What is an "expensive" bass?

[i hate username]

I was just reding through the thread about boutique basses compared to off the shelf basses and i got me wondering what does everyone consider to be expensive for a bass.

I live in Ireland where most things you actually want to buy are overpriced(for example a packed of cigarettes will set you back euro 8.20) and i just spent around a grand on a warwick corvette std bulbingia aa, which i thought i got for cheap, but i would still class that as an expensive instrument. I know there are some people on this site with massive collections of custom instruments which look more expensive than my house so i was just wondering.

 

[Spinal Tapper]

I think anything over $1500 (USD) is expensive

 

[Johnny Mack]

im married with an 8 month old son, theyre all expensive... luckily i was able to afford my first jazz bass through rondomusic.

 

[Plantbrain]

Any bass you personally cannot afford to buy.

Expensive means different things to different folks, if you are rich, a custom Alembic is not that bad, if you are a young kid, 150$ bass is a lot of paper route

Regards,
Tom

 

[pbagley]

+1 on the $1500 mark, but I also know how that number can be relative to your current situation. When my wife was working I could spend a few $ here and there, no problem. Now, I sell a lot of the stuff I don't use and we still come up short some months.

My next expensive bass - a local builder who does fully hollow ES335 style guitars is willing to make me a 5 string bass version for $2000. Not a bass that most would want, but something I think I could use.

 

[i hate username]

My next expensive bass - a local builder who does fully hollow ES335 style guitars is willing to make me a 5 string bass version for $2000. Not a bass that most would want, but something I think I could use.[/QUOTE]


Sounds nice, Its a very traditional looking bass to be made into a 5, id say itll look amazing

 

[fullrangebass]

Anything above the 2000 mark I'd call "expensive"

 

[stflbn]

The numbers entirely relevant to your lifestyle, income, expectations, standards, etc.

To some a $300 Squier is expensive, to others the same bass is 'cheap'. Regarless, there's a lot of good players with inexpensive basses, and a lot of very mediocre players with VERY high priced gear.

Personally, my niché is what I consider low/mid priced basses ($400 - $600) then personalizing them with electronics that suit my personal taste for my tone, which sometimes adds $400 to the price of the bass, but only a little to the 'value', but in the end they do what I want and I love them.

 

[EricF]

The numbers entirely relevant to your lifestyle, income, expectations, standards, etc.

To some a $300 Squier is expensive, to others the same bass is 'cheap'. Regarless, there's a lot of good players with inexpensive basses, and a lot of very mediocre players with VERY high priced gear.

+1

 

[Baird6869]

For me a $2500+ bass is expensive IMO.

 

[rappa29]

For my tax bracket, $1000 USD is expensive.

 

[pedroims]

depends on how much you can affoard, I am sure than there is not expensive bass for people like Bill Gates

 

[Largedon]

As said it is all relative, but probably the $1500 mark is a good approximation. Seems many of the mid-level basses fall in that $1000-$1500 range. Very good basses with good woods and electronics.

 

[baba]

+1500

 

[Phalex]

A bass is deemed to be "expensive" IMHO when the owner of said bass has qualms about taking to a gig. At his point the functional instrument has been relegated to the role of "furniture".

 

[guizzy]

A bass is deemed to be "expensive" IMHO when the owner of said bass has qualms about taking to a gig. At his point the functional instrument has been relegated to the role of "furniture".

An apt name, considering many of them seem to have the same woods and finish as furniture.

 

[Ed Goode]

They're all expensive to me .... I have several different basses and my most expensive bass cost about 30 times more than my cheapest one, but I hesitated over each and every purchase regardless of price .....

Whether the bass is $140 or $4200, that's money that I don't spend foolishly. I look at the basses for what the playing value is to me, not the cost. If the bass is a great playing instrument and I can get good use out of it, then I'll buy it regardless of price ....

 

[Baryonyx]

Whatever is expensive to the buyer.

But really, everything is expensive. You might see a Fender jazz selling for £700 and think thats an awesome price, but £700 can buy you a car. It can feed you for a long time. It can pay for a place to live. It pays a lot of bills.

We can often fool ourselves into thinking we've got "good deals" on gear, but really it's all very expensive stuff.

 

[GobBass]

I was just reding through the thread about boutique basses compared to off the shelf basses and i got me wondering what does everyone consider to be expensive for a bass.

I live in Ireland where most things you actually want to buy are overpriced(for example a packed of cigarettes will set you back euro 8.20) and i just spent around a grand on a warwick corvette std bulbingia aa, which i thought i got for cheap, but i would still class that as an expensive instrument. I know there are some people on this site with massive collections of custom instruments which look more expensive than my house so i was just wondering.

My advice concerning your recent purchase of a Warwick Corvette Std Bubinga....do NOT look at Thomann...the price will simply make you cry.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Not hoping to be the bearer of bad news.

 

[remigioremigio]

there are 2 different things:
expensive and a lot of money.

if you pay 3000$ for an instrument that feels good, sounds good , gets the best out of your skills etc etc, 3000$ is not expensive, but still alot of money.
when you buy an instrument for 500$ and never use it....that's really expensive!