Spending $2,000 for a bass?

[Dave W]

I'm sure expensive bass guitars are nice but I would not like take them around at gigs as they get scratchy and worn and after a while will look like a cheap bass, anyway.

I gig all of my basses, but I bought them to play them. My Sadowsky has a few scratches and dings in it but it doesn't bother me, it adds character

Yeah, just another troll thread...


- georgestrings

Indeed

 

[Gubna]

I'd spend more than that for an MTD 535.

 

[Popbumper]

Price is all about what you can afford.

Quality usually follows price, but there are exceptions.

Sound quality is quite often in the ear of the beholder.

I own a 90's vintage Fender P bass; I paid $200 for the Fender with a 50W practice amp.

I also own a Spalted Maple L2K; I paid $1200 for it, and it's like new.

Both were set up and treated to new strings.

The Fender has a great tone, medium high action, generic finish, nothing special, reasonably used, quite basic.

The G&L has a dark tone, definitely NOT a Fender sound, but many, many sound options. The fit and finish are flawless, and the action is very smooth.

Guess which one I find more sonically enjoyable? Yup - the Fender.

What YOU like is what YOU like.

Pop

PS - I auditioned two $5k Sadowskys last fall. As much as I don't want to admit, it smoked both of my basses, ESPECIALLY in feel/action. Wow. I DON'T have $5k to spend.

 

[boristhespider9]

Not trying to be a jerk, but what really is the point of this post? First, as others have pointed out, the American Standard never sells for the prices you mention. Go to any big name store web site: Musician’s Friend, Sam Ash, Music 123 and you’ll see that the American Standard P is offered for $1199 and the Jazz is $1299. If you call and haggle, you can often get 15-20% off especially if they are having a sale -- even if the coupon "doesn't apply” to Fender. It may not work online, but they will deal over the phone.

Go ahead and buy your cheaper foreign-made basses. They are indeed of good quality and they still make low notes as a bass is required to do.

After playing for a while, you realize that there is a psychological component to instrument ownership. As long as it’s playable, some folks like myself are willing to pay more for: (a) an American made instrument; (b) an instrument with a rich history and tradition used on numerous recordings and by iconic bass players; (c) for the knowledge that an American Standard P or Jazz will never be viewed as a second-rate instrument and will be considered appropriate for virtually any gig or setting; and (d) the feeling that comes with being on stage with such an instrument.

The P and Jazz are basic instruments. They were further refined in 2008 to much acclaim and, in many players’ view, are still the gold standard to which all other instruments are compared. Some say that God must have communicated with Leo Fender about the designs because he created the perfect basses with the P and J and no matter what has come along since then, they remain the industry standard.

Yes, Fender does play off the "heritage" aspect of the instruments to justify the pricing, but so what? There is value to the heritage and history of the designs. They are worth what people will pay for them in the market and Fender has been selling the American Standards like hot cakes since the redesigned line came out in 2008. By the way – remember when they raised the price, by $100 across the American Standard line in about 2009 after people were buying the new models -- everyone got mad and they lowered the prices back down? That’s the market at work! People complaining about the price are usually ones who really, really want one! Otherwise, buy something else.

I play other basses as well -- more expensive ones such as MusicMan and Lakland USA. They are awesome. But, there's nothing like bringing a Sunburst/Rosewood American Standard Jazz or P Bass on stage and seeing it shine under the stage lights (sometimes thinking you’re John Paul Jones or Noel Redding…oh wait). If you don't like them, buy something else. There's plenty out there. But, they remain the American Standard for a reason.

Truer words have never been spoken!

Oh wait...that's my post.

 

[bassmastan]

I'm sure expensive bass guitars are nice but I would not like take them around at gigs as they get scratchy and worn and after a while will look like a cheap bass, anyway. Not to speak of worrying about this all the time.

It of course depends if this is purchased as a working man bass or something that is just kept in the bedroom.

