Hey bass players, here's a tip for saving big money!

If you're a bass player who appreciates excellent, thoroughly playable instruments, and you're considering purchasing a collectible "vintage" Fender Precision Bass or Jazz Bass, you can expect to spend from $4000 to as much as $15,000, depending on condition, OHSC, etc.

And if your plan is to play out with it you'll have to deal with the ravages of time, which do not treat all bass guitars equally or necessarily well: the truss rod might be at its tightest setting; the OHSC will have broken hinges or a broken handle or worse; the neck might have a warp; the frets might need simple dressing or complete replacement; the pickup might be dead or dying; all manner of things might be at issue with your new prize.

And, if your plan is to play out with it, you'll then have to insure it, but considering its rarity, it'll be virtually irreplaceable, so insurance will be dear if you want to insure it for what you paid for it.

So, instead of going that route, consider this one: buy a Sadowsky Ultra-Vintage P or J Bass*.

What you'll get for less than $4,000 is an incredibly playable and great-sounding bass guitar that is hand-built to original Fender specs, in any "vintage" Fender color you want (including Fiesta Red, Olympic White, or Lake Placid Blue), and a bass which I would argue sounds way better than a 45-plus-year-old, fragile, belt-rashed and battle-scarred warhorse that's potentially on its last legs, in need of expensive and collectibility-killing work, and that you'd be afraid to take out of the closet let alone the house.

No, you're right, a new Sadowsky Ultra-Vintage Bass won't give you the gravitas, the collectible appeal of a "vintage" Fender, but this is entirely subjective and relative: something is only worth what you paid for it, or more, if someone else is willing to pay that amount. You were, but will someone else be?

And who knows? Roger's Ultra-Vintage basses might find their own "ultra-vintage" niche in 20 or 30 years or so, and until then you'll have a spectacularly fine and completely playable instrument that you bought at a fraction of the cost of a "vintage" Fender, and Sadowsky's insanely good build quality will help assure your Ultra-Vintage Bass will handle that two or three decades in style and emerge in fine shape.

Heck, you could buy two Ultra-Vintage Basses and still be ahead of the game.

For what this might be worth.

*I am in no way affiliated with Sadowksy Guitars. I'm simply a bass player who plays and loves their great basses.