2015 - Memphis ES-Les Paul Bass

[patman]

Who could afford to gig something that cost that much money...nobody who actually plays

[Basvarken]

I kinda like it, but I think I would like a version without "F" holes..........

With the reissue of the Les Paul Recording guitar I figured a shortscale Les Paul Bass wouldn't be too far fetched.

[Dave W]

Who could afford to gig something that cost that much money...nobody who actually plays

Very few whose primary income comes from playing could afford to. I'm sure there are a few who don't rely on gig income to live who would buy it.

Considering the huge price increases in the guitar line this year, I think collectors must be Gibson's target market now.

[patman]

I gig pretty steadily, but make about the same money I made 30 years ago...I'm a CPA, gigging is certainly not my primary income. I treat gigging as a business, though, with any gear that I buy being financed by the proceeds of gigging.  "Personal" money does not enter into it.

The $3200 that bass costs is more like 2/3 of a year's musical hard work for me. I could never justify it.

[4stringer77]

Yes, it's expensive but it's not as bad as the current $6,600 Les Paul Supreme guitar. Maybe Gibson is figuring if they can get guitards to spend up to and over 6k for a LP guitar, it's not unreasonable for bassists to get used to the idea of spending over 3k for a bass. If I had the bread, I'd pick up one of these new Memphis LP basses over any highfalutin kind of Fodera, Alembic or Ken Smith.

[Grog]

Looking at what a LP-12 cost, with 1969 money, this is cheap!

[Granny Gremlin]

I still think they should consider a reissue of the Triumph with a lighter chambered body  (that's the only improvement I'd suggest).  They did the guitar already, how hard could the bass be?

Yeah, and they couldn't have F@*%ed up that "true to Les' specifications" "reissue" more if they tried.

An actual proper reissue would be priced well beyond the reach of most players, the geetar one was like, what,  6K? ... and that was with them skimping on the pups (but paradoxically, going whole hog on the transformer, a glorified built in DI).  The original had no expense spared for the pups and the transformer was a $5 cheapie afterthought (vs a $70 Jensen).  Get the balance right.

[drbassman]

Who could afford to gig something that cost that much money...nobody who actually plays

It's a big country, lots of pro bassists could afford it as well as Gibson fanatics.  I do agree it's overpriced but few dealers will sell it at that price IMO.

[drbassman]

Very few whose primary income comes from playing could afford to. I'm sure there are a few who don't rely on gig income to live who would buy it.

Considering the huge price increases in the guitar line this year, I think collectors must be Gibson's target market now.

I agree.  If they only make 400 like other recent basses, they are catering to collectors. 

[ilan]

Love the styling.

[patman]

Seems like I remember a Triumph going for $800-900 bucks in the day.

[dadagoboi]

Seems like I remember a Triumph going for $800-900 bucks in the day.

And a cheeseburger for 69 cents.

[Granny Gremlin]

I got my white one (faded to pee pee yellow) used 7ish years ago for $800.  Worked perfectly; some finish mojo (more now).  That was a steal at the time (thanks George for letting me have that one; she has been well-loved.... though she was on my turf ;P).

A week after that a mint white one went for 4K on ebay.  I felt awesome about the whole thing, but to be fair a few white ones have come up since and I don't think any went for much, if at all, over 2K, which seems about right considering the price the natural ones go for.

[Pilgrim]

Yes, it's expensive but it's not as bad as the current $6,600 Les Paul Supreme guitar. Maybe Gibson is figuring if they can get guitards to spend up to and over 6k for a LP guitar, it's not unreasonable for bassists to get used to the idea of spending over 3k for a bass.

I think it's pretty relative.  If I were a touring bassist who played 3-5 nights a week, then a $3K bass would make some sense. But there's a reason that Fender sells so many MIM and Squier basses...those are affordable and accessible to the vast majority of bass players, who are involved in music as an avocation or hobby. For those folks, unless they're a successful lawyer or doctor by day so they have a (presumably) six-figure income, I can't see spending the money. I can't see any justification for spending that much when there are so many good instruments for a third of the price.

For me, spending more than $1000 on the Gretsch Thunderjet was probably a once-in-a-lifetime bass purchase, and I'm not a minimum wage worker by a long shot. 

[Highlander]

I paid UK list for my RD in '79. I dread to think what that would be today. Took a loan out to buy her and paid it off over the next 9 months. Most I've ever paid for anything outside of family costs...