ARE EXPENSIVE INSTRUMENTS BETTER? 4 Tips to help buy or upgrade your bass

[@stewthebassman]

It's quite simple! Which bass do you pick up when you're packing for a gig? Which bass do you trust to get you through the night without wearing out your back and hands? Which bass supports your singer and doesn't get run over by the stupid deaf guitar player? In my case it's one of three jazz basses, Fender or older Squier, all well under $700! I've had more expensive, complex basses but for one reason or another I always end up going to my primary workhorses. Great video!

[@Jackal_Blitz]

Great discussion! Even well into my adulthood, I still get sucked into that line of thinking that I NEED to play the same kinds of basses that my favorite bassists play so I can BE like them. I don't even want to count how many thousands of dollars I've spent since high school chasing that idea... that idea that seems to change every time I get inspired by a new bassist. I recently popped into a local Guitar Center, and I picked up quite a few decently priced Ernie Balls, Fenders, and the like. They were fine, but my eyes just lit up when I picked up a $500 Ibanez Soundgear. They're so light, they balance well, an the string spacing is nice and tight. They're not fancy, but they feel great, no matter the pricetag.

[@AnthonyMuthurajah]

Man, the soundgear series is great! I was eying their fretless bass initially. Haha

[@Scoots1994]

Your sound is your sound regardless of the instrument to some extent, but your happiness and how it makes you feel IS part of the instrument and your relationship with the instrument. My favorite bass is fretless because I love the bass and the feel of it in my hands, it's not because the sound I was looking for was a fretless sound.

[@WayneGreen-b4y]

Most players think so, but I've been playing bass for almost 56 years, and my bass of choice, is an Ibanez MIKRO. The only things I changed, were the pickups, and changed the chrome hardware, to black. The new pickups is a set of the DiMarzio DP126's. My bass rig is a GK MB500 amp, and a Hartke HD112. I removed the hybrid aluminum speaker, and installed a Faital 500 watt 12". The rig is awesome!!

[@jakaethesnake]

Anthony, I AM wondering how you can use single coils with no noticeable noise. Whether an inexpensive Squier or a Sadowsky, single coil/60 cycle hum is a huge issue...yet your sound is delightfully relatively buzz free. How? Oh, and thanks as always for your great content!

[@AnthonyMuthurajah]

I run a Noise Gate on my bass IF I use each pickup in isolation. When you blend them (in whatever combination) the single coil buzz generally gets quieter. But, yeah. a Noise Gate works best. Adjust the threshold based on the level of your buzz. Hope that helps!

[@jakaethesnake]

Of course! I already use a REVV G8-IMHO best noise gate ever... But your bass is still very quiet-I'm envious! Thanks for your time.

[@albertogalindo3760]

I agree with you, expensive gear is not bad but there is no need to expend a lot of money to get a good bass. I have a vintage modified Squier 70's jazz bass that i bought second hand for $200 some months ago, and man this is by far my favorite bass, the sound and the playability is awesome. I have other more expensive basses (up to $2500 price point) with fancier woods, looks and active electronics but the VM 70's Jazz bass is my favorite.

[@stewthebassman]

I have that VM fretless and it has stood up really well against quite a few other very expensive basses!! A real keeper!

[@frankkonrad5261]

One of best advices for any bass player out there...Thanx for all your videos...and your wisdom!!

[@kengagnon6192]

Nice tone and playing , also good insight on choice when buying a bass

[@SQuaresma]

100% Right 👍 , Cheers Anthony

[@mantisversions]

brilliant, man. thanks, and yes to yr thoughts on equipment and our relating to it! you say Squire? my main bass for quite a while has been a (Japan-made!) Bullet bass from way back, in fact I like to think that it could be, if I knew the serial # my long lost first bass, hahaha. wrestling in the best way these days with having tuned it down to c#. it's in the hands, for sure))))

[@mattfoley6082]

I bought a like-new Squier Affinity PJ Made in Indonesia on craigslist for $100 2 years ago. Very thin fast neck. Light gauge strings which I'd never used before but they are great for bends, so easy. Also the light gauge strings still sound bright after 2 years.

[@Sebassplayer1978]

My two main basses are currently two stock squiers : a Jazz and a Precision , nothing toi complain about those basses, they play and sound great !

[@steverixon7708]

Hi Anthony.....I'm looking on getting another bass at present..but am not sure on what to get...I've been looking at all the top name basses & all price range...but like you mentioned...prices on particular basses ..well lets say it's a lot of dosh...I haven't bought a instrument in 30 yrs ! ..I've been a 4 string player for last 40 yrs & have a lovely old 1966 Fender Jazz....which I truly love playing....I've been looking at either getting another 4 string but am interested in 5/6 string ...probably leaning more towards 5 string as it's the low end I'm liking....not sure if 6 string is what I need even though I like what I see...anyway...I wanted to ask you about your experience of 5/ 6 string playing over 4 string basses....& any wisdom you can share on either of these instruments...& a big thanks man for sharing what you know. Respect..love & peace.....

