JTUK Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 Haven't read all this thread but my general view is that a very good lutheir will make you a much higher quality bass than most off-the-shelf basses. You can turn your attention to the finer detail if that is your thing and you will get a wonderfully made bass.....but ... no one can tell you how it will sound... you can pick certain woods and get in the right direction, and the same with pickups and pre-amps, but you never know until you fire it up. Sound isn't that predictable.....but when you get a good bass, you tend to keep it, in the most part If you are spending a few thousands on a custom handmade..that is quite a leap of faith. Having said that... I am thinking about another custom 5..if I can find one out of a showroom, then fine....if not..???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 From my post on the Boutique Bass/Pick Players thread but especially relevant here: [quote]TBH the main reason I have custom basses is because I like the way they look (of course they're also brilliant sounding and playing instruments). If I could find off-the-peg cheap basses that fitted all my needs for looks sounds and playability then I would be using those. However once you step outside of the styles of Leo Fender you're entering a specialised minority market and you have to accept the prices that go with that.[/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayfan Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 Boutique basses don't really do it for me, got to say. Most seem to look like Fender copies or overly ornate coffee tables. Fine for sticking on a stand in your living room; not so good for gigging at pubs and parties. I've actually become an inverse snob with gear, selling off my expensive USA basses and using the cheaper ones that I've found I enjoy playing more, live. The G&L, for example is a great workhorse that feels great, sounds brilliant and does the job. It cost £350. Not knocking anyone who owns/wants a custom or boutique bass by the way - just my personal take. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 Plenty of custom/boutique basses that don't look like Fender clones or coffee tables. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=53555&view=findpost&p=532114"]See here[/url] for just a couple of examples. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 Personally I think coffee tables are usually rather plain! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 [quote name='Stan_da_man' post='532016' date='Jul 3 2009, 08:53 PM']Seeing as my comment sparked this thread I'll just say this - Some people who have said boutique basses are worth the money, others would say are brand snobs.[/quote] Conversely: Some people who have said boutique basses are stupid and definitely not worth the money, others would say are inverse snobs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 [url="http://www.ligne-roset-usa.com/Products/dining/tables/Crescendo_517.aspx"]My coffee table like my basses is a stunning piece of elegantly functional modern design![/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan_da_man Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 [quote name='Rich' post='532417' date='Jul 4 2009, 12:13 PM']Conversely: Some people who have said boutique basses are stupid and definitely not worth the money, others would say are inverse snobs.[/quote] Shame I don't fall into that category then seeing as I play an Overwater. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KERMITNT Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 i want a ritter but i cant afford it am I snob? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waldo Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Only once have I spent over £1000 on a bass and I don't think I'll ever be doing it again. I bought a new Modulus Flea and my personal experience was that the law of diminishing returns very much applied. It was superb, don't get me wrong but not enough to justify spending more than double the cost of the second hand MM Sterling I had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wil Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 I commisioned a new Status once. Bloody lovely thing, but again, more than I'll ever need and I couldn't justify having that much money tied up in an object. £600 is about my limit now for guitars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 [quote name='Waldo' post='534490' date='Jul 7 2009, 10:51 AM']Only once have I spent over £1000 on a bass and I don't think I'll ever be doing it again. I bought a new Modulus Flea and my personal experience was that the law of diminishing returns very much applied. It was superb, don't get me wrong but not enough to justify spending more than double the cost of the second hand MM Sterling I had.[/quote] Ah, but that's not "like for like". The price differential between new and used will alsays distort that kind of comparison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waldo Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 (edited) [quote name='OldGit' post='534536' date='Jul 7 2009, 11:33 AM']Ah, but that's not "like for like". The price differential between new and used will alsays distort that kind of comparison.