Is there any real benefit to buying a brand new (£1500) bass, or should I just go for the more affordable options?

[Allaboutthebass]

Hey there,

 

I know this might seem like a minor issue in the grand scheme of things, but I've managed to scrape together around £1500 for a new bass.

 

It's not about any specific brand or type; it's more about the principle. While a shiny new bass would be fantastic, I can't help but think that the same amount could get me several cheaper basses, whether second-hand or entry-level. The quality of budget models has improved significantly in recent years (though they might need a bit of a fret dress). Plus, there's always the option to mod cheaper basses to suit your style.

 

So, my question is, is there any real benefit to buying a brand new £1500 bass these days, or should I just go for the more affordable options?

 

Cheers 

 

 

[Cato]

Broadly more expensive basses 'feel' nicer to play, although obviously 'nicer' is subjective.

 

I wouldn't necessarily expect  a £1500 P or Jazz bass to sound radically different than a P or J costing half as much.

 

One thing I have learnt over the years is that the answer to 'is a £2000 bass four times better than a £500 bass?' is generally 'no' but I would expect it to be more pleasant to play in multiple small ways such the feel of the controls, the finish on the neck, how smooth the tuners are etc.

 

All those small details can add up to noticeably more pleasant playing experience over all 

 

Finally it's always worth considering buying used. £1500 should get you a lot of bass on the 2nd hand market 

Edited yesterday at 06:12 by Cato

[bremen]

I have many sub-£500 basses, have just bought a £1700 bass and see no reason except nostalgia for keeping any of the sub-500s.

 

It has taken me many tears (predictive text there - I meant to type "years" but let's stay with "tears") and experiments to learn which was the right £1700 bass though. I once bought an expensive bass thinking "this must be good, Player X uses one and it costs ten times as much as the one I have now". But it didn't suit me at all, so I went back to buying lots of cheap basses.

[neepheid]

Things have changed a lot in the past 10 years.  I firmly believe that the quality at the cheaper end of the market has improved dramatically, whereas the quality at the higher end hasn't as much - not having a dig, in the sense that it had less room to move up in the first place.  But I have detected a noticeable squeezing of the top end in this regard which makes the question you're asking now even more pertinent.

 

It's a gut shot to be honest, and sometimes you have no choice - for example if you've got your heart set on something like a G&L L-1000, ASAT or SB-1, your only option is to buy G&L USA because they don't make Tribute versions of those models.  But these days I'd have no qualms about taking a Squier over a Fender and trousering the difference, confident in not feeling like I'm missing out on anything.  The current Epiphone Thunderbirds are the best T-birds Gibson have never made.  It really depends upon the bass you're talking about and what the options are but most of the time, I'd be happy to go with the cheaper option.  But if a £1500 bass calls to you and you connect with it, you're not wrong!

Edited Sunday at 13:33 by neepheid

[Mokl]

Do you know what type of bass you want? If not, my advice would be to start there,look at and try as many as you can then look at what's available within budget. Whether you need to spend £1500 will depend on what you decide you want/need. Based on personal experience here, don't necessarily assume that because you're spending more money the instrument you end up with will suit you better if it's not the right 'fit' for you.

 

Echoing point already made - definitely consider buying used too 

[Lozz196]

Take a look at some of the Andertons Sound Like videos, mainly the ones where they do the same artist, one By Busting The Bank, the other by Not Busting The Bank. What I’ve noticed in these vids is that the By Busting gear always has a greater depth & quality to the sound. 
 

So with this in mind I’d check out the bass types I wanted and of course the best choice is the one that feels best to play, but I’d be looking first and foremost at instruments around the budget and not those much lower.

[Agent 00Soul]

Another thing to remember: basses, like all wooden instruments, need to be broken in for their sound and playability to be at their best.  If you play all the time, this can happen within a year.  For most weekend warriors it can take longer.  It's something else to consider when judging new vs used (and of course not all used instruments are broken in).

[gjones]

I recommend that before spending that kind of cash, you try the bass before you buy it. 

 

I bought a £2000 bass new and unseen a few years ago and it wasn't quite my thing and didn't play as well as I had hoped. 

 

If I spend that kind of money again, I'll make sure I have a good play of the bass before I fork any money out.

[SimonK]

I'd just go in to a shop and play a bunch - you will probably find the one you like the most is higher than your budget anyway - that's certainly my experience as I don't think I've ever gone under budget on a music related purchase!

 

Thus said, for £1500 I don't think I'd ever buy without playing, but for £500 I might take the risk - so I suppose one advantage of going cheap is that you potentially have more options than just the ones you can lay your hands on in a shop!

Edited Sunday at 15:17 by SimonK

[Franticsmurf]

My experience is that for years I played £200-300 basses - usually second hand - and in the band scenarios I found myself in the sound/tone they gave me was perfectly acceptable. After Covid I decided to treat myself to a 'decent' new bass - I fancied a Sterling HH. At just over £1k (my mate who runs a music shop got it at cost) it was the most I had spent on any item of musical equipment and I was very happy with it. It remains my favourite bass but I have others and I like giving them all an airing now and again. But just before Christmas the Sterling started cutting out during rehearsals (it turned out to be dry solder joints and a gunky pickup selector switch) and I bought a shop damaged Squier PJ (the base model - Affinity or Sonic) for a little over £100 initially to act as a spare for my P bass. I played it at all of our Christmas gigs in preference to my Fender P. Now I have my Sterling back, it has become my main gigging bass again.

