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Some Pros use cheap basses

#61
Munjibunga said:
Why waste money on an expensive bass for a loud concert? You're not going to hear any difference between that $300 bass and a $12,000 Fodera in that environment. Even if you did, the player may prefer the sound of the cheap bass for his genre.
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I think this is it right here. If you want to take a really expensive bass on tour that could get lost, stolen, or damaged well that is your business. The original post was about a fairly heavy band and as an audience member I don't think that you can tell the difference in sound at a loud rock show (though aesthetics are another thing). I play in a heavy band and there are effects that when I play myself are night and day different sounding but in the band setting you can't hear a difference (maybe a but of volume boost or cut). If I can't hear the difference between my some of my own effect being on and off how can the audience hear the subtle difference of one bass to another.

On the other hand, if you are at a jazz show or something else where you can hear subtle nuances then a better instrument probably can be heard.
 
#62
Munjibunga said:
Why waste money on an expensive bass for a loud concert? You're not going to hear any difference between that $300 bass and a $12,000 Fodera in that environment. Even if you did, the player may prefer the sound of the cheap bass for his genre.
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Because it plays better ? Even while playing some stupidly loud rock music that doesn't require chop like Wooten you can still enjoy to play a Fodera because it is easier to play instead of playing a 300$ bass that you fight again it just to press down the strings again the finger board.
 
#63
hover said:
How? By the way, for the record I am in absolutely NO way negating the benefits, desirability, or need of a high dollar top quality instrument.
But I really need you to convince me on your last statement, beyond "just...because".

Edit:
lest you think I am weighing in simply to be argumentative, I'm not, it's just your comment falls squarely in the middle of the "must buy a more expensive instrument so I can play better" argument, which is patently skewed thinking. If you have the ability, you can play on any properly set up / playable instrument with a similar level of proficiency... with the only thing lacking being the familiarity of your own personal instrument.
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Did you ever play something very expensive ? it is really something else, you can hear every nuance in your playing, the setup is incredible compared to what you can acheive on a cheaper bass. The tone ? well this is very subjective.

Can you use a cheap 300$ to play rock ? yeah sure you can. But I think that at one point you want a bass that is more playable than you are able to play it. Of course it also depend what type of music you play and want to play.
 
#65
I have friends who are fully endorsed by Ibanez guitars. They go down to Ibanez heaquarters once a year usually and try out what is there. They end up with a slightly tweaked guitar or two but otherwise bone stock. With the quality of electronics today, their biggest concern is usually how they will fare out on the road.
 
#66
To me, better equipment often means more motivation, and indirectly it may make me a better player because I feel like practicing and I have more fun playing. It's an inspiration thing. Others may well find motivation and a challenge from playing the crap out of simpler gear.

Also, if I sound bad I know I have to work on my skills and not look for other excuses or blame the instrument. :)
 
#67
Clef_de_fa said:
you can still enjoy to play a Fodera because it is easier to play instead of playing a 300$ bass that you fight again it just to press down the strings again the finger board.
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I have several $300 intruments and they are all as easy to play as my MM SR5. I played an Alembic recently that you couldn't pay me to own. It played awful. Blanket statements like the one quoted are not helping your argument.
 
#68
Strat Hater said:
Here is a pic of Eric Bass of Shinedown using what appears to be a $300 Dean Hilsboro. I saw them in concert this week and he had about 5 of them. The most expensive was a Sig Hilsboro that MF has listed for $549

Sooo@ my point is that cheap basses can rock with the big boys.

Anyone else know of anyone similar?
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Thank You...
This is a great topic. (I'm not sure why some of these threads go do the pooper with folks but they do).

Otiel played a MIM with the Allmans
Also I believed Pino used a stock Jag for some gigs

189253672_fe5ce20d90.jpg


Cheaper instruments have a come a long way from say 10 years ago and even longer from 20 years ago.

NOW then

As far as there being a NO difference in loud rock show and it does not matter what you use. I disagree, every thing makes a difference to what degree and direction is another story.
 
