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Your Most Expensive Bass?

#201
Well I threw WAY TOO MUCH money into this thing! But at the time it was my own ideas and put unique features on it! That being said, now looking back (hind sight is 20/20 I know) I could have ordered a Fender Custom shop model; Jbass for the same price and not lost a ton of money! But such is life! Bad thing is, can't sell or trade it anywhere close to what I put into it! I will however make some new mods to it and hopefully be happier with it! IMG_20150513_083453772_HDR.jpg
 
#202
When I read your question my first thought was, how much have I put into my bass(es) over what I paid for it? I'm thinking of strings, straps, several gig bags, new parts to replace the old dirty or broken parts, cleaning and/or repairing the electronics, set-ups, adjustments, wax, cleaner, etc. I have probably spent more on my 1994 Warwick than I paid for it. BUT . . . it is like an old classic car - it's worth it.
 
#203
Mine would be my SG Standard that I bought new but on sale and before the price hike. We worth IMO and it gets a fair amount of use on stage and in the studio when I am hired gun. I play my Jazz and my Precision with my own bands.
 
#204
I really am not sure what the most I've paid for a specific bass is. I started playing in 1978, so I've owned a lot...buying, trading, selling...

I know in the 1990s when my GAS reached its zenith I bought a few basses in the $1000-$2000 range including MMs and MIA Fenders and some other things.

Before that, in the early 80s, I bought several pre-CBS Fenders--guitars and basses both--all for well under $1000. Best deal I ever got was probably a 1962 Jazz bass for $350 with original case. Somebody had painted it (badly) with what looked like yellow house paint applied with a big brush. Later I learned to refinish instruments, but I was only 14 or so when I got this Fender Jazz and my dad helped me find a guy who did a beautiful pro refinish on it.

Anyways, these days my most expensive bass is probably my old headstock SX 57P bass, which is currently disassembled for imminent surgery. Cost me around $130 shipped in 2006. But I am upgrading some parts (it survived a flood and needs all new electronics for one thing.)

I also have an old 70s MIJ Lotus P copy--bone stock as far as I know--that I picked up last year for $125 total.

Most recent acquisition is an older Squier P bass. I was in a pawn shop trying out an amp and I ended up putting the amp in layaway, but I had them bundle the bass into the deal. I grabbed the Squier bass just to try out the amp but it felt and sounded sweet enough I just didn't want to leave it there to be neglected and gather dust. All told, it'll end up costing me about $40. But I am going to install a new wiring harness and probably replace the pickup. The pots are cheap and scratchy and the jack is messed up.

So, as far as basses themselves, I (sort of) have three with a total investment of $295, then I'll probably wind up throwing another $100 maybe in parts, not including new strings. I'll do the mods and setups myself.

I'm thinking for under $500 I will have three perfectly functional, nice feeling, nice playing, nice sounding workhorse basses.

Nothing at all against people with massive collections and who choose to buy high end boutique instruments. That's great! I love hearing about those, NBDs and big family pics. Nothing like a new bass!

But for me, I'm going minimal. Might very well not even keep all three basses I'll end up with, but right now only one of the two I have works and the third will be in layaway for a few weeks.

I don't know if I'll ever buy another bass, actually (more likely pedals, amp stuff, etc.) but if I do I see no reason whatsoever (for me and my needs) to ever pay more than $400 for a bass, as long as I can try it out before I buy it and it is as decent as what I've got now.
 
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#207
Good lawd! I probably could've bought a small country for what I've spent on basses...

As of this moment, the most I've ever spent on a single bass is $3,500, which is what I paid for my 2015 Spector Forte 5. I'm sure that will be eclipsed by the next one which will, in all likelihood, be a new Pedulla ThunderBass or a new Spector NS-5XL. I guess the way I look at it is that I make money playing bass, so I buy the basses that I feel will get me what I need to do my job. I've had some really expensive basses, but I usually buy them used, so it's not as bad. I've promised my wife, that I'm not going to buy any gear next year. Of course, that means I gotta get it all THIS year, so that's muh plan...:):D;):thumbsup:
 
#209
What I have invested in this instrument is way more than I ever expected to spend on a bass guitar. Putting things in perspective, it was still several thousand less than I spend on property taxes each year. Yes, it's all a matter of perspective. Each time I play this bass it becomes more evident that its purchase was a good decision. :thumbsup:

ken20lawrence20ramp20modified201.jpg


ken20lawrence20ramp20modified202.jpg


M. M. :)
 
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#211
beaglesandbass said:
Not trying to create any sort of bragging thread. My fiancee think's it's absolutely insane to spend close to $2,800 on the bass I want (5 string Valenti), and I'm generally curious to see what others have spent on their high end basses.

