buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
I have a friend with a could of very nice Strats and vintage Fender amps. E also drives a car with over 300,000 miles.
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sssss...
- Thread starter 69Jazz
- Start date
I steal my wife's credit card 
Through the years, I kept trading up. I'd buy a cheap bass, then buy another and another. Then, I'd sell all 3 and use the money to buy a more expensive one. Lather, rinse repeat and 40 years later, I had 9 fairly expensive basses. So, I sold them all and bought 2 really good ones. Plus, after owning and playing all those basses, I really know what I want. That's how I did it.
I haven't read through the thread yet, but what's up with the title? Need a new keyboard? Maybe you should get that first?
I haven't read through the thread yet, but what's up with the title? Need a new keyboard? Maybe you should get that first?
When I was in my late teens and looking for a "good" bass, the store
owner said something that always stuck with me "if you want something bad enough...you will find a way to make it happen".
Between layaway and a trade in of my Ric 4003, I was able to buy
an '81 Alembic distillate (used $2700 circa 1989), which at the time
was my dream bass. Really I just buy the best equipment I can afford, money comes and goes so I'm determined to get something I will enjoy or even cherish with my hard earned money.
owner said something that always stuck with me "if you want something bad enough...you will find a way to make it happen".
Between layaway and a trade in of my Ric 4003, I was able to buy
an '81 Alembic distillate (used $2700 circa 1989), which at the time
was my dream bass. Really I just buy the best equipment I can afford, money comes and goes so I'm determined to get something I will enjoy or even cherish with my hard earned money.
I'm out of my league with the really high dollar stuff myself - even though I make a decent living. I agree with the sentiment that if you want it bad enough you'll find a way. But I can also see where having really high end stuff would be part of a flipping scenario. My problem is that I'm a hoarder. If I could bring myself to sell a half dozen or so of my current eleven basses I could get one really nice one. But I can't bring myself to sell any of them. I like the variety. And if I'm honest there probably is a bit of vanity involved on my end in having eleven basses.
But being in my late 40s musical stuff is the only area where I spend significant discretionary income. Some guys my age are all about expensive vehicles whereas I drive an old (2004) paid off pickup. My house has been paid off for a few years now too. So I figure if musical equipment is my form of a midlife crisis well... it could be a whole lot worse. My wife seems to agree.
But being in my late 40s musical stuff is the only area where I spend significant discretionary income. Some guys my age are all about expensive vehicles whereas I drive an old (2004) paid off pickup. My house has been paid off for a few years now too. So I figure if musical equipment is my form of a midlife crisis well... it could be a whole lot worse. My wife seems to agree.
I've asked the same question. Envelope style saving is how I manage to get any of my nice stuff. I take 20-50$ a paycheck and stash it in an envelope in my fires safe box and don't touch it for long periods of time. Gig money also goes straight in there. I'm not playing 3k $+ basses but I do have some nice stuff that I enjoy all the more for having waited.
Me and the wife keep a couple envelopes like that as we both have expensive hobbies, she has her film/photo envelope and was recently able to buy a nice drone for her freelance work cause we saved. The hardest part is putting that 20$ away instead of eating it.
And hey don't sweat not having the "forum gear" as I call it. There's a lot of great discussion on here about the value-price ratio when it comes to gear. Some stuff like the greenboy cabs are definitely super high quality but when it comes to basses I'll put my MIJ Jaguar bass (a Craigslist find I picked up for 450) up against 90% of the boutique 70's style jazz basses out there and still be happy with it.
You're not screwed. You have a property (hence the mortgage) just do what I did. I also am married and have two children and own property. Years ago when I figured out exactly what I wanted in upscale gear and figured out the cost and I applied for a home equity loan worth three times what I needed then bought the gear and refunded to the mortgager the balance as a lump sum then paid off the part I used for the gear purchase monthly. It didn't hurt a bit.
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I'm kinda surprised that this thread didn't become a "dont tell me how to spend my money" type thread or something. I think it's a topic a lot of us have pondered on but never talked about. I like it. But I also dont understand the thread title? Why all the ssssss?
I got distracted by my kid with rousting round of tickle and torture and somehow managed to make the ssss post.
