Travis Dykes - Cheap vs Expensive Basses (Can PROs Hear the Difference)

[Geri O]

I'm thinking of the parallel situation, where you see someone driving a Lambo around L.A., stuck in the same traffic, and I think "what a waste of a good car." When I donated my '72 Rick to a music school back in '84 I did so primarily so the instrument would be in better hands, put to better use. It had gone as far as it could go at the time in my hands. So when my friend offered to build a 4 string Dire Wolf for me the other day, I thought "well, they can only build perhaps 6 of these per year, so even if I could afford it, shouldn't it go to a better player?"

And that's perfectly fine! And the donation of the Rick was definitely a noble gesture. I appreciate that very much.

It's just when folks get all judgmental of folks with high end instruments that wears thin on the adults in the room.

 

[Marihino]

But then there's many (if not most) of us, who own and professionally use both expensive and affordable basses. And when we dare say those less expensive ones can sometimes be seriously good too, there are others who will shout "no no no, expensive equals better, end of story". Is that really an "adult" stance, or is a coping/compensation mechanism?

 

[crazycloud]

Is that really an "adult" stance, or is a coping/compensation mechanism?

Massive copium.

 

[konaaayukeeenee]

But then there's many (if not most) of us, who own and professionally use both expensive and affordable basses. And when we dare say those less expensive ones can sometimes be seriously good too, there are others who will shout "no no no, expensive equals better, end of story". Is that really an "adult" stance, or is a coping/compensation mechanism?

Eh, nowadays it seems hardly a controversial opinion to praise inexpensive basses. Don't think I've seen any posts claiming expensive is better since I've joined, but definitely plenty that are critical of them and the people who buy them.

 

[Geri O]

But then there's many (if not most) of us, who own and professionally use both expensive and affordable basses. And when we dare say those less expensive ones can sometimes be seriously good too, there are others who will shout "no no no, expensive equals better, end of story". Is that really an "adult" stance, or is a coping/compensation mechanism?

Speaking for myself, as I'm not the judgmental sort, I wouldn't.

I play music and use a bass to do it.

The end.

 

[BassicJazzy]

And that's perfectly fine! And the donation of the Rick was definitely a noble gesture. I appreciate that very much.

It's just when folks get all judgmental of folks with high end instruments that wears thin on the adults in the room.

You are correct. I have no issue with people owning really fine basses. When you get into the super rare, ultra level it's nice to see them in the hands of a player who can utilize them well, that's all I'm saying. Unlike the analogy of the Lambo, being driven recklessly by a 16 year old on the streets of L.A., at least the super-bass in the hands of a noob isn't going to kill anyone.

 

[totalnoob]

It's just when folks get all judgmental of folks with high end instruments that wears thin on the adults in the room.

The reason I am stunned is: how did you (or anyone) make the jump from "Pros cannot hear a qualitative difference between extremely cheap and extremely expensive basses" (which is really the topic of the video) to "folks get all judgmental of folks with high end instruments"


Whence did this logical jump come from?

To be precise, this is a straw man argument - making up a completely different argument, whcih then one proceeds to tear down. But it's a made up argument.

 

[Geri O]

The reason I am stunned is: how did you (or anyone) make the jump from "Pros cannot hear a qualitative difference between extremely cheap and extremely expensive basses" (which is really the topic of the video) to "folks get all judgmental of folks with high end instruments"


Whence did this logical jump come from?

To be precise, this is a straw man argument - making up a completely different argument, whcih then one proceeds to tear down. But it's a made up argument.

Can you say "I'm not following the various cheap vs expensive bass posts" without saying "I'm not following the various cheap vs expensive bass posts"?

But point taken….

 

[Blues Bass 2]

There is a video of the Allman brothers with Derek Trucks playing "Dreams" with Oteil on a P bass with his Fodera sitting on a stand close by . Of course he kills it and sounds terrific and maybe the Fender is a vintage worth a few grand but it's still a P bass . He probably could have used the expensive bass but he knows basses are tools and he knows what he wants for the job .

 

[wintremute]

Whenever I see these threads it is always obvious to me that they are started by the "If I don't have one, nobody should" crowd.

Never by the folks who choose to or can have expensive basses.

To me, they almost always come of as jealous, and sometimes petty.


If I'm on the road and I see a Porsche, I think "cool, very nice", instead of "haha, what a stupid dude, buying an expensive car when he could just ride an old one".

I'm sorry if I gave that impression (that if I don't have one then nobody should). That was not my intent. I am all for people buying the bass that they want.

I have a few professional friends and acquaintances, and some of them have very expensive/boutique/custom basses, and I think that's wonderful. But I've also heard some of those people play a cheap Chinese knock-off in the NAMM basement and just KILL it.

So...
I am all for people buying the bass that they want, no matter the cost/design/headstock.
I believe a solid player can make a cheap bass sound good.
Both of those can be true at the same time.

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

All I know is if someone buys a squier and it's really good they go "wow it's as good as a fender!"

Never heard anyone say "wow this custom shop might be as good as my squier!"

I play squiers and fenders, love em both but I'm not going to try and fool anyone by saying my squiers are better than my fenders, because theyre not.