Correct me if I'm wrong, I noticed that most of you guys own expensive basses. Is it because of the brand? Just a hypothetical question. In case you were to be given a $2000 Fender that is built ironically inferior to a $250 Fender copy, which one will you choose. (OK you only need to choose one, and no need to say I'll take the Fender, sell it, buy the $250 copy and walk away $1,750 richer).
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Question about brand name
- Thread starter kenjikun
- Start date
Ever heard of the term "Don't judge a book by its cover?" It's basically like this. Just because one bass is more expensive than the other doesn't mean that the expensive bass is better. What matters is if the bass is the sound you're looking for.
I haven't even touched a Modulus yet
I would rather buy the $250 bass, even if it wasn't quite as nice as the really expensive one. I think I would feel uncomfortable playing such a valuable instrument. It's just a tool, and I'm really happy with the budget basses I own now.
I'll admit, I love Precisions so that was my first aim for when I bought my current bass. I bought a Fender because it's a Fender. Now admittedly that's part "It's a Fender!" and part me just liking how they play and feel. But, ultimately I'm going to buy whatever feels and sounds good regardless of the brand name and what not. Someone could have handed me a no name parts bass that played or felt better than the Fender and I would have been just as happy with it.
I have no problem gigging with a cheapo SX, New American Standard Fender, or Pre CBS Fender.
The price tag means nothing, it's the playabily and the sound that matter most to me.
Fortunatly, all three of those basses sound and play fantastic (The SX has had some fine tunig) . Depending on my mood, you could see me out gigging any one of those three, and there's a GIANT gap in price between the lowest and highest.
So, one old Fender, one New Fender, and one Fender copy doing the same job equaly well.
The price tag means nothing, it's the playabily and the sound that matter most to me.
Fortunatly, all three of those basses sound and play fantastic (The SX has had some fine tunig) . Depending on my mood, you could see me out gigging any one of those three, and there's a GIANT gap in price between the lowest and highest.
So, one old Fender, one New Fender, and one Fender copy doing the same job equaly well.
I wait for good deals on nice basses. I am not of the club to buy a $150 bass, only to spend $$$ to make it a player.
At this time, I have three US G&L's and a Lakland 55-02, with less than $2000 total investment. All bought used, all very good quality, all sound great. No cheap wood, craftsmanship, finish, pickups, hardware.
While many will disagree with my line of thinking, I have no problem with them. To me, the cheap imports are just that, cheap. And the overpriced boutiques? Just that. But there certainly is a huge market for both, so I must be stoopid.
At this time, I have three US G&L's and a Lakland 55-02, with less than $2000 total investment. All bought used, all very good quality, all sound great. No cheap wood, craftsmanship, finish, pickups, hardware.
While many will disagree with my line of thinking, I have no problem with them. To me, the cheap imports are just that, cheap. And the overpriced boutiques? Just that. But there certainly is a huge market for both, so I must be stoopid.
That looks like a real nice bass. Don't get me wrong, I'm just saying that I haven't found mine yet. Congrats if you've found yours!
I played my first SX yesterday at at TB GTG and it was a pumping bass for $150; bang for buck its a gold medal winner. However it's playability just wasn't there compared with some of the other high end basses I've been fortunate enough to own or play.
Would I gig with an SX - sure, totally respectable and if wasn't able to play one of my own basses!
a real 1962 Precision to an MTD 5. The best passive tone bass I have comes from my SX-75 with Duncan pickups - go figure!!
One of the best active tone basses I have is my stock MIM Jazz Deluxe 5 string.
It took 30 years and about 60 basses for me to figure that high $$$$ DOES NOT guarantee great tone. Trust your ears to hear and your hands to feel, no matter what your eyes, peers or heart tell you, what is written on the head stock is worth NOTHING!! Millionare, big name artist who continue to play a$300 -$500 instrument for years have figured it out!!
KT
One of the best active tone basses I have is my stock MIM Jazz Deluxe 5 string.
It took 30 years and about 60 basses for me to figure that high $$$$ DOES NOT guarantee great tone. Trust your ears to hear and your hands to feel, no matter what your eyes, peers or heart tell you, what is written on the head stock is worth NOTHING!! Millionare, big name artist who continue to play a$300 -$500 instrument for years have figured it out!!
KT
Nope, I don't disagree. It's your opinion and so I respect that
. The reason I started this thread is to get what bass players have in mind regarding the price and brand name of bass as a factor for their choice of the instrument. I always feel that bass players want expensive bass but as it turned out, so far most of the fellow bass players here who replied don't mind about the price or brand. The sound and playability count the most.
