Convincing my mom to let my buy another bass?

Sabre2552 · #1 07-07-2007, 06:40 PM

I currently have an Ibanez GSR200, but I want to buy a Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass. I do not want to get rid of the Ibanez, as I want to keep my very first bass. I have enough money for it, but the problem is how I should convince my mother to let me buy it. Knowing her, she'll say:

A) I already have a bass

B) I just got a guitar (which is stretching the truth a bit as I bought an Epiphone Les Paul Standard 2 months ago because my first and only guitar was stolen, and my new guitar has only just arrived)

and C) What do I need another bass for?

I'm not sure how I should convince her that buying a new bass is not a waste of money. Any help? I'm 14, and have been playing guitar/bass for a little over a year.

Aarix · #2 07-07-2007, 06:48 PM

Not to sound like your mom, but why do you need two entry-level (albeit very nice) basses?

lbwdog · #3 07-07-2007, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sabre2552

C) What do I need another bass for?

I'm not sure how I should convince her that buying a new bass is not a waste of money. Any help? I'm 14, and have been playing guitar/bass for a little over a year.

What do you need another bass for?

millahh · #4 07-07-2007, 06:50 PM

Consider this practice for having the same discussion with your eventual wife.

TheButler · #5 07-07-2007, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by millahh

Consider this practice for having the same discussion with your eventual wife.

What he is marrying his mother ... i know what you mean just kidding

Fontaine · #6 07-07-2007, 06:56 PM

well i had the same problem....i did good on my report card and got accepted into college the same day....that kinda got me my Jazz lol.

AmazingGracePlayer · #7 07-07-2007, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aarix

Not to sound like your mom, but why do you need two entry-level (albeit very nice) basses?

+1

If you are going to get another bass, don't get a Squire... not to mention a Squire entry level bass...

atrapp · #8 07-07-2007, 07:17 PM

whats a mom?

wdinc01 · #9 07-07-2007, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmazingGracePlayer

If you are going to get another bass, don't get a Squire... not to mention a Squire entry level bass...

But it's a vintage modified!

Just tell her you're using it for different tunings or you're looking for a different sound for different styles of music.

double_stop2584 · #10 07-07-2007, 07:17 PM

As a guy who has lived my entire life scraping together money for EVERYTHING - I'd suggest that you save your money.

You're 14, and you have at least $280.00

I'm 23, and I have $230.00 (after bills, rent, loans, etc.) - and this is not a common occurence. I usually have less.

Your gear is probably fine enough for what you want to do musically right now - and I can't stress enough, saving your money, while boring and hard to do, will save your life later when you have to pay for things other than gear.

And besides - if you end up deciding to play bass as a career, and if you keep saving - you'll be able to afford some good gear that you can use at good gigs.

AmazingGracePlayer · #11 07-07-2007, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by double_stop2584

As a guy who has lived my entire life scraping together money for EVERYTHING - I'd suggest that you save your money.

You're 14, and you have at least $280.00

I'm 23, and I have $230.00 (after bills, rent, loans, etc.) - and this is not a common occurence. I usually have less.

Your gear is probably fine enough for what you want to do musically right now - and I can't stress enough, saving your money, while boring and hard to do, will save your life later when you have to pay for things other than gear.

And besides - if you end up deciding to play bass as a career, and if you keep saving - you'll be able to afford some good gear that you can use at good gigs.

+1

Save your money and maybe you can get a better amp instead!

Flintc · #12 07-07-2007, 07:29 PM

Seems this is a problem you will never outgrow. Picture yourself older, successful, a good income, a wonderful wife. And she will be saying "Why do you need another bass? You have NINE of them already. And maybe $3500 is a good deal on that bass, but next year we need to replace the roof, you know that, right?"

And dammit, she's right. You DO need a new roof. But it's just this one more bass, honest, just this one...

g00eY · #13 07-07-2007, 07:41 PM

So many times I've found great deals on gear that I really wanted, but I never pulled the trigger because I already set my sights on one particular piece of gear. I suggest you find something you really really want and save for it. Just imagine what it'll feel like when you finally get it.

By the way, I'm 16 - that's not much older than you so I'm pretty much in the same boat.

Captain Chaos · #14 07-07-2007, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flintc

Seems this is a problem you will never outgrow. Picture yourself older, successful, a good income, a wonderful wife. And she will be saying "Why do you need another bass? You have NINE of them already. And maybe $3500 is a good deal on that bass, but next year we need to replace the roof, you know that, right?"

And dammit, she's right. You DO need a new roof. But it's just this one more bass, honest, just this one...

I bet that's you.

scottbass · #15 07-07-2007, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmazingGracePlayer

Save your money and maybe you can get a better amp instead!

+1 on that idea. Are you gigging? That's the only REAL justification for another bass. If you gig, you should have a backup.

If you're not gigging, get a better amp so you can go gigging! Then take the first money you earn gigging and buy that second bass.

OK - here's the old man (me) talking: My son has three guitars which all cost less than $300 each. They are very different - a Dean Strat clone, an SX Explorer clone, and an Epi Les Paul. He is glad he has all three of them, but he wishes he would have taken the money he spent on two of them and bought a single better guitar instead. (He needs two guitars because he gigs.)

msquared · #16 07-07-2007, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottbass

+1 on that idea. Are you gigging? That's the only REAL justification for another bass. If you gig, you should have a backup.

If you're not gigging, get a better amp so you can go gigging! Then take the first money you earn gigging and buy that second bass.

Please follow this excellent advice. Save your money if you don't need it. It's good practice for when you're an adult with actual responsibilities.

phatduckk · #17 07-07-2007, 08:28 PM

dude, i had 1 bass till i was 22. i was in plenty of bands in HS and college and still kept on playing my crappy epiphone.

if you're gonna want something new then save up another $500 - $ grand and get a pro-ish level bass

Athe · #18 07-07-2007, 08:47 PM

Just tell her you've got the GAS! That'll change her mind.

RWP · #19 07-07-2007, 08:50 PM

TB causes GAS.

cricketfever32 · #20 07-07-2007, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phatduckk

dude, i had 1 bass till i was 22. i was in plenty of bands in HS and college and still kept on playing my crappy epiphone.

if you're gonna want something new then save up another $500 - $ grand and get a pro-ish level bass

+10000000000000 for that one you have a very nice and very versatile bass (i had the same one until my dad broke it, im 16, flat broke in terms of pocket change but i have 500 saved in my secret box still waiting for enough to buy an sr5, till then im roughing it out by going routinely to samash etc. just work on your basics and stuff until you scrape up enough money to get a very nice bass, and if you eventually want to divert to amps, consider this, if you have an ampeg svt-cl with an 8x10 and all you have to play through it is a ****** bass, itll still sound like ****, but if you get an amazing bass your amp doesnt really matter much