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What current basses will be the next classics?
- Thread starter Ron Berenato
- Start date
To me basses current that cost $3000+ new now may not be the next classic. Don’t get me wrong, It would be very sought after. The current classics are (were) “user” basses. 75 fender p or Peavey xxxxx, like cars, today’s sought after classics were just daily drivers years ago. And the expensive cars from that time are sitting in collectors garages.
(I said MAY not be the next classic)
(I said MAY not be the next classic)
I think the higher line Dingwalls will develop a cult following in the future. I am regretting having not bought a Super Jazz 10 years ago when it was much more affordable. A bit more of a long shot, but IMO Alien Audio might fall into a similar status. Finally I think NYC Sadowsky basses will definitely become a thing once Roger retires. It will become a Pre-CBS kind of market regardless of actual quality pre / post R.S.
I hate to say, but soon, this is gonna be what the current basses are gonna look like. And 50 years from now people won’t be talking about pickups. It will be about what processors and AI software you were running back in the day.
I posted recently that I have a Kubicki Ex Factor bought new from Phil and Geoff in Nov '85 for $1300. 3 digit s/n. Goes for about $3500 these days. $3500 is actually $1300 in 1985 dollars so, yeah, really no change. Not selling mine anyway!
The Bar Band Bassman
The G-Bass, with the carbon fiber neck, is an awesome, versatile bass that flew under the radar.
you could start a "repeat thread haters club." give out numbers, the whole shebang. 
i wouldn't be a member, but i'd pop in once in a while when i thought i was feeling too good about myself. 
The real question is who among us will still be around to find the true answer to this profound query.
- Dingwall
- Wal reboots
- Peavey B Quad (getting real hard to find these in original working condition) Already selling for more than they cost new back in the 90s.
Regarding the Kibuki X-Factor, I tried one and liked it but threw my lot in with the steinberger L-2 instead. I did sell it years later at enough profit to get a beater car and a girlfriend. Sadly all are gone now.
I don't get the hatred of repeat threads around here.
It's "Talk Bass" not "Go Look It Up Bass".
In my view, there is a Collector market and a Player market.
From that perspective, I highly doubt the broader collector market will ever shift away from Fender. Fender basses define vintage value for NON-PLAYING collectors. Nothing can displace that, simply because doing so would require rewriting history. Ain’t never going to happen.
The Player market continues to evolve with our culture and music. I’m personally more concerned about the growing generational gaps in general interest in live popular music, than about the instruments that are getting used. For now, our society is glued to their electronic devices for socializing. I have zero good to say about this concept. The internet is mainly well suited to getting information. Socializing into a phone or iPad ….. well, I don’t do it AT ALL. But, that’s me.
That said, that e-device dynamic is entrenched and continuing to evolve and dominate. My Beatles on Ed Sullivan moment has turned into whatever the drivel is that the grand kids are watching on their pads in the restaurants. Yes, large venue concerts get attended. But, the fall off in local club live music interest has been profound. And there are consequences for the tools that get that job done. As that trend continues, I think it is fair to ask whether live music in local clubs will still happen to any significant extent, say 20 years from now. It is certainly a LOT cheaper for a club to hire a person with a computer than 4 musicians.
Don’t get me wrong; there are some fine instruments being made. We all benefit from it. But, I’ve been taking a hard look at what kinds of instruments are useful for the gigs that are available. Increasingly, the patrons have more gray in their hair, and want to hear faithful renditions of Classic radio play fare. And most of that stuff was played on Fenders. Jazz gigs have become…less common. Big Band gigs are nearly non-existent. So, I think the market for the Tobias / Smith / Alembic etc instruments has really shrunk. I mean, I can certainly play my Series I on my cover gigs; but, no one is paying much attention and my fellow musicians tend to want to hear Fender sounds, not some more sophisticated voicing.
Just my $0.019.
From that perspective, I highly doubt the broader collector market will ever shift away from Fender. Fender basses define vintage value for NON-PLAYING collectors. Nothing can displace that, simply because doing so would require rewriting history. Ain’t never going to happen.
The Player market continues to evolve with our culture and music. I’m personally more concerned about the growing generational gaps in general interest in live popular music, than about the instruments that are getting used. For now, our society is glued to their electronic devices for socializing. I have zero good to say about this concept. The internet is mainly well suited to getting information. Socializing into a phone or iPad ….. well, I don’t do it AT ALL. But, that’s me.
That said, that e-device dynamic is entrenched and continuing to evolve and dominate. My Beatles on Ed Sullivan moment has turned into whatever the drivel is that the grand kids are watching on their pads in the restaurants. Yes, large venue concerts get attended. But, the fall off in local club live music interest has been profound. And there are consequences for the tools that get that job done. As that trend continues, I think it is fair to ask whether live music in local clubs will still happen to any significant extent, say 20 years from now. It is certainly a LOT cheaper for a club to hire a person with a computer than 4 musicians.
Don’t get me wrong; there are some fine instruments being made. We all benefit from it. But, I’ve been taking a hard look at what kinds of instruments are useful for the gigs that are available. Increasingly, the patrons have more gray in their hair, and want to hear faithful renditions of Classic radio play fare. And most of that stuff was played on Fenders. Jazz gigs have become…less common. Big Band gigs are nearly non-existent. So, I think the market for the Tobias / Smith / Alembic etc instruments has really shrunk. I mean, I can certainly play my Series I on my cover gigs; but, no one is paying much attention and my fellow musicians tend to want to hear Fender sounds, not some more sophisticated voicing.
Just my $0.019.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,602
- 222,056
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
I posted recently that I have a Kubicki Ex Factor bought new from Phil and Geoff in Nov '85 for $1300. 3 digit s/n. Goes for about $3500 these days. $3500 is actually $1300 in 1985 dollars so, yeah, really no change. Not selling mine anyway!
The Bar Band Bassman
Yah, there's that, but at least it's not selling for less than when new. Was '85 the 1st year? What colour is yours? My 1st used one was an '86. When I bought it in '93 I called Phil to see if he could put a fretless neck on it. I expected to talk with a rep but he answered the phone and was very generous with his time answering my questions. (I didn't know much about them at that point) In passing he asked how much I paid for it and I said $750. He said "I'd pay that for it!"
I started playing Spector Euro's about 3 years ago...at that time they were selling for about $2K new. They are currently selling for $3100 new.
Yes, the real question we need to ask is, what basses might be collectable post Zombie apocalypse.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,602
- 222,056
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
I don't get the hatred of repeat threads around here.
It's "Talk Bass" not "Go Look It Up Bass".
Very true - just part of the deal. Before posting a new thread I try to see if there is an overlap thread 1st, but even then how a thread title is worded can thwart that.
You have to look at mainstream music from the 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s imo. I’d put a few of the offerings from Warwick pretty high on the list.
