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trying to get a rick and 14 years old
- Thread starter njbass93
- Start date
Maybe I'm alone here...
I'm all for you getting your dream bass, but isn't it a little early? You're 14, so how long could you have possibly been playing? Maybe 1-3 years?
Your tastes WILL change as your playing develops, and if you've never even played a Rickenbacker, how can you know it's the one for you? Is it because it looks cool? Have you even heard one? I would personally NEVER pick up a $1500+ bass (and I say that because I am a young, poor college student, who knows what the future will bring).
You need to consider all of this. How are you gonna feel if you bust your hump to get that bass and it shows up and you don't even like how it feels/plays/sounds.
Did you do your homework?
I'm all for you getting your dream bass, but isn't it a little early? You're 14, so how long could you have possibly been playing? Maybe 1-3 years?
Your tastes WILL change as your playing develops, and if you've never even played a Rickenbacker, how can you know it's the one for you? Is it because it looks cool? Have you even heard one? I would personally NEVER pick up a $1500+ bass (and I say that because I am a young, poor college student, who knows what the future will bring).
You need to consider all of this. How are you gonna feel if you bust your hump to get that bass and it shows up and you don't even like how it feels/plays/sounds.
Did you do your homework?
The go to college and get a good job one makes good sense, but at 14, I doubt that's what you want to hear. Here's an idea. The holiday season is coming up. Go out in the woods with some rope and a weight. Use it to pull a whole bunch of mistletoe out of the trees. Go home, cut off generous little sprigs of it, tie a little bow of thin red ribbon on each one, and sell them for what the traffic will bear (start at $2). You may think I'm kidding, but I'm not. You can make hundreds of dollars at this.
you pay tax on babysitting wages?
in the UK you dont pay income tax until you're 18, and even if you do you claim it back on your 18th
also, are you after this kind of rick?
You seem very condescending in your thoughts as to if he's played one or not, the OP hasn't even had a chance to respond to all of the questions here so let them speak for themselves.
I checked out your profile and followed to your band page, then followed to your personal page (not trying to stalk lol) but you're only a year older and your profile says you currently own 8 basses and two of them being vintage fenders. Kinda like the pot calling the kettle black.
Food for thought.
I think everyone is being to negative about this. If the kid wants to work hard, has played one and knows he wants it, then what is the problem? More often then not it seems like there is resentment here by people who either didn't have the dilligence at that age to to manifest their wants or either don't have that calibre of gear even now 10 to 20 years later. Honestly it makes more sence for him to work his arse off and save for it now before he has real worries such as gas, insurance, rent, food or a mortgage.
-Benny
I'll donate one Dollar and if everyone that posted here does the same the kids is well on his way to a new Ric.
I'm in, a paypal account and you're probably at least a few bucks closer to your dream...
D.Don
- Jun 19, 2004
- 4,782
- 83
- 42
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist, Schroeder Cabinets
+100000 If you are willing to work for anything you are ahead of the discouraging folks. I'll tell you what my kids did last summer. They only had 7 weeks to work during the summer due to other obligations. They came to me and asked me to match what they made in those 7 weeks. Since they had never worked before (they were 14 (twins)) so I figured it wouldn't cost me that much. We agreed they would save most of what they made. They are both musicians and were wanting funds to buy new/more stuff so they planned to save up anyway. Well, I am glad I limited what I would match to what they could bring in during those 7 weeks. They washed cars, cut yards, house sat, dog sat, baby sat. They made flyers with a priced menu of services they could perform reliably and distibuted them throughout the neighborhood. In the end, I was out a little over $1000 in matching funds but very proud as well. If they could do this in 7 weeks, not working every day, you should be able to knock this out relatively quickly. And you will appreciate that Rick a lot more than if it was gifted to you. So get off the computer and get to work. Lord knows, the world needs as many Bassists as it can get.
If I were you, Id wait to get a high end bass like that until im liking on my own. Someone I could take pride in. Never make a purchase that big at your age. Im also 14. 
Never, ever expect a handout. Never expect others to do for you. I'm not saying that they won't, and I'm not telling you to accept help or a gift if given. I will say this though, it really is better to give than to recieve. With this fact being known, work to the point that you can give. As you do, you will see less of yourself and will become a better person.
As for your Rick; that issue has been covered numerous times already. You need to earn it bro. Be creative. There are very few musicians that actually make it as a pro. There are pro level players that have never seen, and will likely never see a dime for their efforts. Music should first be a hobby. If things progress and work out, then continue with your goals. As with every goal though; always have a back-up plan. Not a way out, just a detour.
If you really want a Rick, work your butt off. Save and don't settle. Get what you want. You will be surprised at just how small an amount of money a few thousand dollars really is. It will add up, you will learn more about finances. In the long run the lessons learned will be more valuable than a bass or any of the money in your account.
.....and don't even think about credit. It will screw up your life.
As for your Rick; that issue has been covered numerous times already. You need to earn it bro. Be creative. There are very few musicians that actually make it as a pro. There are pro level players that have never seen, and will likely never see a dime for their efforts. Music should first be a hobby. If things progress and work out, then continue with your goals. As with every goal though; always have a back-up plan. Not a way out, just a detour.
