Double Bass How did you afford your bass? (DB forum thread)

[drurb]

I recommend you spend some time familiarizing yourself with this man and his ideas before you take the plunge with credit cards. It might save you many hours of worry and some sleepless nights.

Heavens no! Indeed, his fundamental(ist) notions about avoiding debt are good advice but you can get that from far more reasoned sources. Credit card debt can truly be an awful thing. I'd recommend that anyone avoid it.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

I've tried living beyond my means and know that it's a very bad idea.

My wife and I now make important decisions together and we still get what we want.

One way I make ends meet is to drive an old car ('97 Volvo wagon) and take care of it. Thrift Stores are my friend for clothing and shoes. Believe it or not, I get compliments almost daily on my wardrobe and only my closest friends know that I only paid $12 for those unworn $300 Italian shoes or $10 for the classic Hickey Freeman suit. I've found a store that gets donations from the local Brooks Brothers! However, good deals are to be had at most of the stores I frequent.

Getting through this life is a matter of adjusting priorities and making compromises. Remember that a nice bass will hold its value much better than a new car.

 

[iiipopes]

I've tried living beyond my means and know that it's a very bad idea.
My wife and I now make important decisions together and we still get what we want.
One way I make ends meet is to drive an old car ('97 Volvo wagon) and take care of it. Thrift Stores are my friend for clothing and shoes. Believe it or not, I get compliments almost daily on my wardrobe and only my closest friends know that I only paid $12 for those unworn $300 Italian shoes or $10 for the classic Hickey Freeman suit. I've found a store that gets donations from the local Brooks Brothers! However, good deals are to be had at most of the stores I frequent.
Getting through this life is a matter of adjusting priorities and making compromises. Remember that a nice bass will hold its value much better than a new car.

You're not the only one. When playing EB or tuba in the past, I gave up on a cummerbund for formal gigs, as I didn't want the extra elastic, and as the instrument was held in front of me, nobody would know. Now on DB, I can't hide it as well. So I went to the local Goodwill and bought a satin tux vest that, if worn at all, was only worn for the one prom or wedding, so it was still in brand new condition: $3.

 

[spoonido]

I sold my Harley.

One way to get a better instrument is to buy/sell used instruments. If you're good at it, you can keep trading up until you have what you want. It's kind of a fun adventure along the way. I've never sold an instrument for less than what I paid.

 

[fdeck]

Duplicate post

 

[fdeck]

I financed my first bass by putting sweat equity into a basket case that I got for free. And my second bass by playing the first. When the big recession hit, I put off buying a new bass for a year or so, until I was reasonably assured that my day job was stable.

 

[tornadobass]

fdeck's post reminded me of how I got my first bass. I found the American Standard in the classifieds (remember those?) it was in decent shape, needing a bridge, endpin, and bag. I traded a defretted Japanese short scale electric bass plus some cash that I'd saved (not a lot of cash needed in the early '80s).

 

[lrhbass]

I sold my Harley.

One way to get a better instrument is to buy/sell used instruments. If you're good at it, you can keep trading up until you have what you want. It's kind of a fun adventure along the way. I've never sold an instrument for less than what I paid.

I always doubled my money when I sold a bass. Started with a $275 plywood, worked my way up to the real wood basses and finally to a great instrument with extra money saved to add to the deal, each time you move up.The downsize you can not keep but one at a time...

 

[Steve Killingsworth]

Heavens no! Indeed, his fundamental(ist) notions about avoiding debt are good advice but you can get that from far more reasoned sources. Credit card debt can truly be an awful thing. I'd recommend that anyone avoid it.

Les,

Not sure if you mean Ramsey's religious perspective when you use the "F" word or not. I don't think there's any doubt his christian faith has influenced his views on money but I've never felt he was overtly pushy with it. It seems to be a more matter of fact facet of his life.

If you're speaking of "fundamental" finance, I don't think anything he discusses is unreasonable but it certainly isn't for everyone. We've never followed his program to the letter but have used it as a framework to get our financial house is somewhat reasoned order.

 

[queevil]

I recommend you spend some time familiarizing yourself with this man and his ideas before you take the plunge with credit cards. It might save you many hours of worry and some sleepless nights.

It's hard to delay gratification when you see all those things you want but can't afford. Follow the advice of those who recommended getting your current bass in the best possible condition. Set back 20 bucks here and 50 there and eventually you'll be in a position to upgrade with no worries.

I hope the op clicks on the link. You may have just saved him from making one of the biggest mistakes of his life, especially with a young family.

 

[drurb]

Les,

Not sure if you mean Ramsey's religious perspective when you use the "F" word or not. I don't think there's any doubt his christian faith has influenced his views on money but I've never felt he was overtly pushy with it. It seems to be a more matter of fact facet of his life.

If you're speaking of "fundamental" finance, I don't think anything he discusses is unreasonable but it certainly isn't for everyone. We've never followed his program to the letter but have used it as a framework to get our financial house is somewhat reasoned order.

Ramsey's influences and biases... all of them... lead him to his philosophy. That's not surprising. I've listened to him a fair amount. While his basic tenet of avoiding debt is a beneficial message for many, his single (narrow)-minded, one-size-fits-all, fanatical approach often leads to some extremely poor financial advice. In my opinion, fanaticism with regard to anything is a negative attribute.

Now, given who is his usual audience, I suspect such advice is likely on target the majority of the time. Still, being completely free of debt is often not a smart financial move at all. Depending upon income, market conditions, investment opportunities, short-term obligations, cash flow, potential future earnings, real-estate conditions, and on and on and on and on, it's sometimes a really good idea to have a mortgage! Sure, you might say that people who are in the financial position where that's the case are not Ramsey's typical auddince. That's true, but he advocates for his position across the board.

