Burns-bass

There's always something worth seeing there...

I have several hobbies (cycling, playing music, camping and walking) and the one thing that unifies snobs in everything is that they’re joyless. People who genuinely love what they do will be happy you’re enjoying it too.

Agreed, I like a hard case. The modern US Fender bass cases are fantastic.

Master craftspeople are highly protective of their products and their legacy, and rightly so. I was going to commission a guitar from Kinkade in Bristol. The waiting list is 7 years, and given the age of the maker there's no guarantee it will ever be completed. That's because every build is 100% bespoke and created for the person and the player. I've had Wals and they were OK. They're quirky things that do what they do very well. I can't understand the premium, but I can understand why they're so protective of their IP and legacy. Good luck to them.

I had two Hiwatt DR103s and matching 4x12 cabs (Entwistle phase). Was incredible… but so so so so so so so so so so heavy.

People take it personally. I remember being ghosted after going to an audition once. Was pretty horrid experience.

I reckon if I had to choose one single bass do do rock, funk, R&B and pop it would be a Stingray. Thankfully I don’t have to choose and so I don’t currently have one, but do I want one? Yes!!!

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.