Ive ussually saved up for a instrument. Current limit for what would be willing to pay for a bass would prob be around $1,000 but preferably $500 and under including deluxe gigbag and new strings of choice. Though this also allows for passive bass and add preamp cost in some cases. It has gotten easier to find excellent basses for $400 and under the last several yrs that are fine stock out of the box including preamp etc onbaord.
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What is Your Price Comfort Level?
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
+1 to $200....all my basses cost me $200: my Boogie Bodies P-bass, Hamer Blitz Bass, Godin BG-IV and Hohner steinberger clone [on permanent loan....]
I'd rather have those than one $800 bass.
I'd rather have those than one $800 bass.
I'm comfortable with free. 
It'll be a long time before I'll be able to afford ANY basses. Even sub-$200 ones. The bills to income ratio just isn't leaving any room for spending on "stuff" right now.
It'll be a long time before I'll be able to afford ANY basses. Even sub-$200 ones. The bills to income ratio just isn't leaving any room for spending on "stuff" right now.
I'm okay up to $1200 all in, but it really just depends on the bass and how bad I want it. I'm no longer in the position where I need a bass, it's strictly GAS for me these days. Generally if I can't try before I buy, I ask myself, if I don't like it can I sell it and get my money back? If not then I don't buy.
Comfort price? Delusional. I seem to expect great quality for cheap. Of course, once the logical part of my brain kicks in...I'd say probably around 1200$. That's why I'm glad that I went with parts from Ebay to build my 2010 Deluxe. I ended up saving at least 800$.
This. I also have no problems selling off gear to earn money for something I really want.
GAS money and bill money are two different things for me. I have a ton of gear that I will occasionally sell to buy something else. It's not necessarily because I'm "desperate" for money, it's because my gear needs to support itself. I'll also sometimes buy a random good deal just to flip it and finance other gear that I really want. My gear has to pull it's own weight!
As far as prices, I don't think I have a limit except that I'm only looking for good deals to begin with. Whatever I buy needs to at least break even, in case it doesn't work out. OTOH, if I lose only $50 bucks or something it's not that big of a deal either.
I try to put between $50 and $100 in my GC gift card every week or so.
Actually I'm kinda drifting away from buying whole basses right now and am buying parts to make my own.
If I hit enough for a Reggie Hamilton - the Big $$ one - I'll go ahead and order it.
Unless a really great deal comes along, I have enough basses right now though and I want to spend some time learning to build necks and perfect my body and paint work.
Hmmm. I just called GC and checked and I have more than $6500 in a bunch of gift cards! Guess I lost count.
Time to get some bass indigestion - I mean GAS!
Actually I'm kinda drifting away from buying whole basses right now and am buying parts to make my own.
If I hit enough for a Reggie Hamilton - the Big $$ one - I'll go ahead and order it.
Unless a really great deal comes along, I have enough basses right now though and I want to spend some time learning to build necks and perfect my body and paint work.
Hmmm. I just called GC and checked and I have more than $6500 in a bunch of gift cards! Guess I lost count.
Time to get some bass indigestion - I mean GAS!
audiomitch said:
Most of my major purchases come when I have extra money. I do not make a habit of raiding my monthly budget for gear. It has really made think about what a person can really afford instead of what you happen to be able to buy at a given moment.
I have just been struck by how many times I see people selling gear I know they love.
I have an incredible wife.
Whatever I make gigging, I can spend on gear. That's usually a couple hundred per month. Eventually, it adds up. I have my dream bass now, so I'm mainly interested in oddball things like a Kala or something, and I've balked at spending the $400-500 to get one of those.
But I had no problem spending a couple years' worth of gig money on my dream bass. I ordered it after trying nearly every high-end bass out there. I've had it for over a year and I don't look in the classifieds for basses any more.
Whatever I make gigging, I can spend on gear. That's usually a couple hundred per month. Eventually, it adds up. I have my dream bass now, so I'm mainly interested in oddball things like a Kala or something, and I've balked at spending the $400-500 to get one of those.
But I had no problem spending a couple years' worth of gig money on my dream bass. I ordered it after trying nearly every high-end bass out there. I've had it for over a year and I don't look in the classifieds for basses any more.
Bingo. When I was working, I spent a lot on instruments. Now, unemployed, I sell things before I buy new stuff. Or I trade. It has to balance out now, where it didn't before.
When I was working, the top I paid for anything was up there - $5K. I wouldn't dream of doing that today.
Well ... I dream about it, but I can't do it.
- Aug 5, 2005
- 7,243
- 92
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: J.C. Basses
$500-$800 is usually what I will spend on a bass, but after mods, they always seem to end up in $1200-$1500 territory. I can usually toss the parts on eBay to offset some of the losses, though.
free would be mine, but im splurging for a schecter raiden special 4 when my cards are all paid off
- Sep 9, 2007
- 5,309
- 4,977
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Eventide, GHS Strings, G&L Guitars, NS Design, Tsunami Cables
Three months ago I bought my NS Design CR-5M and paid for it in cash, and that was just under $3,000. I'm comfortable spending whatever is in my gig money account. All of my gigging income is usually kept in a separate account for gear related purchases and maintenance and upkeep. Or, if something major needs to be fixed/bought for the house, I'll pull it out of there.
i have a separate gear budget as well. so, i just save for what i want or put back and when i want something i buy it.
i collect spare change and put back and if i have lose dollars, i always put them back as well.
i collect spare change and put back and if i have lose dollars, i always put them back as well.
I also don't buy what I don't already have the cash for. I am a family man with a wife and 4 kids, so they are my first priority.
I can set up my own guitars and basses, and I am pretty good at spotting a "diamond in the rough." I am amazed at the overall quality that's available for the price. You can get a decent bass, brand new for under $200 these days.
My personal comfort level is $400 or less, though I've never spent more than $300 on a bass. The most that I've ever spent on any gear was $900....for a digital piano.
I can set up my own guitars and basses, and I am pretty good at spotting a "diamond in the rough." I am amazed at the overall quality that's available for the price. You can get a decent bass, brand new for under $200 these days.
My personal comfort level is $400 or less, though I've never spent more than $300 on a bass. The most that I've ever spent on any gear was $900....for a digital piano.
I'm at about the same level. The most I have paid for any bass is $799 but that was planned ahead. The next most expensive bass I have bought was just under $400. Most have been $200 or less. Buying used has its benefits.
I don't normally mod basses in any significant respect - strings, maybe a PG. Aside from that, play 'em the way the manufacturer designed them.
