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Why worry about price?
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
Good perspective. I’ll add: “And even if you could scrounge your pennies to buy her exclusive bass, there’s no way you could afford her gated mansion, yacht and garage full of European sport cars. So get over it, and play what you can afford.”
I also play mandolin. I have a cheap fender electric, a nice Washburn F-type and a beautiful myrtle and redwood custom that belonged to my older brother and was passed on to me when he died a few years ago. You are absolutely correct, mandos are crazy expensive
My most expensive mando was a Gibson F9. It sounded great, but I didn’t like the flat FB. I got to where I didn’t take it to gigs, because, well, a drunk guy can sit on a bass and not damage it, but he would crush a mandolin. I sold it and bought a Northfield A. I love it, sounds great, and it has a radiused FB.
Jazzdogg
Less barking, more wagging!
After a few threads wondering if the prices of given basses are justified, I have come to the conclusion that it just isn’t worth worrying about. If you cannot afford a bass or don’t think it worth the price, buy one that fits your budget and call it a day. We are fortunate to be consumers at a time when quality instruments are available at many price points. I say spend your time getting better instead of getting caught up in instrument prices.
Very true, Doc. And yet, I still crave a Rob Allen bass that I will never be able to justify because of the cost.
After a few threads wondering if the prices of given basses are justified, I have come to the conclusion that it just isn’t worth worrying about. If you cannot afford a bass or don’t think it worth the price, buy one that fits your budget and call it a day. We are fortunate to be consumers at a time when quality instruments are available at many price points. I say spend your time getting better instead of getting caught up in instrument prices.
Agreed Doc. Like I’ve said it’s business decision for me and the main reason I’ve only bought 3 basses since 1974. It’s the price per note I get out of it, the lower the better, just like how many miles you get out of a car reduces the cost per mile of operation. And I love automobile values as well as my 21 year old VW new Beetle, and 8 year old Prius attest.
I do however recognize that pride of ownership is an important part of the human experience and I’m no different. My basses and gear are all in presentable shape for the work I do. For instance I wouldn’t go on national TV with it, but gigs and concerts it’s perfectly acceptable.
On other note about pride, while I have a certain level of pride in my gear, I am way more prideful over what I can get out of it. JMO.
i think the OP is right on target: don't sweat what you can't afford --- play!
and i would chime in with some support for the idea of having what you want via thoughtful modifications/upgrades to an existing player and/or parts basses to get you closer to that pie-in-the-sky object of GAS.
in the case of FSOs: it's very easy (and cheap by comparison to MSRP) to squeeze yourself into a deluxe, custom version of Ps, Js, and PJ iterations with proper parts and a little time with household tools.
2 cents.
This makes total sense. I don't worry about price, I just know what I WANT to pay. If you have a $5k custom bass that makes you happy and checks all your boxes, that's great. If you have a Teisco that you got at a garage sale for $10 in high school that still makes you happy, that's also great.
I've squirrelled enough $$ away to be able to buy much more expensive basses than what I have. But I love my Squiers and parts basses. Being a member of TB allowed me to learn about all the things I could do to get the best out of them. Learning about how to actually do a setup, shielding, pickup replacement, strings, etc. All things that were mysteries to me before.
My only gripe is the overwhelming attitude that a bass is ONLY good if you shelled out a small mortgage for it. Kind of gear snobbery for lack of a better word. If my bass plays well, stays in tune and I can play the material who cares what's on the headstock. We're the bass players, no one but us cares about all the pedals, amps, pre-amps or setup/mod time we put into them.
If you want to gripe about my color choices, that I can understand. It won't change my mind but I can at least understand it.
Playing bass guitar is a different activity from collecting bass guitars.
Understand and recognize the difference.
Discussions about the price and relative value of specific objects are perfectly fine within the context of collecting, enjoying, trading and reselling those objects. But it has absolutely nothing to do with “playing” music.
Understand and recognize the difference.
Discussions about the price and relative value of specific objects are perfectly fine within the context of collecting, enjoying, trading and reselling those objects. But it has absolutely nothing to do with “playing” music.
I have both a Thumb and a recently acquired MTD Kingston Super 4. I would say the Kingston is more Stingray-like.
Speaking of MTD, you can buy a package that will upgrade your Kingston with Hipshot hardware and a USA preamp. However, I don't really feel the need to upgrade anything on mine.
You post it, I’m going to like it, and probably briefly comment about it is nice and a congrats. I make to judgements on how other people spend their money. I’m just happy they are happy. There is a major shortage of sheer joy in this world, and I’m going to applaud it whenever it occurs.
I have a bad back and I'm trying to replace a Sadowsky which is up near 10lbs. Of course the Sadowsky is unreplaceable but while I was looking at light weight basses I thought I might also checkout less expensive models.
To that end I just bought a used Cort GB35J for $290. This is the first time in 55 years I've traded down. The Cort has a lot of positive points (19mm and 7lbs) and a couple of serious flaws (neck dive and pickups), it also needs a serious set up and fret levelling. Currently I'm not keen to spend another $290 to get it fixed up.
As it stands it's a playable bass. I've not owned an instrument since the late 60's where I've had to make compromises and I don't like it, but I'm sticking with the Cort for now and am planning to gig it for a couple of months before I make a decision.
Maybe the next bass will be back in the $2000 range, we'll see.
To that end I just bought a used Cort GB35J for $290. This is the first time in 55 years I've traded down. The Cort has a lot of positive points (19mm and 7lbs) and a couple of serious flaws (neck dive and pickups), it also needs a serious set up and fret levelling. Currently I'm not keen to spend another $290 to get it fixed up.
As it stands it's a playable bass. I've not owned an instrument since the late 60's where I've had to make compromises and I don't like it, but I'm sticking with the Cort for now and am planning to gig it for a couple of months before I make a decision.
Maybe the next bass will be back in the $2000 range, we'll see.
I often reference Marcus Miller because in conversations like this because he reached GOAT status playing a bass that I think his Mom bought for $275. I remember him doing the tour with Victor Wooten and Stanley Clarke, I think Marcus’ Fender sounded pretty good compared to Wooten’s Fodera and Clarke’s Alembic.
These days, Marcus Miller uses a Sire five for his fretless segment. If the GOAT uses modest basses, I can be happy with them too.
Love this video. Everyone should watch it at least once. Just for the part where he quotes Dizzy, if nothing else!
Separately: So the kids don't get to go to the orthodontist. Tough luck, kids. Daddy needs Wyman's Mustang!
After a few threads wondering if the prices of given basses are justified, I have come to the conclusion that it just isn’t worth worrying about. If you cannot afford a bass or don’t think it worth the price, buy one that fits your budget and call it a day. We are fortunate to be consumers at a time when quality instruments are available at many price points. I say spend your time getting better instead of getting caught up in instrument prices.
I don't know. I kind of think any time anyone is voicing their opinion freely and constructively, it's a good thing. I like to see how other consumers stand on prices of things myself. Sure, sometimes it's negative, but I can't say I don't occasionally agree with a negatively constructed argument.
