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when is it "enough"?

#61
Hi, I'm Alan, and I'm a bass-a-holic:
51 Fender P RI
62 Fender J RI
72 Fender fretted P, 72 Fender fretless P, 72 Fender Tele bass
81 G&L L2000, 81 G&L L1000, 90 G&L L2500
Reverend: 5L, BH5, Rumblefish PJ4
Lakland Hollowbody
DarkStar'd MusicMan
Warmoth 51 P5 RI (in progress)
1960 King Double Bass
 
#62
Calaverasgrande said:
I have actually been threatened with termination at a job before because I spend too much time on Ebay. I have yet to buy a Bass on Ebay, but pedals, mics, cabs, keyboards etc....
I had to quit thinking about URB. I had a chinese one for a while, but the tone was awful. To get a decent URB starts at $3000, and the sky is the limit. I was actually looking at an $11k flatback (beautiful scroll) and trying to rationalize maxing out my credit. Then I pulled back from the brink. I'm an electric player until I get a major gig, or a 6 figure straight job.
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No, getting a decent URB doesn't cost $3000. Most good plywoods are in the $1000-2000 range, and Upton Bass makes an exceptional plywood bass for $1700 (www.uptonbass.com). If you're looking for a carved upright, spending $3000 is a mistake. They're mostly crap at that price. Some nice hybrids, sure, but carved basses at that price point are crap. At least the ones I've seen.
 
#63
JimmyM said:
No, getting a decent URB doesn't cost $3000. Most good plywoods are in the $1000-2000 range, and Upton Bass makes an exceptional plywood bass for $1700 (www.uptonbass.com). If you're looking for a carved upright, spending $3000 is a mistake. They're mostly crap at that price. Some nice hybrids, sure, but carved basses at that price point are crap. At least the ones I've seen.
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Okay the good ones I was looking at, and this was like 5 years ago, were made in eastern Europe. They were $1200-1800 for a while. Then they all got up to $2300-3000 really fast. I cant remember who had em, but I think Lemur had a few.
I wish I had bought one when they were cheap and I made more money. I have checked out a lot of the mid $1000 URBS and the ones I have seen had fake ebony fretboards and other issues. Dont get me started on the price of URB cases! Again, I am not going back to there until I can get a decent one, or until the fairy pawn shop mother drops one in my lap. (thank you ebay for ruining pawnshops and classified ads)
btw thanks for the link
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] one seems nice, nice corners!

but then there is [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] one...
 
#64
Dragonlord said:
Hm. Maybe because people are dying somewhere and the money would be better spent at unicef than on an expensive bass that will get played once a week?
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not to be a jerk or anything...i totally agree with you, but how do you come off saying that. im not doubting you because i dont know you? but if you come at me so harsh, that means that all your extra money goes to unicef right?
 
#66
There's a line between all and some. After all, "all my extra money" could be anything besides what I need for food. There are many things in the western way of life that aren't "needed", but I'm not saying drop all of it and let's live in caves... but, between buying your sixth bass and feeding five hundred kids who are starving somewhere, I think it's a bit heartless to say "it's never enough! I just bought my ninth bass and I've already planned my tenth, eleventh and twelveth!".
 
#67
And anyway... what does it matter what I do, if what I say is right? It's like saying: yes I know I'm doing a bad thing, but you're also doing the same bad thing, so lets continue doing it! Makes no sense, unless all you care about is if you'll feel worse than the rest. It doesn't matter if we're bad as long as the rest aren't good either.
 
#70
i have 2 basses due to a shipping error. im selling off one.

however, i am completely sure i wil be able to keep to 2 basses - a 6 string fretted, and a 6 string fretless - if they are both from fodera, in 36" scale. while i strive for those, ill make do with what i have (a zon sonus 6 and a ibby prestige 6, both fretted) which are really nice, but ill be able to sell them in a heartbeat. perhaps because im not a sentimental guy, or maybe i really cant afford many basses anyway.

i bought my zon from a guy who had a 100 basses (at one time!) before, so ive seen GAS in all its glory. when i bought my zon he still had a good 30 or so basses, but also - more often than not - took his fodera 5 to all his gigs.
 
#75
I have 5 basses, yet I only play 2 of them. My flatwound P does the few jobs that my Sterling (main bass) can't.

Will probably sell the others eventually to get a nice custom bass, then I think I'm done. Famous last words of course. :smug:
 
#76
Tim Cole said:
Not at all. I break my balls every day to make a living, and don't feel guilty for enjoying the extra I EARN.
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I agree. Tax returns can be a wonderful thing.


And can we get off the subject of whether or not it is "heartless" to own a number of basses. This is a forum about basses, not about if we should be donating our extra money to the poor.:rollno:
 
#80
I have no problem helping the poor, in face every two weeks we give to our church and charity. However, there is no guarantee if you don't buy a bass, that money will go to feed starving children. Give what you can, and buy what you can. Simple.
 

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