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The Cheap Ass Bass Club

P

plangentmusic

Inactive
Jun 30, 2010
1,922
45
Manhattan
#1
I have a confession to make. I think basses and guitars (and if anyone plans on using the term "gitard" please go back to 7th grade) are just assembly line pieces of wood with electronics.

There. I said it.

They're not rocket ships, they're not Lamborgini's, they're just functional tools.

Sure, some instruments are better built than others but does that make it worth 20 times the price of a very functional mid-price instrument?

Over the years I've found some great cheapo's -- a Carlo Robelli 6 string. My first Ibanez (that I regretfully sold), the new Squires -- all GREAT instruments. And not just for the price.

Any instrument has its vibe and no one instrument is the "ultimate" end all and be all ax. And at times playing an expensive instrument is a little pretentious (look at my expensive instrument!!!) whereas playing a cheap one is a statement -- it says. "it doesn't matter what I use -- I can play."

So...who out there actually PREFERS a cheap instrument to the expensive models.

Don't be shy. Admit it. You're among friends.
 
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#4
Hell yeah
1. electra phoenix
2. Mako Traditionals
3. Made from parts bass
All 3 of these basses together wouldnt buy you a fender let alone a squier. But I wouldnt give them up for nothing. One lesson Ive learned.....
if you take the time and effort you can make anything sound great.
 
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#9
I play a Squier Jazz Bass. I'm happy. It works for me. Sounds good, feels good, and plays well. Why should I spend 1000 more of my precious dollars just for a bass that wouldn't even improve my playing or anything?
If anything, I'd spend to get a better amp or better electronics since they'd actually change my sound.
 
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#12
This one cost me "just barely" over $60 to build -



TALKBASSBUILDOFF150.jpg
 
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#13
Owner of a Traben Array - 300 new.

just my 3 cents (feeling genirious today).

The cheaper basses can be great instruments in the right hands. Although some of the more expensive bass's (lakeland, Music Man, Fender, Gibson) have better parts which allow more quality where as the cheapo's are often breaking down. Of coarse this is a mute point considering the fact that if you spend 1200 dollar's on a bass you're going to treat it like the soft spot of an infant's head.

As far as basses just being sticks and wire there is more to it then that. The basics are just sticks and wire but the quality of it all really makes a difference. For instance certain woods affect the sound. The cheaper basses come with the generic wood where as the more basses give a better choice on the wood used. Ebony is a lot more expensive than rosewood. Then there's the pups which is just copper wire round around magnets. This is where the real difference in sound comes from. If the copper wire isn't wound right or the magnets are cheap the sound will be affected. Then of coarse there comes the hardware which affects playability. Cheap tunekeys will strip out easily (trust me on that one), not to mention never stay in tune or even be precise.

Then of coarse a mid range bass (4-800) can easily fix all the problems that the cheaper ones have and the expensive basses, you're mainly just paying for the name.

My thoughts are just buy a cheap one that you like and mod the HELL out of it to make a decent player. In the end you'll spend about as much as you would on a mid range bass but could end up with something better and more importantly something that fits you.
 
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#14
i disagree with nice instruments not being with the price, Iv owned lots of 1k basses and my nordstrand blows them away. However i also love a nice cheap bass :)
Ill play

Rouge 4 string cost me $30. Needs repair, considering converting it to fretless.
Ibanez Gio, cost me $40. Now completly destroyed i think. Used for experiments
Electra jazz cost me $150. (currently being modded) IM thinking MM pickup in the bridge and jazz pickup in neck
 
#17
xxfaux_punkxx said:
Owner of a Traben Array - 300 new.

just my 3 cents (feeling genirious today).

The cheaper basses can be great instruments in the right hands. Although some of the more expensive bass's (lakeland, Music Man, Fender, Gibson) have better parts which allow more quality where as the cheapo's are often breaking down. Of coarse this is a mute point considering the fact that if you spend 1200 dollar's on a bass you're going to treat it like the soft spot of an infant's head.

As far as basses just being sticks and wire there is more to it then that. The basics are just sticks and wire but the quality of it all really makes a difference. For instance certain woods affect the sound. The cheaper basses come with the generic wood where as the more basses give a better choice on the wood used. Ebony is a lot more expensive than rosewood. Then there's the pups which is just copper wire round around magnets. This is where the real difference in sound comes from. If the copper wire isn't wound right or the magnets are cheap the sound will be affected. Then of coarse there comes the hardware which affects playability. Cheap tunekeys will strip out easily (trust me on that one), not to mention never stay in tune or even be precise.

Then of coarse a mid range bass (4-800) can easily fix all the problems that the cheaper ones have and the expensive basses, you're mainly just paying for the name.

My thoughts are just buy a cheap one that you like and mod the HELL out of it to make a decent player. In the end you'll spend about as much as you would on a mid range bass but could end up with something better and more importantly something that fits you.
Click to expand...

All the things you're mentioning are old issues. Today's instruments tend not to have those problems, unless they're really, really garbage. Sure, I had to change the pots in my Carlo Robelli. 50 bucks. So the grand total was $325.

Many use the same wood as expensive models unless you start getting exotic (which doesn't necessarily sound better).

And even expensive instruments have problems now and then.
 

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