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What's the Most that You Could Realistically Spend on a Bass?
- Thread starter PortlandBass77
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at the moment, i've spent my bass budget, so i guess nothing. i could sell something if a great deal came up, and that's been known to happen, but i have one bass on the way and one i got in early january.
For me, the average I spend on a new bass is probably around $1700. However, I have spend far more than that in recent years (since I discovered Talkbass). Usually, I go with the one in one out rule to help offset the cost too.
The most I have spent on a single bass is $1,300, which I gig on. I voted <$4,000. I'm not sure if I would do that though, unless I was playing a lot of big stages where audience members aren't in arms/legs range of my instrument. Cause heaven forbid some drunk fool fall into my new $3,600 investment. I don't think the bar scene is discerning enough to know the difference between an $800 or $8,000 bass.
I can't imagine you really meant "What can you afford to spend?," which is a personal question that doesn't have much to do with basses. But the most I've spent is $1750 on a StingRay that I was never really happy with. I recently sold it and bought a Jazz that I love for about $500 less.
The highest-end basses I've played were a popular boutique brand that didn't do anything for me, especially for $4K. My main bass remains a sunburst Precision that I bought for $200 in the '70s, and it gets the most amazing sound. I guess I can afford a $10K bass, but the thing would have to cook breakfast for me to be worth it.
The highest-end basses I've played were a popular boutique brand that didn't do anything for me, especially for $4K. My main bass remains a sunburst Precision that I bought for $200 in the '70s, and it gets the most amazing sound. I guess I can afford a $10K bass, but the thing would have to cook breakfast for me to be worth it.
I'm another guy who didn't vote because I'm with the "Could or Would" crowd. I spent $800 on a used bass I'm extremely happy with. Not much point in me spending more. If I saved up for a year I could spend over $5,000 but I like to take trips and stuff.
I suppose if I found a bass I just HAD to have I would save up and get it. I highly doubt I'd ever spend over $2,000 even tho' I could afford to. Comes a point where I'd be too afraid to play it!
I suppose if I found a bass I just HAD to have I would save up and get it. I highly doubt I'd ever spend over $2,000 even tho' I could afford to. Comes a point where I'd be too afraid to play it!
I can't say I've ever bought a bass that was $1000+ (what I voted) that I've actually wanted to stick with. It's not that they were bad, I just didn't feel there was enough of a difference compared to many basses I could procure at the $400-600 range. Keep in mind though, I like to do my own setups and modifications, so a bass that just needs less elbow grease for several hundred dollars more isn't a good purchase to me. YMMV.
I'm sorry. But, I just don't get this thread. At all. What is the point?
First, it doesn't even seem to ask the question the right way. The right question, IF I am understanding the gist, is not what a player is prepared to spend on a single bass guitar, but rather what the player's budget is for bass guitars. Plural. There are folks on here that have 25 bass guitars, but won't spend over, say, $1k on any one of them; and then you have players on here that spend $10k on one bass guitar; but, that's the only bass guitar they own.
Of course, you've also got cats on here that only have maybe $400 to spend total on their ONLY bass guitar.
And, anyhow, who actually gives a rip one way or the other? What relevance does the question have to anything about bass playing? We are all at different stages in life. We all go through economic ups and downs. What happens today is different from what happens tomorrow, and then it's something else 5 years down the road. Life is unpredictable.
Personally, I think it is way cool that professional performance can be done on instruments costing less than $500. If the player knows what they are doing. That pretty much allows most folks to be able to participate. Yet, if someone wants to use and can afford a handmade instrument costing $10k+, that can also be pretty special.
We should be supporting each other and looking for common ground. I don't see that in this thread.
First, it doesn't even seem to ask the question the right way. The right question, IF I am understanding the gist, is not what a player is prepared to spend on a single bass guitar, but rather what the player's budget is for bass guitars. Plural. There are folks on here that have 25 bass guitars, but won't spend over, say, $1k on any one of them; and then you have players on here that spend $10k on one bass guitar; but, that's the only bass guitar they own.