My current most expensive bass is a Classic Stingray 4. Retails new around $2,000.. I got it used for $1,220.
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my most expensive bass purchase was a stingray5 like $2000 at that time..but i was gigging making money with that axe..i set a goal like 20-30 gigs should cover it..

maybe she thinks that it's insane cause u dont make money out of that bass? i mean like to cover the cost..if so this is could be a motivation for you to play and earn more from bass playing.. and as your bargain deal to your fiancee

good luck :D
 
#212
My most expensive was my Warwick Streamer LX Broadneck 6 string, which I bought for $2,900 (endorsing artist price at 2010). I was gigging so much at the time that I took out a personal loan to buy it, and paid it back in full within six weeks.
 
#213
blowinblue said:
What I have invested in this instrument is way more than I ever expected to spend on a bass guitar. Putting things in perspective, it was still several thousand less than I spend on property taxes each year. Yes, it's all a matter of perspective. Each time I play this bass it becomes more evident that its purchase was a good decision. :thumbsup:

ken20lawrence20ramp20modified201.jpg


ken20lawrence20ramp20modified202.jpg


M. M. :)
Click to expand...
Wow! I can't quite get use to the "fins" on the head and tail, but man, what a beautiful bass!
 
#215
bholder said:
Wow! I can't quite get use to the "fins" on the head and tail, but man, what a beautiful bass!
Click to expand...

Thanks. Ken Lawrence owners affectionately call that headstock shape a 'squidstock'. I believe TBer Dan Knowlton coined that phrase. As for the crazy tailpiece, I don't know what to call it except maybe a 'crazy tailpiece'. Whatever they call it...I like it. :)

M. M.
 
#217
Where are all the really crazy guys? I know there are people who bought basses for $7000+ on here.. where are they??

I am reading your guys posts like "i spend $2000 here.. there.. "

and it's like here is what I paid:

$1600 speaker cab
$2700+ Amp head
$1800 bass
$4100+ bass (really something like $3900 but tax brought it up to like $4200 something..)

and I'm not even listing the rest of the 3combo amps I have including a acoustic image contra old versioin..

I also didn't even get into the 2 fricken upright basses I have!! and how much do you think those cost??! ofcourse those I didn't have to pay for but there's stories to go with those..

these next stories are just kind random thrown out there numbers for these situations i'm describing below this

- but the thing is, everbody is in a different situation, but what I dont understand is people are saying like instruments are expensive at $1000 but then they are paying $15000 or more seriously $30,000 for a car.. which of course is normal.. it gets you to your work.. but a $1000 instrument (depending on what you do for work) can be paid back in 1-5 months if not way sooner than that.. depending on what work gigging you do if your sole source of income is music related only.. and how long does it take you to pay a $15000 car back? years?
 
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#219
bassfacer22 said:
Where are all the really crazy guys? I know there are people who bought basses for $7000+ on here.. where are they??

I am reading your guys posts like "i spend $2000 here.. there.. "

and it's like here is what I paid:

$1600 speaker cab
$2700+ Amp head
$1800 bass
$4100+ bass (really something like $3900 but tax brought it up to like $4200 something..)

and I'm not even listing the rest of the 3combo amps I have including a acoustic image contra old versioin..

I also didn't even get into the 2 fricken upright basses I have!! and how much do you think those cost??! ofcourse those I didn't have to pay for but there's stories to go with those..

these next stories are just kind random thrown out there numbers for these situations i'm describing below this

- but the thing is, everbody is in a different situation, but what I dont understand is people are saying like instruments are expensive at $1000 but then they are paying $15000 for a car.. which of course is normal.. it gets you to your work.. but a $1000 instrument (depending on what you do for work) can be paid back in 1-5 months if not way sooner than that.. depending on what work gigging you do if your sole source of income is music related only.. and how long does it take you to pay a $15000 car back? years?
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My Fodera, Ken Lawrence, FBass, Valenti and 2 70's Fenders are worth more than my 2010 F150 in total. I love my truck but I am just not into $50k cars anymore. To each their own, I guess.

Nice to know that my basses won't really depreciate at all over time. My truck is another story. It was $40k new 6 years ago and will be worth almost $0 in another 6 years.
 

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