Why worry about price?

[Bikeguy57]

I am for folks enjoying their basses in whatever way their basses give them joy.
My concern with starting this thread is to not let obsessing over pricy gear keep a player from learning and improving.

Defiantly not directed at you Doc. Just a seemingly relevant comment.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Defiantly not directed at you Doc. Just a seemingly relevant comment.

I appreciate that!

 

[DJ Bebop]

However, some people do need to be reminded that their "upgrades" won't increase resale value.

Tell me about it. 1962 P bass...

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Tell me about it. 1962 P bass...

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We all know that when all of that was done a 62 P-bass was not worth what it is now. I can forgive folks for not being able to predict the future, especially if they are young.

 

[MegaSwing]

Tell me about it. 1962 P bass...

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Oh, well. But someone’s been playing the crap out of this one, so I’d say all the value has been extracted from it—and MORE!

 

[Matt-J2]

We all know that when all of that was done a 62 P-bass was not worth what it is now. I can forgive folks for not being able to predict the future, especially if they are young.

And, if nobody ever modded, damaged, lost, etc their '62 P-Basses*, the remaining ones wouldn't be as valuable as they are now.


*Pick any year and model that's valuable now. Still applies.

 

[Bikeguy57]

I don't know, but I'll take a stab at an answer.
- I don't think anyone is butt hurt.
-If people want to spend their time collecting basses and obsessing over prices and bench racing specs on the internet, more power to them. But some people are annoying about it. As in, constantly popping into threads about modding and feeling the need to offer their unsolicited remarks about "resale value". Seems that "collectors" have a hard time understanding the mindset of people who like to mod and people who see their bass as a tool and bought it to play it. Those types aren't butt hurt, just trying to explain to the collectors to shut up about resale value already.
-As far as I know, Geddy didn't get into collecting until much later in his career. He pretty much recorded and toured most of their earlier albums with just a few basses. Plus, No one here is Geddy or Entwistle, so I'm not really sure how that fits into the conversation.

Hey man, if you post a thread about painting your pristine 64 P bass purple, I'm not going to say anything...But...

"IT'S GONNA KILL YOUR RESALE VALUE"!!!

 

[Roger W]

Those instruments are so pricey they can’t afford multiple instruments. If Fodera and Alembic were our only options we likely wouldn’t have bass harems.

If they own them at all. I read the memoir of Edward Dusinbarre, first violinist of the Takacs Quartet; their concert instruments were all on long-term loan.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Depending on whom you consider a "professional". Slam Stewart and Chubby Jackson were known to play Kay basses. I consider them "professional"

Ron Carter used a Danelectro. Those acoustic players were not interested in shelling out bucks for a bass that was not their first love

 

[DJ Bebop]

Oh, well. But someone’s been playing the crap out of this one

Yup, me and still am.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Ron Carter used a Danelectro. Those acoustic players were not interested in shelling out bucks for a bass that was not their first love

I'm still sorry about that, both the Daneletro and him playing it

 

[DJ Bebop]

And, if nobody ever modded, damaged, lost, etc their '62 P-Basses*, the remaining ones wouldn't be as valuable as they are now.

So, I'm helping the cause!!!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I'm still sorry about that, both the Daneletro and him playing it

He sounded good on it!

 

[DJ Bebop]

He sounded good on it!

For Ron on a Daneletro, yes I agree with you!

 

[GIBrat51]

I did not say don’t buy gear, I said don’t dwell on gear you can’t afford. If you can’t afford a boutique Jazz, get a Sire, get an MIM Fender, get a RSD. Marcus Miller and Jeff Berlin are two of the best in the world and they never depended on expensive gear. Just do it!

While I tend to agree with you, there are occasions where I do dwell - just a little - on the cost of a Bass I want. Left hand basses - not all, but a lot of them - new or used, often have a Lefty Surcharge. Sometimes, as is the case with new lefty Gibsons, Hofners, and even Rickenbackers, it's... pretty stiff. In the case of my '18 Gibson Thunderbird? Try $800 over the cost of a righty. So, even though I can afford it? Yeah, I do kinda dwell on the cost - in a sorta semi-angry, yet resigned way... Currently, I have managed to acquire all the basses that are on my "want to have" list - except for the bass that will fill the "Short scale, Neck Thru" spot. Which, when it comes to a left handed one, leaves me with only one choice; a Stanley Clarke Signature Alembic. Even though I could pick up the phone today; order one from Micah; and pay for it without my world coming to an end (actually, with the $$$'s in my "cash sock under the mattress", I could buy 2 of them)? Yeah, I do dwell on the cost of the thing - just a bit...

 

[Chad Michael]

As the price of an instrument goes up, so does this:

- not gonna gig it, might get stolen
- not gonna gig it, might get scratched or dinged
- not gonna let anyone play it, they might hurt it
- not gonna gig it, doesn't need stale beer and cigarette perfume
- if I'm away @ work, someone broke into my house, this is the first thing they would take

Is it worth the worry?

That being said, I still want a Fodera and / or Roscoe and / or Pentabuzz

 

[Dr. Cheese]

While I tend to agree with you, there are occasions where I do dwell - just a little - on the cost of a Bass I want. Left hand basses - not all, but a lot of them - new or used, often have a Lefty Surcharge. Sometimes, as is the case with new lefty Gibsons, Hofners, and even Rickenbackers, it's... pretty stiff. In the case of my '18 Gibson Thunderbird? Try $800 over the cost of a righty. So, even though I can afford it? Yeah, I do kinda dwell on the cost - in a sorta semi-angry, yet reigned way... Currently, I have managed to acquire all the basses that are on my "want to have" list - except for the bass that will fill the "Short scale, Neck Thru" spot. Which, when it comes to a left handed one, leaves me with only one choice; a Stanley Clarke Signature Alembic. Even though I could pick up the phone today; order one from Micah; and pay for it without my world coming to an end (actually, with the $$$'s in my "cash sock under the mattress", I could buy 2 of them)? Yeah, I do dwell on the cost of the thing - just a bit...

Have Serek make you bass. It would be far cheaper than an Alembic, but he is a respected luthier too.

 

[GIBrat51]

We'll see... I just filled out a quote request for a30.5", Daphne Blue, semi-hollow Sacramento. Thanks for the tip, regardless of how it turns out...

 

[WRM]

@GIBrat51 Ashamed to say that I forgot about you leftys, a whole 'nuther ball game. Good luck!

@Chad Michael Long story short, no worries, NO Fear! What will be will be. If someone needs it more than I do, so be it.

 

[pcake]

I'm more worried about reading here at TB " I could care less" over and over, it's "Couldn't" people

You "could" care less, isn't drawing the line in the sand like you think you are

re: "i could care less"

col·lo·qui·al·ism
a word or phrase that is not formal or literary, typically one used in ordinary or familiar conversation.
"the colloquialisms of the streets"