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

[Passinwind]

What are you really buying for your $25k or whatever?

A nice carved upright that's already well played in and will hold its value pretty much forever.

 

[Brad Johnson]

If you're using it to go to the store for groceries, the VW is probably the better vehicle.

If I had the Porsche I'd take it wherever I wanted... including Aldies.

This brings to mind owning an expensive bass but only taking it out on "special gigs". Or not at all.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

I have an $850 Fender 60s J and a Squier Affinity PJ... My Squier is my "go to" bass. Just feels great! Doesn't sound too shabby either.

 

[blue4]

Why does someone take a 12k mototcycle and drop 30~40K on customizing it?

Why does someone take a 10K shotgun and have 50K worth of gold filled hand engraving done on it?

Why does someone go see a luthier and commission a 25K custom bass?

The same simple answer fits for all the above as well as any other question about how someone else spends their money.

Because they can and they want to.

The value of the item to it’s owner is whatever they see it as, and without putting too fine a point on it, it’s nobodies business or concern what that value is. Unfortunately it seems to be a popular pastime to judge others by one’s own standards or limitations. Just because you can’t understand why does not make it wrong, wasteful, or egocentric. It just makes it a personal decision by someone else. You are no more required to like it than they are to need your approval to do it.

But you can still discuss the idea of spending that much. It's just a conversation. Everyone is aware that people don't need anyone's input to spend their money how they see fit.

Its funny though. Start a thread about how you spent $1000 on a smartphone that you use in your personal and professional life everyday and the mind your own business crowd will waste no time telling you what a naive fool you are. But have a conversation about the idea of a $25k bass and you're just consumed with jealousy.

 

[dhagopian]

An Alembic Series II.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Really? Do you buy the cheapest "everything"? If not, you're spending irresponsibly. 25k may be irresponsible to you but you're not in the same economic bracket as everyone. A blanket statement like that, reeks of envy.

Funny how that works. That's the lack of introspection I spoke of.


Indulging on a want others can't afford or don't see as a priority is seen as irresponsible. Because everyone should do what you do, regardless of their situation... which is just as silly as it sounds.

 

[Brad Johnson]

For 25 grand you could buy 250 Ammoons and have money left over for a decent amp and a couple of pizzas.

Imagine how many Twinkies you could buy?

Ah, priorities.

 

[Fender_Bender]

Yeah, those "Ezo art" guitar and basses look ridiculous (and ugly) and all that meta-physics empty speech... uhmmm... makes me think in politicians and their liar populism.

He probably only needs one sucker, oops I mean customer, to cover his total costs along with a healthy profit .

 

[Lava]

A really nice case.

 

[Sixgunn]

How much better does a $2,000,000 painting look than a $2,000 painting?

If you're talking about Jackson Pollack, I my opinion, it looks about $2,000,000.00 worse but I'd never begrudge anyone for buying one. We are all different.

 

[SLIV]

A $25K bass is worth about 373 Glarry basses! ($67 shipped)

 

[Sixgunn]

What does it get you? An empty wallet!

It might get YOU an empty wallet but it's pocket change for literally millions of people.

 

[J.Wolf]

interesting subsequent comments not withstanding..

 

[31HZ]

The worst part is that you have to buy two, so that you can always have a backup with you.

 

[nostatic]

Bottom line:

1. Some people have a lot of money - way more than you or me.
2. Some people don’t have a lot of money, but have different priorities.
3. Some people eat carrots.

 

[blowinblue]

Why are people so concerned about what other people spend on bass guitars? Is this just another thread that demonstrates veiled disapproval of spending more on an instrument than we would (or could) personally spend?

M. M.

 

[Sixgunn]

it is the law of diminishing returns.. the more you spend the less difference you will notice. That being said a $25000 vintage instrument may increase in value over time, a $25000 boutique bass will not hold its value.

Valid points it you consider basses, an investment. I do not. I have some instruments I'll never sell so it's irrelevant to me.

 

[rocmonster]

Bottom line:

1. Some people have a lot of money - way more than you or me.
2. Some people don’t have a lot of money, but have different priorities.
3. Some people eat carrots.

Now the question begs to be asked:
So what does a $25k carrot actually get you?

 

[MynameisMe]

A $1000 bass and priceless art piece in one 7-10lb package

I’m only on page 5 of this and it’s all typical TalkBass. Of course that doesn’t keep any of us from commenting.
I had a brief flirtation with shotgun sporting clays a few years ago. I bought a used browning Goldhunter for $500. It is a great shot gun. There are guys that regularly shoot with $1500- $2500 shotguns And when you get into the over under is there are people out there with Kreigoffs and Ceaser Gurrinis That are way more than $15-$25,000.
These are either pros that are being sponsored by the brand or they are just rich old guys.
I decided at $100 a pop to go out and shoot a round of sporting clays that it was just better off for me to play my basses and enjoy it more.
So if you want to $ 2K bass GUI go for it!
I personally would be scared to take it out of the house.
Kind of like driving a Lamborghini or a Porsche I would just be so scared somebody’s going to hit it. I would completely lose the joy of owning it.

 

[bassballs27]

$25K will get you a Fodera Anthony Jackson Presentation II I believe which is a 6 string, 36” Scale bass.

You could probably get an all original 1960 Fender Jazz too.

Worth is measured only by someone who buys the bass.

The way I look at, think of how much money you make per hour for every hour a luthier spends building your bass.
Personally, I wouldn’t invest $25K into one bass. Heck, I wouldn’t pay $12,500 either. I’ve had $9000 into a used bass and eventually sold it without a loss.

Every bass offers a different experience, but it all depends on how one sees the value in that experience. But every bass has the potential to be absolutely awesome at any price point. Instruments make life fun in that regards.