Would you rather have 8 Harley Bentons or 1 Musicman/Fender (MIA)/Rickenbacker (etc...)

[dclaassen]

I have one top-end bass and two middle range. I am most tempted to get one HB as a backup for pub gigs. 

[Ed_S]

If I was just playing and recording at home, one nice bass would probably appeal. As soon as any gigging at all was involved, though, if the only way I could have a backup was to have all HBs then I guess they're what I'd be using.

 

Multiple HBs could be a possibility if I was in (or a frequent dep for) a number of cover or tribute bands, and to get the various different looks right I needed multiple recognisable shapes and styles of bass.

 

Of course, in this deliberately restrictive scenario I'm granting that every HB turns up 'cheap yet playable' as stated in the OP, but in reality that's not been my personal experience so I'd be aiming for 6 instead of 8 and saving some money back for sundries and spares to get them in shape.

[tegs07]

A single decent instrument for me. Buy it used and it will keep its re sale value. This is useful if you need to change basses for different projects etc.

 

I don’t get the massive love for Harley Bentons. I totally agree that for their price point you can’t go wrong. I’ve tried a couple and was surprised and impressed, but not so much that the things that made them a budget instrument wouldn’t get on my nerves eventually. 

[police squad]

Over the years I've had some pretty special basses, Mansons, JayDee, Hamer, Steinberger, Rics. All fabulous bits of kit but I discovered that Precisions were my thing.

I've had a fair few of them too.

I cant believe the price of new USA or even Mexican Fenders these days but my JMJ is a really lovely bass

But I have a HB PB50 and am blown away by it. I rolled the fingerboard edges and that's it.

Horses for corses an all that

[Teyeplayer]

It’d be a single s/h high end bass, so the change from not being brand new would pay for a HB too. 😉

 

As so many have said, the quality of ‘mid-range’ instruments now is comparable to the high end of 30 years ago. Nobody really needs that high end instrument, but we do it because they are nice and usually it is simply because we can afford them. I’m a guitarist who has converted to bass, and have owned or played almost everything (in the guitar field, not basses) at some point; I currently have a midrange Eastman, alongside a handmade boutique build and a high end Gibson. I love all three, but the first two are the ‘better’ instruments. I’m already finding bass is much the same in terms of market quality and having had a couple of HB basses through the door in recent years -the only thing I have against them is boat anchor weight, otherwise absolutely cracking for the money. 

Edited June 1 by Teyeplayer

[Bassfinger]

16 hours ago, MartinB said:

the cheapest MIA Fender is £1,369

An acquaintance of mine has just spent an extra 600 sheets on an MIA precision over the MIM equivalent.

 

He was most shocked to see the QC signed off by "Pedro", who with a name like that was very likely an employee of the Mexican factory working overtime (they're about 60 miles apart and staff flit betwixt the two for OT.)

 

So the extra money could have bought him 5 or 6 Harley Bentons, but he actually gained nothing more tangible than a geography lesson.

[tegs07]

54 minutes ago, Bassfinger said:

An acquaintance of mine has just spent an extra 600 sheets on an MIA precision over the MIM equivalent.

 

He was most shocked to see the QC signed off by "Pedro", who with a name like that was very likely an employee of the Mexican factory working overtime (they're about 60 miles apart and staff flit betwixt the two for OT.)

 

So the extra money could have bought him 5 or 6 Harley Bentons, but he actually gained nothing more tangible than a geography lesson.

Or alternatively Pedro was a native of California being paid a Californian salary. The difference in price due to wages and infrastructure being the biggest difference between MIA and high end MIM Fenders IMO.

 

Edited June 1 by tegs07

[Bassfinger]

He could well be, we'll never likely know.

 

Nevertheless, the incident illustrates a point; MIA models are made on identical tooling, very often by staff from the Mexican plant.

 

And conversely, you'll find the opposite, MIM models made on the same gear, often by murican staff, and signed off by the likes of Henry and Martin (on both of mine).

 

The only real difference (other than the make of finishing kit on the real high end models) is the location.

 

So what did the extra £600 get him beyond a geography lesson?  Ultimately, nothing tangible. That £600 could have been spent on HBs, which was the point of the observation.

 

 

[nilorius]

This is easy. Everything can be decided after 1 high end whiskey bottle.

[tegs07]

34 minutes ago, Bassfinger said:

He could well be, we'll never likely know.

 

Nevertheless, the incident illustrates a point; MIA models are made on identical tooling, very often by staff from the Mexican plant.

 

And conversely, you'll find the opposite, MIM models made on the same gear, often by murican staff, and signed off by the likes of Henry and Martin (on both of mine).

 

The only real difference (other than the make of finishing kit on the real high end models) is the location.

 

So what did the extra £600 get him beyond a geography lesson?  Ultimately, nothing tangible. That £600 could have been spent on HBs, which was the point of the observation.

 

 

I guess this is the dilemma that we face. People on BC are very vocal about how wages should rise in the western economies. There are concerns that the west has a hollowed out manufacturing base. There are concerns about Russia and war. However nobody wants to pay extra for things made in the west. This makes for a very precarious work force and a potentially very vulnerable environment if war did kick off. 

 

Edited June 1 by tegs07

[bass_dinger]

4 hours ago, nilorius said:

This is easy. Everything can be decided after 1 high end whiskey bottle.

