Being the bass player for less than 200 quid.

[Guest bassman7755]

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1380117996' post='2221056']
Good to know my house cost me nothing...
[/quote]

Well from an accounting point of view houses and any non-consumable item of music gear is a capital purchase and not a cost/expense so yes the "cost" of all these things is 0 .

To put it another way, if you buy something whose "book value" is at least equal to the cash you paid for it then your net wealth has not decreased ergo it has not "cost" you anything.

All I'm saying is try to look on your kit purchases as assets and not as expenses.

[uncle psychosis]

[quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1380104249' post='2220739']
So is it really rational to use gear costing a couple of hundred quid and use it for years on end, such that you probably spend more on your cars tyre wear getting to gigs over the long term than you do on the actual gear you play with ?.
[/quote]

Of course its rational, assuming the gear does what you need it to.

If you want to get the accountant's handbook out, is it rational to take the risk of your £1000 bass depreciating massively in value rather than just using a much cheaper bass that gets the gig done?

[Dave Vader]

[quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1380121395' post='2221133']
Well from an accounting point of view houses and any non-consumable item of music gear is a capital purchase and not a cost/expense so yes the "cost" of all these things is 0 .
[/quote]

I shall tell the mortgage company that I'm not giving them anymore money then, as my house apparently cost nothing.
hooray!

[oggiesnr]

You play what you're comfortable with. For me I enjoy playing my Antoria and it does what it needs to do, ditto the cab. I've had them a long time and don't feel the need to get a different bass for what I use them for. Depreciation etc and economic costs are irrelevant.

My most expensive instrument is a melodeon which I've played in public twice (unpaid at charity gigs) but again I enjoy it and don't begrudge the two grand it cost. I play instruments that I enjoy playing, I've tried a lot of expensive basses and guitars that left me cold, superb instruments but not for me.

It's not what you play it's the way that you play it

Steve

[W11ATO]

Crickey, I hope my missus doesn't read this thread :-0

[TomWIC]

My Peavey Tour 700 was purchased for £200 from a member of Basschat, my Ashdown ABM 410 was £250 from a private sale, and the ABM 210 that I pair with it was £80, again from Basschat.

The vast majority of my effects were also purchased from members of Basschat, however, most of my basses were purchased new.