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

[Guest]

I don't understand purposely buying a "cheap" bass just incase I worry or it gets damaged bit, it's a tool for the job. Do you purposely by 'cheap' tools if you're a mechanic or plumber etc incase they get damaged or misplaced? do you purposely buy the 'cheapest' car incase it gets dirty and worn? do you live in a purposely 'cheap' house with no possessions incase you worry when you're out?  This is called not living your life well and been ruled by fear. Life is very short, so aspire to have the best and live life to the full, it's just a bass (a tool) get the best one you can afford in the present, and ride that snake all the way to Valhalla 😁 Real poverty is nothing to do with money, it's a mindset!

[MrDinsdale]

45 minutes ago, Tobe said:

I don't understand purposely buying a "cheap" bass just incase I worry or it gets damaged bit, it's a tool for the job. Do you purposely by 'cheap' tools if you're a mechanic or plumber etc incase they get damaged or misplaced? do you purposely buy the 'cheapest' car incase it gets dirty and worn? do you live in a purposely 'cheap' house with no possessions incase you worry when you're out?  This is called not living your life well and been ruled by fear. Life is very short, so aspire to have the best and live life to the full, it's just a bass (a tool) get the best one you can afford in the present, and ride that snake all the way to Valhalla 😁 Real poverty is nothing to do with money, it's a mindset!

I wouldn’t sink loads of money into something I knew I was going to beat the hell out of. First gig with my Schecter and the guitar launched his guitar into it and made a big dent, had it been a £2500 bass I’d have been gutted. I also don’t think I would have noticed any difference in that context between a well setup £500-600 instrument vs a high end one.

 

I wouldn't buy a Porsche to do school/shopping runs, I would however want something reliable and cost effective to run.

 

If I was a plumber I wouldn’t be rocking my diamond emblazoned gucci overalls to work 🤷‍♂️

[Guest]

1 hour ago, MrDinsdale said:

I wouldn’t sink loads of money into something I knew I was going to beat the hell out of. First gig with my Schecter and the guitar launched his guitar into it and made a big dent, had it been a £2500 bass I’d have been gutted. I also don’t think I would have noticed any difference in that context between a well setup £500-600 instrument vs a high end one.

 

I wouldn't buy a Porsche to do school/shopping runs, I would however want something reliable and cost effective to run.

 

If I was a plumber I wouldn’t be rocking my diamond emblazoned gucci overalls to work 🤷‍♂️

Tell me.. how are 8 dinted Harley Bentons cheaper than one Fender? 
People pay an extra £1000+ to have fake dinted road worn basses, your dint is the real thing, and the pricless memories that you'll have for the rest of your life, that dink is a badge of honor, living in fear of such is not living.

When Tommy Emmanuel gets a new Maton acoustic guitar he treats it as a tool for the job, he get out the sandpaper and rubs off the finish on one spot on front of guitar so he can get his finger ryhthm going, He likes the sound and playability of the Maton and it's roadworthy, why should he compremise?
People are too precious about guitars, they are called instruments for a reason.

If your a plumber why wouldn't you buy Chrome Vanadium tools that last?.. would you buy 8 poundland socket sets instead?

No one is asking you to rock Diamond eblazoned Gucci overalls to work or drive a Porsche on a school run are they? that's beyond ridiculous. I'm saying get the best tool you can afford at the present for the job, if it's of Am Std quality it will last you a lifetime (dints or not)which is much better and actually cheaper than buying endless cheap stuff everytime one breaks! (read about pot metals, it's everywhere on budget gear.)

Edited June 2 by Tobe

[Dan Dare]

2 minutes ago, Tobe said:

get the best tool you can afford at the present for the job, if it's of Am Std quality it will last you a lifetime (dints or not)which is much better and actually cheaper than buying endless cheap stuff everytime one breaks! (read about pot metals, it's everywhere on budget gear.)

 

I agree with your overall argument, but would add that it isn't only the US that can produce quality gear. We do it rather well in Europe, too.