But the problem is, after one bottle of whisky, you will have forgotten what decision you needed to take!

[nilorius]

6 minutes ago, bass_dinger said:

But the problem is, after one bottle of whisky, you will have forgotten what decision you needed to take!

Dahh....there is always an answer - Your wife.

[Boodang]

Actually, I've sort of just gone thru this.... had a custom fretless made and it's so good I don't want to play anything else, so I've got rid of all the mediocre sh!t in my collection.... which means I now only have one bass! 

[MrDinsdale]

I'd rather have a more low/mid-spec bass and treat it to some upgrades and a proper setup over a stock high-end bass and have a little left over.

I've played quite a few basses and my Schecter J4 is honestly just as fun to play as any of the more expensive ones but cost me around £550ish. The lower/middle range of instruments is so good now, that returns on the higher end have never been so diminished.

I think the only way I'd go for something more expensive is if it was custom-built like an Alpher Instruments bass or something.

[PaulThePlug]

8 Harley B's.... although 4 would be Guitardz

[EssexBuccaneer]

I like to tinker, and I wouldn’t get that pleasure from a high end bass, not to mention being terrified to gig with it because of the inevitable punishment it would take.

 

I like low/mid range basses that I’m not afraid to upgrade and play around with. Just ordered a Seymour Duncan pup for my HB five-string and I’ll take great pleasure from gigging with it.

[bassbiscuits]

One good bass for me. I’ve done it before for years at a time and it was fine. 

[Rosie C]

On 31/05/2024 at 14:43, lidl e said:

Would you prefer a stable of cheap yet playable basses or one single "nice" bass?

 

 

I have one modestly priced bass that suits everything I do. I wouldn't want anything more expensive in case it got damaged/lost/stolen being gigged. But I wouldn't want a nice one just to keep at home as I'm not the best player and like to practice on the same bass I perform with.

 

Sometimes hanging around here I wonder if I'm not a proper bass player!  

Edited June 2 by Rosie C

[dclaassen]

11 minutes ago, Rosie C said:

 

I have one modestly priced bass that suits everything I do. I wouldn't want anything more expensive in case it got damaged being gigged. But I wouldn't want a nice one to keep at home as I'm not the best player and like to practice on the same bass I perform with.

 

Sometimes hanging around here I wonder if I'm not a proper bass player!  

You certainly are! I managed with one bass for many years.

[Paolo85]

1 hour ago, Rosie C said:

 

 

 

Sometimes hanging around here I wonder if I'm not a proper bass player!  

 

I once saw an interview with Marcus Miller, I believe with SBL. If I understood correctly, he pretty much said he had only one bass as he came up as a musician. He said that was normal for NY session men as they would move around with public transport. Also, he basically implicitly admits he was not super learned on eq. When Sadowsky installed his bass/treble boost-only preamp in his bass, he did not fully realised that scooping the mids was making it more difficult to come out in the mix. Instead of putting his head around it, he just instinctively started playing differently, using slap everywhere.

I guess he would not be a big gun on Basschat, but his tickets at Ronnie Scott's go for £100-£160.

Edited June 2 by Paolo85

[PaulThePlug]

14 minutes ago, Paolo85 said:

I once saw an interview with Marcus Miller, he pretty much said he had only one bass...

No, I've seen loads with his name on... does he keep loosing them?

 

My Son is like that with his coat. 😉

Edited June 2 by PaulThePlug

[Misdee]

I'd have one decent bass over several cheap crap ones. That's just my preference, and I respect other people may make different choices and have different priorities in their lives.

 

Each to their own, but I'm often surprised by how many folks seem to acquire lots of entry level basses rather than progress to better quality instruments. It's the opposite of my own sensibilities.  For a long time I only had one bass, or two at the most, but they were always pretty good ones and sufficient for my needs. Whatever held me back, it wasn't the bass.

[Dan Dare]

Quality over quantity every time.

Edited June 2 by Dan Dare

[Dan Dare]

23 hours ago, tegs07 said:

However nobody wants to pay extra for things made in the west.

 

Some of us are happy to do so. Over the last few years, I've bought two US made bass amps, a German PA, British accessories (DI boxes, mic's), a Czech bass and other non-Far-East-made odds and ends. I acknowledge I'm fortunate in that I can afford to do this.

[Guest]

On 01/06/2024 at 12:50, Bassfinger said:

He could well be, we'll never likely know.

 

Nevertheless, the incident illustrates a point; MIA models are made on identical tooling, very often by staff from the Mexican plant.

 

And conversely, you'll find the opposite, MIM models made on the same gear, often by murican staff, and signed off by the likes of Henry and Martin (on both of mine).

 

The only real difference (other than the make of finishing kit on the real high end models) is the location.

 

So what did the extra £600 get him beyond a geography lesson?  Ultimately, nothing tangible. That £600 could have been spent on HBs, which was the point of the observation.

 

 

It got him better hardware, better pickups and electronics, a better finish, a real rosewood fretboard with rolled edges and vintage tall frets, a bone nut, carbon fibre rods in the neck for increased stability, a more consistant weight, a sculpted neck heel, and a fender deluxe hardcase with tools and an American auth certificate in a zip wallet. 🙂👍