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Mad at Dave Pomeroy Rant

johnboy65

johnboy65

May 22, 2009
327
1
#1
Ok, so I'm not really mad, just a little frustrated. The Retro-Rama section in BP mag causes such a spike in prices that it puts certain vintage basses out of a lot of players price ranges. Even more so some of these basses are very sub-par as far as what is available today.
That being said, some of these basses have tons of mojo and I've liked to buy/trade/sell these (somewhat crappy) basses.
The Fender Coranado might be my last straw. We are talking about a bass that could not play in tune almost anywhere on the neck; I feel like you used to be able to get a 70's Rivoli for $20 a year or so ago. Now both of these basses are up over a thousand bucks!
I am not really mad at Dave Pomeroy, I met him several years ago and he was such a nice guy. In love with the bass and happy to talk to a fellow bassist. Of course he plays like a beast for every song he plays. Truly he has been through so much in the last couple of years. I'm just disappointed that several of the cheaper vintage basses that introduce people to the mojo of vintage instruments are slipping away.
 
#4
That's the nature of the Vintage market. It can be driven by fads and things will pop up here and there. After a while they tend to go back down. It's a bummer when they don't. Ebay has helped and hurt because it brings a lot of instruments into the public eye where they can be hysterically overbid on.....;)
 
#8
Roy Vogt said:
That's the nature of the Vintage market. It can be driven by fads and things will pop up here and there. After a while they tend to go back down. It's a bummer when they don't. Ebay has helped and hurt because it brings a lot of instruments into the public eye where they can be hysterically overbid on.....;)
Click to expand...

I was just discussing this last night! I was moaning about his new-old 1979 Ibanez Roadster and how bad I want one! I told him the only regrets that I have in my instrument purchasing was not getting one when they were all over the place for $200! I also exclaimed how 3-4 yrs ago I hesitated on purchasing a used G&L L-2000 when they were everywhere for under $600!!! I was so busy fussing that they weren't the L-2500 tht I never purchased one. Now there are TWO instruments that I probably won't purchase because of the market!!!!

Oh yeah, thanks to all the loud mouths here on TB for advertising the value of the G&L in their "Best Kept Secret" threads; didn't help my cause any!!!! :scowl: :rollno: :smug:
 
#9
Its not only with basses or guitars there are lots of older items that demand high dollars today that are not to the quality or standards that the item is made today. Its not about playabiity in some of these its about the age, vibe, style etc that they are no longer made that makes them collectable, this makes a market.

You cant compare a bass from then to today for playability and diss it for the price. There is so much more to what goes into that price than if its a good player or not. But the bottom line like i was told years ago from an old coin dealer is "anything can become collectable and demand a higher price than its worth if there is a damnd and market for it...anything!
 
#13
I didn't read the BP article, but if this thread is another one about vintage prices being too high, I can tell you this:

If you're absolutely serious, and want a vintage player's bass, you can find one for a good price. You just gotta do your research, know what you want (but not be too stern about mods), and mostly, have TONS of patience.
The deals ARE out there! Don't be discouraged by what people are "asking" right now, that's a lot different than what someone is willing to "pay" in this economic climate.

Understand you may end up finding a beat up, refinished, replaced-some-original parts bass, but IMO, as long as it has the original body/neck/PU's, plays good and sounds good, then you're in business...you can find it if it's what you really want and know what to look for. Just save up money and see what comes your way.

I snagged a 1962 Precision in April of this year for $950, but it has a few mods. I'm a player, not a collector, so I love that stuff. Gives the bass history and character IMO, and I swear this thing plays like the Fender gods constructed it themselves. And I also snagged a 1975 Precision with added Jazz PU for only $600 just a couple months ago too...had to take a trip downstate, but what can you do? If you want it, you want it.
Maybe I just have good bass karma right now, but the main thing is I spent a pathetic amount of my day looking for sweet deals around my area - even if it meant driving 4 hours each way like I did to snatch up the 75 P.
 
#14
I laugh when I see Fender Coranado's & Rivoli's selling for big bucks. The Rivoli's really crack me up. People think they are EB-2's. It is like comparing a Gibson T-Bird to a Epi T-Bird. May be in 20 years you will be able to sell a Epi 'Bird for 85% of the price of a Gibson.
 
#20
Spinal Tapper said:
I didn't read the BP article, but if this thread is another one about vintage prices being too high, I can tell you this:

If you're absolutely serious, and want a vintage player's bass, you can find one for a good price. You just gotta do your research, know what you want (but not be too stern about mods), and mostly, have TONS of patience.
The deals ARE out there! Don't be discouraged by what people are "asking" right now, that's a lot different than what someone is willing to "pay" in this economic climate.

Understand you may end up finding a beat up, refinished, replaced-some-original parts bass, but IMO, as long as it has the original body/neck/PU's, plays good and sounds good, then you're in business...you can find it if it's what you really want and know what to look for. Just save up money and see what comes your way.

I snagged a 1962 Precision in April of this year for $950, but it has a few mods. I'm a player, not a collector, so I love that stuff. Gives the bass history and character IMO, and I swear this thing plays like the Fender gods constructed it themselves. And I also snagged a 1975 Precision with added Jazz PU for only $600 just a couple months ago too...had to take a trip downstate, but what can you do? If you want it, you want it.
Maybe I just have good bass karma right now, but the main thing is I spent a pathetic amount of my day looking for sweet deals around my area - even if it meant driving 4 hours each way like I did to snatch up the 75 P.
Click to expand...

I understand that you don't read Dave's monthly column but I don't think you read my post either. I'm not talking about basses that are cornerstones of music/bass. I'm talking about the weird, unpopular, unique-voiced instruments, that Dave often features in his monthly column.
Three things to keep in mind:
1) I love Dave Pomeroy's column, it's the first thing I read in a new issue.
2) I just wish I was the only one reading it. :D
3) I don't want to spend a "pathetic" amount of my day doing anything but playing music or spending time with my family.
 

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