A No Brainer?

[Valiant Bandit]

Hey guys,
So yes I haven't been on here in what seems like eons. I've been working 6 days in a row and my paycheck this Saturday is going to be fantastic.

Let me do a quick recap of what's been happening in my world:

So my cat is essentially the harbinger of bass death as he claimed another bass of mine; slightly bending the neck of my beloved SX Jazz bass that my wife got for me on Christmas. I screwed around with the truss rod enough to where there's a tiny bend in the neck and you can't even hear any buzzing when it's in standard tuning. However I play in drop C# and when it was tuned to C#, the bass was practically unplayable due to rediculous buzzing. I knew someone who was selling a gorgeous lefty SX fiver for $150. I didn't have the money upfront so I was torn between outright selling my bass to my local pawn shop for $150 or pawning it and paying for it when I got paid this Saturday. Well I absolutely love my 5er but I'm torn about whether or not I want to bail my SX out of the pawn shop. They gave me $150 for it plus there's $24.00 interest on it so I'd have to pay $174 to bail her out....

....Or I could just spend another $51 and get a lefty Fender. I can get a gorgeous lefty Fender at GC for $275 and finally use my $50 GC gift card. I know at the very least my SX's neck is going to need work, but I'm so sentimental about it because my wife bought it for me for christmas but I know she would understand. I've ALWAYS wanted a Fender guitar ever since I can remember...I guess I just need a little encouragement from you guys to tell me to can then sentimentality!!

 

[DownUnder_Funk]

Fender

 

[LB75Player]

I have to ask, how exactly did your cat bend the neck?

 

[LowEZ]

....Or I could just spend another $51 and get a lefty Fender. I can get a gorgeous lefty Fender at GC for $275

This. Then please donate the cat to medical science where it's neck-bending super-powers can be harnessed to help all of humanity.

 

[sloppy_phil]

I have to ask, how exactly did your cat bend the neck?

this!

i'd say go for the Fender, especially if your wife is understanding and won't hold it against you at all

 

[willsellout]

I have to ask, how exactly did your cat bend the neck?

+1, I can't think of anything a cat would do that would bend a neck.

 

[CauliColin]

+1, I can't think of anything a cat would do that would bend a neck.

I dunno, cats can do that kind of thing...
Maybe the cat slept on it or walked on it?

 

[bassbenj]

I dunno, cats can do that kind of thing...
Maybe the cat slept on it or walked on it?

Sure. You know how cats do. They'll walk up on you in bed in the middle of the night and steal your breath! Same thing with a bass!

As for bailing out the SX I'd be more worried about if it was a "good" one or not rather than being sentimental over it. If the wood is nicely matched and it's withing fixing range with a bit of shielding and pot wiring and has an old "vintage" headstock, I'd pull her back out. If you weren't so lucky then just leave it go.

 

[mouthmw]

Suuure, the cat did it

 

[lunarpollen]

It could be one of those giant 30+ lbs cats

 

[Valiant Bandit]

Sure. You know how cats do. They'll walk up on you in bed in the middle of the night and steal your breath! Same thing with a bass!

As for bailing out the SX I'd be more worried about if it was a "good" one or not rather than being sentimental over it. If the wood is nicely matched and it's withing fixing range with a bit of shielding and pot wiring and has an old "vintage" headstock, I'd pull her back out. If you weren't so lucky then just leave it go.

This is the battle I'm having right now. For SX terms, it's rare...It's a lefty Lake Placid Blue Standard Series with the real old-school "Fish-hook" headstock.

The sound from this SX will own any MIM Fender that hasn't been upgraded. She has a nice growl and can be nice,soft and mellow.

And this is my battle within:

I'm very anti-materialistic. If I had a show in front of 20,000 people, I would have no problem busting out my SX 5er and use it. Yes my wife would be understanding, but it's the meaning behind it.

SHE bought me the bass for Christmas out of love and passion. To trade it for something based upon the brand/allure of it makes me feel like crap. I think I would feel guilty doing it and I would regret it because I am EXTREMELY sentimental. Plus I really dig how "unique" the bass is since all of the ones I've seen are the "Vintage Series". The bass has good bones, and like I said she's fine in standard tuning...Really she is - there's no fret buzzing so maybe a skilled luthier could easily fix the neck. (Notice how I refer to the bass as "she" as well.)

+1, I can't think of anything a cat would do that would bend a neck.

You guys wouldn't believe it if I told you...

