Go for it, that's not something that comes along frequently. Of course I'd ask for a play test before purchase, you might find out that it's not your dream bass after all.
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Would you go into debt for it?
- Thread starter MakiSupaStar
- Start date
You got it.
I played for nearly 10 years then just got bored of it, so I quit. Still have a bunch of gear, but I don't touch it. Along the way I made some cool friends here at TB, several I have met in person, so I just kept hanging around.
-Mike
You got it.
I played for nearly 10 years then just got bored of it, so I quit. Still have a bunch of gear, but I don't touch it. Along the way I made some cool friends here at TB, several I have met in person, so I just kept hanging around.
-Mike
No problem with that.
Last year, I came across my perfect bass - 1968 Fender P with a B-width neck. With a September date stamp on the neck, it came out of the factory the same year and month I was born! It was a lot of money (close to $5k), and I would have to sell off a couple of well-loved instruments to help offset the cost. I was nervous as hell about it, but I bought the bass, sold some good instruments, and haven't regretted it for a second. It's absolutely the best-sounding bass and most comfortable neck I've ever played. Being given the green light by my wife to buy it was the best 40th b-day present I got. I was fortunate enough at the time to be able to pay it off fairly quickly, and if my financial situation was different, it would still be just a dream.
If your finances can absorb it comfortably, it plays well, and feels good in your hands, go for it. Owning a dream bass is a wonderful experience. And, as others have mentioned, it's probably one of the better financial investments you can make these days.
If your finances can absorb it comfortably, it plays well, and feels good in your hands, go for it. Owning a dream bass is a wonderful experience. And, as others have mentioned, it's probably one of the better financial investments you can make these days.
Yeah. I'd have to sell off a lot of stuff for this, and still dig into the hole for it. I'll sleep on it, call him back tomorrow, and make an appointment to go play it. Make a decision then.
The real question is this:
2 weeks after buying it, will you feel remorse for spending $3100 for a $650 instrument? My guess is yes. I have nothing against Fenders, nothing against vintage instruments (would love to have a Paul Denman era Stingray
).
But...
(according to me and that's not saying much) There is a rational "price point" in most things like basses, guitars, cars, motorcycles, engagement rings, etc. Personally, there isn't any electric bass in the world that would make my life "$3000" better, unless I bought it for $1500.
If we were talking DB's, the price point is completely different.
2 weeks after buying it, will you feel remorse for spending $3100 for a $650 instrument? My guess is yes. I have nothing against Fenders, nothing against vintage instruments (would love to have a Paul Denman era Stingray
). But...
(according to me and that's not saying much) There is a rational "price point" in most things like basses, guitars, cars, motorcycles, engagement rings, etc. Personally, there isn't any electric bass in the world that would make my life "$3000" better, unless I bought it for $1500
.If we were talking DB's, the price point is completely different.
The real question is this:
2 weeks after buying it, will you feel remorse for spending $3100 for a $650 instrument? My guess is yes. I have nothing against Fenders, nothing against vintage instruments (would love to have a Paul Denman era Stingray
But...
(according to me and that's not saying much) There is a rational "price point" in most things like basses, guitars, cars, motorcycles, engagement rings, etc. Personally, there isn't any electric bass in the world that would make my life "$3000" better, unless I bought it for $1500
If we were talking DB's, the price point is completely different.
To each, their own. I have not regretted my purchase for a second. Every time I open the case, or strap it on before a gig (or even rehearsal) I get the same happy feeling.
I'd say go for it. It's not as if you're likely to lose on the deal if you decide to sell it on later, and you might not see one of these that hits just the same spot for you again.
I'm sold on the idea. The wife not so much. I already have one bass she doesn't know about, but I don't think I can hide what is most likely going to be 3000 dollar purchase. Nor do I really want to. Therein lies the problem here. I breached the subject tonight and let's just say, that even though I made a delicious meal of spaghetti prepared with sausage made from a wild boar my buddy shot while hunting, the subject did not go over well.
I'll go play it and then choose whether or not I want to go to battle over this.
I'll go play it and then choose whether or not I want to go to battle over this.
No no no. The way to a mans heart is through his stomach. The way to a womans...
If someone ever figures this out...
Personally, I'd never go into debt for a bass unless I was reaosnably sure I could flip it quickly for reasonable profit but then again, I don't have actual income. The money I have is what I have and there no guarantee nor telling when I'll get more so I like to keep it around, lol. I assume you gots a job so I think you can swing skimping on small things for a while. If this is your dream your looking at go ahead and drop the cash, you can always resell it if it turns out to be 'meh', old Fenders seem to sell pretty consistently in spite of the economy and all that.
Maki, if you want to be real ballsy about it, use your debt to make money. I am up probably 6-8 grand since Feb from ebay and craigslist, people are unloading things and sometimes their price is just way too low. Combined with the live.com cashback thing, you can pay for the bass after a little while. But then again, I gamble, with this and quite a bit on poker. Hey, I'm Asian and life is just a numbers game to me! (I figure you can appreciate that 
)
That said, 3000 is still a little pricey for a 73. That said, if it's in pristine shape and has the case, it would be a good thing. My most recent early 70s jazz was a natural for 1500, then a 73 maple-black block for 750, and then a 71 before tht for 1000. Those are pretty unreal prices, but this stuff happens. And it's happening more now than it used to. They were all three reliced a fair bit (except the natural) and I got about 2200 for each of them.
Side note, all 3 of them required the slightest shim in the neck to get the action super low....
)That said, 3000 is still a little pricey for a 73. That said, if it's in pristine shape and has the case, it would be a good thing. My most recent early 70s jazz was a natural for 1500, then a 73 maple-black block for 750, and then a 71 before tht for 1000. Those are pretty unreal prices, but this stuff happens. And it's happening more now than it used to. They were all three reliced a fair bit (except the natural) and I got about 2200 for each of them.
Side note, all 3 of them required the slightest shim in the neck to get the action super low....
That seems pricey. I typically justify buying gear only by selling other gear. If you are willing to sacrifice a great deal of gear for this bass, that's a good metric of how bad you really want/need it.
do it. If it starts to hurt financially offload some other stuff to help offset the price.
I did this with a '76 P bass and I absolutely love it. I'm so glad that I went for it.
As far as vintage Fenders go - IMHO, what makes one "magic" vs another one that's not quite up to par is usually a good cleaning, a good set up, and some routine maintenance.
Just ask lots of questions before you buy.
I did this with a '76 P bass and I absolutely love it. I'm so glad that I went for it.
As far as vintage Fenders go - IMHO, what makes one "magic" vs another one that's not quite up to par is usually a good cleaning, a good set up, and some routine maintenance.
Just ask lots of questions before you buy.
