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To sell the Stambaugh???

Lokire

Lokire

Aug 21, 2003
4,980
53
39
Seattle, Washington
#1
This is something that I've been going back and forth over in my head for the last couple months. Been thinking of selling my Stambaugh...you know the one:

DSCN3143.jpg



Basically, i just haven't been playing it at all lately and have been questioning my needs for a 6-string in general. All the gigs that I've taken this bass on, I've felt like it was just too much. More strings than I need, and too flashy looks-wise for me maybe. I don't really use the high C at all on my current gigs and tend to always revert to my Ken Lawrence 5-string as my go-to bass for everything.

I do like having the high-C string for practicing chordal stuff, but now that I have my Kinal 6-string acoustic bass I've been using that for all my chord-melody playing and higher tuned solo stuff.

So in short, the honeymoon is over and my tastes have changed a bit. I still want to have something for a 6-string electric bass, but I don't think that my Stambaugh is it anymore. Now I'm leaning more towards a full hollowbody singlecut, shorter scale (32") bass. With a much much simpler electronics sceme. Maybe just one mag pickup and piezos in the bridge. Passive. But that's somewhere down the road a ways still...

It's just that I'm having trouble making the decision to sell it because the bass is so...ME. I put all that work into designing the shape and the specs and details and working with Chris for nearly a year to bring it to life. I love the bass, but I don't see myself really playing it as much as it should be played now. And all that $ could be going towards other things.

I don't know...what do you think? :hmm:
 
#4
I have been where you are now with a number of my basses over the years; one's that I have had custom made for me as well as "off the shelf" models.

I can tell you this...I made a decision in 2007 that I would no longer keep any gear that was not being used. At one time I had 6 basses and now I am down to only 2. I like this much better and am really able to get "my sound" with these 2 basses and not have to fumble around with tone settings each time I pick up a bass. I know what to expect from these 2 and I really have no need for anything else.

I have a 5 string tuned E-C which I use for a Jazz/Fusion gig and a 4 string jazz that I use for my other gig which is more pop/rock oriented.

I know what it's like to sell a bass that you helped design but that bass needs to be played. It was built to make music and if you are not using it someone should.

You know it will be played and loved by whoever it goes to next!
 
#5
Tslicebass said:
sell it and get a CB parallel chamber 32 in scale 6 string
Problem solved!!!!
Click to expand...

You read my mind. Seriously, that is exactly what I'm going for. :D

But, I'm not getting any new basses for a while. I've come to realize that my Ken Lawrence is my soul-mate, and my GAS for new basses is very low. I need to focus on other things first, like building the rest of my rig, and some other little things.
 
#6
Money aside- for whatever reason, you are not playing it. I had a similar situation this year with a Dingwall Z1- I was just not playing the bass. I sold it to a person who absolutely loves it and plays it to death. Your bass may be perfect for someone else & I feel good about the decision.
 
#7
I hear ya man
Sometimes it is easy to get caught up with the bass and forgot that the amp is sometimes just as important depending on what kind of gigs you are playing.
I got deposits on two CB basses right now and have turned to trying to complete the rest of the rig now... pedals and amps dude!!!
 
#8
As for changing tastes, I can completely understand that. I would guess that it happens fairly often with younger players getting a custom bass. The natural inclination is to load it up with tons of options, only to find out later that not all of it is necessary for you.

At the end of the day, it's just another bass. If you're not playing it and you think you could use that money better, then you should sell it. But as someone who has sold gear that they later regretted, it's important that you're sure about it. After all, it's a one of a kind instrument. Should you later decide you want it back, you'll likely have to wait another year for Chris to build you one similar, likely with a top that isn't quite as beautiful.

On the upside, I doubt you'll have a problem finding a buyer, though it will mean that you need to change your user title.
 
#10
west*coast*bass said:
I have been where you are now with a number of my basses over the years; one's that I have had custom made for me as well as "off the shelf" models.

I can tell you this...I made a decision in 2007 that I would no longer keep any gear that was not being used. At one time I had 6 basses and now I am down to only 2. I like this much better and am really able to get "my sound" with these 2 basses and not have to fumble around with tone settings each time I pick up a bass. I know what to expect from these 2 and I really have no need for anything else.

I have a 5 string tuned E-C which I use for a Jazz/Fusion gig and a 4 string jazz that I use for my other gig which is more pop/rock oriented.

I know what it's like to sell a bass that you helped design but that bass needs to be played. It was built to make music and if you are not using it someone should.

You know it will be played and loved by whoever it goes to next!
Click to expand...

Thanks everyone. Good advice all around. I've been thinking of tuning my Ken Lawrence E-C, since I've got a detuner on the low string now. I've been hearing a lot of players who tune like that and it feels like it would be a good way for me to get the best of both worlds. To still have that upper chordal range of the Stambaugh, but on a bass that I'm more comfortable playing out with.

I have a pretty diverse collection and every bass fills a nice little niche. All my other basses seem to have a permanent place in my collection. The Stambaugh and my Ken Lawrence are the only two that really overlap in my mind, both being solid-body electric basses, and I pretty much always choose the KL over the Stammy. I'm pretty sure finding a buyer / good home for the Stammy wouldn't be a problem, which is why I want to make absolutely sure it's not going to be something that I will regret later on, since this is such a unique bass.
 
