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For those with high end basses/gear

#41
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?
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In the guitar world, there are a lot of what are called "blues lawyers." Meaning middle aged men with very lucrative careers, who buy expensive Les Pauls because they can. It is a little bit of a knock, but I worked at a guitar store for a few years, and have seen the midlife crisis first hand.
I know that can't explain every high dollar purchase posters show here on TB. There are guys with 3 Wals, or talk about buying a Dingwall or Sadowsky like it is nothing. Some have 12 US Fenders of different types and colors. I don't know how they do it.
I only have a Pedulla because I bought it while working at the previously mentioned guitar store, and one of the other stores lowered its cost to try to unload it. I saw it in the corporate inventory and had it shipped to my store so I could but it. I got it for less than half what they normally go for.
My next most expensive purchase is the Barefaced Super Twin a got a few months ago. I financed that by selling a bunch of other cheaper equipment. How some players have a few of these, or multiple tube heads is still a mystery to me.
My person boutique snob guilty pleasure are pedals. I have quite the collection of hand built pedals that are hard to come by. Compared to Boss or EHX, they are expensive. In reality, they are $200-$250 each, which really isn't that much.
 
#45
socialleper said:
However, both Victor Wooten and Ryan Martinie used the instruments they had before they were "famous" and stuck with them. There are other guys in bands that are only famous within their genres that have some pretty expensive basses. Since a lot of these guys, like the deep bench of tech death metal players Warwick has, may have come from money since they clearly have a deep musical education already.
On the other hand, a guy like Mike Manring could only have his hyperbass with the clout and money being a pro musician offers.
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One more time; I posted this vid in another thread- It bears repeating:



From the horse's mouth so to speak. Don't know about Ryan.

At this very moment:
I'm lusting over an ESP Custom Shop Frank Bello Signature P/J that would take 9 months to build and cost $$. I'm sure if Frank wanted another, they would whip one right out. But I'm not in Anthrax (no comment-don't want to offend any of their fans) Plus he actually does have some chops; I've looked!:roflmao:

No love whatsoever for Frank, but the bass is a different story, and the ESP Custom Shop- Wow, they're great.

Michael Manring- I saw him from about 10 feet away, solo. With his Hyperbass & without. "It must be magic! That can't be done!" thought I.
But damn if he can't play his arse off and do things only he can do.
Michael has a rich and full performance schedule and is a well-recorded musician, but you know- I doubt very much if he's living in a big mansion (or would want to). I think Zon works with him mainly because of his playing genius.
They don't sell a lot of Hyperbasses I wouldn't think.

The Warwick pack ranges from Lee Sklar to Jonas Hellborg to Trujillo and a whole lot of Metal heroes.
Whatever will sell a bass, for sure. They're in. A past drummer I used worked with Divinity Roxx for a while, who I believe was with Warwick; maybe still is. I did not like her, or him w/her for that matter. YMMV.

One thing I know- Ain't never gonna see my name on a headstock unless I get a water-slide decal made!:D
 
#46
Plutonium244 said:
Midlife crisis or not, there is something to be said for buying that really great bass or rig you'd wished you had while paying your musical dues for 35 years, BEFORE you die, and not hoping for it to be waiting for you in heaven.
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I don't think it's so much the psychological midlife crisis as it is finally paying off your mortgage, getting your kids through college and out of the house and feeling comfortable with your retirement nestegg. If your income is limited and you live within your means, you might be in your fifties or even sixties before you can feel good about spending few thousand on a hobby.
 
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#47
I have a 1986 Alembic Persuader that many consider high-end boutique. But I bought it used over 10 years ago. I did price one out using the same specs, just for grins, and was surprised how expensive it would be today. Although I play almost every weekend, I could never justify a new bass over $6000. I am an elementary Music teacher....so, no high paying job here either.
 
#49
After playing with a fair deal of musicians, I found that those who drop serious change on gear are typically not the best players. Conversely, I won't perform with musicians who completely neglect their gear and tone.

What really gets me is that I meet some of these musicians, who behave like absolute rock stars at night, and then wake up in the morning and continue being a Special Needs Teacher or some other demanding and stressful position. Those are absolute super heroes.
 
