Burns-bass

Interestingly, many high-value classical instruments are owned by investment houses, but they loan them out to players to keep them in circulation and allowing us all to enjoy them.

If you buy them and love them, then where’s the harm? If you’re speculating on collectibles (whether guitars, comics, records etc.) then there’s always a risk that fashions could change. Spare a thought for all those rich collectors who paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for late 50s Les Pauls... They’ve not recovered in value and that’s over a decade now.

Problem with that is that, unlike gold, there’s no real intrinsic value to a bass. My dad could never understand why my vintage Fender is worth thousands of pounds more with a battered finish and rusty screws. When confronted with this, it’s surprisingly difficult to argue. The value of an old Fender will wane as future generations see them for what they are, working instruments rather than investment pieces. There’s a small pool of people willing to pay £10k for a pre-CBS jazz, and that number will drop by at least a few every year until there’s nobody. These instruments aren’t particularly rare, but , they are scarce. Middle aged (and older) men are hoarding instruments. In the past, you’d have a bass, maybe two. Today, as people on here can attest, a lot of people have many more. When we shift off this planet they’ll come up for sale more often, reducing their prices. Add on to that the high likelihood of inter-generational conflict, a deep and damaging recession that economists forecast will make 2008 look like a mere statistical blip and prices could come down sooner than we think.

The reviews really are fantastic aren’t they? Next big contract I win I might get one of these as a treat!

I’d keep it. Barely any point in the hassle of sending it back and it seems such a lovely gesture for her to have done. One assumes when you were talking to your guitarist about wanting a 6 string he thought you meant a bass!

Everyone in my family kindly made a small contribution to a jazz bass I bought in December, so no wrapping paper, no wastage and no unwanted presents! Result. I also got an 850g bar of Cadbury’s and a a few books too. The best present was having an hour on my own to chill out and unwind after cooking for us all.

Best purchases were an FSR pink jazz bass which is just sublime in every way and a handmade MK upright EUB. Worst was probably a Markbass combo which was very noisy and a set of roundwound strings which, like all rounds, sounded awful new and worse old.

They’re just an adhesive strip that you stick on top of the fretboard rather than being stick into it! I assume they’re more for people who need to see where they are rather than looking great for an audience.

I bought a job lot of stuff on here about 6 months ago. Some worked, some didn’t and some I had no use for. What you see is what’s going for nothings You pay the postage. If you’d like to give me something for it then I love bass books about jazz or make a contribution to a homeless charity. Theres a decibel meter, a 90s robo tuner, a random scratch plate and some fretboard led lights.

I’d keep it in your basket and wait. I’ve spent years buying and selling gear to end up pretty much where is started with a guitar I bought 20 years ago.

It’s a fair point but if you buy a cheap bass then you expect compromises... You get what you pay for etc.

I had a Warwick Streamer bass that I loved. I had a big gig and it failed. I got it fixed but I could never trust the bass again and sold it on here within a few weeks.

Always makes me chuckle when people are upset that the strings don't perfectly bisect the poles on their pickups. Aesthetically, you may not like it, but it doesn't affect the output at all.

The mid 90s Danelectros all shipped without flat wounds if I remember rightly.

I owned an original early 60s version of that Danilo which I imported from the States. It sounded amazing.

I guess the insurance company would suggest you either keep your £10k bass with you, within sight or stick it in a locked vehicle. All a bit of a hassle I guess, but better than having no bass!