I used ot play a G&L L2000, but on a whim bought a 70's japanese frankenbass in a pawn shop for $150. It has a one piece natural ash body with passive emgs someone appears to have routed with a chisel without removing the tort pickguard, numerous natural nicks, a badass II, an ash neck with black block inlays, and a true to life actual cigarette burn in the headstock. I put an aftermarket bridge cover on it just to increase the obvious vintage mojo. It sounds amazing and the string action is unreal. I get laughs my bass guy for what has been dubbed teh "millenium falcon," but after plugging it in and playing it he was in awe. I played it so much I sold the G&L.
I also bought a Certainbass for $450 direct form Dave Certain to replace an American P-Bass I foolishly sold about five years ago. It, like that bass, has a sunburst alder body, maroon tort guard, and maple rosewood neck. I changed the nut to bone, put on a gotoh bridge, replaced the pickups with Teslas, and put on a bridge cover. It smokes my old p in a million ways. Better sounding, better playing, better looking. This is my actual to die for bass. The whole upgrade cost me $100, so for a $550 I got my dream bass.
Finally, my main backup is a wine-red Mexi-p bass with a silver tort guard, and fender american pickups (not the noiseless, though). I'll probably put on another gotoh bridge, install a bone nut, and put Teslas in this one as well. All in all though, I play it out pretty frequently because it plays and sounds so great.
I don't think I'll ever go back to dropping $1k + on a bass again. There are so many cheaper resources out there if you just look, unless you want the boutique look and flashy wiring setups it's not worth it.
I also bought a Certainbass for $450 direct form Dave Certain to replace an American P-Bass I foolishly sold about five years ago. It, like that bass, has a sunburst alder body, maroon tort guard, and maple rosewood neck. I changed the nut to bone, put on a gotoh bridge, replaced the pickups with Teslas, and put on a bridge cover. It smokes my old p in a million ways. Better sounding, better playing, better looking. This is my actual to die for bass. The whole upgrade cost me $100, so for a $550 I got my dream bass.
Finally, my main backup is a wine-red Mexi-p bass with a silver tort guard, and fender american pickups (not the noiseless, though). I'll probably put on another gotoh bridge, install a bone nut, and put Teslas in this one as well. All in all though, I play it out pretty frequently because it plays and sounds so great.
I don't think I'll ever go back to dropping $1k + on a bass again. There are so many cheaper resources out there if you just look, unless you want the boutique look and flashy wiring setups it's not worth it.
There are some decent basses out there for a smaller price tag, but in most cases you get what you pay for in terms of craftsmanship. Truth be told, I am a sucker for the EPI Thunderbirds and the MIM Fender basses and I would probably have one of each if I would not have found such good deals on the basses that I have. Well, except the Geddy J. I paid full price for that baby.
You know what it is? Its human nature. I'm no shrink but this is what I think.
Had we the amount of cash, and could choose between a 2000 bass and a 200 bass, even if the 200 had better hardware or whatever, i think we'd all still take the 2 grand bass. Why? Because we have ego. Nothing's wrong with it but, why on earth would we go for the cheaper bass when we could get the 2000$ bass.
Still not clearing things up?
Let's say we were all in a contest. Let's say you won. ( yeah you! ) without thinking twice we'd pick the $2000 bass. And if you're saying to yourself, "Nah i'd get the $200 one without a doubt" You know you're lieing to yourself. I know i would be.
That said i have a 2004 SR400 (dont use it anymore) and a Brice HXB 405 fretless. I get a Dream theater tone out of it. And mind you i got it for 300 and am loving it.
If i got a chance to buy/win a better bass, without playing/ looking at it, and by just seeing the brand/ name, i'd get it, because i'd expect certain results from the company. Call me an idiot, but i think I'd do just that, and the Brice would be joining the SR400.
Had we the amount of cash, and could choose between a 2000 bass and a 200 bass, even if the 200 had better hardware or whatever, i think we'd all still take the 2 grand bass. Why? Because we have ego. Nothing's wrong with it but, why on earth would we go for the cheaper bass when we could get the 2000$ bass.
Still not clearing things up?
Let's say we were all in a contest. Let's say you won. ( yeah you! ) without thinking twice we'd pick the $2000 bass. And if you're saying to yourself, "Nah i'd get the $200 one without a doubt" You know you're lieing to yourself. I know i would be.
That said i have a 2004 SR400 (dont use it anymore) and a Brice HXB 405 fretless. I get a Dream theater tone out of it. And mind you i got it for 300 and am loving it.
If i got a chance to buy/win a better bass, without playing/ looking at it, and by just seeing the brand/ name, i'd get it, because i'd expect certain results from the company. Call me an idiot, but i think I'd do just that, and the Brice would be joining the SR400.
I found a crappy Japanese remake of some $2000 Fender P bass and I bought it for fifty bucks. I have to say that it is an awesome bass.
This thread is (EDIT: No longer) ass. Play what you want and don't worry about what other people do.
