I've never owned an instrument over $250

[nocontrols]

Sometimes people repeat the phrase "YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR... YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR" so many times that it becomes a mantra. At that point, they see a virtue in paying more so paying more becomes their final goal. Just paying more, in and of itself, is seen as something that gives you an upper-hand. You can get a quality bass in any price range if you're smart and you know how to shop but the YGWYPF contigent believes that buying a quality bass for $5,000 is inherently better than buying a quality bass for $500. This is where they and I part ways.

Imagine you are a businessman going to negotiate an acquisition. Should your goal be A) to spend as much as possible so that you have bragging rights that you've spent a lot or B) spend as little as possible while still getting some value in the end. The answer of course is B, which is why musicians make terrible businessmen. The only reason to choose A is to get that status-symbol label on the headstock. For anyone who isn't made of money or just values common-sense real-world frugality, the label-worshipping mentality is absurd and if you asked 99.999% of sane-thinking adults if it's worth it to get 90% of the tone and playability and durability for 1/10th the price, they'd answer "yes" in a heartbeat.

If you think I'm exagerrating about how likely musicians are to WANT to spend more, just look at this thread. Count the number of people saying "Save up the big bucks just so you can get a real pricey bass!" and then wonder why anyone would do that when there are literally dozens of threads on this very forum devoted to gigging basses had for under 500 bucks.

EDIT: Actually, I'm mistaken! It seems more TB'ers agree with me than not. That's cool and good advice for a beginner. It's definitely the other way around in many segments of the musician community.

 

[nocontrols]

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

That's very shallow of you. You'll waste a lot of money senselessly that way. A fool and his money etc. etc.

I know it's just an analogy (a tasteless, sexist analogy) but let's go with it: the "fat" chick might be good-looking even though she's fat and she might have great personality traits that translate into her being fun, personable and better in bed. Maybe she's also low-maintenance and more mentally stable than the model. NOW who's better off in the end?

 

[queevil]

i agree with most people here, price doesnt matter. heck I like my brothers 600 dollar ibanez sr500 better than my 1200 jazz bass.

I'll give you 600 for the j so you can buy an ibanez

 

[nocontrols]

I'll give you 600 for the j so you can buy an ibanez

Now you're talking about market value, which has little to nothing to do with the actual inherent quality of the instrument and even less to do with the person's subjective perception of the instrument.

It's a buyer's market so smart bassists are buying to play, not buying to sell.

 

[queevil]

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'd probably just say the squier sounds better so that I could have your money for the next 20 and spend it on a bunch of stupid expensive basses. So yes, we have a deal.

 

[Korladis]

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!!

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.

Whoa, dude. Are you trying to convince us or yourself?

 

[wolfmancharlie]

To the OP, There is nothing wrong with getting a great deal on an originaly priced 900.00 Ibanez BTB. I play an Ibanez BTB 1000 E that I purchased on E-bay for 350.00 and originaly sold for 1200.00. It is one of the best basses I have ever played or heard in my 36 years of gigging. I hope you get the BTB as it will serve you very well. Their BTB series uses very nice woods and electronics and are just as good , if not better ,than any of these mega thousand dollar basses. Also, just a warning, since you are here on Talkbass, This site produces GAS,and recently there seems to be a lot of headstock and gear snobbery.Just find a bass that plays good ,sits well, and sounds good to your ears. Get a realy good amp.Practice a lot. Practice with other musicians.Play in a band.Just PLAY. If eventualy you deciede that you need to play a mega thousand dollar bass then thats O.K. and it is your decision. BTW there is an Ibanez BTB club here where we ,who have an appreciation for a great BTB hang out. Good Luck.

 

[Rumblefisher]

^ Agree with wolfmancharlie.

