Which Would You Rather Have:

Seems easy to me...as long as you enjoy playing rather than collecting...I'd go with the second in a heartbeat. I do love a nice vintage bass though...

 

Playability is first and foremost with any bass I own, regardless of whether it's new or vintage. That said, I can't see a situation where I could possibly justify a vintage bass in the foreseeable future.

 

I'll take the vintage bss, sell it and buy 3 basses that "inspire" me.

 

"New" every single time without a doubt. Vintage does nothing for me.

 

This is TB, you'll end up with both.

 

Both of these, but if it were 1 only, based solely on playability / performance, then the newer model.

 

New. For a variety of reasons including old instruments smell weird.

 

good answer!

 

I'd take the player. I ain't no museum curator.

 

I would keep shopping...

The initial post suggests that a vintage bass cannot inspire one to play. Yes one can, and if you don't find it in this one and you really want one, then go look at more.

 

I'll take the '63 Jazz and a half-peck of parsnips (because I'm fed up with carrots and already have my "inspiration" basses).

 

New bass. If you want an investment, put your money in an index fund.

 

I could never find a vintage bass over here that inspired me and definitely none I could afford. But I think my "new" one is good enough to be worth plenty to someone one day.

 

Context? Can I only have one of these options?

I pick new for all the reasons you listed and I choose it over vintage because your assumption that a vintage instrument will increase in value requires a crappe tonne of exceptions. A couple years of Fender, a couple years of Ric, a couple years of MM. Even the old Gibsons are leveling off. And despite the enabler culture of forums, even the pre CBS value will take a hard slide as rockers age out.

 

Considering I'm in the camp that isn't into antiquity paying an alpha for age, if I was going to spend that kind of money, I would buy a newer higher quality instrument.

 

I own two Epiphone basses (one is my workhorse) as well as a few "desirable" types (P-Bass, SDGR SR2600 ...)

The fact the AcuuBass is my main go-to tells the tale.

 

I'd rather have "A "new" bass that takes cues from a few iconic brands, plays and sounds different than the vintage bass, and inspires you to pick it up more often, but it will never reach the heights monetarily that the vintage bass will".

 

No interest in any old bass guitars, full stop. Potential resale value means nothing to me.

 

The fact that the bass is vintage doesn't really do it for me, I'll take the player.

I have played some nice vintage basses though I can't afford any of them. If I could they would become players not an investment portfolio.