Quality vs Quantity?

[40Hz]

would you rather have one $1500 dollar bass or 5 $300 basses?

I’d rather have have five $300 basses that sounded good and played well than one $1500 bass that doesn’t.

Does that answer the question?

 

[chris_b]

Quality over quantity, in everything.

I'll always go for the best bass I can find, that I can afford. When I've found it that's the one I'll gig. It's the best, so why use any other?

My (used) go-to and backup basses cost about $2000 and $1500 respectively. These basses have earned their purchase price many times over. To me they are worth every penny.

 

[Michael Eisenman]

“Quantity has a quality all its own.” — Josef Stalin

 

[micguy]

I had a few relatively cheap basses. Once I figured out what I really wanted, I built a few good ones, one at a time, and donated the cheap ones.

 

[pcake]

Collecting a bunch of cheap guitars never made sense to me though. To each his own but collector, to me, implies high end guitars.

usually true, although i know a couple guys who collect acoustic guitars that were cheap in the '50s and '60s and now are classic.

Buy the best instrument you can afford - quality trumps quantity.

quality trumps quantity unless you need a 4 string and a backup, a 5 string, a fretless and a short scale to play what you play.

still, you can get some pretty good quality basses these days for $300, new or used.

 

[felis]

That seems more like hoarding to me. Collecting connotes high end stuff.

To me, collectors are hoarders.

 

[Flaked Beans]

would you rather have one $1500 dollar bass or 5 $300 basses?

Dude, you are a nice person indeed
but this thread? really?

 

[HarveyRobertson]

$1,100 Fender bass
+
$400 Ibanez bass

And Im golden

Altho my current collection begs to differ lol

 

[Flaked Beans]

where are the beavis and butthead memes?

 

[mikeswals]

If your house burned down, how many of those would cost $300 to replace tomorrow?

Yup, that would be the real question.
And used basses could have been bought for any unbelievable low price however many years ago.
I think the OP should have stated 'new'.

 

[mikeswals]

To me, collectors are hoarders.

But collectors let go for the next step up.

 

[Gaolee]

Quantity is easy, but define quality. What is it?

 

[felis]

But collectors let go for the next step up.

To me, that's 'trading up'.

If you go for the next step up while keeping what you have, then you're 'collecting'.
YMMV

 

[Flaked Beans]

Quantity is easy, but define quality. What is it?

my granpa's hat! (god rest his soul) that was quality my friend.

 

[TuneIn]

Variety - its what they say an all...

 

[Low Class]

1 $300 bass that plays like a $1500 bass.

 

[AudioTaper]

I like quality stuff and would generally say quality over quantity... but there are so many things that depend on what it is

I like my current setup. $1100 Peavey Cirrus 5 and a $400(ish) MIM Fender Jazz that has had some mods. (Also 2003 prices)

In 2006 I had a chance to buy a Cirrus 4 string with some finish damage. Played and sounded beautiful, and it was only $275. I got caught up in a deal on a damaged Taylor 612CE (for $250 and I had it fixed in 30 minutes and $15, sold for $1200) and missed out. Dangit!!

Edit: forgot the point in the Cirrus 4 story... that $275 bass would blow the pants off of any new Squier or whatever costs that much new. Also missed out on a Lakland 44-94 about the same time period for $1K and I'm still kicking my myself.

Edit again.... new bass prices, one $1500 bass, probably a Lakland 44-02.

 

[jamro217]

The problem with the question lies in the variance of prices of the same model new, used or in foreign countries. I've yet to see a $300 Rickenbacker (not counting the pretend on Alibaba), and I haven't spent anywhere near $1500 building a killer mutt. The OP used the extremes to provoke thoughtful responses, no doubt. This is a tough one, though. I'd have to go with the cheaper/more alternative as I tend to be moody and find inspiration in certain instruments at different times. Maybe building a killer Ric mutt is a good idea. Just don't tell John Hall.

 

[smcd]

Are those all peavey!? Nice spread

Yes. Every one.

 

[smcd]

I've got a similar spread of Peaveys. Was your one over 300 a cirrus?

The B-Quad cost me over $300. That Cirrus 5 BXP was $179.