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What basses to collect?

ovialexm

ovialexm

Jun 5, 2006
236
119
Seattle, Wa.
#1
Hi there!
I was searching over the internet and did not find this topic. Therefore, I am searching what are the best basses to collect for value. Here I am not referring to the sound. What basses do you think is good to collect now and in time you are not losing the money are spent now. I know about American Fender ‘60 and ‘70 Musicman stingray ’70.
Can you have some more suggestion? As many you write as good it is. ;)
What about the modern basses?
Thank you!
 
#7
ovialexm said:
What is the reason?
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Basically this

ehque said:
Generally basses make crappy investments. Even stuff like the 60's Fenders didn't do so well if you factor in cost of living, if i'm not wrong.

Buy used, sell used, and hope not to lose any money each time. That's my advice.
Click to expand...

Even very old basses, pre-CBS Fenders even, do not seem to bring nearly as high a return as their guitar equivalents.

Besides, people collecting basses takes them off the market so the rest of us can't play them!
 
#9
:hmm: Value?

Collect... here's a thought, do it because you love what it is, are happy for what you paid for it, it does what it's supposed to AND you MAY be able to make money from it... not HAVE TO make money from.

Value is in the eye of the beholder, mine might be different to yours but neither is right nor wrong. I appreciate each instrument for what it is, the period it is from :) and whether it "does it" for ME... that's all that matters IMHO.

Fenders, Sadowsky's, Warwicks, Suhr's and EBMM basses should be good investments :hiding:

:D
 
#10
Hondo basses from the 80s are a good investment for your heated climate controlled vault- we will all be sad that they would be off the market and not in our hands to play, but Hondo is the way to go!
Fender, Gibson, Rickenbacker-all bad investments. Any of these brands you have already stowed away I suggest you sell for 15% of what you paid for them.
 
#12
Catbuster said:
Guitars. Buy a '59 Tobacco Burst LP. Those will never lose value. After that, find a '59 Cherry Burst LP. I just saw one go for nearly 6 grand (:eek:) when ordering a bass.
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You do realize that buying a real 58 or 59 Les Paul will cost a bit more than 6K, don't you? 6K might not even get you in the building.
 
#13
BurningSkies said:
You do realize that buying a real 58 or 59 Les Paul will cost a bit more than 6K, don't you? 6K might not even get you in the building.
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Yep, A 59 Paul will go for around 30K.

I never really understood collecting instruments as an investment. I also think it's funny when people buy a custom made instrument in the belief they'll be able to sell it for a profit. That's almost never the case.

Yes, vintage instruments are the only one's that are a sure fire profit maker. And even then , with basses, you have to get into pretty rare stuff. I have a 79 4001 Rick in perfect condition that was appraised for approximately the price of a new one. And if you go that route, go with guitars. They have more cache.' And there are more models that will bring in a good price.

Now, if you came across a 62' Precision for under 6K...BUY!!!!

When it comes to instruments, my philosophy is to buy what you want to play -- even if it's just for fun. I had some "collectables" that I never used, sold them (for no profit) and I didn't miss them a bit. Meanwhile, I wish I still had my old Ibanez Roadstar. It's worth nothing but it was a great bass.
 
#15
Generally speaking, there are way better investment avenues...real estate, stocks, bonds and such. However, buy what you like, play it and hope to at least get back what you bought it for, if not a bit more. Fenders make the best investments, as far as basses go.
 

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