[Guest]

Just now, Dan Dare said:

 

I agree with your overall argument, but would add that it isn't only the US that can produce quality gear. We do it rather well in Europe, too.

I agree 👍

[chris_b]

Why do people expect  their basses to be damaged on gigs?

 

My Mike Lull (replacement value £4500) has been on most of my gigs for the last 12 years and it's still in the same condition as when I bought it.

 

It goes in the bag whenever I'm not playing it.

[Misdee]

1 hour ago, MrDinsdale said:

I wouldn’t sink loads of money into something I knew I was going to beat the hell out of. First gig with my Schecter and the guitar launched his guitar into it and made a big dent, had it been a £2500 bass I’d have been gutted. I also don’t think I would have noticed any difference in that context between a well setup £500-600 instrument vs a high end one.

 

I wouldn't buy a Porsche to do school/shopping runs, I would however want something reliable and cost effective to run.

 

If I was a plumber I wouldn’t be rocking my diamond emblazoned gucci overalls to work 🤷‍♂️

I can see your reasoning, but one of the beauties of  Fender basses (and Leo's other designs, for that matter)is that they're inherently robust. And they still looks alright when they've got some wear on them. Like a pair of jeans, if you want an appropriate clothing analogy.

[MrDinsdale]

12 minutes ago, Tobe said:

Tell me.. how are 8 dinted Harley Bentons cheaper than one Fender? 
People pay an extra £1000+ to have fake dinted road worn basses, your dint is the real thing, and the pricless memories that you'll have for the rest of your life, that dink is a badge of honor, living in fear of such is not living.

When Tommy Emmanuel gets a new Maton acoustic guitar he treats it as a tool for the job, he get out the sandpaper and rubs off the finish on one spot on front of guitar so he can get his finger ryhthm going, He likes the sound and playability of the Maton and it's roadworthy, why should he compremise?
People are too precious about guitars, they are called instruments for a reason.

If your a plumber why wouldn't you buy Chrome Vanadium tools that last?.. would you buy 8 poundland socket sets instead?

No one is asking you to rock Diamond eblazoned Gucci overalls to work or drive a Porsche on a school run are they? that's beyond ridiculous. I'm saying get the best tool you can afford at the present for the job, if it's of Am Std quality it will last you a lifetime (dints or not)which is much better and actually cheaper than buying endless cheap stuff everytime one breaks! (read about pot metals, it's everywhere on budget gear.)

I never advocated buying 8 Harley Bentons, for me there’s a happy middle ground which is too mid ranged basses that get the most value (for me).

 

I mean the Gucci and Porsche suggestion was in jest but no more ridiculous than a plumber purchasing gear from poundland.

 

As I said, I personally don’t think I’d hear or feel any difference between my mid range and higher end bass in a live context so for me spending more is a waste. My higher spec boutique bass gets way less play than my 2 Schecters so for me personally I’ve found my sweet spot. 

[Guest]

18 minutes ago, MrDinsdale said:

I never advocated buying 8 Harley Bentons, for me there’s a happy middle ground which is too mid ranged basses that get the most value (for me).

 

I mean the Gucci and Porsche suggestion was in jest but no more ridiculous than a plumber purchasing gear from poundland.

 

As I said, I personally don’t think I’d hear or feel any difference between my mid range and higher end bass in a live context so for me spending more is a waste. My higher spec boutique bass gets way less play than my 2 Schecters so for me personally I’ve found my sweet spot. 

I hear you 👍 but how are 2 dinted mid-priced Schecters any less painful than one dinted higher priced instrument? 😁

 

I really dig the Am Std level of instruments and all the others of that ilk around the world, great touring basses really fit for purpose. I believe that no one should compremise tho for fear of anything, Everyone deserves the best they can achieve, you only get one life 🙂

Edited June 2 by Tobe

[Bassfinger]

On 31/05/2024 at 22:02, chris_b said:

I would buy the bass that sounds the best. . . . and an equivalent backup.

 

Having multiple less expensive basses doesn't interest me.

