Price vs Quality

[Technotitclan]

"Value" is subjective.

Exactly. Hence the poll, to find the bulk of peoples price vs quality.

 

[Chris Hass]

I have basses over and under $1000 CND.

I love them all in their own ways. If I want a bass for $5000 and it's personally worth it to me, I'll save up and get it. Boom, value!

 

[Jeff Scott]

It doesn't work that way, there are no specific $$$ related benchmarks. YMMV

I personally find that there are. Its just different for each person.

 

[Technotitclan]

I have basses over and under $1000 CND.

I love them all in their own ways. If I want a bass for $5000 and it's personally worth it to me, I'll save up and get it. Boom, value!

But are you buying a $5000 bass because you feel you have to, to prevent problems, OR because the bass with the sound, feel and looks you want happens to cost 5k?

 

[Ben B]

I voted $300.
A new Squier VM or Classic Vibe bass or SUB 4 is probably on the bottom line of the scale for "nice" basses.

I voted $300 for this reason. There are some of very gig-able imports, such as Squier CV, in the $300 - $500 range.

 

[SamJ]

But are you buying a $5000 bass because you feel you have to, to prevent problems, OR because the bass with the sound, feel and looks you want happens to cost 5k?

Take it from me. They're better in every way... Except how they effect your bank account.

 

[Technotitclan]

This is a discussion forum for a specific class of instruments used in making music. Absolutely everything here is subjective.

 

[Technotitclan]

Take it from me. They're better in every way... Except how they effect your bank account.

Not saying they are not better. I definitely agree, hence why an NS-2 is on my GAS list. But were looking at the opposite end of the spectrum her. Rather than looking for something great we are looking for cheep but "good enough for the price."

 

[Silas Stingy]

I recently picked up a used MP Jaguar for half of the brand new price. This is the most playable, versatile bass I've owned.

 

[Chris Hass]

But are you buying a $5000 bass because you feel you have to, to prevent problems, OR because the bass with the sound, feel and looks you want happens to cost 5k?

Exactly. If I love the feel, looks, etc. I'll pay what I have to.

 

[SteveC]

As to the poll, I'm gonna say around $1,500.
Both my basses are in the $2,800 range.
I like what I like. I could probably get by just fine with a $300 bass, but I wouldn't enjoy it as much.

 

[dabbler]

I cannot really participate in the poll. My main players were all $250 or less. But I'm not a pro. The only place I play out is my church, most Sundays. The only "issues" I have experienced have been a string height screw that got kinda rounded (but with the right adjustment technique, I have avoided all additional problems of that type), some gnarly string guides that I replaced, and one P pup that was miswired (easily fixed). But my basses have been reliable (most of my main players are passive) and give me tone that I like. The wood is solid, the neck, pups and bridge align well enough for me to get decent string balance and they hold tune. I have been able to get reasonable setups on all of them and have only had to do fret levels on about 3 (out of 25) of my cheap basses, but then I am not one of those who wants their strings almost touching the frets (I like a more tactile fretting experience).

Cheap stuff works for me, and that's all that matters to me. Are more expensive basses better than what I have? Probably, but I'm happy with what I've got, and none of the more expensive basses that I've noodled with in GC have made me want to replace mine with something more expensive. I'm probably just cheap and have cheap tastes, but I'm happy.

 

[SteveC]

My main players were all $250 or less. Cheap stuff works for me, and that's all that matters to me. I'm happy with what I've got, and none of the more expensive basses that I've noodled with in GC have made me want to replace mine with something more expensive. I'm probably just cheap and have cheap tastes, but I'm happy.

Nothing wrong with that.

 

[Technotitclan]

I cannot really participate in the poll. My main players were all $250 or less. But I'm not a pro. The only place I play out is my church, most Sundays. The only "issues" I have experienced have been a string height screw that got kinda rounded (but with the right adjustment technique, I have avoided all additional problems of that type), some gnarly string guides that I replaced, and one P pup that was miswired (easily fixed). But my basses have been reliable (most of my main players are passive) and give me tone that I like. The wood is solid, the neck, pups and bridge align well enough for me to get decent string balance and they hold tune. I have been able to get reasonable setups on all of them and have only had to do fret levels on about 3 (out of 25) of my cheap basses, but then I am not one of those who wants their strings almost touching the frets (I like a more tactile fretting experience).

Cheap stuff works for me, and that's all that matters to me. Are more expensive basses better than what I have? Probably, but I'm happy with what I've got, and none of the more expensive basses that I've noodled with in GC have made me want to replace mine with something more expensive. I'm probably just cheap and have cheap tastes, but I'm happy.

Sure you can participate. Just look at it like this: you spent 250 on those basses and had those easy to fix issues. what if those basses cost 300, would it still be ok? What if they cost 400 and still had those problems? 500 with problems? See where I'm going with it. At what price is that mis-wired pickup unacceptable?

 

[Technotitclan]

I'm seeing a lot more +$2500 people than I expected. Now I'm wondering how many of them are pro players that depend on good gear night after night. Thinking about modifying the poll with an extra option of +$2500 but I'm a pro.

 

[dabbler]

Sure you can participate. Just look at it like this: you spent 250 on those basses and had those easy to fix issues. what if those basses cost 300, would it still be ok? What if they cost 400 and still had those problems? 500 with problems? See where I'm going with it. At what price is that mis-wired pickup unacceptable?

Well, the issues were not on the $250 basses, they were on the $110 ones. But OK. I'll play then. You'll probably be ablw to pick tell which vote was mine, though.

 

[nostatic]

Still not clear what data you're actually expecting to get. If you're focused on "problems" then that is one question, but many will focus on wants or "playability" which is a different question.

 

[Runnerman]

I can't answer either because the poll is fundamentally flawed due to a completely subjective outcome.
I always get what I pay for independent of price of the instrument.

 

[sissy kathy]

I voted $800 but, that's 'cause I'm a lefty and couldn't get what I wanted from stock, or even Fender's CS (which would'a cost more anyway) and ordered the parts to build my own Fender lefty P. Fender licensed neck and body and stock parts. Is it a Fender? I dunno.

 

[hasbeen]

I was wondering when someone was finally going to address this topic....today.

Brilliant! Best post on this topic.