Author Topic: $45,000 bass.....i don't think so! (Read 1029 times)

terryc · « **Reply #30 on:** September 15, 2009, 02:44:32 PM »

I think Robin Trower needs pyschiatric help...
Was that the same for the guy in Mahogany Rush many years ago when he thought he was the reincarnation of Jimmy H??
I once sat on Barry Sheene's RG 500 Suzuki GP bike..didn't make me Valentino Rossi though.

john_judge · « **Reply #31 on:** September 15, 2009, 05:29:57 PM »

Thanks Wolf, I'm doing Fine! although I have been recording, I am now giving some serious thought about returning to the stage again, I really do miss it a lot.

sonicus · « **Reply #32 on:** September 15, 2009, 06:43:59 PM »

I know what you mean John. I am planing on playing out more as well . I have also been involved in a few recording projects as well lately but have also met a few great players that are performance hungry again for live work, Some of these chaps played with some established names from the past and are seasoned with age and experience and have really BIG EARS and really listen during improvisation. What a joy it is when there is musical chemistry!
There is nothing else like it .

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #33 on:** September 16, 2009, 07:14:28 AM »

Hey, Terry, it was Frank Marino with Mahogany Rush. Saw them once (free tickets). Walked out in the 2nd song. Would have done so if I'd paid, too. He said he was Jimi reincarnated (though, as he was 16 when Jimi died, I think that would technically be a possession), but he was the most boring guitarist I ever saw.

Peter

bracheen · « **Reply #34 on:** September 16, 2009, 09:38:56 AM »

he was the most boring guitarist I ever saw

Peter, I take it you never saw a Bloodrock show.

Sam

bracheen · « **Reply #35 on:** September 16, 2009, 09:43:38 AM »

Robin Trower played with Procol Harum and later on with Jack Bruce.

Sam

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #36 on:** September 16, 2009, 01:32:40 PM »

I owned DOA when I was in high school, but no, Sam, I never saw them live (& really don't remember anything about them except the title cut - which probably supports your proposition).

Peter

88persuader · « **Reply #37 on:** October 07, 2009, 09:59:33 PM »

I saw Jaco during the Weather Report Heavy Weather tour in Boston 100 years ago. Amazing, and I LOVE his work. That said I don't go for that idol worship crap when it comes to collectables. If this was Jaco's actual bass it MAY be worth $45,000 to a rich I don't know what to do with my money collector as a collectable to BRAG about but as a BASS GUITAR I don't think it's worth much more than $200! It's an old beat to hell low tech bass that I highly doubt Jaco would still be using if he were alive today.

bigredbass · « **Reply #38 on:** October 07, 2009, 10:33:43 PM »

Aside from a very few axes, for me (as well as '88 preceding me), this whole 'XYZ guitar owned/played by famous musician so & so' is WAYYYY overdone.

Considering just how many free/endorsement/NAMM show axes so-called 'famous' players get (and throw away, sell, or forget about after the photos of their 'endorsement' ads are shot), I'm always very skeptical as to just how much the particular axe with the 'famous former owner' and nosebleed price-tag in VINTAGE GUITAR ads is really worth.

Especially Fenders: They screw together (kids could build 'em in shop class!!), use the most ordinary wodds and parts out there, and are generally lowest-common-denominator instruments.
There's a lot to be said for simplicity, and they are durable as a baseball bat, but then a baseball bat is their first cousin.

Fenders remind me of Harleys: Everybody buys the same Harley, goes slightly custom buying all the same chrome dress-up parts, new pipes, saddlebags, to express their own individuality, just like everybody else did, thereby . . . looking just like every other Harley!

45 large for this will DEFINITELY get you free membership in the More Money Than $en$e Club. I could buy THREE Series basses and have money left over, OR this Fender for the same money? I guess I haven't drunk the Kool-Aid . . . . oh well, where's that phone number for the Ducati shop . . . .

88persuader · « **Reply #39 on:** October 07, 2009, 11:16:51 PM »

(This will get to basses. Not all about motorcycles) I've owned a Harley for the past two years to find out about the Harley mistique And it's a nice bike to be sure. But so are Honda, Yamaha, BMW, Kawasaki, the list goes on. I think the whole mistique thing is a wonderful marketing tool. If you have to ask you wouldn't understand? Give me a break. I bought the bike and now I understand. The mistique is nothing more than how a person FEELS when riding the bike if they bought into the Harley marketing sales pitch. Harley doesn't sell motorcycles, they sell AMERICA. (How they got it to sell is anyones guess) And I think the mistique of owning some famous players bass is also only true if you BELEAVE somehow their ability was in their instrument and hot their hands and head. Do you think Jaco was a bass god because of this beat to crap Fender bass or do you think he'd still be Jaco playing another brand? Well if you think it was and bass and not his abilities as a bass player start saving your pennies. And when I'm ready to sell my Harley to buy another Yamaha or Honda I'll sell it to you for full price or more because it's dripping in Harley Mistique. ;-)

dannobasso · « **Reply #40 on:** October 08, 2009, 03:20:06 AM »

I've heard that they drip.

88persuader · « **Reply #41 on:** October 08, 2009, 03:50:09 AM »

The bass or the bike? ;-) Actually Harley's have come a long way in the quality control department. now their just as good as Hondas! lol ....... Sounds like a joke but it's true. Before 2000 their quality was lacking but now they are made as good as anyone else.

bigbadbill · « **Reply #42 on:** October 08, 2009, 05:28:17 AM »

In response to Bigredbass, I don't think Jaco saw Fenders that way, or certainly not the old ones. He's on record as saying that his old Jazzes just had a low mid punch that he really liked. I never saw Jaco playing an Alembic, and can't imagine it would have been his instrument of choice whatever happened. Don't get me wrong, I love Alembics and don't really get on with Jazzes, but there are plenty of players out there who would prefer an old Fender regardless of whether it was Jaco's or not. If it works for them, they're not wrong either; it's just a question of individual sonic and aesthetic preference. You know what I'd pay most for? A bass that played, looked and sounded better than any other, and that could be absolutely anything.

toma_hawk01 · « **Reply #43 on:** October 08, 2009, 08:57:10 AM »

Fenders are great for burning and smashing.

With their same pickups and electronics, -- cutting a piece of wood for the body and one for the neck, you'll get the sound.

I believe they are just a cultural icon.

I had built guitars from simple kits, and laughed. Cheap Cheap Cheap Cheap everything.

I had a Pan bass from Sears back in the 70's that sounded better than the kids who parents paid for Fender Jazz and Precisions.

Adding an Alembic to the mix, is like Bruce Lee entering the building.

(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on October 08, 2009)

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #44 on:** October 08, 2009, 09:16:33 AM »

Ok, you're right. I could pay 1000,00 on a great sounding J Bass and I can understand they sound particular. It has its mistique and all that appealing mid tone, but are entry level instruments. Paying 45 grand - even on a vintage toy - is totaly absurd.

This reminds me the fact Macca choosed Hofners just because they were available in left hand models and were cheap, and now they cost like jewels. Distortions of capitalist's system: If there is someone to pay it for...