But what if tue best sounding bass - to your ear - was inexpensive?

 

In terms of sound, tone, call it what you will, my modified HB is a match for some of my basses costing 15 times as much.

 

Unlike items such as the standard of finish, the quality of the finishing kit,  or simpky the prestige of the brand names embossed on the parts, etc, the relationship between pricce and sound is not a linear relationship. Indeed, the link between price and sound is so loose its downright bendy. 

[uk_lefty]

It's the one top notch bass all day long for me. My yardstick of quality is my US Stingray. The Stingray sound isn't for everything though, and I do like to mix things up to keep me interested but it's got a bit silly (6 basses, 4 amps, too many pedals...). One of my basses is a Harley Benton fretless jazz and it's great for the price, but it's not the same quality as a Sire or MIM Fenders. It's still perfectly giggable though and it does come out on gigs as a first choice instrument sometimes. 

 

But loads of cheaper options and no single great bass? No thanks. I don't see the point. As someone already mentioned there's the bonding and familiarity with your "number 1" bass, then the reliability, then forming your own sound, and I'd rather do that with one special bass than be constantly rotating multiple functional but not special instruments.

[Jay2U]

Who needs eight basses anyway?

[ezbass]

6 minutes ago, Jay2U said:

Who needs eight basses anyway?

Good question.

 

 

 

 

I say this only because I have 7   

[kodiakblair]

3 hours ago, MrDinsdale said:

If I was a plumber I wouldn’t be rocking my diamond emblazoned gucci overalls to work 🤷‍♂️

My mate Iain rocked up one day sporting a Martinez Goochi hammer 😁

 

 £417.50 for the basic hammer, another £100 for the colour coordinated handle + face plate cover 😮

 

Funny thing, in all the years I've known 'The Purv' I don't recall seeing him use a hammer, he leaves that stuff to us mere mortals swinging the same Estwing we've had since laddies 🤣

 

The Martinez only made one appearance, just so folk knew he'd bought it. Tool theft is pretty bad on sites hence the reason nobody is dropping big bucks for their kit. 

[SimonK]

I've had two 3-EQ 4 string Stingrays - identical apart from colour and one is fretless (with flat wounds) - for approaching 25 years. They both play and sound solid and are reliable (give or take the battery wire design issue). Of course I play plenty of other basses in shops, owned by others etc., and I bought my kids a short scale Ibanez P/J style which is fine, but nothing is quite as solid and familiar as the Stingrays.  Would I buy 16 HB's (or 32 as I have two Stingrays) - of course not! I can't see what 32 HB's would give me apart from storage issues!

[neepheid]

49 minutes ago, Jay2U said:

Who needs eight basses anyway?

 

No-one.  Want is another thing entirely.  I want to have multiple basses, I like having multiple basses, I can afford to own multiple basses, I currently have nine and what's it to you anyway?

 

[Boodang]

3 hours ago, Misdee said:

I can see your reasoning, but one of the beauties of  Fender basses (and Leo's other designs, for that matter)is that they're inherently robust. And they still looks alright when they've got some wear on them. Like a pair of jeans, if you want an appropriate clothing analogy.

For me, ‘inherently robust’ means clunky with mediocre hardware. Why play mediocre when you play class…. Life is too short for mediocre!

[Misdee]

33 minutes ago, Boodang said:

For me, ‘inherently robust’ means clunky with mediocre hardware. Why play mediocre when you play class…. Life is too short for mediocre!

When Forest Gump said "Life's like a box of chocolates, you never know what your gonna get" he could just as well said "Life's like getting a new Fender..." You definitely get good ones and not so good ones. 

 

My experience though, is that some( not all) super-Fender boutique basses lose the essence of what makes a Fender so good. It's that grit and grunt thing. 

