Should I sell my extra bass?

Ben Mitchell · #1 05-01-2011, 06:43 PM

I still have my old Strobel ply. I upgraded about a year ago, and the old ply hasn't recieved much use since. I could invest the money into something else. Should I keep it as a back up? I'm in such good relations with the a local dealer that they would let me borrow a bass if mine was in repair there, for a small insurance fee kind of thing of course. I keep going back and forth, but that bass definately still has alot of life in it, and some budding bassist could benefit from it alot more than me.

Ben

PRUNEFACE · #2 05-01-2011, 06:45 PM

do you play orchestrally/classically?

Ben Mitchell · #3 05-01-2011, 06:45 PM

Sure do.

PRUNEFACE · #4 05-01-2011, 06:56 PM

my iphone isnt letting me open your page for some reason -what kind of bow do you use? could you sell the bass to finance a bow?

Ben Mitchell · #5 05-01-2011, 07:51 PM

I've already purchased an upgraded bow, one that I will have for a very long time. It was bought for me as a birthday/ christmas gift. Its a jean-paul martin pernambuco, definately a high quality stick.

chris1125 · #6 05-01-2011, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassMaster65

I've already purchased an upgraded bow, one that I will have for a very long time. It was bought for me as a birthday/ christmas gift. Its a jean-paul martin pernambuco, definately a high quality stick.

If you don't really have the need for the money I don't see a reason for selling it. I sold my backup to move forward with my bow search and I am no farther now then I was before I sold it so I would hold onto it untill you know what you want and where to get it. Unless of course you had a pretty good sale going that you think you couldn't get at a different time. There has been twice in the last few months that I think "if I wouldn't have sold that bass this would be so much more convenient..." but overall I am happy that I made the decision so that I have the cash when the right bow comes along. Then again, if I was really connected to the bass, or even somewhat connected to the bass I probobly wouldn't do it but it was just something I hardly ever played and was looking forward to freeing up the space in my music room.

**Matthew Tucker** · #7 05-01-2011, 10:17 PM

If you teach, you could lend/hire it to one of your students.

MIKMAN · #8 05-02-2011, 12:44 AM

...or you can use it for some outdoor gigs, which could possibly harm a full carved double bass. I couldn't imagine myself playing anyone of my carved basses under the merciless Greek sun!

Roger Davis · #9 05-02-2011, 01:47 AM

Yes, I'm glad I've got an old ply to use outdoors or sometimes on the River Thames. It gets very damp at about 9 o'clock when the river mists come up.

Ben Mitchell · #10 05-02-2011, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew Tucker

If you teach, you could lend/hire it to one of your students.

This was definately one of my considerations. If my students just wanted to bring a bow instead of lugging around a bass they could. It could be a large incentive to doing lessons with me.

Ben Mitchell · #11 05-03-2011, 05:00 AM

I suppose i'll be keeping it then. I'll just have to find room in my "music room" to put it.

bejoyous · #12 05-03-2011, 05:41 AM

Or it could make a storage cabinet.

Ben Mitchell · #13 05-03-2011, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bejoyous

Or it could make a storage cabinet.

Oh my. I don't think I could do that to this bass

Barron · #14 05-03-2011, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassMaster65

This was definately one of my considerations. If my students just wanted to bring a bow instead of lugging around a bass they could. It could be a large incentive to doing lessons with me.

This sounds like a great idea.

chris1125 · #15 05-03-2011, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bejoyous

Or it could make a storage cabinet.

I know a bassist who has one of these. The irst few times I was at his house I assumes it was an awkwardly made old unplayable bass. When I gained up the courag to ask him what kind of bass it was, he opened it and BOOM! It was a cabinet. It was really mind blowing lol
A little pricey for me though...

Stev187 · #16 05-03-2011, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassMaster65

I suppose i'll be keeping it then. I'll just have to find room in my "music room" to put it.

If space is an issue but you still want to keep it, here's a creative idea. How about a long-term loan to a school or college? Now, you'd need to be sure that they'd take good care of it. You might be able to have them sign some paperwork agreeing to maintain/repair the instrument as-needed and have it covered by their insurance. That way if you needed it later you could get it back.

An alternate version of this idea would be to inquire with local teachers about responsible students who do not have access to an instrument. You could become a "patron" to someone like this. Again, you'd want the student (or his/her parents) to sign some kind of agreement to maintain and/or insure the instrument.

There might be problems with this, but it could be a great way to proceed and "pay it forward."

--Steve

P.S. I did this with my bass for a period of years when I was not playing--long term loan to the jazz prof at my college. It's much better for an instrument to be played and maintained. My guy was so appreciative to have the instrument that he took great care of it. He was sad when I asked to get it back, but the arrangement worked fine.

Ed Fuqua · #17 05-03-2011, 02:15 PM

Don't. When I bought my current bass, my old Kay just sat around and sat around, so I finally sold it. Within a year, I had ample cause to regret it. From having a bass that's "yours" (not some unfamiliar loaner) when you need work done, to having a bass that can live in studio space where you're rehearsing regularly (so you don't have to schlep) it's a nice luxury.
I didn't need to sell it to finance the bass I play now and for what I got for it, I would not be able to replace it.