KeithReynolds wrote:It seems the only "reason" to own expensive instruments and amps is for self-indulgence.
I'm sure that holds true for some people. In my experience, more expensive instruments sound better, play better, take a setup better, and generally make sound engineers more happy.
However, in my experience, there is a law of diminishing returns. I've played $600 basses and $2000 basses. I notice a pretty big difference between the two. However, I've played $4000 basses, too, and, while the 4k basses may have more fancy tops and that boutique vibe, the real world difference between those basses and the 2K basses was negligible.
For gtrs or basses, change the pickups to something better and almost any guitar or bass will sound fine.
I totally disagree. Construction means so much on an instrument. It's not a secret here that I have a disposition towards five strings. A poorly constructed five string is going to severely suffer with how well the B string plays and rings. All good pickups are going to do is amplify a floppy, acoustically inarticulate B string.
I have a really cool cheap Jazz Bass copy that I dropped a set of Bartolinis in. The pickups cost about as much as the bass did. It
might compete now with a MIM Fender Jazz. It wouldn't come close to touching a MIA Fender, though. Even with the boutique pickups, it doesn't come close to touching the two Carvins with stock electronics that I posted above.
Most of the tone and sound comes from the player's hands anyway. The WAY the instrument is played has alot to do with it. thats why even when crappy players buy top of the line gear, it still just sounds bad.
Totally agree. However, a great player is going to make a quality instrument sound great too; and making music will ultimately be easier, because he or she won't have to fight the instrument.
I'm a huge proponent of good technique and musicianship, but there are some things that good playing won't totally overcome, like muddy tone from a poorly voiced amplifer or noisey signal from bad shielding.
Who's really gonna notice the difference??
I would.
And really, it all comes down to player preference. Play what you dig, whether it's a $300 guitar or a $3000 guitar.
Ahh, remember when the days of Keith and me disagreeing meant a three page flame war?
The times, they are a changin'.
"He's the electric horseman, you better back off!" - old sKool making a reference to the culturally relevant 1979 film.
