I’ll give ya $500 for that P if you wanna make a profit...
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Your most and least expensive basses
- Thread starter JimmyM
- Start date
I’ll give ya $500 for that P if you wanna make a profit...
85 Kubicki ExFactor #162
Yamaha Motion B 1983 I believe. Japanese origin
Both medium scale.
Love.
Yamaha Motion B 1983 I believe. Japanese origin
Both medium scale.
Love.
I’ve posted pics before. I bought a ‘51 Precision MIJ RI. Pre internet. Price was $550. Due to the exchange rate I paid $340.00. It is a wonderful bass. It can sound like an upright. In time I changed the pickup to a Rio Grande Muy Grande. Later came an OEM bridge that is adjustable for each string and yet allows string though body or bridge. I did this only because the two break points coming out of the body ferrules and then crossing the bridge were causing breaking/unwinding. Couldn’t have that as I was changing different manufacturer’s strings.
Anyway it’s amazing and at any price it’s great.
I owned a 3K+ Smith. Recorded several albums studio and live. Many many gigs. Never loved it. Learned at the last minute that full cranking of low and high eq revealed fat mids. Learned it from a session bassist on Bass Player Mag. Sold it and reduced my investment by $1K. The next was more perfect more me. I haven’t wished to replace it in more than a decade.
Anyway it’s amazing and at any price it’s great.
I owned a 3K+ Smith. Recorded several albums studio and live. Many many gigs. Never loved it. Learned at the last minute that full cranking of low and high eq revealed fat mids. Learned it from a session bassist on Bass Player Mag. Sold it and reduced my investment by $1K. The next was more perfect more me. I haven’t wished to replace it in more than a decade.
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“Cruise creates for VMI” P bass clone, not sure of its original cost but about $50 on reverb now.
warmoth 5 string build approximately $1,000.
warmoth 5 string build approximately $1,000.
I paid my dues getting here, but now have somewhat of an embarrassment of nice gear.
150 responses in and I finally found someone I would trade my two with!
My last two bases anchor the range that I have spent. I posted NBD’s for both of them. One was a previously owned Fodera Yin Yang Standard that cost 10 times what my new, fun, Sterling Stingray 5 cost me a couple of weeks ago.
I’m enjoying both of them a lot. I had to do a major tune on the Ray, but after filing the frets and setting it up to my liking, I’m really having fun finding my way around a five string! This is a good playing, inexpensive instrument and I’m really happy with it.Of course, that Fodera is a monster and I’m just not quite ready to be a full-time five banger myself.
The SR5 is actually tied for least expensive bass. I bought my Gibson Grabber new from a store in Chapel Hill in 1983. Still have it, it’s a great player. I paid $325 for each of them, but about 40 years apart!
An interesting bit of synchronicity: I bought my Fodera earlier this year from a Talkbass member who lives and played it in Chapel Hill.
Cheapest: Hofner Ignition, Most Expensive: Ibanez AffirmaI don't discriminate. I love a great feeling and sounding bass that's a little on the expensive side, but I also love finding a really good bass that's inexpensive. Had quite a few of both over the years, although I never spent truly huge money. The most I ever spent for a bass was $1500 new for this one on the right:
View attachment 4290627
These were made by the Guitar Factory in Orlando, and they had more deluxe versions of these basses but I went no frills and saved some money. Well, not really no-frills. They both have Kahler bridges and the 4 has a whammy bar and Sperzel locking tuners. Both have EMG active PJ's and I updated the pres with BQC's a few years ago.
The 4 was my main bass from 1997-2001, but as much as I tried to fight the passive Fender thing back then, I just couldn't beat it tonally so I went back to them. I kept it because there are certain cool things I like to do with the whammy bar on occasion and because it plays so beautifully. But it's rare I use it on a gig anymore.
I've bought cheaper basses than my current cheapest, but at $190, my 2009 Danelectro Longhorn has been a real keeper:
View attachment 4290639
Originally priced at $400, two of these basses sat in my local Sam Ash for a year. Played them every time I went there and this one was clearly my favorite of the two. One day they were marked down, and I bought it, and the repair guy there was nice enough to drill a hole in the horn for a Straplok, which remains the only mod I've done to it.
This version is known for being the cheapest built of the reissues, and I thought for sure I'd have to replace the saggy bridge and cheapest of the cheap Kluson knock-off guitar tuners. But it has very low action, stays in tune like a rock, the bridge still sags but it hasn't gotten any worse over the years, is much more versatile than you'd think, sounds amazing with both flats and rounds, and is super light. And it's mighty purdy in a bizarre way. I've done many plane trips with it as checked luggage in a padded gig bag and SKB Roto case, and it never let me down.
So let's just point out that I'm not fishing for financial information from you all, nor am I interested in starting a peepee sizing match. You don't have to disclose anything financial if you don't want. I just am interested if there's others like me who can see the beauty and usefulness in both cheap and not-as-cheap basses. Bonus points will be awarded, however, if you have a bass you paid over $10,000 for and one you paid less than $100
I don't think we've gotten to the point where someone who owns a Ritter also owns a Glarry but we are certainly seeing some major price disparities along the way. I like that, because I'd like to think that if I had enough jack to buy whatever I wanted at any time, I could still appreciate a bass like my 09 Longhorn. Pretty sure I'd have replaced the cheapo guitar tuners on it with real Klusons, though
Some killer bass porn everyone's throwing down!
but we are certainly seeing some major price disparities along the way. I like that, because I'd like to think that if I had enough jack to buy whatever I wanted at any time, I could still appreciate a bass like my 09 Longhorn. Pretty sure I'd have replaced the cheapo guitar tuners on it with real Klusons, though Some killer bass porn everyone's throwing down!
