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Philosophical question about birth year basses

#161
Southbound said:
I am actually a professional philosopher, but alas have no views on the original question. Like others, though, the question did make me go looking. I found a 1957 P-bass for 9,950, and a "nearly mint" one for 25,773...plus 138 for shipping--whereas the 9950 was free shipping. I never had a car that cost that (but they all had free shipping), nor that much in the bank. But I've had some fun. Next week: 61.
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Only problem is, those are pretty pricey on a professional philosopher's budget, aren't they? :roflmao:
 
#163
Kukulkan61 said:
I had a birth month and year 61 P bass, it was a cool conversation piece, but in the end who really gives a s***.. and it was nice to play on certain occasions but it spent most of its time locked up on my gun safe, I sold it this past summer and haven't looked back...
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I have a birth month/year copy of QST (Ham Radio) Magazine.
I found it in a pile of other magazines someone was throwing out.
Now if I were to find my birth year bass in a pile of basses someone was throwing out, I'd probably grab it off the pile.
 
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#164
Southbound said:
I am actually a professional philosopher, but alas have no views on the original question. Like others, though, the question did make me go looking. I found a 1957 P-bass for 9,950, and a "nearly mint" one for 25,773...plus 138 for shipping--whereas the 9950 was free shipping. I never had a car that cost that (but they all had free shipping), nor that much in the bank. But I've had some fun. Next week: 61.
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OK, we can have a convo about Walter Benjamin and the value of authenticity/originality in a mass-produced item sometime.
 
#169
5StringBlues said:
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My desktop wallpaper
NotAgain-flip.jpg
 
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#170
Seriously, though, this thread got me curious - was there a fretted bass guitar in production in 1950?
That the P-bass started production in October '51 is clear...

I found this an interesting read:
Invalid Link Removed

(a 1-minute vid for the youngbloods among us whose attention spans...
)

I still can't find if the Serenaders were still in production past 1949... I may never know if a fretted base guitar was produced in my birth year. If only I can find the right "little old lady!"
 
#172
ThuzzleFump said:
I am old AF. If I want a birth year bass, I can get one, but it would cost as much as a driveable C4 Corvette. Now, I can also buy a reproduction birth year bass, and I'm sure it's a good instrument...but if I do that, do I need to include "Substitute" by the Who in my set?

Srsly, do you think AVRI will satisfy my itch? I'm kinda dubious (doobie-us?) because I already have many fine instruments so maybe if I'm going to do it, I really have to do it. Let's just say that it really would be $6K or more for a decentish example. What would you do?

Not looking for an overly serious conversation, just shooting the sh with some folks who I respect. Thoughts appreciated, and as always, thanks all.
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If I want a birth year bass, it would be from 1952 which pretty much means it would be a '52 Precision. While I love SCPBs and would love to have a '52, with the prices and availability of those the way they are, it ain't gonna happen. However, I did get close for a bit about 30 years ago with a refinished '56, but unfortunately was a disappointment.

I grew up a few miles from the Danelectro factories and they were all over the place here. Everybody I knew who played also had a Dano at one point or another. I have much more of a nostalgic connection to them so I have three early '60s Silvertone Model 1444s (aka Silvertone/Dano dolphin nose) I bought inexpensively decades ago. One is a nearly-nice-as-the-day-it-was-made example that I gig with every so often. The second had been well used, a bit abused, and gets gigged more frequently. The third is a bit of a wreck that was badly de-fretted by a previous owner who left the slots unfilled, but the neck is still straight, it's still playable and is awaiting refurbishment.
 
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#173
I'm all in favor of birth-year-whatevers, whether that covers basses, cars, drill presses, or left-handed family credenzas as long as you don't believe for a moment that that widget will be in any way "better" than you could buy or build today. I have a huge collection of "things" from 1958 that are only there to remind me of how things were way back then. Anyone who buys a '58 Precision, or '58 Vette or '58 Timex expecting to have a "significant" experience with it is setting themselves up for disappointment. It represents a point in time that won't ever come 'round again. Those who say they don't "get" acquiring BY stuff are those who will be posting messages on TB in 15 years about how they wish they hadn't sold their first bass....
 
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#174
nitrobrother said:
I'm all in favor of birth-year-whatevers, whether that covers basses, cars, drill presses, or left-handed family credenzas as long as you don't believe for a moment
...
Those who say they don't "get" acquiring BY stuff are those who will be posting messages on TB in 15 years about how they wish they hadn't sold their first bass....
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I'm probably gonna sell my first bass next year. I don't play it much. But having thought about this and listened to all the opinions, I'm not going to buy a BYB now. Too much money, and frankly, for what I'd have to pay for anything decent I could get a better-sounding, better-playing, better-crafted bass hand-built by a custom maker. You all just saved me six to ten thousand dollars.
 

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