I have found that a fine professional setup on my 1-2k basses make them just wonderful.
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The more I look at basses...
- Thread starter Acoustic356
- Start date
Not sure if serious?
Hilarious and well-played if you're joking.
In the grand scheme it really is quite cheap. As has been pointed out, a 5k bass is a top-shelf professional bass (though of course you can spend more) a 5k Cello or violin is a nice intermediate student instrument.
If bass guitar wasn't so popular and economies-of-scale and competition-leading-to-development hadn't come to bear we'd all be spending ALOT more for our instruments and they wouldn't be nearly as good as they are. The Beatles Gear book is insightful in that it translates the prices adjusted for inflation from their original pricetag to modern (mid 00's) dollars. Folks in the 60's and 70's (before the full flowering and popularizing of oversea's production) were spending a MUCH higher portion of their income on instruments that were no better (in many cases worse) than the gear of today.
I'm willing to bet that even the prices of USA made guitars today are generally far less than they would be if they didn't have to price their instruments in relation to imported instruments.
All this to say, rather than worrying about the "high" prices, we should probably realize that they aren't that high (when compared to other instruments and to history) and we're lucky to get such great instruments for such low prices.
Saw an ad for the Jack Bruce sig bass that Warwick is making. Watched the video on what all the features are and I was like "Wow, this thing is REALLY, REALLY nice."
Yeah, the price tag is $10,000.
Now I like my Ric 4003 even more.
Yeah, the price tag is $10,000.
Now I like my Ric 4003 even more.
This is absolutely the truth. we would be paying 10X more for say, a Fender than in the 50's.
We are fortunate these days to be free to choose our price point for a good instrument.
Nice basses. The reason I asked is because I had a similar experience but different "outcome" (if you will) to gave me a self corrective (guess I can call it that) revelation. I bought an high-end jazz bass that I really liked but something was still missing. After multiple purchases after that one, I sold the bass because I came to realize that I really don't and never really liked single coil jazz styled basses. I was trying to force myself into them. I actually prefer single pickups like a P or Stingray. Even on my HH, I only prefer 2 of the 5 settings. Either the top or bottom coils only.Yeah it is, but I've played Jazz basses as my main for about 20 years. All of them active, but my current p-bass is passive (Am Stnd P5).
I also currently own a passive Squier Jazz (VM 70's Style 5 String) that I use at gigs as well. It's main use is backup and it doesn't get as much playing time as my p-bass, but it does get some at each gig.
I've upgraded all the electronics and had it refinished in surf green. It's an easy playing and pretty good sounding bass.
Pics below...left to right.....FCS, Am Stnd P-5, Squier Jazz 5
So I'm curious as to whether it's the same with you?
FF
$7000 might seem like a lot of money but to many it's not..... The Kardashians threw a 2 million dollar party for thier mum cause they thought she was worth it and deserved it......I don't think $7K is a lot of money to spend of you really want the bass and money is not an issue....
Just goes to show that you can become calloused to sticker shock.
I would probably have a hard time spending $7k, but I could rip through $4k no problem. Warwick, Mayones, Zon? Super easy.
What's stopping me? I ain't got the bread.
Hummm.... I see it as the opposite. The more I look at basses the less money I feel I need to spend.
In addition to my last posting, sometimes, if not most times, we look at the wrong things when choosing our instruments. When searching for instruments and/or an upgrade(d) it's really important to do some mind searching to help aid in our decisions. We should try to first and foremost eliminate emotion and ego from the process. Eg.- Just because your peers are playing (insert name here), doesn't mean you have to. Another prime example is when you've bought several of the same type bass and none of them have that "IT" your looking for. But we keep buying the same type in different "specs" or "brands" hoping to find that nirvana of sound and feel. Insanity. I know because I was (I hope) this person. And I know I'm not alone.
FF
FF
'The purchase price of something is irrelevant as long as you extract all of the value from what you purchase.' —Ted Turner's father
I understand why some guys get all butt hurt about, say, Sadowsky models that are really just better looking and sounding Fenders. Why spend 2x to 3x times more for something that does almost the same job?
The trick is, don't look at the same old same old.
A German made neck through Warwick Thumb is unique and, if you can dig it, is a sexy looking piece of wood. A SS2 sounds a lot like many other jazz basses, but depending how you have it built, can be very eye catching.
Zon makes instruments like Mike Manring's Hyperbass that are unique in tone, capabilities, and appearance. And if you say its just for show, you don't know Mike Manring.
Mayone's makes regular old jazz basses as well as some more unique models with great tones and body shapes.
I don't think anyone would ever call a Wal bass boring or generic sounding.
What I'm saying here is that if you are satisfied with your $500-$1000 bass, cool. Love that bass and make great music with it. Most of my basses are under $1000, because they were either bought used or clearance. My first Lakland 44-02 was the most expensive @ about $1400. But that doesn't mean if someone plopped a couple grand in my hands I wouldn't be able to spend it in a split second and feel pretty damn good doing it.
The OP is verbalizing how the gremlins in our heads make GAS. I totally get it. $100 for a pedal? Yes. $150? Sure. $200?! Never thought I'd be there but I have. $250? Can't say it hasn't crossed my mind.
