• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

What do more costly basses provide?

#101
I had 2 basses above the $1500 range. An 1986 Alembic Persuader ($2000 new) and a 2013 Dave Pushic Custom ($1600). Both awesome instruments...the tone, weight, quality of parts and ergonomics were above anything I ever played. I gave them to my 2 adult sons who also play bass (I knew they could not afford a quality bass and wanted them to have the ability to improve their skills on them).

I now play a used Carvin PB4...great build, great parts with passive VVT controls ($740 used). I love it's feel and simplicity of electronics. I guess it's all a matter of taste, feel and what someone can afford.

Pushic[1].JPG
IMG_20191115_193808103.jpg
FB_IMG_1479348850311.jpg
 
#105
I thought the original question was quite valid. Unfortunate that, rather than answer the OP with a helpful response that briefly lists the typical benefits of more expensive instruments, some ppl instead spent quite a bit more time crafting replies that pointed out the “crime” of not searching for the answer. I guess some ppl think that there is no place for new thoughts and opinions. That’s not helpful, its arrogant, and belittling to those who are asking legitimate questions. Is that really how you treat other ppl in your daily lives when you aren't protected by the anonymity of the web?
 
  • Like
Reactions: bassicmike, Gigas444, Frodolicious and 2 others
#106
nilorius said:
100$ bass is usually made by a tradition design and cheap matterials and made in China or Korea, usually not a good sounding.
Click to expand...

Cheap basses sound fine. I gigged a friend's Squier Affinity P Bass for a set a few weeks ago, just for a laugh. It sounded as much like a P Bass as any other P Bass. The neck felt fine, everything played fine, and no one in the audience noticed or cared that it was a cheap bass.

nilorius said:
+/- 1500 are more quality in every way and sound gives you a better and purified sound. Also they are made by recognized brand at the country in comes from.
Click to expand...

What is a better sound? I don't think tone is quantitative. I've never picked up a Squier or other equivalent beginner bass and thought it sounded bad. They don't always play great, but even that is uncommon in low end instruments these days as Asian factories are continuing to perfect automation and machining.

nilorius said:
3000$ and higher are mainly hand made custom shops. The sound can go even more than 10000$ when the design, materials, pickups and electronics are chosen individually from the buyer.
Click to expand...

After $1500-$2000 you are dealing with diminishing returns for your cost. I'd say that unless you are looking for the inherent sound of something like an Alembic, you aren't going to see much difference from $2000 to $10,000 in terms of a P Bass. Hell, like I said before, the Squier Affinity P I just gigged sounded a lot like any other P Bass.

So why spend $1500 instead of $150? Options and QC. A higher end bass is LESS likely to have manufacturing defects. It's also likely to ship with a good set up, level frets with nice ends, and options for more exotic woods that look prettier. I buy basses because I like them, not because of that the sticker price is or whatever marketing drivel is written about them. If you pick something up, connect with it, and can afford it - buy it. Don't sweat the other details.
 
  • Like
Reactions: alanloomis1980 and Bassdirty
#108
If I may add my 2 cents to the discussion, the difference between a $100 bass and a $10000 bass is $9900. If you want to save $9900 on a bass I'd recommend the $100 one. If you want to spend $10000 on a bass I'd probably rather have one $10000 bass than a hundred $100 basses, but both would be cool to have.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GlassToMouth
#111
pie_man_25 said:
If I may add my 2 cents to the discussion, the difference between a $100 bass and a $10000 bass is $9900. If you want to save $9900 on a bass I'd recommend the $100 one. If you want to spend $10000 on a bass I'd probably rather have one $10000 bass than a hundred $100 basses, but both would be cool to have.
Click to expand...

not sure what this means in terms of helpful advice, other than, “hey, I can do math!”...or, “Id prefer a high end bass, but I wont tell you why.”
 
#112
nostatic said:
any limitations are mine and not the instruments.
Click to expand...
This was a huge revelation for me, and pretty much killed any desire for another bass.

