Price vs Quality

[nostatic]

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.

Then you'll have to define "pro" as well. The bottom line is that any current production instrument is pretty decent these days and could be used in a touring or nightly gig situation. The more you use it, the more you'll have to take care of your instrument. Stuff can go wrong at any price point. There is no magic level where instruments become 100% reliable, nor is there a level where they are 100% unreliable. In general you could say that the more you spend up to a few grand the better the quality of parts and (hopefully) construction, and then beyond a few $K you're paying for more subtle and/or visual improvements.

 

[Technotitclan]

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.

Unfortunately your right. I knew from the beginning that was going to happen but ignored it. I made it as a bit off fun to have on a slow day at work. It suddenly turned serious for no reason. Its not like there is any grade or money to be made by finding this info. At least not for me... Again, just thought I'd have some harmless fun and kill some time will fellow bass players. May just be a case of me not taking things as seriously as I should. Happens a lot.

 

[Technotitclan]

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.

100% subjective. This poll is a lot like Who's Line Is It Anyway where the rules are made up and the points don't matter. +1 million points for a Fender P with flats and tort.

 

[Runnerman]

The weirdest part is that some people are actually answering like they know the answer.

 

[Big Hoss]

I am at a loss on how to answer... At my skill level, well, I have WAY more instrument than my skills can handle for the time being, and I am not sure I will ever outgrow what I have... And nothing, not a single piece of wire, or pot, or pickup is top of the line, but it is mostly good quality stuff, Ibanez mid range instruments, Fender amp...

I did vote, at the $200.00 price point, although admittedly there was labor involved to get it to where I like it... But a new Squier VM Jaguar Bass Special can be had for 2 bills...

My $200.00 bass
Used Ibanez SR500 with trashed pickups, strings, and a bad tuner $50.00.
Clearance EMG active PJ pickups, pots, the schmear and replacement tuners $75.00
Fresh EMG Bass Boomers strings, truss rod cover, setup and labor. $75.00

Considering the playability, features, and sound of this instrument, I would happily have paid $400.00 for it...

 

[nostatic]

Unfortunately your right. I knew from the beginning that was going to happen but ignored it. I made it as a bit off fun to have on a slow day at work. It suddenly turned serious for no reason.

This is the internet. EVERYTHING IS SERIOUS!!!!!

 

[Technotitclan]

This is the internet. EVERYTHING IS SERIOUS!!!!!

I needed that LOL. Thank you.

 

[OOD]

I don't agree that you always get what you pay for (as stated by Potthof a couple of posts back).

You get what the market dictates you'll pay in the geographical location you live.

Some basses I see in stores here cost twice as much as some locations in the states.....even though it's the same bass......

To me buying a bass is like buying anything else. There are lemons and ripoffs throughout the price -point structure in everything.

Take jewelry for one.....most of the rings and such that people buy are not in reality worth anywhere near what they paid for it.

Take electronic keyboards/digital workstations/pianos for another.....fraught with high-priced lemons.......if you go by price alone you are in for a world of hurt.

Ditto for refrigerators and appliances.........many of the brands of old that were reliable are now made offshore and are junk.....even though brand-messaging and premium price are tailored to convince you otherwise..

Ditto for automobiles in more than one case.

I believe that in most goods/products there are quality offerings throughout the price range/structure..........but you need to do the research to find them.

My point is, you get what you pay for regardless of how much you pay for it. If you don't think it is worth what the seller wants for it you don't have to buy it. The worth of a bass is determined by the buyer. Basically, we have the same opinion but you disagree with me.

 

[SamJ]

there might be some odd exceptions but in general you always get what you pay for, this isn't rocket science.

furthermore, just because something has "issues" or teething pains, or general reliability issues, doesn't mean it's inferior.... it could just be a lot more complex or leading edge..

Take a simple car with a basic 4-cyl engine and carburetor, no power anything, not even steering... Contrast it to a Mercedes S550 or BMW 750iL ... you're going to have WAY more issues with the latter, does this make them inferior somehow??

 

[Big Hoss]

there might be some odd exceptions but in general you always get what you pay for, this isn't rocket science.

furthermore, just because something has "issues" or teething pains, or general reliability issues, doesn't mean it's inferior.... it could just be a lot more complex or leading edge..

Take a simple car with a basic 4-cyl engine and carburetor, no power anything, not even steering... Contrast it to a Mercedes S550 or BMW 750iL ... you're going to have WAY more issues with the latter, does this make them inferior somehow??

If the latter suffers from undue failures due to its complexity, then absolutely it is a failure to achieve the primary goal of being a reliable mode of transportation, so yet it would be by definition inferior.

Sometimes, often times, value isn't applied due to quality, or performance, but rather for brand loyalty, and perceived prestige. The auto manufacturers know this, as do electronics, consumer products etc... And they can get by with producing a similar product to the competition but by slapping their name on it can charge a huge premium for it... This is where what you are paying for is the name, so in that sense the statement is true, you get what you pay for. Corporate jets, luxury suites for the executives, etc...

 

[bassdude51]

Using Fender for an example..............MIM basses are now costing about a grand. IMO, the $1,400 to $2,000 mark is the tipping point for decent quality and so, so quality.

