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So what does a $25k bass actually get you?

Oh crazy. I forgot about those basses.

I must have very plain tastes. I like fender p basses, jazz basses and think I'd only pay above $1500 for a 5 string with a killer B string.
I love an old precision or jazz bass too. There are times one is the best choice. I also have an old Alembic fretless, if bought today would be $12,500. It really is a fine bass. Worth the dough imho.
 
Three random thoughts:

It's amazing to me that these uber-expensive small builder basses usually come with some version of the top line G & G case. Don't get me wrong, G & G makes wonderful cases, but I think of, say custom English or Italian shotguns (or real FN Herstal Brownings . . .) for instance, they come in beautifully executed bespoke leather presentation cases . . . . . but the same case for your XYZ Custom that comes with a new Jazz Bass. Hmmmmmm . . . . . . possibly a good 'hide in plain sight' strategy ?



I could see (if I had the disposable income to shoot vacation pics of my kids at the beach with a Leica and we went home in a Cayenne . . . . . .) paying dep dollars for a new Alembic S1 or S2. Take me to Gruhn's, you better damn well be packing heat if you think I'm paying 25G's for some old Fender. Nope. Ain't happening. I mean, I'd REALLY, REALLY want to know 'what does a 25k bass actually get me' ! ! And even more amazingly, why do most people not think twice about that ? I GOT to be missing something . . . .

Of course, you don't REQUIRE a bass that expensive. But you know, life is short, this world can be miserable, and if you can swing it, I think you should have whatever makes you happy. I often find practical is not fun, and I think anything that can bring you some joy in this old cold world is worth every cent, whether it's $250 or $25,000.
If you can afford to add a few more zeroes, GO for it.



( . . . . . but there's book matched, and then there's BOOK MATCHED . . . make ONE grave mistake with the woodworking, glue-up, finishing, and assembly and set-up, this is firewood. Scary, ain't it?)
 
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This one is much sexier in my opinion and costs 100 times less (can’t speak about tone as I can’t play a Papian-Ezo ... the brand’s name only is meh ...)

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Make your own considerations ...
 
For the same reason someone will buy the 6 million dollar Bugatti Beyron.....because they can
Poor guys those who do things just because they can ... imagine how more productive things one may do with 6 millions instead of wasting them into a car ...
I am of this advice: Bass is a work of art? No, the art there is the music we can make with it ... the rest has to be called with its name ... VANITY

Note:

The Bugatti model you mentioned is Veyron not Beyron ...
 
I love an old precision or jazz bass too. There are times one is the best choice. I also have an old Alembic fretless, if bought today would be $12,500. It really is a fine bass. Worth the dough imho.

Of course! I feel that people should spend the money they feel they should or want to. I played Anthony Wellingtons Fodera ones and understood why someone would pay that much for it haha.

I play electric bass 14 times a year...i use something that "works" :D
 
Need a roof over your head. Need a car. Need a phone. Don't need Facebook.

Like I said, if it's worth it to you more power to you. I think most of our/your bass player heroes, living and dead, would think it's crazy.

Most of our heroes living or dead were playing instrument on recordings which was not necessarily stage instruments.
And if 25k$ basses is not a standard, i'm totally convinced with that, 2k$ to 8k$ is something that you can find on famous bass player rack.
Flea = Modulus
Mark King = Status
Les Claypool = Carl Thompson
Tony Levin = Custom MM
Entwhistle = Alembic
John Paul Jones = Custom Manson?
Wooten = Fodera
Bootsy Collins = Custom Warwick
Lemmy = Custom Rickenbacker
Stanley Clarke = ? Alembic ?
Don't talk about Geddy Lee, Phil Lesh, Leland Sklar....

The list can go on and on.

I'm not trying to sell anything here.
Again, if a bass suits you well, i really don't care of it's quality or price.

I've seen more bass player with "regular" instruments playing really well than bass player with high-end instruments playing like crap.
 
WHAT electric bass other than a vintage bass costs $25000?!?!

I thought Foderas were the most expensive at 13000
For 25K it should look like an art gallery piece and not like just another high end bass (i.e. unique), but useless for gigging. I'd be too scared to take it out of its environmentally controlled display case. Like you wouldn't wouldn't have one?
 
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... imagine how more productive things one may do with 6 millions instead of wasting them into a car ...
You do realize that owning a Veyron would also mean you'd own a piece of history as at one time with was the fastest production car in the world? There's more to that simply "wasting" money. Very limited production, and most were less than $3 million.
 
more likely you already have multiple homes on multi-acre plots in multiple states and/or countries, a healthy and diverse stock portfolio, a financial advisor, a lawyer with whom you speak on a monthly basis, a library in at least three of your homes, your name on a plaque on multiple public/academic libraries, a helicopter, at least one wine cellar in at least two of your homes, a Porsche, a lot of paintings and sculptures, a few B-15Ns, a GK RB, a Bassman, a Wal, a few Rics, Ps and Js, and a dog. Possibly one or more ex-spouses. And a really pretty $25k coffee table bass.

And enough juice to buy yourself a US Senator, or at least rent one.

And you likely would have more interesting ways to spend your time than hanging around on Talkbass with all of us mooks! ;)
 
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