What is an expensive bass?

[TimR]

6 minutes ago, neepheid said:

 

Because you're worth it.  Don't let that pesky imposter syndrome get in your way.  And lose the "just".  Even "just" doing pub gigs you are already in the rarefied air of musicians who actually make it out of the bedroom.

 

Well I play other gigs as well, just not that many at the moment.

 

The only comment I ever had about my bass was when I turned up to a Working Man's Club cover band dep with my Jackson Charvel complete with pointy headstock and the band leader took one look at it and said "Just stick to the roots - nothing flash."

 

Not long after that I bought my current bass which looks a bit less flash and looks far more expensive than it was. 

 

Sounds like January might be an expensive month for me, currently eyeing up some £1700 basses to get rid of some cash I have lying around. 

Edited 12 hours ago by TimR

[Mrbigstuff]

1 hour ago, Geek99 said:

If you mean me, I just mean “paying for the name”, “it’s us-made”, “it’s vintage” etc kind of vanity where as @Lozz196 (I think) suggested in the past, the giveback for the premium price is tapered at best 

I quoted what I was replying to?

 

But while we’re here. There should obviously be a premium on a well established name with a good reputation compared to a new brand. That goes for any product or service. How much that premium is, the market will dictate. 

[Stub Mandrel]

Expensive is so relative.

 

The two basses I paid over my 'expensive' threshold, were both made possible because I completed large chunks of work.

 

I've been through long periods where spending £50-100 could mean many months of saving. I am having to be careful now, as I need as many savings as possible to buy somewhere when dad's house is sold and split three ways.

 

So those two big purchases (and my rig) were really special; both were cheaper alternatives to genuine vintage instruments I could never afford but give me a feeling of connection to music I love.

[tauzero]

I can get a reasonable sound out of any of my basses. The Seis, though, are the nicest of them to play. Does nobody else consider playability to be the most important aspect of a bass?

[Linus27]

5 minutes ago, tauzero said:

I can get a reasonable sound out of any of my basses. The Seis, though, are the nicest of them to play. Does nobody else consider playability to be the most important aspect of a bass?

 

Yes, 100% and even more so playing fretless. For me, I am the most comfortable playing a Fender, mostly a Jazz but a Precision is fine and Japanese Fender's are my favourite as the gloss necks are my preferred finish and the build quality is incredible.

Edited 7 hours ago by Linus27

[TrevorR]

I always find the “what bass is too expensive to play down the Dog & Duck?” question very hard to answer given that this was my regular wedding, club and pub gig set up in my function/party band days. 
 

 

They were the basses I most loved to play, so those were the ones I played - wherever. OK, I didn’t pay today’s ridiculous prices when I bought them in 1993 and 2000 respectively but their second hand prices in the mid 2000s was still substantial. 
 

The Sandberg I bought this year would probably be considered expensive by many but, again, I love playing it so I do! Here it is funking it out at our local jam night.

 

 

 

[TimR]

3 hours ago, TrevorR said:

I always find the “what bass is too expensive to play down the Dog & Duck?” question very hard to answer given that this was my regular wedding, club and pub gig set up in my function/party band days. 

 

Depends how many weddings, parties and functions you're playing down the Dog and Duck I suppose.