I was trying to think of a bass that cheap that would meet that criteria, but none comes to mind.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
$2,000. Investment bass?
- Thread starter GeezerDeacon69
- Start date
I was trying to think of a bass that cheap that would meet that criteria, but none comes to mind.
I would hunt for deals. Don't put it all in one bass. It is a gamble predicting how the market will move. I look at instruments that are original, well made, and name brand that has a good reputation.
I remember when P basses were everywhere for a couple of bills but know I can't see the value going up much more. Hindsight.
Gibsons have just begun to jump in value.
I saw a neckthrough Charvel on clist for 200. I thought if its in good shape it will go up in value. With 2 grand I could buy 10 basses and only need to hit it on one to get my investment.
I saw a Warwick and a Vox both cheap and probably good investments.
Educate yourself so you know what the seller has better than they do.
I remember when P basses were everywhere for a couple of bills but know I can't see the value going up much more. Hindsight.
Gibsons have just begun to jump in value.
I saw a neckthrough Charvel on clist for 200. I thought if its in good shape it will go up in value. With 2 grand I could buy 10 basses and only need to hit it on one to get my investment.
I saw a Warwick and a Vox both cheap and probably good investments.
Educate yourself so you know what the seller has better than they do.
Best deals I got and investments were 40$ guitars.
Epiphone LesPaul JR. 40$ and everyone wants to play it. Wife, students, kids myself can't believe how much playing and enjoyment for less than a tank of gas and I could get my money back.
Found 63 Gretsch Double Anniversary at a junk shop 40$. I spent many hours cleaning of ugly paint I have a valuable instrument. The prices have gone up now that Gretsch is making guitars again. when I first saw the guitar I knew exactly what it was closed the case and made an offer the seller didn't know what he had.
Only problem with my "investments" I don't sell my instruments.
Peace
Epiphone LesPaul JR. 40$ and everyone wants to play it. Wife, students, kids myself can't believe how much playing and enjoyment for less than a tank of gas and I could get my money back.
Found 63 Gretsch Double Anniversary at a junk shop 40$. I spent many hours cleaning of ugly paint I have a valuable instrument. The prices have gone up now that Gretsch is making guitars again. when I first saw the guitar I knew exactly what it was closed the case and made an offer the seller didn't know what he had.
Only problem with my "investments" I don't sell my instruments.
Peace
Buy an new custom Fender, keep it in its case (with all the case candy, don't open any of the celophane wrappers) for 30 years or something and if the world is still around, you should make a profit.
Moral? Every investment takes patience
Moral? Every investment takes patience
My thought is Rickenbacker. MF (as has been stated) has the Midnight Blue 4003 for $1,300. Buy that one and immediately you have made $500 without doing a thing. Who knows - another 2-3 years and you might increase that to $600-700.
I have played Rics since the late 60s. I have NEVER seen them go DOWN in value. Take that as you may....
I had considered grabbing one of the blue Rics myself, but just got a 2010 Mapleglo and if I buy another one - I will be a dead man...
I have played Rics since the late 60s. I have NEVER seen them go DOWN in value. Take that as you may....
I had considered grabbing one of the blue Rics myself, but just got a 2010 Mapleglo and if I buy another one - I will be a dead man...
My thought is Rickenbacker. MF (as has been stated) has the Midnight Blue 4003 for $1,300. Buy that one and immediately you have made $500 without doing a thing. Who knows - another 2-3 years and you might increase that to $600-700.
I have played Rics since the late 60s. I have NEVER seen them go DOWN in value. Take that as you may....
I had considered grabbing one of the blue Rics myself, but just got a 2010 Mapleglo and if I buy another one - I will be a dead man...
I noticed other similar statements in this thread, and I'm confused. I've seen evidence elsewhere that while Ricks hold their value relatively well, they do NOT increase in value, unless they are a museum piece with an authenticated famous player's playing history.
Interesting....
About 3 years ago I STUPIDLY sold a Midnight Blue 4003 that I bought for $1,000 for $1,500. I played it constantly and it had the usual wear and tear - granted, I baby my basses, but it still looked like a 7 year old bass.
I don't buy an instrument with the idea of turning it over, but it has been my experience over the years that Rics not only hold their value but they increase in value at a better rate than say Fender or most of the other "top" brands.
Unfortunately, at this particular time in history, it is most definitely a buyers market as evidenced by the MF sale on the Rics. I can't recall a time when I EVER saw a Rickenbacker go for this much BELOW market value and I assume that MF has a few too many Midnight Blue Rics and wants to clear them out as it's only that color that is on sale. So, for those who purchase, they are starting off ahead of the game because the market WILL improve...........*hopefully*
find out which guitars have gone up significantly in price in the last 10 years (are there any?) i dont think its a good investment. buy an old fender and you can probably get back what you paid for it when you sell it. if you buy a new guitar from a store it always sells for less than you paid.
yeah but alot of of people are doing that, ruining the rarity(and thus value) for the future...