If you really want a Rick, work your butt off. Save and don't settle. Get what you want. You will be surprised at just how small an amount of money a few thousand dollars really is. It will add up, you will learn more about finances. In the long run the lessons learned will be more valuable than a bass or any of the money in your account.
.....and don't even think about credit. It will screw up your life.
yes, BUT i have a high-paying job, have worked hard and those vintage Fender's are not mine. I just get to use them. Now, I could buy one, but i just bought a Bergantino instead.
I do have many basses, and worked to buy them.
and beside the fact, a ric is unreasonable considering his age. Fender's are production basses, even the vintage ones certain people can have. But Rics are customs....Not for your everyday 14 year old. And i might be wrong, but the OP never has said anything about having a band, which makes it different too.
What?! When did Rickenbacker's become customs, instead of just a (slow) production model?
Also, tell me, what is for "your everyday 14 year old"?
How do you know he is an "everyday 14 year old"? He actually could be a fantastic bassist.
Why can't he work to get a Rickenbacker, if thats what he wants, or are you not "your everyday 14(15,w/e) year old"?
So?! I'm not in a band, shall I sell 11 of my basses and just keep my SX? Obviously as I'm not in a band, I don't deserve anything else.....
Who gives a d-mn, the dude dreams of Ric, who on this forum have not had gas? No matter age or how long you have been playing .. what's the deal here?
I have been playing bass for 6 months only, and I already own 3 basses and have a hollowbody project bass on my work bench, and after that one, I am gonna get me a fretless MM stingray 5 (or a part bass, or both) .. and I don't play in a band...
If you have ideas for this dude how to earn the dow to get his dream bass - great, if not, why do you even bother posting?
Sorry if I am sounding harsh or blunt, english is not my first (it's my shared second) language.
D.Don
I have been playing bass for 6 months only, and I already own 3 basses and have a hollowbody project bass on my work bench, and after that one, I am gonna get me a fretless MM stingray 5 (or a part bass, or both) .. and I don't play in a band...
If you have ideas for this dude how to earn the dow to get his dream bass - great, if not, why do you even bother posting?
Sorry if I am sounding harsh or blunt, english is not my first (it's my shared second) language.
D.Don
And he's asking ways he can make money so he can work to buy/ save or in other words, EARN it. High paying job or not you can still save up. That's a valuable lesson to learn no matter what age and it's a good thing to be instilled at a younge age.
Take off the two vintage Fenders, you're 15 and have 6 basses of your own. Add it up.
I'm not trying to argue with you, but you're seeming to lack certain key information on the original topic.
When in stock you can get a Rick through musicians friend, definitely not a custom instrument. Sorry try again. And do you have any clue how much those vintage fenders you're playing are worth? Vintage fenders can and most of the time are worth more then a Ric, depending upon shape... look at a closet classic... whew.
You know how many bedroom bassists there are on this forum? Tons, that have super custom basses that cost far more then a Ric, so that point is not valid.
He didn't ask your opinion if you deem him worthy of a Ric, or the fact that if you think he deserves it. If he can save for it and work hard, then he deserves it, point and case closed.
That's that.
-Benny
1. maybe he is. okay.
2.If thats what he wants he can work for it, but it will take a long time judging from the work he's mentioned.
And not to be full of myself, but i do much more than the average 15 year old. I make large sums of money so that i can buy my stuff. I help out my friends when they are down, buy tickets, etc. I don't mind and i like to think that i can "somewhat" support myself and/or help out my friends or others who don't have the money, less fortunate, etc. you know, the whole "pay it forward" idea.
3. No you shouldn't sell your basses. Judging from the immense amount of advice and help you've given me and other TB'ers, you are definetly older than me and probably in your 30's, something like that. Which leads me to believe, hopefully, you've been in a band before and have played for many years.
This is the thing, he says he's good but not how much, and we'll never know if its true or not.
Yes, but the idea is to give him more options to gain cash, and make him understand its gonna take effort to get what he wants, he can then decide if he really wants it, and put the effort in. Not to put him down for wanting a nice instrument.
That all sounds cool to me.
22, and while I have been playing for years, I have never been in a band.
And again the point you don't get is that he's looking for advice on how to get started. Good for you that you make a bunch of money doing what not. That's besides the point. You're honestly not contributing to the thread and are talking down to him.
Not trying to flame you, but you're clueless in this thread and off topic.
We're not talking about your accomplishments or embellishments, we're talking about ideas for a 14 year old who can't even get a work permit to make money.
Also I think I'm done with this thread, I contributed many ideas as well as lots of encouragement. I don't want to deal with ignorence anymore, maybe a mod will clean it up a bit. If I don't leave it'll just be a flame war.
-Benny
+11111
Oh, and what kind of Lakland is it?
Joe Osborn Skyline 4. Traded it in for a T-Bird, whic IMO, plays alot smoother. The Jo's Electronics were all screwy too.
Find a job you can do and start saving. A weekly mowing, newspaper delivery, whatever you can commit to. Even if you change your mind about buying the rick (you may want a car instead), you've got a stash and learned how to work hard, and that's worth more anyway.