OK I want a bonus point for my EKO 995 Beatle Bass that I paid 50 bucks for from a soundguy's wall 
. It's really beat to hell but sounds and plays great. My most expensive was a new LE Gibson T-Bird at 2299.00 that I bought new in 2018, it's probably the most well made bass I've ever owned.
. It's really beat to hell but sounds and plays great. My most expensive was a new LE Gibson T-Bird at 2299.00 that I bought new in 2018, it's probably the most well made bass I've ever owned.
$60-$2k. I play them all. I love basses man!I don't think we've gotten to the point where someone who owns a Ritter also owns a Glarry
Some killer bass porn everyone's throwing down!
Cheapest - SX Ursa 3 PJ bought new for $119 in 2015
Most expensive - NS Design CR5 fretless bought new in 2016 for $2600
Most expensive - NS Design CR5 fretless bought new in 2016 for $2600
Jazzdogg
Less barking, more wagging!
It would be interesting to plot all of these bass purchases over time, making adjustments for inflation; I doubt my fretless '73 Pbass could be bought for $300 today. 
Most expensive - Schecter Hellcat VI
Less expensive - Ibanez from the 80's
Most valuable - The Ibanez from the 80's. Painted by an artist that was one of the coolest woman I had the chance to have as a friend.
Cheapest:
The yellowing olympic white bass on the far left
1986 Epiphone Accu Bass. Got it for $65. When I was done fixing it up including an EMG GZR P pup, $250
Because of the upgrades it actually is my 2nd cheapest now. The snow white 2012 Ibanez SRX2EX2 directly behind it was a $150 pawn shop buy, add a $40 set of flats and it's my cheapest at $190
Most expensive:
2nd from the right, Satin Lake Placid Blue American Performer P/J upgraded with custom controls, Aguilar Pickups, custom 4 ply pickguard, Schaller S-Locks somewhere around $1700
The yellowing olympic white bass on the far left
1986 Epiphone Accu Bass. Got it for $65. When I was done fixing it up including an EMG GZR P pup, $250
Because of the upgrades it actually is my 2nd cheapest now. The snow white 2012 Ibanez SRX2EX2 directly behind it was a $150 pawn shop buy, add a $40 set of flats and it's my cheapest at $190
Most expensive:
2nd from the right, Satin Lake Placid Blue American Performer P/J upgraded with custom controls, Aguilar Pickups, custom 4 ply pickguard, Schaller S-Locks somewhere around $1700
Most expensive Yamaha Attitude 3, 2200 CDN, least Harley Benton PB-50 around $100
Least = my very first, a 30" USA Fender Bullet
Most = my Tune ZiIII
Priceless = my Pedulla ET5
Most = my Tune ZiIII
Priceless = my Pedulla ET5
First bass: used 60s Kay $25I don't discriminate. I love a great feeling and sounding bass that's a little on the expensive side, but I also love finding a really good bass that's inexpensive. Had quite a few of both over the years, although I never spent truly huge money. The most I ever spent for a bass was $1500 new for this one on the right:
View attachment 4290627
These were made by the Guitar Factory in Orlando, and they had more deluxe versions of these basses but I went no frills and saved some money. Well, not really no-frills. They both have Kahler bridges and the 4 has a whammy bar and Sperzel locking tuners. Both have EMG active PJ's and I updated the pres with BQC's a few years ago.
The 4 was my main bass from 1997-2001, but as much as I tried to fight the passive Fender thing back then, I just couldn't beat it tonally so I went back to them. I kept it because there are certain cool things I like to do with the whammy bar on occasion and because it plays so beautifully. But it's rare I use it on a gig anymore.
I've bought cheaper basses than my current cheapest, but at $190, my 2009 Danelectro Longhorn has been a real keeper:
View attachment 4290639
Originally priced at $400, two of these basses sat in my local Sam Ash for a year. Played them every time I went there and this one was clearly my favorite of the two. One day they were marked down, and I bought it, and the repair guy there was nice enough to drill a hole in the horn for a Straplok, which remains the only mod I've done to it.
This version is known for being the cheapest built of the reissues, and I thought for sure I'd have to replace the saggy bridge and cheapest of the cheap Kluson knock-off guitar tuners. But it has very low action, stays in tune like a rock, the bridge still sags but it hasn't gotten any worse over the years, is much more versatile than you'd think, sounds amazing with both flats and rounds, and is super light. And it's mighty purdy in a bizarre way. I've done many plane trips with it as checked luggage in a padded gig bag and SKB Roto case, and it never let me down.
So let's just point out that I'm not fishing for financial information from you all, nor am I interested in starting a peepee sizing match. You don't have to disclose anything financial if you don't want. I just am interested if there's others like me who can see the beauty and usefulness in both cheap and not-as-cheap basses. Bonus points will be awarded, however, if you have a bass you paid over $10,000 for and one you paid less than $100
2nd : New 70 Eli @ 125
3rd : 72 Ric
Later more basses
Zon 2001 Sonus 6 fl @ over 4G
later …$375 Squire J5 active; essentially as good as $1700 MM…
