I hear ya, OP, I don't get it either. Some seem to have infinite disposable income, or maybe they rely heavily on credit to ease their GAS? The latter is a baaaad idea IMO.
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- Thread starter 69Jazz
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I'm house poor, so I hear you. Some are born rich, some don't choose to acquire the same expenses or sire the same number of dependents, and some are just really good at saving.
There are some really good replies in this thread so far.
JammaDave brought up one reason that I suspect is much more prevalent than those of you saving astutely and investing over time: people being rash with their cash and buying things they can't realistically afford.
It's the same story with millions of people in the lower middle class dumping all their cash and credit into a shiny new BMW, or people buying houses on easy credit that they can't realistically make payments on.
I'm willing to bet that a good 30% of people you see trading botique gear in the classifieds frequently have months where they aren't able to make rent and car payments
Point is OP, don't worry about missing out on some secret of success and not having all the coolest gear in the world. There are very good reasons why you shouldn't indulge like that.
Like others here have said, do start saving now though; pick out one reaaaally nice thing that you want badly, be it a shiny custom bass or top of the line amp, and just focus on that one thing for a couple years.
JammaDave brought up one reason that I suspect is much more prevalent than those of you saving astutely and investing over time: people being rash with their cash and buying things they can't realistically afford.
It's the same story with millions of people in the lower middle class dumping all their cash and credit into a shiny new BMW, or people buying houses on easy credit that they can't realistically make payments on.
I'm willing to bet that a good 30% of people you see trading botique gear in the classifieds frequently have months where they aren't able to make rent and car payments
Point is OP, don't worry about missing out on some secret of success and not having all the coolest gear in the world. There are very good reasons why you shouldn't indulge like that.
Like others here have said, do start saving now though; pick out one reaaaally nice thing that you want badly, be it a shiny custom bass or top of the line amp, and just focus on that one thing for a couple years.
I can guarantee that it would be more effective than my "life is a treadmill and then you die" tapes. +1 for putting positive mindset out there.
There are all kinds of options and approaches to getting the equipment you want and a lot of people already made some great suggestions. But, unless you're one of those rare people who never has to ask the price of an item you want before buying it, the two things all those approaches have in common is prioritization and compromise. We all have limited resources and have to make choices about how to spend them.
What helps me buy with my head instead of my heart is:
- First and foremost, I'm a late-blooming, talentless hack. Having started to play for real so late in life, I'll simply never be able to coax sounds that could be considered musical out of an $8000 bass.
- I have very specific tastes in the cosmetics of my basses. IOW, I'm a PROUD burst and tort lover. Go ahead and hate me!
- I only play five string basses
- I only buy used
- I only buy when I already have some cash saved specifically to be ready to buy at those rare times when an item that perfectly fits my profile pops up
- I rarely buy when I'm not willing to sell something I already have in order to offset the cost of the new item - or I've already sold something to raise at least part of the cash needed to buy again.
- I'm patient enough to wait for a perfect buying opportunity - and patient enough to wait for next perfect opportunity to pop up if someone beat me to the most recent one I found.
- I have a family, including a son in college
- I have a mortgage
- My wife and I want to be able to retire someday (IOW our 401(k) contributions are maxed out and get taken out of our paychecks automatically before we ever see our paychecks)
What helps me buy with my head instead of my heart is:
- First and foremost, I'm a late-blooming, talentless hack. Having started to play for real so late in life, I'll simply never be able to coax sounds that could be considered musical out of an $8000 bass.
- I have very specific tastes in the cosmetics of my basses. IOW, I'm a PROUD burst and tort lover. Go ahead and hate me!
- I only play five string basses
- I only buy used
- I only buy when I already have some cash saved specifically to be ready to buy at those rare times when an item that perfectly fits my profile pops up
- I rarely buy when I'm not willing to sell something I already have in order to offset the cost of the new item - or I've already sold something to raise at least part of the cash needed to buy again.
- I'm patient enough to wait for a perfect buying opportunity - and patient enough to wait for next perfect opportunity to pop up if someone beat me to the most recent one I found.
- I have a family, including a son in college
- I have a mortgage
- My wife and I want to be able to retire someday (IOW our 401(k) contributions are maxed out and get taken out of our paychecks automatically before we ever see our paychecks)
Could have quoted several additional posts but thought these two covered the theme for the most part.
I've been a member here for about a year now and a commonly recurrent theme in a lot of what I read on this forum IMO really boils down to snobbery, pure and simple. My bass/cab/amp/pedals cost a crap load and that makes me cooler in some manner, check out my cool new bass/amp/pedal, thread after thread. You see it in different social groups with peoples homes, cars, boats, clothes, etc etc, pretty common in our society these days and certainly no different here. He-who-has-the-most-material-goods-wins mentality. After the first half page of posts it's obvious where the thread is going so most of it I don't even read anymore, not worth the time.
