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inheritance sadness

#21
DO.
NOT.
BUY.
BASSES.
AS.
INVESTMENTS.

Money spent on basses is money consumed. Money spent on basses for resale is money gambled. Anything else you tell yourself or anything anyone else here says about the financial reality is wrong. Period.

and if you MUST

get a FRIGGIN Am. Std.

custom basses are just about the worst conceivable choice of commodity as far as retaining value. If you plan to resell you need something that you know other people want, not something that literally only you want.
 
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#22
pfschim said:
Sorry for your loss. These things can be hard. Good news is that your generous relative left you some dough that you can use to buy a nice bass (or something else you'd really like to have ... or use it for an investment in your future)

personally, I would not think of an instrument as an investment ... not a very good one any way. You mention your age, so I suspect you are not a kid ... and it has taken quite a long time for old Fenders to appreciate in any meaningful way so I don't think that's a a very good route to follow.

one other though I had was if you go Fender Custom Shop or some other nice custom instrument, when you talk to your builder, ask them if you can include the relatives name somewhere discrete on/inside the bass (inside the neck pocket, or pickup or electronics cavity maybe. Might be a nice way to remember your benefactor and they will kind of be with you every time you use the bass.

good luck!
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That's a good idea. I actually lost a parent so something like that would be very touching. But I might be reaching too much to think of this as an investment however, I purchased an American P over 20 years ago and if I understand it now, the bass can easily sell for three times for what I paid for it. I should say I got it for a steal back in the day so any increase was going to be significant.
 
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#24
Mushroo said:
Sounds like you have a good attitude, and you are being cautious.

For what it's worth, I bought my Fender Custom Shop used, let someone else take the depreciation hit. (Not because I'm a financial genius, but simply because I didn't inherit enough I could to afford to buy new.)

If you are just going for a basic '59 P bass, then all the more reason to buy used. I can't think of any reason, why you would have to get that custom made brand spanking new, just for you. 59 P is not a rare/collectable model and there are lots of them on the used market.
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Well...the 59 was just an example to argue back about the custom issue. But I'm slowly purchasing and I'll buy when the right deal comes around...or I lose interest and convince myself I'm happy with what I have. However, the death taught me we can't take anything with us so to save and spend later might not be a choice lost if fate plays its hands the wrong way.
 
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#25
so I think this conversation went way too far into the investment aspect, which was a good thing and most of the answers are pointing that a cs might be a bad choice overall due to many of the factors pointed out in this thread. I am looking at the fact that a cs is double what a American made bass is. The 60th anniversary jazz is really nice as are many of the top flight Fenders and other brands. The relicing and custom colors are nice but as NoiseNinja pointed out, who wants my customized bass in the future?

Honestly, I'd like to buy a double bass but I have no space for such a beast and it would not be a purchase I could easily mask from my wife. So I view a CS as a good instrument to cry into but realistically, it might be a price too far for something that many think of a average at best.
 
#26
txhawaii said:
a family member passed away recently and I'm sadly surprised to find I'm going to inherit some money. nothing life changing but something that might have me looking at Fender Custom shop basses.

Without asking too much about quality vs American vintage vs modern Mexican vs Japaneses vintage, etc...we mostly know these CS guitars are handmade and worth it to those who are willing to buy them.

However, I have read claims they retain value, increase in value, etc but I am not seeing that reflected on Reverb or other sites. A 2018 custom p sells looks to sell lower than their initial asking prices which gives me the impression they'll end up like new cars that cheapen once you drive off the lot.

But if I am not mistaken, the time machine basses came out in the early 2000s and I don't see many of those orig models pop up for sale often (i've really only been looking recently) but those I have seen are not selling for thousands more like a true vintage (lets say a 70's jazz that sold in the 2000s for $1200 now selling for $2500 today.)

While I intend to buy and play, I might consider selling down the line due to my age but this is an interesting time to buy something I've never been able to afford.

Could I be doing worse?
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Buy it, play it, enjoy it. If you decide to sell it and lose money then that's how much it cost you to have it to play for a while. It's all in the way you look at it.
 
