Attachment to your instrument!

[powmetalbassist]

Is it relevant? My guitarists brought this up as they debated whether or not holding onto your first piece of "good gear" was "right". Talking primarily about the guitar. One claimed no attachment, while the other (younger guy) was not sure about ever giving up his guitar.

I sat and listened. I can understand being attached to your gear. I sold my first pawnshop bass (Late 80's - Early 90's Rogue) to upgrade to better gear. Sometimes I think about it, and whish I still had it (not to play, but to have as a monument to my career)

Anyone else care to weigh in on this little argument

 

[progrmr]

I think it depends on if the instrument really works for you. I also think that attachment develops over time - IE after you write some music using a specific bass, play live with a bass, work out parts/songs on it...the longer I use one and like the tone, I become attached to it.

 

[Dave W]

Absolutely. I have my first guitar. It's not going anywhere nor would it be worth very much to bother getting rid of anyways.

I don't really play it often, but I do take it out every once in a while.

 

[gkbass13]

I definitely develope attachments to instruments, and other inanimate objects. I tend to find companies or business people that I am fond of and attach myself. An example of thsi for em personally is my affinity for older Saab hatchbacks. Love those cars and last year sought out one from the last year fo their production with low miles, just so I could continue the odd attachment!
Bass wise, although I have come close, I have yet to find one that I am sure will stick around.I'm sure that it exists somewhere, just need to keep searching(famous words of a gasoholic)....

-Grady

 

[mikezimmerman]

I personally tend not to get too attached to instruments--that would be obvious looking at my bass-buying history! That's not to say I don't wish I still had some of my old basses, but that's because they were great instruments, not really for "sentimental" reasons. The only one that really has any sentimental attachment for me is my Curbow 6, because Greg spent several years building it for me before he died...

But there is no "right" or "wrong"---it's completely a personal thing, a question of what a particular instrument means to you.

 

[cbrophy]

I have an attachment to my first bass. It is an inexpensive Washburn T-14. It was a gift from my Wife and Son for Christmas one year. While I have moved on to a much better instrument, this one will always have a place on my wall!

 

[kcole4001]

I've had my first good bass since 1986.
It has been through a lot with me, and my wife said she'd sell the rest and keep that one when my time comes (I was playing it when we met).

I have absolutely no reason to sell it, it's still a great bass which I still use, though it's not my main bass any more.

 

[JACink]

I voted for keeping it. Not because it has a specific sentimental value, all in all it´s just a guitar.

The main reason is that I would probably get 50€ for it, and would much rather have the bass than the money! But it will become a "project"!


(Now that I think of it, I don´t remember ever selling an instrument, I even still have my first Casio keyboard somewhere!!)

 

[etechstan]

A few months back, I was warming up for P&W practice and a guy asks me what my MIM strat was worth. I said "About $300" he offered me $300 and I sold it. I'll sale anything if the price is right.

 

[TheAngryPocket]

Had an Washburn XB800 when they had the Status pups, and the sycamore top on it. I replaced the pups with EMG35DC's. I only wished it was a 5'er, and sold it. I regret it to this very day, and now am building a Warmoth Gecko identical to the XB.

.......but a 5'er, of course!

 

[mongo2]

Personally, I couldn't care less.

 

[scootron]

I don't have my first bass, and don't have any feelings about it one way or the other.

HOWEVER, I do have my son's first bass. When he started playing at age 9 I had him a short scale Gretsch. He went from there to a Squier fiver, to an OLP fiver, to an Ibanez ATK 305. For Christmas, he's getting an original model Cirrus 5, the one with neck-thru design. My son has a chance to be something special (or so Vic Wooten and Future Man tell me), so I'm keeping his Gretsch for sure. He's just 14, but I think he'll keep the Cirrus 5 for a long time. I think that one day he will want the bass he started with.

I do still have my first six string, a cheapo from 1964.

 

[carlos840]

I still have my 14 first basses! Never sold one, never will!

 

[tabdog]

In 1984, I got my first solid body bass.

It easily blew away all the Fender Jazz and
P basses. It blew away everything I tried.

I still got it and it still blows away anything
I have ever played.

I love it. Call me crazy,

Tabdog

 

[AltGrendel]

No, don't have it. It was a Gibson Ripper, did not like the tone at all. Sold it and bought a Guild B-301 fretless. Now that one, I still have an will not part with; it's a smoking bass.

 

[Thrust Meatnozl]

My first 'real' bass was/is a 1980 'Ray. Of course I'm attached to it.

 

[Ken J]

No I won’t let her go. She’s like my first girl friend who is my wife and friend for 33 years.
The bass is an Ibanez EWB10 flat black open pour. I call her plain Jane in a black dress. The large body feels good to rap my arms around and you can feel the vibration down into your chess while playing her.

 

[bassinplace]

I didn't much care for my first bass but still have it. Actually been meaning to post it for sale, just haven't gotten around to it yet. Also have a Stingray that I wouldn't mind parting with for the right price or trade. But my Squier CV P bass, that's my baby. Love that thing and wouldn't part with it.

 

[IngerAlb]

I tend to attach to my basses and I don't like to play on instruments I can't connect with. However, my first one is long gone - because quite frankly it was a piece of crap; I've also traded a good share of basses, and I don't regret selling them - I hold to an instrument for as long as I feel we can't part ways, but once the vibe is gone, it's out. And I've never felt the urge to buy back any of my older basses.

 

[bassist4dalord]

I do grow attached to my instruments. I have a Squier Affinity P that I'm particularly attached to- my first was an Affinity P which I traded away shortly after getting it. My P has seen a lot of gigs in college which is why I love it. That and it feels and sounds like coming home.

I plan on getting really attached to my first real Fender, which will most likely be a Jazz.