• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Would you go into debt for it?

MakiSupaStar

MakiSupaStar

The Lowdown Diggler
Apr 12, 2006
25,881
317
Huntington Beach, CA
www.myspace.com
#1
Ok. There is a 1973 Fender Jazz bass for sale. In very good condition. Tobacco sunburst with mother of pearl inlays. She looks good. The guy wants 3100 bucks for it. To me this is my dream bass. So much of the music I love was played on this bass from this year. This is the only time I've ever seen this bass for sale in my years of perusing adds and craigslist. I'm really tempted to go into debt for it. Would you? If not this bass, would you go into debt for your dream bass? What to do what to do what to do..... :hmm::atoz::hmm::bassist::hyper::hmm::atoz:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#5
How many months-to-repay of debt? Even for something that really is a "dream bass" (for me, it'd be a 69 P) I'd not go past 12 months worth of debt, preferably 6.

If you can pay it off in under a year, I'd say go for it - it's not going to depreciate, so if stuff goes crazy you can sell it.
 
#6
You are obviously a Family Man fan

If you can afford it; by all means. I don't need to tell you any of this...but weigh in on your job security, consider your other debts, your credit situation.

I went into debt to get my current bass; that at that time was my dream bass, and an amp I no longer have. This was almost 10 years ago and I was 20 yo. I own it now, so after the initial buyers remorse...difficulty holding a job and getting the loan paid off...I have no regrets...my credit OTOH.

EDIT: I'm still satisfied with my bass and it is my only one. It certainly wasn't an investment in the collectors sense...but it has made me a bit of money over the years. That Jazz OTOH may retain it's value...if not gain value (I'm not a collector so I wouldn't know for sure). Could be worth it short term to go into debt.

EDITx2: [Preemptive defensive posture]...My credit is no worse for the wear...honestly...my wife aren't into the whole debt thing, and ours is very slight...aside from some medical bills and the garnishment issue (some of you are aware of that...and I won't get into it.. this is Maki's thread). We pay cash for everything and aren't aspiring homeowners.
 
#7
warwick.hoy said:
You are obviously a Family Man fan

If you can afford it; by all means. I don't need to tell you any of this...but weigh in on your job security, consider your other debts, your credit situation.

I went into debt to get my current bass that at the time was my dream bass and an amp I no longer have. This was almost 10 years ago and I was 20. I own it now, so after the initial buyers remorse...difficulty holding a job and getting the loan paid off...I have no regrets...my credit OTOH.
Click to expand...

This is the position I am in now... 26 years old, living alone, in university, also trying to pay for $7200 of new bass and amp. :atoz: Not good planning on my part.

And yet I still check the pedal classifieds daily.
 
#8
If I had a chance to play it first? Yes.

And if not, no.

The right vintage Fender is a magical thing. I was never a Fender guy, I dig modern basses and active electronics and they always seemed outdated and overpriced to me. Then I played a fantastic 68 P-bass and I immediately "got it". Same with an early 70's Jazz. Just played like butter, and had that familiar, fantastic tone.

But the other side of the coin is that I've played some vintage Fenders that were mediocre or even absolute dogs. IME it's been about a 50/50 proposition each time I've tried one. Going into debt for your dream bass is one thing. Going into debt for an expensive illusion is something else entirely.

If you've played it and love it, I say sell whatever gear you can, make it your primary bass and be a happy dude. And as warwick.hoy points out, as long as you take care of it and it's a real player of a bass you should be able to get all your money back (if not more) should you ever need to flip it.
 
#9
One important point about going into debt to buy something: *never* use debt to buy a depreciating asset.

A new bass/amp is a depreciating asset, so if things turn sticky you can't sell it to pay off the loan.

A vintage bass/amp is - on average - going to increase in value over time. Even if it stays the same, you can sell it to pay off the loan and you still got to play it rent-free for a while.

(This applies to everything, not just music gear, by the way).
 
#17
I can't believe I actually bought one for under $500.00 in the mid eighties. If I had any idea what they would be worth today I would have restored it instead of modifying it.

To answer your question.
My dream bass and absolutely had to have it? Couldn't sleep a night thinking about it?

Yep! Only as long as I could easily cover the payments if something went wrong, though. I wouldn't actually spend the money if I didn't have it.
 
#18
machine gewehr said:
Yes,2 am + a beer + a confused mind leads to mistakes.:smug:
Click to expand...

YEAH

untitled.jpg
:p
 
#19
TheBigO said:
If I had a chance to play it first? Yes.

And if not, no.

The right vintage Fender is a magical thing. I was never a Fender guy, I dig modern basses and active electronics and they always seemed outdated and overpriced to me. Then I played a fantastic 68 P-bass and I immediately "got it". Same with an early 70's Jazz. Just played like butter, and had that familiar, fantastic tone.

But the other side of the coin is that I've played some vintage Fenders that were mediocre or even absolute dogs. IME it's been about a 50/50 proposition each time I've tried one. Going into debt for your dream bass is one thing. Going into debt for an expensive illusion is something else entirely.

If you've played it and love it, I say sell whatever gear you can, make it your primary bass and be a happy dude. And as warwick.hoy points out, as long as you take care of it and it's a real player of a bass you should be able to get all your money back (if not more) should you ever need to flip it.
Click to expand...

This is exactly where I sit. I've never been a big Fender fan. I also prefer more modern basses (my main bass is a Warwick Corvette $$), but I have always loved that one sound. 1973 Jazz bass. I just left message with the guy. So we'll see. I've dropped money on other stuff no problem, but for some reason I'm all giddy and nervous about this.
 
#20
UncleFluffy said:
One important point about going into debt to buy something: *never* use debt to buy a depreciating asset.

A new bass/amp is a depreciating asset, so if things turn sticky you can't sell it to pay off the loan.

A vintage bass/amp is - on average - going to increase in value over time. Even if it stays the same, you can sell it to pay off the loan and you still got to play it rent-free for a while.

(This applies to everything, not just music gear, by the way).
Click to expand...

This is the justification I will use to explain it to my wife. ;)
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back