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I've never owned an instrument over $250

O

oniman7

Jun 1, 2010
2,490
10
Saint Augustine, Florida
#1
When my brother started playing guitar, they got him an Ibanez Gio (great guitar) for $200 that I eventually got. I bought my bass in a pawnshop. It's a Jay turser 600 A that was going for $225 until the owner chipped the finish and brought the price down to $175.

Earlier I was in Guitar Center, and my parents were ready to buy me a more "professional" bass. They were willing to spend as much as $800 or $900, but while I was playing in there, I couldn't find a single "high end" bass that I loved. And then I picked up an Ibanez BTB 5 string that was amazing. It was $230, used. I would've come home with it today, but it was just traded in two days ago, and they have to hold on to used gear for 15 days before selling it.

This has raised the question for me of why everybody needs expensive gear. I understand you love your Warwicks and Alembics and whatever -- I absolutely love the growl of a Warwick, and if I had the money, I'd buy one in a heartbeat. But for the majority of us out there, especially those starting, these $200 basses with a $50 set up play and sound amazing, at least from my perspective.

Although, now that I look on Guitar Center's website, it retails for almost $900 new. Still, feel free to discuss high-end versus budget buys.
 
#3
I think starting with cheap gear is almost essential. Too many people (myself included) quickly upgraded and got overly interested in GAS and not interested enough in playing the damn thing. I think of instruments as tools first, I know this point of view is common, as is the "it's better to have quality tools" argument.
 
#4
If you're going to spend a sizeable amount of your life playing one instrument, then by all means spend as much or as little as you like. Concert violinists will pay upwards of $10K for a nice violin. Not saying you should spend that much on a bass, but hey, whatever floats your boat.

That said, there are a TON of downright decent instruments to be had on the cheap. Buying used makes a huge difference by itself.
 
#8
oniman7 said:
When my brother started playing guitar, they got him an Ibanez Gio (great guitar) for $200 that I eventually got. I bought my bass in a pawnshop. It's a Jay turser 600 A that was going for $225 until the owner chipped the finish and brought the price down to $175.

Earlier I was in Guitar Center, and my parents were ready to buy me a more "professional" bass. They were willing to spend as much as $800 or $900, but while I was playing in there, I couldn't find a single "high end" bass that I loved. And then I picked up an Ibanez BTB 5 string that was amazing. It was $230, used. I would've come home with it today, but it was just traded in two days ago, and they have to hold on to used gear for 15 days before selling it.

This has raised the question for me of why everybody needs expensive gear. I understand you love your Warwicks and Alembics and whatever -- I absolutely love the growl of a Warwick, and if I had the money, I'd buy one in a heartbeat. But for the majority of us out there, especially those starting, these $200 basses with a $50 set up play and sound amazing, at least from my perspective.

Although, now that I look on Guitar Center's website, it retails for almost $900 new. Still, feel free to discuss high-end versus budget buys.
Click to expand...

Well personally I consider $900 a budget buy. Each persons opinion of high end versus budget is subjective so while one person may consider anything under $2500 to be a budget buy another may consider anything over $200 to be high end. So you need to refine your criteria.

As for your original comment I think you missed something that you brought up. As you said that BTB plays very well and many of the other basses, which specifically you have not elaborated on, you tried did not play well it may be nothing more than they are in dire need of a good setup so you were not able to get an accurate representation.

Some of the other basses may well play better than the Ibby does and they may well have much better electronics, sit better in a mix, hold up better over time and you are missing those just because they are not set-up properly.
 
#9
I've only owned four basses, never paid more than $500 for a single one.
Bought all of them used, too. Been playing the same bass since 1999.
I've almost sold the darn thing about 20 times now, but glad I haven't.
It's funny what lurking around these boards will do to you..
like making you pine away for a Squier Classic Vibe. A Squier.
The same Squier you were embarrassed to be seen playing at shows when you were in high school, when all of your friends had MIM Fenders and Ibanez RG's..
Oh, nostalgia.
 
