Unpopular opinion? Boutique basses are great and worth the money

If you can get the bass you want, with no compromises, it is totally worth it.

 

Y'know, I am often impressed with high-end basses. I have no doubt that the skill and time required to make a Fodera justifies the cost. But...

Is there any note you can play on a $15,000 long-scale bass that you can't play on a $1,500 long-scale bass? Or a $500 long-scale bass? No?

Will a $15,000 bass make you a better musician? No?

I have no qualms with anyone who buys a high-end bass guitar. The perception and importance of price is also relative; e.g. $15,000 is a huge sum for an electric bass, but not much for a contrabass. Or, it's an insane sum if you make $45,000 a year, but meaningless if you make $450,000 a year. And obviously, I'm not your financial advisor.

Nonetheless, IMO once you get past the $700 mark, you're well into diminishing returns territory. Meaning with the super high end stuff, it's not about functionality or musicality. It's about craftsmanship and/or aesthetics and/or status.

 

Double basses are *much* more expensive and i bet they don’t start as many threads about it. Merry Christmas!

 

I think it comes down to quality parts. Some does it better than others.

 

https://www.talkbass.com/members/socialleper.147047/ and https://www.talkbass.com/members/clusterflux.324964/ get it, OP. maybe you're conflating some concepts or 'reducing' your thinking on the subject...

who would disagree? duh!

merry christmas!

 

I’ve had the fortune of owning a few $5,000+ instruments. To describe them as being exceptional is an understatement. However, it’s insane just how good “value instruments” have become in the past decade.

As someone who is more the professional hobbyist or weekend warrior type, it’s hard to justify the more expensive stuff but I won’t snuff anyone who likes it.

 

This.

Quality components, expertise, and time. . . . especially time.

 

booteak is awesome, the thought and planning behind them is mindwobbling, the designs are stunning, and if woods are used you can bet they'll look spectacular, what's not to love?
that some are willing and able to pony up incredible amounts for a slew of them just means there will be more for me to ogle while enjoying all that same lecherous juiciness on a bass anyone can afford, and I'll bet my tone selection at least equals virtually all of them for classic beefy versatility, fine construction, and superb playability. the only down side I see in paying over $500 for a bass is that it typically takes you further away from good basic tone, but it's a great time for bass players.

 

Two of the best basses I've ever played were north of $1500, which i know is nothing compared to brands like Fodera and Sadowsky, but for a guy who doesn't gig too much, that was exorbitant, but worth it.

So I think whats boutique is probably a sliding scale. I'd top out around $2500 (I'd love a Serek) but anything beyond that and I'd fear taking it to a gig.

 

This is my view as well. Worth is always a subjective evaluation, you do you and don't worry about what other people think is worth your money/time.

 

I definitely see the value in getting something handmade to one's exact specifications and wishes.

 

Lots of boutique basses are worth it, totally great. Some are bunk. Lots of production basses are worth it... and some are bunk!

I don't think it's fair to use a blanket statement when the bass market shows a ton of variety in its offerings. There's probably an upgraded Squier out there that kicks a fancy boutique build to the curb. The opposite is also true. IMO it's best to take it on a case by case basis.

 

well, a 28-fret Fodera Presentation does have a few extra notes...

I mostly agree with the idea, but I think this is perhaps exactly where boutique basses come into play - they allow you to further develop and fine tune your musicianship. I’ve only played a couple boutique basses and never owned one, so my experience is limited, but I had a sense that they’d limit me less if I was a better player.

but yeah, even Anthony Jackson said that ultimately he’d be fine playing a 4 string Fender. And that’s all that Jamerson and Jaco needed, right?

 

In general I agree with everything you said, but this dollar figure is only true for imports. If you're looking for a well built bass that's made in the USA by people who are making a living wage, I'd say $2000 minimum.

 

If you want it 'just so' boutique is just about the only way.
If you can compromise or make do with something else, well...

then there's the mod-crowd, buy it for $100 USD & drop $900 USD on upgrades

 

I recently bought an electric bass in the $2,600 territory. I've been playing basses well below $800 the whole time I've been playing. Everytime I pick up that "expensive" instrument I'm reminded of the quality that went into it. There is definitely a difference. But there is nothing I can't do on a less expensive instrument.

 

So I have a Squire fretless that sounds great...but it definitely feels like a low end model.

I have a couple of Fender P-basses - one made in Mexico, on in Japan. They have more of a quality feel to them..but they don’t match my MIA Jazz bass.

Look, you can have a cheap product that does a job, and does it well, but it’s hard to engineer a quality feel in an inexpensive product.

Hyundai and Kia can make you a really high quality vehicle...but you’re going to pay a lot more for it. Meanwhile at an autoshow, my wife is not a car person, and she immediately noticed the mediocre quality of the Ford Taurus as soon as she sat in one.

Will a Ford Taurus provide reliable transportation? Sure. But it’s never going to have the same feel as a more expensive vehicle.

 

This again.

A 30 euros watch gives the same time as a 300 or 3000 euros. So what?

A 15000 euros car gets you to the same destination as a 150000 euros car. So what?

A 20 euros pair of shoes do the same as a 200 euros pair. So what?

A 200 euros bass has the same notes as a 2000 and a 20000 euros bass. So what?

Etc., etc..

The difference? Quality. Attention to detail. The wood. The finish. Etc..

As in everything.

 

Yup. Now I have no idea if I’ll notice a difference with a USA Spector, aside from the fact that they get the best tops.