Boutique Basses

[cat_empire]

Hey all

last night i skipped down to my local pub because my boss told me (who works there, as do I) that there was a bass player in a band there who had ALOT of expensive basses with him.

So off i trotted to watch him. he was a very good player, very solid, not to showy, but i got the impression that he could do alot more than he was showing.

But anyway he let me play some of his basses afterwards and they were all v. v. nice/expensive boutique basses. Fodera monarchs, Tobias, Ken Smith, Lakland, MTD, Pedulla, high-end spector, a 1964 P-Bass you name it he has it.

So i played around with a few of them, and they were all very nice (although the ones i played were 5 string and im a 4 player) but with all fanboyism and whatnot aside, they just didnt feel 'right' like EBMM's have when ive played them. Sure they were all very nice, but they just didnt speak to me with the tone and the feel. Maybe it was the fact that they were 5ers, but they just didnt feel good enough for the price tag attatched to them

anyone else feel the same way?

 

[Figjam]

I agree. I like some brand of boutiques more than others (although I dont consider lakland a boutique^^, nor spector) but nothing feels like an ebmm.

 

[prickly_pete]

I agree. I like some brand of boutiques more than others (although I dont consider lakland a boutique^^, nor spector) but nothing feels like an ebmm.

The "real" Spectors made by Stuart Spector in New Jersey certainly are "boutique" basses.

 

[Double Agent]

My previous bass was a Dingwall, considered by most to get a boutique bass. Before owning a Dingwall, I thought that an EBMM was my sound. The Dingwall was a phenomenal bass in terms of sound, playability, and craftsmanship. I had to sell it for financial reasons, but I knew I would get enough cash for a used EBMM. I got a Bongo 5 HH. After one rehearsal with my band, I am now convinced more than ever that EBMM basses are MY sound. There are other great basses out there, but NOTHING sounds like a MusicMan. If thats your sound, then no other bass, no matter how expensive and nice it is, will work for you. At least thats what I have found out.

 

[cat_empire]

I agree. I like some brand of boutiques more than others (although I dont consider lakland a boutique^^, nor spector) but nothing feels like an ebmm.

well yeh i guess laklands arent (he had a couple though), but i would have thought that some of the spector basses are boutique, especially ones like the NS5 and the NS2.

+1 on the EBMM bit tho

 

[midopa]

Haha I used to really like boutique basses, but my interest has waned considerably ever since I've been here.

Who needs boutiques when you can drain all your money on all the awesome stuff EBMM's coming out with in the future (LEs, BFRs, Bongo 6, to name a few )?

 

[cat_empire]

i personally (as of yet) have never really got into boutique basses. Apart from a couple of the Fodera Monarchs, i find that most look too much like a very fine coffee table and not enough like a bass guitar you could really have fun with.

 

[Dr Stankface]

I used to be a big Ken Smith and Warwick fan until I played a Music Man. In fact, the first MM I ever played is hanging up on my wall right now.

 

[wraithwrider]

Lakland may not be boutique basses but the 4-94 Deluxe (it also had gold hardware) I traded for both my Bongos was certainly getting close. I've owned a Sadowsky too and for some reason Fender style basses have never 'done it' for me.

I've edited this post to say that actually isn't quite true. I had a Marcus Miller Jazz that sounded and played great.

As it was I mainly played my Sterling. Now that doesn't see much time out of the case.

I used to be really into the idea of having myself built by Shuker or Overwater. Not any more Maybe my MM's bring out the engineer in me. Functional and effective tools that are ascetically pleasing and ergonomically sound.

Peter

 

[adouglas]

In my never-ending search for Tone I was seriously considering an MTD 535.

Then I tried a Bongo and Saw The Light. I'm all better now.

 

[Figjam]

USA Spectors are boutique I suppose. It is just hard for me to classify the whole company as a boutique since they outsource and have reached a grand scale, but the small stuff he still does personally certainly is.

Lakland USA stuff is pretty boutique ish, but I am not sure I look at it like that. To me it is just a large company that is still in its smaller stages. They outsource and have large factories for the skylines, and the USA models are made in a similiar process as EBMMS are I would guess, so what makes them boutique really? To me, boutique is a handful of guys working in one place to make instruments. No outsourcing, no huge factories with lots of hands doing assembly line stuff. It's an art.

EBMM just has somehow found a way to make amazing instruments on a slightly more grand scale while maintaining amazing quality. Cheers.

