Rayman

100% agree….. food, utilities, fuel…. It’s all gone crazy, PLUS the fall of the pound. Guitars are luxury items, that many of us can’t really afford if we’re honest… but it’s just the prices of the used market that confuse me. I don’t get why a bass that was £300 a handful of years ago, is now £700…. is that just the devaluation of the pound…. or are people getting optimistic with their valuations? Or both?

The price of brand new gear….. I suppose I can kind of get it….. I mean Gibson have been overcharging average instruments for years. But it’s the second hand market that puzzles me….. people are asking hundreds of pounds for makes and models we considered to be be budget imitations back in the day, you know the stuff, made in Japan in the 70’s and 80’s…. the guitars we thought were crap back then, all of a sudden are desirable. I saw a Yamaha BB400 with an asking price of £500? I mean I had two…. I paid a hundred quid each for them not that long ago. I just don’t get why these kind of basses are increasing in value at such a rate. They just aren’t worth that much.

I’m wondering if the current crazy upwardly directional prices of bass guitars is disproportionate to the increase of the cost of living and manufacturing? I mean, not that long ago you could pick up a Stingray for 6/700 quid? And an MIT Yamaha BB1100 for example, might have been 3/400 tops…. Now you can double those prices. I’ve had a bunch of BBs, inc a couple of 1100s…. they’re alright? Decent like? But a grand for a Made in Taiwan model? Nah mate. So why are basses commanding such high premiums now? The used market, especially on here, used to be full of bargains! Now, you need a couple of grand in your back pocket while searching the ads?

That’s one sexy instrument you have there

I don’t know exactly….. I had them out, because they had an irritating lean to them, which required foam underneath to level them out. Made in ‘07, they not exactly high end quality, but they sound fantastic.

I removed it 😆

Cheers mate….. I’m sure I can mention it again a few times over the weekend 😆 I’m just not giving away my age

Aye…. Always around my birthday

I know! Cheers

A birthday present from the future Mrs Rayman….. An Ibanez Jet King. I’ve spent two days on it. It was feeling pretty sorry for itself, however after a new set of Gotoh tuners, oiled board, new top hat knobs, new strings and a setup, it’s a stonker. Surprisingly high output, lovely low action, I absolutely love it. Such a nice fretboard. Unfortunately, I’m not allowed to touch it now until Tuesday morning (birthday).

Maybe I AM lobster 😉

Does anybody else struggle to see the point/need for modding/upgrading a bass in most cases? I just watched Low End Lobster.... and actually enjoy his content, however the amount of money he throws at basses after he's purchased them seems a bit ridiculous? Part of the fun of it for him, it seems, is this constant need to "upgrade" parts on the guitars he's bought..... I don't see the point? In my experience hardware on basses (or guitars in general), on the most part, is fine as it is, unless its faulty. I joined in the trend for putting Badass bridges on my Fenders a few years ago, but honestly, I literally cannot hear a definable difference in the tone from the basic stock Fender bridge, at all. So I ordered (from Andertons who are currently out of stock in my preferred colour) a blue Epiphone Newport Bass. I absolutely love the looks and I want to try a reasonably priced short scale bass because of my shoulder issues. The reviews are mixed, but I know how to setup and fiddle with gear to get it right if there's a setup issue with it when it comes. But Mr Lobster, instantly pulled out the tuners and replaced them with Hipshots and the same with the bridge, probably at a cost adding up to maybe a third of the price of the bass in the first place. Seriously why? I mean I get it, if you've had it a while and you're not happy with some of the hardware functionality, but lets be honest.... MOST hardware, even the basic stuff is perfectly fine and useable unless you're a pro gigging musician who needs top end gear.... most of us are not that. In my opinion, basses like these, have a vibe and a voice and a functionality that is part of its charm, inc pickups, harware etc.... and unless its actually broken in some way...... either: A: Buy something else if you don't like it as it is? or B: At least play it a few months to find out what you do or don't like about it? Then, think about some changes IF you're going to keep it? Personally when I'm looking to buy a used bass, and the seller describes it as "Upgraded" or "Modded", I go elsewhere, because I'm looking for a bass that is as intended by it's manufacturer, otherwise why are you buying it at all? I dunno. Each to their own eh?