The world's most expensive bass...

[Neon Blues]

I've played a Ritter. Aesthetically it was amazing. The sound did nothing for me.

I feel they more comparable to buying a sculpture than a bass. They are pieces of art.

 

[Baird6869]

Well, what can I say. I imagine Liberace's bass might look like this. I bet they won't make a heavy relic version. No point emulating road wear on something like this, because who would have the cajones to actually gig this bass for 30 years?

I gig some pretty expensive basses regularly, but if I owned this Ritter (AND had the $$$ AND was a pretentious knob), it would hang on a wall in a case under a bright light so I could impress people with how rich and cool I was.

Not me or my thing at all, but I would never take something like that in public.

I would love to look at it, play it and basically fondle it for a few minutes though!

 

[Munjibunga]

I feel like there's a price point out there with musical instruments where the musical output plateaus and you begin just paying for looks.

Based on a thread I started some time ago, the number is felt by many to be in the $1,500 to $2,000 range.

 

[monsterthompson]

I feel like there's a price point out there with musical instruments where the musical output plateaus and you begin just paying for looks.

It's at about $1,000.

Over that and you're paying for features and build quality, but not much sonic bang for your dollar compared to the $500-$1,000 range.

Over about $2,500, you're really just paying for finish and decorations.

 

[Baird6869]

I've played a Ritter. Aesthetically it was amazing. The sound did nothing for me.

I feel they more comparable to buying a sculpture than a bass. They are pieces of art.

Totally agree.

I loved the ergonomics of the 2 I have played, playability and how they balanced.

The tone was good but not great, and they just look weird to me..... In a great way, but too weird for my gigs. I can play a $100/man rock cover gig with a Fodera, love my tone and very few people think my bass is any more special than an Ibanez, Fender, etc. to look at.

Still would love to own a normal one, but I think it would end up being something to look at hanging on my wall.

Damn, they look cool in person though!

 

[Ballin'bass]

I'd disagree with the $1k road mark for quality/cost ratio of basses. Completely and totally.

I'd say in my experience that it's about 1500 to 2k like munjibunga said. I notice a serious step up on fit and finish and we'll as wood quality when spending upwards of 2k. But of course it depends on the brand/year/etc sometimes.

I'm speaking of buying new of course.

 

[Baird6869]

Based on a thread I started some time ago, the number is felt by many to be in the $1,500 to $2,000 range.

I agree with this and not $1000.

To get EXACTLY what I want (exact neck radius and profile, scale and # of frets, pickups and pre, hardware... but no crazy woods)., I am at $2k from someone like Valenti or Stambaugh. I love me some Fenders, but my perfect bass isn't to be found hanging on a GC wall. Warmoth parts wouldn't be much less once all said and done.

 

[Munjibunga]

I gig some pretty expensive basses regularly, but if I owned this Ritter (AND had the $$$ AND was a pretentious knob), it would hang on a wall in a case under a bright light so I could impress people with how rich and cool I was.

Not me or my thing at all, but I would never take something like that in public.

I would love to look at it, play it and basically fondle it for a few minutes though!

I'm the opposite. If I had enough money that a $250K bass fit my budget, I'd play it at every gig (if it sounded great). Same with cars. If I had a million-dollar Ferrari or concours-quality classic restoration, it'd be a driver.

Here's an analogy. True story. About 15 years ago, the whole back yard of a bluff-top ocean-front house slide off into the ocean. The failure came up very close to the house - a mansion, actually. The news media were all over it, and during an interview with the woman who owned the home, the newscastress asked her, "Aren't you afraid you might lose your home?" The woman responded (stick nose up in air when reading this part), "If you can't afford to lose your home, you can't afford to live here."

I rest my case. BTW, here's the little cottage. You can see how close the failure came to the house. You can also see how far the yard used to extend past the house by looking at where the fence ends by the back lawn. They have since built a wall along the edge of the failure and put in new flatwork.

 

[monsterthompson]

I disagree with your disagreements

I'd say the $1,000 mark is where it becomes noticeable that it's shifting in terms of dollars to sound quality. Coming up from $500 you make some good ground. I'd say over $1,000 you start heading toward fine tuning territory. The quality of workmanship and feel continues to improve but I'm not convinced the sound continues to ramp up at the same rate. Over the $2k mark and you really are starting fine tuning for "your sound" and specific parts, features, and finish. I think that's where you really start seeing people say "different flavors of good" a lot more. IMHO. YMMV.

