Looking at used basses is just so depressing lately...

[marchone]

The higher prices are not transitory increases. Now, I need to get a few more basses before the prices double.

Yep. I just ordered two new basses before their prices increase again. Used prices are too close. A German Sadowsky and a USA Spector. They will never be cheaper than today.

 

[HRS]

For every buyer that thinks the situation stinks, there's a seller with a grin on his or her face.

Till he has to buy another one

 

[Saint]

Same here. Finally saved enough for a USA Ken Smith neck-thru which were easily had in the in $3.2K-$4K range. Now they start $7500. Stupid money.

Yeah, when I bought a BSR4M back in 2001, I paid just under $2k and when forced to sell it a year later to help pay for a new roof, I took a $700 loss because the burner series -at less than half the price of a "real" Smith, undercut the market for my bass. Now those same Burners are being listed on ebay for almost twice what I paid for my "real" bolt on, while the bolt-ons are being listed for as much as the neck-thrus cost back then. Crazy!

Aluminum neck Kramers have also gone off the deep end, doubling in asking price from a couple of years ago.

There are definitely still deals to be had on G&Ls and any number of other basses. But it doesn't take away from the crazy that seems to be going on with a lot of used basses.

 

[pbass2]

I sold some gear this year to ideally fund another bass purchase. Sadly, my soon-to-be 17 year old really needs a car of his own and it looks like all those funds may go to that, considering the used car price gouging that's the new normal.

 

[Deenah]

So I can sell my used lawnmower for $500 on eBay?? Lol

 

[bobdabilder]

Maybe more if you put turn signals and a license plate bracket on it.

So I can sell my used lawnmower for $500 on eBay?? Lol

 

[GrooveTheory]

Yep. I just ordered two new basses before their prices increase again. Used prices are too close. A German Sadowsky and a USA Spector. They will never be cheaper than today.

the new gear market will take a while to adjust as because of inflation costs and maintaining profit margins… but the used bass market will probably suffer very quickly in the next recession… how many people on TB alone own multiple bases (and spent way too much money on them), how many people on TB alone have an inventory of gear just stirring that they're trying to make a $ on. When the economy turns, there will be a lot of people with savings stored up in guitars/basses and they will need to convert it to much needed bill paying cash… so there will be a lot of basses on the market and very few buyers (because everyone already owns multiple basses)… and prices will drop accordingly. Eventually it may even reflect back on new prices… all the gear production/inventory built up over the last few years to meet the "stay at home/COVID) buyers will still be in the market, but once the honeymoon phase is over for them, there will be a lot fewer people wanting (or able) to keep their gear. It's a cycle like it's always been.

 

[marchone]

the new gear market will take a while to adjust as because of inflation costs and maintaining profit margins… but the used bass market will probably suffer very quickly in the next recession… how many people on TB alone own multiple bases (and spent way too much money on them), how many people on TB alone have an inventory of gear just stirring that they're trying to make a $ on. When the economy turns, there will be a lot of people with savings stored up in guitars/basses and they will need to convert it to much needed bill paying cash… so there will be a lot of basses on the market and very few buyers (because everyone already owns multiple basses)… and prices will drop accordingly. Eventually it may even reflect back on new prices… all the gear production/inventory built up over the last few years to meet the "stay at home/COVID) buyers will still be in the market, but once the honeymoon phase is over for them, there will be a lot fewer people wanting (or able) to keep their gear. It's a cycle like it's always been.

I resemble the multiple basses remark. I'll be at five. I rarely sell anything but who knows?

 

[GrooveTheory]

I have multiple as well… lol… they've been purchased over time though. The "hobby" is just to much fun… ;-)

 

[roycroft_88]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Found this today ,about a quarter of reverb pricing. Reality check? Go get it !

 

[zbass8299]

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Found this today ,about a quarter of reverb pricing. Reality check? Go get it !

For me it's a fake.

 

[pepj]

I have a few that aren't getting played but they are on the expensive side. I'll hang fire but seen a few here that I've thought about.
I only take out 2, and with my latest edition, the choice is hard because I'll be leaving a great bass at home..
To talk myself out of buying more, I need to thin the herd but tbh, I only have one I'd sell to a decent offer. The others I'm not really ready yet.