[StingRayBoy42]

6 hours ago, Tobe said:

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. 🙂👍

Yes, but *apart* from the 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, a fender deluxe hardcase with tools and an American auth certificate in a zip wallet, what have the Romans ever done for us?  😀


One really nice Bass for me. I agree they are tools that do a job, but they're tools like no other - I doubt any electrician has ever thought "God, I absolutely LOVE these wirecutters. I remember the day I bought them, I love the way the handles feel, I love the action of the blades, I love how neatly they cut wires, I love the way they look, they've been my constant companion and partner in crime for thirty years, they've made me a better wire cutter, they got me through some bad times, they've been with me on every important wire-cutting thing I've ever done, I get a childish thrill every time I take them out of the case, people often comment on what nice wirecutters they are, I love sharing pictures of them and talking about them on wirecutterschat, I'd be absolutely devestated if they got nicked and when I die, I'll bequeath them to Daisy (due to a drunken agreement with her Dad many years ago)"
 

[MrDinsdale]

3 hours ago, Tobe said:

I hear you 👍 but how are 2 dinted mid-priced Schecters any less painful than one dinted higher priced instrument? 😁

 

I really dig the Am Std level of instruments and all the others of that ilk around the world, great touring basses really fit for purpose. I believe that no one should compremise tho for fear of anything, Everyone deserves the best they can achieve, you only get one life 🙂

I mean I love them both but they do a very different job.

 

I’ve played American Fenders, they were nice but I still prefer the Schecter. “Best” is so subjective, ultimately it’s the thing that makes you excited to play, I’m fortunate that for me that I’ve found that at a more affordable bracket. 

[drTStingray]

I used to think, one really good high end bass is all that was needed - indeed most people in the 70s only had one (even famous players). I replaced cheaper ‘copy’ type basses with one good bass and thought that was it.

 

I still had that philosophy about 20 yrs ago when I bought a new Stingray 5 - but a few years later I convinced myself I wanted a four string and Musicman kindly obliged by offering a colour I really liked (blue dawn), and two pick ups in a four string…… at the time I couldn’t understand why some people had so many high end basses. 20 yrs later I’ve got 14 basses (all Musicman and mostly Stingrays) - some are fretless, some fretted, some 4 string, some 5 string. They’ve all been gigged (even the Bongos!!). I’m currently using a passive long scale Ray in various ska type settings - it works extremely well - only concern is it’s a very limited edition so as one or two others have commented, it stays in its gig bag unless being played!! 
 

I know various people with huge numbers of guitars - and at least one with tens of low end instruments. At the other end of the scale I know someone with one of every famous brand - including Wal, Alembic, Fodera, Musicman, Fender etc etc. I guess it’s whatever floats your boat. 
 

I’ve never considered buying an HB (or other Musicman copy) as I haven’t had the need - I’m sure I would if I’d been starting out now - but would also have wanted a full fat one until I’d got it. 
 

I get tempted by old Fenders from time to time (often 70s natural ones as well) and other stuff but never pull the trigger (well not yet anyway)!! As per the Schecter comment above, the Fenders never play as well (for me) so maybe that’s why I get tempted - and then don’t buy them!! My first ‘decent’ bass at the end of the 70s was a Stingray (a few years before it’d have been a Precision but that didn’t do the same job and didn’t feel as good to play by the late 70s). 

Edited June 2 by drTStingray

[Lozz196]

I get the thought that they’re tools, after all they are. But having been an engineer I never had the same attachment to my spanners as I  do with my instruments.

 

First set up on Brown & Ward or First Rebellion Festival.

 

First fix on the Wickman or First European Tour.

 

First time I worked alone on my  section or Recording 3 killer albums that all got rated highly by Vive Le Rock.

 

So yes tools they may be but I never gained a great deal of enjoyment from my spanners, my basses however…..

[prowla]

I've got 8 Rickenbackers.

[Misdee]

2 minutes ago, prowla said:

I've got 8 Rickenbackers.

Put one string on each and you've got a Rickenbacker 8 string.

[Baloney Balderdash]

25 minutes ago, prowla said:

I've got 8 Rickenbackers.

I once owned one...

 

Never again!

 

Most expensive piece of absolute crap I ever bought!