Should I buy a bass I don't need because its cheap?

[capnjim]

There's a Black Ibanez Roadbass 808 (has 808 on the body).
Its in great shape, OHSC, and I can get it really cheap-under 150 bucks.
I don't need it, I don't have space for it, but I feel myself weakening as I type!
I can't find very much info on these models, is it a really good deal? or just OK?
I don't want to be stuck with a bass that I won't be able to sell (I already have couple of those)
Thanks

[kjpollo]

You do remember you're asking this question on Talkbass, right?


Of COURSE we're going to tell you to buy it!!!

[jebmd]

Should I buy a bass I don't need because its cheap?

The answer is always yes....

[Rockingbird]

Buy it, flip it for profit.

[Old Joe]

I got one I didn't really need arriving tomorrow...

Go for it!

[Dark Horse]

no.

you'll find something cooler as soon as you spend the $$$

[Jeff K]

I've done it many times. Actually, that's usually when you find the best deals. You don't NEED another bass, but when a great deal pops up, you feel bad if you DON'T snag it. After all, "He who hesitates is lost". I got my used (excellent condition) Classic '50s P (Honey Blonde) for $315.00. Didn't need it, but couldn't pass it up.

Got my '08 American Standard Jazz (Blizzard Pearl) brand new with case for $599.00. Didn't need it, but couldn't pass it up. You get the picture...

I've also had a few occasions where I absolutely knew something was a great deal, but passed on it because I didn't need it. The next day, it would still be stuck in my head. I'd go back for it and it would be gone. So now if I see a great deal, I grab it figuring I can always sell it off without losing money if I don't like it as much as I thought I would...

[essentre]

If you want it for yourself then I'd do it. If you're buying just to flip it I would probably not do it. It's always a crapshoot as to whether or not you'll be able to actually sell it again and make a profit.

[Bongolation]

Originally Posted by Rockingbird

Buy it, flip it for profit.

Beyond that, never buy anything you can't.

Such is the beginning of wisdom.

[TechJunky]

A year ago, I would have definitely said yes! Now, however, I have to say no. I used to love buying the cheapies, figuring it's not much money and I can just mess around with it and get rid of it later. Then I started to realize that all the cheap knock-offs and imitations may have looked close to what I wanted, but almost never sound/played/felt like the real deal. Not to mention, $150 doesn't seem like much now...but when you do that every month or two, that adds up. If done every other month (and I was doing it more regularly than that), that's $900 a year! Potentially more if you buy more often or tell yourself the same thing for a $200 bass. I say save the money, put it in a savings account as if you had spent it, and each time you tell yourself "it's only $150, i could get it" put THAT in savings too. Then go and buy yourself a bass your really want or need.



Then again, I love new toys and playing as many basses as I can, so screw it...buy it!

[shadowtippy]

I picked up one like it without the case for a little less and it turned out to be a great player (for the price.) It makes a good beater for knocking around with. If it gets dinged or scratched, who cares.

[ModulusQ5-122]

No, you need to be a responsible adult..........NOT YES BUY IT!!!!

[smcd]

Should you buy *a* bass because it's super cheap? Yes, always.


Should you buy *that* bass?? I don't think $150 is that great a price.

[jmattbassplaya]

I'll play devil's(?) advocate and say no, don't buy it. It's a slippery slope when it comes to buying things just because it's a 'deal'. Is it really a deal if you spend a couple hundred on something you don't need and probably won't use too often? And then you have to put in the time and energy to sell it once you realize you don't need it. I actually collected a nice stable of 14 basses over the years and am currently in the midst of selling most of them off because I don't need them. All of them were great deals then, but all of them are pains in the butt to sell off now.

[mountainmike]

I'd have bought it already - twice if possible

[JxBass]

I've bought basses because they were affordable; I don't have a single one left, I sold them all. Basses that cost more and took longer to acquire I have held on to. It obviously means they meant more to me in the long run.

[shadowtippy]

No, do not buy the bass. Let us know how you like it when you get it.

[tZer]

Some deals are just too good to pass up. I found two such deals on CL the other day and I didn't pass them up and I most definitely do not need any more basses - but as I said, sometimes deals come up that, if you have the $$, you just cannot pass on.

In my case (and possibly yours) I could turn around and relist both of the ones I scored for a small profit without doing a thing to them and be very happy. I am opting to put a little effort in to getting mine cleaned up and set up. Then I am going to, in very good conscience, put them back on the list at a nice profit.

If you think you have one of those kinds of deals staring you in the face, if you have the $$ and you think you can flip it, I'd go for it. But caveat emptor - be sure you know what you are buying! If you can, go put your hands on it, play it, listen to the pots, look at the neck and frets... Sometimes things are sold for super low prices for really good reasons... You need to know how to recognize the gems.

[capnjim]

Boy, about 50-50. Hmm, the I think I'll think on it a bit more, I still have my '92 Peavey Foundation I can't give away for 150$, so I don't think I can sell this one for more than that, are these basses more sale-able than a Peavey Foundation?
I've tried CL and here for a year for my Foundation and not even a nibble.

[smcd]

These old Ibanez models aren't more saleable than the Peaveys of that era. They go in the same price range. $150 is around the going rate for a decent Foundation, especially if it has a case.

I'm not sure I'd sell the Foundation to finance that bass. The Foundation is well thought of, especially here. And those old Ibanez'.... they never impressed me enough to own one. Especially one with such dated styling.