Google "Ramsey bad advice" just for starters.

Again, his basic message is fine. Once you get one step beyond that, I'd recommend getting one's financial advice from other credible, objective, balanced sources. I'd never recommend that anyone ever pay Ramsey a nickel for his "program."

 

[forndog1]

I sold my Harley.

One way to get a better instrument is to buy/sell used instruments.

Ouch ,no way would I sell any of my Harleys,well ok sold one to help finance my daughters wedding a few yrs ago now I only have 2.But back to saving for a better Bass.

Iam in the same boat wanting to upgrade my bass but Iam just saving up cash,I'll take my one's change into 5's then ten's then twentys and put the 20's a side,then take the 20's and turn into hundred dollar bills,this has worked for a lot of things Ive bought over the yrs and it dosnt create any finacial burdon on the household budget.......Its allways a good feeling when you buy a big ticket item for yourself and its payed for in cash with no strings attached.
I just made a pun heeheehee..

 

[Steve Killingsworth]

Ramsey's influences and biases... all of them... lead him to his philosophy. That's not surprising. I've listened to him a fair amount. While his basic tenet of avoiding debt is a beneficial message for many, his single (narrow)-minded, one-size-fits-all, fanatical approach often leads to some extremely poor financial advice. In my opinion, fanaticism with regard to anything is a negative attribute.

Now, given who is his usual audience, I suspect such advice is likely on target the majority of the time. Still, being completely free of debt is often not a smart financial move at all. Depending upon income, market conditions, investment opportunities, short-term obligations, cash flow, potential future earnings, real-estate conditions, and on and on and on and on, it's sometimes a really good idea to have a mortgage! Sure, you might say that people who are in the financial position where that's the case are not Ramsey's typical auddince. That's true, but he advocates for his position across the board.

Google "Ramsey bad advice" just for starters.

Again, his basic message is fine. Once you get one step beyond that, I'd recommend getting one's financial advice from other credible, objective, balanced sources. I'd never recommend that anyone ever pay Ramsey a nickel for his "program."

Thanks for the explanation. I see where you're coming from and agree with you to some extent. Dave has definitely built a cult of personality following who may be a little too fanatical in their unquestioning devotion to him. But on the other hand, following the "basic message" you mentioned can benefit many folks. I suppose its like most things-moderation is the key.

 

[LionElJohnson]

I have a Rickenbacker 4003 2010 - Brand new when I brought it for £1780.
As I am just 17 people assume my parents brought it for me.
I actually spent two summers working 6 days a week at Argos to afford it :L

 

[Ed Fuqua]

Look, everyone, someone's LOST!

Anyway, I come from a time when basses were cheaper and money was worth more. I paid $2,000 for my bass, most of which was from gigs. A couple of years after I bought this bass, I ended up selling (stupid me) my Kay, because I just never played it and why do I need two basses? Like I said, stupid.

Anyway, depending on market variables and what else would be in the shop (or on Craigslist) when I was trying to sell, it would cost somewhere between $8-10K to replace my bass now. And I'm not sure how I would scrape up that digit, probably some kind of loan.

 

[Damon Rondeau]

If borrowing makes no sense for you (and I've learned the hard way that it usually doesn't -- but not always), then the only other (legal) way is savings and patience. I've got a modest income and a couple of teenagers but was able to give them laptop computers for Christmas with zero hit on my operating budget or debt level. How? I saved my pocket change -- literally -- for three years. Threw it in the bucket every night. It adds up! (Of course, here in Canada we have one- and two-dollar coins.)

Even so, in answering your question directly, I got my current bass when my kids were young. I had a rare opportunity at my day job to work a *bunch* of overtime in a short, two-month period. Made enough to buy the bass - no debt, no heavy hit on the income stream. In the six or so years after that when I was gigging a lot with it, made enough chump change to make back the outlay and more.

So: savings, patience, craftiness, and luck. I think it's a rare bass player who can afford the bass *and* a full complement of non-musical property and toys.

 

[Kneehimiah]

I bought my current bass after laying it away forever in a pawn shop. It was affordable, I'm broke, it was a match made.

 

[Don Higdon]

Traded a sax.
Saved, sold, bought, saved, sold, bought, etc., 17 times.
Never borrowed. I waited. 54 years to get the gem I have now.
54

 

[IronSpatula]

Gorgeous bass, Mr. Higdon!

I bought my DB by saving a summer's gig money, complemented with an inexpensive lifestyle.

 

[Jazzdogg]

Before I married I created separate savings accounts for specific things, e.g., retirement, car, double bass, down payment on house, annual vacation, engagement ring, etc.

I told my family and friends about my financial goals, and let them know I'd rather be $20 closer to a financial goal than have a new sweater at Christmas. When I married I kept my savings accounts and added a few new ones. My wife and I agreed to fund certain savings accounts out of every pay check, and that other accounts would be funded only occasionally - as money became available. All of my gig money was mine to spend as I pleased; I saved it for a double bass.

When I thought I had enough money to buy a playable plywood bass, I asked friends to let me know if they heard of any basses for sale. One day, Pop (himself a jazz bassist) called to tell me about a DB for sale; I drove out to play it and bought it that weekend.

I've used the same basic approach since the seventies. The hardest parts are distinguishing between "want" and "need," being patient, and occasionally allowing myself to break the rules!

Good luck!