Who prefers mass produced over boutique?

[Basseroni]

I play what I like, don't care if its mass produced or not. I don't understand this. You can get some quality mass produced basses every bit as good as boutique basses. there's crap out there too.

+111111

I totally agree. I'm partial to Alleva Coppolo, Sadowsky, MTD, Lakland, and Musicman but I don't care for Foderas, Ken Smiths, Alembics, and a few others I can't think of at this time. Just MHO!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Over the last 6 years I have been lucky enough to be able to afford boutique instruments. Some I bought but eventually sold because they were missing a certain something. I also sold a Fender MIA J5 Deluxe that I still reget letting go of. Currently I own 2 boutiques that are the best instruments I've ever played. However, If I was in the market for another bass and came across a "killer " massed produced I would buy it.

I can see why you would miss a Fender Jazz Deluxe V. I have one now and I think it is a killer bass. Although it is active, it sounds less active and more organic than a Sadowsky or LowEnd Jazz. I know my 2008 American Standard Jazz V gets a much more aggressive sound when I run it through my Sadowsky preamp.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Once again, all boutique basses aren't for everybody. Yesterday, I got to play a really beautiful Fodera Emperor Singlecut for a minute. It played like butter and sounded good, but I couldn't imagine myself with that bass. A Fender styled bass would appeal to me much more, or even something like a Cirrus would appeal to me better.

 

[brothertupelo]

1. I was familiar with that book back in the 1970's.
2. I'm a former Porsche owner. I sold it back inthe late 1980's.
3. When I had the car (for over ten years), I changed the clutch... once. The book didn't inspire me to do it, I just wanted to see what a new clutch and a lightened flywheel might do for my car.
4. I also knew Porsche master mechanics who would also question your quality assumption.


If you actually read my posts minus your baggage you might see my point. Then again, maybe not.

EDIT (Mark) : No.

 

[Gabriel51]

Pinto's came with a "flint" bumper, right?

 

[NickyBass]

Once again, all boutique basses aren't for everybody.

The converse is true, too. I'm sure that, with the amount of 'boutique' instruments being built today, there is (at least) one for everyone. I don't know how anyone can say that they dislike (all) boutique basses. There are so many available. I think it just comes down to price. Which, of course, is a huge consideration...

 

[bassman74]

What i personnally hate is that human work can't be as precise as a cnc machine. If builder could use cnc machine for machining all the cavities and do everything else by hand, we would befenit of have best of both world...

Boutique builder take time to choose the best wood quality, Mass produce company take what ever is on their hands...

I really think we should try to take the best of each world and build the ultimate quality bass... I read many reviews(mtd,f-bass,fodera,roscoe) complaining that there was a noticeable gap in the neck pocket, pickup were angled in their cavities, etc....

Lately i've seen a NEw 08 fender american standard p-bass and the neck wood wasn't as great as the one on my son's Ibanez Mikro (169$ bass)

 

[peterpalmieri]

What i personnally hate is that human work can't be as precise as a cnc machine. If builder could use cnc machine for machining all the cavities and do everything else by hand, we would befenit of have best of both world...

Boutique builder take time to choose the best wood quality, Mass produce company take what ever is on their hands...

I really think we should try to take the best of each world and build the ultimate quality bass... I read many reviews(mtd,f-bass,fodera,roscoe) complaining that there was a noticeable gap in the neck pocket, pickup were angled in their cavities, etc....

Lately i've seen a NEw 08 fender american standard p-bass and the neck wood wasn't as great as the one on my son's Ibanez Mikro (169$ bass)

There are a number of guys using CNC machines such as Lakland and Sadowsky, funny enough some people criticize them for being "parts" basses because of it. I do agree with your point though.

You do realize that fodera and a number of models of the other names you mentioned are not bolt ons so a neck pocket doesn't exist? I wasn't sure where your going with that one...

 

[bassman74]

Fodera offers 3 type of neck joints...

bolt-on,set-neck and neck-thru...

all the other one are standard bolt-on..

 

[Brad Johnson]

There are a number of guys using CNC machines such as Lakland and Sadowsky, funny enough some people criticize them for being "parts" basses because of it. I do agree with your point though.

You do realize that fodera and a number of models of the other names you mentioned are not bolt ons so a neck pocket doesn't exist? I wasn't sure where your going with that one...

Huh?

Every one of these (mtd,f-bass,fodera,roscoe) make bolt-on basses.

 

[Geddy Claypool]

Well did you happen to see what the red & black Geddy Mk2 went for on ebay a few weeks ago? 8k, someone bought it for 8k!