 

[soulman969]

I guess I'm having a hard time understanding how a cat could bend a maple neck on a bass that built to withstand the pressure of 4 strings trying bend it into a bow. It can't be adjusted or repaired? Otherwise do what you think is best. It's your wife so you have a better idea of how she'll react than we do.

 

[Valiant Bandit]

I guess I'm having a hard time understanding how a cat could bend a maple neck on a bass that built to withstand the pressure of 4 strings trying bend it into a bow. It can't be adjusted or repaired? Otherwise do what you think is best. It's your wife so you have a better idea of how she'll react than we do.

I think you missed my point. I'm not concerned with my wife's reaction, my concern is if I feel like I'm trading something given to me out of love for something that has all this allure and happy horsepoop.

I imagine the neck could be repaired since I loosened the truss rod and 90% of the bow went away.

 

[Spinal Tapper]

SHE bought me the bass for Christmas out of love and passion. To trade it for something based upon the brand/allure of it makes me feel like crap. I think I would feel guilty doing it and I would regret it because I am EXTREMELY sentimental.

You're back?? I thought we told you this already last week, don't sell the bass your wife bought you. Ever. It'll crush her. Even if she says it's cool, it's not.

If your bass plays fine in standard tune, just leave it at that. Save up a measly $150 and buy another bass you can drop tune to C.

 

[progrmr]

Do not sell the bass your wife bought you - you WILL regret it.

 

[soulman969]

I think you missed my point. I'm not concerned with my wife's reaction, my concern is if I feel like I'm trading something given to me out of love for something that has all this allure and happy horsepoop.

I imagine the neck could be repaired since I loosened the truss rod and 90% of the bow went away.

Fair enough. You just answered your own question. You don't want to part with it regardless of her reaction for your own reasons. That's obvious, so don't.

And just fix the neck on the other. I'm sure it's either and adjustment or a repair that could be made fairly easily if you've already solved 90% of the problem. Unless the neck is broken in some way almost any neck can be fixed.

 

[Valiant Bandit]

Do not sell the bass your wife bought you - you WILL regret it.

Thank you. My gut feeling is usually right lol.

You're back?? I thought we told you this already last week, don't sell the bass your wife bought you. Ever. It'll crush her. Even if she says it's cool, it's not.

If your bass plays fine in standard tune, just leave it at that. Save up a measly $150 and buy another bass you can drop tune to C.

THANK YOU FOR THE BLUNT HONESTY!! And I already have a bass that I can easily tune to drop C since I have my 5 string. Yeah I figured it'd crush her and on top of it I think it'd be a dick move on my behalf anyways. It would be like me buying her a diamond banded ring and one of the diamonds falling out and instead of just fixing it, she "upgraded" to a diamond banded ring from Zales.

 

[ghostdog93]

I have to ask, how exactly did your cat bend the neck?

This. Then please donate the cat to medical science where it's neck-bending super-powers can be harnessed to help all of humanity.

+1, I can't think of anything a cat would do that would bend a neck.

It could be one of those giant 30+ lbs cats

You guys obviously missed his other thread on the subject.

 

[Spinal Tapper]

THANK YOU FOR THE BLUNT HONESTY!! And I already have a bass that I can easily tune to drop C since I have my 5 string. Yeah I figured it'd crush her and on top of it I think it'd be a dick move on my behalf anyways. It would be like me buying her a diamond banded ring and one of the diamonds falling out and instead of just fixing it, she "upgraded" to a diamond banded ring from Zales.

Good man, I think you're making the right decision. I'm a pretty sentimental person too and I could never sell a bass my girl bought for me. Honestly, the thought wouldn't cross my mind.

FWIW, there was a dude who posted on here about a year ago, went to trade his MIM Jazz bass (that his WIFE bought him) for a 15" cab or something at a pawn shop. Went back later after realizing what a dick move he made, and the bass was gone. Sold.

Funny thing is, after a pretty good razzing from other TBer's about what a dumb move that was, I don't think he ever posted again (to my knowledge...either that...or his wife put a hit on his sorry behind ).

 

[experimental bassist]

Even if she says it's cool, it's not.

+1000

If your bass plays fine in standard tune, just leave it at that. Save up a measly $150 and buy another bass you can drop tune to C.

This.

But I wonder why your bass protests so much when you drop tune? Maybe you need to run higher action, or go with heavier strings.

Also this: Instead of another bass, first thing is get a nice hardshell case for your SX.

You'll score BIG points on the home front for wanting to protect your wife's gift to you, and just as important, to protect it from the aforementioned demon cat.