The more I look at basses...

[Blueinred]

I have all the gear I'll ever NEED (unless David Gilmore comes calling). That doesn't mean I don't have wants. Lately I've been itchin' for something with good Bart hummers in it because I love that sound. But I also have this little voice in my head that says "spend the money on lessons, music theory, and learning to sight read" that I wonder if I should listen to more. It's a dilemma.

The one thing about gear is it can be sold off in a pinch to raise funds. Unless your teaching it or using it professionally, knowledge (theory, sight reading) is it's own reward, and nothing more. But a good reward, I would think.

 

[Ragoo]

Build it yourself. You will get EXACTLY what you want and get out EXACTLY what you put into it. It really tests your devotion as a player and a craftsman.

 

[steamthief]

The average American used to keep a car 4 years. I checked my facts and now it's just under six years. It doesn't change my point, but I think you just want to argue because my point that some people pay a lot for things that don't last long and won't pay a lot less for things that last practically forever is pretty easy to understand.


Some people just don't want to get the point.

I get that some people don't want to spend $4000+ for a bass. I don't get why they feel the need to insult people that do.

Insult? More like micro aggression. People pay a lot more for a vehicle because it's a necessity for most people to get to work. And even if you earn your keep playing bass, you still need wheels to get you to the gig.

Fess up, your Fiat is in the shop again.

 

[Thumper]

Sheesh, I thought this was 'murica, you know where you can buy a $3,000 .45 cal 1917 even though you already have 35 guns and rifles and thousands of rounds of ammo, nobody squeaks about it do they? How about the person who spends $27k on a turbo sxs, then another $10k to get it where they want? 90k for a ski boat, seen it. $70k for that Duramax, sure. Bottle of wine, $20 all day long if you're not drinking $5 micro brews...Priorities people!

My gosh, this is America, if you have the money, and don't elect to spend it elsewhere, spend it where you want, on what you want. If you don't have the $, sorry, maybe your day will come. For some of us it has, but there aren't as many left, why begrudge anyone anything legally obtained?

 

[moody]

Sure. My point is that $5k isn't an unattainable amount of money.

It took me 2 years of hard slog to be able to justify a planned $375 purchase. Not saying that I couldn't spend $5000 on a bass if I had to - but for me right now that's half way to a kitchen renovation.

Everybody's circumstances are different, whether you can afford and justify a purchase and whether you feel that a bass is worth that much are two different things - and they are totally independent to each person.

Also, my wife would kill me if I spent $5000 on a bass right now.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Also, my wife would kill me if I spent $5000 on a bass right now.

Yeah. Bang!

 

[Whippet]

It took me 2 years of hard slog to be able to justify a planned $375 purchase. Not saying that I couldn't spend $5000 on a bass if I had to - but for me right now that's half way to a kitchen renovation.

Everybody's circumstances are different, whether you can afford and justify a purchase and whether you feel that a bass is worth that much are two different things - and they are totally independent to each person.

Also, my wife would kill me if I spent $5000 on a bass right now.

Thank the stars and heaven my wife has absolute zero interest and doesn't care how much I spend at all.

 

[bassstrangler]

I appreciate the expensive custom boutique basses. Not for me though. Considering the fact that I just don't see anything more than $1500-$2000 worth it anyways. I just got the perfect bass for $680. So it just depends on what you want and who you are as a person.
My car is way too much for what I need, but it's nice and gets me to work safely and economically, I probably could have went about $10000 less but it's what I wanted. I'm reminded of that every month on the 18th.

 

[awilkie84]

The more I look at basses, the more $4,000 does not seem like a lot of money to spend on an instrument.

... and, well if you're going to spend $4,000, why not spend $7,000 and get what you really want?

Because there are companies that make what I want for around $2000.

 

[bass32]

Just curious, is your FCS a jazz bass?
FF

Yeah it is, but I've played Jazz basses as my main for about 20 years. All of them active, but my current p-bass is passive (Am Stnd P5).
I also currently own a passive Squier Jazz (VM 70's Style 5 String) that I use at gigs as well. It's main use is backup and it doesn't get as much playing time as my p-bass, but it does get some at each gig.
I've upgraded all the electronics and had it refinished in surf green. It's an easy playing and pretty good sounding bass.

Pics below...left to right.....FCS, Am Stnd P-5, Squier Jazz 5

 

[bassstrangler]

Love that Squier, I've got three basses that color or similar now. Beautiful! The other two are just as nice of course.

 

[blowinblue]

Also, my wife would kill me if I spent $5000 on a bass right now.

I spent a lot of money on a bass and sure enough...my wife killed me. But because I'm a superhero, I came back to life.

M. M.

 

[bass32]

Love that Squier, I've got three basses that color or similar now. Beautiful! The other two are just as nice of course.

Thanks. I always liked painted headstocks on a Jazz, so I had them do that. I got the Squier decal off a guy on ebay. Not an exact match, but close. Just tryin' to keep it real.
The p-bass is a metalic candy cola. I added the white pearl pg. Looks much better in person.
The FCS is a Violin burst. Neck is birds eye with black binding and black pearl inlays. Looks really nice in person.

 

[BigBobbyBass]

Just about anyone can save $5k over two years to buy an expensive bass if they really want to. The problem with saving over two years is that you pass a lot of $1000-$1500 basses along the way that are pretty darn good.

Really? With my house payment, collage for the kid, and 7 grand(and rising) for property tax, I believe you're presuming a little much..

 

[Frenchy-Lefty]

Didn't we already established that all basses sound the same and that no one cares what you play?

 

[Plutonium244]

Insult? More like micro aggression. People pay a lot more for a vehicle because it's a necessity for most people to get to work. And even if you earn your keep playing bass, you still need wheels to get you to the gig.

Fess up, your Fiat is in the shop again.

Micro agression, lol. College campuses are all abuzz about micro aggressions these days.

 

[Menorahman]

Micro agression, lol. College campuses are all abuzz about micro aggressions these days.

people are really sensitive these days

that's what happens when you walk around looking at facebook all day

 

[pravus]

Do you drive a 20 year old beater?

In fact I do drive an '85 Nissan truck that I bought for $1500. That's less than the down payment on my Dingwalls. You can tell where my priorities are.

 

[Whippet]

In fact I do drive an '85 Nissan truck that I bought for $1500. That's less than the down payment on my Dingwalls. You can tell where my priorities are.

And dang!! You're a Gold Supporting Member to boot! Just don't tell me you're bringing your instruments to your grave.

 

[Menorahman]

I'm gonna strap my fodera onto the roof of my tesla and drive them into the ocean