MikeBass
Supporting Member
- Nov 4, 2003
- 11,943
- 3,140
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist- Suhr basses, PedalTrain, GHS, Ultimate Ears
Well, maybe. I bet there are other investments that will do better over 30 years.
I'd go with Fender...
It comes down to luck, really. I scored a 1962 Precision for $950 last year, totally by chance, completely original but a refin and added Jazz PU. This keyboardist had an ad up on CL for about 20 minutes and I was lucky enough to contact him first (years of skimming CL on the regular paid off)
A combination of a seller not exactly knowing what something is worth, not WANTING said object, and...well...luck to be the first to grab it.
It's really about not spending much money on the initial purchase if you want a good "investment". Personally, I think dropping $6k on a mid-60's Jazz bass is not exactly an investment because you're paying top-dollar right off the bat.
If you're looking to spend only $2k...personally, I'd hold on to that until it doubles to $4k, and then you're in the ballpark for a mid-late 60's P bass, maybe an early 70's Jazz, and maybe if you're LUCKY, you'll come across someone getting rid of a pre-CBS Fender for dirt cheap...hey, it happens sometimes.
It comes down to luck, really. I scored a 1962 Precision for $950 last year, totally by chance, completely original but a refin and added Jazz PU. This keyboardist had an ad up on CL for about 20 minutes and I was lucky enough to contact him first (years of skimming CL on the regular paid off)
A combination of a seller not exactly knowing what something is worth, not WANTING said object, and...well...luck to be the first to grab it.
It's really about not spending much money on the initial purchase if you want a good "investment". Personally, I think dropping $6k on a mid-60's Jazz bass is not exactly an investment because you're paying top-dollar right off the bat.
If you're looking to spend only $2k...personally, I'd hold on to that until it doubles to $4k, and then you're in the ballpark for a mid-late 60's P bass, maybe an early 70's Jazz, and maybe if you're LUCKY, you'll come across someone getting rid of a pre-CBS Fender for dirt cheap...hey, it happens sometimes.
You haven't mentioned your age. One factor for many collectors is what did their most popular bands/singers use? What did they play on stage? What's in their photos. For people my age ( baby boomer ) you want to collect Rick 6-strings or basses, strats or Les Pauls, Gibson SGs, etc. The instruments that come to mind when you think of the Beatles, Beach Boys, Eric Clapton, etc. I used to have a Sears Silvertone electric guitar, but not too many ever showed up in publicity photos. Would I buy one today for an investment? Nope. Would I buy it just to look at it and enjoy the memories? You bet! If you want to collect for an investment, just go with the ones your favorite player used. Don't think of ever making a profit - just get what you enjoy looking at 'cause that may be all you're ever going to get out of it.
Glad this post is still open. I just visited the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. Right there on display is the exact Sears Silvertone guitar I owned, complete with the amp case. For those who don't know what that was, the hard case has a speaker and tone/vol controls. All you do is stand it up opened, plug in your case, and plug in your guitar. Tacky - you bet! But for kids on the cheap in the 1960s this was a cool ax.
I wouldn't look at basses as investments at all.
Good example... when I was a teenager in the mid 80's, you could buy almost any 1970's RIC, pre-EB Stingray, Fender P or J for approx $500.
25+ years later, none of these basses are worth more than $2000 (maybe the odd exception).
If you invested the $500 in almost anything in the stock market (mutual funds, etc.), you would have much more than $2000 today.
I would look at protecting your investment vs making $$$.... buy used, buy desirable stuff like 70's Fenders (60's if you can afford it), used Sadowskys, RICs, etc. Worst case you play the hell out of a bass for a while and if you ever want to sell it down the road you don't lose $$$ and may make a buck.
Good example... when I was a teenager in the mid 80's, you could buy almost any 1970's RIC, pre-EB Stingray, Fender P or J for approx $500.
25+ years later, none of these basses are worth more than $2000 (maybe the odd exception).
If you invested the $500 in almost anything in the stock market (mutual funds, etc.), you would have much more than $2000 today.
I would look at protecting your investment vs making $$$.... buy used, buy desirable stuff like 70's Fenders (60's if you can afford it), used Sadowskys, RICs, etc. Worst case you play the hell out of a bass for a while and if you ever want to sell it down the road you don't lose $$$ and may make a buck.