Buy used, I guess and blems and demos.

 

[OOD]

This is the internet. EVERYTHING IS SERIOUS!!!!!

The most truthful post on the Internet.

 

[Fuzzbass]

I'm a busy weekend warrior with a day job, so that makes me semi-pro. Thanks to my day job I have a number of instruments above $2500, but I've played some killer low-end instruments. If all I could afford was a low-end bass, I'm certain I could find one that would make me happy, and I would not be the least bit embarrassed about gigging it. (Most of my high-end instruments don't look high-end, if ya know what I mean... the boutique look is not my thing).

Seems to me that the lower in price you go, the greater the chance of getting an instrument that requires mods/upgrades/proper setup/misc TLC. Some of the killer low-end instruments I've played were tweaked in some way. However I've played others (MTD Kingston, to name just one of many) that were sweet as-is.

Obviously, spending big bucks never guarantees perfection. That said, quality typically increases with price, and so do options for customization, so there's a greater chance you'll happy from the get-go -- assuming you've performed the appropriate research in advance. Also, boutique shops typically offer superior customer service, and can be quick to address problems if the instrument is unsatisfactory in some way.

Of course the flip side is that if you spend $1000 instead of $2500, you'll have a lot left over for mods and customizations.

As noted this is an enormous YMMV, but that is my humble 2¢.

 

[SamJ]

If the latter suffers from undue failures due to its complexity, then absolutely it is a failure to achieve the primary goal of being a reliable mode of transportation, so yet it would be by definition inferior.

Sometimes, often times, value isn't applied due to quality, or performance, but rather for brand loyalty, and perceived prestige. The auto manufacturers know this, as do electronics, consumer products etc... And they can get by with producing a similar product to the competition but by slapping their name on it can charge a huge premium for it... This is where what you are paying for is the name, so in that sense the statement is true, you get what you pay for. Corporate jets, luxury suites for the executives, etc...

sorry man, we've had this discussion before, but that makes no sense. Not saying that more expensive bass guitars are any more / or any less reliable, but just in the general sense, to discount the added value of a BMW 750iL over a 4-cylinder Lada (as an example) because the latter is overall less likely to suffer a failure of one of it's systems is far too shallow of a way to discuss value.

The engine doesn't have to fail on the BMW to make my point, it could just be a stuck disc in the rear DVD player, or a faulty rear seat heating switch... there are literally 100's of systems on modern complex cars, compared to basic cars, the engine being but one.

 

[OOD]

Using Fender for an example..............MIM basses are now costing about a grand. IMO, the $1,400 to $2,000 mark is the tipping point for decent quality and so, so quality.

Buy used, I guess and blems and demos.

You can get a new mim for under $600 at guitar center.

 

[bassdude51]

You can get a new mim for under $600 at guitar center.

Thanks for the correction. I made my statement based on the price of the new Dirnt and Roadworn models.

 

[PortlandBass77]

I don't buy new basses, but I have played nice Squiers and SUBs at GC that play just as well as the American counterparts so I voted $300. For used I have found great basses for $40 or less every once in a while.

 

[ThaCoast]

I voted 300, but realisticaly for me, anything under 250 is just a problem if it's new in store. I've played one 80 jazz bass copy and it was great. good pickups, good solid hardware. Good craftsmanship, it was pretty much flawless (but 80$ that was used). People shy away from squier or epiphone or any lower brands, but truth be told, at least to me and my perspective, they're better than their big brother conterparts. I'd go for an epiphone over gibson any day, unless the gibson was given to me . But i'd never want to pay over 1K for a bass/guitar cause i'll just be afraid to damage it.

 

[Big Hoss]

sorry man, we've had this discussion before, but that makes no sense. Not saying that more expensive bass guitars are any more / or any less reliable, but just in the general sense, to discount the added value of a BMW 750iL over a 4-cylinder Lada (as an example) because the latter is overall less likely to suffer a failure of one of it's systems is far too shallow of a way to discuss value.

The engine doesn't have to fail on the BMW to make my point, it could just be a stuck disc in the rear DVD player, or a faulty rear seat heating switch... there are literally 100's of systems on modern complex cars, compared to basic cars, the engine being but one.

I'm sorry if you misunderstood my point...

However, point well taken from you.

Comparing a BMW to a Lada is laughable. Russian build quality is for the most part an oxymoron at any price point. Which is of course why we hitch hike with the Russians to get to the International Space Station...

HOWEVER, to say that all say non US and non European MFG products are junk, and that really seems to be the dividing line price wise is Asian or Mexican MFG VS US and Europe, is untrue, and unfair.

I would much rather support US manufacturing, but you have to admit that asian manufacturing is producing quality products. A lot is going to depend on the particular manufacturing facility, their materials and processes. There is no legit reason for example that an Indonesian made Squier for example can't be every bit of an excellent instrument as a US production Fender excluding the lower specifications for production (cheaper pickups, lower grade tuners not as finely machined / polished etc...)

 

[OOD]

Thanks for the correction. I made my statement based on the price of the new Dirnt and Roadworn models.

why do those cost so much? Do they have more to offer than a standard?