Afraid to play my bass?

[DougD]

I know this is incredibility silly so maybe you guys can give me some insight to help me get over this.

About 3 years ago for an early graduation present from High School my parents got me a Warwick Standard Corvette at the end of my Jr year. Now my family is not well off by any means, blue collar jobs through and through so I know buying the bass was a HUGE financial burden for them. At first I was to guilty to play the bass because I know they spent a lot on it and I wondered if I really deserved it.

I didn't take it with me to college my first year because I was worried about it getting scratched/tipped over/etc in the dorms by dumb (possibly intoxicated) college kids. Then the next few years I was worried about it getting stolen because I was living in the student slum part of town.

For some reason last time I was at my parent's house a few months ago I took it home with me and its still the the case hardly ever played. I keep my Rockbass out that I've had for about seven years and play that.

I have a few things that are preventing me from enjoying my incredible bass.

1) Guilt thinking about my parents
2) Guilt in that I know a lot of better players really want this type of bass but can't afford it and I had one handed to me
3) I'm worried about scratching and dinging it up.
4) Somehow ruining the bass...messing up the fretboard by playing it...this thing is a work of art!
5) Its sat in my closet unused for 3 years I'm also worried the neck might have warped etc. Even though my brain tells me thats highly unlikely

This bass has caused lots of mental anguish on things I know are illogical. So any insight on my Warwick would be appreciated.

And please noone say "Hey, if you don't want it send it to me!" everyone's already expecting that joke



P.S. Selling it is out of the question - it was a gift.

I know you don't want to,, but sell it and buy something REALY REALY nice for your folks.

 

[fender_funk_man]

They bought it for you to play. Its a crime to leave that beautiful instrument lying in its case. You sound like you take good care of your instruments. Store it in its case when your not playing it. Don't leave it out in plane sight when your not. You will avoid 95% of the stupid crap that happens to instruments over the years. Play the damn thing!

 

[JonathanD]

Every moment you enjoy playing it makes every moment they worked hard worth more. Every moment you leave it sitting there it is a slap in the face to the people that got it for you so you would play it.

"I know it's pretty, but I didn't bring it out for air."

 

[toomanybasses]

Dude, if you played piano, they could have dropped a lot more than a std corvette cost.

They bought for you to enjoy, enjoy it!!!!

 

[lamarjones]

You either need to play it or tell your parents that you want to give them the funds from the sale.

All these thoughts about dinging it up aren't going to make a difference. The truth is it's already considered used, you aren't gonna be able to get 'like new' money for it period. Everyone thinks that can happen, it doesn't and certainly not in these times.

Play the thing, that is why your parents got it from you. the ONLY other side to the coin is if your parents aren't making ends meet right now. It's a nice bass, but there are certainly a ton of people with more expensive basses with probably less skill. That kind of stuff never matters.

 

[Yerf Dog]

A ship in harbor is safe -- but that is not what ships are built for.
John A. Shedd

 

[topcat2069]

Play it.... get in a Band and invite your parents to a gig..... and show them how proud you are of their gift....

 

[AltGrendel]

while i understand where you are in your head and your reasoning.....I have to say

if i were your dad and i did without, pinched pennies and worked my butt off at a crappy job i hated...just so you could have an awesome bass and you didn't play it....i would put my boot in your butt...seriously

they care enough about you to buy what you perceive to be a great bass.....rock it and show them you care in return....

+1

 

[jnammy]

Imagine if Victor Wooten or Jaco were afraid to play their nice basses? Plus, wear adds character to the bass and since it seems like you don't ever plan on selling it, make it yours by adding some "character" to it. If I knew for certain that I would keep any one of my basses forever, I really wouldn't mind if I got a scratch or two on it. I might even be tempted to prematurely relic it!

 

[Spinal Tapper]

U should play the crap out of that bass. Are you in a band? If not, join a band - that will help get it some wear!

 

[J. Crawford]

Your parents would much rather you play and enjoy it then have it sit around.

2 options:
1. Keep it and play it.
2. Keep it and sulk.

Answer is obvious to me.