[@profile2047]

It’s really admirable you’ve only had that one bass. In my opinion that’s really cool and motivating.

[@tzahim441]

Tnx Anthony! Hope you'll get well soon!!

[@AnthonyMuthurajah]

Thank you!

[@craigs19721972]

I have a Squier bass as well. I just put a Badass II bridge on it and it plays amazing.

[@bassomatic6055]

I picked up a slightly used sterling sub ray4 for $235 loved how it played and liked the basic sound i could get out of it. I upgraded the pickup to an aguilar for $140 and now it sounds great, plays nice. Pretty much my favorite bass today.

[@qiitxxsmitj3491]

Yea that was interesting. Also, why is it easier doing runs from the high strings to the low and more arduous from the low to the high strings?

[@67NewEngland]

G&L Tribute series basses are also a great value . They’re well made and have great hardware and pickups.

[@YouYorick]

- I take this occasion to say thank you 🙏for sharing your time and experience - but yes dear, you should have talked about the strings … unless you have found your favorite ones early on and did not change … there are so many different ways to transfer your touch and very much change how the pickup do their job … I mean you know … thanks again. ( flatwound geek here )

[@champ6436]

i just wanted to post an hint for bassist that love that ken smith tone but really can't affort to spend 8k dollars on an instrument. get a cort a+ bass. ( i bought a 6 string for 800 euro ) change the pickup for the bartolini mk cbc and the preamp change for either a delano sonar with a mid switch or some usa bartolini. the upgrade should cost around 400 buck but now for 1200 euro i have a 6 string bass neck throught with humbucker ( serie/parallel and mid switch too ) that i kid you not really sound like a ken smith. when i play DI i usually am in serie with a bit of a boost in the low mid around 300hz. in parralel, the pickup sound thin so i rarely use it but there were a few instance where the cab/amp/room were really muddy and then playing in parallel really help me. so if you're a fan of melvin lee davis or fred hammond ken smith tone. here your chance.

[@vincentm4717]

Hi Anthony, first of all, I do hope you can resolve your pinky issue on your left hand. As for that bass, could you expound on what type of bass that is? I've now own a fender jazz MIM fretless which is my only bass. I've had 2 different American made jazz basses worth 1500 dollars when I purchased them. I've since sold them and now have that Mexican bass. But there is not much difference in the sound. As you have mentioned it's the pickups and also to me the finger positions on the right hand.

[@pedroberoes49]

love these gear talks Anthony, I would love to know your opinion on the Amp vs. Ampless situation too.

[@AnthonyMuthurajah]

For sure!

[@izethewise]

Not to mention strings. A $15000 instrument with strings you don't like isn't going to make you happy.

[@AnthonyMuthurajah]

Amen

[@mattfoley6082]

Anthony, it would be helpful if you would elaborate on how tone comes from the hands. I know right hand position affects tone (where the string is plucked) but other than that I'm not clear about it.

[@AnthonyMuthurajah]

I will definitely expand on this!

[@ErixSamson]

Great advice. To me weight also is important. And shape of the neck.

[@ry_guy_]

Well put. Hope your thumb/hands get better soon man

[@KrisDuerinckx]

this is a fretless ... what I experience with Squier is bad fretwork, with two Squiers even wrapped necks so that the luthier I brought it to could not make it better, also wrong cut nuts. So if you are lucky to have one with a good neck, a good luthier can make the fretwork better and change the nut ... never had to do all this with my mex Fenders ...

[@champ6436]

i've never was lucky with cheap basse. i own 4 basse under 500 euro and they all had issue. two of them had really thick and sticky finish on the neck and sliding and playing fast was really hard on them, 1 had a huge string spacing (for me) and some electronical issue and i really didn't want to spent 200 euro to save a 400 euro basse so its vegetating in its case for 3 years now). my current basse is the most expensive one (1400 euro) but paradoxicaly is also the cheapest available for this brand. its an indonesian Xotic 5 string, its way cheaper than the Japanese one ( 2500-3000 euro) but i also think that for me they are the best at least in confort. they have a slim D neck instead of the C shape neck of the japanese one ( and i hate C shape neck on 5 and 6 string ), they also have a battery compartment whereas on the japanese you have to unscrew the whole backplate to plug some batteries and i prefer the bridge ( b style hipshot on the indonesian, A style hipshot on the japanese). i've played nothing but this bass the past 2 years, i thought about switching the pickup but i got used to the "darker" tone of this basse. if you only play passive jazz and precision you don't need to spend that much. (500-1500 range is good for most part, i will probably buy a cheap Pbass with some flatwound in the future). i only considered paying a lot of money ( 2500-3500 euro ) for really unique instrument that are impossible to get cheap by another brand. for example the 90s yamaha trb6p. 6 string modern active jazz bass with piezo pickup and neckthrough construction. its such an unique instrument that you can't find something similar anywhere else. but i can't in my good conscience spend 4K dollars on a sadowsky jazz bass, or a Fodera Pbass for example. i saw them in my local store and aside from the aesthetic of the instrument, they are not better in any mean than your regular 1000 buck japanese made basse. ( talking about bacchus or fujigen here).

