4000

[quote name='rslaing' post='542267' date='Jul 16 2009, 02:31 PM']Mine isn't?? I have tone controls on my bass and amp...................[/quote] Nothing to do with the tone controls on either IMO. I've now owned 4 Statii and every one of them has had what I can only term a "plasticky" sound. I've found the same with the dozens of others (and the Vigiers, Zons and Peavey B Quad 4) that I've tried. Tone off, tone on, boost lows, boost highs, both, mids, whatever, I have never been able to get them sounding anything other than synthetic. I suspect that some of this comes down to technique and some comes down to individual perception and taste. What sounds like plastic to my ears might sound like "super smooth and zingy" or "tremendous bark" to someone else's. FWIW our guitarist feels the same. Speaking of the Peavey B Quad 4, that bass has the nicest-feeling graphite neck I've ever played.

That is just mega. Nice to see it finished (I've spent many a minute checking it out in the workshop). I wonder what Robbie (Rim) has to say about that fishtail though?

[quote name='silverfoxnik' post='540855' date='Jul 14 2009, 11:42 PM']+1 Too bright, too artificial, to '80s sounding - which is OK if that's your thing....[/quote] +2. I'd love to get on with them but so far just haven't. I love the idea of graphite though and hope to one day stumble across something that works for me.

I played one of these at Bass Day last year. Unfortunately the action was so high compared to what I'm used to that I couldn't get anything sensible out of it.

[quote name='Prosebass' post='536950' date='Jul 10 2009, 01:03 AM']pity him who knows the price of everything, but the value of nothing.[/quote] Amen to that.

As Martin himself has said, you never really know what an instrument is going to sound like until it's built.

[quote name='GreeneKing' post='535954' date='Jul 8 2009, 07:42 PM']I think it's a bit of Alan under charging while he starts his business rolling and a lot of other luthiers (not all) massively overcharging as is the norm in a luxury goods market.[/quote] The first point is doubtless true (Sei were the same). I suspect Alan doesn't pay as much in rent as Fodera though, or any of the big-city-based luthiers. Please correct me if I'm wrong Alan, and I'll buy you a pint in October.

[quote name='Tait' post='535600' date='Jul 8 2009, 12:27 PM']have i once said that? i've been trying to remind you all the way through this discussion that i think the exact opposite of that, that my opinions don't matter unless its me buying the bass. here are some quotes from me this thread - so i'm sorry as if i've come across as saying "you're wrong, i'm right, you shouldn't spend that much on a bass" but thats not what i've been trying to sound like.[/quote] No, you've missed my point. It can be a question as well, as in "I don't understand why someone else would feel like that, explain it to me", but the end result is the same. It's simply about understanding that you may not understand someone else's reasoning. If you understand that principle, you don't need to ask the question in the first place. In some ways it's unexplainable other than something's worth it if you think its is, which has already been stated many times. Some non-bass related examples, not necessarily aimed at you: Nobody needs to go to a restaurant for a meal; it's perfectly possible to make nice-tasting, nourishing food at home. However, many people like going out for a meal. Usually the chef is a better cook, but it's not always just about the food; it's also about the broader experience. It's nice to do. Does it cost more than eating at home? Almost always. Is it more nutritious? Not necessarily. Does it taste better? Hopefully, although everyone has different tastes. Now some will be happy at the local bistro (heck, some will be happy with MacDonalds), and some will only be happy with Heston Blumenthal. Regardless, if you enjoy it more, it's worth paying for. If you're happy eating at home or MacDonalds, fine. It does the same job essentially, but life hopefully isn't just about doing the same job. It's also about aesthetics, atmosphere, and other such intangibles which hopefully enrich our lives. Why do I buy Haagen Daz ice-cream pretty much exclusively? Because it's my favourite. Does it cost more than most? Hell yeah, considerably more, but I'd pay twice that if I had to, because for me, nothing else comes close. If you're happy with Asda's own, great, you're saving money. Conversely my favourite red wine is Aldi's Baron St Jean, at £2-odd a pop. I've tried stuff that costs 10 times that and I don't like it as much, so it definitely works both ways. Why do I buy Adidas Classic trainers? Sure they're comfortable, but there are many other brands out there just as comfortable. There may be some even more so. But I like them best. I like their history, I like their associations, and ultimately I love the look, which to me is far beyond that of any other trainer. If every other trainer in the world cost £20 and they cost £200 I'd still buy them instead assuming I had the money, simply because I wouldn't want to wear anything else. Many people I know don't get them at all. Do I care? Not a bit. I know people who couldn't be happier than caravanning in the UK. They fail to understand why anyone would want to go abroad for a holiday. That's fine. In some ways I envy them, but I can guarantee if all I had to look forward to every year was a weeks caravanning I'd throw myself off the nearest cliff. Back to basses, but away from boutiques; many people say Rickenbackers aren't worth the money; they're not versatile, they're idiosyncratic, they look weird. For less money you can get a (insert bass x) which does a much better job. But I wouldn't personally want to pay that money for bass x, because I don't like them as much. I like Rickenbackers, so that's what I'd spend my money on even if they cost more. I like that they're idiosyncratic, I like how they look, I love how they sound, regardless of if someone else thinks they're a one trick pony. It's not just the brand, it's not some sort of weird snobbery, I just like them better. If someone else prefers something else, fine. I'm not going to ask why. It's simply because they have different tastes than me, end of story. I'll stop now, because I'm even boring myself. Medic!

