Complete a bass with this top...

[nostatic]

imho going into debt to buy a bass is bad unless you know you're going to generate income from using it, or playing music is one of the most important things in your life, having the instrument will help you realize your goals, and you can still provide for your family.

I've spent stupid amounts of money on instruments over the past two years and have two Foderas on order that will be done in June. I won't have to go into debt to pay for them, but clearly that is a huge chunk of money that could stay in savings or go towards something else. But right now playing music is what I do other than my day job that pays the bills. I do skype lessons with Ant, practice every day, and will end up doing 130+ gigs this year, 130+ gigs in 2011. I'm obsessed with playing as well as I can and making the best music I can before I pass from this earth, and I know the tools I want to help accomplish that.

Everybody is in a different place in their lives. But I don't have "guilt" over dropping $20K on basses. Everybody in the house is fed, I don't drive a fancy car, and more importantly, making music is what I love to do. It is not a hobby - I'm dead serious about playing.

It is all about priorities. If something means enough to you, and you have the means, then do it. If not, then don't. Buyer's remorse can get really expensive and will shorten your life span. Not that I know anything about that...

[SteveC]

That's a great post. Plenty to think about.

I don't play 130 gigs a year. I might play 13 these days as I don't play regularly at the moment. I do play almost every week at church and I love it. The group is made up of very talented musicians and we have a great time.

I teach music. It is important but not my priority - hence the break from steady gigging. Family is where it's at for me.

I enjoy practicing and developing my skills. I would like to do some things my current bass doesn't really allow.

Bills would get paid. Kids would eat. We'd have a house. My debt to income ratio wouldn't look quite as good. We don't plan any big purchases for a few years. My wife is fine with it. She would love for me to find a bass or two that I love and just play them.

Not sure where that leaves me, but I had the phone in my hand today ready to order...

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by SteveC

I would like to do some things my current bass doesn't really allow.

My wife is fine with it. She would love for me to find a bass or two that I love and just play them.

That pretty much says it all.

[JOME77]

Order on of Greg's in stock Roscoe basses today and you could probably have it by Christmas!

How cool is that?!?

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by JOME77

Order on of Greg's in stock Roscoe basses today and you could probably have it by Christmas!

How cool is that?!?

Are you working for Greg??

The Bubinga Century Standard Plus 5 is the same spec as what I would order - just the Bubinga top instead of the Koa top. Just a matter of looks. I am curious how the Koa would look made into a bass.

[nostatic]

I've owned both bubinga and koa topped basses. Both stunning. That C5 std would already be in my house if it was 34" scale. I *love* that bass. But I've vowed to stay with a single scale length for my instruments, and am avoiding a B-string for the time being.

[SteveC]

I have been doing fine with my 34" scale passive 4 string Geddy Lee and could continue to do so...it's just that there are times when a B would be nice. Church for one, and for playing some modern stuff where it's not necessary but nice.

[JOME77]

And words delivered in a faint whisper are heard by Steve and Steve alone ........

.......Buy it .... and it will come!

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by SteveC

I have been doing fine with my 34" scale passive 4 string Geddy Lee and could continue to do so...it's just that there are times when a B would be nice. Church for one, and for playing some modern stuff where it's not necessary but nice.

Everybody has different wants/needs. I know guys that have to have a B-string. For some of my gigs, I have to have a C-string. For others, a 4-banger is fine. I get around the low note requirements with a D-tuner but it isn't the same.

There are things you could do on the Roscoe that you couldn't do on the Fender - like play on the 23rd fret and then dive-bomb a low B

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by nostatic

There are things you could do on the Roscoe that you couldn't do on the Fender - like play on the 23rd fret and then dive-bomb a low B

Or play Gaslighting Abby, or almost all the Yellowjackets stuff, or have more soloing range, or....

[nostatic]

Well, depends on how badly you want/need to do that stuff. I changed up one of my bands lineups and there now is no guitar or keys - just bass, drums, sax and vox. So I've got to be comping some of the time and a 21-fret 4-string ain't gonna cut it. But that was a conscious decision on my part, and I'm specifically arranging tunes for the 5-string E-C. I've also done some bass/perc duo stuff and I really can't make a 4-banger work for that. May be operator error, but for that material I've got to have a C-string.

If you really want to or need to play Yellowjackets stuff, then your choice is clear. If you just kinda want to, then it is less clear.

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by nostatic

If you really want to or need to play Yellowjackets stuff, then your choice is clear. If you just kinda want to, then it is less clear.

Hence my struggle. There is no need, only want. I can do all I need to with my current gear. All the rest is just gravy and song stuff at home.

I was all set to buy at least the fretted bass tomorrow, maybe both, but after reading this, I'm not so sure again.

[JoelFT]

At my country gig last week I went from the 24th fret on the G all the way down to a low B. I spent more time on the B string on this gig than I ever have before (did I mention that this was a country gig!). There is no way I could have played what the artist wanted without a five string. Moral of the story is that you just don't know when the added flexibility will be become a necessity.

[SteveC]

And now I'm ready to buy at least one again.

[JoelFT]

I think you should get the bubinga bass. Of course I have ulterior motive: I want that koa top!

[SteveC]

Yeah, that Koa top is amazing. I'm torn.

[SteveC]

My wife thinks the Koa top build is what I should do. It's different from everything else I've had, it's basically one of a kind, and it's beautiful. I think I'm going to go with this:

Model: Century Standard Plus 5 ($2,499)
Body: Swamp Ash w/"My" Koa Top
Finish: Oil
Preamp: Bartolini 3-Band
Pickups: Bartolini CB's
Neck: 3-Piece Maple Neck
Fingerboard: Bird's Eye Maple, Fretted (+$75)
Hardware: Black (+$75)
Case: Roscoe Single Gigbag

$2,649

[JOME77]

I love the sides of the koa top but I'm not so hip on the pieces that they added between them.

The Bubinga is ready to play. That would clearly be my choice.


But hey, just commit to one of 'em!

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by JOME77

I love the sides of the koa top but I'm not so hip on the pieces that they added between them.

But hey, just commit to one of 'em!

That's all that's holding me back...not sure about the middle part of the top....

[JoelFT]

Originally Posted by SteveC

That's all that's holding me back...not sure about the middle part of the top....

That's what does it for me. It just looks so different in a really good way.