[quote name='oggiesnr' timestamp='1400076204' post='2450492']
Ignoring the lumps of firewood at the low end of the market, I wonder how many in an audience could really hear the difference between any two basses on any track?
For me high end basses are those that I would love to own aesthetically but know I could never afford/justify. Some basses are just drop dead gorgeous and good luck to those who own them.
As far as price is concerned, if you think high end basses are expensive, look at the price of a good double bass [url="http://www.contrabass.co.uk/csbasses.htm"]http://www.contrabas...uk/csbasses.htm[/url]. These are the good quality ones, the high end page is POA only. I know of one orchestral player who sold his bass when he retired (a nice late 19th century english one) for £50,000 and that was by no means top of the range.
Steve
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That's what I said in an earlier post.
In my opinion, there's high end regards price, and high end regards the instrument.
High end to me personally means attention to detail in the build of the instrument, quality of components etc, versatility, you haven't got to keep adjusting the neck relief every 5 minutes, you can stick a set of flats on for a blues gig and not have to spend an hour setting the bass up.
My Modulus wasn't expensive in relation to some instruments that you see, Wal's for example of ridiculously pricey.
Sei's ACG's, Clement, Overwater are amazing basses, and every bit as good as a Wal, but don't hold their price as well. They are high end basses though with regards to quality.
High end also doesn't equate to boutique.
Boutique, to me anyway is something like a Ritter with a fancy oddball paint finish.
A good analogy is Doc Marten boots. Relatively expensive, but you get a lifetime guarantee. You could just go out and buy a normal pair of boots, and they'll maybe last 6 months before the soles fall off. Boutique is a pair costing 3 times as much because of the label attached.