Expensive basses are nice...fun to design if they are custom, sense of satisfaction knowing that the bass was built to your specifications, and that *should* translate to better playability for you...doesn't always. If you've found a bass that lets you express what you want to musically, then awesome! Whether it's a $500 or $5000 bass is a moot point to those who can afford it; it's what you like and what you feel comfortable with. I don't think that there are too many here who buy for the sake of buying...at least I hope not (or hope so, economic stimulus? ). In any case, the most important thing is to just play whatever you've got and practice a lot!

EDIT: Let me point out that I gigged for 3 years with a Squier Affinity saving every dollar I could from that and setting aside a little every week from a side job so that I could afford a better bass. I was stuck on Warwick for a while, then preEB Stingrays, etc etc until finding a luthier who did exceptional work with whom I chose to start a custom project. Kind of feels like "I did my time," haha.

 

[TMart99]

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.

If you (or anyone) finds or owns an inexpensive bass that has smooth action/playability, good intonation/pitch, delivers a sound you like and doesn't hamper or become an obstacle for your ability to play and improve your playing ability; then, there's no need for more expensive basses.

And there are some inexpensive basses out there that fit that description. But they are difficult to find and much depends on personal taste and personal preference.

Ultimately, most of them require upgraded wiring/electronics (pots, output jack, caps, all around wiring...etc) and a pickup upgrade.

What should be, is this......As you go up the ladder in the quality and price of instruments, the instrument should have improved playing ability, electronics, overall design and higher quality hardware. As well as better wood. It should allow you to play effortlessly without battling the bass itself. But we all know that's not always the case. I've played some expensive basses that played like horse poop, had terrible necks and terrible playability. While some less expensive basses played beautifully.

At some point there's a point of diminishing returns with all of this. As long as an instrument plays like butter and allows you to play to your best capabilities; that's all you need. If that's all you want.

On the other hand, I've seen many musicians (including myself when I was 16-17 years old) playing cheap, not so good instruments and they some how learn to compensate and adjust to the instruments flaws and still become good or great players/musicians. So it's all about what you put into it.

A dedicated individual will become good on most basses...on any instrument. But at some point it does benefit the individual to get a better instrument. Doesn't have to be $7,000.00 bass. Just something that has better playability.

 

[KingRazor]

I honestly believe that if I handed over my $450 Ibanez Soundgear to most bass players, they would find it comfortable and easy to play. Except for people who have a preference for necks that are more round or just fatter.

I frequently go to Guitar Center and try everything they have, including $1700 EBMM Rays and nothing compares to the Ibanez Soundgears when it comes to playability.

The good MIA Fenders are really the only competition I've found for the Soundgears. The sound blows the Ibanez basses away but I would still say they don't play as well.

Of course, none of the stores in my area carry Sadowsky or Lakland or any other high end bass brands, but out of what I've played, Ibanez just can't be beat.

This is all IMO/IME of course. As I said earlier in this post, some people just won't like the necks on an Ibanez.

 

[D.A.R.K.]

That's very shallow of you. You'll waste a lot of money senselessly that way. A fool and his money etc. etc.

I know it's just an analogy (a tasteless, sexist analogy) but let's go with it: the "fat" chick might be good-looking even though she's fat and she might have great personality traits that translate into her being fun, personable and better in bed. Maybe she's also low-maintenance and more mentally stable than the model. NOW who's better off in the end?

Ok, I'd rather nail a cut dude than a fat dude.
Either way, they will always be more attractive than me.
You may like fatties. I don't. Horses for courses.
Feel better now?
I think you are looking a bit too deep here, champ.
I own a really nice squier. I also own a nicer alembic.
The alembic is worth every penny more than the squier,
In playability, fit and finish, and quality of components.
Doesn't make me a better player,
But I'll reach for the alembic first, every time.

 

[JeffplaysBass]

yeah but that model is going to cost you a lot more money and frustration. At least the fat chick would probably go out of her way to make you happy.

wise words from my friends dad still ring in my ears today: "go ugly early, it will save you time and money"

saying all that I still haven't learned and still go for the hot chick that drive me up the wall

but hey we are here to talk about basses

HOT chicks rule!!..EXPENSIVE basses rule too!!!...you can keep your fat chics and cheap basses, I will pass dude.