Of course, you've also got cats on here that only have maybe $400 to spend total on their ONLY bass guitar.
And, anyhow, who actually gives a rip one way or the other? What relevance does the question have to anything about bass playing? We are all at different stages in life. We all go through economic ups and downs. What happens today is different from what happens tomorrow, and then it's something else 5 years down the road. Life is unpredictable.
Personally, I think it is way cool that professional performance can be done on instruments costing less than $500. If the player knows what they are doing. That pretty much allows most folks to be able to participate. Yet, if someone wants to use and can afford a handmade instrument costing $10k+, that can also be pretty special.
We should be supporting each other and looking for common ground. I don't see that in this thread.
songwriter21
I have an obsession for wood. The musical kind.
I spent well under a grand for a pristine US Peavey Cirrus 6, so I see absoutely no point in buying a flashy Ken Smith, Fodera, Ritter, Alembic, etc.
Call me crazy, but...I'd buy a car instead.
Call me crazy, but...I'd buy a car instead.
I have much less interest in the individual responses than I do in the enjoyment of the photos of the "pet basses". It doesn't really matter to me what any individual is comfortable with (that's why we're individuals.). However, I do appreciate what people will do for love of a bass, and what they end up with for all their efforts. So YMMV, I guess.
I can get all of the data at the top of the thread, if that's the only thing it's about.
Currently? I couldn't swing together much more than an extra 500 or so bucks together and that would be tough. I'm lucky that I was able to spend the money when I had it to get a couple in the 1800-2200 range (American Fender PBass Deluxe and a Thompson Ply Upright).
Big Hoss
Up note, down note, blue note, brown note...
- Sep 5, 2014
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For what it's worth, what I can, and what I am willing to afford are two distinctly different things. What I can afford is nobodies business outside of my household. Period, end of story.
What I am willing to pay is a different matter.
Like many here, music isn't my only hobby. I hunt, I fish, I build 4x4s, I am an avid DIYer, and have a complete wood shop. I have and maintain an active Youtube channel where my videography and editing skills are progressing far more rapidly than my bass playing. I am also very familiar with the concept of bang for the buck.
I am no world class touring musician, I am not even that good for a local guy mashing strings for fun. I keep audiences happy and entertained, but I make squat for money. I don't play because I am trying to get rich. I play because it is fun for me, helps relieve stress, and is something I thoroughly enjoy sharing with people. Playing through high dollar equipment would change that equation for me causing more stress than it is worth to me.
For my skill comfort and functional levels, low cost gear, as long as it works well, suits me quite well...
Having said that, just like everyone else I like nice stuff. And given a good deal, I would have no qualms say buying a Fender USA Geddy Lee Jazz, as long as I didn't end up forking over a grand for it... I know that is a tall order.
I am happy with the gear I have, and more than a little tickled that I can afford what I have. My most expensive bass is long off the market, but it's replacement is still being actively sold. That would be the Ibanez SR480 which Ibanez replaced with the SR500. Currently the SR500 street price is about $600.00. The 480 back in 2003 was on clearance for $350.00, after calculating inflation, that would be about $475.00 today. I probably wouldn't have had too much problem justifying the full $600.00 price for this bass. It is a beautiful, great playing instrument... By the same token, I absolutely LOVE my SX basses, and most notably, the Ursa 1, which came to me at $109.99... Does the $600.00 equivalent bass play better than the $109.00? Nope. Each bass works the way it does, each has its advantage. I love both. In so many ways, the Ursa 1 is my main player because I never have to worry about it...
I am not going to even think about faulting someone that is willing to spend huge money on a hand crafted boutique instrument, even if they have no clue how to play it. It's their money, and their passions, go for it!
What I am willing to pay is a different matter.
Like many here, music isn't my only hobby. I hunt, I fish, I build 4x4s, I am an avid DIYer, and have a complete wood shop. I have and maintain an active Youtube channel where my videography and editing skills are progressing far more rapidly than my bass playing. I am also very familiar with the concept of bang for the buck.