#11
Lokire said:
This is something that I've been going back and forth over in my head for the last couple months. Been thinking of selling my Stambaugh...you know the one:

DSCN3143.jpg



Basically, i just haven't been playing it at all lately and have been questioning my needs for a 6-string in general. All the gigs that I've taken this bass on, I've felt like it was just too much. More strings than I need, and too flashy looks-wise for me maybe. I don't really use the high C at all on my current gigs and tend to always revert to my Ken Lawrence 5-string as my go-to bass for everything.

I do like having the high-C string for practicing chordal stuff, but now that I have my Kinal 6-string acoustic bass I've been using that for all my chord-melody playing and higher tuned solo stuff.

So in short, the honeymoon is over and my tastes have changed a bit. I still want to have something for a 6-string electric bass, but I don't think that my Stambaugh is it anymore. Now I'm leaning more towards a full hollowbody singlecut, shorter scale (32") bass. With a much much simpler electronics sceme. Maybe just one mag pickup and piezos in the bridge. Passive. But that's somewhere down the road a ways still...

It's just that I'm having trouble making the decision to sell it because the bass is so...ME. I put all that work into designing the shape and the specs and details and working with Chris for nearly a year to bring it to life. I love the bass, but I don't see myself really playing it as much as it should be played now. And all that $ could be going towards other things.

I don't know...what do you think? :hmm:
Click to expand...
Test the waters for selling....you might find through the offers you receive that it has more value to you than you are aware of right now.

There's been some really good comments here from TB folks.
 
#12
If you don't need to sell it to finance the other six you want, keep it. It is a part of your history, and you may never know when you will be the equivalent of Stanley Clarke going on a Return to Forever Reunion tour. I.E. Clarke would look goofy using a Lull or something when Alembic was so central to who he has been. You may want to recapture your past some time in the future so keep that Stambaugh even if you don't really play it now.
 
#14
Dr. Cheese said:
If you don't need to sell it to finance the other six you want, keep it. It is a part of your history, and you may never know when you will be the equivalent of Stanley Clarke going on a Return to Forever Reunion tour. I.E. Clarke would look goofy using a Lull or something when Alembic was so central to who he has been. You may want to recapture your past some time in the future so keep that Stambaugh even if you don't really play it now.
Click to expand...

Pretty much.

I say if it's not burning a hole in your pocket, financially speaking, hang on to it.
 
#16
Dr. Cheese said:
If you don't need to sell it to finance the other six you want, keep it. It is a part of your history, and you may never know when you will be the equivalent of Stanley Clarke going on a Return to Forever Reunion tour. I.E. Clarke would look goofy using a Lull or something when Alembic was so central to who he has been. You may want to recapture your past some time in the future so keep that Stambaugh even if you don't really play it now.
Click to expand...

Ben Lesser said:
Pretty much.

I say if it's not burning a hole in your pocket, financially speaking, hang on to it.
Click to expand...
Yup, what these dude's said!:)
 
#17
Pretzel said:
Psh, don't sell it.
Only a fool would sell that thing...
Unless you have like 10 other beautiful basses, keep it...
But if you must get rid of it, give it to me :D :D :D
Click to expand...

"He's a fool and don't I know it
But a fool can have his charms" :smug:

I have 5 other beautiful basses :)


Dr. Cheese said:
If you don't need to sell it to finance the other six you want, keep it. It is a part of your history, and you may never know when you will be the equivalent of Stanley Clarke going on a Return to Forever Reunion tour. I.E. Clarke would look goofy using a Lull or something when Alembic was so central to who he has been. You may want to recapture your past some time in the future so keep that Stambaugh even if you don't really play it now.
Click to expand...

I definitely wouln't be financing any new basses. The 6-string CB idea is at least another year into the future. Money isn't the deciding factor, though it would be nice to put the money towards building my rig and getting a gigbag for my Kinal...etc. I don't consider the Stambaugh to be part of my history (like the Alembic is to Stanley). Maybe on TB and youtube, but in the real world my Ken Lawrence is the bass that people more often associate me with.


spade2you said:
Hold on to it! I was planning on ordering one kinda like yours, with a few minor changes for my personal tastes. I can't exactly order your signature model if you don't have it.
Click to expand...

Either way, I still love the body shape and fully endorse it. It's very comfy ;)
 
#19
Well

I had hardly played my Benavente 6 for almost a year. This bass was custom made for me, and I like it a lot. But I didn't even play with the thought of selling it. Because it's a great instrument and I knew I'd be using it more in the future.
And just these past few days I brought it with me when we went to record our gospel CD. I haven't used it with the goslep choir on the road. But when I tried it, it was amazing and I used it for five out of ten tracks.

Anyway. My point is this. If you are not in financial dire straits, don't sell it. I imagine that if you do, you'll regret it sometime in the future.
And if you're going to sell it anyway, disregarding my advice, then at least wait until I am no longer broke, so I can buy it! :)
 
#20
Greg, I'll send you a PM in a bit about this- I'd like to share a bit with you. We're in the same positions in life, roughly, so I'll discuss it with you through that medium.

And yeah, I have a freaking huge thing of strings for you still. :/
 

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