What Would You Do?

[Davebass]

if you where given around £1000 ($1900ish)?? would you:

1) get one high end bass, the perfect bass

2) get several cheaper basses with more variety such as more or less strings, active passive, fretted/less etc.

i personally would go for the second option

Dave

 

[Selta]

SX/TBC yup.

 

[Tony G]

I've opted for #1. My MTD 635 was my high end bass purchase, but I also still own my MIJ 75 Reissue Jazz and Carvin LB75 Fretless. I've had the jazz and fretless for almost 10 years as my main gigging basses, so I thought it was time for a significant upgrade.

 

[Thunder_Fingers]

I would:
Get me self a 70's Fender Jazz bass with maple neck and block inlays, possibly a Fender USA 75 reissue.
(im quite happy with what i got now )

 

[Rano Bass]

Since i can only play one bass at a time i'd rather have my one perfect bass than a bunch of crappy, non perfect ones.
IMO.

 

[CraigG]

Oh, I've bought lower end, but very good quality, lesser known basses all my life. Have had no regrets. However, I suppose if the money were given to me I'd like to add a high-end bass to my collection for the heck of it.

Craig

 

[GM60466]

A Lakland Joe Osborn Skyline and a few pints of whatever makes you go "Boom Boom Boom"

GM

 

[eric atkinson]

I would buy another spector

 

[IAmTheDood]

buy a good quality $1000 or so bass and then spend the rest on amp gear

 

[MMiller28]

I'd buy one bass, probably a Modulus (used of course).

 

[MrBonex]

Absolutely ONE good bass.

Why aim low?

 

[Silversorcerer]

if you where given around £1000 ($1900ish)?? would you:

1) get one high end bass, the perfect bass

2) get several cheaper basses with more variety such as more or less strings, active passive, fretted/less etc.

i personally would go for the second option

Dave

How much can you resell that Squier Jazz for? Not that "beginner" instruments are bad, but why buy several "beginner" instruments? How long do you want to stay a "beginner"? You will learn more playing a better bass. It's not like changing around the configuration before you've really mastered a basic 4 string bass is going to do you much good. Better sound and playablility come with the higher price tag.

Not only will the better bass play easier and sound better, if you want to change the type later, it will have the best resell value, often even an increase over what you originally paid. Try to think of you musical instrument purchases as investments instead of disposable income. Disposable income basically means you are throwing the money away. Investing means you plan to get it back with some increase. I've been playing 32 years. First bass- Fender Precision bought used in 1975. Second bass guitar purchase- Jens Ritter 5 string fretless Roya in 2006, 3rd bass purchase- Jens Ritter Royal Platinum Flora (5 string fretted), also bought in 2006. If I had blown all my $$ over the years on beginner basses of XYZ configuration, I would have never had the $$ to get my Ritters. And I can sell that Fender (not that I would) for 15x what I paid for it and I have had it to play for 32 years.

So what's your strategy to one day own your dream bass? In 32 years are you going to be able to say I owned 10 Squiers when I could have bought a Rickenbacker? Think it over, quantity is not quality. As for variety, not all sh** smells the same, but it all smells like sh**!

 

[Swift713]

One really nice instrument for around 1500 and then some gadgetry. That's what I'd do today.

 

[SundanceChile]

A really nice instrument for around/under a grand, then save the rest for when GAS hits.

 

[amistybleu]

SX/TBC yup.

That would leave a ton of money left over, what to do with the rest of it?

 

[JanusZarate]

I'm all for option #1, especially if I can get something custom-built that plays like a dream, sounds like a rock machine, and screams with a personality that can match mine.

 

[G2034]

$1900 will buy you two VERY nice basses!

I would buy them slightly used, and get two very different sounding basses. Like a G&L and a Warwick or something.

You don't have to compromise on the quality or sound of the basses, just don't buy them new.

My $0.02

Gary

 

[mandrlane]

My 2 cents is to go for one high-end bass. I have had many basses... my favorite of all time is a pre-gibson Tobias signature 5. the others (outside of the Dingwall Afterburner II 5... my other nice one) I have a hard time even remembering. I think one nice high-end bass will satisfy you... where a few subpar ones will not.

 

[Dan Knowlton]

I wouldn't buy high-end just to buy high-end, but if you find a bass that is EXACTLY what you want, I'd go with a $1900 bass. That is exactly what I did (several times!) and I have traded few basses since I took that route - and saved lots of $ in the long run.

Dan K.

 

[Descent2Cocytus]

i don't believe that having a high end bass is going to make you a better bass player. i would personally buy a couple more spectors and probably a schecter.