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So what does a $25k bass actually get you?
- Thread starter FollowMeDown
- Start date
So.... the thing I'm holding in my hands in pic wasn't exactly cheap, I'm a lefty and getting good bass has always been APIA, I've played it for 30+ yrs now, had zero problems, I don't have to think about it, it just works, .......the only instrument I know of that might consider spending $25k on, (i'm not, who has that kinda' $ ?*&^%$#@!) is the "Anthony Jackson Presentation" which I have been told is very much worth it, (it has a switch that allows you to play twice as fast..)
Again, there is a difference between the Professionals, the Collectors, and the rest of us.
Professionals can get a tax write off and they know that often image matters, just like companies like to have big, impressive offices.
Collectors are further broken down into Enthusiasts that may buy these and Investors that *might* buy them if they feel they'll grow in value.
Then there are the rest of us that probably don't need it, some might splurge on something like this, the rest of us will live vicariously off of these purchases...
Professionals can get a tax write off and they know that often image matters, just like companies like to have big, impressive offices.
Collectors are further broken down into Enthusiasts that may buy these and Investors that *might* buy them if they feel they'll grow in value.
Then there are the rest of us that probably don't need it, some might splurge on something like this, the rest of us will live vicariously off of these purchases...
.
I'm not sure how one could spend over 5,000 other than a collectable vintage bass. I have a custom 5 string fretless that cost 1800 from a friend, one built with another name on it it would have been around 3500. Wood is a big expense, cocabola caps over mahogany instead of a 3 piece slab of alder/Ash/poplar/basswood, 5-7 piece neck through body with ebony fretboard instead of one piece Maple bolt on neck, choice of string spacing, neck width and length, pickup selection, finish. Choice of finish, body shape, balance when sitting and standing, neck shape, lots of variables. My custom bass sounds and plays great, my old fender(78 g&l) plays great, sounds great too, (of course sound is subjective, both are very versatile if you know how to sound versatile). Is one better than the other? The custom bass was built by very likely a more accomplished and knowledgeable Craftsman, who also thinks the g&l is a very fine instrument. I would weigh in that it's apples and oranges if things like hardware and woods are all higher quality pieces. A custom instrument, custom anything is of course more expensive than off the shelf.
You get to sound better than everyone else. For real.
Case in point.... Sam Ash has their "Ash Rocks" program of which a friend of mine takes part. He needed a bassist and since I spend most of my time lately dealing with my kids than playing out I thought ok, this is an opportunity to play 4 songs in a live setting with zero commitment. I pulled in a drummer friend and we had a "band".
The first show had about 15 Ash Rock bands each doing 4-song sets. All the student bassists had whatever instruments they had / whatever low-priced stuff Sam Ash sells. I brought my Modulus. We all played through the same backline, a hartke 500 watt hydrive combo. PA support was used only for the vocals and maybe the kick drum so the combo pushed the room.
I had some musician friends come out to watch. After we played they said that there was a "huge Sonic difference" between all of the other bands and us. Biggest thing that came out was my bass. No end of people asking about it (and my playing but they are all students and I have at least 30 years on them).
Point is that your instrument can make a big difference. I think though that some cheaper basses have the potential to sound good and maybe "user error" prevents them from sounding their best. Even so their best probably dosnt come close to a modulus. Also, I have active emg's which themselves make a huge difference. I didn't pay too much attention at the time but I would guess that most of the other bassists had passive pickups.
Not saying cheaper basses / passives are bad as they can sound good, especially in capable hands. But if you have 15 bands - 15 different basses - and only one stands out by a large margin and it happens to be a boutique instrument....
But getting into tone, if you send crap to an amp they is nothing the amp or the sound guy can do to fix it. Start with a good bass, whatever that happens to be for you.
Case in point.... Sam Ash has their "Ash Rocks" program of which a friend of mine takes part. He needed a bassist and since I spend most of my time lately dealing with my kids than playing out I thought ok, this is an opportunity to play 4 songs in a live setting with zero commitment. I pulled in a drummer friend and we had a "band".