#69
Munjibunga said:
Why waste money on an expensive bass for a loud concert? You're not going to hear any difference between that $300 bass and a $12,000 Fodera in that environment. Even if you did, the player may prefer the sound of the cheap bass for his genre.
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It's more about feel than sound. A really well crafted bass just plays right. It's just like and extension of your body. Until you've experienced it, it's really hard to explain.
 
#70
Dr Improbable said:
I kind of like it when my gear fights back a little. I like a quality amp, but an oddball or weird bass please.
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There was a point in my life that I would have agreed with this statement. Until I got the best bass I've ever played in my entire life. And now you'll never be able to pry that instrument from my hands.

It's hard to explain. I'm pretty sure you guys would feel differently when you get to play a really really REALLY good bass. It's life changing.
 
#72
Bongolation said:
You're wrong.

There are so many ways endorsees are coddled with their gear I can't go into them all here.

My favorite, though, is the independent third-party luthier building a custom copy of a production model to the artist's specs with the brand's name on it.

At the very, very least, it's a cherrypicked production model with custom setup.
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Only really famous endorsees will have their instruments cherry picked for them. Lesser known endorsees just get a discount on stock instruments.

But I do agree that famous endorsees will have an instrument made to their specifications that looks like a stock instrument.
 
#73
jallenbass said:
I played an Alembic recently that you couldn't pay me to own. It played awful.
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You can setup Alembics to play awful, or set it up to play like a dream.
The only "cheap" bass I've played that came close to the "dream setup" was a vintage Aria Pro II SB (Black 'n gold)

I played an "Allstars" gig yesterday (members from different bands performing some rock/metal classics)
Basses onstage were: Schecter, nt Warwick, MM Stingray, Alembic and Fender with Alembic guts. All through the same rig (SVT 3 Pro, 1540 cab) and basses straight from DI to foh, also very loud.
Those who say that you can't hear a difference in a loud setting should have been there :smug:
 
#74
georgestrings said:
Actually, I almost never see that here - what I see more often is people demonstrating a pathetic need to justify the fact that they can't or won't spend more money to buy higher quality instruments... They come up with lame, tired arguments of "just as good", or "some pros play cheap instruments" - in an effort to make themselves feel better, I suppose - and sometimes to take a cheap shot at those who don't mind spending substantial money to play quality instruments...



- georgestrings
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Well, George, I can and DO own more expensive instruments - but I still gig an SX sometimes, and defend the use of cheap basses. How do you feel about that? It doesn't really fit into your narrative here.

The bottom line is that people should play what they can afford and what they like, and if other people look down on them for playing a cheap bass then it is the other people that have the problem.
 
#77
This discussion has become the same blanket statement my bass is better than yours nonsense thread these always become.

No surprise there.

I have played some very nice basses, yes. I've not played a whole slew of high end boutique basses, but what I've played I have liked, and that is all well and good, as I think they are wonderful... but that is NOT THE POINT I was trying to make.

You were making claims that there are things inherent in boutique basses that aren't attainable on lesser offerings, or that virtuosos NEED them to enhance their creativity. I said you need to back that up.

You still haven't.

Playability is subjective. What you think is playin butter I may think is awful and vice versa. Same with tone. Same with aesthetics and build.

When you get up to boutique level, you're mainly paying for your specified appointments, certain wood combinations, a design end-goal, electronics, and other stuff wrapped in a hand-made instrument. The secondary benefits are a much higher level of attention to detail, more focus on the craft (tho for some high-end makers, that is debatable), and innovations and personal touches that make it WORTH the money, as labor and care are not free...but NONE of this, in the end, guarantees anything else than a one of a kind, personalized instrument. It still has to be set up properly. The electronics still have to this, the frets that.

All variables that can be dialed in, within reason, even on a competently designed, mass-produced instrument.
 
#78
fenderlover77 said:
Only really famous endorsees will have their instruments cherry picked for them. Lesser known endorsees just get a discount on stock instruments.
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I'm sorry, but with all do respect this is not true.

Everywhere might be slightly different, but I known of some of the bands to go through a handfull of stock instruments to find a "certain" ones for an lesser known artists.
 

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