When people ask how much your gear cost...

[Kmonk]

I've been playing since 1978. I have only had 3 people ask how much something cost and all of them were members of bands I was in at the time. Nobody else has ever asked. If they did, I would tell them what I paid. I'm not about to make apologies for working hard and playing well enough to record for tv shows, movies websites and more. As a result, I can afford good gear.

 

[DwaynieAD]

Anytime someone asks me the cost of anything I say "million, million two"

 

[InnerBass]

I have asked a bassist this very question, but not in that way.

It was the first time I had seen a Lull. The tone was great, so during the break I complimented his sound and performance, suggested I might also like to pick one up and asked what they go for.

I'm not sure if that is the same as "How expensive is your gear?" or not...

BTW, I still don't have a Lull bass

But you are knowledgeable to the magic of being Lulled - they are like no other.

 

[foolforthecity]

Recalling an iconic phrase from Triumph:
"I don't ask for much, the truth will do just fine... won't you lay it on the line"

They're probably tipsy, possibly impressed, and just want to approach you and engage in a bit of conversation that makes them feel good. They likely don't know what to say so the whole "how much..." thing readily works. Be happy when someone approaches you and be nice to them. They may just show up at your next gig with four more in tow.

 

[charlie monroe]

But you are knowledgeable to the magic of being Lulled - they are like no other.

That's a beauty.

 

[InnerBass]

That's a beauty.

Thanks Charlie - custom job Mike did for me.

I bought this one off the rack in a local Seattle store.

Then I turned it into this - I like matching headstocks : )

Mike's necks are absolutely the best, IMHO.

You gotta find what you like and sometimes it takes a lot of trial and error.

I remember first playing one of Mike's basses in a store and was absolutely smitten.

I looked at the price and realized that if this is what I wanted, this is what it costs - worth every penny.

If an inexpensive bass does the same thing for you, that's all that matters.

But it absolutely has to call your name - and loudly !

 

[champbassist]

Honestly, I don't think I'd be able to tell anyone precisely how much my gear costs even if I was OK with giving them the exact numbers - I simply don't remember everything that well.

 

[CGremlin]

The question that I won't answer is "WOW! Where do you get that kind of money?"

"I'm a hit man, but every now and again I'll do one for free if it sounds like fun."

Seriously though, questions about gear prices don't bug me a whole lot. Doesn't really matter either, since most of my basses are out of production. "I paid $600 for it, but that was 30 years ago. You'd have to look at eBay or Craigslist for a current price."

 

[CGremlin]

Anytime someone asks me the cost of anything I say "million, million two"

"220, 221. Whatever it takes."

/not very obscure

 

[Joebarnes]

I buy my gear used or trade for it, so there is usually a story behind it. For example, I have a Fender "Red Knob" Dual showman all tube head that I bought for $300 with a FM412 cab that I traded for a vintage 1960's Pepco tube amp that is the same circuit as a Fender Vibro-Champ.

Most of my gear has a story or was a "screaming" deal, so go ahead and ask, but you're going to get the story lol.

 

[fdeck]

This usually happens more often with my upright bass. I just answer in generic terms: "If you want to get into bass playing, $1500 - $2000 will get you started, and beyond that, the sky's the limit."

 

[Sav'nBass]

I have asked a bassist this very question, but not in that way.
It was the first time I had seen a Lull. The tone was great, so during the break I complimented his sound and performance, suggested I might also like to pick one up and asked what they go for.
I'm not sure if that is the same as "How expensive is your gear?" or not...
BTW, I still don't have a Lull bass

Yeah I agree.. For me it all depends on who it is and why I think they are asking. I rarely get asked that though.... and as someone else said.. in this day and age there is no reason to ask the question.. all you need to know is what type of bass it is thern you can look it up yourself... both new and used.

 

[Gaolee]

'slightly more than my car.'

For a while, this would not have been true. The answer at the time was "significantly more than my van." Anybody who saw my van would know that a beat up Squier was worth more than my van. Now, I have a new-ish van that has carpet inside and isn't quite like going straight to hell in a Waring blender. Your answer would be the correct answer for me, now that my new van came along.

 

[Gaolee]

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."

I had the motorcycle for a long time. A proper midlife crisis involves a bimbo - gender and hair color of your choosing - a maxed out credit card or three, a rented Cadillac with pumped up tires, a multi state police chase, an international incident, air to surface missiles, and loud rockabilly music blaring from the smoking crater when it's time to settle back down to a normal existence.

Motorcycles are just a cheaper way to commute and play in traffic.

 

[ak56]

...A proper midlife crisis involves a bimbo - gender and hair color of your choosing - a maxed out credit card or three, a rented Cadillac with pumped up tires, a multi state police chase, an international incident, air to surface missiles, and loud rockabilly music blaring from the smoking crater when it's time to settle back down to a normal existence...

So, basically a typical Saturday.

 

[Gaolee]

Yeah, pretty much. I forgot the pharmaceutically enhanced Samoan lawyer, but you can't remember everything all the time. If you can conjure up the sausage creature every Saturday night, you have mojo.

 

[fhm555]

Had a stranger ask me one night what my stuff cost. I told him I had no idea because it was all stolen.

 

[BAG]

I buy my gear used or trade for it, so there is usually a story behind it. For example, I have a Fender "Red Knob" Dual showman all tube head that I bought for $300 with a FM412 cab that I traded for a vintage 1960's Pepco tube amp that is the same circuit as a Fender Vibro-Champ.

Most of my gear has a story or was a "screaming" deal, so go ahead and ask, but you're going to get the story lol.

My most expensive piece of bass gear is my Godin and I got that for $400 on ebay. Everything i've got I got for a bargain (or at least I think so).

If we're talking about PA gear my most expensive piece is my EV 18" powered sub and it cost the same as the rest of the PA put together, which I got second hand for another bargain deal off a mate.

So, like you, if anyone asks they're going to get a story.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I usually answer that I really don't know (even though I do I keep a spreadsheet) I traded other stuff for it. Which is usually at least partially true, I "trade" some equipment for cash. And put that cash toward another piece...

 

[DDXdesign]

There was a time when I was significantly younger, dumber, and had way more credit and better perks. I was proud to tell people I'd dropped $6k on my Fodera. Nowadays, that fills me with nausea rather than pride. I try to stay under a grand these days for a bass, maybe two if it's really the bomb, and always try to keep to one or two basses at a time. If people asked directly I'd probably keep it vague in the case of a potential shakedown. Helpful that I don't currently have anything 'vintage' (expensive or not, people think vintage equals dollars) =0)