The " I sold my dream gear to pay real world bills club"

[michaelc]

Post your best (or worst) horror stories about gear that you had to sell to pay the bills. Let us feel your pain as a collective. Be sure to post pics and the details about how your dream gear got turned into funds to pay mundane bills. Anguish over details about how you’ll never have the money or the opportunity to own said items again. Don’t forget to mention the sub standard gear that replaced your beloved prized possessions ( if they got replaced at all).

Oh, and feel free to share any up side to the tale of woe you have, because anyone who joins the club could sure use it.

[Dr. Cheese]

About eight years ago, I had to let go of a Modulus Quantum five, and picked up a Yamaha BB404. I was bummed as all get out when I heard the guy at the store play that beautiful low B through a big rig, knowing that I was picking up a budget four string.

The funny thing was that I ended up really liking my Yamaha, and after a while, I got a nice Tribute L-2500 that worked just fine. Since that Modulus, I have never owned a $2,500+ bass, although a few were in the $1,500 range. I currently own a Fender 2008 American Standard Jazz V I love, and I have two other budget fives. I still love gear, but having to let go of killer gear made me appreciate the music itself, more.


I get joy from playing whether it is a $200 or $2,000 bass.

[michaelc]

I've owned

a spector euro 4 --sold because I got layed off, got a new job 3 weeks after I sold it.

a 73 four bolt neck fender jazz---sold to replace dead hot water heater.

and my latest casuality--my ampeg v-4bh head---my first and ony tube head---I---sold to pay off credit card debt from car repairs----currently am rocking the only amp I have---a crate 12 watt guitar amp

[Tommy Tourbus]

don't do it, bills are a dime a dozen. there's no shortage and will always be around. dream gear comes around a lot less often..

[michaelc]

On the up side I still have my 2006 american fender jazz with the s-1 switch which plays like butta' and does a pretty good P-Bass imatation.

[Ric5]

I have sold off a bunch of really nice Rickenbackers to pay some bills ... But I still have nice 5 string basses so I can't complain.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by Tommy Tourbus

don't do it, bills are a dime a dozen. there's no shortage and will always be around. dream gear comes around a lot less often..

I agree, but I would rather sell gear if it can help me avoid or reduce debt. The world is full of great basses, amps, and cabs. In time, even great gear can be replaced.

[GearHeadBassMan]

this could turn into a tear-jerkin thread for sure

[Surprise Panda!]

+1

I'll go grab the puffs

[NickInMesa]

I sold a Hohner B2A, a Steinberger stick bass copy.

Believe it or not, this was one of the best basses I ever owned and I did not even know it.

I had to sell it to pay bills. G/F from back then forced me. Then she left me. I should have not sold the bass. Plenty of good girls, not too many basses.

[EBBassMan]

Divorce cost me my Bongo 5, my Mesa Bass 400+, and my Corvette.

[Hawaii Islander]

THE LIST:

2008 Fender P-bass V (Olympic white)
2006 Fender Mike Dirnt P-bass
2003 Fender Deluxe Jazz bass
Fender Bassman 400 Head
Fender Bassman 4x10 ProSL cab
Ashdown 2x10 cab
VOX AD120VTX combo amp w/foot pedal
Fender Blues DeVille combo amp
Fender Champion 600 combo amp
2004 Gibson Les Paul (to replace my car that my nephew totalled)
2005 Fender American Strat
KRK Rokit 8 monitors
All my effects pedals (except for my Dunlop wah pedal)


I am left with a Fender Frontman 25R amp and a borrowed, used Squier Strat.

NO BASSES LEFT!

[smem]

I sold my 76 tbird and my 74 svt with matching cab. The amp even had the original blue leather cover and signed factory schematics. Had to pay off some debt so I could move closer to my daughter. Definitely bittersweet, but I still feel that I did it for the right reasons. My daughter lives with me now.

[mkrtu9]

Warwick thumb 4 string BO
Marshall tsl2000 triple super lead
1997 Gibson Les Paul classic/ black

Was mostly to bail myself out of debt while building a house.

Now I'm going to go off myself. Thanks for the depression.

[Hawaii Islander]

Originally Posted by mkrtu9

Warwick thumb 4 string BO
Marshall tsl2000 triple super lead
1997 Gibson Les Paul classic/ black

Was mostly to bail myself out of debt while building a house.

Now I'm going to go off myself. Thanks for the depression.

At least you're not alone and you got a house out of the deal.

All I got for my trouble was a front row seat to the economic collapse of the century, which happened to coincide with trip halfway across the globe looking for work. Found no work and ended up back in Hawaii with no job, no car and no gear.

[Liberty]

When I got divorced long ago I had to sell off a couple of things.

Larrivee fretless six-string in midnight blue. Was made just for me in the 80s and was the nicest playing axe I have ever touched. Beautiful finish.

A matching 5-string fretted Larrivee bass went also.

Kept my black 4 and my fretless acoustic fiver which was also a custom job.

Every week I search for these axes on E-bay, Larrivee forums, and other venues. If they ever show up they will be mine again.

At least they got me a place to live (paid rent).

[ModuMan]

Originally Posted by NickInMesa

I sold a Hohner B2A, a Steinberger stick bass copy.

Believe it or not, this was one of the best basses I ever owned and I did not even know it.

Really? I had one too, it was the first bass I bought. I ended up giving it away.

My only regret was selling my Ric 4003 in college for rent money. That sucked. A month later I had to come up with more rent.

[NickInMesa]

Originally Posted by ModuMan

Really? I had one too, it was the first bass I bought. I ended up giving it away.

My only regret was selling my Ric 4003 in college for rent money. That sucked. A month later I had to come up with more rent.

I loved the stick because I could take public transports to the rehearsal studio and not bother anyone (full size basses in cases are always a pain, physically speaking, especially during rush hour -I had to leave a crowded bus once and wait for a less crowded one because I was actually hurting people).

It was also a great discussion starter.

I thought it sounded pretty good, actually.

My band mates thought I looked stupid with it, but I did not care, it was a great little bass for the price I paid.

I have had much better basses since, but I'd love to get one back to close the case.

[hippiesandwich]

Benavente 7 string single cut:
The steering went out on my car AND the roof of my house started leaking, same week.

Alembic JPJ Triple Omega, Celinder PJ5, Rob Allen fretless 6:
engagement ring

Chestnut Fodera Emperor Deluxe 5 (with Lane Poors) and a Ritter Okon 5:
Wedding expenses.

I get married in 3 weeks. Today the future Mrs. Sandwich was told that her position was being eliminated and Monday I go in to have an MRI in preparation for probable knee surgery.

Hey, it could be worse... I couldn't have the basses to sell when I need it.

[Kyle Olin]

I'm thinkin of claiming bankruptcy... Aint sellin any of my instruments...