[/quote] Well, the Flea was still twice as much as a new sterling anyway so... Besides, I was just adding my own experience Edited July 7, 2009 by Waldo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 [quote name='Waldo' post='534539' date='Jul 7 2009, 11:35 AM']Well, the Flea was still twice as much as a new sterling anyway so... Besides, I was just adding my own experience [/quote] Perfectly valid! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdy Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 (edited) I get more happiness value from basses than I do from cars. If I spend £10000 on a car it would make me happy for 2-3 weeks. If I spend £3000 on a bass I get much more happiness value for money. I get more happiness value from a £3000 bass than I would from x million PS3 games, 20 trips to the zoo or whatever so it's what I choose to spend my money on. Thats my justification. EDIT - PLUS I earn all the money I spend on gear from gigging so its a win win. Edited July 7, 2009 by birdy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rslaing Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 I have a number of basses, from both ends of the price scale, and although I understand a lot of the comments made for and against so far, there is no way that a high quality hand made bass can be matched by a factory and machine made instrument, generally made by a person who doesn't even play an instrument and a company whose quality control would never match that of a good luthier. It's not just the wood etc on a custom/boutique instrument, it is the attention to detail, the quality of workmanship, the electronics, the after sale care, and so on. I have basses that cost from £200 up to £3500, and they improve in quality as they increase in price, without exception. I am only saying this because I feel it gives me the facility to give an unbiased view on the matter. 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. This thread is pretty much along the lines of a lot of the others in BC. It's all about opinion, and people who post are more often than not justifying their purchasing decision, rather than look at the matter objectively. And then if someone else does offer a differing opinion, the whole thing deteriorates into mayhem and the debate is destroyed. [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. I also understand people not being able to justify or understand why an instrument would, when admittedly of higher quality, cost 10 times more than a bass that is pretty good but "off the peg". That is because a luthier and a private commission will always seem to be disproportionately more expensive unless there is an understanding of the costs behind it all. It's not just the cost of raw materials, it's the time and care spent making a unique instrument by an expert who justifiably can charge a lot for his expertise and the finished item. I have noticed in this forum that people who own expensive instruments do not denigrate cheaper instruments (on the whole). We've all been there, and had some great (and some poor) low to mid cost basses. It seems to be people with the cheaper instruments that shoot down the expensive stuff. But I suppose that's human nature Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted July 7, 2009 Author Share Posted July 7, 2009 [quote name='rslaing' post='534577' date='Jul 7 2009, 12:13 PM']I have a number of basses, from both ends of the price scale, and although I understand a lot of the comments made for and against so far, there is no way that a high quality hand made bass can be matched by a factory and machine made instrument, generally made by a person who doesn't even play an instrument and a company whose quality control would never match that of a good luthier. It's not just the wood etc on a custom/boutique instrument, it is the attention to detail, the quality of workmanship, the electronics, the after sale care, and so on. I have basses that cost from £200 up to £3500, and they improve in quality as they increase in price, without exception. I am only saying this because I feel it gives me the facility to give an unbiased view on the matter. 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. This thread is pretty much along the lines of a lot of the others in BC. It's all about opinion, and people who post are more often than not justifying their purchasing decision, rather than look at the matter objectively. And then if someone else does offer a differing opinion, the whole thing deteriorates into mayhem and the debate is destroyed. [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. I also understand people not being able to justify or understand why an instrument would, when admittedly of higher quality, cost 10 times more than a bass that is pretty good but "off the peg". That is because a luthier and a private commission will always seem to be disproportionately more expensive unless there is an understanding of the costs behind it all. It's not just the cost of raw materials, it's the time and care spent making a unique instrument by an expert who justifiably can charge a lot for his expertise and the finished item. I have noticed in this forum that people who own expensive instruments do not denigrate cheaper instruments (on the whole). We've all been there, and had some great (and some poor) low to mid cost basses. It seems to be people with the cheaper instruments that shoot down the expensive stuff. But I suppose that's human nature [/quote] Good comments. I don't denigrate cheaper instruments. This has never been a better time to buy a quality instrument for the price., and I've seen and owned all sorts. I just agree that you can't beat a hand-built bass with beautiful woods...and believe me those different woods do make a difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 [quote name='Stan_da_man' post='532423' date='Jul 4 2009, 01:34 PM']Shame I don't fall into that category then seeing as I play an Overwater.