I am no world class touring musician, I am not even that good for a local guy mashing strings for fun. I keep audiences happy and entertained, but I make squat for money. I don't play because I am trying to get rich. I play because it is fun for me, helps relieve stress, and is something I thoroughly enjoy sharing with people. Playing through high dollar equipment would change that equation for me causing more stress than it is worth to me.
For my skill comfort and functional levels, low cost gear, as long as it works well, suits me quite well...
Having said that, just like everyone else I like nice stuff. And given a good deal, I would have no qualms say buying a Fender USA Geddy Lee Jazz, as long as I didn't end up forking over a grand for it... I know that is a tall order.
I am happy with the gear I have, and more than a little tickled that I can afford what I have. My most expensive bass is long off the market, but it's replacement is still being actively sold. That would be the Ibanez SR480 which Ibanez replaced with the SR500. Currently the SR500 street price is about $600.00. The 480 back in 2003 was on clearance for $350.00, after calculating inflation, that would be about $475.00 today. I probably wouldn't have had too much problem justifying the full $600.00 price for this bass. It is a beautiful, great playing instrument... By the same token, I absolutely LOVE my SX basses, and most notably, the Ursa 1, which came to me at $109.99... Does the $600.00 equivalent bass play better than the $109.00? Nope. Each bass works the way it does, each has its advantage. I love both. In so many ways, the Ursa 1 is my main player because I never have to worry about it...
I am not going to even think about faulting someone that is willing to spend huge money on a hand crafted boutique instrument, even if they have no clue how to play it. It's their money, and their passions, go for it!
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- Jan 12, 2011
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- Artist, Trickfish Amplification Bartolini Emerging Artist, MTD Kingston Emerging Artist. Artist, Tsunami Cables
IMO the thing to do is buy a decent bass with decent HW and put high end Pups and pre in it. The only ones who care about how much was spent is the actual player just to have someone say you don't have a P or a J LOL!!!! I heard from a colleague that vendors are feeling the affect of what companies like Sire are doing. Bass Mods as well. They are changing the game to a degree. All my basses are different and I like variety. I'd rather have a selection of Tools than just one very expensive tool. I have two affordable MTD Kingstons and am about the buy a 3rd. Still total cost is less than a down payment on a flagship Bass. Having said that I have the Super 5, Saratoga Deluxe 5 (JB Needs covered) and I'm getting a 5 string fretless with lined ebony board. I have a Custom Brubaker up for sale and it looks like it's going to take some time to sell. At a certain cost point it becomes a Bass that's best for you and what you prefer. Still if someone wants a Boutique who am I to say don't buy that. I'm counting my own money, not theirs.
Unless I came into a windfall.. or started making a lot more money playing than I currently do (which is $0) $2000 is about as far as I would be willing to go on a bass.. give or take .. and that would be used. As much as i would love to own a brand new U.S. Lakland or Sadowsky or MTD ... or Brubaker or Fodera... etc etc etc... It will not happen unless something changes for me financially .. If I could pay for it with my playing .. then that would be another story...
I don't gig actively, and rarely play period anymore. That said, if I was actively playing in some capacity, I'd say $4k. $6k would be doable, but I'd be strapped for a while, and that's just dumb.
+1 ..
I have 4 5s that I play pretty regularly, a Cirrus, an Heir, a Brute and a 55-01 and one 6 .. also a Cirrus andf they each have their own thing with them.
I saw the Brubaker you have for sale.. what a sweet looking bass..
I think that Brubaker basses are highly underrated basses. They play very well ... and even though it is a 34" scale... it plays like a 35" and it feels like a 32" in the hands ... I guess it is in the design.. My Brute was a JJX but the previous owner customized it with a set of Bart Quad Soaps with 3 way coil switches on each and an NTMB 3 ... It is a great bass..
Those Kingstons are pretty nice too..
I agree with you that in a lot of ways the imports have changed the game and for the most part a bass costing more than $1500 is more a want than a need........ but if I could I would .
