Rare basses, do you gig them?

[joshbrake]

If the bass was rare to the point that it would be in my best interest to keep it at home, I would. As it stands, none of the basses I own fit that description. I bought them to play, not to look at.


That said, I've got a bass that I don't gig - It belonged to a late bass teacher of mine, and it means the world to me. I don't know what I would do if it were damaged. It goes to the studio and back home, that's about it.

 

[scottbass71]

I have a different spin on it
If you can afford it buy two one to gig and one to keep ( I did with the Dargies)

I look at it this way of coarse the basses are made to play but in saying that the prices of old F@nders (especially custom colours) and even Pre-EB are going up and the better the condition the more they are worth, I recall BP mentioning he had a bet with his stockbroker about F@nder Blackface Amps and the top 100 American stocks which would go up more BP had the Amps and he won.

I do have a few I have put away not to play because my thinking is that my sr4 in teal sounds pretty much the same as my sr4 Dargie but with the dargie there was only 200 odd made compared to thousands of teal colour basses made over the years so in years to come the dargies should go up in price.

My 2 cents.

 

[Aussie Mark]

Yes

 

[hankSRay]

Honestly, if its a rare bass that wasn't much of a player, I'd probably keep it in its case in a closet. Now with that said, the EBMM stuff is just too good not to play. My Dargie is the best playing, best feeling, and lightest StingRay I've owned to date. I've played it out on 4 or 5 gigs, sometimes lugging it around in a gig bag. Just play the thing.

 

[oddjob]

I play 'em - I look at it as an investment in my personal happiness not as a retirement option.

 

[phatduckk]

my buttercream is pretty beat up. i gig my white sparkle and blue dawn as well tho theyre in way better shape.

personally i dont care about collecting so i just play em and dont worry

 

[JimB52]

My 20th Anniversary Stingray has been played in lots of locales, Indoors, outdoors, night time beach party gigs, cleans up fine.
The buttercream Sterling HS, one of (not many) , has been in biker bars and emerged intact.

If the instrument is one of only a handful, I don't think playing it will seriously diminish the value.
Jim B

 

[scottbass71]

If the instrument is one of only a handful, I don't think playing it will seriously diminish the value.

It Depends on what damage is done to the instrument.

As an example a 64 Strat which has a stuffed Volume pot and doesn't work but the whole guitar is all original is worth more than if you replaced the volume pot with the same era pot because you have tampered with the original solder joints - crazy I know but thats how it goes on the vintage market.

 

[Dr Stankface]

Exactly why I don't give a crap about vintage. EBMM makes the best instruments i've ever played and none of them are older than 1999.

Vintage shmintage.

 

[Aussie Mark]

Exactly why I don't give a crap about vintage. EBMM makes the best instruments i've ever played and none of them are older than 1999.

Vintage shmintage.

In another 17 years that '99 model will be "vintage". Are you going to off it before then so you don't get lumbered with an old piece of crap?

 

[scottbass71]

In another 17 years that '99 model will be "vintage". Are you going to off it before then so you don't get lumbered with an old piece of crap?

You beat me to the punch Mark

 

[sloshep]

If I own it I play it. That is if is in good shape. I may own a 30th before this year is over. And I will definitely play it (or the wife might make me get rid of it)

 

[Road Pop]

I actually thought about NOT gigging with the '06 LE Sterling. How stupid! Greatest sounding stock bass ever! (for me). I will have another.

All the guys and gals with new EBMM's.... Gig with 'em! The old basses that are worth all the money aren't worth owning... half the time. Play them or put them on MY shelf. I'll gig with them!

The EBMM basses are great. Toss 'em around with the members here, find what ya want. The basses are built so good the last umpteen years, it's gonna be difficult to locate a good year. New and old, they are making great fiddles!

 

[oli@bass]

Ok, ok, ok, guys. Got the message. I'm going to gig it.

Especially since I managed to ding it at home, right this morning when I put it back on the stand, still a bit sleepy, and not giving enough attention where I placed that body really...

Well, a couple of weeks ago, while checking out some details on the pickguard or something, I also firmly planted my Black Sparkle Rays beautifully matching headstock into the ceiling... at home, as well.

Seems I'm clumsy enough to destroy them at home not even playing... then I better take them on stage.

 

[Jim_F]

Lol! oli - you're starting to accumulate battle scars already!

But seriously - I agree, gig it!
Yes, you could just leave it on the stand, not touch it, not play it, just look it every once in a while, and it'll remain pristine.
But where's the fun in that?

I gig all my basses, I got them because I like the sound / tone, and the way they look and the way they play. They are a tool at the end of the day.
Yes I look after them to the best of my ability, but they get used. P.S. Get Wonderwipes from your local EB dealer, to keep the body, neck and strings clean.

It's like having a classic car - I had a classic car to drive rather than just sit in a garage to admire occasionally. The fun is putting your foot down and hearing the V8 roar - same with basses!

 

[ashiin]

Go gig it my man, or else it won't serve it justice!

 

[ekb16b]

Especially since I managed to ding it at home, right this morning when I put it back on the stand, still a bit sleepy, and not giving enough attention where I placed that body really...

i managed to ding my 30th when taking it out of the case at home, now i dont need to worry about the first mojo anymore
now i take it anywhere i need to take it

 

[oli@bass]

It's like having a classic car - I had a classic car to drive rather than just sit in a garage to admire occasionally. The fun is putting your foot down and hearing the V8 roar

You're right. Being there, doing that.
Except that I put the foot down to hear that inline 6 scream! (any car nuts on the forum?)

Guess if I have the guts for that on narrow mountain passes, I can as well take out any bass to a gig

 

[Jim_F]

Go on Oli - what have you got then?

 

[Eggman]

My Dargies, BD and SR20th all see the stage and rehearsal hall. The only one that always stays home is my 63 F**der Jazz.