[quote name='Tait' post='535303' date='Jul 7 2009, 11:36 PM']i guess we're talking art as paintings, sculptures etc? i'm not really interested in art, i have a few posters of bands i like on my bedroom walls and some photos from my school prom and visits to alton towers. oh, and a little statue of a fencer i got for christmas. thats all the art i own. i might be willing to spend more if something really caught my eye, but tbh i wouldn't spend too much. but art also includes movies, music, books, i'd even class some of the basses you see as a work of art. arts in loads of things, would you class a car (the way they look) as art? i would. to answer your question, i'd be prepared to pay what i think its worth. if i saw a poster of my favourite band, but it cost £25, i wouldn't buy it. £25 for a poster is a rip off. yet i'm willing to pay £40 for a videogame (and the graphics on those is definatly art), because i think the videogame is worth it (not so much for the art, but for the amusement it gives).[/quote] You see there are people who spend millions on art. As someone who trained in that area, I can see why. Owning an original Van Gogh, Degas, Monet, Vermeer etc would be incredible, for me and many others in the world. Art isn't simply about function, it's about the soul (without wishing to sound too pretentious). I suspect you wouldn't feel that way, hence why you may find it difficult to truly understand why some people spend so much on boutique basses. I also believe that many of the people who buy boutique instruments see them as such (me included), in a way that you probably don't. But as previously stated, people just see these things differently, no right or wrong. The trick is [i]understanding & accepting[/i] that people don't all see things the same way. The core of many of these types of discussions seems to be "I don't feel that way about something so why should someone else?", but why should we all feel the same? Do we all like the same types of food, find the same people attractive? Do we all like the same types of music, or the same clothes? The same books and films? Do the same things interest us in life? Do we all have the same priorities in life, beyond the obvious? No.

[quote name='Waldo' post='535285' date='Jul 7 2009, 11:14 PM']I think it's taken a while for anyone to say it [/quote]

[quote name='Waldo' post='535224' date='Jul 7 2009, 10:26 PM']So basically, people have different tastes.[/quote] Yup. Took me a while to say that didn't it?

[quote name='steve-soar' post='535153' date='Jul 7 2009, 09:35 PM']Always been a Forest Hills, Trim Trab, or Lendell Pro man myself, maybe Galaxy. Adidas trainers were total works of art.[/quote] SL72s, 76s, Dragon, Jeans, Rom, Athen and a few others for me. And FWIW, you're right about Ed Moses.

[quote name='RhysP' post='534849' date='Jul 7 2009, 04:14 PM']This is one persons purely subjective opinion being stated as "really being the reality of the situation" I'd call that pretty arrogant, maybe others wouldn't. I guess "arrogance" is subjective too, maybe it's "self confidence" or something.[/quote] As I said previously, I disagree with some of the things he says, this being one of them. This is a personal opinion, not fact. It's like saying Person X is the best painter who has ever lived (and yes I did study Fine Art and art history). There is no such thing. I think when someone makes such a statement they are asking to be challenged, and I have no problem with that. However I'm still interested to hear what he says as he's a very experienced, skillful and knowledgeable musician and bassist . I do agree he should maybe lighten up a little, take some of the comments with a pinch of salt, but sometimes that's difficult as I've found out in the past. Having said all that, I still think Beefy's critique of Jeff's trainers is one of the funniest things I've ever read, anywhere, anytime. But as an Adidas Classics man, I would. Anyway, back to the mag....

