Deals VS Dollars

[msb]

I keep a little "musical emergency" cash in a sock . Well , not really in a sock , but it's handy . And I'm always checking the local kijiji . So if I see something I can generally grab it . I've bought new and I've bought used . And I've got most everything I need , but it's always nice to find a deal . And you've got to be quick sometimes to get there first .
I generally play several gigs a week , so I do enough gigs with the gear to break even , and then go back to my old favourites .

 

[matti777]

Are we talking about a Warwick Streamer Stage 2 by chance?

 

[Swampish]

I have a 3-bass max rule (well, partly to keep the peace at home). The other advantage to this approach is that it forces you to make tough decisions. Recently, I sold my Sterling Ray34, which I love, but wasn't really playing that much towards the purchase of my American Performer Jazz. It was not an easy decision, but man, do I love the Jazz! So many tones that, really, I've never had before with my Precisions AND I can get a tone close, not exact, but close to the Ray. A super-pleasure to play and no regrets. Though, my one big regret was unloading my Kingston Heir 5 for an MIM Jazz, which I really didn't gravitate towards once I had it.

 

[mrcbass]

Never really thought about this before, but under consideration I realize that I tend to assign a value to something I want. If the "deal" doesn't meet that value, then I'm probably passing. But honestly this value will adjust based on how much I want it and how long I've been trying to score this item.

Last year (or so), I needed a 6 string fretless. It was an experiment, but needed one to find out if it fit, so cheap was pretty important for a quick flip if it didn't workout. I scouted all my sources for used gear for about 6 months and finally came across an item on Reverb. It was considerably more than my "value", but lack of options had me bite the bullet and pay the premium for one sight unseen. It was a brand I'm familiar with and like and I did get a week to test. While I do feel I got appropriate value for this instrument, I paid 30-50% more than I really wanted to for the test.

I've paid a bit more than my "value" for a couple other things, but as a rule that's my process.

 

[Vitrius Humor]

I usually get GAS and patiently wait until what I want pops up at a killer price. Then I go for it! Got my 70s Fender Jazz bass (MIM), an $800+ instrument for $250! My Deluxe Jazz Bass (MIM) for $300. I just picked up a Raven Labs PBR-1 preamp (I had been jonesing for one of those ever since they came out) for $80. I'm kinda lucky a lot. If there's a great deal and I have the money, it's mine!

 

[Yellow Bang66]

what sounds / tones are you unable to get with your current arsenal? are they worth getting?
if it's a hypothetical towards us then outside my overt curiosity for the vintage mudbucker bottom brutality they offer, I'm covered, and for criminally low costs. I've even got a 30k muddy waiting to go in my LB11 P bass (most likely), so expenditures for a costly old Gibson / Epi / Kalamazoo are needless, but still on the GAS list for Santa. doling out more $$ is generally not the answer for finding a fine basic bass, besides, I find the more you pay the further away you get from truly great tone.

I never regretted having extra money, & never really thought I NEEDED a certain bass. "Starve the body , Feed the soul". I guess it depends what or how much we're talking about. use your creativity solve

 

[Eilif]

Used to say buy that bass. Now I say save that money.

I will say also, that the idea that such a deal will never come again, is usually false.

 

[Charlzm]

What do you do when you find something that you’ve wanted for years, which provides a couple tones not already in your arsenal, for an excellent deal — but the price is still so (relatively) high it feels like a punch in the stomach with a possible sweep the leg to follow?

Do you grab that deal now knowing it will likely cost you more down the road to buy it then, if you get the opportunity?

Or do you heed that reluctance to spend so much money and talk yourself into saving the cash? You have other instruments, you can just be happy with them.

Or done another way: do you get that single instrument you want, or instead grab a number of other things for your “home studio” you don’t have, but that are also less challenging to obtain, and have some cash left over?

I'm on the horns of that dilemma as I really want a Steinberger XL-2 but man! The cost! I'm sure the instruments are worth every penny (particularly the ones restored by Jeff Babicz) but that is a big chunk o' change.

