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What will a new/better bass get me?

#81
Sometimes we spend good money for something we can't get for less...including something that looks special.
I'm not a Ric guy, but I think they look fantastic, and I can definitely ubderstand someone spending crazy money for something this nice.
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Same goes for MusicMan...I don't own one, but I realize that you simply can't buy something like this for a bargain-basement price.
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So yes, you can always get something better unless you have the best bass made...and there's really no such thing as the best bass made, is there?
 
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#82
jd56hawk said:
Sometimes we spend good money for something we can't get for less...including something that looks special.
I'm not a Ric guy, but I think they look fantastic, and I can definitely ubderstand someone spending crazy money for something this nice.
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Same goes for MusicMan...I don't own one, but I realize that you simply can't buy something like this for a bargain-basement price.
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I know it's off topic but that black and purple combo is one of the best color schemes MusicMan ever used. Hot damn.
 
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#83
"Better" is the most ambiguously subjective term thrown around on TB....Better for what? By whose ears? For some folks, it may be an instrument that is less expensive that is providing the 'better' juice that they seek
 
#85
DJS said:
I play the most simplistic of basses - a 2010 American Standard Precision. It's been my only "real' bass since I started playing 13 years ago. It's lasted 10 years of steady band work and never given me a minute of trouble. Recording engineers seem to like the tone. Other seasoned bass players give me a thumbs up when they see it, hear it and try it out. I feel it's not holding me back, and I've never considered getting another one.

My band's guitar player has gone through about 6 $4000+ guitars in that same time. Last night he showed up with a gorgeous new PRS, and my band leader asked "Hey DJS how come you don't get a new $8000 bass?

My answer was "Because I don't think I'd be able to take advantage of the things that make it so nice." Guitar's response "Well, not sure if I can either, but here we are!"

But then I wondered, is this completely true? Could I buy better playing results with a higher end bass like I can readily buy better bike race results with a higher end, faster lighter race bike? It seems to me that I could hand my bass to Victor Wooten and he'd blow the roof off any auditorium without hesitation. Is this a solid rationale for sticking with what works? Or am I missing out?
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You don't need anything more than you already have. A bass for 1000s won't make you better in any way. It's not as if you will get many more features.
 
#86
Better is subjective. I prefer to spend money to improve, mod, or otherwise optimize the basses I like, rather than drop a bunch of money on an of the shelf "luxury" bass. Unless you are currently missing something that you feel can be improved only by a new bass, such as a multiscale, or fretless, you are just buying new gear as a hobby to spend your money on. I guess it's better than gambling or drugs.
 
#88
DJS said:
I play the most simplistic of basses - a 2010 American Standard Precision. It's been my only "real' bass since I started playing 13 years ago. It's lasted 10 years of steady band work and never given me a minute of trouble. Recording engineers seem to like the tone. Other seasoned bass players give me a thumbs up when they see it, hear it and try it out. I feel it's not holding me back, and I've never considered getting another one.

My band's guitar player has gone through about 6 $4000+ guitars in that same time. Last night he showed up with a gorgeous new PRS, and my band leader asked "Hey DJS how come you don't get a new $8000 bass?

My answer was "Because I don't think I'd be able to take advantage of the things that make it so nice." Guitar's response "Well, not sure if I can either, but here we are!"

But then I wondered, is this completely true? Could I buy better playing results with a higher end bass like I can readily buy better bike race results with a higher end, faster lighter race bike? It seems to me that I could hand my bass to Victor Wooten and he'd blow the roof off any auditorium without hesitation. Is this a solid rationale for sticking with what works? Or am I missing out?
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Get a Fretless, and hear what you have been missing.
 
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#90
DJS said:
I play the most simplistic of basses - a 2010 American Standard Precision. It's been my only "real' bass since I started playing 13 years ago. It's lasted 10 years of steady band work and never given me a minute of trouble. Recording engineers seem to like the tone. Other seasoned bass players give me a thumbs up when they see it, hear it and try it out. I feel it's not holding me back, and I've never considered getting another one.

My band's guitar player has gone through about 6 $4000+ guitars in that same time. Last night he showed up with a gorgeous new PRS, and my band leader asked "Hey DJS how come you don't get a new $8000 bass?

My answer was "Because I don't think I'd be able to take advantage of the things that make it so nice." Guitar's response "Well, not sure if I can either, but here we are!"