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#27
The same thing happened to me when i was like 40....my bro and i bought my house (bless his heart for helping).

22 years later at my point in life, i would buy a 60's Fender most likely IF i were in the market for a Fender (which i am not i have Fender types covered) but i would definitely look for something lightweight like my buds real 64 P bass, maybe even a refin or a changed part or 2....jmho.
 
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#28
txhawaii said:
so I think this conversation went way too far into the investment aspect, which was a good thing and most of the answers are pointing that a cs might be a bad choice overall due to many of the factors pointed out in this thread. I am looking at the fact that a cs is double what a American made bass is. The 60th anniversary jazz is really nice as are many of the top flight Fenders and other brands. The relicing and custom colors are nice but as NoiseNinja pointed out, who wants my customized bass in the future?

Honestly, I'd like to buy a double bass but I have no space for such a beast and it would not be a purchase I could easily mask from my wife. So I view a CS as a good instrument to cry into but realistically, it might be a price too far for something that many think of a average at best.
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All investments are glorified gambling. Some pay off, some don't. But I never bought a new bass or guitar as an investment because it can take decades to see any sort of return on them, if at all.

Anyway, enough about that...get what you want, but while I've played some CS basses and thought they were terrific, I've played (and own) a handful of sub-$1000 basses that are, too.
 
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#29
txhawaii said:
a family member passed away recently and I'm sadly surprised to find I'm going to inherit some money. nothing life changing but something that might have me looking at Fender Custom shop basses.

Without asking too much about quality vs American vintage vs modern Mexican vs Japaneses vintage, etc...we mostly know these CS guitars are handmade and worth it to those who are willing to buy them.

However, I have read claims they retain value, increase in value, etc but I am not seeing that reflected on Reverb or other sites. A 2018 custom p sells looks to sell lower than their initial asking prices which gives me the impression they'll end up like new cars that cheapen once you drive off the lot.

But if I am not mistaken, the time machine basses came out in the early 2000s and I don't see many of those orig models pop up for sale often (i've really only been looking recently) but those I have seen are not selling for thousands more like a true vintage (lets say a 70's jazz that sold in the 2000s for $1200 now selling for $2500 today.)

While I intend to buy and play, I might consider selling down the line due to my age but this is an interesting time to buy something I've never been able to afford.

Could I be doing worse?
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2000, isn't vintage. It's just old. A 1979 jazz bass, on the other hand, would likely be double that price. And, it would've been purchased new for a couple hundred dollars.
 
#33
Paul New said:
A lot of mid-60s through 70s basses were refinished or altered because it was thought that they would never have collector value. Instruments, and not just violin family instruments, can appreciate if they are or will be thought of as historically important. I would look for a good condition early Stingray, and roll the dice.
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Indeedy. My '69 P had already had a new neck (all documented with invoices) so I had few qualms about having the body refinished. If I were worried about investment potential then id have bought something else entirely.

I see little evidence that custom shop models increase in value. It seems unlikely to me that a bespoke item manufacturered to a particular individuals tastes will have the mass appeal that an 'off the shelf' bass of comparable price and quality. One mans boner is another mans chunder.

Buy a nice bass because it suits you in particular, and perhaps reminds you of your dearly departed. If youre worried about investment value then youll do much better putting the cash elsewhere.

Good luck. We will, of course, expect you to comply with forum law and provide pictures!
 
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#34
When looking at high-end/custom instruments there are a few things to ask yourself:

First, am I investing in the name on the headstock, or the quality of the instrument? Those are two different things. If you just want a bass that plays easily and sounds great you can put your money toward any number of luthiers who can build anything you can imagine, with the highest quality in components and build quality. Those guys are going to deliver something that, in my opinion, far outweighs the big name manufacturers in bass-per-dollar return.

Buying a used instrument is, in most cases, going to be a lot more affordable than having something custom built.

Second, what do you want in your ideal instrument? Does it already exist? Is there an off-the-shelf model or a luthier who already produces what you want? If you just want a really high end jazz bass there are tons of guys who produce them besides Fender, and will probably give you more options and higher quality components for the same cost.

