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For those with high end basses/gear

Beetfarm615

Beetfarm615

Feb 15, 2017
139
245
#1
Ever drive by a really nice house and wonder what the residents do for a living to afford it? I'm curious about those with high end basses ($3000+) and how it is they come to own them. I imagine we'll see a combination of:
  • High paying non-music profession
  • Go deep into debt
  • Endorsement deals
  • Save up for a long time
  • Slush fund of music related income separate from wife's (this is me)
What's your story?
 
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#2
Beetfarm615 said:
Ever drive by a really nice house and wonder what the residents do for a living to afford it? I'm curious about those with high end basses ($3000+) and how it is they come to own them. I imagine we'll see a combination of:
  • High paying non-music profession
  • Go deep into debt
  • Endorsement deals
  • Save up for a long time
  • Slush fund of music related income separate from wife's (this is me)
What's your story?
Click to expand...


I think you're going to find:
  • High paying non-music profession
to be the most common answer. Not even high paying really...just making a decent middle class living affords sufficient disposable income for a $3k instrument. This is not particularity expensive and compares with what people commonly invest in motorcycles, golf, shooting sports, cycling, etc...

Edited to add that the fact that a run of the mill corporate job pays more than the average music career is what keeps most of us in the weekend warrior ranks.
 
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#5
The paradox here I think is that- If a World-Class Bassist performs with an expensive bass, the chances are that he or she is given that instrument by the builder in return for the tacit endorsement. Even if the player can certainly afford the axe through their bookings, they more than likely will not have to pay (at least full-buck) for it. As examples, I offer Nathan East and Lee Sklar.

Here, on TB, some of the most "noted" owners of really high-end basses have stated that they are working in high-level positions or own businesses, etc. I think it fair to say that they don't realize the income from their bass playing to buy several REALLY expensive ($10K eg) instruments.

Personally, my basses are not over-the-top price-wise, but I do have a lot of fine gear, most of it above the "bread/butter" price points.

I'm pretty happy in that I play fairly regularly with decent pay-outs, and also have a work at my discretion "day job" within the MI trade.
I'm also a victim of GAS in that I have more than I "need" but then again- Every one of my basses and my rigs is the bomb! to own and play.
No regrets here.
 
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#8
wilder said:
I think you're going to find:
  • High paying non-music profession
to be the most common answer. Not even high paying really...just making a decent middle class living affords sufficient disposable income for a $3k instrument. This is not particularity expensive and compares with what people commonly invest in motorcycles, golf, shooting sports, cycling, etc...

Edited to add that the fact that a run of the mill corporate job pays more than the average music career is what keeps most of us in the weekend warrior ranks.
Click to expand...
This is a good point, equating it to other hobbies like motorcycles, firearms, golf, etc.
 
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#11
I don't drink booze, take drugs, or gamble.

I also have a day job.

That combination provides a good equipment budget if one prioritizes that. I do a lot of paying gigs, but the choices I made earlier in my life (switching from music major to something else in college), along with choices I make today, allow me to buy the gear I want and also play shows that don't pay well.

It comes down to priorities. If you don't have a few beers every day you'd be amazed at how much money you don't spend. :D
 
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#12
I drink (moderately though- It's 115 here today, I'll need a cold beer soon!); No drugs, and gamble- Well, I sorta have to being as I live in Las Vegas and have to do SOMETHING between sets at the Casino gigs!:roflmao: I just enjoy slots, and throw the die at the Craps table every now/then. No big. No addiction, just a l'l fun.

I believe I read once that the percentage of Musicians who, as a full time Career, earn even a paltry $25-30K/year solely through their engagements is...VERY small. And these days- $30K is not all that easy to live on, at least in the cities I've lived in. SO-
Of course you have Millionaire Rawk/Country/Rapper Stars, and well-paid Session players, and nicely-compensated Classical Musicians (I have a friend who plays with the LA PHIL- she is making BANK!!!-but she's trained, skilled, and one of the few in the string section).
But those who make big bux with their musical abilities are the VAST minority, much like those who can play MLB/NBA/NFL.

A good credit score can help!
Even SWEETWATER carries Foderas now:roflmao:
 
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#17
Hold up Guys!
You now must submit, in order to reply to
this thread, THIS:
images.jpg
 
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#18
I worked a decent paying job for a few years and made an effort to save money to buy a house. Due to various circumstances, I decided that I was still at least a few years away from it making sense to buy real estate, so I used a chunk of the money I'd saved to buy a Zon.

Part of this was a sort of reward for saving the money, since I wouldn't have saved nearly as much if it weren't for the aborted plan to buy a house, part of it was in the interest of taking one shot at seeing if boutique instruments were worth the cost (I'm a lefty, so I practically never see boutique instruments I can play), and part of it was because various physical issues had me already on the lookout for an instrument that would be easier on my neck and back for long-term use but still of great quality (the Zon I had built is a custom 32" scale Zon Vinny that is extremely small and light).
 
#19
  • High reasonably well paying non-music profession
Also, no wife and kids to limit my spending. No divorce to lose half my savings. No major health problems. No debt. That being said, I am pretty disciplined in my spending, I used to limit my spending on gear to the income I got from playing, but after a lull in my gigging, I decided to open it up my discretionary funds to gear. I went from two basses to 22. I need to sell some stuff, I've been trying to downsize but upgrade. My first boutique bass was a revelation, a used Fodera Standard, then I ordered another Standard new (fretless), now I'm considering a custom. I have the money but not ready to spend that kind of cash on a bass yet. But I'm considering it :bassist:.
 
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