What will a new/better bass get me?

[kcducttaper]

My best sounding and playing basses are both under the $500 mark. Once again, I stand by my opinion that no one needs a $1000-8000 bass. But to each his own!

Good thing the Schecter Stiletto Studio 5 FF I just ordered was only $999!

In all fairness, it's my first new bass in 12 years. I'd been playing an Ibanez SR 755 modified with Nordstrand pickups that I'm sure I'll keep playing regularly.

 

[devnulljp]

I play the most simplistic of basses - a 2010 American Standard Precision...

Nothing at all wrong with that.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

IHey DJS how come you don't get a new $8000 bass?

You need to say; "I dont need one to prove how good I am....

 

[MarMar]

Good thing the Schecter Stiletto Studio 5 FF I just ordered was only $999!

In all fairness, it's my first new bass in 12 years. I'd been playing an Ibanez SR 755 modified with Nordstrand pickups that I'm sure I'll keep playing regularly.

I got a Fender Musicmaster about 10 years ago and stopped buying stuff until about last year. Now that thing has tripled in value and all I've bought bass-wise since then is the 2 under $500. I'm happy for now, especially after my most recent purchase, but sometimes I feel the GAS creeping back in.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

Oh I know. I get flamed every time I mention that I think expensive basses are unnecessary. Like I said, though, to each his own!

Been nice seeing your posts on here. See you in 30 days when you get out of talkbass jail!!

 

[MarMar]

Been nice seeing your posts on here. See you in 30 days when you get out of talkbass jail!!

Oh yeah I'm definitely on my way there. I've been in the principal's office a few times here during my 1 year posting.

 

[mellroc]

FWIW...
Back in 1997, I stepped up from a MIM P Bass to a Tobias/Gibson Growler (Yes. the Gibson ones have a terrible reputation I know, but it plays well enough). In 2021 dollars, that was easily a $1500 bass. After an almost 20 year hiatus from playing, I upgraded two weeks ago to a $600 Yamaha, and it's superior to my Tobias in every way.

Point being... even affordable new basses are really good compared to the old stuff. There's no need to drop big $ to step up to something measurably better. I'm not a better player on my new Yamaha, but I do get a bigger smile and am definitely inclined to practice more on it.

 

[DJS]

I'd compare it buying a new set of golf clubs. They have, and never will, make me a better golfer. Only practice will.

Hmm, tort?

And bikes only go faster when you push harder. So I guess the analogy works. But I'm older now so maybe I should think about selling my yellow Cinelli leather hairnet, it's the only part of the natty uniform that would still fit me haha.

Hell yes, tort! But I went radical with a bright maple neck.

As of now, no tonal issues. I play ska, which really doesn't have a lot of tone shaping going on.

Good to meet a fellow rider! I'd like to see the cinelli hairnet.

 

[DJS]

You've yet to identify anything lacking in your current bass, so no, currently there isn't something better.

Right - I'm not seeing anything missing with the current capabilities. Only limitations as of now are with with the person controlling the strings.

 

[TrevorG]

New basses tend to bring new enthusiasm with them but how long that enthusiasm last depends on which bass.

 

[Relayer71]

Sure, it got the job done, but Satriani's last words in that video: "Uh, that was a little painful on this".

 

[chadds]

Play what speaks to you and what enables you to speak the best. Cost insures nothing. I played a $6000. bouteeque from a well known respected maker that you couldn't give me. It was beautiful, dead and very heavy. I myself downgraded from a Smith BMT Elite G to a way more lively bass. The Smith served me on many live and studio dates. The downgrade netted me $1K. I also play a '51 MIJ P ri that cost me $340. It's a fabulous bass. Price isn't the object. Play what you want. Remember guitarists are often gearhound hobbiests and "Beano" has no effect. Ignore them. The days I hear a singers say, "I got this new mic because it works well with my voice," I smile.