[quote]There have been one or two quips that people have made about cheap instruments being better than "boutique" basses. In which way? If it is the playability, then I agree it could be the case, but only if the boutique bass has not been setup properly, or set up to the individuals requirements.[/quote] "Better" is entirely subjective either way. You could certainly argue that most boutiques are far better built than most cheap basses, but beyond that it all comes down to taste. I've played boutiques I wouldn't give you tuppence for, and cheap basses I've loved. One of the worst basses (for me) I have ever played was an F Bass, which qualifies in my eyes as boutique. I'd add a 6 string Fodera to that; I found it utterly unplayable, and I've found many boutiques to be awful-sounding to my ears. However I've also played some that are extraordinary. I'm on my 4th Sei bass, I've had 2 Alembics and one Pedulla and they've all been superb. I've had others (Wal, Jaydee) that I've liked but not as much, and a couple (Status, early Warwick if you can count either) that haven't really worked for me. Same goes for the cheap basses. Last time I went to the Gallery to pick up my Sei 5 I played a lot of the basses in the shop (as I always do) and one of my absolute favourites was an Ibanez SR506 at £500 approx. Again, if someone wants to sound like Geddy Lee or JJ Burnel (yes, I'm aware of his Shuker) or Lemmy, they might not want boutique; in this instance, boutique is probably [i]not[/i] better. If they're more of a Victor Wooten, then maybe it is. Sophistication isn't what everyone wants. Myself, I move freely between the two; I love Richard Bona et al, and I love Lemmy et al too. [quote][url="http://www.seibass.com/millenium.html"]This one[/url] is the best bass I have ever picked up and bought, because it is as close to perfection and my requirements as I could want. And the main reason for my buying decision was not only the people I was buying it from, but the lifetime warranty that came with it. And it happened to be the most expensive. Not a coincidence.[/quote] I agree, your bass is one of the best I've ever played, probably in my top 3. It's a fabulous work of art, built by my favourite UK luthier (and a great bloke), and it oozes class. It plays amazingly IMO and also IMO sounds pretty much as good as you can imagine. But you know what? I did a direct comparison with my '72 Ric, and I preferred the sound of the Ric. That may be the only bass I would prefer the sound of, but it does count, for me. Is your Sei better built? Absolutely. Is it more sophisticated? Absolutely. But that is not always what people want. Our guitarist, after years of playing US PRS and US Hamers, recently switched to playing Crafters. Why? Because he likes them better. Sounds mad, but if it works for him...

Put the record on. Listen. It'll help your playing, honestly (and no I'm not being condescending).

[quote name='bumnote' post='530595' date='Jul 2 2009, 01:31 PM']Can Chris Squire play roundabout after 10 pints of lager and a curry[/quote] Absolutely, I've seen him do it. FWIW, I'd love Janek to keep contributing here, because he's at the top of the tree playing-wise. He may say some things I disagree with , but I disagree with myself half the time. Oh, and he has one of the coolest looking basses I've ever seen (please, no further discussion on this point..).

[quote name='alexclaber' post='530357' date='Jul 2 2009, 10:38 AM']Whilst conversely some of the worst I've ever read were by Roger Newell in Bassist in the '90s. Everything was 'efficient' and could get that 'hollow' tone.[/quote] My pet hate too...sorry Rog.

Just because it sounds terrible here doesn't mean it really does (and regardless, one man's terrible may be another man's great). With the wrong eq/technique, you can make any bass in the world sound terrible. I'd reserve judgement until I'd played one (even then, it will only be my opinion, which may not be valid for anyone else).

Just out of interest, has anyone had their bass Plek'd? If so, has it made much difference?

I guess you could say I lead the band; it was formed as a vehicle for my songs and I write all the music, and I have full veto power. I'd say it's more a case of the blind leading the blind though..