But then I wondered, is this completely true? Could I buy better playing results with a higher end bass like I can readily buy better bike race results with a higher end, faster lighter race bike? It seems to me that I could hand my bass to Victor Wooten and he'd blow the roof off any auditorium without hesitation. Is this a solid rationale for sticking with what works? Or am I missing out?
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I mean you're playing the "gold standard" of recorded and live bass tone. So you'd get a lighter wallet and a different tone. Tell the guitar player to skip his next 2 guitars and buy you that 8000 bass instead
 
#91
In my opinion, there are simply those who get stuck in wanting a shape or tone chasing. I am guilty of this, but at the and of the day for me, if it's a shape I want I'll look for a cheap alternative. I prefer the Harley Benton shapes Les Paul, are they great? They are good imo not the real thing of course same with lesser ESP models, I just want the shape and a decent sound. My goal with bass is much different though, I prefer some versatility and owning a few without the debt or a waste of money as someone said. Try some new basses do your thing, but if you enjoy your setup, keep it going like that. Don't give into the gear chase or obsession. It's not just music, it's in martial arts, video games etc every hobby or job gonna have gear or money costing things in a name of a brand or chasing for something.
 
#92
iiipopes said:
I get out all I need. Over the last forty-five years plus of playing I have acquired my own expensive basses as well. I have actives, fanned frets, plain wood, exotic wood, collectibles, beaters, etc. My response was to the OP's basic question which you did not quote my entire context which also set forth depending on what direction the OP wants to go with his bass playing. Please fix your post to set forth my entire quote, not just the out of context excerpt you copied.
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The rest of your quote made the case that there isn't a better bass available than the one the OP is playing.
 
#93
BlueTalon said:
The rest of your quote made the case that there isn't a better bass available than the one the OP is playing.
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Well, no it did not. My post encouraged exploration. I'm done arguing with you. For everybody else, here is the part of my post that talks about the benefits of something besides a P-bass: "If you want to delve into the world of all the alternate bass tones and styles, or need extra low notes or patterns, or upper range for soloing, then yes, a 5-string or 6-string bass with two pickups might facilitate that."
 
#94
DJS said:
I play the most simplistic of basses - a 2010 American Standard Precision. It's been my only "real' bass since I started playing 13 years ago. It's lasted 10 years of steady band work and never given me a minute of trouble. Recording engineers seem to like the tone. Other seasoned bass players give me a thumbs up when they see it, hear it and try it out. I feel it's not holding me back, and I've never considered getting another one.

My band's guitar player has gone through about 6 $4000+ guitars in that same time. Last night he showed up with a gorgeous new PRS, and my band leader asked "Hey DJS how come you don't get a new $8000 bass?

My answer was "Because I don't think I'd be able to take advantage of the things that make it so nice." Guitar's response "Well, not sure if I can either, but here we are!"

But then I wondered, is this completely true? Could I buy better playing results with a higher end bass like I can readily buy better bike race results with a higher end, faster lighter race bike? It seems to me that I could hand my bass to Victor Wooten and he'd blow the roof off any auditorium without hesitation. Is this a solid rationale for sticking with what works? Or am I missing out?
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Ignore them. Then, after giving it careful thought, ignore them some more.
 
#95
J Wilson said:
And when I can find it, Australian Supercar
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Good grief, really? I hate silhouette class racing.

wazzel said:
I upgraded my road bike from a $800 one to a $6k one. I did not get faster or able to go further the first time I rode the new one.
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The only time I got an advantage when I was time trialing was when I used my friend's SOTA road bike. I got the advantage because my road bike was an ancient Peugot that weighed a ton, and only had one speed. Riding that everywhere meant I got a hell of a workout so when I got on the flyweight bike I was faster.

wazzel said:
Spend time practicing is the best way to see improvements in music and sports.
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Yup.
 
#96
I played with a guitar player that had all the best, expensive guitars, with all the right pedals ... it sent me into a GAS/Debt spin from which I'm still recovering. A more expensive bass will get you more debt (if you finance it) for probably very little in return. You'll regret getting rid of your P bass if you go that route. I don't have ANY of the stuff left I bought as a result of that guitar player's influence.
 
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#100
DJS said:
I play the most simplistic of basses - a 2010 American Standard Precision. It's been my only "real' bass since I started playing 13 years ago. It's lasted 10 years of steady band work and never given me a minute of trouble. Recording engineers seem to like the tone. Other seasoned bass players give me a thumbs up when they see it, hear it and try it out. I feel it's not holding me back, and I've never considered getting another one.

My band's guitar player has gone through about 6 $4000+ guitars in that same time. Last night he showed up with a gorgeous new PRS, and my band leader asked "Hey DJS how come you don't get a new $8000 bass?

My answer was "Because I don't think I'd be able to take advantage of the things that make it so nice." Guitar's response "Well, not sure if I can either, but here we are!"

But then I wondered, is this completely true? Could I buy better playing results with a higher end bass like I can readily buy better bike race results with a higher end, faster lighter race bike? It seems to me that I could hand my bass to Victor Wooten and he'd blow the roof off any auditorium without hesitation. Is this a solid rationale for sticking with what works? Or am I missing out?
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You're thinking rationally. And they great.

Usually, a new bass purchase is emotional. Most people don't "need" a better bass than a good solid P bass.

In other words, if you're not emotional about it, amd everyone around you is satisfies with your sound/playing, keep rocking what you have.
 

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