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

[Deenah]

20 no. More that that. Not that I want that many anyway. Not sure how you figured us lefties are saved money.

 

[FishDub]

Have you looked at "used home" prices?

Yes and thats sickening too..good thing I dont need another home lol

 

[Lowandfat]

People pay 5 digits for late 70s fenders unseen, which could be a lead canoe paddle or a pretzel neck, simply because of the logo on it. And do you know why so many have the guts swapped out? Because the original guts were so less-than-great people upgraded and didn't even bother to keep them.

Price is what the market will bear, and people are far more willing to pay for mystique than quality.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Been hard to sell anything lately high or low.

 

[Nebadon2000]

The most "WOKE" comment on TB. Nice!

You wouldn't believe how much this country is in debt right now because of this. Oh btw, stop bring political on a forum full of bass players that think a new bass can make them "sound" better for a low monthly payment of $30 a month no interest for 48 months

Wow, I was just going to post maybe buy New with no interest financing and first payment use cash you had for used purchase to lower payment months. But after Two fingers rant and your comments 'Nevermind'
I now recommend Take the tough Love from TwoFingers and sonojono and let it sink in.

 

[E2942]

If you don't really need it, stop looking.
I stopped looking a long time ago, my life has improved dramatically.

 

[Lowandfat]

earlier in the thread @RichterScale invited us all to build our own to avoid the market sways and the costs of new/used instruments, but i'd like to put in another good word for "parts basses" which are probably not as cheap as building them from scratch, but which are always cheaper than buying new off-the-rack, and apparently cheaper than many used axes currently. and you don't need real luthier tools to assemble (or, have assembled for you) a fine instrument.

if you can get along with bolt-on necks you only need some imagination to create a 'custom instrument' of the highest playing quality. if you're a 7ender fan: a parts-FSO is a no-brainer (thanks, leo!).

just sayin' --- if you wanna 'fight inflation', price gouging, or even some boredom = do it yourself!

There is an old question: "How do you build a $400 parts bass?"
Answer: "First, get together about $600....."

 

[2F/2F]

This thread is like deja vu all over again. A little over a year ago, same poster, same idea, similar formatting in the OP: Is this CRAZY bass pricing frenzy happening in the guitar world too?

That thread was shut down.

That post:

Just curious. The bass pricing has gotten completely out of control, and it is getting progressively worse. Not so much here on TB but everywhere else. I, like many of us glance at GC, CL, reverb and others and I cannot believe whats happened to bass pricing, used of course. A few examples of used basses that I have seen lately:
-Rics cant be had for less than 2k..(Bought a Jetglo 2 years ago for $1200)
-The least expensive USA Fender P is at $1300-1400(Bought one last year for $800)
-Warwick German Corvette Standard at $1000+(Bought one 2 years ago for $500!)
-Warwick Thumb BOs are $1300, $1400 and way over that(Bought one a few years back for $750)
-Squier CV 60s P (China) are scarce but fetch $5-600 (Bought mine NEW for $279!)
-Fender Jazz Special MIJ are above $1000 at least (Bought one last year for $450)
-Alembic Spoilers are at or WAY above $3500, and have seen them for 5-6K(Bought one 2 years ago for $1800)
-Steinberger XL2s are up to 4K on the low end(Bought mine for $1800)
Ok I know you all get my point so WTH is going on out there?? I get things appreciate somewhat and supply/demand plays a part but c'mon this is getting ridiculous. Is this happening in the guitar world too? I guess the simple answer is that people are willing to pay..

This post:

Before I speak, no offense to my TB people. Its just so sad whats happening with USED pricing nowadays. I dont want this to get political please but I am just so discouraged with what the used pricing has turned into. So many examples to cite but:
A year ago--
800-900 for a US Fender P or J, now 1200-1800.
200-300 for a Squier CV p or J, now 500-600.
1800-2500 for an Alembic Spoiler, now...no comment.
2200-2800 for an XL/L2, now 3800-5k
1200-1400 for a Spector Euro 4, now 2k+
500-700 for a USA MMSub, now 1100-1200
I get these are asking prices and there are some good deals to be had, and I can go on and on but man this is getting ridiculous..

 

[JRA]

There is an old question: "How do you build a $400 parts bass?"
Answer: "First, get together about $600....."

funny!

depends on your POV. if your goal is to fit within a budget constraint, then i'd agree that you run some risks of running over that amount (notwithstanding that you'd still get a more affordable ax --- which was inferred in my post).

OTOH: if your goal is to have the best playing ax possible, then you might spend considerably more than say, $400, but you'd have a great player, a custom piece, and still spend less than comparable factory-builts --- which was my point!

