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Survey! High End or Low End Gear?

Do You Buy Higher End or Budget Gear?

  • Higher End Gear

    Votes: 73 28.3%

  • Medium Priced Gear

    Votes: 149 57.8%

  • Budget Gear

    Votes: 36 14.0%
  • Total voters
    258
  • Poll closed .
A

Antihero666

Jan 27, 2008
46
1
34
Sydney, NSW, Australia
#1
Gday guys, its survey time.. again!

As part of my Year 12 Design and Technology HSC Major Design Project im creating an interactive bass guitar magazine which is going to include samples from as many basses and effects pedals as I can get, as well as photos, information, possibly reviews, and maybe articles on techniques and playing styles.

So for the marketing research aspect of the project, I need to find out whether you prefer to buy higher end gear, or the budget, bang for your buck bass gear.

All participation is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
 
#4
I am also going to say medium, just because you included the option. If it was strictly high end vs. budget, I would go with the budget gear. While the high end stuff is great, I have found that you can make the budget stuff great yourself at a much lower cost. Buy a lower quality Squire and upgrade the electronics for a fraction of the cost of a new high end Fender (only an example, not meant to start a flame war). The same could be said for a Peavey Cirrus vs. a Cirrus BXP. While it won’t be exactly the same as the high end gear, the sound quality is very close. Just be honest and don't try to pass it off as an original high end product. This is the philosophy that I'm trying to go with. In fact, I have the Cirrus BXP that I upgraded the electronics in. Sounds the same as my friends "real" cirrus and I paid under $800 for everything.
 
#6
Judging on current votes, I predict a bell curve for your final results...which is likely what you expected from the very beginning. :D

Personally, I voted for the higher end. This is all incredibly subjective, but if there is a moral to the story for me, it's that you do get what you pay for. I relate basses and amplification gear to a speed junkie's pursuit for performance. You'll pay $X to get 90% of the way there, and $X*Y to find the other 10%. It's all in how your ears, hands, and eyes determine the value of X and Y, and whether or not X is enough for you. Again, I'm generalizing here because this is a very personal thing.

Good luck with your project.
 
#7
I have champagne taste on a jaeger bomb budget! :D Seriously, I like high-end gear. I like knowing that my manufacturer of choice didn't cut any corners on my stuff! My band does pretty well, so I'm lucky to be able to afford the gear I want. I vote for the High-end stuff
 
#14
I use stuff that could be considered high end,(pre-cbs Fender), mid priced, (new American Standard Precison) and budget (SX SPB 62 w/ a mod or two)

For me, it's about getting a good price relative to what the instrument is. Considering what I have into my 64 Precision, I got it for a steal by current standards, and even a decent deal at the time. My new Fender I got for about $300 under typical street price. My SX is the only bass I payed retail asking price for, because at $109 I really couldn't argue, considering what I was getting.

Bottom line for me is, it has to be a good deal relative to what the market typicaly will bring.

That said, the bass that I gig with , and work the hardest was the least expensive SX, and I use the new Fender as a backup.

I'm sure that doesn't help, does it? ;)

I'll vote mid range.
 
#17
I went medium. I have a Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0-10T combo. That's fairly medium to high. I have a Yamaha BB605 that was a steal for me but was fairly medium new. I added Bartolini electronics, so I think medium. I also have a Squire VM fretless. Low end price but medium playability. Pedals are Boss, MXR and BBE - medium I think.

I used to be high end, but found this stuff works just fin efor my gigs and I don't need to spend all that money just for my own gratification.
 
#18
Thanks for the support so far guys!

I think this poll needs more options. I only PAY budget prices for gear, but that doesn't always mean it is "budget" gear because half of my gear I've gotten on the used market for ridiculous prices, but it's actually fairly decent mid-range stuff...
Click to expand...

I suppose I should elaborate on the question - When I say budget gear im not exactly talking about paying a low price for good gear, im talking lower range products, eg SX and Squire (no offense intended of course, I quite liked my SX bass!). So in your case the vote would be for medium priced gear, even if you arent paying a price that reflects it.

Cheers!
 
#19
I've got mid priced gear and paid budget prices.

My Peavey Millennium Plus 5: originally sold for around $1500 - I got it for $550.

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My Yorkville XS400T: originally sold for around $900 - I got it for $400.
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