The first show had about 15 Ash Rock bands each doing 4-song sets. All the student bassists had whatever instruments they had / whatever low-priced stuff Sam Ash sells. I brought my Modulus. We all played through the same backline, a hartke 500 watt hydrive combo. PA support was used only for the vocals and maybe the kick drum so the combo pushed the room.
I had some musician friends come out to watch. After we played they said that there was a "huge Sonic difference" between all of the other bands and us. Biggest thing that came out was my bass. No end of people asking about it (and my playing but they are all students and I have at least 30 years on them).
Point is that your instrument can make a big difference. I think though that some cheaper basses have the potential to sound good and maybe "user error" prevents them from sounding their best. Even so their best probably dosnt come close to a modulus. Also, I have active emg's which themselves make a huge difference. I didn't pay too much attention at the time but I would guess that most of the other bassists had passive pickups.
Not saying cheaper basses / passives are bad as they can sound good, especially in capable hands. But if you have 15 bands - 15 different basses - and only one stands out by a large margin and it happens to be a boutique instrument....
But getting into tone, if you send crap to an amp they is nothing the amp or the sound guy can do to fix it. Start with a good bass, whatever that happens to be for you.
I don't think that's an accurate metaphor.the porsche will go faster and handle better at high speeds. Most people are likely to say it looks cooler too. Porsche is a high performance car. Vw isn't The original post is unrelated to those factors.
It would get you a beautifully crafted, excellent sounding bass which someone will plot to steal out of your vehicle or in the backstage area when loading. When you see that first scratch (excuse me, the beginning of the patina), you will wonder whether it just depreciated by about as much as a brand new, really nice bass. The other day, I took my Steinberger Spirit 5 string, which I bought used for $350, to a gig and it sounded fine, not with the tonal range of the Jazz V or G&L 2500, but it was half as heavy and fun to play. I will continue to play the other two, which cost considerably more than the Spirit but I don't think playability or sound, with all of the pedals available, can be that much better to justify the price of a car.
I have a 1996 Warwick Fortress Masterman 4-string bass in excellent condition. These are rare and I would sell it for $25k, but the practical "every man" side of me says $1996 is more realistic. 1996 Warwick Fortress Masterman 4-String Bass
Well. To me, it's a moot point because I ain't good enough and I ain't rich enough, and I feel like I'd have to be both to spend that for a bass.
I can relate on the White Yammy. I bought the 505 and love it! I’m not crazy about the matte finish (mine’s also white) but it plays nicely, is solidly built and has a pretty wide array of tones. Maybe the best aspect is that I wouldn’t hesitate to gig with it, whereas I’d be petrified to take a $25k bass out of the house. Just wish Yamaha would’ve come up with some sexier colors.
At the end of the day any bass or guitar is only as good as the person stood behind it.
I don't think I've ever even heard of a bass in that price range. If I owned something like that, I'm pretty sure I'd never be comfortable taking it out of the house.
It all depends on your perspective, I think. I use all my basses — to varying degrees — and I'd be missing the point of having them if I didn't use them.
That said, I played a beautiful used Sadowsky jazz at Bass Northwest in Seattle several years ago. And what a sensation it was; perfect sound, and it felt like it was custom-made for my hands. But it would have been about $4,000 out the door, and I couldn't pull the trigger. I do have some regrets about that occasionally.
It all depends on your perspective, I think. I use all my basses — to varying degrees — and I'd be missing the point of having them if I didn't use them.
That said, I played a beautiful used Sadowsky jazz at Bass Northwest in Seattle several years ago. And what a sensation it was; perfect sound, and it felt like it was custom-made for my hands. But it would have been about $4,000 out the door, and I couldn't pull the trigger. I do have some regrets about that occasionally.
Steve Martin; "I bought a $500 pair of socks, a fur sink, an electric dog polisher, and a $25,000 bass, but than I bought some dumb things...."
Some people love their Yugo and some prefer the top of the line BMW... at the end of the day they both get u where u want to go. U decide.
I certainly feel it's the player and not the instrument that makes the difference.
The difference is only if you have that kind of money to spend. It's called discretional income. Some just like to brag about how much they can spend. Or then there is the artistic side where beauty in the of the bla bla .
You end up with a piece of art that you never can take to a gig so it sits home each weekend while the dregs and worker bee's get played.