 

[IngloriousOz]

Trades?

ON FIRE!

 

[Ballin'bass]

I disagree with your disagreements

I'd say the $1,000 mark is where it becomes noticeable that it's shifting in terms of dollars to sound quality. Coming up from $500 you make some good ground. I'd say over $1,000 you start heading toward fine tuning territory. The quality of workmanship and feel continues to improve but I'm not convinced the sound continues to ramp up at the same rate. Over the $2k mark and you really are starting fine tuning for "your sound" and specific parts, features, and finish. I think that's where you really start seeing people say "different flavors of good" a lot more. IMHO. YMMV.

Well you could be right about the sound quality in certain cases. But I'm talking about all of it. The feel, playability, reliability, etc. Just a much better instrument all around when you make the leap from 1k to 2k.

 

[monsterthompson]

I'd disagree with the $1k road mark for quality/cost ratio of basses. Completely and totally.

I'd say in my experience that it's about 1500 to 2k like munjibunga said. I notice a serious step up on fit and finish and we'll as wood quality when spending upwards of 2k. But of course it depends on the brand/year/etc sometimes.

I'm speaking of buying new of course.

The post I quoted mentioned musical quality which I interpreted as tone, exclusive of setup, fit, and finish. Hence my expanded reply. I could see arguments going each way in terms of fit and finish and setup being related to tone produced vs. player preference.

 

[Baird6869]

I'm the opposite. If I had enough money that a $250K bass fit my budget, I'd play it at every gig (if it sounded great). Same with cars. If I had a million-dollar Ferrari or concours-quality classic restoration, it'd be a driver.

Here's an analogy. True story. About 15 years ago, the whole back yard of a bluff-top ocean-front house slide off into the ocean. The failure came up very close to the house - a mansion, actually. The news media were all over it, and during an interview with the woman who owned the home, the newscastress asked her, "Aren't you afraid you might lose your home?" The woman responded (stick nose up in air when reading this part), "If you can't afford to lose your home, you can't afford to live here."

I rest my case. BTW, here's the little cottage. You can see how close the failure came to the house. You can also see how far the yard used to extend past the house by looking at where the fence ends by the back lawn. They have since built a wall along the edge of the failure and put in new flatwork.

View attachment 688106 View attachment 688107

Good point. All relative.

 

[PortlandBass77]

Well, I never thought someone would find the best bass for rap before the best bass for metal

But seriously, if I buy that and gig with it at the motorcycle bars in Gresham, does that make me metal as $$$$?

 

[Flaked Beans]

I want a 10,000 year old mammoth tusk nut....

Poor 10k year old mammoth.

ps. that's the best nut for metal!

 

[kenneffdupriest]

Looks like something a rapper wud hang around his neck

 

[Munjibunga]

I disagree with your disagreements

I'd say the $1,000 mark is where it becomes noticeable that it's shifting in terms of dollars to sound quality. Coming up from $500 you make some good ground. I'd say over $1,000 you start heading toward fine tuning territory. The quality of workmanship and feel continues to improve but I'm not convinced the sound continues to ramp up at the same rate. Over the $2k mark and you really are starting fine tuning for "your sound" and specific parts, features, and finish. I think that's where you really start seeing people say "different flavors of good" a lot more. IMHO. YMMV.

We'll never all agree exactly where the returns start diminishing, but I think it's safe to say it's below that $3,000 mark.

 

[interp]

Yeah, but is it good for metal?

 

[TyBo]

Wow. Idk if I'm the last to know or if anyone else has seen this but DAAAAYUUMMMM!
Most Expensive Bass Guitar | LUXUO Luxury Blog

Who would play this??

Oh, I don't thank so! That mammoth tusk bit is kind of cool though. But f*ck that sh*t ... I like my $119.00 SX, I really don't need anything more. And if I do, I'll build the motherf*cker myself. dammit.

 

[Flaked Beans]

Squier (Now I'm doing it).

No. Mine was a Squire.

You are both wrong. My squirrel is three times better than the golden ritter.

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