TimR

Most of these heavy music musicians are well past retirement age and spend more time on the golf course complaining about the kids driving the golf carts into the water hazards. A far cry from when they were driving their Rolls Royces into swimming pools. At some point it doesn't make sense to do the things we used to do as teenagers any more. But what do you do if that's all you have ever done?

What about Motorhead and Lemmy?

Are you guys expecting members of a Thrash Metal band to own kittens and spend their time shopping for soft furnishings?

You're right. No one* other than people who buy and sell instruments or keep an eye on prices have even a ball park idea of what they're worth or cost initially. But the thread is really about a bass player buying a bass. So it's quite important in that respect. *Of course that's the old joke: I hope my wife doesn't sell my basses for what I told her I paid for them.

I had the same from a guitarist over From Out of Nowhere by Faith No More. I think it's just someone assuming it's not possible. Both previous bass players had always used a pick. Newstead only uses a pick.

That bit was a bit odd. I don't think any of them can have a grasp on reality anymore. Maybe they have the same insecurities as anyone who relies on their creative output to earn a living. What happens if I can't write another good tune? The bit when Lars realised Newstead's band were out gigging and drawing a sizeable crowd, while Metallica didn't even know if their singer was ever going to return let alone record or even gig.

Yes. There's certainly a lot of control being exercised by whoever is in the driving seat at any point in time. Typical band...

It's on Netflix at the moment. A very interesting 2 part - 2 hours each - documentary following the band. Some very emotional scenes from Dave Moustaine - anyone who's been asked to leave a band and then followed them from a distance may relate. But my overwhelming view from the 1st hour was getting rid of Jason Newstead almost destroyed them. Without a bass player the whole band seemed to lack something. Not withstanding the issues Hetfeild was going through, that probably were instrumental in the treatment of Jason, a new bass player sooner should have been their main focus. Or is a bass player someone who just plays what the guitarist tells them to? 😉

I was looking at it as an average. Maybe I should have looked at it as an exponential thing. I recon Scott Devine and Ian Allison must own several hundred between them and judging by the number of people enrolling in their course they must be 1%ers*. 🤣 *but the nice kind... I have 3 basses. That must put me slightly above average.

They're only buying 1% of the basses. I don't think they're influencing prices of basses in any serious way.

I was just pointing out where inequality in general has come from. I'm not talking about the top 1% inequality that skews it. I'm talking about the top 25% who are earning over the mean wage. The people on £40k+. And the odd person on £80k who thinks they're normal. The top 25% didn't sit around and wait for cost of living rises.

When you're taking about inequal wages. One thing that is ofter conveniently overlooked is that they're not age weighted or sex weighted. At the risk of being called a sexist - pureIy from observation I would expect a large number of women and students to be working in retail as they offer very good flexible hours which suit childcare and study. I would also expect someone leaving school not to be stepping into a CEO role with a 6 figure salary, and I would expect a number of people in their 50s to be earning 3-4x that of a school leaver. Last year I met up with a load of guys who I was with at school 30 years ago. Some of them were still doing the jobs they left school to do. I'm always of the mind that if you ask for a raise, you have to be bringing something extra to the table, that isn't just a cost of living rise. Some of us have moved jobs, companies and even careers during that time. We all started out with the same age and the same education but are no longer equal. Anyway that's for off topic. Of all those present* I own the most basses and the most expensive bass. So guess I'm doing OK. *I was also the only bass player - so a win there as well.

Stream it live. Have cards around the wards. Have phone ins.

Mine has increased 350%. These measurements are meaningless. You need to measure a like for like bass against the RPI 1985 - 373 2000 - 671 2023 - 1472 My Charvel would be around £1400 at todays prices.

I still have my Sidewinder from 1985. Everytime I get it out of the bag I have to adjust the truss rod and the pickups pick up mains hum to the extent its unplayable in a theatre. 🤣 Think it was £120 new.

Take the bridge off and have a look underneath. It's very wonky.

Mine's 20 years old. Lots of minor damage from rehearsals and gigs. Dings and scratches. It happens. Main culprit is standing in corners or close to cymbals in small pubs. The question is did you spend that much because it sounds good and plays well, or did you spend the extra becasue it looks nice. If its the latter, frame it and hang it on the wall.

There are a lot more medium to higher range basses around. Looking at £1300-1600 that'll get you a serious amount of bass. Maybe that's what is skewing perspective. Still loads at £300-500, so I think it's just that there is a much wider range.

I think if I was in a band with 43 gigs lined up and then extra practices to learn material, and the personal time to set aside to learn, I might start asking whether it has turned into a full time job that's stopping me from doing other things. Especially if I was retired. Learning bass lines to songs is pretty easy, they mostly write themselves. I wonder how much work it is learning keyboard tunes when you're not just comping the chords.

I bought a Jackson Charvel SB2 in 1989 for probably £350. There are similar models on eBay for £500+. I was told to I sure it for £1600 20 years ago as I wouldn't find anything comparable for less. I then spent about 7 years looking for something comparable. 🙈

You can download the isolated tracks (stems). Have a Google.

Good SH basses disappear very quickly on Facebook marketplace.

£1200 will buy you a low end premium bass. I'd expect, good machine heads, bridge and excellent finish and woods. Bottomed end £500 bass will be just as playable but will have cheaper hardware and basic woods. They're all CNC machined so the build quality should be pretty much the same.

"We are expecting your parcel." "In Transit" means it has been picked up from seller and is on way to the depot. Then it will say "We have your parcel." Then it'll say dispatched or something. I'm currently waiting for a package I ordered on Sunday afternoon with a delivery date of Thursday to my local Budgens. I'll let you know of progress but currently, "Your order is on its way". It has passed "Processing", "In transit", and is showing "Received by Delivery Company".

If he is overweight (just guessing) maybe be has sleep apnea. That will really mess with concentration and can cause micro-sleeps.