 

[kuys]

HOT chicks rule!!..EXPENSIVE basses rule too!!!...you can keep your fat chics and cheap basses, I will pass dude.

These responses have me laughing out loud, which isn't good at work.

Either this guy is 15 or he's frat-boy personified.

Still, I'm amused.

 

[oniman7]

Hey! I take offense to the 15 remark.

 

[IngerAlb]

HOT chicks rule!!..EXPENSIVE basses rule too

Yes, you're right: they rule the folks naive enough to spend their money on 'em

 

[oniman7]

Never on TB have I seen so many people publicly denouncing hot girls and expensive basses. This is literally the exact opposite of most of the forum.

 

[TMart99]

I never denounce, dismiss, underestimate or disregard any bass, till I actually play it myself and see how she feels.

That goes for all chicks, too. Regardless if they're hot, fat, skinny or some where in between. And I've known some mighty fine, beautiful women who have some extra pounds on their frame.

Variety is the spice of life and in the smorgasbord that is life, only a fool dismisses a specific spice.

 

[bassbenj]

Never on TB have I seen so many people publicly denouncing hot girls and expensive basses. This is literally the exact opposite of most of the forum.

I guess you never heard of the curse of the beautiful woman. So many men judge women with their eyes the way some bass players judge basses with their eyes.

But when a woman is born cute and later good looking, this reliance on mere looks takes effect. These women soon discover that their looks can be used to get anything they want. They get used to simply snapping their fingers and a herd of men (or parents) snap-to. But eventually that drop-dead beauty fades and suddenly they are reduced to using more permanent talents to get things the way the rest of us are. Often they can't handle that. And if you are in on the action you'll discover that YOU won't want to handle it either.

Same for basses. Sure a drop-dead jaw-dropping custom bass knocks 'em all dead. All the people out there listening to your music with their eyes will be greatly impressed. But like most things if you constantly gig with your bass it starts to show dings and wear. We call that "personality" but to the person relying on mere looks to carry the day it means loss of impact. This then is a disaster.

Of course one can always dump the uber-bass for a new one and dump the model for a younger trophy model. But lets face it, it's all pretty shallow. It should be pretty obvious that one can judge paintings with your eyes, but judging music (or women) that way doesn't much get you down to the important things.

"If you want to be happy for the rest of your life...make an ugly woman your wife!"

 

[D.A.R.K.]

ok, my last derail....geez, you guys are looking to deep into this.....
but everyone whining about beautiful girls being hard to deal with needs to get a spine, if you are against generalizations about people you shouldn't jump to conclusions about personality based on looks either.
perhaps try to date a bit and get some experience.
an asshat is an asshat, i've met all kinds.
sorry i started this with my silly remark, my apologies to the op.
and my alembic still smokes the hell out of my squier.
for me, anyway.

 

[LilloEsquilo]

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?

What if I say that just to get the money?

Ok seriously, I personally have never owned a bass that sold for more than about 700. And I never will. The basses I have now were about 250 each. They are "perfect" for me and what I like. Is the Sadowsky 10 times better than what I have? If not, then buying one is a waste of money for me.

I understand you want to justify spending a lot of money on a bass. And maybe for you, that's the thing to do. I just wouldn't say that everyone MUST have a Sadowsky to have a really good bass they enjoy playing - I'm proof that's not true. If the 250 dollar bass does what you need, you like it and are happy with it, then you don't NEED a bass that costs 10 times that. Period. You might WANT one, but you sure don't NEED it. Just like most of us can get by with a Chevy to go to work and the grocery store and we don't NEED a Lamborghini. Oh sure we'd love to have one, but our Chevy does the job just fine for a lot less money.