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#50
MDBass said:
  • Endorsement deals
  • Save up for a long time
  • Slush fund of music related income separate from wife's
I play/record music for a living, and own a variety of basses, though only one in the $3k+ range...but they're all tax write-offs for me ;)
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Yes, I'm finding that since my music income is 1099-able I need to spend it on gear or else take a big tax hit. Always a good convo to have with the wife, "Honey, I have to spend all of it before the end of the year!"
 
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#52
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.
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Good and probably accurate response. Also, in some cases you get people living at the edge of their means, regardless of income or profession.

I used to have a motorcycle and a sports car at a time in my career when I was grossly overpaid. Now I have basses and amps and spend more time at home in a safer cheaper hobby. I think my wife takes that into account when she "doesn't notice" a gear purchase.
 
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#54
  • Through a combination of working very hard (for lower pay) and being in the right place at the right time, I make a very good income
  • I live modestly. We have a modest house. I have a modest wardrobe. We don't have a bunch of fancy furniture, art, etc. I'd rather have fewer high end things than just lots of things. My fixed bills represent roughly 7% of my net income.
  • I can buy "guilt free". I have a budget and savings plan that I stick to religiously. I refuse to finance anything. I was once in a "I make the money, she spends it" marriage. I now have a long term girlfriend and what's mine is mine and hers is hers. We split the bills and don't say anything about how each other spends any excess cash we might make.
  • When it comes to music, I don't feel like I need dozens of instruments and amps. I see guys all the time with rooms full of gear, amps, effects, etc. I can get by with a lot less equipment, but have extremely high standards on the quality of what I do get/have.
 
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#56
Work. Save. Wear condoms. Even one child is much, much more expensive than any Ritter or Fodera.

Full disclosure: I don't own any high-end basses, but my double bass cost more than $3K. If quality is the main factor, I'm still on the outside, tho I DO love that bass. If it's simply the price, I guess I'm in.
 
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#57
The "music income slush fund" of a weekend warrior can add up quickly since it has no other responsibilities. Buy only used gear, and flip stuff that doesn't get used. (Or it just piles up)

I purged ten years of acquisitions, a couple years back, and instituted a mandatory two week cooling off period on GAS induced desires. I actually cleared a modest profit. Only a couple small purchases since, (pedals, mostly, you think I'd have learned by now, right?) and they might get thrown back.

It was fun, and I'm left with a sweet Dingwall Super PJ5, a couple amps, and my fEarfuls. Oh yeah, I built four fEarfuls. A super value!

As hobbys go, it was fairly economical. Kind of a fun, for the most part, part time job and fun night out.

The things that make hobbies possible were also in place: a decent paying job, a stable, working, very patient spouse, no big bad habits, and general good fortune.
My kid's scholarship was a bonus, too.

The buying used rule was huge. Get a decent deal on something, keep it in good order and you can likely get out of it for transaction costs like shipping and PayPal fees. You might even make a few bucks.
 
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#59
I lucked out with my EBMM Stingray 5 HH. traded a limited run Gibson explorer bass that I paid $799 for brand new (and ended up hating later on) with money from my first job for a bass that retails for $2099. The guy I traded had money and knew what the bass was worth, he just really wanted a quality made explorer.

Just bought my Ric 4003 in march on split credit payments through reverb. Got it for an awesome price and even after the small amount extra I'm going to end up paying in interest, it's still significantly lower than what the average new Ric goes for.

I realize these aren't quite boutique $3000+ instruments, but they are still what most would consider high end, expensive and professional level. A lot more expensive than I ever thought I'd spend on a bass when I first started playing, let alone owning two American made high end instruments. If you want something, treat yourself and find a way to pay for it
 
#60
I have to consider myself fortunate as I don't see buying a $3000 bass that big of a deal assuming you love music, you play it and enjoy doing so.

There are lots of ways to do it including bringing lunch to work instead of going out and spending $10 a day on mcdonalds or pizza.

That being said we all have choices in life and prioritize things differently.
 
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