Yeah, that's a little over the top, but it looks killer and I bet it sounds even better. Those MkI Wals are awesome.

 

[peterpalmieri]

Huh?

Every one of these (mtd,f-bass,fodera,roscoe) make bolt-on basses.

I realize that I might have said it incorrectly " I meant to say some of the models are not bolt-ons and in the case of Fodera the majority of popular instruments are not bolt-ons. In the case of Fodera are we talking about Empire basses? I'd like to know what models were talking about with these builders that have issues. i.e. overseas MTDs etc.

I don't own any of these basses so I am not trying to defend them at all. I just thought the most popular of these and most expensive were the setnecks and neckthroughs

 

[Brad Johnson]

I realize that I might have said it incorrectly " I meant to say some of the models are not bolt-ons and in the case of Fodera the majority of popular instruments are not bolt-ons. In the case of Fodera are we talking about Empire basses? I'd like to know what models were talking about with these builders that have issues. i.e. overseas MTDs etc.

I don't own any of these basses so I am not trying to defend them at all. I just thought the most popular of these and most expensive were the setnecks and neckthroughs

But Roscoes, MTDs and most F basses are bolt-ons. Fodera bolt-ons are pretty common.

Actually, his comments seemed to be more about build quality and consistency than neck joint. In that respect, I haven't read much of anything negative about the brands in question nor have I experienced that in the many examples from each builder I've seen.

 

[peterpalmieri]

But Roscoes, MTDs and most F basses are bolt-ons. Fodera bolt-ons are pretty common.

Actually, his comments seemed to be more about build quality and consistency than neck joint. In that respect, I haven't read much of anything negative about the brands in question nor have I experienced that in the many examples from each builder I've seen.

Well then I learned something before lunch today, I am suprised about fodera bolt-ons.

I agree I haven't read much about poor quality either, not that it doesn't exist I just haven't heard much.

 

[Krügmeister]

I've played MANY different basses, and I've loved every one of them for thier own uniqueness, I've played some basses that were the same model and same year and they played differently.
I currently have a small collection of basses and I LOVE each and every one of them for different purposes.
I have found a soul on SX and Foderas, it's all on how you translate it from finger to amp.
BTW.. my go to bass is still my 1989 Peavey Dyna Bass (mass -produced) and it has been my companion for almost 20 years... no finer parter has been in my corner.

 

[HamOnTheCob]

I want my limitations to be my ability, not my gear.

What a great line.

 

[neurotictim]

Hard to justify bringing a $4000 bass to a $100 gig IMO. Then again so is bringing a $2000 Sadowsky!:

Another +1 for this...

I was playing my Dingwall ABI (which I consider borderline boutique) with my old band at a bar that probably did less in sales in a weekend than the bass costed... And I couldn't buy a set of strings with what I was paid.

That being said, it sounded great and all, but I spent more time worrying about the drunks and potential thieves than I did enjoying the playability and tone of the bass...

I think I'll stick to my SXs for gigging in those enivrons, and leave the Dingwall for recording or nicer gigs. Even my heavily-modded SXs, which sound and play awesomely, can be replaced for next to nothing, and I enjoy the modding.

 

[peterpalmieri]

Hard to justify bringing a $4000 bass to a $100 gig IMO. Then again so is bringing a $2000 Sadowsky!

I could never understand or get comfortable with this personally, if that's your choice no problem I don't mean to convince anyone otherwise...

Personally I didn't spend time and money trying to find the bass that best suits my needs to leave it home when I have a gig regardless of the pay.

If you try to cross this philosophy into other lines of work it many times doesn't make sense either.

 

[The Hammer]

I could never understand or get comfortable with this personally, if that's your choice no problem I don't mean to convince anyone otherwise...

Personally I didn't spend time and money trying to find the bass that best suits my needs to leave it home when I have a gig regardless of the pay.

If you try to cross this philosophy into other lines of work it many times doesn't make sense either.

+10000000000

I wouldn't buy an expensive car and rarely drive it nor would I buy an expensive bass and not play it on gigs regardless of what the gig was paying. This is just my opinion but I don't let my possessions possess me.

 

[Gabriel51]

+10000000000

I wouldn't buy an expensive car and rarely drive it nor would I buy an expensive bass and not play it on gigs regardless of what the gig was paying. This is just my opinion but I don't let my possessions possess me.

It's really just a choice that exist in every walk of life from a 1963 corvette split window coupe to your wife's best jewelery and her fine china for special occasions. If you don't understand this either you, 1. Don't own a one off bass or, 2. You just don't get it?