 

[word]

bass = good

 

[Road Pop]

There's a lot of basses you could condider boutique. I've had older NS2's with the inlays and everything. I wasn't impressed. I've had an Anderson bass. Not impressed. Both were built great, but the playability factor has to come into the picture. SOUND with playability. Some might sound great, but can ya play them? The Anderson was a rare bird. Sounded great... but didn't have an arch for the forearm. SLAB!

The new Sterlings are great for me! I say for me cause I like the narrow nut and the pup options.

I don't bother with the ultimate tops and the freakkkky fretwood. EBMM does great. Hands down the best production bass ever. I may ......in the future .....plunk down some money for a RARE bass. But before then.... I'll probably buy a new amp. And I don't need one.

 

[phatduckk]

im not into fancy stuff so the boutique stuff i see on TB etc makes no sense to me... especially for the price. i love my MMs cuz theyre not boring, have awesome feel, awesome tone and cost what they cost. the prices are amazing IMHO.

i have liked the Lulls and Sadowskys ive played but not enough to buy one.

MM's work for me and im very lucky to have found em. there's nothing i dont like about my MM... to me they are the benchmark for instruments. low end stuff, feels cheap, boring stuff feels and sounds boring and expensive seems overpriced. and nothing sounds as good but thats just me... the sterling superfan

thanls pops.

 

[Randracula]

im not into fancy stuff so the boutique stuff i see on TB etc makes no sense to me... especially for the price. i love my MMs cuz theyre not boring, have awesome feel, awesome tone and cost what they cost. the prices are amazing IMHO.

i have liked the Lulls and Sadowskys ive played but not enough to buy one.

MM's work for me and im very lucky to have found em. there's nothing i dont like about my MM... to me they are the benchmark for instruments. low end stuff, feels cheap, boring stuff feels and sounds boring and expensive seems overpriced. and nothing sounds as good but thats just me... the sterling superfan

thanls pops.

Yes, but you still don't have a Bongo

 

[MingusBASS]

+1

 

[bovinehost]

I agree. I like some brand of boutiques more than others (although I dont consider lakland a boutique^^, nor spector) but nothing feels like an ebmm.

Have you priced a USA Lakland lately?

Lakland USA stuff is pretty boutique ish, but I am not sure I look at it like that. To me it is just a large company that is still in its smaller stages. They outsource and have large factories for the skylines, and the USA models are made in a similiar process as EBMMS are I would guess, so what makes them boutique really?

The Skylines probably saved Lakland, and the Skylines are still at a fairly high price point for a mass-produced offshore instrument. Definitely not "beginner" pricing.

I'd have to disagree with a couple of points.

First, that Lakland is a large company.

Second, the "similar process" to EBMMs. Nearly everything at Lakland is outsourced. The exact opposite is true at EBMM.

Jack

 

[Figjam]

I wasnt comparing the lakland skyline operation to ebmm. But that post was at 2:30 AM so I sucked at explaining anything.

As for lakland USA, I suppose they do have boutique qualities. It probably is just hard for me to call a standard-looking bass a boutique. I consider boutiques to be more custom and not fender inspired. Do I consider Sadowsky boutique? Well, not really, and I guess theres your answer regarding the Lakland question as well. I actually think Lakland USA stuff is more boutique than Sadowsky stuff, based on their respective building processes.


re: I said lakland was a large company in its smaller stages. That is my weird way of saying that they are growing , and are not large yet.

To each his own. If anyone wants to call Lakland boutique, be my guest. I was stating how I feel about them, not saying that he was wrong. This is not the point of this thread. This thread is saying that EBMM basses have something special. I agree with that, and that was the major point of my post. However, it was not the part that was replied to.

 

[oldbluebassman]

..... and the Skylines are still at a fairly high price point for a mass-produced offshore instrument. Definitely not "beginner" pricing.

It depends where you are, what the distribution and pricing structure is, etc..

Agree that they are not beginner pricing as from where I sit there is little price or quality difference between EBMM and Skyline. I used to think that a really good instrument had to be made in the USA but my recent Lakland Skyline acquisition has disproved that. I'm not sure it matters where a bass is manufactured as long as it uses appropriate quality materials, components, manufacturing expertise and quality control. Lakland do it one way with Skyline by outsourcing, EBMM do it all in-house however both produce an excellent results for offshore manufactured basses.

Back to the original thread I would consider Status, Shuker, Sei, Goodfellow, and Overwater to be UK Boutique basses. Apologies if I've forgotten anyone.

 

[Dr Stankface]

bass = good

I couldn't have said it better myself.