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What basses will be worh $$$$ 30+ years from now?

#121
I think society is changing and young kids today probably couldn't care less 30 years from now in regards to vintage guitars or for that matter, vintage anything. I still think certain cars will still be valuable from the pre-1970's although I can't see anyone salivating in 2050 for a 2010 Ford Pickup.
 
#122
My guess would be that the basses that are worth a lot more now like old Fenders or Rics will be worth even more in the future, but more in the way of an investment rather than a player.

There might be some very sought after 80s - 90s basses as well 30 years from now - who can tell(?) as they will be classics then.

I'm sure 30 years down the road they will have amazing advancements in the electronics department that most will favor over the older style, and wood won't become scarce (as a few mentioned), but there will be an investors market for classic basses much like anything else.

If you want some serious investments - look into violins instead.
 
#123
The general collectable nature of instruments has almost vanished do to mass production and the easy world wide availability made possible by the internet. Part of the value used to be that someone would have trouble finding increasingly rare instruments, but now I can search nearly the entire planet for a bass.
Real instruments may gain value in 30 years as the become unused in pop music. My son said that what makes my music sound old to him is that it has instruments. Chew on that for a second.
 
#124
KJung said:
IMO, none. The strange pricing of old Fender's seems to be driven much more by baby boomer 'reliving the past' (i.e., those instruments are iconic from the start of rock and roll all the way through the 70's). Once the baby boomers get too old to care (and we are getting close to that:D),the whole 'collector thing' will most likely disappear.
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I tend to think the same thing. Esp. the 70's ones. At least the pre-CBS stuff makes some kind of sense from a quality perspective.
 
#125
mansjasont said:
Obviously the answer to this question is the bass that is best for metal. It is so rare, that everyone on this forum is asking what it is. Once someone discovers this bass, it will for sure go down as the most valuable bass, and because of its rarity, it will only get more valuable. This is an interesting topic but you may as well be asking for the best bass for metal.
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I have the best bass for metal
 
#126
the baby boomers have been the driving force behind inflated prices for, lets face it, old ratty gear. The instrument of their dreams as a 16 year old. With out that huge cash rich platform i doubt that second hand basses will end up being more valuble than just that, a used instument. The more intersesting, low volume and higher quality instruments will command more money. But simply because it costs more to get a guy to part with one. I have an 84 Jay Dee that i've had from new. I dont think there is a price that i would part with it for. With a diminishing market/pool of players, no i dont old much hope for the crazy prices of old gear to hold up for long.
 
#130
Based on simple economics, I'd say any bass that were produced for a short time and are of high quality. Also keep in mind that pretty soon rosewood will no longer be used for fretboards/fingerboards. So any instrument with that will increase in value.
 
#132
Gibson SG's were around $1200 new a couple of years ago and sell used for around $900 now, or approximately 75%. I believe that it will boil down to basic issues of scarcity and changes in taste. If I were going to "collect", I'd only go after a few potential classics. Those would be the MIM Mustangs, the new American Professional Mustang (love the ebony fingerboard and sunburst body) and Gibson SGs (probably buy used). I started with short scale (EB-2) and still prefer it and see an increasing interest in it in general.

Boutique instruments would represent a much bigger gamble, but luthiers like Rob Allen and Ken Smith with their combination of the highest quality of scarce materials and perfect workmanship should fair well.
 
#136
GIBrat51 said:
Lefty Rickenbackers? Seriously, I have no idea; and neither does anybody else, really. Some people will guess right, of course, and make some money, but that's what it will be; a shrewd, but lucky, guess. My opinion, for what it's worth, would be:

!. High quality basses; not necessarily boutique, though. People generally seem to want things they've heard of. Some boutique basses, though would qualify; especially if they are -

2. Basses used by players that people have heard of. Who will they be in the next 30 years? Sorry; no idea (but I'm an old f**t).

3. Basses actually owned by those players, of course. Key there is iron-clad, verifiable provenance.

4. Basses that are scarce/rare now: they will be even more so 30 years from now. But again, not necessarily boutique. Rare colors, like Rick's recent SnoGlos, or their Color Of The Year instruments (if people only ordered 25, that's all there ever will be); limited runs, like Gibson's recent unannounced leftys; stuff like that.

5. Leftys. Lefty Rickenbackers, for example, do actually fit most of the above criteria. People have heard of them; at least one current famous bassists plays one; they are at least perceived as a high quality instruments (that debate is for another time and place); and they are certainly scarce. I know; I have 2, and I paid a lot more than they cost originally for both of them. But, if you corner the market, please don't make me pay too much more than I already have for the next one!
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DC-59 1.JPG Well, I'm quoting myself again, but... it was a while ago. I don't think anything I said has changed much. In fact; my number 5? There's a lefty 1st generation Korean Danelectro DC59 on eBay right now (like this one of mine). If it goes for the asking price of $600, that will be almost exactly what I paid for both of mine...:cool:
 
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