[@claudecobra4571]

so good😀

[@maliwilliams7262]

Glad I got my "Cheap" SX'S!! Now look at the Prices NOW... I've a Rouge LX6 Pro, Now I've seen it for a GRAND on EBAY! WHEW!!

[@jimmyfinnegan4794]

Nice content right here AM. I would personally love to hear you speak on your TrickFish amp a little bit. Been on the market for one and I'm not completely sure which of the three models would fit my needs the best. Heavily leaning toward the TrickFish brand at the moment though, for various reasons.

[@AnthonyMuthurajah]

I will be doing an in-depth review of my current rig! I love trickfish. They made me believe in amps again haha

[@pilomusiko]

Agreed! your tone is great even in your white Squier🙌 (where was it made?)

[@fordhammie]

Hmmm Pickups, pick up vibrations from the strings and the strings are connected to other metals and those metals are connected to the wood of the guitar! 😁 It all works as one! 😁 Change something and then there will be some change sonically! 😁

[@disisowen]

bro dope shit

[@profile2047]

🫠

[@mattfoley6082]

Excellent explanation, Anthony. Check out youtube channel "Jim Lill". He goes deep into where guitar tone comes from. Also speaker tone. Also amp tone. Fascinating and very thorough.

[@alfieharries]

My 2 favourite basses are a moollon p bass and a squire jazz bass. £1800 apart, no difference in quality in all the right areas, in fact i'd say i think the squier can get a better setup

[@bikeknight54]

I hope you can find a solution for your thumb issues, Anthony. I've needed surgical cartilage replacement in my left thumb for several years. Playing with pain has almost become second nature, but extremely inhibiting and frustrating. Surgery means 4 months of rehab not playing which is a dismal prospect. Thanks for demonstrating the possibilities of the Squire line. Jack Parsons is another master guitarist who can make a $200.00 Squire sound like a $40,000 vintage '58. All the best on your quest! BTW: Did your beautiful cat make it to the States with you?

[@AnthonyMuthurajah]

Yeah, it’s a little annoying right now haha. I fractured my left thumb ages ago, so that definitely weighs me down at times. Thankfully, I’m getting it fixed asap and not letting it fester. Also, yes! I moved with my cat 😁

[@ML-nj4qi]

The answer is YES! You always want to have good quality gear if you are a player. Save your money and buy your dream instrument, it will be by your side forever.

[@oldasrocks9121]

You have to like the instrument at least, love is better. I had an instant visual crush on a new Fender Player Jazz in that butter yellow which would have been enough to let fly $900, it was that gorgeous, *but* it sounded lousy. Killed the crush. If you're truly crushed out on your bass any mechanical difficulty can be overcome on a luthier's bench, or your own bench, but almost nothing can overcome feeling ishy about this thing you have in your hands for hours everyday.

[@jydeda5004]

A workman should have good tools, but it is very easy to go overboard on pricing especially where the rational behind the expenditure is weak and you allow your ego to get in the way. Having said that though I can often tell how much a bass costs by playing it. I look for response in the instrument. "Boutique" instruments tend to improve your interaction, are more comfortable to play and produce a better quality sound with less struggle, while some of the cheaper stuff is harder to bring back from the dead.

[@remusredbone1214]

Generally, yes. Individually one on one, Not always.

[@Captain_Rhodes]

My old Tokai is better than my USA strat. Is was much cheaper but its better. Sometimes cheaper instruments can be better because you dont have to pay for the brand name. My strat is great, im not knocking it, but the fake one is maybe 10% better build quality. It just is. I would be wary of buying cheap instruments but it doesnt mean some of them are not great.

[@fretlessfender]

First I hope your hand will be back in shape soon! Nothing worse for a talented man like you to lose the ability to play like you do! Second... is that a Fender Jazz Fretless made in Mexico? If it is we share the exact same bass!

[@son0fsocal]

All basses make music. It’s all about how much money you want to spend, if the player SUCKS, he will make a Fodera sound crappy. I know guitar players that spend thousands on PRS but play very mediocre.

[@massimilianoazzara9257]

Are expensive musicians better?

[@AnthonyMuthurajah]

Now, that is a question! lmao

[@ShortFuseFighting]

up to the $2000-2500 range, thats where the professional basses reside.(your Am standards, warwick pros etc) anything above that makes no difference whatsoever. those boutique basses can do nothing that a 2000 dollar bass cant (with proper technique and EQ-ing). and vintage is an absolute scam (they did tests where they dismantled vintage instruments and strung the strings above the pickups suspended in mid-air by wires. SAME EXACT SOUND! they even measured and analyzed with sonagraphs. same damn thing. vintage = deterioration of pickups. end of story . yous are all acting like 70 years ago they used magic wood and had secrete techniques for electronics of ancient civilizations that are now forgotten and lost to time...