Over privileged for spending your own money for something you wanted to buy????? I don't know where to begin with that.
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When people ask how much your gear cost...
- Thread starter organworthyplayer337
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Over privileged for spending your own money for something you wanted to buy????? I don't know where to begin with that.
The only person obligated to an answer is the wife... Or fiancee. And I don't always like to say full price.
If they helped me pay for it, they get an honest answer. (Wife or family who gave me a gift certificate specifically for it.) Otherwise, it's "Well, as mid-life crises go, it's cheaper and safer than a motorcycle."
The question is moot. Nobody ever cares about the stuff of the bass player... unless they're also bass players... and then they already know.
Wait a minute! Bass players have character???
I don't really have a gun collection. I have a single small caliber pistol. But if you come asking me the price of my gear expect me to tell you tales about firearms and my home business of breeding Rottweilers and Dobermans.
Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.
I bet them dogs wouldn't be that bad if I threw them some baloney.
Why are so many people so bashful about how much their gear cost?
On the few occasions I've been asked, I've told the truth. People are just interested, and they aren't scornful, mean, or weird about it. Why should they be? I'm not ashamed.
Are you ashamed to admit you spend many hours a week practicing? If not, then be proud of the money you spent on your obsession.
On the few occasions I've been asked, I've told the truth. People are just interested, and they aren't scornful, mean, or weird about it. Why should they be? I'm not ashamed.
Are you ashamed to admit you spend many hours a week practicing? If not, then be proud of the money you spent on your obsession.
If they asked about a specific piece I'd likely tell them, if it seemed to be a sincere inquiry.
If they were just asking about the entire rig, I'd likely say something like "about market-rate".
Among one band I used to play with, we used to joke that we should paint the side of our gear-trailer with something like Live Snake Show, or Al's Anvil Repair Service...
If they were just asking about the entire rig, I'd likely say something like "about market-rate".
Among one band I used to play with, we used to joke that we should paint the side of our gear-trailer with something like Live Snake Show, or Al's Anvil Repair Service...
I think people get touchy because of the lack of trust in others and this whole thing about what I do with my money is my business. Not everyone wants to know how much you paid because they want to steal it.
My buddy got a new Moog and posted it on fbook. I saw the post and was curious about getting one. I went to Sweetwater and found it and saw the price, $1500, too much for me so I got a Korg MS20-mini. You can go look it up. Or I can tell you I paid $450. You can post a NBD about your new Alembic, I can look it up and figure out about what you paid.
My friend would have been more than happy to tell me what he paid. But common sense says why bother when the info is easily accessible.
Here on TB I see lots of things I want, I Google them and pick my jaw off the floor. I don't need to ask.
There's a thread where the OP asked how much total do you have invested. I see a lot of people replied and gave totals. Some itemized. I bet some of them even posted here and said the contrary to that thread.
People are people and people are strange, explain a 11 page thread on tripping on a gig bag, or a thread about setting headstocks on fire. It's all good. It's just a place where I kill a lot of time, and enjoy myself doing it. And if I'm lucky I learn something.
My buddy got a new Moog and posted it on fbook. I saw the post and was curious about getting one. I went to Sweetwater and found it and saw the price, $1500, too much for me so I got a Korg MS20-mini. You can go look it up. Or I can tell you I paid $450. You can post a NBD about your new Alembic, I can look it up and figure out about what you paid.
My friend would have been more than happy to tell me what he paid. But common sense says why bother when the info is easily accessible.
Here on TB I see lots of things I want, I Google them and pick my jaw off the floor. I don't need to ask.
There's a thread where the OP asked how much total do you have invested. I see a lot of people replied and gave totals. Some itemized. I bet some of them even posted here and said the contrary to that thread.
People are people and people are strange, explain a 11 page thread on tripping on a gig bag, or a thread about setting headstocks on fire. It's all good. It's just a place where I kill a lot of time, and enjoy myself doing it. And if I'm lucky I learn something.
It depends on why they're asking and how I know them.
If people I know ask because they want to get one, I give them a range of what prices I've seen currently them sell for--even if I paid less or more.
If it's something I've had for years I also might give a current price range if I am aware of it.
But I tell them what I paid is not the current price.
Those are more helpful than actually telling them what I paid.
I might also joke about it "Too much" or "Less than normal"
Sometimes I don't remember & I'll say that--not as a brush off--but as an honest statement.
It also depends on my mood that day.
If people I know ask because they want to get one, I give them a range of what prices I've seen currently them sell for--even if I paid less or more.
If it's something I've had for years I also might give a current price range if I am aware of it.
But I tell them what I paid is not the current price.
Those are more helpful than actually telling them what I paid.
I might also joke about it "Too much" or "Less than normal"
Sometimes I don't remember & I'll say that--not as a brush off--but as an honest statement.
It also depends on my mood that day.
I don't agree that most musicians know what gear costs. They may know what their gear costs and what is in their field of expertise. I have no idea what a new violin costs or a piano, a flute, an accordion, a harp. But, I don't care because I don't want any of these things. Half of the basses on this site I have no idea what they go for. When I see something on TB I like I usually research it and find out what it costs. Then I laugh and say, "$3000 for a bass?".
I tell them. I don't care. Isn't like they can figure out my net worth from it.
I've been asked that question a few times and I usually give them a straight answer.
The question that I won't answer is "WOW! Where do you get that kind of money?" ( I rob trains---but that's none of their business anyway)
+1. This is my usual M.O. Most of the time, it's another bass player who's asking and around these parts, anything other than a Fender or an Ibanez, is a curiosity. Even my closest bass playing pals, besides you guys
, don't know much, if anything, about Lull, Valenti, Dingwall, or Nordstrand. Heck, some of them didn't recognize when I was playing Spector. So, I look at it as an opportunity to drop some knowledge about some of the lesser known, higher end brands. If they like my sound, which usually the reason they come up and ask about my gear, then I tell them what I've got and where to look for it.As far as someone trying to jack my gear, I'm not going to kid you guys, I keep a very close eye on my stuff at every gig, I don't drink much, and even though I don't keep it cocked and locked, my Kimber is always close by...
Ex-wife asked once when visiting,told her I'd bought her a house so what did she care.
It's funny, telling a non musician how much a musicman stingray or an SVT costs and watching the horror on their faces. But I think most people understand that if it's a passion the layout is justified. People pay the same for golf clubs or racing bicycles. Now telling people about the cost of your Fodera or Wal will definitely mama you sound like an over privileged jerk