I guess I was raised differently. Was taught by my parents to distinguish between what I WANTED and what I really NEEDED. At risk of sounding like a braggard, if I really wanted a $10K+ bass/cab/amp/whatever I could go write a check for it no issue. And I do have some nice stuff. None of which I paid more than 60% of what it sold for new, waited until I could get it used in near new condition because it didn't make sense to buy new when you can get the same thing for a lot less with a bit of patience. Nothing I own is boutique but all of it is good quality and fully functional and 99% of the audience can't tell/hear the difference between what I walk in with and stuff that costs 10X as much. If it sounds good and plays well isn't that all that should really matter?
Yeah, if I played for a major recording act, a late night talk show band, something that genuinely justified having boutique I'd probably have it. Playing bars, clubs, parties etc for a few hundred a night IMO it makes absolutely no sense to me to own a $5K instrument, boutique amp/cab. Yeah I could afford it. But from a common sense point I can't JUSTIFY it, at least not to myself.
Now I'm sure I'm gonna get grief for what I've stated above and that's fine, unload away. Despite what I've written above my intention here truly is not to denigrate anyone or put anyone down. If you like high end gear and can either afford it and/or justify it, I ain't mad at ya. It's all a matter of what you like and can AFFORD. If you're up to your ass in debt because you've gotta have the best whatever and it's worth the stress to you to live that way that's fine, live your life the way you want. But let's be honest and call it what it is.
Stated another way -
I don't have digital
I don't have diddly squat
It's not having what you want
It's wanting what you've got - Sheryl Crow (Soak Up The Sun)
I quit playing golf. Bass is my main activity outside of work, so I spend money where needed/wanted on gear. Also, as a rule, if I'm buying something, I'm typically selling something else. Not always, though. 
Amen.
The swords and armor used by the soldiers on the battlefield isn't the same as the ceremonial and symbolic items painted on canvas for the future-world to remember.
Totally in the same boat, except my kids are 3 and 1. It's taking me months to save up for even the most meager of gear. But I also have the benefit of being in the military band system, so I sometimes manage to get them to buy gear that I want . . . but it's a looooong process.
Sounds like you are quite rich, just unaware of it
I am a late bloomer - I wont ever be stage material - and I don't care. I picked up bass playing to release some stress (although it created a fun type of stress now lol)...but I choose to play instead of popping anxiety pills....read that again... but I choose to play instead of popping anxiety pills (a healthy decision, I think)
.....I have some stellar gear - mainly because the better quality gear has a better ease of playability for ME. Having carpal tunnel and flaring tendonitis is a PITA, so if I want to continue to play/noodle - I have to test all gear prior to buying.
It's a shame (and a happiness) to realize that my Dingwalls are the easiest FOR ME to maneuver around on - the cost of them is high, but my pleasure in playing, is even higher.
The way I was able to conquer the cost (mentally), was I originally bought a VERY cheap bass...I told myself that IF I was still playing in a year, I could hunt around for a good one. Fast forward ONLY a few months, and this guy Sheldon Dingwall was making an "appearance" at one of local music stores - I did some research and thought id better check it all out. Met him and half a dozen of his bass guitars - and I was overwhelmed with the ease of playability and his attention to detail. He was a straight-up solid guy who never bad mouthed ANY other manufacturer or luthier. I was impressed -
I found a used one from a TB member here - loved it! It was a 5 string - but a good way to dip my toe in the Dingwall pot.... I paid about as much as a good Fender P bass (ok, maybe a tad more) but nonetheless, it was doable and sent me on my quest for the 4 string Dingwall search.
I have since, created a "BASS FUND" account. So as I come into a bit of cash here and there, I deposit it into one account...then if something strikes my eye, then I look at my bass funds account and see where im at. Most of the time its surprising how much small change adds up through the year...
I never judge someone of HOW they can afford this or that, if they can swing it and still pay their bills etc, then that's great. Some peeps flip gear and actually MAKE a bit of money - its not a retirement plan for me (lol), but I can see how it can become addicting...knowledge is king.
.....I have some stellar gear - mainly because the better quality gear has a better ease of playability for ME. Having carpal tunnel and flaring tendonitis is a PITA, so if I want to continue to play/noodle - I have to test all gear prior to buying.
It's a shame (and a happiness) to realize that my Dingwalls are the easiest FOR ME to maneuver around on - the cost of them is high, but my pleasure in playing, is even higher.
The way I was able to conquer the cost (mentally), was I originally bought a VERY cheap bass...I told myself that IF I was still playing in a year, I could hunt around for a good one. Fast forward ONLY a few months, and this guy Sheldon Dingwall was making an "appearance" at one of local music stores - I did some research and thought id better check it all out. Met him and half a dozen of his bass guitars - and I was overwhelmed with the ease of playability and his attention to detail. He was a straight-up solid guy who never bad mouthed ANY other manufacturer or luthier. I was impressed -
I found a used one from a TB member here - loved it! It was a 5 string - but a good way to dip my toe in the Dingwall pot.... I paid about as much as a good Fender P bass (ok, maybe a tad more) but nonetheless, it was doable and sent me on my quest for the 4 string Dingwall search.
