I started to make too much money and decided not to blow it on hookers and booze...
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What made you decide to upgrade?
- Thread starter Roosevelt
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I hadn't bought a new bass in over a decade before I bought my Dingwall. I picked up a cheap five string about two years before and then when it became more apparent that I'd need to use it more, I ordered it. So, yeah, necessity.
I actually downgraded. I own 3 basses and the most expensive is my Ibanez Mikro 5 string at $199. Gone are all the expensive basses I had. You know why? Because like the vast majority of people on this site, I am an enthusiast who plays bass at home and occasionally jams with friends. Why do I need a $1500 bass for that? Even if I did start gigging more often, these basses are perfectly fine for that. Actual working professionals dont go on internet forums and ask for advice on what basses or rigs they should get. So as much as I love this forum, I kinda chuckle when I see people obsessing over expensive basses, amps and their tone while the extent of their usage is playing for their dog in their apartment 
+30 years of playing bass... never heard of Sadowsky, until joining TalkBass... I didn't understand the widespread attraction, at first, but... the more I read, the more I researched, the more I got pulled in... I purchased a new MV4 in January, and I have to admit...
... I understand, now.
... I understand, now.
For some reason I thought about approaching this question as if it were a video game. Ie move from the smaller sword to bigger sword, the flame sword, ice sword etc.
There is better and worse. Without a doubt I enjoy my T40 more than my old Yamaha RBX170, but it's not like there is a quantifiable upgrade. That's why tonal topics are fairly sticky, and unless we want to talk in terms of ability to reproduce frequencies x through y, I imagine some folks are saying no such thing as upgrades.
There's also the more typical upgrade from switching out a stock part for an aftermarket part which does a better job. I think this gets closer to upgrade than the topic at hand.
In any case my first upgrade was to a fretless. I look at my basses in the past as a collection of different features and sonic palettes. Now I have found them all in the T40. OP upgrade to that or buy a solid used bass.
There is better and worse. Without a doubt I enjoy my T40 more than my old Yamaha RBX170, but it's not like there is a quantifiable upgrade. That's why tonal topics are fairly sticky, and unless we want to talk in terms of ability to reproduce frequencies x through y, I imagine some folks are saying no such thing as upgrades.
There's also the more typical upgrade from switching out a stock part for an aftermarket part which does a better job. I think this gets closer to upgrade than the topic at hand.
In any case my first upgrade was to a fretless. I look at my basses in the past as a collection of different features and sonic palettes. Now I have found them all in the T40. OP upgrade to that or buy a solid used bass.
We live in a time where "beginner" basses are of enough quality that you could get one and never need another. CNC milling has really made these instruments solid.
That said, there usually is a reason, other than gas, that people do spend the extra cash on these basses. Every now and again, I pick up a bass and it speaks to me: a pattern or lick that I have been struggling with, just flawlessly rolls off the fretboard, it just "feels right", the ergonomics are great, it sounds amazing unplugged.
I have "fallen in lust" with $180 pawn-shop starters and $8000 boutique basses, but once in a rare while, some of those more expensive basses, if you find the right one.... it's like when you meet a beautiful woman who is kind, intelligent, giving, and somehow into you (change gender if appropriate). She (the bass) makes you want to be a better man (musician), and you work every day to prove you're worthy, and she shows you how much she appreciates you.
Sorry for getting sappy and a bit philosophical, but Friday night off on my bday, and I've had a few celebratory libations. So,
TL;DR
Get out there and play some of them. You just might find the one.
That said, there usually is a reason, other than gas, that people do spend the extra cash on these basses. Every now and again, I pick up a bass and it speaks to me: a pattern or lick that I have been struggling with, just flawlessly rolls off the fretboard, it just "feels right", the ergonomics are great, it sounds amazing unplugged.
I have "fallen in lust" with $180 pawn-shop starters and $8000 boutique basses, but once in a rare while, some of those more expensive basses, if you find the right one.... it's like when you meet a beautiful woman who is kind, intelligent, giving, and somehow into you (change gender if appropriate). She (the bass) makes you want to be a better man (musician), and you work every day to prove you're worthy, and she shows you how much she appreciates you.
