Rare basses, do you gig them?

[oli@bass]

Now that I have one of those rare SR 4 Dargie's, which plays and sounds really nice, I wonder whether it would be wise to play it on gigs...

I actually bought it to be played, but given that it is the special colour which makes it unique, and how easily it happens to collect a few scratches and dents in live situations, I start to have second thoughts... maybe I should keep it at home all time for practising only.

So, my question goes out to those of you who have limited editions, anniversary basses and other rare instruments, do you take the risk to play them on stage? And if you do so, do you have "backups" of your rarities (i.e. have two of the same, one to be kept in a safe place, one to have all the fun with)?

 

[syciprider]

I tend not to accumulate basses because I end up not playing most of them instead relying on one or two at the most as my steady players. I am also not well off enough to be able to afford back ups to my Dargie so yeah I use mine (1 of 1) for playing out. My friends love it.

 

[Dr Stankface]

I own a Dargie, a trans green, and a Buttercream and I gig all of them.

They may look different but a bass is a bass. Play the thing.

 

[bovinehost]

The crappiest of beer-stinkin' dive bars in my neighborhood, but I still bring whatever bass I want to play. It's a bass!

It's like a sexually transmitted disease - if you don't share, how will people know you have it?

 

[Psycho Ward]

“I look at this way… “* this may be totally incoherent psycho babble, but it’s how I look at*

I will gig any of my basses, just not any gig. If I were to be gigging on a video like Phatty where there is decapitated body parts and blood flying around, I probably wouldn’t bring the Dargie. Same thing for a rowdy drunken blues jam, risky weather outdoor gig, multi act hurry up and hurry down goat ****ing or any high risk of theft or damage environment.

But on most gigs I’d bring anything I own to play. I figure most of the prize possessions I own won’t increase in value enough in my lifetime to really expect a big windfall late in life, so I’m going to enjoy them now. Leave the grandkids some valuable relics.

 

[ProgHead]

Main main Bass is a 1978 Stingray, and yes I gig it! I play it! It was made for that!

Andy

 

[bassmancb]

I gig different Basses for different venues depending on how long we play , outside or inside ect.

 

[kenito]

you bet your sweet ass !!!

I gig all those mofos

 

[Big Poppa]

we make em so you can play em

 

[syciprider]

And we honor your efforts by rocking them basses hard BP!

 

[mobis.fr]

i would do it... but i have no band and no time to play in one :'(

 

[adouglas]

I'm not a collector. I'm a musician.

When I buy a bass, it's to play it, not worship it. The admiration of rare objects is what museums are for.

I do have a rare bass...an 07 LE in an unusual configuration: lined fretless Bongo 5 Hp. I don't know how many of my particular variation were made, but I think it's a pretty safe bet that the number is very small. What does its rarity mean to me? Well, nothing beyond the fact that few other people ordered one like it.

While I personally don't subscribe to the concept of buying a musical instrument just to look at, I can understand the appeal. But being honest with yourself comes into play here...if you're buying a "rare" bass to admire or as an investment, then do that, and don't pretend you're buying it to use.

If exposing your rare instrument to the risks inherent in gigging gives you heart palpitations, then IMHO it's better to just decide that it's a piece of art instead of a working instrument and park it. You'll sleep better.

 

[AnthonyD]

Buy to play...



Play to buy...

 

[Kristopher]

It's nice to see so many people playing them instead of holding on to them as investments.... I just sold a 30 year old Precision because 1) it didn't play or sound any better than a new one, and 2) I didn't want to deal with the responsibility of messing up the value of a "vintage". (Heck, now I don't even own any non EBMM basses!) Of course I wouldn't worry about the value of it if I really loved it, but I didn't, so that's a good reason to sell right there anyway. That whole situation for me really drove home the idea of buying just to play, and that's all I ever do now.

 

[Musicman Nut]

Now that I have one of those rare SR 4 Dargie's, which plays and sounds really nice, I wonder whether it would be wise to play it on gigs...

I actually bought it to be played, but given that it is the special colour which makes it unique, and how easily it happens to collect a few scratches and dents in live situations, I start to have second thoughts... maybe I should keep it at home all time for practising only.

So, my question goes out to those of you who have limited editions, anniversary basses and other rare instruments, do you take the risk to play them on stage? And if you do so, do you have "backups" of your rarities (i.e. have two of the same, one to be kept in a safe place, one to have all the fun with)?

They are made to be played, so play them.

 

[Musicman Nut]

It's nice to see so many people playing them instead of holding on to them as investments.... I just sold a 30 year old Precision because 1) it didn't play or sound any better than a new one, and 2) I didn't want to deal with the responsibility of messing up the value of a "vintage". (Heck, now I don't even own any non EBMM basses!) Of course I wouldn't worry about the value of it if I really loved it, but I didn't, so that's a good reason to sell right there anyway. That whole situation for me really drove home the idea of buying just to play, and that's all I ever do now.

Good move, those 70's fender never sounded good when they we're new. The real ones to get are late 50's to mid 60's. And Every Ernie Ball Bass ever made, those all sounded killer.

 

[PzoLover]

Whatwould momma say

Play your best and always be careful and don't let nasty things happen for prevventable reasons .... = stay aware of the fact that you are a human being in a wordl of human beings and precious instrumets don't deserve being the victims of idiocy

If the girl wants to sing , let her sing
/PLand if she looks good in a tee shirt, let her sing!

 

[Caca de Kick]

Basses are merely tools of the trade...I just like having beautiful tools! I can gig without being a jackazz, and they do get gigged.

 

[bass addict]

most of my basses are limited editions, whether EBMMs or not. That being said, I didnt buy them for the rarity, I bought them because I loved how they played, they just sort of happened to limited editions or custom builds.

I buy them because I enjoy playing them, but I do have a special place in my artistic heart for the design of a cool bass instrument. There is an aesthetic quality that I cannont overlook, but I play every bass i own (I have 11 or so now)

 

[martin shane]

I would definitely gig that bass !