DavC said:
but more seriously ..

i've had a few ... they taught me , or showed me , what i like ... which has helped me build my own pieces parts basses which said parts and a much lower cost .. ! if you like that kinda stuff .? then learning how to do decent fret work and setups is a must ..!! which are things i find to be rather fun and zen like ..
Click to expand...
This is 100% my journey. Swapping necks and doing my own touch-up work has given me a killer bass- and it was fun too!

juancaminos said:
Harley vs Ural, Mercedes vs Kia, Beverly Hills vs San Fernando, etc. Some can afford it some can't. Some want a Caddy so bad that they will live in a cheap apartment so they can drive a Cadillac. Other refuse to have payments. Some are just frugal. It never ends. My old boss dressed like the owner, had expensive cars and motorcycles. He had expensive carpet in his garage to park them on. My new boss drives and old Toyoda and dresses very casual.
Click to expand...
This encapsulates a lot of it. It’s an economics, status and quality of life thing. Me, I’m on a Toyota budget, but it doesnt bother me. it still gets me from A-B, and another car won’t make me a better driver!

and I’m not saying “I’m better because I can get by with less.” I can only afford so much, and I have to be positive and appreciate what I have. If you have the means and enjoy more, go for it! I just feel bad for people who put themselves in debt for status symbols
 
  • Like
Reactions: MOFuB, John_Nicholas, B-Lo and 1 other person
#113
In the 50 years I've been playing I went through different phases of bass ownership. First was inexpensive basses that I could afford, then, as I could afford them, progressively more expensive instruments culminated in several boutiques in the '90s. I thought more expensive basses would some intrinsic "better-ness" but I soon found that wasn't the case. All along I was experimenting with modding and building and I developed a decent ear for tone and what can effect it. I had some good sounding instruments and some real stinkers but very few better than good sounding instruments and only two excellent sounding instruments.

I recently found a third excellent sounding instrument, that being a Fender Mustang LE P/J. It's one of the best sounding instruments I've ever played. A close fourth is a Squier CV Mustang I picked up last week. They just sound great.

My first excellent sounding instrument is an early '60s Silvertone Model 1444 "dolphin nose" by Danelectro I picked up decades ago at a yard sale in excellent near mint condition for $25 that I still use for special occasions. The second is my "daily driver" Model 1444 that someone had de-fretted and never filled the slots as well as reprofiling the neck to to a 1.5 nut (thank you very much). I picked that one up several decades ago at a garage sale in pieces. It sat in my closet until a couple of years ago when I had it re-fretted and I assembled it. I was just playing it this morning.

I also use a Hofner Ignition Club bass which sounds very good but not a good as the above. I now use it when my mild-stroke impaired right side requires a light weight solution.

I spent entirely too much time and money searching for what I already had.
 
  • Like
Reactions: lowdownthump, Bassdirty, B-Lo and 1 other person
#114
Luckydog said:
not sure what this means in terms of helpful advice, other than, “hey, I can do math!”...or, “Id prefer a high end bass, but I wont tell you why.”
Click to expand...
Just being a smart guy. Honestly I'm on the side of "you need to come to your own conclusions" when it comes to basses.

If buddy has been playing bass for a few years and can't figure out what a more expensive bass can get for themself, that probably says a lot about basses in the current market. I've got a Squier series Jazz and an American deluxe, and I've got to say that while I can tell the difference between the two, it's a lot less "good vs bad" than it is different flavours of good. The American deluxe was 1200 more than the Squier series, too. Also, I could probably sell the Squier series for more than I got it for, couldn't do that with the American deluxe just yet. Guitars and finances are weird like that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bassdirty, FugaziBomb and alanloomis1980
#120
I will say it depends on the brand. MTD provides comfort and light weight basses with more punch than you can shake your fist at! Used market is where it’s at if you can’t grab new, which I can’t. Paid 1700 for my 435. Stellar deal and the neck comfort for me made it the best bass purchase I’ve made.

It’s not a need though. It’s a want and a comfort thing. My preference if it I can afford it, which I could at the time.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back