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Basses with 'Mojo' Rant!

Which fits your buying habits for a used bass 10 years old or less?

  • Must be 'minty'

    Votes: 9 9.2%

  • Normal dings and nicks and other wear are ok.

    Votes: 33 33.7%

  • If i like it, i don't care about the cosmetics one bit!

    Votes: 56 57.1%
  • Total voters
    98
#26
In the end, I'll buy what speaks to me, regardless. If I walked into a pawn shop, with cash and saw two basses, one nice and shiny, one well worn(and they were about the same age,and lets assume same model, just to reduce other variables), I'd still try them both. No bias towards either for appearance.

If the shiny one truly spoke more to me, that's what I'd buy. And then be wearing it in myself.:)


But if that worn bass seemed to have the same magic for me that it clearly had for someone else, and left the shiny one coming up short, it's what I'd be going home with.
 
#27
faulknersj said:
Let me be a little more specific; the majority of high end basses (Sadowsky, Custom Shop Fenders, etc) that are for sale here on talkbass are 'mint' or close to it. I am sure some of them have been played, but, in my experience, it is next to impossible to keep a bass that really gets played 'mint' or close to mint. I'm sure there are guys that can play a bass a ton and accomplish this feat (tips welcome ;)) but i can't do it. My basses see about 260 gigs per year...and not one of them is 'mint'. Most of the dings and chips on my basses are on the bottom and for some reason, placing my basses on stands during set breaks beats them up more than any thing else (usually 3 set breaks a night...so about 780 set breaks a year). My main players are 2 Custom Shop Fenders, a 73' Jazz, and a Musicman Sterling. They are all 'good ones', exceptional playing and sounding basses imo. The only one of these that wont lose substantial value from being 'played' is my 73'...and that already has enough mojo for any basses lifetime. But, my point is, and i am speaking mainly about the 'high end' used bass market, imo, if someone passed on one of my Fender CS basses (which aren't currently for sale...lol) for one that was more 'minty' because it didn't get played as much, they might be passing on the better bass (subjective, i know). I have owned high end basses that i got rid of relatively fast because....to me...they weren't the type of 'players' i want. does this make more sense? So, in conclusion, my post was really about what i see as a double standard based on a basses age....the old ones that are mint are often mint because they weren't one of 'the good ones'....because the 'good ones' usually 'got played'. We often do not apply this same standard to basses that are 'newer'. Does that make sense?
Click to expand...

TIP: A lot of the very high end gear on talkbass doesn't see 260 gigs a year either, that's why it stays mint ;)

The thing is, when poeple buy a 2006 made instrument, they are buying something that is "almost new" so they want it to look "almost new". When one buys an instrument from 1963, it's a bit of stretch to ask for something new and a lot of the time, the scrappier the better, since one can marvel at the history of the bass (ie. all the hands it got played by, all the clubs/bars/road it saw, etc.).
 
#29
It is often human expectation that when we buy something old, we don't mind(and actually expect wear and age), but something newer should look newer. We do, as a whole, seem to do apply that logic to most stuff.

Also, that older, but still shiny bass may not be a lemon. Plenty of stories where people get into bass or guitar, buy one and don't like it and buy something else. Or they decide music isn't for them at all. Into a case and into a closet it goes. Years later they may dig it out and say "I'm never going to play that thing again, why not sell it" So into an ad or pawn shop it goes, and the instrument that just didn't do it for the first person may be the "magic machine" for the next guy.
 
#30
I think that if a bass is already collectible and vintage...the worn in "mojo" just adds to the looks, collectibility,and overall vibe of the bass. You wonder how many great licks were played on it,how many great shows it had,etc. But a great bass that isnt old enough to be vintage or collectible in its own right yet that is well worn in is just kind of a beater. I think they have to be collectible regardless of condition before the "mojo" doesnt detract(many times adds) from the value. A pre cbs ultra worn jazz=ultra cool....a well worn 2003 fender american standard...no thx, il buy a new one...
 
#32
Many people's ideas of "normal nicks and dings" are nothing but evidence of carelessness to me. There is no reason an instrument can't remain clean and nice under normal use. Over years, wear will occur, but not on an instrument less than 10 years old unless it belongs to someone touring and playing it all the time.

When professional musicians playing trumpets, violins and saxes can play them for decades with damaging them, I don't find it acceptable that an instrument should be damaged during normal use.

I've bought 30+ year old basses with nicks and dings - I am very unlikely to be interested in a new bass with those defects. There is no "mojo," only wear.
 
#33
Pilgrim said:
Many people's ideas of "normal nicks and dings" are nothing but evidence of carelessness to me. There is no reason an instrument can't remain clean and nice under normal use. Over years, wear will occur, but not on an instrument less than 10 years old unless it belongs to someone touring and playing it all the time.