I'm going to disagree with you ksandvik, I think that there's nothing wrong giging with an expensive instrument. The scratches, and paint flakes and bumps and smudges are all part of that instruments history. Also an old musician once told me that the value of a bass is worth $0 because it isn't up for sale, its your tool, your paintbrush, your future, and your meal ticket, scratches don't matter, if your treating it as if it were all four of those things, then you shouldn't worry about a scratch or two, but how you protect the instrument. Naturally stuff happens and we don't always have control over it. Make the best with what you have, and if a boutique bass is what you have bring it out every nite, and while your playing it think that your taking out a tool that best represents you, and the sound you want, I'm not saying you can't emulate the sound you want on a Squire or Ibanez, I'm just saying you don't have to hide the Sadowsky in the safe because you don't want a scratch on it, or what might happen if you bring it to a gig. Live life, don't hold back, be the best musician you can be, and just remember the expensive bass doesn't sound good in the hands of someone who hasn't worked hard and put in the practice time and experiance...unless you happened to be born playing bass

 

[boristhespider9]

I'm going to disagree with you ksandvik, I think that there's nothing wrong giging with an expensive instrument. The scratches, and paint flakes and bumps and smudges are all part of that instruments history. Also an old musician once told me that the value of a bass is worth $0 because it isn't up for sale, its your tool, your paintbrush, your future, and your meal ticket, scratches don't matter, if your treating it as if it were all four of those things, then you shouldn't worry about a scratch or two, but how you protect the instrument. Naturally stuff happens and we don't always have control over it. Make the best with what you have, and if a boutique bass is what you have bring it out every nite, and while your playing it think that your taking out a tool that best represents you, and the sound you want, I'm not saying you can't emulate the sound you want on a Squire or Ibanez, I'm just saying you don't have to hide the Sadowsky in the safe because you don't want a scratch on it, or what might happen if you bring it to a gig. Live life, don't hold back, be the best musician you can be, and just remember the expensive bass doesn't sound good in the hands of someone who hasn't worked hard and put in the practice time and experiance...unless you happened to be born playing bass

It's simple: basses are meant to be played...often and hard.

And don't cover your couch with plastic either. That's meant to be used too.

 

[JimmyM]

The OP has a history of having zero ability to see past his own likes and dislikes. You'd think he'd learn from the drubbing he's taken over the similar threads he's done about other gear. Apparently not. Oh well. Can't save the world.

 

[One Drop]

The OP has a history of having zero ability to see past his own likes and dislikes. You'd think he'd learn from the drubbing he's taken over the similar threads he's done about other gear. Apparently not. Oh well. Can't save the world.

Some people like getting beaten up.

We are the mugs for indulging them.

 

[KrisWarrington]

Most of the time I forget about these posts and just skip to the end. Always warms my heart to see JimmyM and his words of wisdom.

 

[xxx666]

Truer words have never been spoken!

Oh wait...that's my post.

Haha - that made my day!

 

[paradog]

Be smart. Buy used.

+1

 

[Korladis]

Mmmm, troll thread.

 

[JimmyM]

Most of the time I forget about these posts and just skip to the end. Always warms my heart to see JimmyM and his words of wisdom.

Well you're free to do what you want, but why post something if you're going to forget about it? And if you like something that isn't a Fender, there's nothing wrong with that, but you're being pretty insulting to those who do like them. You act like we're out of our minds. Plus you have no sense of the history of the electric bass and you make wrong assumptions about it based on your own likes and dislikes. Those of us who play Fenders don't play them because they were the only thing on the market (BTW, this has never been true at any time in the electric bass's history except 1951), or because our heroes play them. We play them because we like them. Those who don't like them play something else.

Oh well, at least you took off that stupid "Play bass with a pick? Play guitar instead" signature line you used to use. Baby steps, I guess.

 

[KrisWarrington]

Oh well, at least you took off that stupid "Play bass with a pick? Play guitar instead" signature line you used to use. Baby steps, I guess.

Yeah I learned that voicing your opinion is not a very good idea expecially if too many people disagree with it. I mean... If you re-read the original thread post I was kind of hoping to get some helpfull information from some experienced fender/gibson users as to why it's a good instrument. Then again, I'm just trolling as always.

