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insanely over priced

#43
I don't think I could ever buy an electric bass for more than $1,500.00 US. I played a few $3-4,000.00 basses and just don't feel they are any better than my MM Bongo. I wouldn't mind spending the money on a good luthier school/course and build it myself.
 
#44
ArmyPunkGuy said:
you know what? i think it is retarted to spend 8 grand on a freakin bass. Come on people that's what a used car goes for. I'll take a P or J bass anyday over some upety New York yuppy's hand built bass. Anything over 3 grand better wipe my A$$ for me and drive me to work!!! I think people get overly worked up about gear and not about songs. Being a bassist is about being part of a team and supporting a song not wanking away like some guitarist. Example: I'll take Tim Cummorford over Victor Wooten, why you ask? Because his songs kick so much more A$$
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Well, I think it's ******** to misspell ********. Your comparing a bass to a used car reveals more about your priorities in life then anything else. Plenty of musicians have walked in order to acquire the instrument they really desired. If you think $8000 is so much, heaven forbid you stumble upon the price list for concert musicians' instruments, ie violins, cellos, pianos etc. $8000 is a chunk of change but when you look at what people spend their money on, like upgrading your honda civic to a honda pilot, $8000 seems pretty easy to spend. It all depends on where your priorities are. Americans will never run out of things to spend their money on, for a professional or serious bass player to spend that much on the instrument obviously displays their level of commitment and/or priorities. So far, I have never spent over $30,000 on a vehicle, some people spend 20x as much. Does that mean the vehicle has to wipe their a** or that they need to be the greatest driver in the world? Different strokes for different folks.
 
#52
82Daion said:
That might be a little on the high side for that bass.

If it's only been played a few times in the living room, though, what had the owner been doing beforehand? Gardening?

Look at the pickup covers!:eek: :rollno:
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no kidding about the pups. Man, and that's why I'll never "custom" order a bass. This guy only played it 5 times???

I only buy basses I can play before making the investment. That means I have to often make long car trips.
:D

I also agree that $9000 for a buy it now seems quite high for that bass. Not very good closeups eithers.
 
#53
The_Owl said:
Practically all instruments are overpriced over here.
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Especially american ones. Warwick suddenly become more affordable. A Stingray is around £1100, that's the same as a Corvette FNA Jazzman. A HH is around £1300, same as a Streamer Stage I. A MIA Fender Jazz is around £700, that's the same as a Corvette $$. Spector NS2, £2400 (I **** you not). So really, it's a matter of location.
 
#56
I don't know... is it really overpriced. Wind instruments often cost $5,000 ++++. A decent violin would be about $3000... a nice one goes for $10,000+

So I don't see a problem spending money on an instrument if its worth it. Its all subjective, but if you believe in a company strong enough, its not overpriced
 
#57
SurrenderMonkey said:
Especially american ones. Warwick suddenly become more affordable. A Stingray is around £1100, that's the same as a Corvette FNA Jazzman. A HH is around £1300, same as a Streamer Stage I. A MIA Fender Jazz is around £700, that's the same as a Corvette $$. Spector NS2, £2400 (I **** you not). So really, it's a matter of location.
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Lets also not forget the impact of import duty (4%), VAT (17.5%) and the cost of shipping. Its still cheaper to import basses from Europe sometimes. However if you're going to buy a bass worth more than $3000 its worth jumping on a transatlantic flight and asking the supplier to deliver to your hotel while you're there.

We can't buy from uber cheap websites such as Musicians Friend in the UK because of a ban on exporting from the likes of Ernie Ball. However we do have the equivalent at GAK allowing for the extra 20% we pay for living in the UK.

I don't envy Sweden though - you guys pay a lot of tax!
 
#58
What you actually get for the money you lay down is more the issue. You can buy a Squier Precision for a LOT less cash than an MIA Pecision, but they essentially do the same job. The MIA may feel a little nicer and sound a little better, but whether it sounds five times better is up to you. Personally, I don't think ANY bass is overpriced if it's "the one". The only way to know is to go out, play as many as you can and hopefully afford the one(s) that you absolutely "need". If not...............start saving.
 
#59
Crazykiwi said:
Lets also not forget the impact of import duty (4%), VAT (17.5%) and the cost of shipping. Its still cheaper to import basses from Europe sometimes. However if you're going to buy a bass worth more than $3000 its worth jumping on a transatlantic flight and asking the supplier to deliver to your hotel while you're there.!
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I bought a MM Stingray 5 in Nashville, UK price at the time £1300; I paid £800 GBP $1175 (exhchange rate at that time).
There is no way duty and shipping cost £500
 

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