 

I don't regret spending that much on the Sterling because it does feel good and it inspires me to practice. But I wouldn't spend that money again, preferring to pocket the difference or perhaps buy a couple of different basses. If I had to get a back up for the Sterling that sounded like a Musicman, it would be from the Sub series they do.

[Stub Mandrel]

It depends on many things. But I would say play lots of new and s/h basses in the 800-1500 cost range and see which one you love most.

 

I have real range of basses... most significant skill is knowing when to put a bass back on the hanger.

 

The only one I regret not buying was a lovely 60s WEM bass for 700... there are some incredible older non-fender bass deals out there.

[RichT]

I'm not sure £1500 gets you that much new now, compared to the pre-Covid pre-inflation pricing of just 5 years ago. e.g. You can spend £1500 on an Indonesian Sterling Stingray at the top end now. With £1500 5 years ago, you'd have only been a few hundred short of an American EBMM Stingray.

 

The increases in bass & guitar prices over the last few years have been something else. I'd echo some of the other comments and encourage you to look 2nd hand. You can get some really nice gear 2nd hand in that price range. 

[prowla]

My answer is neither - you can get a used Ric for £1500.

[Frank Blank]

49 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

The only one I regret not buying was a lovely 60s WEM bass for 700...

 

I so want a WEM...

[prowla]

55 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

The only one I regret not buying was a lovely 60s WEM bass for 700... there are some incredible older non-fender bass deals out there.

 

5 minutes ago, Frank Blank said:

 

I so want a WEM...

Copycat!

[chris_b]

5 hours ago, Allaboutthebass said:

It's not about any specific brand or type; it's more about the principle. While a shiny new bass would be fantastic, I can't help but think that the same amount could get me several cheaper basses, whether second-hand or entry-level. The quality of budget models has improved significantly in recent years (though they might need a bit of a fret dress). Plus, there's always the option to mod cheaper basses to suit your style.

 

If you want to buy lots of cheap basses, if you don't see any difference between cheap and not so cheap, then go for it.

 

Personally I'd take that £1500 and get the best used bass I can find. That budget can get you into a different league of basses.

[chris_b]

Your budget could get you a great used Lakland Skyline and any number of used Fenders.

[velvetkevorkian]

Unless you have something very specific in mind I'd be looking second-hand -- £1500 will buy you a real top-end bass if you let someone else take the hit of buying new.

[Stub Mandrel]

46 minutes ago, RichT said:

I'm not sure £1500 gets you that much new now, compared to the pre-Covid pre-inflation pricing of just 5 years ago. e.g. You can spend £1500 on an Indonesian Sterling Stingray at the top end now. With £1500 5 years ago, you'd have only been a few hundred short of an American EBMM Stingray.

 

The increases in bass & guitar prices over the last few years have been something else. I'd echo some of the other comments and encourage you to look 2nd hand. You can get some really nice gear 2nd hand in that price range. 

 

A top of the range Sire will leave change in your pocket and a dmile on your face.

[Stub Mandrel]

40 minutes ago, Frank Blank said:

 

I so want a WEM...

 

Don't rub it in 😪

[Geek99]

1 hour ago, prowla said:

My answer is neither - you can get a used Ric for £1500.

Yes but you still need to save up for the tractor before you can plough a single furrow with it. 

[Geek99]

If it were me with that cash, I’d buy one (used) squier classic vibe precision, one squier cv jazz and one five string 

id know I could move on whichever ones I didn’t like for the same money I paid out. 

 

[Mudpup]

2 hours ago, RichT said:

I'm not sure £1500 gets you that much new now, compared to the pre-Covid pre-inflation pricing of just 5 years ago. e.g. You can spend £1500 on an Indonesian Sterling Stingray at the top end now. With £1500 5 years ago, you'd have only been a few hundred short of an American EBMM Stingray.

 

The increases in bass & guitar prices over the last few years have been something else. I'd echo some of the other comments and encourage you to look 2nd hand. You can get some really nice gear 2nd hand in that price range. 

My thoughts exactly. Today's £1000/£1500 new basses were selling for around £500 used just a couple of years ago. Well worth £500 but not £1000 in my opinion.

 

The Sterling/EBMM analogy is spot on (I've had quite a few of both price points) There's definitely a difference in feel and finishing with the American versions and they're around for £1500 used now. When the Sterling versions were £600 new that represented good value but at over a grand I don't think they are anymore. And you'll lose your shirt if you move it on.

[Burns-bass]

5 hours ago, gjones said:

I recommend that before spending that kind of cash, you try the bass before you buy it. 

 

I bought a £2000 bass new and unseen a few years ago and it wasn't quite my thing and didn't play as well as I had hoped. 

 

If I spend that kind of money again, I'll make sure I have a good play of the bass before I fork any money out.

This one million percent.

 

The only instruments I have kept are those that I played before buying.

 

Take the time you need to play as many as you can. Dont be pressured into  buying.

 

 

[Burns-bass]

Oh, and while it’s probably true you’d get more value buying used, I love a new bass. The smell, the feel of it and the fact that every dent and piece of damage is your fault!

 

Recently bought a brand new Jack Cassidy. Sure I could have saved £200 buying used, but I didn’t want to.