 

[Selta]

Yeah I learned that voicing your opinion is not a very good idea expecially if too many people disagree with it. I mean... If you re-read the original thread post I was kind of hoping to get some helpfull information from some experienced fender/gibson users as to why it's a good instrument. Then again, I'm just trolling as always.

While that very well may have been your intent, you start off by bashing very popular products with very misleading arguments (i.e. MSRP versus street price - you judge the "junk" in your opinion with their MSRP price, then go on the street price for your preferred instruments, trying to make the price gap appear to be very different, when in fact it's not so much different afterall). So, if you were looking for information on what makes a P or J bass good, you went about it entirely in the wrong way. We weren't "bashing" you because you voiced an opinion in this case, but because YOU in fact bashed very popular instruments. And honestly, do a friggin' search, there's SO many threads that cover Fender and Gibson basses that you can find out everything you want about them easily. Instead, you chose to start off a thread about how terrible they all are, they all suck and aren't worth a penny.
About the whole pick thing - I'm not really going to touch it. I see your profile says that you're 21. Well, you might have been on Earth 21 years, but you sure as heck have no matured to 21 years old at all. I play with a pick and fingers, depending on what tone I want. I'm sorry that you can't wrap your head around the fact that they sound very different and you can't get the same tone as one with the other.
So, all in all, if you have something that you want to *discuss*, you should really think what you're typing through a lot more, and put together an actual discussion. Don't start off berating people and whole companies.

 

[JimmyM]

Yeah I learned that voicing your opinion is not a very good idea expecially if too many people disagree with it. I mean... If you re-read the original thread post I was kind of hoping to get some helpfull information from some experienced fender/gibson users as to why it's a good instrument. Then again, I'm just trolling as always.

Have an opinion, just don't knock others for having a different opinion.

 

[KrisWarrington]

While that very well may have been your intent, you start off by bashing very popular products with very misleading arguments (i.e. MSRP versus street price - you judge the "junk" in your opinion with their MSRP price, then go on the street price for your preferred instruments, trying to make the price gap appear to be very different, when in fact it's not so much different afterall). So, if you were looking for information on what makes a P or J bass good, you went about it entirely in the wrong way. We weren't "bashing" you because you voiced an opinion in this case, but because YOU in fact bashed very popular instruments. And honestly, do a friggin' search, there's SO many threads that cover Fender and Gibson basses that you can find out everything you want about them easily. Instead, you chose to start off a thread about how terrible they all are, they all suck and aren't worth a penny.
About the whole pick thing - I'm not really going to touch it. I see your profile says that you're 21. Well, you might have been on Earth 21 years, but you sure as heck have no matured to 21 years old at all. I play with a pick and fingers, depending on what tone I want. I'm sorry that you can't wrap your head around the fact that they sound very different and you can't get the same tone as one with the other.
So, all in all, if you have something that you want to *discuss*, you should really think what you're typing through a lot more, and put together an actual discussion. Don't start off berating people and whole companies.

AYE SIR! And this whole MRSP compared to street prices because I'm a complete idiot and have no idea what i'm ever talking about. ATLEAST Fender and Gibson post their MSRPs on their websites which some companies fail to do and I'm not really too worried about it to go searching around endless webpages trying to find accurate MSRPs.

Exibit A: Invalid Link Removed

Exibit B:
Link Removed

So yes I should have probably just went to google shopping and typed in the basses and compared those values but honestly I like seeing what a company believes their instrument is worth from a guitar store to person.

So 1,100 for an American Standard and 1,500 for a Tbird.

So now that I have corrected that discrepancy that was such a huge deal I re-ask my question:

In the experienced, seasoned, and knowledgable Fender/Gibson bassists collective wisdom. What makes these instruments worth the price that you may or may not be paying for them depending on 1) If you buy used 2) If you buy new 3) Any other situation you feel the desire to mention ? Personally, in my limited experience with the instruments, I didn't find them to my personal tastes, HOWEVER; being as some are the "American Standard" perhaps I am missing some key aspect of these instruments that I fail to notice because of my lack of experience, the fact that I am only 21 years of age, or I personally do not play bass with a pick. So with no malicious intent twords these companies or any member of the TalkBass community I would personally like to hear of your personal experiences with these instruments.

