What would you do?

[originalfunkbrother]

Not sure if this topic has been covered but I would like to know what you would do in this instance:
Say you have £5k to spare, would you buy a boutique/custom bass for that figure or buy 2/3 guitars from that money?

[BigRedX]

I'd put it towards recording a really good album in an excellent studio with a great producer.

[ojplaysbass]

i'd take time and find a bass i could really get on with - regardless of the price - isn't that the goal?

[louisthebass]

I think it really depends on what you think you need. Is there a particular type of bass that you'd like to try that you think you would use a lot?

The only thing you have to remember with a boutique is that the resale values at the moment are pretty poor - last thing you want to do is buy one and then 6 months later decide it's not for you?

[TRBboy]

Don't think I would ever buy a mega-bucks boutique bass (unless I was a multi-millionaire!). I'd probably buy a couple of decent basses, and buy a new car!

[JTUK]

Not sure it would cost £5k.. but I'd have one made and I already know what it will look like and what elecs I need...I only just have to commit to a deposit.
The balance..?? maybe a DB750 but I am well served with amps atm..so that wouldn't get many outings.. so difficult to decide on that one.
But the bass..?? that is sorted.

[Truckstop]

Answering your question directly, I'd get 2 or 3 basses. This way if you're ever stuck for cash you can sell 1 or 2 and still have a decent bass to keep.

Personally, I'd buy studio time for the band and get a great product out there. Maybe some merchandise too! I'm assuming you already have a bass or two and a rig? Why buy more?!

Truckstop

[Fat Rich]

I've spent up to £2k on a custom bass but somehow I think that's my limit.

I might possibly buy a vintage bass for £5k with half an eye on it's future value but a boutique or custom bass is probably going to lose you money if you sell it.

So probably several cheaper basses, my favourite at the moment is my Japanese 62 reissue Jazz closely followed by a custom built Status S2 Classic headed 5 stringer.

[Paul S]

I'd put it in a cash ISA and buy a Westone

[wateroftyne]

I'd spend 2K tooling around America looking for an awesome £3K (inc. tax!) vintage Fender.

[Lozz196]

If I didn`t already have THE bass, then I would look around, and find it, and me being me, check out Year of Birth Fenders. But, don`t only look at £5K basses, THE bass for you may be a £2K bass - and then you can get another decent bass as an investment - 60s & 70s Fenders I don`t see depreciating in value.

[stoker]

I would treat myself to that Rickenbacker I've always wanted.

[xilddx]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1334765826' post='1620926']
I'd put it towards recording a really good album in an excellent studio with a great producer.
[/quote]

Plus everything. Unless you're a bedroom bubinga botherer.

[Lfalex v1.1]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1334765826' post='1620926']
I'd put it towards recording a really good album in an excellent studio with a great producer.
[/quote]

And will the rest of the band match my contribution? I doubt it. In fact, I doubt they'll even say "Thanks, mate!"

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1334772097' post='1621067']
I'd put it in a cash ISA and buy a Westone
[/quote]

I bought a Westone as my first bass. That was not a mistake. I still own it.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1334772155' post='1621070']
I'd spend 2K tooling around America looking for an awesome £3K (inc. tax!) vintage Fender.
[/quote]

Now [i]that[/i] is a good idea!

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1334778760' post='1621253']
Plus everything. Unless you're a bedroom bubinga botherer.
[/quote]

I have been, was in several bands, and am glad to be off the treadmill. Plainly you lack cynicism and not energy. Good for you.
I am quite the opposite. Horses for courses.
Some people play just for the sheer enjoyment of it, with or without an audience. Please try not to make value judgements about it.

Just trying to temper the wildly differing opinions!

5k is a big wedge to drop on any one instrument. There's surely lots of trying out to be done! One question no-one's asked is what you already have (I see you have Fender/s Yamaha/s, but not which) and what you're looking for..

My 2p (to add to your 5K!);

More than one. And possibly even some second-hand content. There's amazing value-for-money to be had there, and some of the instruments are top-notch. All I can add is - Try before you buy, and buy the one you tried. In every instance!

[LukeFRC]

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1334772155' post='1621070']
I'd spend 2K tooling around America looking for an awesome £3K (inc. tax!) vintage Fender.
[/quote]

I'ld buy your jazz

[Austin7]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1334765826' post='1620926']
I'd put it towards recording a really good album in an excellent studio with a great producer.
[/quote]

Words of wisdom.

[paul_5]

5K seems a lot to spend on a single instrument, so I'd have to say one nice bass and invest some money in a really good teacher.

Effects, on the other hand....

[lxxwj]

Effects.. lots of effects.

[flyfisher]

I can't outplay the bass I've already got so I'd spend the £5k on sailing aound the Carribean for a few weeks.

[originalfunkbrother]

Interesting points. Just to clarify, I dont have 5k to spare. I have just noted some basses on here and ebay for that amount and was wondering what you would do if you had the money. I would probably buy one and use the remaining cash elsewhere.

[ThomBassmonkey]

Spend it on promotion

[Tinman]

I'd get myself a top notch Taylor 12 string acoustic and sit on the porch in a rocking chair making up tunes....heaven.

[charic]

[quote name='funkygreega' timestamp='1334765379' post='1620919']
Not sure if this topic has been covered but I would like to know what you would do in this instance:
Say you have £5k to spare, would you buy a boutique/custom bass for that figure or buy 2/3 guitars from that money?
[/quote]

5k? Currently I'd put it towards a house

Barring that, custom bass + money towards album/gigging

[Dave Vader]

[quote name='Tinman' timestamp='1334822060' post='1621681']
I'd get myself a top notch Taylor 12 string acoustic and sit on the porch in a rocking chair making up tunes....heaven.
[/quote]

And tuning it every 10 minutes...

[BigRedX]

[quote name='Lfalex v1.1' timestamp='1334779887' post='1621278']
And will the rest of the band match my contribution? I doubt it. In fact, I doubt they'll even say "Thanks, mate!"
[/quote]

I can't say that it would bother me. I paid for all the recording and production cost for my bands last single because I had the money available and it was something I wanted to do. The band are grateful and the agreement is that all money from selling the CDs and downloads goes to me until the costs have been covered - a deal that we are all happy with.

I've been in too many bands where the only legacy has been a handful of poorly recorded tracks on compact cassette and for this band I want a more permanent records of the music that I am involved with.



I ought to qualify my original post by saying that I don't actually need any more basses and if I was to buy another one it would most likely cost more than £5k, so for me the money would be better spent on other things for the band.