I've never owned an instrument over $250

[bassist4dalord]

Same here. Never spent more that $150 on a bass.

That GC policy made me raise my eyebrows. They have to hold on to it for 15 days?? I imagine that's to make sure it's not stolen or something, but I've never heard that policy. If it's a real policy, tell them to get it off the showroom floor. That's not fair at all.

/rant

 

[southgabass]

^!!!! I feel the same... if its on the floor its for sale....
+1

I do see the need for the policy though.... kind of like a "see if this is stolen" or "maybe they'll change their mind" kind of deal... with times being as hard as they are I can see someone "borrowing" a bass and selling it in... and if I was the one who "lended" the bass the "friend" would need to spend that money on a hospital bill...

a BTB is absolutely SWEET bass... no reason to feel bad about that... like I said if the bass you have gets the job done and makes you happy no matter what you spent on it, it is a $1000000000 bass....

nice song quote with "Pricetag" btw

 

[JeffplaysBass]

There are times when a $250 bass is better than a $2,000 bass..then there are times when a $250 isn't worth the price of strings...

In music I've done lengthy and qualitative research and found, if it sounds good, that's the bass you want.

YOu serious???...Ok, I will put my $2,000 Sadowsky against any $250 bass and if anyone says the $250 bass sounds, looks, feels better than the Sadowsky I will give you every paycheck I earn for the next 20years...got a deal?

 

[JeffplaysBass]

I like how my bass plays and I only spent $35 on it. I got it for that low only because it wasn't playable when I got it, but it is now. Sure, I have my eye on an $800 Fender but I am perfectly happy with my Yamaha for now.

I also have an Epiphone Lp (Guitar not bass) which cost $500. Most expensive instrument I've ever owned but inexpensive as far as Lp's go. And I love that too!

Yeah me to...I bought a $5 bass and it blew away my friends $4,200 NYC Sadowsky....the $5 bass put the Sadowsky to shame!!....then I woke up, hahahaha

 

[southgabass]

lol... not saying that a $100 right out of the box squier can show up a Sadowsky... but with a little love and attention they have the potential (and all cheap basses) to get the job done just as well... maybe it means dropping a few bucks in for upgraded electronics.... it may not be as pretty to look at but if you can thump that E or B and it makes ya shake then its good to go =D

 

[Mr wiggl3s]

A good guitar does not make a bad player good

But a good guitar helps

 

[GLEN18INCHSPICA]

YOu serious???...Ok, I will put my $2,000 Sadowsky against any $250 bass and if anyone says the $250 bass sounds, looks, feels better than the Sadowsky I will give you every paycheck I earn for the next 20years...got a deal?

You would be broke, ears can't tell the difference in price unless that price buys better pickups or tonewood. I like plain old alder passive basses. I've had some more expensive instruments in the past & I am more than happy to play my $89 stock SX Jazz bass today. It would probably sound better with some aftermarket pickups, but a fancy finish abalone inlays, satin finish neck, binding etc. won't make a difference in tone.

 

[kuys]

I've always been of the opinion that once you hit the $600-700 dollar range; increases in price fall into the realms of cosmetic upgrades, gimmicks and brand markup.

Sure, a custom built bass is going to be expensive but in those cases your paying man hour dollars for a single guy to build your bass.

I recently bought a $100 Squier stratocaster and after a new set of strings and a fret leveling on two frets. It's equal to my buddies 92's MIA Stratocaster in every department even finish (which usually isn't the case).

YOu serious???...Ok, I will put my $2,000 Sadowsky against any $250 bass and if anyone says the $250 bass sounds, looks, feels better than the Sadowsky I will give you every paycheck I earn for the next 20years...got a deal?

Get ready to be broke. I'd like those checks in money orders, please.

I'm one of the 1% or so of the general population that are completely unaffected by brand loyalty and brand expectation.

 

[Need2KnowBasses]

YOu serious???...Ok, I will put my $2,000 Sadowsky against any $250 bass and if anyone says the $250 bass sounds, looks, feels better than the Sadowsky I will give you every paycheck I earn for the next 20years...got a deal?

I would take you up on this challenge any day. I will put my AXL bass that cost $90 new against your Sadowsky. I bet if we randomly selected 30 players from TB at least one would say it was better. That would be my stock AXL with only set up work done to it. Let me use the remaining $160 (from the $250 you stated the bass could cost) to upgrade the pick ups, pots, and bridge and I would bet at least 10% prefer my bass. Finish would not be a judgment qualification as participants would have to be blindfolded. I won't even ask for your life's pay as a reward. Just give me your Sadowsky and an apology then I'll be happy.

 

[danomite64]

I have two Ibanez basses that cost me $250 each (+ tax), an ATK 300 ($800 list new), and a Soundgear 800 ($949 list new). The SR800 plays like butter, and the ATK plays well and has a nice sound. I feel they compete well with other basses in their original price range.My SR800 blows the doors off every GSR200 or SR300 model I've ever tried. But it's not as nice as my two custom-made Warmoth Jazz basses, and it certainly doesn't match up to the Sadowskys, Foderas, Spectors, etc. that I've tried.