#10
Indeed, many of them were in drastic need of a set up. However, of all the basses I have ever played (guitar store, other bass players, music studios) it is one of the best.

It's entirely possible that the way it plays would barely be considered playable to others. But it's great compared to anything I've ever seen.
 
#11
cataract said:
I've only owned four basses, never paid more than $500 for a single one.
Bought all of them used, too. Been playing the same bass since 1999.
I've almost sold the darn thing about 20 times now, but glad I haven't.
It's funny what lurking around these boards will do to you..
like making you pine away for a Squier Classic Vibe. A Squier.
The same Squier you were embarrassed to be seen playing at shows when you were in high school, when all of your friends had MIM Fenders and Ibanez RG's..
Oh, nostalgia.
Click to expand...



I used to hate Squiers because all my friends did, and because my friend has a cherry red Squier strat that was terrible. Indeed, the Pete Wentz Squier is also horrendous.

Regardless, Squiers have earned a great deal of respect from me, as well as anybody who plays one (well) without prejudice.
 
#12
The only reason I haven't played my first bass (a cherry red Squier P bass) in over 12 years is because one of the saddles decided to just "fall off" when I was changing the strings. Apparently the string tension was the only thing keep the G saddle in place.
The neck was teeny, too.. in a good way. A cross between a Jazz and a Precision.
I miss it sometimes, after wrestling with this huge 83 American P neck.
I haven't any desire to fix the thing. I really want a fiesta red CV though.
 
#14
Aspidites said:
Well personally I consider $900 a budget buy. Each persons opinion of high end versus budget is subjective so while one person may consider anything under $2500 to be a budget buy another may consider anything over $200 to be high end. So you need to refine your criteria.

As for your original comment I think you missed something that you brought up. As you said that BTB plays very well and many of the other basses, which specifically you have not elaborated on, you tried did not play well it may be nothing more than they are in dire need of a good setup so you were not able to get an accurate representation.

Some of the other basses may well play better than the Ibby does and they may well have much better electronics, sit better in a mix, hold up better over time and you are missing those just because they are not set-up properly.
Click to expand...
and then again, they might not.

here's the truth...nobody really cares what you play except other musicians and who cares what they think? so make yourself happy first, whether it's a $200 bass or a $20,000 bass.
 
#16
I regard instruments as tools. They all do specific things and as far as I am concerned price and branding are irrelevant.

I own 2 basses. A 2006 BTB which is my active workhorse and a Squire Precision. Yes the Squire is not a marvelous bass but I bought it from a friend who no longer needed it for $100. I did this because it was not only a great deal but because it was a tool which I can use. I can now happily use the pickup of the passive bass to record a great P-Bass sound with a great deal of versatility. All you need is a decent amount of software and the patience to tweak. Would I get a better sound out of a 2000 dollar precision? Most people would say that the answer is almost definitely yes. The question you have to ask however though is would that sound be $1900 better? The answer to this question is almost definitely no. It is all about the purpose with which you purchase something.

The concept that some musicians have that $$$$ = Better absolutely disgusts me. This may be true in terms of build quality in many cases but it certainly does not dictate usability. This is not an exact science though I admit. I just dont like the idea that some people believe that spending more is the key to getting a better item. The key is to identify what you need then find the item which will fulfill this need. Going to the top end of the price pile may often not be necessary.
 
#20
IPYF said:
Would I get a better sound out of a 2000 dollar precision? Most people would say that the answer is almost definitely yes. The question you have to ask however though is would that sound be $1900 better? The answer to this question is almost definitely no. It is all about the purpose with which you purchase something.
Click to expand...

No. Any rational person with some bass experience will tell you sound - or tone - is completely subjective.

The $1900 will, however, buy a higher quality instrument. Maybe not $1900 better, but better than a bottom cost instrument.

I can hear the detractors now....
 

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