The trick is, don't look at the same old same old.
A German made neck through Warwick Thumb is unique and, if you can dig it, is a sexy looking piece of wood. A SS2 sounds a lot like many other jazz basses, but depending how you have it built, can be very eye catching.
Zon makes instruments like Mike Manring's Hyperbass that are unique in tone, capabilities, and appearance. And if you say its just for show, you don't know Mike Manring.
Mayone's makes regular old jazz basses as well as some more unique models with great tones and body shapes.
I don't think anyone would ever call a Wal bass boring or generic sounding.
What I'm saying here is that if you are satisfied with your $500-$1000 bass, cool. Love that bass and make great music with it. Most of my basses are under $1000, because they were either bought used or clearance. My first Lakland 44-02 was the most expensive @ about $1400. But that doesn't mean if someone plopped a couple grand in my hands I wouldn't be able to spend it in a split second and feel pretty damn good doing it.
The OP is verbalizing how the gremlins in our heads make GAS. I totally get it. $100 for a pedal? Yes. $150? Sure. $200?! Never thought I'd be there but I have. $250? Can't say it hasn't crossed my mind.
Ric5
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- Jan 29, 2008
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- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
I had a 1960s bass that I sold for $6800 ... then I went and bought newer, better, cheaper stuff. I can get what I really want for a lot less that $4000
Talk to other musicians. And by musicians, I don't mean electric guitar players. I mean clarinets, flutes, trombones, trumpets, and the like. Ask those musicians how much their instruments cost. We can spend $400 on a perfectly gigable axe. They're starting at $4000 and usually have ONE of each instrument. Often, they're expected to double on different instruments. So, spend away!
My experience has been just the opposite. The more I look at basses and the longer I play bass, the more I start to think a simple Squier VM Jazz and CV Precision is all I'd ever really need. So over the years I probably spent way more than I needed to spend. But it was a lot of fun so I'm not complaining. 
The funny thing about this thread is I picture all the "SX" crowd that mock MIA Fender basses on many threads walking around dazed into walls in their homes like someone threw a stun grenade into their room. 
What you do with your money is your business. It's not for me to judge.
I must confess this time of year bums me out when I see all those car commercials where the person is ushered over to a window to see the expensive car with a bow on it as a present. I'm not rich or poor but the disparity between the folks who live in a world where a car gift like that is normal and MANY of the hard working folks I know are having a hard time getting by and even keeping their homes just leaves me dazed.
What you do with your money is your business. It's not for me to judge.
I must confess this time of year bums me out when I see all those car commercials where the person is ushered over to a window to see the expensive car with a bow on it as a present. I'm not rich or poor but the disparity between the folks who live in a world where a car gift like that is normal and MANY of the hard working folks I know are having a hard time getting by and even keeping their homes just leaves me dazed.
Me? I can't think of a single bass that costs more than $1600 that I'd be interested in.[/QUOTE said:
I'm not going to say I'll never spend $4K+ on a bass. Or even a guitar (I'm still calling myself a guitar player). I just don't see it right now.
That said, I just thank my lucky stars I'm not a Invalid Link Removed.
That said, I just thank my lucky stars I'm not a Invalid Link Removed.
Most double bassists I've met have two instruments and many have just one. One main, and one backup/outdoor/project. They aren't amassing a stable of instruments because there's just no reason too, and financially it's not feasible. Not just the cost, but maintenance and upkeep is much more expensive as well.
Right about doubling as well. I know of quite a few DB players who double on Tuba and French Horn. Of course most them also double on electric bass also!
I'm a total hack on the upright, but if I were to replace my Engelhardt (The cheapest USA-made plywood bass worth buying) it would cost over $1300 bucks new and that's before I take it in and have the bridge replaced, fingerboard dressed, etc, etc. By the time you figure in shipping (about $300 bucks), a cheap bow, case and setup, I'm about at the price of one of a Lakland USA Classic 44-64!
I guess I should update my previous statement to say that the most affordable (yet still reliably quality) beginner doublebass will get you a true pro-level electric bass.
I've had a similar conversation with my brother. We both agreed that quality has improved so much even from the 90's (when we started) that we could play every gig we ever have on a Squire and do just fine. However our conclusion was different in that we both agree that we really appreciate and value the better tone, playability and general quality on our "better" instruments. In his case Suhr tele and in mine a Skyline Lakland.
A great question to ask too. Do you really want a $4000-$8000 instrument sitting on a $50 stand unsecured at a gig or after at load out? That's basically bass endangerment and asking for bassnapping. Granted it would absolutely suck to lose even my Yamaha bb605 but not nearly as much as a $4000 bass. At that rate you'd better have insurance on it. I'd be terrified it would get knocked over and scratched or playing outdoors it rained. Or a pigeon sh1t on it. I've got enough worries without obsessing over a bass.
I've heard this before and I don't quite buy it. If you're afraid to bring your nice instrument out that's entirely understandable.
However, if you can afford 4-8k bass you can probably afford to insure it. Besides, virutally every other musician has virtually no choice but to bring an instrument worth thousands of dollars to each and every gig. Ask a violinist what they spend on their gigging instrument. There's almost nothing easier to steal than a violin, except possibly a piccolo...
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