I hope that my revised topic is now better suited for a general audience without being seen as a troll post. Honestly, the only thing I can ever think of to talk about on this forum is gear, expecially gear I personally don't like, so I can better understand why people enjoy that gear and perhaps it might dawn the light on my short decade of playing bass and help me become a veteran of the instrument and switch to root notes, a SVT, and a fender P bass. My intent on joining was to learn about different gear and I apologize that you have seen my posts as nothing but a big bash fest on everything other than Kustom, Schecter, ESP, BBE, DBX, Brace, D'Addario, or Furman. After all... I've only been playing bass for twenty minutes and I rest my peace on this one just keep in mind my intent was never to be a "troll" that just so happens to be the label I was dubbed for being blunt and honest in my opinions and seeking the opinions of others.

 

[KrisWarrington]

Have an opinion, just don't knock others for having a different opinion.

I honestly never ment to offend you in any way or to bash on any equipment you own. So please don't take it as I was.

 

[One Drop]

Yeah I learned that voicing your opinion is not a very good idea expecially if too many people disagree with it. I mean... If you re-read the original thread post I was kind of hoping to get some helpfull information from some experienced fender/gibson users as to why it's a good instrument. Then again, I'm just trolling as always.

Yup, you're the lone voice of reason in a world gone mad. And by skipping to the end of the threads you start you don't have to mess with any inconvenient facts that challenge your view, or petty things like other peoples experiences and the actual answers and experiences that you pretend to want to hear, but don't, really.

It's obvious you haven't taken a single thing on board that anyone has offered up here, positive or negative. But it's our problem anyways, so keep on keepin' on!

 

[One Drop]

AYE SIR! And this whole MRSP compared to street prices because I'm a complete idiot and have no idea what i'm ever talking about. ATLEAST Fender and Gibson post their MSRPs on their websites which some companies fail to do and I'm not really too worried about it to go searching around endless webpages trying to find accurate MSRPs.

Exibit A: Invalid Link Removed

Exibit B:
Link Removed

So yes I should have probably just went to google shopping and typed in the basses and compared those values but honestly I like seeing what a company believes their instrument is worth from a guitar store to person.

So 1,100 for an American Standard and 1,500 for a Tbird.

So now that I have corrected that discrepancy that was such a huge deal I re-ask my question:

In the experienced, seasoned, and knowledgable Fender/Gibson bassists collective wisdom. What makes these instruments worth the price that you may or may not be paying for them depending on 1) If you buy used 2) If you buy new 3) Any other situation you feel the desire to mention ? Personally, in my limited experience with the instruments, I didn't find them to my personal tastes, HOWEVER; being as some are the "American Standard" perhaps I am missing some key aspect of these instruments that I fail to notice because of my lack of experience, the fact that I am only 21 years of age, or I personally do not play bass with a pick. So with no malicious intent twords these companies or any member of the TalkBass community I would personally like to hear of your personal experiences with these instruments.

I hope that my revised topic is now better suited for a general audience without being seen as a troll post. Honestly, the only thing I can ever think of to talk about on this forum is gear, expecially gear I personally don't like, so I can better understand why people enjoy that gear and perhaps it might dawn the light on my short decade of playing bass and help me become a veteran of the instrument and switch to root notes, a SVT, and a fender P bass. My intent on joining was to learn about different gear and I apologize that you have seen my posts as nothing but a big bash fest on everything other than Kustom, Schecter, ESP, BBE, DBX, Brace, D'Addario, or Furman. After all... I've only been playing bass for twenty minutes and I rest my peace on this one just keep in mind my intent was never to be a "troll" that just so happens to be the label I was dubbed for being blunt and honest in my opinions and seeking the opinions of others.

See, you started okay and I almost thought you were honest. But a troll can't hide no matter how big the bridge, and you gave the game away with your snide remarks in the last paragraph. Unless you were serious, in which case I have no idea what to answer, other than Good Luck With Your Life.

Bluntness and honesty are welcome here, but you've been dubbed a troll because, (drum roll....), you've been trolling!