Reasons to justify bass acquisitions

[twinjet]

I thought of one:

"I gotta get that bass, hon, mine had some woman's b**bs on it".

 

[BAG]

I've always managed to get brilliant bargains for my basses and until recently my wife accepted me spending under $500 for a bass worth well in excess of that with my excuse being "it's such a bargain that i'd be nuts not to snap it up".
My last effort though didn't quite work out that way. The bargain fretless (with a bonus fretted neck) I bought needed some serious fingerboard and neck work and turned out much more expensive than I expected. It ended up with me owning a sub $500 fretted franken-P-bass, which is awesome, and then buying a $420 body for the fretless neck and then the $500 worth of repairs. It did end up as the best neck on any instrument I've ever owned though and instead of just a fretless I got two great basses for around $1500

When I told her the repairs were going to be $500 her words were "That's the last bass you're getting for a while". At least there's light at the end of the bass-buying tunnel somewhere.

 

[the explode man]

If it's green, it's going to be mine.

 

[Doner Designs]

I've gone through seven basses in the past year and am already looking at giving up the oldest of my new acquisitions. When I showed her a bass I was interested in, Mrs twinjet asked why I can't settle on what I have. Being an unusually slow thinker of reasonable excuses, I decided to tell her the truth.

"Everytime I sell a bass, I regret it later. This, in turn, makes me want to hang on to you more seeing how I can't buy you back if I lose you".

She rolled her eyes with a smirk and walked away and it kept her from asking anything else! It worked!

Count me the ways how you justify your bass buying!

For a slow thinker of reasons that was a brilliant reply!

 

[LoDownSinner]

I used to road race motorcycles. Is there any more justification necessary?

LOL! A weekend's tire bill is generally good for a decent bass...

 

[Doner Designs]

For me the easiest justification, and one no longer requiring discussion/permission, is the one-in-one out approach. Buy something, sell something.

Prior to building up a reasonably nice collection of gear I funded in part with Christmas/Birthday/Fathers day cash (which doesn't amount to much at our house) and sales of old toys from past/dormant hobbies. I'll typically "cheat" a little bit in that the incoming usually costs a bit more than the outgoing brings in.

 

[Doner Designs]

I always throw the age card. "Honey this bass is too heavy to carry anymore, I need a new lighter one" worked for my amp.

That would work great if your first rig was an SVT and a pair of 8x10's!

 

[Doner Designs]

I used to road race motorcycles. Is there any more justification necessary?

I have never raced but used to spend a lot of time playing with fast cars and motorcycles. Playing bass is a cheaper and safer hobby that keeps me closer to home. Still, there are limits in terms of reasonableness.

Having kids in college is an interesting dynamic in that it puts pressure on spending but at the same time makes everything else seem like a rounding error.

 

[MicRidley]

Just custom order it and ask that they make it read "your name here" signature model on the headstock. Then the extra grand is unavoidable and you can pretend you've been endorsed.

 

[btmpancake]

Honeyboo, (she knew something was coming when I used that), I need a (5) string bass because all the old music were recorded on 4 strings, she said ''why don't you just play old music then'' I said ''but nobody listens to that old stuff anymore'' It worked back then but now I'm divorced 20yrs running-too much psychological warfare involved! I love me and I am selfish and my gear will never leave me unless I WANT.

 

[Shannon]

Well, I needed a place to store all those extra roundwounds i replaced with flats...

 

[NG51]

I just say, "What new bass? I've had this one for a while."
It never works.

 

[Kevan Campbell]

I'm writing all these down for when I'm married and need to try them out. Until then I'm buying all my toys while I'm single, then if she complains I can honestly say "I bought all these before I met you, babe!"...that failing I'll already have them protected in a prenup.

Please allow me my delusions until I learn otherwise...

 

[mpdd]

for once in my life i didn't want a screwed up vintage bass, an unwanted demo, or a store return, i actually wanted a new bass, for this reason i felt that i deserved it after fixing the house, mopping up the dog pee lake, and dealing with all my disengaged students

 

[dbase]

My wife just allowed me to buy a gig bag for my bass. Does that take me off the henpecked list?

 

[Bassammich]

My wife just allowed me to buy a gig bag for my bass. Does that take me off the henpecked list?

I'm not sure dbase, you'd better ask your wife first!

 

[wizerd]

Basses are cheaper than therapy.

 

[JMacBass65]

 

[Pilgrim]

If it doesn't give me a sound I don't already have, I don't need it. I need to thin the heard a bit.

 

[Rezdog]

Greetings from the North,

And besides.... My new Ric is lighter, the scale is a bit shorter so I don't have to reach as far and the strings are closer together making it easier to play so I don't aggravate my old bike injuries..... ;-)

Rezdog