Now or Later?

How about one now for $1500 and one later for $2500?

 

Personally, unless you have a lot of disposable income, I don't think a $4000 bass is going to play, sound or feel that much better than a $1500 one.

It will definitely not be $2500 better.

Now if you have a lot of cash lying around to drop on a 4 grand bass, more power to you.

I've had some pretty expensive basses in my time...and the only one I have left is one I got for $300.

GAS is treatable, but the only thing I've found that truy works for GAS is marriage and kids.

Best of luck to you.

 

Can you get the bass you WANT for $1500?? Your profile says you want a Sadowsky or an Fbass. I think you should wait until you have enough for one of them. I am guilty of spending quickly instead of saving for the goal, and while I have some sweet toys, I am still as far away from a Sadowsky or Fbass (both on MY list) as I was two yrs ago.

 

MIA standar Fender jazz V vs lackland D55-94 gives you the best $2500 difference in sound and looks.

 

If your current bass doesn't have good playability, get the $1500 bass now. If you can get by just fine on what you have now, well, get one now or later, your choice. Strong suggestion: make sure you have a backup bass.

Another angle: is your amp sufficient? If not, you should consider getting the $1500 bass and upgrading your amp.

 

that's how I see it too

 

I would never spend $4000 on a fretless. I've just played way too many fretless basses for much less that have been amazing instruments.

 

I wouldn't spend 4000$ on any bass, a bass for 1500$ cost a little less than 4000$ where i live.
I would buy the 1500$ bass and buy a new amp/bass next year for 2500$.

 

Things change during the course of a year. A 1500.00 bass now is far far better than a possible 4000.00 bass in the future. I can't even imagine buying a 4000.00 bass in any case since my 300.00 and 350.00 basses are both great instruments. I'd probably try to get a couple basses for my 1500.00 but then I'm a cheapskate.

 

I don't think anything makes a $2500 difference in sound, feel or playability, regardless of what basses are being discussed. Yes, there would be differences, but certainly not distinguished enough to pay that much for subtleties. Now I'm not talking a beat up, unplayable bass (worthless) vs. a $2500 bass.

Now, if you happen to have that kind of cash lying around, as opposed to having to save up for it, maybe it really is disposable enough to get a $4000 bass.

It's a personal choice, that much is certain. I've got a $300 bass that I can make beautiful music with and tone that kills. It's all in my hands, man. It's that simple. Would I sound better, or play better on a bass that costs $2500 more. No way. I know...I've tried it.

 

Wait until next year and buy something outrageously expensive. In the meantime, play an SX.

 

NEVER settle. Play both the $1500 and the $4000 one as soon as you can (if you can) and do a side-by-side comparison. You'll feel your answer after you're done.

I've learned (over and over again - way too many times) that settling is more costly than having to wait or ponying up the cash in the first place.

Who knows, if the $1500 bass sounds/feels better to you, then you just saved yourself $2500.

 

If these price limits were in place because of your finances who's to say in another year you will have any money to spend on a bass. You never know, you might have to replace your car or something. I say spend the $ now because you may not even have $1500 next year.
I'm not wishing bad luck on you, I'm just looking out.

 

I'd suggest you find the best used fretless 5 you can for $1,500 -- I've seen Roscoes and Zons both sell for less (I bought my own LG 3005 fretless for $1200), so if you're a bit patient, you should be able to score one within a couple months. A good used instrument at a good price will hold its value as long as you don't abuse it, and if you still want a more expensive instrument in the future, you can sell this one for at least what you paid.

By the way, I don't agree with the posters who imply that a $4k bass isn't "worth it." It's all a matter of what you like to spend your money on, what pleases you. In the musical instrument world, electric basses remain an incredible bargain. The top mandolin luthiers currently command up to $30k for their instruments (with a multi-year waiting list -- if they're still taking orders) and don't even think about violins, where a top bow will cost you as much as an F Bass or a Sadowsky.

 

I never said a $4000 bass wasn't worth it. I said that there wasn't $2500 worth of difference in sound, feel and playability.

That doesn't mean that spending $4000 on a bass isn't worth it to some people. People obviously do that and they feel it's worth it. So it is. Worth is determined by what somebody is willing to spend...and that goes for anything, be it art, a car, a boat, whatever.

If someone spends $4000 on a bass, then it is worth it to them.

But I still stand by my statement that there isn't a $2500 difference in sound, feel and playability. What you're paying for is to own something you want. And to you it may well be worth it, or you wouldn't spend it. But it still will not give anyone a sound that can't be had for less. You are paying for aesthetics. Much like buying a unique work of art...it's all in the eye of the beholder.