• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Help! Been offered a gift by my employer.

#21
If the guy had offered you the cash equivalent of a custom guitar would you keep the cash in a box in the closet, hold on to it forever and never spend it?

A guitar is just a thing with a certain value. I'd get the guitar and swap it for a bass I wanted and every time I took that bass out I'd say "Thanks boss".
 
#24
It strikes me that there are two things you want to address here; one is that you don't want to offend your boss, the second that you don't want what the particular plant has to offer.

You need to deal first with the kindness that was extended to you. If I read it correctly, your boss has a connection to the Bozeman plant. So tell him something like you always wanted to visit the plant and perhaps he could arrange for a tour. Show some enthusiasm for this.

Then you can say that you really aren't a guitarist and you wouldn't be able to fully appreciate the offer of a custom guitar. Don't say "no" to him. Help him accomplish his intentions. He doesn't understand, but he would like to. Be honest and I'm sure you can come to a real understanding that brings him a degree of satisfaction and you a bass that you will treasure.
 
#25
Maybe its an opportunity to learn another instrument.

I've considered myself primarily a bass player, but do most of my songwriting on guitar.

My first custom instrument was actually a guitar. I had spec'ed out and designed a baritone guitar. It doesn't get used as much as my dreadnaught and Strat, but it's nice to have it in my toolbox when it's time.
 
#26
D7ycp4140goot myself. But, a few months back, my bride got me a Martin acoustic. I have really enjoyed it! I'm even taking some lessons. And it has really expanded my view of bass playing as well. I'll always be a bass guy first. But that acoustic has gotten some quality playing time lately. (It doesn't hurt that every time I pick it up my 3 year old goes nuts and starts to dance.)

Either way, congrats all around on keeping the job and the great gift! There's really no wrong answer here. Your boss seems like a great guy.[/QUOTE]

Yeah right? Why not Fodera or some shop of the sort? Lol.

Maybe, I should quit thinking so much and just pick a darned guitar!?

Speaking of which, I have not a clue, as there are so many to choose from!

Thanks.
 
#27
I'd get them to build an absolutely perfect Alex Lifeson early-'70s ES335 (or is it 355, I always get Gibson and Ferrari nomenclature confused with each other) recreation (the white one), with REAL GOLD-plated hardware, then take it to a meet&greet at a Rush event somewhere, or even drive up to Alex's nightclub on a night he's there. When you'd meet him, you could let him noodle around with it and play a few songs, GET PICTURES WHILE HE'S DOING IT, and then put it up for sale with the pics and documentation. There's enough die-hard Rush fans out there who would pay sssseeeeeerious money for it, then you could buy *several* basses of your liking with the proceeds.
 
#29
I play some guitar, for my own enjoyment mostly. I have a 75 Gibson J40, very sweet. You could take the instrument and decide what to do with it afterwards. Playing and understanding guitar helped my bass playing. You never know when the skill may come in handy. Until a few years ago, I worked with developmentally disabled and mentally ill adults, and ended up having a music class. With the DD, I sang and played guitar(never sang in public before), and with the mentallly ill, I had a guitar class. Towards the end, my guitar students and I sang and played for the DD folks I used to work with. Nothing can describe that feeling. The recession ended my working with the disabled, unfortunately. Maybe a friend who plays guitar might want to play on it at your house while you play bass. Maybe a band member might like to use it in your band. Lots of scenarios could occur. Never a bad thing to have a nice instrument of any kind around. My two cents.
 
#30
Wyattsgroove said:
...What would you do TB?
Click to expand...
So, they only make acoustic guitars at the Bozeman factory.

1. Pick a super expensive acoustic guitar. J-200 New Vintage, Montana Gold Flame Maple, Hummingbird Custom Koa, Jackson Browne Signature, or L7-C Acoustic Archtop. Don't go too custom. Ask for mother-of-pearl extras or maybe nothing custom.

2. Be thankful.

3. Take a bunch of generic photos with the guitar at your home. Make a black and white print of one of the photos. Hang that photo in your office. Cheesy but effective.

...

and now

...

the secret plan

...

4. Sell that custom guitar for $5,000 to $6,000. This is why you don't want to go too custom on options. It may make it less appealing.

5. Buy a custom bass with the money.

...

game

...

set

...

match
 
#33
As others have suggested, thank him graciously, express enthusiasm for a factory tour (I know I'd love to do one), but explain to him honestly that you are a bassist not a guitarist, and wouldn't be able to play anything the factory has to offer at a level worthy of the instrument. Then, suggest that the company find a worthy, low-income guitar student, one showing a lot of promise, and maybe some leadership or volunteerism in his/her community, and make the same offer to that student. The company can use it as a PR stunt, your conscience remains clean, your boss doesn't feel snubbed, and you've both done a tremendous good deed.
 
#36
Perhaps you could have them make you a custom 4 or 5 string guitar.

Then either play it like a piccolo bass, patch it through an octaver, or experiment with strings. The Bajo Sexto I think has guitar length strings more in our range.
 
#38
tplyons said:
Maybe its an opportunity to learn another instrument.

I've considered myself primarily a bass player, but do most of my songwriting on guitar.

My first custom instrument was actually a guitar. I had spec'ed out and designed a baritone guitar. It doesn't get used as much as my dreadnaught and Strat, but it's nice to have it in my toolbox when it's time.
Click to expand...

Ooohhhh... Baritone acoustic...
 
#39
Bassist4Eris said:
As others have suggested, thank him graciously, express enthusiasm for a factory tour (I know I'd love to do one), but explain to him honestly that you are a bassist not a guitarist, and wouldn't be able to play anything the factory has to offer at a level worthy of the instrument. Then, suggest that the company find a worthy, low-income guitar student, one showing a lot of promise, and maybe some leadership or volunteerism in his/her community, and make the same offer to that student. The company can use it as a PR stunt, your conscience remains clean, your boss doesn't feel snubbed, and you've both done a tremendous good deed.
Click to expand...

This sounds like a good route to me: you show the boss you're honest and decent over issues like this so likely you'll be honest over bigger things. And that you're not a money-grabbing git..it sounds as if you're doing ok and going to do ok in your specialised field (whatever it is) so it will be to your advantage anyway to act decently with this boss.

And there's one more advantage no-one has mentioned I believe. You avoid the following prat-fall: You're going round the factory being treated like an important guest with someone from Gibson and your boss. Someone says "Hey, try this one!". You have to admit you aren't a guitarist and everyone looks stupid including your boss in front of his friend.
 
#40
"... oh, how are you good now with your Custom Shop treasure?"
talkin' to other colleagues of yours:
"... you gotta know this guy's great, I appreciate him so much I once decided to tribute him with a Custom Gibson guitar... I know the guys over there, you knew that? I invited him for a factory trip and made him get his tailored insrument"
"so, Wyatt are you gonna please us with your chops, one of these nights? My wife and me, we're goin' to invite all of you at our humble place to celebrate (you choose: someone's birthday/company anniversary/company targets/benefits...)"

what are you goin' to go here?
"Ehm, sorry boss, I sold/traded/presented/donated it"?:bawl:

Don't do that

darn german driven €.'s gonna kill the whole of us here in the EuroZone, for we're unable to sell as much as we need while in the past local currencies acted like lever to counterbalance the situation
Yet I don't think that US$ can assure job and stability to y'all, so don't mess with yours

Accept a beautiful present and enjoy it...

Your family first.
Your bass last...

Cheers,
Wallace
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back