So, I voted to "save that money". You know, with the plague going around and employment in my and my girlfriend's fields tenuous at best, it doesn't make sense to spend more than two grand on a bass. Any bass. Or pretty much anything else, for that matter.

 

[Corevalay]

If it's something you really want, and it's an excellent deal, I would grab it. Best case, you got a bass you've always wanted, for cheaper than you could expect. Worst case, you just sell it since it was such a good deal.

 

[4andnomore]

iWhy, invest the money in Carrots, of course.

 

[captainofsmooth]

I missed out on and paid way more later for things I’d wanted for a long time. My advice is if you can afford it, do it.

 

[CallMeAl]

Right now, I have my tools (needs) covered. All my toys (wants) are fueled by gig earnings. Since very little gigs happening, I’d pass. I’m kinda itching for a Jazz bass, seen plenty of deals, but it would be prudent to hold off; despite the desire and boredom building.

But that’s me, and my system. You know your finances and what would be wise for your financial health.

 

[Cliff Colton]

Ask yourself, hypothetically, whether you would buy the bass at twice the ‘deal’ price. If you wouldn’t buy it at twice the price, then you don’t want the bass, you want the deal. Conversely, if you would still consider buying it even at twice the price, then you have no choice... you are obliged to buy it because you’re getting 50% off.

Spouses need to understand this. There is no free will. You have to get it, that’s the rule.

 

[TolerancEJ]

If you have all your basic expenses covered already (shelter, food, bills), then go for it. Maybe it's a dream bass you always wanted own. Maybe it's at a price you haven't seen before.

If you haven't done so already, set alerts & reminders in Reverb, eBay, etc for the instrument you want.

 

[Rabidhamster]

Thanks to everyone for posting so far.

Ask yourself, hypothetically, whether you would buy the bass at twice the ‘deal’ price. If you wouldn’t buy it at twice the price, then you don’t want the bass, you want the deal. Conversely, if you would still consider buying it even at twice the price, then you have no choice... you are obliged to buy it because you’re getting 50% off.

Spouses need to understand this. There is no free will. You have to get it, that’s the rule.

This is my typical MO, but my ability to get that type of deal is typically limited to when I can be out and about face to face, and roam the state hunting the right deal. So honestly by that standard it’s not a break your wrist getting out the wallet sort of deal. Although I think I could eventually sell it for slightly more than it would cost me, I really wouldn’t want to have to resell it. However I could return it if I don’t love it.

This is more of a “retail mispricing” good deal. Probably 25-30% under value. There is some further uncertainty on what I would actually receive because either the description or the photos are a little....confused. No way to tell for sure until it arrives. So the prospect of doing a return in the current situation also gives me some pause as well.

How much do you want the bass? If it is really special at a good price, and you have the money, get it. Buying something else does not make sense because you won’t be buying the thing that really has your attention. It would be better to buy nothing than to buy something you don’t really want.

The price might be rough, but it is better to take the hit if you honestly feel it is the bass you want. Having what you really want makes it easier to walk from temptation, or at least that’s how it works for me.

I know having the instruments I’ve got now has saved me from being tempted by new gear quite a few times.

It’s at a GC, so realistically I’d only be out shipping if I don’t like it. In that case with their liberal return policy, I asked myself why wouldnt I buy it?
In fact after sleeping on it a few times and pondering, I put my payment info in about 4 times but for some reason each time I haven’t submitted the payment. That final click is a doozy. It wouldn’t be the most valuable instrument in my collection, but it would be the one I paid the most for.

Now I’m thinking if I can’t bring myself to click submit one in 4 times maybe I don’t really want this as bad as I thought. If it sells I’m sure I’ll probably change my mind as soon as I discover.

 

[Cliff Colton]

... Although I think I could eventually sell it for slightly more than it would cost me, I really wouldn’t want to have to resell it.

Same persuasive rationale I used for every bass I purchased after the first one. I still have them all, plus accessories.