£50.000 for a flea bass, or work of art

[timmo]

https://othercriteria.com/uk/artwork/damien-hirst-multi-coloured-deluxe-spin-bass-guitar-damien-hirst-and-flea-from-red-hot-chili-peppers

[PlungerModerno]

Wow. I would say it's worth an extra £50 'coz of the case, and maybe £100 extra for the paint job - to a fan.

I'd be looking to have money knocked off for that mess!

[TheGreek]

Unfortunately these will probably be the only guitars that will increase in value in the future.....

[HazBeen]

Ridiculous, Flea just give some of the 100 million or so you have to charity and stop acting like you swallowed too many wacky pills this morning.

[Coldflows]

I have a fleabass. Great value bass guitars...

...But not at that price.

[BigRedX]

You are looking at it all wrong.

It's not a bass guitar. It's a Damien Hirst original artwork that happens to be on a Fleabass. As a musical instrument it is virtually worthless, because it is impossible to play without risking damaging the artwork. As a work of art it will only appreciate in value.

So if you want an original Damien Hirst then buy it. If you want a bass guitar there's plenty of others that are far more suitable and affordable.

[TheGreek]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1454414883' post='2969451']
You are looking at it all wrong.

It's not a bass guitar. It's a Damien Hirst original artwork that happens to be on a Fleabass. As a musical instrument it is virtually worthless, because it is impossible to play without risking damaging the artwork. As a work of art it will only appreciate in value.

So if you want an original Damien Hirst then buy it. If you want a bass guitar there's plenty of others that are far more suitable and affordable.
[/quote]

This is the point I was trying to make..

[HazBeen]

.. just because it is Damien Hirst splattering paint on a bass, doesn't make it art nor does it guarantee any rise in price down the line. But hey, if someone is mad enough... free country and such.

[PlungerModerno]

[quote name='HazBeen' timestamp='1454419014' post='2969522']
.. just because it is Damien Hirst splattering paint on a bass, doesn't make it art nor does it guarantee any rise in price down the line. But hey, if someone is mad enough... free country and such.
[/quote]

+1. Art market is like any other - an established artist like Hirst will probably only go up in value - but it may take time to sell it at the increased price (depends when you sell & how much you set the reserve at or however art is sold). Depending on the popularity of the artist in the future it may loose some or all of it's value (some is plausible - all is almost unheard of).
As a collab piece it's interesting - but given the cheapness of the materials involved (flea bass is a cheap instrument with little tie to fleas music and cultural impact. A modulus, Jazz, Stingray or even a Wal would have made more since IMO) I'd look for a more "safe" piece with just Hirsts name attached - if I was investing 50K.

[Prosebass]

Just be thankful that Polly Borland didn't get her mits on it!

What a crock of you know what.