Ha! I'm about to have my first child in Feb. so I'll be looking forward to that.... and less gear....
At 55, I'm dumping about 20 years of gear acquisitions right now. I've sold very little gear that I can think of over the years, probably because I sold some early on that I regretted. I'm at the point now, where I'm ready to let it go and I don't use most of it anyways. I've always bought gear with cash, that's been my rule and I am debt free, despite raising 4 kids. I wouldn't recommend debt of any kind except a mortgage. Like most have said, save and buy what you want.
When I played pro for 20+ yrs & nothing else 5-6 nights a week I had one (1) 75 P bass & one (1) amp. When I got a good day job I only played weekends but bought first rate,but used, stuff. 60 cents on the dollar. Now I have all my dream gear. But, I'm also 62.
Given enough time and determination, most of us can end up owning some good gear.
Just this week, as I was walking into my BL's house for our weekly practice/party,
I stopped for a moment and added up what I was carrying in and what I already had there.
Roughly $5,500 replacement cost!
Wow!
This from a guy living on Social Security and a part time job?
It took me over 50 years of looking for killer deals to get there.
If you can find something you want that needs a repair that you can handle
you can save a bundle.
If you can find a promotional deal, you can get things you might not otherwise.
If you happen on someone who is truely desperate to sell something RIGHT NOW
to cover an emergency, amazing things can happen.
Most of all, don't get in a hurry and grab up the first whatever you want that you find.
There is almost always a better deal out there somewhere, if you wait long enough.
Just this week, as I was walking into my BL's house for our weekly practice/party,
I stopped for a moment and added up what I was carrying in and what I already had there.
Roughly $5,500 replacement cost!
Wow!
This from a guy living on Social Security and a part time job?
It took me over 50 years of looking for killer deals to get there.
If you can find something you want that needs a repair that you can handle
you can save a bundle.
If you can find a promotional deal, you can get things you might not otherwise.
If you happen on someone who is truely desperate to sell something RIGHT NOW
to cover an emergency, amazing things can happen.
Most of all, don't get in a hurry and grab up the first whatever you want that you find.
There is almost always a better deal out there somewhere, if you wait long enough.
Basically, save, save, save......... then buy used.
More detailed - live with what you've got and save long enough to establish a decent sized slush fund, say, a couple thousand dollars or so. Then keep an eye out for used gear, BE PATIENT, nail it when you find a deal. Then, no more purchases until you fill that slush fund back up.
More detailed - live with what you've got and save long enough to establish a decent sized slush fund, say, a couple thousand dollars or so. Then keep an eye out for used gear, BE PATIENT, nail it when you find a deal. Then, no more purchases until you fill that slush fund back up.
It's easier if you're buying things to play rather than just collecting. All my basses are players. And I get a really good sound out of everything I own.
The most I ever paid for a bass was around $2500. The cheapest bass I ever bought (and still play) is a weird no-name import I got for less than $50.
What works best for me is to salt away what I can spare in an equipment fund. Usually when I see something I'm interested in, I don't have enough. But every so often I do.
"So dig your well before you get thirsty", as the motivational speakers say. Because they're right. A lot of smart living is in the preparation. You need to be ready to make your move should an opportunity come your way.
The most I ever paid for a bass was around $2500. The cheapest bass I ever bought (and still play) is a weird no-name import I got for less than $50.
What works best for me is to salt away what I can spare in an equipment fund. Usually when I see something I'm interested in, I don't have enough. But every so often I do.
"So dig your well before you get thirsty", as the motivational speakers say. Because they're right. A lot of smart living is in the preparation. You need to be ready to make your move should an opportunity come your way.
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I've narrowed it down to the lowest 3 common denominators.
1) Some people are good with their money.
2) Some people are terrible with their money.
3) Some people have way too much money.
1) Some people are good with their money.
2) Some people are terrible with their money.
3) Some people have way too much money.
Heh, I hear you. I have a pretty solid income and am still amazed at how many Wals and Foderas float around on the classified tab. Some of them all from the same owner! I'm drooling over a Wal myself but it's going to be a few years before I'm (hopefully) in a position to drop a few GRAND on an instrument.