[/quote] Did I mention you specifically..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51m0n Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 You cant buy a pro quality classical instrument for less than £3000 Well maybe a triangle. Often they are more than double that without going all Stradivarius. Why on earth would anyone thing that a bass guitar would be a simpler thing to design and build really well? It has anywhere from 4 to 12 strings, a wider frequency range than any other hand held stringed instrument, the myriad options of no defined body/neck shape or contouring, no definite manner in which to afix the neck, no definite manner in which to tune it, no definite manner in which to turn the vibration into electrical signal, no definte woods that must be used, not even something as simple as scale length is defined. It can be solid, chambered, acoustic, semi-acoustic.... That is different from a huge number of classical instrumetns in which there are just a few variables (really some of them are very precise indeed at almost every level). There are several classical instrumetns with less strict specifications (db happens to be one). If you wish for it luthiers will make it, and still make it playable, we've all seen plenty of outlandish looking ideas that are supposed to sound and play great. That takes a huge amount of skill, experience and perceverence to get right, even for a 'normal' looking bass. That takes a lot of time. That costs money. Are 'boutique' instruments worth it? Only the owner can tell you. I suspect very stronlgy that most of the owners of truly boutique basses on here will say they are worth every penny. If you disagree, then that is your opinion, if you would get more pleasure spending the money on brown M&M's thats your opinion, it does not mean they are not worth it, it means they are not worth it to you. Thats very different! IME (and the Roscoe doesnt really fall into the Boutique category as defined here, although it is handbuilt to exacting standards, and plays beautifully and sounds astounding) I do think it is a bit of a boutique bass, maybe 'stealth boutique' since it doesnt have a fancy top. In fact anything over about £1000 is getting there, as long as its a [i]handmade[/i] instrument of a certain standard. To me that is what boutique really means. Machine made just is not boutique, even if its hand assembled. Alex's bass is certainly a boutique instrument, the price is not relevant. For me my Roscoe is definitely worth every penny. Now if only I could play it as well as it deserves to be played, it certainly makes me practise more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 The bass I'm currently having built, has all the features I like from different basses, but all on the one bass with a few ideas of my own thrown in. So I couldn't buy anything similar without something being missing. These features are not just about playability, they are about the aesthetics too. So it it worth the money? Well it is to me. Could a cheaper bass do the job just as well? Not for me, but then again neither could a more expensive one. Will the punters notice a difference between my bass and a cheaper one? Certainly aesthetically, tonally probably not. Will I notice the difference? Hell yeah! And that to me is what it's all about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waldo Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 [quote]This thread is pretty much along the lines of a lot of the others in BC. It's all about opinion, and people who post are more often than not justifying their purchasing decision, rather than look at the matter objectively. And then if someone else does offer a differing opinion, the whole thing deteriorates into mayhem and the debate is destroyed.[/quote] From what I can see, the debate in this thread has been nothing but reasonable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarnacleBob Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 (edited) There is nothing, repeat nothing objective about bass playing and owning. what works for one could be a complete antithesis for someone else I havent played professionally for years and stick to me little studio and am going to buy a celinder soon (hopefully) and its nobodys business but mine. will it be better than anything below. I don't know I hope so but I dont need it and it wont change my life one iota but its still going to happen. Objective, my Arse BB Edited July 7, 2009 by BarnacleBob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarnacleBob Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Ha Ha! 10 Grand for an obscure and obselete computer game????? Must be a boutique one? [url="http://uk.videogames.games.yahoo.com/blog/article/5985/"]http://uk.videogames.games.yahoo.com/blog/article/5985/[/url] BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Made by the Stradivarius of the computer game world, and that really is the reality of the situation. EDIT: perhaps that should be the Amstradivarius..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-soar Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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