ezbass

Very much this ^^^^ I haven’t owned a budget bass in quite a long while now (even my recent MIM Mustang was nearly £1k) but it’s because I can afford to be choosy and, up until recently at least, was playing live regularly with them. However, I also still play guitar (bring on the flaming torches and pitchforks) but not live and I don’t own a single guitar that cost over £400 (save for an acoustic from way back in my guitar playing/gigging days). I’m really into budget line guitars (Epiphone & Squier) that I can mess about with and upgrade if and where necessary, without the potential for ruining or devaluing a more expensive instrument. I’m currently thinking about getting myself a Mustang guitar and after looking at Performers and Vinteras (online at least), I think I’ll probably go with the Squier CV for the reasons previously stated. Back to the original post, are expensive basses worth it, or would you better off with a cheaper bass? Yes and, err, yes. Will both basses get the job done? More than likely and probably not with a massively different hands on experience (providing the cheaper bass is well set up and you didn’t buy something that was not your normal taste in terms of playability). Is owning an expensive bass worth it? Yes, with the caveat of only if it gives you pleasure for its own sake (if it makes you feel guilty, move it on).

Honey Don’t - The Beatles (again).

Cocaine - Jackson Browne

A Message To You Rudy - The Specials

Message in a Bottle - The Police

There can be no one greatest of all time IMO. However, there can be those who are great because they changed the guitar playing landscape. For me these would be: Les Paul, Jimi Hendrix & Eddie Van Halen. This is not to say that others weren’t doing what they did before them, or did it better. But it’s these guys who influenced a bigger majority, altering the way the instrument was played and/or perceived on the wider stage. That said, if the greatest guitar player of all time (to date) was someone who could play in all styles and could leave you slack jawed, I’d have to say it’s Guthrie Govan. Obviously, he’s not a household name, even amongst those who play, but he is truly amazing in his technique and wide ranging abilities in so many styles.

The Letter - Joe Cocker

You won’t be disappointed. I preferred my US SUB to my full fat, EBMM 3 band.

Can I Play With Madness - Iron Maiden

Ladies of the Canyon - Joni Mitchell

Double Trouble - Skynyrd

Maruszczyk Elwood or Jake L, around the 3.25kg mark.

Nightshift - Commodores

Spirit of the Age - Hawkwind

Very cool.

On My Radio - The Selector (the above literally just was).

I has one in that colour (Egyptian Smoke with Python p/g?) with a maple board and without mutes, the neck was rather chunky IIRC (probably because of the maple on maple, my other rosewood ‘Rays were nice and slim).

Rock Candy - Montrose

Suck It and See - Arctic Monkeys

I like thinner frets on a bass, but I’m more interested in Leland’s pickup positions on his Frankenstein P. I’d really like to be able to have a play on that. How there has never been a Fender signature bass recreation of that bass is beyond me, FFS Gibson did one!

Werewolves of London - Warren Zevon

I don’t imagine John Myung’s name is particularly household, even amongst musicians. I like the Bongo (name notwithstanding) but, as demonstrated, it’s not what I think of when I think EBMM, so I guess Sterling Ball & Co should receive some kudos for sticking with it for so long. Actually, when I think EBMM, my first thought isn’t guitars either (despite being a guitarist too - shhh! Keep it to yourself or there’ll be a mob of BCers with flaming torches and pitchforks), yet they seem to persist with those and extend the range, albeit it seems to be just signature models.

Constipation Blues - Screamin' Jay Hawkins

Of course, sticking to what brings in the big bucks quickly also overshadows any newer models, so manufacturers need to play a longer game if they really care about innovation. When I wrote my original post, I’d completely forgotten about the Bongo (bloody daft name) and it’s surprising to me that it’s still around.