Sorry for getting sappy and a bit philosophical, but Friday night off on my bday, and I've had a few celebratory libations. So,
TL;DR
Get out there and play some of them. You just might find the one.
I grew up, got a real job, and had more money to spend on the stuff that I wanted.
I moved from guitar to bass about three years ago and my first bass was a Jag Squier Short Scale. In reality, I could still be using that to practice and gig. I wanted to get something of higher quality, just because I'd never owned a really good insrtument.... always lower tier guitars, and both my daughters had bought themselves high end guitars.
Anyway, I tried so many basses at shops and kept coming home to enjoy my little Jag more than even very expensive basses. It wasn't until a bought a bargain on Ebay, a Godin Shifter Classic 4 for only $400, that I could see the much better quality. I then wanted a cheap fretless which ended up in me getting a great fretted Franken P bass and a Franken Blacktop Jazz fretless. Don't really need anything else now....... I've got two fantastic franken basses that covers most sounds and the Godin as a backup.
Mind you, the little Jag is still a great bass and I should drag it out of the garage more often.
Anyway, I tried so many basses at shops and kept coming home to enjoy my little Jag more than even very expensive basses. It wasn't until a bought a bargain on Ebay, a Godin Shifter Classic 4 for only $400, that I could see the much better quality. I then wanted a cheap fretless which ended up in me getting a great fretted Franken P bass and a Franken Blacktop Jazz fretless. Don't really need anything else now....... I've got two fantastic franken basses that covers most sounds and the Godin as a backup.
Mind you, the little Jag is still a great bass and I should drag it out of the garage more often.
I played the same bass (EBMM Sterling H) for 9 years. I ended up getting a new bass for sound reasons. Needed something that filled out the mix better. Now I never even play my old baby. Probably going to sell it when I get a chance.
I've been playing my first bass, a Squier VM, for the last 7 years and I finally decided to pull the trigger on an upgrade. I went exclusively for MIM, and found a nice J bass on CL. I got it set up and really, really dug it, but then I made the mistake of going to a music store. I knew right away when I picked up an Am Std P I'd end up getting one. Sold the MIM and ended up spending more than double on a brand new sexy p bass. Crazy what the GAS could do
I was playing professionally/semi-professionally and it was time to step up from a mid-quality instrument to a real pro-level bass. It was a Carvin LB75 that I found on Ebay and I used my financial aid refund after paying my tuition during that particular semester of college. Instantly, I had a bass with exceptional playability, great fidelity, and sound engineers never struggled to slot me in the mix with great tone. I still consider that bass my Number 1 and I've played it in countless situations, from barn parties to concert stages with national acts. I picked up a couple other Carvins along the way, including a second LB75. I tried a few lower-end basses in the interim and they were clear steps backwards. I can't speak for anyone else, but I've found once you have some pro-level instruments*, it just doesn't really pay to bother with lower-end stuff. While I still consider the Carvins my go-to basses, I've picked up a few other great basses.
*I know we love to wax post-modern about how any bass that is played on a paying gig is a "pro" level bass. I don't buy that. You can play a paying gig with a Squire Affinity Jazz or a free gig in the park on a Fender Jazz Elite. The Elite is still a pro instrument and the Affinity is still an entry-level instrument due to the objective differences in construction, fidelity, feel, etc.
*I know we love to wax post-modern about how any bass that is played on a paying gig is a "pro" level bass. I don't buy that. You can play a paying gig with a Squire Affinity Jazz or a free gig in the park on a Fender Jazz Elite. The Elite is still a pro instrument and the Affinity is still an entry-level instrument due to the objective differences in construction, fidelity, feel, etc.