When professional musicians playing trumpets, violins and saxes can play them for decades with damaging them, I don't find it acceptable that an instrument should be damaged during normal use.

I've bought 30+ year old basses with nicks and dings - I am very unlikely to be interested in a new bass with those defects. There is no "mojo," only wear.
Click to expand...
I'm with you on most of this. I would say though that along with "wear" there is also "age". The tarnish/oxidation of metal parts, darkening and fading if different finshes as well as checking and crazing of old paint. Whether these are "mojo" at all is totally up for debate of course.
 
#34
lowphatbass said:
I'm with you on most of this. I would say though that along with "wear" there is also "age". The tarnish/oxidation of metal parts, darkening and fading if different finshes as well as checking and crazing of old paint. Whether these are "mojo" at all is totally up for debate of course.
Click to expand...

Back in the 70s when I was a young guy taking lessons my teacher told me to be very careful about sudden temperature changes, because it could cause finish checking. This was considered a bad thing then. He said that when taking a bass from outside in the cold (this was northwestern Mo.) to always let it warm up before opening the case (and only use hard cases).

Since it was well known back in the day that a nitro finish would check under those conditions a case could be made that checking on a vintage bass isn't mojo as much as it is neglect and abuse.

Same with belt buckle rash, which he also warned me about. To this day I don't wear a belt when playing bass.

He was a wise man. The bass I had then is still in excellent shape 37 years later, despite years and years of gigs. I guess it doesn't have "mojo", but it is a great bass anyway..... You can see it in my avatar.
 
#36
BillyRay said:
TIP: A lot of the very high end gear on talkbass doesn't see 260 gigs a year either, that's why it stays mint ;)

The thing is, when poeple buy a 2006 made instrument, they are buying something that is "almost new" so they want it to look "almost new". When one buys an instrument from 1963, it's a bit of stretch to ask for something new and a lot of the time, the scrappier the better, since one can marvel at the history of the bass (ie. all the hands it got played by, all the clubs/bars/road it saw, etc.).
Click to expand...

Good points....although I'll bet a lot of touring bassists use high end or vintage stuff. The guys who work a lot around here all have really nice gear.
 
#37
That's a very handy contrast. Thanks to whoever minted "Nojo".

I love and care for my instruments, whether or not they are "worth it" to others. I felt almost physically ill when one of my guitars was damaged by a careless person who stumbled and sat on it.

I understand how certain types of wear (bare wood on the neck, for example) can make for easier playing. I don't have a problem with that, and even may look at sanding or buffing for a better feeling neck.

But the current craze for "relic"-ed instruments leave me cold. It's not only abuse, but it's fakery. To my mind, there's no difference between someone beating up an instrument to make it look "used", and someone who puts a "Fender" logo on their Frankenbass. Both are lying. Rather pathetic if it makes them feel good, and just plain lying if they are trying to fool someone else, whether a potential buyer or someone in the audience.

YMMV.

Marcus
 
#38
I don't call it mojo, I call it character.
I have a 76 and 78 P bass that have a lot of "character".
I don't baby my instruments and I don't abuse them, the wear shows after using them for decades.
my 76 in particular has barely any finish left on the back of the neck, it feels like no other neck I've played.
my friend has a Tokai strat that he bought new in 1983 (I think). he's an absolute monster player and gigs constantly, year after year. his Tokai still looks minty, I don't know how he does it.
one thing I have noticed he does is move his belt buckle to the side and wipe down his guitar after every gig.
I have never once wiped down a bass guitar (body), the strings yes but not the body.
 
#39
faulknersj said:
There are people on here who will pass on a killer 'player bass' because it has a couple blemishes..are there not?
Click to expand...

You got that lee fields album cover, great album. My work distributes for truth and soul and we put out that record specifically.

K back to topic. I picked up an instrument that was kind of abused. I Don't feel like I have a bass with crazy mojo I feel like I have a bass that nobody really cared about before but I saw something I liked in it and decided to fix a few things and keep it. Like someone would a 3 legged dog or something.
 
#40
lucathakid said:
You got that lee fields album cover, great album. My work distributes for truth and soul and we put out that record specifically.

K back to topic. I picked up an instrument that was kind of abused. I Don't feel like I have a bass with crazy mojo I feel like I have a bass that nobody really cared about before but I saw something I liked in it and decided to fix a few things and keep it. Like someone would a 3 legged dog or something.
Click to expand...

There is something satisfying about rescuing an abused bass and turning into something worthwhile. I did it with this '76 Thunderbird:

image-3.jpg


Turned it into this (with lots of "mojo" included):

76tbirdbody.jpg


So now I have one well cared for '76 Thunderbird and one rescued '76 Thunderbird with a repaired neck and lots of dings and scratches - but that plays and sounds good anyway. I can play the "mojo" one on gigs and keep my old friend at home.
 

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