Easy question.
This one, or a Kiloton with the same finish.
My reasoning?
The logo on the headstock.
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Quality or quantity?
- Thread starter Dougflores
- Start date
This one, or a Kiloton with the same finish.
My reasoning?
The logo on the headstock.
Good thread starter. For me, buying an instrument starts with two key criteria, the first being does it present a useful voice. The second is it needs to be quality instrument made from quality components.
Then I use a cost benefit analysis. Unless a new instrument provides a useful voice that I need that I can’t coax out of what I currently own, it’s dead in the water.
Then and only then, if it passes muster, the search for a gently used version begins. As for having multiple Basses, I’ve bought exactly 2 Basses since the eighties. One was a bass I bought for my son, and the other about 4-5 years ago because I needed a 5 string and a more modern voice. And I bought it for about $1,500 less then retail price
If that was the situation, I'd probably get a single well made instrument. I already have quality and variety (P, J, Ray, L-2000, various short scales). And over the years (decades, actually), my collection has become mostly better built stuff. I don't get pulled in much by the cheaper stuff any more, as good as it might be for the buck.
If I had $2,000 to throw at a new bass right now, it'd probably be the Stingray short scale in that metallic burgundy color...though I would swap out the ugly mother of toilet seat guard for the black guard that comes on the blue version.
If I had $2,000 to throw at a new bass right now, it'd probably be the Stingray short scale in that metallic burgundy color...though I would swap out the ugly mother of toilet seat guard for the black guard that comes on the blue version.
I'd get bored with one bass, so I'd go for the best balance of quality and variety that my 2K would get me. Ya can't really go wrong with a Jazz, a P and a Ray. I do love being able to cycle through periodic infatuations with each one...keeps things interesting.
Look at the models in between the standards/imports and the high end ones. I have a MIM 50s P and a 60s Jazz, and a SBMM Ray34CA...IMO the daylight between these models and their USA counterparts is shockingly small(I've owned plenty of the USA counterparts). No way IN HELL I'd trade those for one "quality" 2K bass.
My nice one is a custom US L2K, but I don't feel like it plays better than the others. It's just another part of the variety picture, it has its own cool look and sound going on.
Look at the models in between the standards/imports and the high end ones. I have a MIM 50s P and a 60s Jazz, and a SBMM Ray34CA...IMO the daylight between these models and their USA counterparts is shockingly small(I've owned plenty of the USA counterparts). No way IN HELL I'd trade those for one "quality" 2K bass.
My nice one is a custom US L2K, but I don't feel like it plays better than the others. It's just another part of the variety picture, it has its own cool look and sound going on.
I think it depends on how you use your bass ( personal enjoyment, playing for an audience, professional, or future aspirations ). For me, as a beginner, I only desire to jam with local groups, I can do fine with a mid-range bass and I enjoy buying and trading instruments.
It depends. If it were me, I’d purchase two nice used passive Fender American Standard Precisions (no mods) with maple fingerboards, take them to a great luthier, and have one set up with round wound strings and the other set up with flat wound strings, and both shielded. This could be attained for right at $2000.
Quality.
I can only play one bass at a time, and right now, I have a bass that I absolutely love, so if I had a spare two grand to buy a bass, it'd be something of comparable quality to my EBMM StingRay 5.
I can only play one bass at a time, and right now, I have a bass that I absolutely love, so if I had a spare two grand to buy a bass, it'd be something of comparable quality to my EBMM StingRay 5.
I voted quality, but that’s because I used to subscribe to the “I need one of everything” philosophy until I realized most of the time I only really played a couple specific ones and I understood what it was about those basses that I liked. Shiny new things still grab my attention, but the desire almost always fades when it’s in my hands and I actually get to try it.
If I had $2000 to spend and no basses I would scan the classifieds for a USA J and a USA P. Don’t really *need* anything else. I have other basses and have owned everything under the sun. But for my money, i just don’t find that i play anything other than my Fenders. It used to be 100% J but lately it’s more like 80-90% P and 10-20% J. Either way, I don’t need anything else.
Now, considering what I have now, and if I just had an extra $2k to blow on a bass...considering I have said J and P and some extras beyond the requisite J and P...I would 100% go quality as I have zero desire to own a bunch of lower end Basses over 1-2 higher end Basses. So if someone just dropped $2k on me for a new bass, I would probably shop the used market for something along the lines of a Roscoe, Elrick, Modulous, etc. Or hell...I might just buy another fender or two.
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One good one. That is what you need. Find that good one and spend the $$$ and quit chasing tone. It’s in your fingers. Find a good high quality bass that you can speak through with optimal comfort.
Spending $2k on one instrument does not guarantee quality (but it increases the chances). Spending $200 on 10 instruments does not guarantee low quality, (but it increases the chances). $800 - $1200 will buy a lot of bass with a lot left for other quality items. $1500 will buy a really nice bass and I’m not sure another $500 will get more quality or just nicer cosmetics.
I’d likely buy at least two items.
I’d likely buy at least two items.
I think I have a different definition of high end, boutique instruments. If I had $2000, I would probably buy one used bass for around $2000 or two used basses for around $1000 a piece.
I voted with the vast minority for quantity cos I've got a room full of quality players, 2 dozen of them for 2K, and just added another $100 monster to the mix. as a kid, a local casanova winked and told me quantity gets quality, and I couldn't argue with his results, or mine.
but hand me 2K and I'll find out if an ancient Gibson 'bucked ball buster is indeed what I need.
but hand me 2K and I'll find out if an ancient Gibson 'bucked ball buster is indeed what I need.
I'm there with ya, brother! Parts-basses for the win!!I'm clearly in the minority so far.
Honestly, I would buy a BUNCH of parts and assemble several basses. I'm I'm the market for an unlined fretless. I recently decided I'm going to get some parts and put one together. I did a parts P bass a couple of years ago. It came in at UNDER 8 pounds and plays/sounds fantastic.
So, yeah, I would probably get two or three necks, two or three bodies, some guts, some parts, and go to town on assembling some ridiculously cool parts basses.
For a couple grand one could have a TON of fun putting together several really nice pieces.
In my case, though, I voted "Quality", only because I have something of a "dream bass" that's been lurking in the back of my mind for years. Before the Fender Mod Shop became a thing, they had the American Design Experience. Through their virtual "assembly line", I put together a Jazz that, looking back, I probably should've pulled the trigger on.
With $2,000 in my pocket, I could easily have Warmoth cut and finish this kind of body, only with a different bridge and no superfluous tug-bar. Pair it with a neck from either a Fender Classic '70s or Vintera '70s Jazz, a set of Custom Shop '60s pickups, a series/parallel wiring harness and some kick-ass strings and I'd still have $500 or more left over.
