When your "cheaper" bass is your #1

[Yahboy]

2014 CIC Squier Matt Freeman P .

 

[JenderBazzFass]

My Precision is the one I am playing on stage 90+% of the time, but I wouldn't say it's my #1.

I greatly prefer to just bring one bass, so I choose what makes sense for the situation... depends on the keys of the songs we are playing (would a 5-string be a help here?), what instruments will be there (How much sonic space do I need to fill?), or it could be as simple as "Do I need a flatwound or a roundwound sound here?

Nearly every time, the Precision seems like the best choice - but when there is a song that is crying out for a 5 I'll just bring that and play the whole set with it. I think most basses can handle most situations just fine and it's mostly in our minds.

 

[ajkula66]

A p with flats of course

And tort.
Must. Have. Tort.
Or else...

 

[Stylee Mousse]

With bass in my studio I pick up either my Fretless FSO or my L-1000. Based on mood or the song I’m working up.

At home I only have a JC with flats.

With acoustic guitar I pick up my wife’s baby Taylor more than my ‘52 Gibson L-4 arch top. Why? No clue. It is plainly a much lesser instrument

 

[selowitch]

My Nordstrand Acinonyx Bass (strung with LaBella DTFs) is my least expensive bass but right now it's the only one I rehearse and gig with. I see no need to use the others. It has exactly the tone I want.

 

[BassmonkeyJ]

A p with flats of course

...and the tort scratchplate.

 

[Makten]

I'm trying to understand how a cheap instrument being so good that you want to play it rather than an expensive one, is a problem. That's 100% positive in my opinion.

 

[SharpCat]

Seems like there’s more reasons to pick one bass over another than posts in this thread.

Such as:
- Leave the expensive one at home.
- I just like the feel of this one better.
- Better tone.
- etc etc

Not a single reason is wrong. Everyone’s different and everyone has different desires and sensibilities. So no, if you wanna play this one instead of that more expensive one, do it. No worries.

A follow up question might be “Should I sell the less-used bass?” That’s much harder to answer, and I think only the owner can make that call.

 

[dmt]

I have a similar situation, Dincrest. I added my "dream bass", a sunburst American Standard Precision with rosewood fretboard, to my little stable, with the intention of it replacing my old, plain Jane, much less expensive MIM Precision. It was a purchase delayed about 20 years really, arguably 35. But anyway, even though it’s heavier and I don’t love the way its looks, try as I might, I’ve found I just like my old MIM more. The MIM isn’t a dream bass for me, but it works well enough and somehow it suits me — always did, right from when I first tried it in a music store and it stood out as a particularly decent one for the price (but not for any price — I’ll never forget the much more expensive Precision that was hanging right next to it in the shop that seemed perfect but which I decided was [at that time] too much money, lol).

Well, it was actually a little tough psychologically when my supposed dream bass didn’t work out. A dream denied. But, the situation is what it is. I just wish the MIM were a hair lighter, but it doesn’t bother me enough to get back into the buyin’ and tryin’ phase. After years of working through equipment, I think I’m actually pretty good with what I’ve got, at least bass-wise

 

[brocco]

My three "number one's" all short scale.
Ibanez Mikro 5 28.6
Ibanez EHB1005SMS 30-32
Nordstrand Acinonyx V2- 30.6
All my expensive basses are gone.

 

[ahbradot]

My new Fender precision player ii has become I would call "temporarily my number one".
I think that's because I'm enjoying playing a precision bass for the time being as I'm craving the precision tone.
My USA jazz and my EBMM cost two and three times more money and both are better fit and finish.
Normally I just rotate through all of them with no rhyme and reason.
I enjoy the variety of tones.

 

[2saddleslab]

Although I've sunk more $$ into it since the body cost me $200.00, the neck, $125.00, back in 1989. It's been # 1 ever since.

 

[Geri O]

I'm trying to understand how a cheap instrument being so good that you want to play it rather than an expensive one, is a problem. That's 100% positive in my opinion.

In and of itself that’s isn’t a problem. Nor is it the problem….

It’s when some folks with cheap instruments throw shade at those of us that like our basses that just so happens to be expensive.

(No, haven't seen that sort of talk in this thread so far....)

“Play what you like and like what you play” goes right out the window with those folks. They can’t understand why I like my bass that happens to be expensive, then proceed to tell me that I don’t need a bass that costs that much.

True or not, it takes a lot of damn gall to go around telling others they don’t even need or don’t need.

Have anyone ever seen someone like me tell someone else “you really need a more expensive instrument”?

No, you haven’t.

