Advice for poor bass player lol

[bobba66]

I've had good luck with going to work every day and getting paid for it. Maybe I'm missing something?

 

[somebrains]

Vintage only holds value in your mind or a rich collectors pocket. The new equipment has more features and built with more efficient components. The electronics today have tighter tolerances, lower-noise, and smaller footprints. This also translates to the modern day equipment it's made on. I've have my hands on an SX Jazz bass that rivalled my American Jazz in build quality with the woods. A quick electronics switch and basic setup was all I needed to bring it to the "Fender standard". You can always do something with EQ to make a "vintage" sound. Yes, a 2017 Chevy Malibu will never sound like a 1957 Chevy Belair, but in 1957 that Chevy Belair was a low-end family car.

See this add? Low-priced working man's car is now over 50K to buy today. No matter how you polish it...what a piece of junk! Just like my American Fender Jazz that I sold immediately to keep the SX.

Get something new that is playable and has the sound you're looking for... is my point.

Those mega $ 1950's and pre-65 Fender instruments were cheapie mass produced goods without the "fine heirloom quality" work of a stand up German bass or Italian jazz guitar.

Overseas stuff isn't bad, perception is what gives something value.

I would urge the OP to change his self perception, work towards more $.

 

[Attym]

im doing my best to only keep what I’ll play. Sounds like that Gibson could scratch two itches.

 

[RickyT]

Should we also tell you what clothes to wear today? Have you decided what you're having for dinner, maybe we can sort that out for you too?

 

[dxb]

Have you had the 57 Junior appraised? Being that old, I'm sure its worth something but not knowing its condition or the quality of the headstock repair, its hard to say how much.

Also I'm not sure where the collectible guitar market is headed. The older guys who have been hoarding all the vintage gear are starting to pass on and many of those collections could be sold off and flood the market. Personally I'd love that because I'd finally be able to afford some vintage gear, but it wouldn't be great news for sellers.

Also, do you play the Junior or does it just sit in a closet? I think that should be a factor in your decision too. If its a guitar you love playing then I'd say keep it regardless of its value.

 

[EatS1stBassist]

Yeah. I never struggledwhen I was younger the way I am now. Jd byrider car, expensive rent and other bills. I’m barely making ends meet. But playing music is very therapeutic to me. I do play guitar but just chords and songwriting stuff. Bass gets me excited and I’m very good at it ( not trying to sound prideful here)
When people hear me play bass I always get compliments and it makes me feel great about all the practice I’ve put in over the years. But I’m not a gigging musician at the moment. Actually not fot the last 4 years. Last gig I played, my dad had a heart attack on stage playing drums and died ( true story) so I have a lot of anxiety about that but I’m determined to get past it. Cause music is what keeps me going

Sorry for that loss!

 

[Ross W. Lovell]

Hi just wanted to ask you guys some advice.
I’ve been playing bass for over 20 years, I also play guitar. Due to bills and other things I’ve sold all of my bases slowly over the last few years. I am now down to a hohner precision bass copy which was actually my first bass.
the neck was always twisted really bad, But I’ve got it to where it’s pretty playable except for some fret buzz in areas. I'm pretty proud of myself for fixing this bass that had been almost unplayable for the last 20 years but it’s still not that dependable.
Now here is where I need advice. I own an original 1957 Gibson Les Paul Junior that I got for $70 from a pawn shop. The guy at the store was unaware that it was a Gibson. and so was I when I bought it, (long story involving plastic over the headstock to hide a bad repair) but it’s worth some money. I could sell this guitar and get a better bass and have money left over for bills but I’m afraid I’ll be sad in the future that I sold it ( like everything else I’ve sold) what Should I do? Thanks!!

Not sure which LPJr. you have?

The SG versions don't bring as much.

I doubt that it would bring that much in light of a bad headstock repair. I would be surprised if it sold for $1K, if that.

Keep it, don't be sad and stick with the Hohner for now.

 

[Malak the Mad]

Should we also tell you what clothes to wear today? Have you decided what you're having for dinner, maybe we can sort that out for you too?

