When does a bass upgrade translate to a performance upgrade?

[CallMeAl]

I have 2 decent, low-cost "working man's" basses. I've been thinking of an upgrade. Same specs, basically a nicer version of a bass I already have. I want to separate inspiration from GAS.

So I'd love to hear your experiences and opinions on the subject. When does a nicer bass translate into making you a better player? Is it as simple as inspiration to pick it up more? Does the craftsmanship translate into something tangible? Or is it all just ego?

I have some theories, but would love to hear YOUR thoughts!

 

[Gorn]

There's something to be said for the playability of a better bass, but an upgraded bass won't upgrade your playing. It could even have the opposite effect when you start hunting for "the one" instead of working on improving. You'll spend money you don't need to spend and waste time and focus on what isn't important. Expensive basses are nice and might sound better than cheap ones but who's playing it? You are. If I get a BMW I'm not gonna become a better driver than I am with my Corolla.

 

[lfmn16]

What exactly are you trying to "fix?" What do you mean by "performance" upgrade? Just my opinion, but I wouldn't throw money at a bass just because of what you read on TB.

 

[lfmn16]

There's something to be said for the playability of a better bass, but an upgraded bass won't upgrade your playing. It could even have the opposite effect when you start hunting for "the one" instead of working on improving. You'll spend money you don't need to spend and waste time and focus on what isn't important.

+1

If you can't articulate what you don't like and what you are trying to achieve, then you're just throwing money at the bass. And in most cases, it doesn't increase the value by 2 cents.

Every time I see these threads I think about the guy that had about $700 or $800 into a Squier or SX with all his upgrades and couldn't get a fraction of that when he went to sell it.

 

[two fingers]

I think you've touched on it for me. My gear inspires me. If it doesn't, it has to go.

It doesn't have to be expensive. But something about the instrument, or amp, or pedal, or whatever has to make me grin. It has to strike a nerve with me.

I sell gear and buy different stuff all the time. Some of my friends have given me crap when I have let a few special pieces go. But if it doesn't inspire me anymore, I'm done with it. It should go inspire someone else.

One example is my 5 string Hammersmith. That company having it's issues aside, the neck on this bass is special. It makes me want to play longer.

 

[mojomike001]

Depending on what you're starting with, sometimes a better neck can result in better playing.

 

[Maxdusty]

I have 2 decent, low-cost "working man's" basses. I've been thinking of an upgrade. Basically, same bass but nicer components. I want to separate inspiration from GAS.

So I'd love to hear your experiences and opinions on the subject. When does a nicer bass translate into making you a better player? Is it as simple as inspiration to pick it up more? Does the craftsmanship translate into something tangible? Or is it all just ego?

I have some theories, but would love to hear YOUR thoughts!

Whatever inspires you to play the instrument more is really the only answer that matters.
However, being that you're asking for some thoughts on the matter - I just bought a used Rogue fretless. Not that I was in the market for one, nor is it a brand I would normally consider (not a brand snob at all mind you, but really, a Rogue instead of a relatively inexpensive Squier VM fretless or a MIM Fender Jazz Fretless which I've owned previously?)
Why the Rogue? Because the previous owner upgraded it considerably, set it up well - it has EMG Geezer Butler pickups, Hipshot bridge and tuners and the thing is terrific to play on, better sounding and in feel even to the MIM Jazz. lol. So it is inspiring me more to play on it, there's a pretty huge difference in sound from a stock Rogue, the enhanced pickups pick up more subtleties, as an analogy, it gives you a more precise well made paint brush if you're doing a portrait, instead of a cheap one where the bristles are all over the place or falling out. The bass is similarly a tool, a tool to create music.
It's not ego as the brand on the headstock still says "Rogue", the enhancements are in the sound and playability and not something that's visible - it's just a much better bass with the upgrades, better than the stock VM fretless or MIM Fender plus it's nice and light.

 

[Maxdusty]

+1


Every time I see these threads I think about the guy that had about $700 or $800 into a Squier or SX with all his upgrades and couldn't get a fraction of that when he went to sell it.

I agree but the smart guy would remove the upgrades, restore the Squier or SX back to stock, use the upgraded components for another bass or sell them separately.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Yes. No. Maybe.

A better bass is likely to be easier to play, sound better, and/or last longer. But there are plenty of people gigging regularly with Squiers, and people playing their Foderas in their basements.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Regardless of cost , where it’s made, Name on headstock , it comes down to what works best for you.
The bass that feels the best in your hands is the bass that will improve your playing and inspire you to play more .

 

[lfmn16]

I agree but the smart guy would remove the upgrades, restore the Squier or SX back to stock, use the upgraded components for another bass or sell them separately.