 

[2F/2F]

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.

If you're talking about anything in the "there ought to be a rule" vein, then you are, by simple definition, talking about politics. Regardless of how good or bad your idea is, it can't go well from there.

 

[MDBass]

That 8.5% inflation thing is a lie, in my experience it's 20-30% - 400% depending on what it is

The actual value of the currency itself has dropped 8.5%.

Prices have increased significantly more than that, as corporations have aggressively raised prices to continue seeing record profits despite that devaluation.

There are also still serious supply chain issues to contend with, with some companies (both manufacturers and freight) intentionally creating slowdowns to jack up prices even further: somewhere around 100 cargo ships are currently anchored off the California coast just waiting to be unloaded.

 

[Crackle]

I have enough basses to last multiple lifetimes. I'm not worried about it.

 

[marchone]

When inflation causes instability in average households unnecessary purchases take a back seat.

While the price of bread, meat and produce has gone up rapidly over the last year, relatively speaking electric guitars are still cheap mass produced items.

For one relevant example, a new Fender bass (take your pick) in 1968 was about $300. That corrects to over $2000 today. A new Am Pro II can be had for less than that now.

I don't see the problem.

 

[Jack Butler]

One thing: I'm hearing a lot about inflation here which begs the question why shop for more bass guitars right now if inflation is such an expressed concern? Basses and guitars are luxury items, so I don't stress too much about it, but the questions for me are will what I want continue to go up in price(I should buy now), or is the bottom about to drop out(buy later)? It seems like this level of inflation for luxury niche items like basses can't possibly continue? Or can it, because I thought 6 months into the pandemic I'd be buying Foderas for pennies on the dollar, and that obviously has went in the other direction.

Second thing: If you don't like the asking prices on used gear, offer 15% or 20% below the asking and see what happens; otherwise, don't buy. Sellers can only say yes or no. If they're offended; tough. For sure, nobody is forcing us to buy these items and they are not necessities. When I see a Roadworn MIM P bass used for $1200, I just keep scrollin'.

Third thing: Most of what people are referring to here regarding inflation is actually straight up price gouging resulting from lax regulation, particularly due to decades of virtually zero antitrust enforcement allowing over-consolidation in key sectors of the economy. It's been working great for a long time for those invested in the markets though. 100% agree. And groceries/essentials are one thing and there should be regulations enforced around price gouging, but if people want to be stupid and pay crazy prices for things like a guitar or a fishing boat, so be it.

//Emphasizing the word 'most'. There is legitimate inflation happening due too little inventory being pursed by excess demand; try buying a home, especially in Southern California, for example. At least in my area, inventory is a problem but corporations/hedge funds/big investors buying everything in sight with ALL CASH offers of 20% above asking price is the real issue.

One thing: I'm hearing a lot about inflation here which begs the question why shop for more bass guitars right now if inflation is such an expressed concern?

Second thing: If you don't like the asking prices on used gear, offer 15% or 20% below the asking and see what happens; otherwise, don't buy. Sellers can only say yes or no. If they're offended; tough.

Third thing: Most of what people are referring to here regarding inflation is actually straight up price gouging resulting from lax regulation, particularly due to decades of virtually zero antitrust enforcement allowing over-consolidation in key sectors of the economy. It's been working great for a long time for those invested in the markets though.

//Emphasizing the word 'most'. There is legitimate inflation happening due too little inventory being pursed by excess demand; try buying a home, especially in Southern California, for example.

 

[Bass Viking]

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.

I hear you. How can you enjoy that vacation knowing you'll be broke?!!

 

[Pyrat]

I gotta get my "Supporting Member"-ship fired up so I can offer some FAIR deals...I have some great basses that NEED homes...annnnnnnnnnnnnd, done

 

[FunkHead]

I'm left handed so add 400 bucks to it. Now that's depressing.

I always thought Lefty's should get one of these and flip it over to lefty. The knobs might be a slight issue.Fender Pawn Shop Reverse Jaguar Bass

 

[MegaSwing]

As I've mentioned before, it's a good time to already have everything you need.

And spares.

 

[funkifiedsoul]

Basses?...dunno. Avocados though have exactly doubled in price in just 3 weeks! My greens smoothies are gonna cost more than my basses!

 

[conttador]

That's not really inflation…

as Alan Greenspan once said, this is:

Irrational Exuberance

Folks are free to list their stuff for whatever price they like, but… check what items have sold for. That will tell the real story.

As has probably been said, an item is only worth what consumers are willing to pay for it.