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a cool bass story

A

AgIdoc

Nov 17, 2008
357
1
Huntsville, TX
www.huntsvillevisioncenter.com
#1
I think its a cool story, anyway.

so I very recently bought this bass:

24577_10150123037395093_725575092_1.gif


I had a thread about it here:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=633405&highlight=arbor

I bought this bass for myself, but with the intent of lending it for a few weeks to my bro who was going on a mission trip to South Africa. He was going over there to lead a "praise team" for a group of missionaries (among other things he was doing over there, not sure what all else). He initially wanted to borrow my brand new squier deluxe active V, but I said no. Besides he hates playing a 5 and would rather play a 4. So I bought that arbor & sent it with him as my contribution to the trip (hmm wonder if I can write this off my taxes now?). I expected the bass to come back...maybe in worse condition but at least arrive back.

but no. the bass is in Botswana.

my bro came back w/o it. when I asked about it he told me he had given it away! we didnt have any communication while he was gone so he couldnt ask my permission 1st.

the story is: apparently there was this 17 year old son of permanent missionary family who was enthralled with it. hung around the "band" all the time, asked to play the bass after the gigs, etc. he couldnt just buy one b/c he couldnt afford it, especially with the shipping to this remote region...that just made anything he tried to buy sky high.

so when my bro left, he just gave my brand new (albeit cheap) arbor bass to this kid. apparently it made him really, really happy.

bro is gonna pay me for half of it. the bass was $189 so I guess I just donated $100 to the mission trip! ha!

I'm happier, actually. I can buy another bass any time. Heck it gives me an excuse to start gassing again!
 
#2
You're happy that your "friend" borrowed something of yours, then gave it away without your permission and is only giving you half of the money for it?

You got a car I can borrow?
 
#5
the 'happyness' felt i am guessing is from knowing a difference has been made, the same as when people give to good causes. its not like it was a vintage fender or a one off custom job.

while not a religious person i can understand AgIdoc's reaction, that kid is gonna hold the 'gift' of music for the rest of his life, where as we can just go buy another beater bass whenever (granted it may take a few weeks/months to budget from our 'spend' expenses).

good on you for understanding your bro's motives :)
 
#7
Im all for it
but if I was your brother I would have given you all of the money back
instead of presuming you would be cool with it

obviously you are and it did indeed go to a great and worthy cause
but its one thing for someone to do something great with ones own heart and resources
buts its another thing to use someone else's goods for your own cause

Yes I am a Christian
and yes I believe we are to help and love our neighbors
but I think it is really cool that you are understanding on how cool this was on your brothers behalf to do this
My only niggle is that your brother didnt at least offer to pay you back in full in return
or at least ask/say "this is what I did..it felt right in my heart at the time...so are you cool with going in on this or do you want to get you back down the road??"
 
#9
yellofury said:
My only niggle is that your brother didnt at least offer to pay you back in full in return
or at least ask/say "this is what I did..it felt right in my heart at the time...so are you cool with going in on this or do you want to get you back down the road??"
Click to expand...
This is my beef. I understand the cause, and can even understand the idea of giving away something you borrowed (although I would NEVER do this myself without permission). But it shows severe lack of respect to not pay the full amount back, and would warrant an ass-kicking if someone did that with even a beater bass of mine. If he had borrowed that from a guitar shop A) he would never have given it away or B) would have talked everybody else on the team to contributing the money to buy it. There's no reason he shouldn't do the same for his "bro". Sounds more like he's taking advantage of the friendship to weasel out of paying $100 more.
 
#14
Man, tough room.

The guy goes to the third world to help out, hands off something of little monetary value (and no sentimental) to some one who would never have the chance and you want to drop an anvil on his head over $90. Brilliant.

The guy didn't pass off his bass for crack.
 
#15
I very similar thing happened to me a few years back. My buddy went to the Dominican Republic on a trip(students without Borders) and gave some little dude my hacky sack that I had lent my friend before the trip. I guess they had not been aware of the game and were totally digging watching my bud play. I think its pretty cool that my sack is giving some kids so much joy somewhere.(Man,that could totally be read wrong.)
 
#18
AgIdoc said:
oh my bro OFFERED the full amount back. sorry i didnt make that clear. he was gonna replace it. i just told him just pay me half back kinda thing cuz i know his financial situation. heck he just spent $3000 on this mission trip, you know?
Click to expand...

this kinda changes the whole story
I think the ppl that dont get my original post have possibly
misunderstood me. I am not getting on the OP's case at all
I think the fact that he understood how great the gesture was and
the fact that it can lead to a life change is not calculable in X amount of dollars.
I said I was all for the idea of helping out a fellow person in need
I was just under the impression that his brother went on a mission trip and donated a bass that wasnt his and tried to
play off paying back only half.
Its not a money thing at all but a principle thing
It doesnt matter of its 20 or 2000 dollars

However the fact that his brother did in fact make the plea to pay him back FULLY changes the story altogether
and the fact that the OP was cool with the whole donation is a winning situation all around.

hmm maybe Im not making sense again LOL
 
#20
yellofury said:
this kinda changes the whole story
I think the ppl that dont get my original post have possibly
misunderstood me. I am not getting on the OP's case at all
I think the fact that he understood how great the gesture was and
the fact that it can lead to a life change is not calculable in X amount of dollars.
I said I was all for the idea of helping out a fellow person in need
I was just under the impression that his brother went on a mission trip and donated a bass that wasnt his and tried to
play off paying back only half.
Its not a money thing at all but a principle thing
It doesnt matter of its 20 or 2000 dollars

However the fact that his brother did in fact make the plea to pay him back FULLY changes the story altogether
and the fact that the OP was cool with the whole donation is a winning situation all around.

hmm maybe Im not making sense again LOL
Click to expand...

All of this^^ 100% agree.

You should have got the kid an SX, though.
 

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