Yea, you'll get some small amount back. In this particular case one of the upgrades was having the bass pleked. You'll also lose any labor costs for any work you can't do yourself.

 

[Maxdusty]

Yes. No. Maybe.

A better bass is likely to be easier to play, sound better, and/or last longer. But there are plenty of people gigging regularly with Squiers, and people playing their Foderas in their basements.

And there are some who only play Rocksmith with a US made EBMM Stingray bass......I bought the bass from the guy and had to remove his %^&$#$ stickers he put on the fretboard and neck also wipe the potato chip grease smeared all over the bass. lol

 

[jd56hawk]

I have 2 decent, low-cost "working man's" basses. I've been thinking of an upgrade. Basically, same bass but nicer components. I want to separate inspiration from GAS.

So I'd love to hear your experiences and opinions on the subject. When does a nicer bass translate into making you a better player? Is it as simple as inspiration to pick it up more? Does the craftsmanship translate into something tangible? Or is it all just ego?

I have some theories, but would love to hear YOUR thoughts!

A nicer bass might make you feel better, but play better?
An argument can be made for a good neck compared to a a bad neck, of course, but I've played basses with bad necks quite a few times when shopping and I still managed to make them sound good.

 

[pbassjbass]

Almost any bass can be setup to play well, and sound good. To me, its being equipped so I don't think about the bass, I'm just happy to play it. For all reasons musical, fashion, attitude, ego related. Amplification, the business end of the cord, is a different problem, at least for me.

 

[ClassicJazz]

The bass is nothing more then a tool to get what’s in your head and soul and fingers to be heard by others. If you don’t have that inspiration and love for music inside of you, that will translate to any bass you play. I’ve seen incredible players play the cheapest crappiest basses yet still sound amazing.

Wish I can remember his name, but saw the European guy on YouTube killing it doing Jaco tunes with an full orchestra behind. The sound of his bass was incredible. And he was using a cheap-o Squier Fretless bass.

At Victor Wooten’s camps I’ve seen him pickup a beginner bass like a Squier and sound amazing.

My point is, don’t get too hung up on the actual bass you use. Yes it is nice to play a good instrument and if you have the means to get one, by all means get one. But if you truly love and I mean truly love to make music, it shouldn’t matter what bass you play. Inspiration should come from within.

Yes I have a Fodera, Roscoe, and other high end basses. But I also equally enjoy playing my $150 Bacchus P-Bass which was getting more use then my other basses.

 

[JW56789]

I replaced two Alembics with two Squiers. And I still sound just like me. Dayyy-ammmm !

So I suppose I could replace me with a better me (. . . . Lord knows I try . . . . ), but I certainly did not suddenly sound worse on the Squiers. Plus with the Squiers, I don't stay awake nights worrying about putting a scratch on them or bumping into something, so there's that . . . . of course, construction-wise, electronically, they're so completely different, worlds apart, but aggravatingly, I still sound like me.

So I suppose until I can trade-in for new ears and hands, I'm stuck. As far as a performance upgrade, it's practice and study and opening your head to better and different ways to attack the old problems. If ONLY a new axe or pickups or amp would automatically make a step-up. Once you've got a reasonably professional and dependable bass and amp you like, everything else is in your hands and between your ears.

Believe me: I owned two Alembic five-strings, and Jimmy Johnson had NOTHING to fear !

 

[JIO]

For P's and J's - removing the bridge and pu covers (if they have them) is an example of upgrading performance by the process of elimination.

 

[fishdreams]

As someone who loves modding basses I found out the hard way that a constructionally better piece of hardware doesn't necessarily improve the bass. Case in point: I discovered that most of what I liked about the tone of the Jack Casady, disappeared when I swapped the soft and cheap 3 point bridge with a new, wonderfully machined, hipshot. It made it sound quite different, actually (to my ears) much more towards a generic P-bass tone which begged the question: what is the point of an upgraded a JC if it doesn't sound like one anymore?

So yes, I mod basses moderately now - if I don't connect with a decent instrument I save myself the time and trouble and replace them with ones that work for me. I can only play one bass at a time, after all.

 

[Andy Daventry]

For me, it works like this:

1. What precisely don't you like about the bass? What doesn't it do that you want it to, or what does it do that you don't want it to?
2. Will a specific change of component solve this?

If there is a specific answer to (1), and if the answer to (2) is "yes", then go ahead. Otherwise it's wasted effort and money.

If the answer to (1) is just something general, like "It's not good enough", then don't upgrade. Get a new bass.

 

[Lava]

The only way you'd benefit from an upgraded bass is if you feel that you're current bass is holding you back in terms of playability due to inferior craftsmanship or inferior hardware. A cheaper bass can be set up to play better and electronics can be changed out. But if said bass or parts are inherently inferior then you're better off upgrading.