 

[Mastermold]

You would be broke, ears can't tell the difference in price unless that price buys better pickups or tonewood. I like plain old alder passive basses. I've had some more expensive instruments in the past & I am more than happy to play my $89 stock SX Jazz bass today. It would probably sound better with some aftermarket pickups, but a fancy finish abalone inlays, satin finish neck, binding etc. won't make a difference in tone.

Good tone is pretty subjective. I actually really the tone I get from the bone stock SX basses I have. Their fretwork leaves something to be desired but I've always thought they sounded good.

 

[southgabass]

.... me too =D... pm me for address and delivery preferences =D... kthanx

 

[Korladis]

"Better" is subjective. Everyone's different, and not all bass models are the same, either.

Do I think my bass is the "best," out there? No, because I don't believe in any such thing as "best." For example, a lot of really expensive basses have active electronics. I don't want active electronics, and so would not pay for these basses because they're not suited to my needs. For someone else, they might be perfect and well worth the price.

If the bass you like most costs $250, who cares? Same if it costs $2500. All that matters is that it was worth the price to YOU.

 

[Korladis]

lol... not saying that a $100 right out of the box squier can show up a Sadowsky... but with a little love and attention they have the potential (and all cheap basses) to get the job done just as well... maybe it means dropping a few bucks in for upgraded electronics.... it may not be as pretty to look at but if you can thump that E or B and it makes ya shake then its good to go =D

I'd take my $200 Peavey over a Sadowsky. Not saying I don't think Sadowsky basses are good, just that I love how my $200 Peavey sounds now (of course, it is heavily modified.... so it's more like a $400 Peavey now).

 

[darkstorm]

Finding high qaulity bass or even guitar for that $250 is v ery very hard. You get much better qaulity overall in most cases with those that cost 2-3 times that new even by internet store prices rather then list. With the exception of a couple passive basses Ive never seen a high qaulity bass for under $300 as regular new internet store price. Of course the $500-$600 version by same maker is ussually a nice bit better. Theres a few exceptions but those are fairly rare imo.

 

[JeffplaysBass]

You would be broke, ears can't tell the difference in price unless that price buys better pickups or tonewood. I like plain old alder passive basses. I've had some more expensive instruments in the past & I am more than happy to play my $89 stock SX Jazz bass today. It would probably sound better with some aftermarket pickups, but a fancy finish abalone inlays, satin finish neck, binding etc. won't make a difference in tone.

Yeah I totally agree with you...so anyone with a bass worth over $1,000 should just throw them in the garbage and buy a bass under $100, thanks for helping us idiots!!

 

[JeffplaysBass]

I would take you up on this challenge any day. I will put my AXL bass that cost $90 new against your Sadowsky. I bet if we randomly selected 30 players from TB at least one would say it was better. That would be my stock AXL with only set up work done to it. Let me use the remaining $160 (from the $250 you stated the bass could cost) to upgrade the pick ups, pots, and bridge and I would bet at least 10% prefer my bass. Finish would not be a judgment qualification as participants would have to be blindfolded. I won't even ask for your life's pay as a reward. Just give me your Sadowsky and an apology then I'll be happy.

Come to new bedford mass anytime I will have 20-35 bass players play your AWESOME BASS and then play my ****** Sadowsky....yes you are soooo right all Sadowskys suck and your $50 bass blows them all away.

 

[IngerAlb]

Come to new bedford mass anytime I will have 20-35 bass players play your AWESOME BASS and then play my ****** Sadowsky....yes you are soooo right all Sadowskys suck and your $50 bass blows them all away.

K, we got it, you play a Sadowsky You can stop now

Seriously: the difference between a "cheapo" and a high end model is that a good sounding cheap bass will put a bigger smile on your face A 5k $ is expected to sound good, but getting a good player for a fraction of that price makes you fell all warm and fuzzy inside, hehe

 

[LowNotes1]

Most of us do not have unlimited funds and can only spend so much, but assuming an instrument is in my desired price range, the most important thing to me has always been, does the bass play in tune and stay in tune? Secondarily, are the electronics working as designed?

Beyond that, I couldn't care less if the bass cost five cents as long as I liked the way it sounds. However, I think sometimes people feel that a tone quality they prefer is "better" than tones they don't prefer. I prefer a plucked old P-bass tone to that of a picked Rickenbacker, but I don't consider it better, just different.

Also, if I was going to be playing in a retro punk band, I don't think I'd be trotting out an Alembic. Sometimes a cheaper instrument is what will provide the sound you need.

I own an early 80's Jazz that's in great condition and probably worth about $1500-$2000. I also own an Epiphone T-bird that goes for $300 new. They both sound great, but I can't say that the Jazz sounds better, because it doesn't, at least to my ears.

 

[D.A.R.K.]

i could bang a model or a fat chick. i'd get off either way.
but i'd rather bang the model, every time.