most of the audience don't give a hoot about what you play, get something comfortable that you like and play the hell out of it, expensive or not. Musicians give a lot of importance about this, not your average dude - or dudette - in the audience. You can sound good with expensive gear, and you can sound good with cheap gear. We should be playing a lot more than buying/flipping gear.
Go with your budget and don't sweat it.