Yeah! Ya hear that, @Flgc2017?! Better for you to wrestle with your situation completely alone…like some lonely, God-cursed and blinded soul from a Greek tragedy who's forever unable to hear the thoughts and voices of those who surround him*…rather than reach out to a group of friends/friendly peeps who might be able to offer some advice, insight and/or perspective on your gear-related dilemma.
[/OUTRAGEOUSLY THEATRICAL SARCASM]

(*As much as I like the ring of "Stygian depths of utter blackness and despair", that would be laying it on a bit too thick…even for me! )

 

[EatS1stBassist]

Yeah! Ya hear that, @Flgc2017?! Better for you to wrestle with your situation completely alone…like some lonely, God-cursed and blinded soul from a Greek tragedy who's forever unable to hear the thoughts and voices of those who surround him*…rather than reach out to a group of friends/friendly peeps who might be able to offer some advice, insight and/or perspective on your gear-related dilemma.
[/OUTRAGEOUSLY THEATRICAL SARCASM]

(*As much as I like the ring of "Stygian depths of utter blackness and despair", that would be laying it on a bit too thick…even for me! )

Great!!

 

[Malak the Mad]

Great!!

 

[EatS1stBassist]

View attachment 3164604

Lol again! well said!

 

[japhy4529]

Stay as far away from that book as possible. The information in it ranges from dangerous (advice about committing the entirety of your capital wealth to short term, high risk investments) to illegal (advocates insider trading, tax fraud, etc) and most of the author's claims are verified false. Wall Street Journal and Smart Money both tore it to pieces.

+1

 

[Karlson541]

I am rather poor as well, and have had to sell a lot of my amazing gear too throughout the years, acquired in better economical times.
I have been lucky though to find a really great budget bass that I love, only needed a pickup swap to bring it up on side with any of the expensive basses I have owned tone wise, and it already played better than any of those.
So don't loose hope.

However giving advice to other people on what gear to sell or swap seems slightly wrong with me, since I can't possibly know the level of affection you got with the instruments in questions and weather you down along the line will come to regret listening to my advise or not.
Though, sure, seen from my perspective, if you don't really play that much guitar and doesn't need it for recording projects or similar, and bass is where your real passion is, then by all means sell the Gibson and buy a decent bass to your self, the bass with the warped neck as well, unless it holds a strong sentimental value to you.

 

[Nephilymbass]

Hi just wanted to ask you guys some advice.
I’ve been playing bass for over 20 years, I also play guitar. Due to bills and other things I’ve sold all of my bases slowly over the last few years. I am now down to a hohner precision bass copy which was actually my first bass.
the neck was always twisted really bad, But I’ve got it to where it’s pretty playable except for some fret buzz in areas. I'm pretty proud of myself for fixing this bass that had been almost unplayable for the last 20 years but it’s still not that dependable.
Now here is where I need advice. I own an original 1957 Gibson Les Paul Junior that I got for $70 from a pawn shop. The guy at the store was unaware that it was a Gibson. and so was I when I bought it, (long story involving plastic over the headstock to hide a bad repair) but it’s worth some money. I could sell this guitar and get a better bass and have money left over for bills but I’m afraid I’ll be sad in the future that I sold it ( like everything else I’ve sold) what Should I do? Thanks!!

Having a good paying job helps, but if you’re not willing to get a better paying job the other option is just prioritizing what you spend money on. I’m not a doctor or a lawyer and I don’t make 6 figures. But I did go to community college and i make an above average income for my state and especially for the town I live in. For prioritizing its simple. My wife and kids come first, then my retirement investments, then gear basically. My wife and I aren’t into massive survival bunker type homes because we like to travel and be outdoors pretty much everyday we’re off and I don’t have a gig or rehearsal. My car is a 2011, it’s paid for and I’m not looking to trade it. I wear cheap clothes for the most part because they are just clothes. I haven’t bought a new phone or new shoes in three years. At the same time could potentially buy just about any bass on the planet. Now I don’t own a $10,000 bass because gear is not my number one priority. But I’ve managed to own a lot of gear over the years and Including around a dozen basses in the $1500-$3000 range. One of the things that’s allowed me to afford that many basses is trying to be smart about flipping gear. For example the last German warwick I owned was this thumb nt6 I bought used for $1500, played it for a year or so and sold it for $2000.

I literally got paid to play that bass, it was better than free because it didn’t cost me a dime in the long run. And the frustrating thing for a lot of us bass players is cheap gear is basically worthless to sell but expensive gear can be difficult to afford to begin with. It’s a bit of a catch 22 that once you can overcome that you’ll find it much easier to get the gear you want.

