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CHEAP BASSES SUCK!!!!

#41
Puarija said:
My dad and I collect vintage Triumph motorcycles. 10 years ago, you could find a running Triumph from the 60s or 70s for $300 - $500. We bought 'em up. Now that same bike in the same condition is fetching anywhere from $1500 to $3000. Why? Did something change and they were suddenly better than they were before? Of course not. People started wanting them. That's it.


- Jacob H
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Hey, me too! I had over a dozen of 'em at once about 5 years ago. Sold off a bunch but still have a half dozen or so - some projects, some runners. But - the point is - it's very similar to my buying habits on basses and guitars. I bought because I was interested (ok, obsessed..) for whatever reason, but also had the brains to buy stuff that I knew I could eventually make money on if/when I sold.

A hobby/passion is a lot easier to justify both to self and SO when it is financially self sustaining or better, profitable. It doesn't have to be the main reason you buy - but being passionate about something and having it be "an investment" aren't mutually exclusive unless you don't care...
 
#45
Ever buy a car? Or try to sell one, or get rid of one?

And the cheap SX and Mexican stuff which you're complaining about is actually quite often giggable, completely useable (if not perfect) gear that can pay for itself over just a couple of gigs.

With your Mustang bass, I'm not sure it's a matter of quality. It might be that there simply aren't many people looking for a short scale bass or a Mustang bass. It's kinda a niche item, in comparison to other much more popular basses.

Next time, think beyond your moment of purchase, and think longer-term about what you might reasonably expect in terms of resale value if you're the type of person to cycle through instruments.

Another thought is to use the bass (gently) and to get your money's worth of playing out of the thing, and then sell it. It won't feel like such a hit then, when you don't get an offer that you think is what it's worth.

Good luck with it.
 
#47
DERECOLA said:
What I mean is why buy a cheaper bass if you change basses like underwear?the resale is horriable..I have a mustang reissue that are selling new for $750.00 with hsc.And The only offer I have been getting is 300.00...At least the American basses bring more resale,so that is all I will buy for now on...You guys with the cheap sx bass and Mexican stuff must really lose your asses.....
Click to expand...

This totally flies in the face of the law of diminishing returns.
 
#48
In my life I've probably owned 14 or 15 basses (I know, many of you have owned lots more - or lots less...), I am down to 3 currently (one is on ebay at the moment. Spread out over 16 or 17 years. Every one I thought I would keep from the ones I payed $200 to the ones I've paid $800 for. And I have sold all but two. You buy with your heart and your eyes and your hands - you love it, it looks hot, it plays this way or that... If you think of what you might sell it for a year or a decade from now, you'll never buy a bass. Buy it, play it, if you decide to sell it, have at it. You may lose your shirt, you might turn a profit. It's gone both ways for me. I just sold 4 basses this week, with #5 pending. I said to myself, no new basses for a year.

I am already looking. Music and those who make it are a fickle bunch!

What was this thread about now? :eyebrow:
 
#51
DERECOLA said:
I had a custome carvin bass made and killed me on resale.....I will never buy new again..
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Hold on...as I go through this, there are two recurring thoughts that come back -

"custom"

"mustang"

First, the Mustang is a POS in the first place. It doesn't have resale value. It's like buying a Chevy Aveo.

Second, custom. When you buy something 'custom,' you buy it for YOU. Nobody else is YOU. Nobody wants YOUR custom bass...they want THEIR custom bass. Buy a custom-made - keep a custom-made...or offer it for sale at more than 50% off what you paid for it.

Third, if you want to buy something that has increasing value today, buy some gold. Not cars, not basses, not oil, and not even homes today.

Z
 
#53
T. B. Player said:
Hold on...as I go through this, there are two recurring thoughts that come back -

"custom"

"mustang"

First, the Mustang is a POS in the first place. It doesn't have resale value. It's like buying a Chevy Aveo.

Second, custom. When you buy something 'custom,' you buy it for YOU. Nobody else is YOU. Nobody wants YOUR custom bass...they want THEIR custom bass. Buy a custom-made - keep a custom-made...or offer it for sale at more than 50% off what you paid for it.

Third, if you want to buy something that has increasing value today, buy some gold. Not cars, not basses, not oil, and not even homes today.

Z
Click to expand...

Not to mention that, from what I've heard, Carvins in general have particularly bad resale value.
 
#55
DERECOLA said:
What I mean is why buy a cheaper bass if you change basses like underwear?the resale is horriable..I have a mustang reissue that are selling new for $750.00 with hsc.And The only offer I have been getting is 300.00...At least the American basses bring more resale,so that is all I will buy for now on...You guys with the cheap sx bass and Mexican stuff must really lose your asses.....
Click to expand...

Can I stop you right there? Since when is a $750 bass "cheap"? I'm actually really offended. I saved up for two years to buy a $700 Jaguar and it's one of the most expensive, prized things I own.

So before you go ranting, get your head straight. Sounds like you need a different hobby.

EDIT: After reading the post again, I don't think you were trying to call the Mustang cheap. But regardless, a $350 Squier VM Jazz may be someone's bread and butter. So go ahead, sit in your parent's basement and buy and sell gear all day long; I'll be playing the local club and making people dance with my "cheap" bass.
 
#59
Clapton paid about $300 for the parts that became blackie, which sold for almost a million dollars. Jaco cant have paid more than $400 or so for the BOD, and is now worth, what, $75,000?

if you want the resail value to go up, become a famous bassist known for that distinct mustang tone, play that bass until it's relic'd to hell, and THEN turn it around. voila! instant net gain.
 
#60
One should NEVER go into any purchase of a musical instrument with the intention of getting their money back out of it. It simply won't happen. Why should someone buy something from you used for a few bucks less than they can buy it new.

We have all taken a bath on some of our bass dealings in the past. I have been playing bass for 30 years and have bought and sold at least 200 basses in that time - if I sat down and tried to figure out just how much money I have lost over the years I imagine I could be pretty depressed.

Take my advice and try not to get too wrapped up in all of that. Buy basses that work for you at that time (yes, your tastes and musical situations will change over the years) and try not to worry about resale value. If you do that, you may just end up keeping something that doesn't work for fear that you'll make a bad financial deal if you part ways with it.
 

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