Do your homework before you put a pile of cash on the table. Play a ton of basses, from the cheapest to the most expensive instruments you can get your hands on. Note down what you like in everything from radius to scale length to electronics. You might find that in the end you don't need to go the custom route to get everything you want.

If your dream bass isn't readily available, or nobody makes something exactly like you imagine, then it's time to do some real research on luthiers. It might even be worth doing some regional travel to try out different instruments for comparison; a weekend drive to meet up with other bass players or visit a high-end shop could be well worth it if it helps you identify what you do or don't want in a multi-thousand-dollar instrument.

If you want an investment don't buy an instrument. If you want something you are going to enjoy playing, then do some research, figure out exactly what you want, and go find out if it already exists. If it does, buy it! If not, have someone build it. :)
 
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#35
JonathanPDX said:
When looking at high-end/custom instruments there are a few things to ask yourself:

First, am I investing in the name on the headstock, or the quality of the instrument? Those are two different things. If you just want a bass that plays easily and sounds great you can put your money toward any number of luthiers who can build anything you can imagine, with the highest quality in components and build quality. Those guys are going to deliver something that, in my opinion, far outweighs the big name manufacturers in bass-per-dollar return.

Buying a used instrument is, in most cases, going to be a lot more affordable than having something custom built.

Second, what do you want in your ideal instrument? Does it already exist? Is there an off-the-shelf model or a luthier who already produces what you want? If you just want a really high end jazz bass there are tons of guys who produce them besides Fender, and will probably give you more options and higher quality components for the same cost.

Do your homework before you put a pile of cash on the table. Play a ton of basses, from the cheapest to the most expensive instruments you can get your hands on. Note down what you like in everything from radius to scale length to electronics. You might find that in the end you don't need to go the custom route to get everything you want.

If your dream bass isn't readily available, or nobody makes something exactly like you imagine, then it's time to do some real research on luthiers. It might even be worth doing some regional travel to try out different instruments for comparison; a weekend drive to meet up with other bass players or visit a high-end shop could be well worth it if it helps you identify what you do or don't want in a multi-thousand-dollar instrument.

If you want an investment don't buy an instrument. If you want something you are going to enjoy playing, then do some research, figure out exactly what you want, and go find out if it already exists. If it does, buy it! If not, have someone build it. :)
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I live on an island. Whatever is here is here so I'd have to import no matter what if I were to go a true custom. All I have to rely on is net reviews. Solid advice nevertheless
 
#36
txhawaii said:
I live on an island. Whatever is here is here so I'd have to import no matter what if I were to go a true custom. All I have to rely on is net reviews. Solid advice nevertheless
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That could be a point in favor of looking for used options that offer some kind of return policy. Either to test-drive some instruments, or to buy what you think is the perfect bass with the option to return it if it isn't really what you imagined it would be.

Last year I started planning a custom bass build but there were specs I couldn't find on anything local. I found an online store with a bass that had those specs, so I ordered it, tested it out on a few gigs, and returned it. I had to eat the shipping cost but it informed me on exactly what measurements felt like in my hands.

Now I have someone (Chris Stambaugh) building the final instrument for me, and I feel much better about it having actually played on basses with similar measurements already.
 
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#38
If you want to invest, buy either real estate or an S & P 500 index fund with low fees. If you want a new bass, buy a new bass, but do yourself a favour and don't pretend it's an investment. We are savage territorial primates who make a habit of doing what feels good in the moment and rationalizing it as being the logical thing to do. Happy Friday :-)
 
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#40
lomo said:
If you want to invest, buy either real estate or an S & P 500 index fund with low fees. If you want a new bass, buy a new bass, but do yourself a favour and don't pretend it's an investment. We are savage territorial primates who make a habit of doing what feels good in the moment and rationalizing it as being the logical thing to do. Happy Friday :)
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Oh, hell yeah. Tote your funds over to Edward Jones, Fidelity, etc. and sign the paperwork. 20 years from now, you'll look-back and be glad you did.

Riis
 

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