 

[flatwoundjohn]

I remember Selling my Rouge 5 String.Yeah It Was Cheap but A Damn Good Bass.All In All You Gotta Do What You Think Is A Right Move.When I Sold My 5 String It Was Sad But With The Money I Bought Some Packs Of Strings That I Needed and Saved The Rest In The Bank.But IMO Do whats In Your Gut

 

[Karlson541]

Having a good paying job helps, but if you’re not willing to get a better paying job the other option is just prioritizing what you spend money on.

Following comment will be rather off topic, admittedly, and one might argue even borderline politically, you could claim the same about the way the above quote is worded as well though, and I just can't help to comment on it, sorry, but I frankly find your wording offensive and mocking, might not have been your honest intention, but it's hard to deny what it implies:

It implies that everyone has the choice of getting a better payed job, and if they don't it is because they are not willing to do what it requires.

Well the thing is that that is simply not true, especially not with current unemployment rates.
But beside the fact that a such job might not even exist, not everyone will be in position of the resources required for that highly payed job.
For instance mental or physical issues might, and does in fact, limit a whole lot of people in getting certain jobs, in some cases making it entirely impossible, and in some cases this will be jobs they really truly wish for.
Also even if everyone ought to have the right to be treated equally as human beings, not everyone is as a fact equal, in the sense that they are individuals with different expertises, limitations, strengths and amount of available resources.
And no one says that the right expertises and strengths necessarily are the ones the best payed job requires either.

 

[juancaminos]

What is lucky about having a guitar, generically speaking. If you want one and have one while being poor I guess you can consider yourself lucky to have one, been there. Otherwise what does it matter what it's worth. However, if your family is really in need, then you are lucky to have something of worth that you can sell to get thru a rough time. If this is just a rough time.

If things aren't really that rough than keep it as an investment (and as something to use for cash when times are really rough). The majority of us just make ends meet, that's life.

I would suggest that you start playing out again for extra cash, piece of mind and to get over the death of your father. Even as a tribute to your father. But not if it strains things regarding that little one in your arms.

I think you know what to do.

 

[Nephilymbass]

Following comment will be rather off topic, admittedly, and one might argue even borderline politically, you could claim the same about the way the above quote is worded as well though, and I just can't help to comment on it, sorry, but I frankly find your wording offensive and mocking, might not have been your honest intention, but it's hard to deny what it implies:

It implies that everyone has the choice of getting a better payed job, and if they don't it is because they are not willing to do what it requires, well the thing is that that is simply not true.
Especially not with current unemployment rates.
But beside the fact that a such job might not even exist, not everyone is in position of the resources it requires, for instance mental or physical issues might and does in fact limit a whole lot of people in getting certain jobs, in some cases entirely impossible, and in some cases this will be jobs they really wish for.
Also even if everyone ought to have the right to be treated equally as human beings, not everyone is as a fact equal, in the sense that they are individuals with different expertises, limitations, strengths and amount of available resources.
And no one says that the right expertises and strengths necessarily are the ones the best payed job requires either.

Yeah I had no intention of offending anyone by that. In fact I was trying to be helpful. I agree with much of what you said, some people don’t have the option. But I’ve also had people who drive Mercedes and hummers ask me how I afford my gear, and I’ve watched people bash going back to school and then turn around and complain about financial stress. What else is there to say to give advice? Tell them to steal stuff? Or run up debt?

 

[Karlson541]

Yeah I had no intention of offending anyone by that. In fact I was trying to be helpful. I agree with much of what you said, some people don’t have the option. But I’ve also had people who drive Mercedes and hummers ask me how I afford my gear, and I’ve watched people bash going back to school and then turn around and complain about financial stress. What else is there to say to give advice? Tell them to steal stuff? Or run up debt?

I don't doubt what you say there is true, and I believe you didn't intentionally seek to offend anyone.
Non the less, as I see it, you did in fact just offend a lot of people who have no other options than to stay where they are.
As well as you offended OP by insinuating he is one of those people you describe there, I assume, without knowing him or his situation.

 

[Nephilymbass]

I don't doubt what you say is true, and I believe you didn't intentionally seek to offend anyone.
Non the less, as I see it, you did in fact just offend a lot of people who have no other options than to stay where they are.
As well as you offended OP by insinuating he is one of those people you describe there, I assume, without knowing him or his situation.

Some people are offended that the sun rises. It is what it is. I said I didn’t not intend to insult anyone and I meant that. Perhaps you read into what people say the wrong way. You know negative people see things negatively.