Yes, my hackles go up slightly when I see yet another of these “my cheap bass is better” posts. Admittedly so, that’s totally on me. I don’t have to read or engage the post.

At least I’ll be honest and admit it.

 

[shirojiro]

I think this goes more to the thread title than the OP’s actual post, but my cheapest bass is my "go-to" for gigs / situations where I’m concerned about possible damage: Like where I have to set up off stage because it’s too small for everyone, and as such the potential exists for patron traffic to knock the bass over.

It’s a Heartfield DR5 – actually a pretty fantastic bass. But I only paid $500 for it, less than half what my other basses or worth.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

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I love my DR5.

It’s funny though. For me, the rarity of that bass makes me want to baby it since it would be difficult to replace.

Makes no logical sense though. Logically, I should play what I like.

Back to the original topic:
The two basses I’m playing most these days are a SBMM Ray 34 and an SX Fretless Jazz bass.

 

[Gervais Cote]

3 years ago, I did put together a "garbage" bass just to give it a try :

2015 Fender MIM p bass neck made of maple
A 2000 Squier Chinese p bass body made of alder
Fender Pure Vintage 63 pickups
And Fender nickel rounds

Compared to my 8 other basses, this is by far my best sounding one no matter the amp, environment or music style. Still can’t believe it.

Some of my other basses cost more than 5 times more but eh, the beaten dog surpasses them all.

 

[31HZ]

I just use what I like the sound and feel of and what I think will work best for the gig and/or session.

I regularly teach and gig with a Squier Classic Vibe J and a Yamaha BB434, which are 2 of my cheapest electric basses. The Squier in particular records really well.

I actually sold a Fender American Standard J a couple years ago simply because I wasn’t using it and didn’t see a point in having it.

I sold a rare-color, early 2000s Fender American Jazz that I really loved, because I came off of a tour and had to make a mortgage payment.

 

[ElectricBass72]

If I ever gigged again.... No bass over $550 would be used.

I have several goodies to choose from.... Ibanez Talman P/J, Epiphone Embassy with Xtender, Sterling Stingray 5HH and my beloved new Squire Antigua Precision.

 

[Makten]

In and of itself that’s isn’t a problem. Nor is it the problem….

It’s when some folks with cheap instruments throw shade at those of us that like our basses that just so happens to be expensive.

(No, haven't seen that sort of talk in this thread so far....)

“Play what you like and like what you play” goes right out the window with those folks. They can’t understand why I like my bass that happens to be expensive, then proceed to tell me that I don’t need a bass that costs that much.

True or not, it takes a lot of damn gall to go around telling others they don’t even need or don’t need.

Have anyone ever seen someone like me tell someone else “you really need a more expensive instrument”?

No, you haven’t.

Yes, my hackles go up slightly when I see yet another of these “my cheap bass is better” posts. Admittedly so, that’s totally on me. I don’t have to read or engage the post.

At least I’ll be honest and admit it.

I think a worse problem is people that don't listen with their ears and feel with their hands, but instead let the look, hype or price tag decide what bass is "best".

IMO the probability for an expensive bass being better than a cheap one is great, but in statistics there are always exceptions. Which means you can definitely find cheap basses that are nicer than expensive ones, if you judge for yourself instead of letting other people do it.

Then there is the varying definition of "good" or "best". Personally I prefer a crappy built instrument that has a certain vibe/tone/response that makes me want to play it, over a very well built instrument that doesn't have "it". I also often prefer simpler constructions over "furniture" basses with a zillion different woods that IMO tend to sound boring, or "hifi".

 

[Dincrest]

TANGENT:
I'm amused that TalkBass staples like "P with tort 'n flats" and "my Glarry can beat up your Fodera" are getting into the mix here. There's no escaping any of that, and I'm grinning right now in that snarky "TalkBass, don't ever change" way. I love this community. Crazy to think I joined 21 years ago. My time on TalkBass is old enough to drink!


WE NOW RETURN TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAM:
Reflecting back on this discussion, maybe it's less about gear but more about us as people, how we feel, think, perceive.

It can be difficult when it's like... you feel totally happy with something but you start thinking "this thing is not my type, but I'm happy with it" and your brain starts overthinking (especially if your peers, particularly on the Internet are all loudly buzzing in your ears about how there is better out there) and you think you need to codify and justify that what you have makes you happy rather than just feel happy.

As pithy as it is to say "think less, bass more" it's not always easy to do (my ballroom dance instructor is always telling me to "think less, dance more.")

 

[FullumMusic]

The value of a bass isn't the price tag; the value of a bass is the music you make with it.

Stop worrying about ranking your basses by price and enjoy making music with them in whichever order makes you happy and fits the song.