I dont need anymore... but I'm looking.
I have a sense of what I'd pay and am conscious of price trends amongst brands.
Lots of factors in play as to who sells what for what.
I think now isn't necessarily a bad time to buy..depends on individual basses.

 

[armybass]

What scares me the most (here in the states anyway) is the absolute lack of fear of going into MASSIVE debt among people under 40.

I simply can't even imagine buying a $500,000 house if I don't have half that to put down on it (at least). But I know lots of younger couples making RIDICULOUS mortgage payments. They also make $600 car payments on new Tahoes and Lexus SUVs.

Some of them are musicians. And these guys will FINANCE a drum kit or a $8,000 PA system for their band.

Their monthly payments must be INSANE.

Let me put it to you this way. PART of the reason houses are so expensive is people having a PAYMENT mentality. You get to the end of your month and there's $3,000 left. You think "Well, I can afford a $2,000 mortgage payment and still have money in the bank!" Next thing you know they're putting a transmission for their car (that isn't even CLOSE to being paid off) on a credit card because there isn't enough in the bank to cover it.

If we were only able to put a grand a month away in savings I would be losing my mind. And yet there is a HUGE percentage of people here in the US who.....

1).....slide into home plate every month BARELY making every payment, AND....

2) .....think they "deserve" another bass or a new car or a bigger house or a $10,000 Disney vacation and manage to somehow squeeze one more payment into their budget.

It literally makes my stomach uneasy to even imagine living that way.


Do NOT finance a bass (or amp or pedal or whatever music gear) especially if you already have one and don't make a living playing music. That is simply idiotic. Period. Dumb. Stupid. Ridiculous. Insane. Not very bright. Stop it. Put down your freaking computer mouse, or phone, or iPad and go for a walk while you give yourself a lecture on not being an idiot.

I haven't heard any economists or "experts" saying this. But I think PART of this inflation is due to people who only care about surviving another month having gotten back to zero (or close to it) in their bank accounts.

You do not "deserve" anything you can't pay cash for with the obvious exceptions of a shelter and food and the POSSIBLE exception of a car. Everything else, if you can't hand over the money for it, you can't afford it and shouldn't get it.


Before you light into me, I have been FLAT BROKE TWICE in my life. And I practiced what I preached back then. Once I slept on a friend's couch for two weeks. When I got my own place, I got a mattress from a family member who was getting a new one and put that sucker on the floor of my bedroom. My clothes were literally stacked on the floor. I used paper plates and a plastic cup I had gotten from a baseball game a few years earlier. I drove a 15 year old car with 275,000 miles on it and clawed my way out with ZERO debt. I've lived it.

Make a mortgage and a credit card a LOT harder to get, and enforce WAY lower caps/limits on them. It will hurt for a little while. But after a few years IQs will rise and we'll settle into better times.

/rant

Edited to fix multiple excited thumbs typos.

Where were you 30 years ago when I really needed to hear that lol? It's ok, better late than never.

 

[friskinator]

This is a great example of the ridiculousness. Still 5 1/2 days left in this auction, plus tax and shipping on top of whatever the final sale price is. I wouldn't take this one for free.

Fender Squier Electric Jazz Bass Guitar - shopgoodwill.com

 

[sleddogn]

or free fifty....

 

[RichterScale]

I dunno man, $8 seems like a pretty good deal on those black leather chaps at the bottom of the page.

 

[RichterScale]

And now that I think about it, $130 is pretty good for a Fender Squire Precision Jazz bass from Goodwill.
Those are pretty rare.

 

[Andy Diamond]

2200-2800 for an XL/L2, now 3800-5k

Kinda makes me shudder to know I'm playing a show tonight with a $4k bass lol

 

[Bass Viking]

My buddy and I send each other adds of crazy overpriced gear everyday. It's great entertainment and lots of fun. Don't get depressed, enjoy the comedy. T

That's what I do! For more laughs check out "Ridiculous Reverb Listings" on YouTube.

 

[Andy Diamond]

My drummer and his brother went to see Journey/Toto last night in Columbus... said the actual tickets were maybe a little over $100...

... fees? Took it up to about $180.

Just saw OMD on their North American tour. Tickets were $37 + fees and it's a hell of a show. Go see them. Especially for bass players - OMD's Andy McCluskey is a great bass player, a lead singer who's also the bassist and uniquely strings his bass in reverse - G D A E... That's worth the price of admission alone!