I left my bass on the subway

[Biodome]

It's official, I just shouldn't have nice things. I had a practice with it, went for a drink or twelve afterward, and left it on the subway three stops from my place. And now it's gone!! I can't report it stolen, because it wasn't. Or can I? Anyway, has anyone else ever done something so utterly moronic?

[splitcoilsenior]

What kinda bass was it?

[stflbn]

Did you have specific gear insurance on it rather than just home owners or renters insurance?

[danroche]

I'm really sorry to hear that, man. The worst I've ever done is leave my bass in a recording studio, which should seem innocent enough, but by the time I realized what had happened two days later it was gone. Impossible to indicate which band had accidentally picked it up or less-than-accidentally neglected to return it.

What I would do in your situation would be start calling up pawn shops or music stores in the area to let them know what to be on the lookout for. Here is where having serial numbers would really come in handy. Most thieves aren't going to want to jam with your instrument - they'll just want to convert it to cash. Most pawn shops and music stores will cooperate as they a) don't like dealing with stolen merchandise and b) are often musicians themselves who will sympathize.

[Rob Lewis]

I'd report it-you never know when the better side of humanity will show itself.

[Luckydog]

You'll probably never see it again, but you could try the Lost and Found, 212-712-4500/4501

Ya never know, a good samaritan might have turned it in.

[cbass1]

bummer....major bummer !! I bet you wish it was stolen so at least you would have someone to be ticked off at besides yourself.....I have not had an experience like that..YET, but there was guy on here from a town I used to live in London that left his bass on top of his car while packing his car, got in and drove off. the rest is obvious. what kind of bass was it?? put a ad in craigslist in the music section for your town. there are a few honest people out there.

[Spinal Tapper]

Ouch.


Yep, report it. Report it to the Subway, the Police, your Insurance (if you have it).

Best of luck with that...

[CostaBass]

Put out a police report, say you have lost a bass. So when you do find it you can claim it's yours.

Check Craigs list everyday
Check the local pawn shops, Music-go-round or other music store too.

[Lowendmad]

Oh man... I constantly double check myself before I get off the subway, and I ummm errrr like a drink or 15 too. Damn bro, that really blows. I hope it turns up!

[butterbean]

I left a coat on the subway once. No comparison, but it was freaking brand new.

[ausf]

Definitely report it. Don't claim it was stolen. Be honest and hope for the best. Run the numbers. Even if someone 'found' it, they can't legally sell it. If you have a report with the police it'll make getting it back if it turns up somewhere a lot easier.

[BigOldHarry]

Hmmmm. I've done dumb things too... but I don't have great amounts of sympathy... Leaving a BASS on subway? I can see living a cell phone... or a book... But a BASS -it's *big* - hard to miss, ya know?

Well, I'm guessing you won't repeat *this* boo boo, eh?

[Biodome]

It's a 2008 Fender American Standard Jazz in black/maple. Good ideas all, I'll report it as lost to the police, at least then I have a leg to stand on. Luckily I have the serial number, etc. so I've got that on my side. The downside to living in NYC is that there are hundreds of pawn shops, though I've started working my way down the list. I have an ad on Craigslist already, and have a report in with the MTA (subway) lost and found. I have renter's insurance, but I don't think that covers self-inflicted temporary stupidity.

Thanks for all the kind words - that's really the stuff I was looking for. A bass is a bass, I'll replace it at some point with a nice one. (For the time being I'm bassless, at least until the SX I ordered arrives in the mail). It's just feeling so wasteful that bugs me! Thanks again, y'all.

[Demonator]

Im very sorry for your lose.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

Well, I'm guessing you won't repeat *this* boo boo, eh?

which one? The leaving the bass or the "drink or 12"?

[Biodome]

Originally Posted by nostatic

which one? The leaving the bass or the "drink or 12"?

LOL Well, this is the first thing I've done that's made me stop and say, "WHOA. You drank too much there, buddy." since high school.

In my defense, I had it in a one-strap gig bag, and my other bag was also a heavy one-strap over the same shoulder, and I noticed within about two minutes of having left it. But that does not lessen the kind of enormous jackass it takes to leave one of their most valuable posessions on the subway. No sympathy needed, of course, none deserved!

[Relayer71]

It will turn up on this list eventually:

http://www.mta.info/nyct/materiel/cursales.htm

And that will teach you a valuable lesson: put the bass to bed before you go out drinking!

[Caca de Kick]

Yeah defintely still report it to the police as lost. Some sliver of chance is better than no chance.
Even though it wasn't stolen, the report still shows up the same way as missing instrument, as someone will probably try cashing in on it.

[kenfxj]

Don't forget to keep checking TalkBass for a thread titled "I Found A Bass On The Subway!".