Burns-bass

Lovely story. I might moan a bit but I have a 66 Jazz that I bought for £2500 after 4 years of saving. Recently valued at £8.5, and won’t ever leave my side. I’ve told my wife I’ll leave details of where to sell it when I die so she doesn’t just donate it to the charity shop and my kids miss out.

They’ve done wonderful things with the money. Apparently Claptons Blackie Strat was borderline unplayable to anyone but him. Does Gilmour sound like himself on a modern Strat? Yep. It’s all in the head.

They weren’t vintage then, just basses. Funny how rock gods like Clapton and Gimlour don’t care too much for their old ones.

This is a good point. I remember chatting with ATB about a 64 jazz and was offered it at £3k under the asking price, so there is wiggle room there. Same happened when I bought a pre cbs precision from David Pym, he knocked off 20% for a deal. I don’t know about Andy Baxter, but the reputable dealers are all good guys trying to make a living and will do a deal. I can’t explain the price rises, which are astronomical. It’s highly likely that those with vintage collections are buying more rather than new entrants to the market. When that’s the case, prices could fall rapidly… While I struggle to see guitars as investments comparable with other assets, I’ve never lost money with a vintage Fender bass.

That’s cool. I used to take my 66 jazz bass in a soft case on my bike, not any more! I once owned an amazing condition 64 jazz bass (you can see it on the old listings here). It’s was so clean I never played it. I owned it for 2 years and reckon it came out of the case maybe 10 times.

I found entirely the opposite. Old pickups are weedy, the basses are fragile and prone to break if you use them frequently (swapping a jack socket can affect value…) and they’re often more hassle than they’re worth to take out. Sure, if I had millions and my own bass tech I’d gig my vintage basses but now I just use some of the modern FSR ones. I used to only play vintage, now I have a few of all types.

I agree. Expecially given how forensically you've listed every component. Far too many guitar shops don't go to those lengths and still try and ask top whack. You can be 100% sure it is what it says it is (and far too many vintage Fenders aren't!)

The grades are a good system that can help you to degree level music where you truly get to explore your instrument and experiment. I’d say if it helps you professionally and it’s fun, then do it!

Check out bass bros!!!

These are speculative assets. As someone who is currently selling lots of stuff the market is slow, and I’m sure it’ll be the same at the top-end of the market too.

I’ve had a couple of Wals. I just moved them on as they were unwieldy and uncomfortable.

Prices for these are just mad. They're OK, but god knows who's driving this? Did someone famous who uses one die?

I've just visited a train spotters website to tell them how boring I find train spotting.

Its also a very forgiving instrument. Even if you’re not entirely in tune, your band mates will forgive you as it looks so cool and you’ve made such a huge effort to get anywhere with it!

The jack socket on my Warwick broke in front of a packed Royal Albert Hall audience. Swapped to a Geddy Lee jazz in seconds and all was ok. Never played a Warwick (or the Albert hall!) ever again.