 

[DJS]

If you are happy with what you have, keep playing it. If you have access to other high end basses, try some out.
If you decide you want to go that route, DO NOT sell or trade you P. You will not be happy you did. And, if you decide you liked playing your P more, you'll have no regrets.
I have always owned mostly American made Fenders and G&Ls. I have some Squiers, an Ibby, and some acoustics. My favorite was my G&L SB2-T. Recently, I went the same route you are contemplating. I saw a bass that looked exactly like I think the perfect bass should look. well, like this:
View attachment 4496067

I am happy I made the decision. There is definitely a difference in how it plays and sounds. The first thing I notice is how comfortable it is to wear. Although it is about 2.5 lbs. heavier, it doesn't bother me at all. It is so well balanced it hangs perfectly. I can take both hands off and walk around and it is as level as can be. There is nothing left out on tone control. I know, because I'm primarily a P guy, that may not mean much to you, but it gives you a lot of options. The tone is also very articulate. Each note is well defined.

It has become my #1. I'm even wondering if I really need 15 basses any more. I'm thinking of cutting back to my Fodera, my P Select, my SB2-T, and my Breedlove Jumbo.

The bottom line is few will know or care what instrument you play. So, focus on what make you happy.

That was not the bottom line. This line is.

Looks amazing, tort burst and maple like my Fender! One of my teachers had one of those.

 

[lowendblues]

Inspiration.

 

[DJS]

it seems that after $500 all you pay for is worse tone, and there are a lot of buyers

Maybe $1000 in today's inflation money.

 

[chadds]

Practice.

 

[Old Fart]

Wondering whether a new bass will make your playing better is a poor reason for buying one. Surely you can come up with a better reason than that. Adding a Jazz to your stable might make some sense, for versatility reasons, but I'd say you basically already have the best bass you can get.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. The best thing you can do to sound better is to practice.

 

[wazzel]

Once you pay enough to get past the junk you do not get much more for the money. Any good bass will sound better the more you play it.

 

[wazzel]

I can't speak for basses, but I just bought a $10k mountain bike to replace my 4 year old $2.5k mountain bike, and I am very sad to learn that I really didn't get the performance boost that I had hoped for! Diminishing returns for sure. I am more excited to ride the new bike, so that makes me ride more and I am seeing improvements that way, but if I'm being honest with myself, the difference is marginal at best. If someone was faster than me before, they're still faster than me now. I get more respect for the new bike itself, but on the old no-name bike I got more respect for riding well.

You forgot to upgrade the engine, says the slow fat guy with a $6k road bike.

 

[JW56789]

To a degree, the motorcycle comparison is apt: You could step up from a Yamaha R3, which you ride well, to a full-tilt Yamaha R-1M, it's only money. However, when you sit on the R-1M, thumb the starter and head out around Watkins Glen, you do NOT automatically become Valentino Rossi.

Great players have built entire careers, famously, playing only a Precision Bass.

It's all down to what you prefer, what inspires you to reach out, learn more, or just what sounds best to your ears. It's that simple. For some guys it's very expensive basses with complex amp and effects rig. Then just as many as a bass, a cable, and an amp.

You might at some time be moved to investigate a two pickup bass. Or a neck through. Or any other number of choices. On the other hand, you may very well be in your 'happy spot'.

I've owned everything from Peaveys to Alembics to Squiers. Each provoked some different tones, might have influenced me to play certain things differently, had different levels of pride in ownership. But out of these many, I can tell you that no particular one was the Rosetta Stone that unlocked some mystic secret to it all. They were all different flavors or takes on a certain tone or construction that added to a knowledge base from the experience of them all. And for me, I always sounded like me. Granted it may have been a better-sounding me on the Alembics, but none of them were a night and day revelation.

We play what suits us best, whatever that may be, and it's different for each of us. I'd say you've saved a fortune alongside your very fickle guitar player: He THINKS it's the guitar . . . . and not him.

Don't get me wrong: More than a few guys legitimately feel they need THIS bass for THAT sound, and then this other bass for this other tone, and like guitar players may carry several for different situations, and that's their thing, and it works for them.

I always felt it had to start with me. . . .than a different instrument, which doesn't really work for me. Others CERTAINLY have a different outlook and result.