 

[SuperFineLin9]

I kinda had that same issue. I was given this beautiful G&l Bass. I would play it around at home, but I was always worried about taking it to gigs. Me and my instructor were talking about it and what he said stuck to me. You gotta play the bass that you love to play. for gigs and practice. Eventually you will find a better bass that you enjoy playing even more, life is to short to settle for one bass. So I guess, play that warwick man. eventualy youll find another bass that you will like latter on (its bound to happen) and then just keep that bass on display or whatever you would like to do with it

 

[ReMmy]

give it back to your parents and tell them you can't handle the responsibility.

 

[Michael Case]

Just play it and treat it respectfully. Trust in yourself that you know how to handle it. As far as dings, who cares? All instruments get dinged. As far as it being stolen, well that can happen anywhere. Anything can happen that would cause you to lose the bass (fire, natural disaster, theft) it would be better if yu enjoyed and got the most out of it while you can.

 

[Kuoxasar]

There's a big, BIG difference between wear and tear and mistreatment. Your parents will absolutely understand if your bass gets relic'd over a period of time. My bass has plenty of nicks and scratches and I absolutely baby it. That's just the nature of instruments.

Besides, it's not damage. Think of it as... mojo =)

 

[Happynoj]

I have a few things that are preventing me from enjoying my incredible bass.

Allow me to address these points for you.

1) Guilt thinking about my parents

Feeling guilty because your parents bought you a present won't solve anything. They've already bought it now, and feeling bad about it isn't going to make the bass disappear. Just be grateful that they love you that much - there are plenty of kids out there who haven't been as lucky as you.

2) Guilt in that I know a lot of better players really want this type of bass but can't afford it and I had one handed to me

See above. I know plenty of musicians who are much worse than me who just got handed top end gear, but at the same time there are also musicians better than me who got handed top end gear. I saved up for a long time to get my Warwick, and I love it to bits. I guess my point is that if you really wanted the bass you could have worked to get it, but if my parents had handed me a Warwick while I was saving for it I would have been completely gobsmacked, thanked them and then gone out and rocked it. Take the good luck when you can get it, because its not gonna happen every time.

EDIT: Also, having a nice bass inspires you and you can become a better player because you have a nice instrument - you want to play it more, and you sound better when you do, which gives you more confidence.

3) I'm worried about scratching and dinging it up.

My advice to you on this point is to take your bass outside and scrape the back of it along the edge of the pavement. Once you've got one scratch/ding the rest won't bother you. At some point you have to face up to the fact that all instruments get finish marks during their life, but they're not made to be an ornament - they are a tool. No one cries when they mark the finish on their shiny new wrench.

4) Somehow ruining the bass...messing up the fretboard by playing it...this thing is a work of art!

Strangely, they are designed to be played. If you could damage your bass just by playing it then they designed it wrong.

5) Its sat in my closet unused for 3 years I'm also worried the neck might have warped etc. Even though my brain tells me thats highly unlikely

You've had the bass for about 3 years. That puts it squarely in the baseball bat neck years. Those things don't warp easily. Here is a picture of Warwick company founder Hans P Wilfer standing on the neck of a Warwick to show the strength of the neck. Personally, I wouldn't try that with a Fender.

 

[Redridge]

^^^^ hoooooly!!!!

 

[pasta4lnch]

^^^^ hoooooly!!!!

+1!

to the OP I got two things to say:

My dad did things like this for me and my bro. Parents take joy in doing things for their kids - by not using it you're ruining their intentions! We'll do the same for our kids one day...

and I have a bass that is discontinued, it is one of my most prize material possessions and I never gigged w/ it. (I have this mentality w/ a LOT of things, I never wear my nicer clothes in fear of ruining them and then I grow out of them having never enjoyed them)

long story short, I gig w/ this bass all the time now. it's a great bass - I love it! like an earlier post - it's just wood and metal!

(btw, what you called mental anguish, or undeserved feelings means you ARE worthy of a nice gift! enjoy!)

 

[shadowtippy]

If they had bought you a new car, would you have left it in their garage for all these years to keep it from getting dings and scratches? Thank them gor the gift and play the **** out of it.

 

[Mikio]

you should feel bad about NOT playing it. Period.