I have since, created a "BASS FUND" account. So as I come into a bit of cash here and there, I deposit it into one account...then if something strikes my eye, then I look at my bass funds account and see where im at. Most of the time its surprising how much small change adds up through the year...
I never judge someone of HOW they can afford this or that, if they can swing it and still pay their bills etc, then that's great. Some peeps flip gear and actually MAKE a bit of money - its not a retirement plan for me (lol), but I can see how it can become addicting...knowledge is king.
I'm about to buy my first brand new car in a few months, after paying off credit card debt that I never thought would go away! But, as you said, it's not unachievable. Just gotta work at it.I don't buy my basses in cash, but I also never buy a bass that I can't pay off without interest. Musiciansfriend offers 24 and 36 month interest free. Makes things easy.
20 years ago, I desperately wanted a "real" bass, but could no way afford one. I had a Warwick catalog that I drooled over daily. As crazy as this is about to sound.... I read one of those affirmation books, I think it was Creative Visualizations. I actually did the things suggested (did them for my music career, too). Lo and behold, about 6 months later I had a Warwick in my hands. Not long after that I had a Warwick, a MM Sterling, and an American Fender. I continued to do as instructed in that book and landed a deal with Musicman, and then another company, and another. I also wound up touring in other countries, having my bass handed to me by roadies - pretty much as I was envisioning it through what I learned and practiced from that book.
Really need to start doing that stuff again
Ya know, it's interesting to me how new age, magical thinking type things often get ridiculed, scorned and laughed at. I myself often roll my eyes at it, and question it's validity and practicality, yet when I'm open minded or desperate enough to actually do the things suggested - they work. 2 years ago in fact, I tested the principles while writing a journal one day. My POS car was giving me some issues, and I started envisioning a brand new car. Something that was entirely not doable at that time. I wasn't even making enough money to pay my bills, and had just lost about half my income from being laid off from an evening job I was doing. Again, just like with the basses - in less than a year I found myself driving my very first brand new car, and still being able to pay all my bills.
So - while I'd like to give a really practical response to "how do we do it?" the above is my honest response.
The only practical thing I can add is that I also learned to save money. I almost always have an envelope hidden somewhere labeled "bass" or "fun" that I contribute $10-$20 weekly to, and throw any unexpected earnings into. This is another thing people here have scoffed at in the past, and they can scoff all they want
I'll add that I also agree with this:
Man, after that read I cannot wait for your book.
Sounds like you are quite rich, just unaware of it
Yup. I'm not interested in raising kids, but I can't deny that my bass gear collection isn't going to take care of me when I get old. It isn't ever going to hug me.
...But it also isn't going to drop out of college, need bail money, wreck my car, or get pregnant as a teenager, etc.
How do we do it? Could be one of these possibilities;
1) With annual $25k expense account for new gear that you must spend.
2) Getting paid $200k per year to surf the web and participate on forums
3) Having flexible available income that allows for luxury purchases
4) Buying low, selling high
5) Buying high ... or inebriated
1) With annual $25k expense account for new gear that you must spend.
2) Getting paid $200k per year to surf the web and participate on forums
3) Having flexible available income that allows for luxury purchases
4) Buying low, selling high
5) Buying high ... or inebriated
I make about $35k a year plus gig money. I don't have expensive gear. But I live in a 950 sq ft house with my wife and two kids. We don't have cable (not even basic cable), we don't go out to eat very often, we never bought a flat screen tv. My wife uses a flip phone, I have a smart phone only because my job gave me one and requires me to carry it. My last car I finally sold when it hit 253,000 miles. It looked like crap but I was more concerned about saving up for musical gear than what people thought of my car.
Not having kids will really save you some money. My wife and I both work, so until my kids were old enough to be home alone, we spent over $50,000 in daycare bills. We were making just over 60k a year and 12k was going to daycare bills.
Not having kids will really save you some money. My wife and I both work, so until my kids were old enough to be home alone, we spent over $50,000 in daycare bills. We were making just over 60k a year and 12k was going to daycare bills.
Easy, worked at McDonalds for $4.25hr and went to school...saved money so I could buy a new SVT3 Pro/Ampeg SVT 2x15 cab..my basses at that time were not special at all but the rig crushed it.
Later on, went to school on my own...made $8.50hr while doing so and over time continued self study in my field (which is required if you want to stay up to date and be sound)...this lead to a higher and higher salary to the point I now have the means (oh, did I mention NOT getting into debt..thats a big factor) to play US Spector basses and use whatever amp I want (Heritage SVT stuff). It's still blows me away when I get to play my basses, I have come a long way since high school.
Its called education, determination, drive, and naturally time!
- Jun 6, 2012
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- I don't wait 30 minutes after eating, to go swimming.
Cut out fast/pre-made food. Make your own coffee. Don't smoke or drink. Look at the price @ the pump. Don't leave lights/TVs on. Don't set your thermostat above 55 at night. Take short showers. Don't use credit. I hope this helps!
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