• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Would you go boutique or vintage?

New boutique bass or vintage bass?

  • Total voters
    399
#21
Boutique is what blows my mind over the ol' Fender from 57'. It just depends if your in a band of vintage looks and gear or a band of state of the art equipment. You would look silly playing with The Raconteurs with a 6 string Graphite Zon bass. So to me it depends on that as well as the fact that the Zon Bass would be worth 3 grand today and that ol' 57 didn't cost 3 grand back in 1957 when it was new. I have a hard time with that for some reason. My 2 cents...
 
#26
If you're playing out regularly, I almost think vintage is a liability more than anything. It's got so much potential value, it'd almost be stressful taking care of it. Plus if someone plays out all the time, reliablity is more of an issue.

It's why a lot of guys just use vintage stuff in the studio. I DO think there is some amazing mojo and sound about a lot of vintage gear. There's a certain depth that really sings about them.

But I'd also go boutique in terms of playability, reliablity, and a modern sound that cuts without having to stress that much comparatively.
 
#28
Great thread... interesting comments and results so far.

In any case, I am the opposite of Basdyret. I have vintage Fenders as well as "boutique" basses and lately the vintage basses have been getting all of the playing time. In fact, I recently sold 3 Sadowskys, a MTD, a Dingwall, A LE Warwick and a Lakland due to a lack of interest in playing them on my part.

I have been playing a '74 P and a '73 Jazz much more than my 2 Roscoes as of late. I still love my Roscoes, but older Fenders (if you get good ones - they really made some garbage in the '70's) just sound great to me for everything from blues to country to funk to alternative and metal.

To each their own in any case....

P.S. re: vintage as a liability.... my vintage Fenders have lots of playing wear and a couple extra dings or scratches wouldn't even be noticed. I am more worried about playing my Roscoes out than my Fenders! Also, I am buying a '65 P this month and I guarantee I will be gigging this bass. I just make sure I don't take my eyes off my basses between sets or while loading/unloading.

Basdyret said:
I don't have an absolute preference, because it depends on the style of music I'm going to play. I currently have two old Fenders and 3 expensive boutiques, but the latter get a little more playing time, as they are slightly more versatile and easier to play.
Click to expand...
 
#30
I had gone down the boutique road before, and I just like the sounds of the old production basses. I have always found boutiques to sound too "polite" for my tastes, and any custom build, you never know what the finished product is going to sound like no matter how carefully you selected the woods etc, and may end up hating it.
 
#32
Er, why does it have to be this particular choice?

Buying vintage is probably the dumbest choice of all if you intend to gig with it. A real 57 Fender may be worth 10 large or more, but it's still as crappy a bass as it was when it was new and cost 150 or 200 bucks or whatever back in '57.

You can get a reissue 50's style Fender from Fender today and it'll be zounds better than the real 57 with all the new manufacturing techniques Fenders uses now. It'll sound almost the same as the real 57 but it'll cost far less than 10 grand. No brainer of a choice if you want a 57 precision.

You darn sure don't need to go the boutique route if what you want is a 50's precision. Just get the reissue from Fender. Problem solved....

LS
 
#33
Before I made the decision to go with my MTD 535, I asked several people (audio engineers, band leaders, producers etc...) what their take on it was. It was probably 80 percent boutique, except some of the producers would rather have a vintage tone. All of the audio guys said NEW, no exceptions. I think some of it depends on your venue of playing as well. If you are playing in a band like Mute Math where they only play vintage, I wouldn't go boutique. But if you aren't... why not?
 
#34
I'm a very simple kind of guy, I like my basses without all the bells and whistles, so for me, a boutique bass would be a waste. If I'm going to pay a boat load of money (assuming an unlimited budget as you said) then I'm going to go for the real thing. As me having an unlimited budget is unrealistic, you could also assume that I'd have the time to play a bunch of vintage basses until I found the one that suits me right.

I've already somewhat made this choice I guess, as I have two 78 fenders and a 78 gibson (total coincidence I swear). I got the Jazz first, it was hanging on the wall at a local music store. I'll admit I'm a total sucker for blocks/binding. I picked it up and knew then and there that was the bass. It really spoke to me. I've played other vintage basses that didn't do it for me, but this one was just right. I got the gibson G3 because I was looking for a grabber and this was the first thing that came up. It's ok and there's certainly nothing like it in production now (except maybe the EBMM Big Al). The 78 fretless precision was something I ran into at a pawn shop and saved up some money to get it, mostly because it matched my jazz, but also because it plays so beautifully. I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to find a maple fretless P-bass from any boutique maker, but for the price this was a nice piece.

As an afterthought, I know that if I were to go boutique, it woud be vintage style, either a P or a PJ, jazz neck with blocks and binding, matching headstock, with as-close-to-vintage-fender pickups/electronics. Essentially I'd want a duck dunn with a maple board and possibly a bridge pickup.
 
#37
to me warwick is boutique..

i'd definitly say boutique for several reasons..

1- i'm only 23 vintage doesnt hold any nostalgic quality to me..
2- it'd be marvelous to have a bass that has everything i want and nothing i dont want
3- ???????
4- profit
 
#38
I don't see myself showing up to band practice with a high dollar fancywood custom. I'd feel... self conscious, not a state of mind to be in for decent playing.

Then again, I would never pay top dollar for an old, worn, assembly chain made electric bass out of principle.

So, if you were to hold a gun to my head and say "choose or die", I'd go custom made. But I'd keep it at home, to play with when I'm alone.
 
#40
Boutique if I had the money. I've a few in mind I really want to commission but heh, that's going to be a while because I'm pretty poor atm :p

Old beat up basses from "the day" never did it for me. I like my basses to be mine and only mine. I never quite trust what other people might have done to them if I buy used.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back