Is Leland Sklar hard up for cash?

MichaelScott · #1 07-26-2006, 10:39 PM

Looks like 5 of his babies are on the 'bay.

I really like his green BB3000 and that jazz five string he is selling but for those prices I am pretty close to a custom from my builder or a small step from a Sadowsky.

Dr. Cheese · #2 07-26-2006, 11:45 PM

I don't know if he's broke or not, but I wish I had the dough for custom jazz he's selling.

lefty007 · #3 07-27-2006, 08:12 AM

They've been selling those for a while, and are overpriced by 50%, if you ask me.

peteroberts · #4 07-28-2006, 11:46 AM

he's touring w/Lyle Lovett now, so I guess he's not totally broke...

Matthew Bryson · #5 07-28-2006, 12:32 PM

He should be getting some income from all the magazine ads he does endorsing... well... everything.

**j-raj** · #6 07-28-2006, 12:38 PM

Lee isn't broke and he is earnestly thinning the herd, that's all.

If you knew how basses he has and how many he is given yearly, just from his NAMM contacts that he has, then you would understand.

tplyons · #7 07-28-2006, 12:44 PM

If you think Tombowlus has a lot of gear, you should see Leland!

**j-raj** · #8 07-28-2006, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tplyons

If you think Tombowlus has a lot of gear, you should see Leland!

^exactly, thanks...

RAM · #9 07-28-2006, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j-raj

Lee isn't broke and he is earnestly thinning the herd, that's all.

If you knew how basses he has and how many he is given yearly, just from his NAMM contacts that he has, then you would understand.

It's my understanding he won't even play a bass unless it's free. I've heard this from music insiders who shall remain nameless.

Lazylion · #10 07-28-2006, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAM

It's my understanding he won't even play a bass unless it's free.

Must be nice to be able to have this policy!

JAUQO III-X · #11 07-28-2006, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAM

It's my understanding he won't even play a bass unless it's free. I've heard this from music insiders who shall remain nameless.

That's not necessarily true at all.

But most companies would and can only benefit from giving him a free Bass that will be seen by millions(from touring and being seen on some form of TV).Give him a free Bass and you're guaranteed to sell more than one,plus Lee knows his worth.

jokerjkny · #12 07-28-2006, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lefty007

They've been selling those for a while, and are overpriced by 50%, if you ask me.

just cause it says "yamaha" on the headstock doesnt mean its supposed to cost $599.

despite the obvious, that these are custom designed instruments that yamaha did just for him, IMHO, given leland's amazing body of work, and considering who knows what hit tracks they've been used on, they're priceless.

RAM · #13 07-28-2006, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

That's not necessarily true at all.

But most companies would and can only benefit from giving him a free Bass that will be seen by millions(from touring and being seen on some form of TV).Give him a free Bass and you're guaranteed to sell more than one,plus Lee knows his worth.

You might be shocked to hear who told me this story...I'm sworn to secrecy, but this was the story, as told to me.

The story was this particular luthier sent him a bass with a wholesale (or less) price. Leland sent the bass back because he was unwilling to pay for it. I know for a fact Leland uses this "style" of bass frequently, and this luthier is one of the more respected luthiers out there, according to the posts on this board.

JAUQO III-X · #14 07-28-2006, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAM

You might be shocked to hear who told me this story...I'm sworn to secrecy, but this was the story, as told to me.

The story was this particular luthier sent him a bass with a wholesale (or less) price. Leland sent the bass back because he was unwilling to pay for it. I know for a fact Leland uses this "style" of bass frequently, and this luthier is one of the more respected luthiers out there, according to the posts on this board.

No I don't doubt it but again Lee knows what he's worth and what he can bring to the table.

5stringDNA · #15 07-28-2006, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAM

You might be shocked to hear who told me this story...I'm sworn to secrecy, but this was the story, as told to me.

The story was this particular luthier sent him a bass with a wholesale (or less) price. Leland sent the bass back because he was unwilling to pay for it. I know for a fact Leland uses this "style" of bass frequently, and this luthier is one of the more respected luthiers out there, according to the posts on this board.

If that story is the bassis (no pun intended, haha) for your claim, then your logic is highly flawed and completely inconclusive. Did Lee say WHY he sent the bass back, or do you know he just sent it back. There could be 50 reasons he didn't want to buy that particular bass at that particular time. I would understand if he was unwilling to pay for a bass unless it was his end-all uber-bass that he fell in love with because, simply put, he has so many basses he has no idea what to do with them and so why the heck pay for more and waste money? If that was the motive then I would say the statement is good, but without his actual claim to this ideology, it is just speculation.

Matthew Bryson · #16 07-28-2006, 05:48 PM

I can't say that I blame him. If I was in his shoes, and people regularly gave me high quality instruments for free, I'd probably pass on spending my money on any type of bass too. (no matter how high profile the builder is, or how heavily discounted his asking price) This kind of sounds like sour grapes on the part of this unnamed luthier.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAM

You might be shocked to hear who told me this story...I'm sworn to secrecy, but this was the story, as told to me.

The story was this particular luthier sent him a bass with a wholesale (or less) price. Leland sent the bass back because he was unwilling to pay for it. I know for a fact Leland uses this "style" of bass frequently, and this luthier is one of the more respected luthiers out there, according to the posts on this board.

RAM · #17 07-28-2006, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5stringDNA

If that story is the bassis (no pun intended, haha) for your claim, then your logic is highly flawed and completely inconclusive. Did Lee say WHY he sent the bass back, or do you know he just sent it back. There could be 50 reasons he didn't want to buy that particular bass at that particular time. I would understand if he was unwilling to pay for a bass unless it was his end-all uber-bass that he fell in love with because, simply put, he has so many basses he has no idea what to do with them and so why the heck pay for more and waste money? If that was the motive then I would say the statement is good, but without his actual claim to this ideology, it is just speculation.

Well, considering the fact that he ordered it after playing it, but sent it back saying he wouldn't pay for it tells me he was cool with the quality, playability, and tone, but uncool with the price.

It's okay to be skeptical, but to call my logic flawed and completely inconclusive is a bit of a stretch, given that you don't know the full conversation I had with unnamed luthier.

JAUQO III-X · #18 07-28-2006, 05:52 PM

At this past winter NAMM show,I got to check out Lee's newest Dingwall and all I can say is that the Bass is so beautiful that it left me speechless.

RAM · #19 07-28-2006, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew Bryson

I can't say that I blame him. If I was in his shoes, and people regularly gave me high quality instruments for free, I'd probably pass on spending my money on any type of bass too. (no matter how high profile the builder is, or how heavily discounted his asking price) This kind of sounds like sour grapes on the part of this unnamed luthier.

I've actually heard this is true of a lot of big-named players. The people who have told me these stories are always insiders, and the stories rarely change, though the names always do.

JAUQO III-X · #20 07-28-2006, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAM

I've actually heard this is true of a lot of big-named players. The people who have told me these stories are always insiders, and the stories rarely change, though the names always do.

Ram,no disrespect but one thing you seem to not understand is that these big name artist bring more to a luthiers bank account than by simply buying the Bass.In some instances Why should the Bassist pay for the Bass when once a certain audience,demographic group or an inspiring Bassist see this big name player playing brand Bass and for what ever reason digs it enough to go out and buy their own and from there that luthier will have ended up selling triple or more than what the artist paid for the Bass therefore fattening the bank account.