When you buy something...

Nick Ioannucci · #1 11-10-2006, 08:57 AM

do you buy top of the line/the best you can afford and buy once, or spend less cash and have to buy again and again and again. i always seem to be taking flak from my mom(my dads all for it) and my friends that i waste to much money on simple things that i should just spend less money. my bass is by no means top of the line according to whats on the headstock, but other than that i try to buy the best i can so i wont have to spend extra money later down the road. whats your take?

SOA_bassist · #2 11-10-2006, 09:32 AM

my take is until i move out and get a real job and hopefully afford some decent stuff ill just keep buying cheap stuff. only good things i got are a computer and ym amp and cab, and seeing as how my dad bought the amp and cab and the computer is really my brothers... eh.

but what you do is good. if you can afford something that you like and that will last you a couple of extra eyars you might as well.

Mon Rominee · #3 11-10-2006, 09:46 AM

I buy my top-of-the-line stuff used...I figure, if it's still good after previously owned and didn't break, it's fine by me, and much cheaper.

bing!

tplyons · #4 11-10-2006, 09:48 AM

If it's better than me now, there's only room to grow into it. Sure beats losing money every step of the way.

**Kelly Lee** · #5 11-10-2006, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mon Rominee

I buy my top-of-the-line stuff used...I figure, if it's still good after previously owned and didn't break, it's fine by me, and much cheaper.

bing!

+1

Matthew Bryson · #6 11-10-2006, 11:55 AM

I buy middle of the road stuff. I can't afford top of the line, but I can afford a step up from entry level. For example - The last two basses I bought have been Fender Japan. I want the step up in quality from MIM, but I can't afford the 'snob factor' so i do not insist on MIA. I also buy used gear sometimes to get better quality, but even at that I don't buy top of the line used gear.

Slater · #7 11-10-2006, 11:57 AM

I try to determine what my wants/needs are, then spend as little as possible to meet those needs. I don't need the best, I just need what's good enough (for me). What's good enough will be different for everyone. That's why there is Squier, Sadowsky, and everything in-between...

canopener · #8 11-10-2006, 03:50 PM

I usually buy used, middle of the road stuff. Although at some point I may need to upgrade from my combo amps.

fourstringdrums · #9 11-10-2006, 04:02 PM

I buy whatever I can afford that is directly related to my needs. So basically I'm going to buy the best bass I can for my needs and make sure that it's within a budget I set that isn't too high based on where and how much I'm going to use it. I'm just a hobbyist so I'm not going to drop $4000 on an MTD for example.

Nick Ioannucci · #10 11-10-2006, 07:45 PM

yeah, i bought an swr stack on ebay for about 500, ive got some of nice stuff into my mim(lindy fralins BAII shielding etc), and i bought a brand new upright over the summer, plus various other thnigs. the upright was no surprise to anyone, ive been on that for 6 years, but the electric stuff, ive only been into that since january, mainly for jazz, and its my first amp and that seems to bother people. i mean technically its not top of the line, but it certainly is quality. if i persue jazz after high school i can see myself getting a better rig, but for now its fine, and the upright i wont be replacing for a long time unless i become a steady orchestral player after college(i plan to pursue music in some way) i also plan on buying a nice bow. its just interesting for me to see other peoples views. i like tims take on allowing room for growth

davidmurphy · #11 11-11-2006, 08:28 PM

Get the good stuff!
More recognised brands will always be easier to sell on.
Also if you buy used & look after your gear you'll lose less money than buying lots of cheap stuff new & selling it later.

I just bought a 1 year old rig. The condition is near mint but it only cost half what it would new.
Even if, in a few months, I decide it doesn't suit me & I want to sell it (not likely!) I could probably get most, if not all, of my money back.
Even if I lose a couple of hundred that's still a very cheap way to rent out a great rig for a few months.

Poop-Loops · #12 11-11-2006, 08:35 PM

I only buy stuff that's worth buying. My dad alwasy buys garbage because it's a dollar cheaper or something, and it ends up breaking or being completely useless, so he has to spend the money to buy the GOOD thing anyway.

EDIT: This doesn't mean I only buy new. Used is fine, as long as it's quality. My dad will buy the generic version of something, even though there's good reason to believe the brand name IS better in this case.

Ibanezzer · #13 11-12-2006, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Ioannucci

do you buy top of the line/the best you can afford and buy once, or spend less cash and have to buy again and again and again. i always seem to be taking flak from my mom(my dads all for it) and my friends that i waste to much money on simple things that i should just spend less money. my bass is by no means top of the line according to whats on the headstock, but other than that i try to buy the best i can so i wont have to spend extra money later down the road. whats your take?

dude I'm exactly like you!!! And yeah I get knocked on all the time by friends and family who are always saying that I waste soo much money. Though I think they just say that since I'm the only one with a real job besides my parents (my older brother and twin sister are both in school still). And well my friend isn't much into work so he doesn't buy much. I hate the idea of buying cheap at first then having to almost trash that (due to no resale value, etc.) and then rebuy something better. I would so much rather put that money that would have gone into something cheap into a more long term investment, or something that I could at least sell later, yet enjoy having. Though this may not the best best method for everything seeing that I spend so much that its hard to pay for it sometimes.....gotta love credit! ...lol

emils · #14 11-12-2006, 07:01 PM

My father always used to say: " I'm not rich enough to buy cheap stuff!" and that's what I go by.

Nick Ioannucci · #15 11-12-2006, 07:08 PM

nice, my dad tells me the same thing, well does that, buys the best so it lasts as long as possible and i plan to continue that little family tradition.

Monomer · #16 11-12-2006, 07:33 PM

I own two Mercedes, If that tells you anything.

...and these are pre-1997 cars. none of that Chrysler buyout junk.

I do research on everything before I buy.

SuperDuck · #17 11-12-2006, 07:46 PM

My mom always told me: "Find the middle of the line product, and then buy one level better."

RWP · #18 11-12-2006, 07:50 PM

I tend to buy top of the line items at the best price I can find. "The quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten." True words. Sometimes this means buying used.

The exception to this rule is computer stuff. The latest and greatest is always much more expensive than it's worth.

However, due to the SX megathread here on TB I picked up a CHEAP SX jazz and that thing breaks a lot of rules.

I never would have considered it without the positive posts here.

Stuggi · #19 11-13-2006, 10:54 AM

I'm a snob of sorts, so I never buy any cheapo stuff. Not maybe top of the line, but good solid stuff that I know won't crap out on me. Take my Hartke for example. My uncle uses one, and I waited 4 years to see if it's good enough. Mines ½ year old now, he's at least 5 years old still going strong. And when I buy something, it staying, I very seldom sell anything (if I don't buy with the intent to sell)

Rattman · #20 11-13-2006, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mon Rominee

I buy my top-of-the-line stuff used...I figure, if it's still good after previously owned and didn't break, it's fine by me, and much cheaper.

bing!

This is real wisdom. Personally I love to eBay, finding GREAT
deals there. I'll bid AFTER I'm done checking with the
seller, ensuring functionality whatever the device may be.

After winning the bid, I take possession, completely dismantling it,
doing whatever restoring it may need. I've then got a great piece of used
attractive-apprearing/sounding equipment for less $$