Uh yeah... About the financial aid thing. Check my last post! Haha
My case was a bit more unique...I already knew exactly which bass I wanted. I had pretty much wanted it ever since the first week I started playing bass. A Schecter Riot-5 Session. I couldn't afford it at the time, and I told myself that it was "too nice" for a beginner like myself, so in the meantime while I saved up I just tried out various budget basses. I learned on them, and they did fine, but they weren't what I wanted. As I started to make more money, I went through every phase (except fretless) and tried out everything from a 4-string P-bass to a 7-string Ibanez BTB to a guitarron. None of them made me as happy as that Schecter did. Luckily I didn't lose any money as I returned the other basses in time. The Schecter on the GC wall came and went. It got bought, and then returned with different strings. I didn't want it then because I considered it used. It got bought, then a new one showed up recently, at more than $200 off the original price! I traded in my Squier Affinity P and my SBMM SUB SB4 and snatched it up.
I couldn't be happier! I'm glad I have it now after trying out everything else. And now that I'm a better player I appreciate this bass even more. I'm GAS-free now, I am going to genuinely road-wear this bass to death!
I couldn't be happier! I'm glad I have it now after trying out everything else. And now that I'm a better player I appreciate this bass even more. I'm GAS-free now, I am going to genuinely road-wear this bass to death!
Mostly the limitations of the current instrument. Sometimes, it was just "ooooh, that's purty" - but usually it was to get something that played / sounded better.
For me, it's always been about finding that elusive tone I heard in my head.
I didn't have the money to simply buy my way into that sound, so I was always swapping stuff and tinkering.
After a while, I realized that I couldn't get what I wanted in stores, so I went back to school for electronics. Later, I learned how to build my own bass, with the help of a luthier friend.
It's only in the last decade (I've been playing for over 50 years) that I've been able to get what I wanted off the shelf.
I didn't have the money to simply buy my way into that sound, so I was always swapping stuff and tinkering.
After a while, I realized that I couldn't get what I wanted in stores, so I went back to school for electronics. Later, I learned how to build my own bass, with the help of a luthier friend.
It's only in the last decade (I've been playing for over 50 years) that I've been able to get what I wanted off the shelf.
Have a pair of carbon lb70s gigged a lot last few years, happy as could be! One day wife pulls into garage with a mic squire affinity jazz, no case $99 pawnshop find. She liked the color! (Dark red) a quick visit to my tech for strings & minor tweeks . carvings in the closet for3yrs now! Can't put squire down! Just gp with what uu like!
The same situation you've described -- began gigging more often. The more I heard myself, the better I wanted to sound/play (playability is my main motivator these days -- intending to upgrade again for that very reason).
I had been playing my Ibanez 305 for a few years. The bass played fine, but the electronics were very noisy (even after shielding). The presence of the noise got to the point where I disliked playing the bass.
I thought I would simply upgrade the pickups and the electronics. However after exploring all of my options I realized that for just a couple hundred more, I could have an entirely new bass that better filled my desires. I saved a little bit more and eventually bought a mint Carvin Icon5 used.
Please don't get me wrong... My Ibanez 305 is a fine (but extremely noisy) bass - but my Carvin satisfies all of my needs/wants/desires.
If you put a Corvette motor in a Chevy Malibu, you will have a very fast Malibu - which is great if you want a very fast Malibu. However, if you really want/need the Corvette performance, you are far better off getting an actual Corvette (IMO). I am a Chevy guy, so please feel free to use your brand of choice.
I thought I would simply upgrade the pickups and the electronics. However after exploring all of my options I realized that for just a couple hundred more, I could have an entirely new bass that better filled my desires. I saved a little bit more and eventually bought a mint Carvin Icon5 used.
Please don't get me wrong... My Ibanez 305 is a fine (but extremely noisy) bass - but my Carvin satisfies all of my needs/wants/desires.
If you put a Corvette motor in a Chevy Malibu, you will have a very fast Malibu - which is great if you want a very fast Malibu. However, if you really want/need the Corvette performance, you are far better off getting an actual Corvette (IMO). I am a Chevy guy, so please feel free to use your brand of choice.
I decided to upgrade as soon as I could afford to. I started with a 1973 Aria Beatle bass, in 1974 and have purchased and sold over 20 basses in the past 43 years. I now own an Alembic Persuader, Dave Pushic Custom, Fender Pbass and just purchased a1970's Apollo Beatle bass (much like my first Aria) for sentimental reasons. Usually, I upgrade for better sound and feel.
