Burns-bass

This cuts to the core of the issue. Do vintage basses (like classical instruments) get better with age, or is it just older people coveting and fetishising the prized possessions of their youth. Probably a little from column A and B. Collectors like Joe Bonamassa have a vested interest interest in all this. He’s part of the vintage machine and it suits him to see prices rise. For the rest of us, I’m not so sure…

Take it slowly, there’s no need to… err, yeah.

Thats auctions for you. To be fair they market things well and do a good job of de-stressing the whole process. You could always get more in a private sale, of course, but you need to sell it.

I don’t know much about Rush, but unlike a lot of these tings it doesn’t seem like a cynical cash in (looking at you Oasis). More seems like lifelong friends who want to experience a big stage for possibly the last time.

Gardiner Houlgate. Signed items are notoriously hard to value and sell. Better leave the market to decide. Unless it’s the Rolf Harris signed Stylophone I saw for sale on Facebook. That’s not worth much at all.

Short answer is no. Last vintage shop I went into was buzzing and the proprietor told me business was good, but that he had seen a lot more stock coming up for sale. Read into that what you will. Genuine all original pieces will probably maintain their value.

I assume that was because Owen was based in Wales but playing a gig in Belfast.

I guess this may never have happened of course, but it was a funny story.

Always easier to ask what the band or producer wants. I’ve done a few and you just ask about the vibe and take the basses that will fit. I’ve got a jazz session Friday afternoon and that’s strictly flats and a jazz bass with a vintage pre-amp. Then doing a double bass gig at night with (surprise surprise) a double bass. One of my acquaintances records with Sade and they got a series of super double bass players in to play on some tracks. Apparently one player had a huge amount of gear. The engineers asked him if one of the hundreds of pedals he had could help him play in tune for the whole song. Apparently this wasn’t funny.

Personally, if you want to play double bass, then buy one. If you want to play EUB, then buy one. They’re different instruments really. Dont buy one new, buy a used one (preferably from someone here) that has been set up and comes with the essentials (like a case). The Thomann ones are fine (I’m selling one cheaply) but if you can spend a bit more something like a Boosey & Hawkes Artia bass is probably a better buy. If you find something you like, share it here. There are plenty of people with lots of experience who are happy to help.

Wouldn't surprise me. The prices steadily rising is a signal these things are rising and investable commodities and that the demand is healthy. I question both assertions. But I’m old and cynical

You know it’s how the vintage game works. Stick them up for mental prices and watch the rest of them rise up a few hundred quid in response. The laws of market dynamics don’t really apply when buyers are treated this way. (We have a classic imperfect market…)

Appreciate they’re not Fenders but it seems Andy Baxter has decided that vintage Musicmans are now worth £3000 that they were a few months ago. Wish he’d have done that before I sold mine… 🙂

I recently picked up a BBN4. Quite an amazing thing really. Going to use it for some recording on Friday.

When I last went to the shop it was 30% off retail price for everything in the store. Was going to put a post here but I was there before closing in the last few days and the deal was only for in person shoppers not online I believe.

I think they deal with such incredible volumes of parcels these things happen. I had it with a super long parcel collected by Evri. (Stagg EUB). It sat for 5 days in the depot then was delivered the next day! I’m glad the buyer got the bass and I’m sure the money will be sorted out.

I met the family when I was last there and they’re a wonderful bunch. I think the closure was forced to some degree by the state of the building (but I can speak with any authority on that).

I gave it up for best part of 10 years. When the fun stops, stop.

This is a genuine closure and it's sad news! https://www.bowspeed.com/ They gave me unlimited time and space to choose a new bow. I actually chose the wrong one, but have since rectified the situation. Anyway, it's still an amazing shop and it's a big gap in the classical world.