Bass regret.

[trothwell]

There are some basses that I've sold that I wish I still had, and some of those I might even buy again (or at least buy something similar again).

But I've tended toward trading up, in the sense of I liked what I bought more than what I sold. So while I've sold some good instruments, I continue to have good (even better?) instruments, and I'm happy with that.

As a new bass player years ago, I went through basses more often, but have been pretty static for a long time. I just happened this past summer to come into opportunity to get a couple of instruments that I greatly desired, and did several rounds of selling to make it happen. I have no plan to sell anything I currently have... though I would have said the same thing a year ago.

 

[Geri O]

Yes, a 1979 Alembic Series Two bass (with the pointed end). I bought from a non-player that bought it new to stock in his music store that never opened. It literally sat in its case all these years until I bought it in 2017. It was absolutely perfect, except for a little fret sprout after it sat in my home for a few months.

Later, I sold it because "it was only a 4-string". Regardless of the string count, I was an absolute idiot for selling that bass. And I regret it to this day.

The end.

 

[chris_b]

I don't regret selling my mk2 Wal, mk3 Wal or my US Lakland but I'm kicking myself for selling a Mike Lull M5V. Beautiful sounding bass, but a week later I bought my Sadowsky and I was running a 1-in-1-out policy back then. . . . much to my regret now!!

 

[HubbardsFate]

TB-Player, did you ever unload that spectacular blue Sugi you had on the classifieds several months ago? Because if you did, I have a feeling you may starting a similar thread about THAT bass at some point...

 

[Relsom]

My biggest regret is not buying an AVRI 58 P on the wall at GC for $999. I was wigged out by the nitro looking thin. What a rookie mistake.

I bought a dead mint example of one of those for $750. A couple of months later I traded it even steven for my first Kubicki Ex Factor, my #1, so I'm Goooood!
... Sorry, I had to gloat.

 

[EatS1stBassist]

I don’t regret selling any bass I sold. Life is too short to bum out over unimportant stuff when I have plenty of important things to bum out over.

My only regret is I can’t get rid of them fast enough!

 

[Low Key]

Fender Precision Elite II. Not because I liked the bass, but because I sold it for $300 in the early nineties and it's now fetching over $2K in the used market.

 

[Michedelic]

Ibanez Musician that I had converted to fretless. It was the version with the psuedo-P and J pickup, that, while in passive mode, had a mid-range honk to them(and barely tamed by the active EQ). I would suspect that the soapbar version(like Sting had in the early 80’s)sounded better. But this one played great. Temporary insolvency made it go away.

 

[RGerhart]

I've been on the lookout for one of those 30th anniversary 'Rays. Man, I remember playing one at GC years ago and not appreciating it for what it was. Plus, I was broke then.

Reverb has had one listed for over a month now, but the seller is asking for an exorbitant (in my book) amount of money, and it's the roasted maple fretboard. I'm fine with maple, but not with the price, at $3000!

 

[HardNHeavy]

I was looking for a message in my Reverb DMs this morning and came across a picture of a bass I should have never sold.

It’s a Musicman 30th Anniversary Stingray 5. I had owned a couple of these and sold them (for a tiny profit) bc they were usually a little heavy. But then I stumbled across this one with a rosewood fingerboard (all the others had flame maple boards) and it was a featherweight 8lb 8oz. It was a perfect bass for me.It played, sounded and felt amazing.

View attachment 4839386

Sadly, this was at the height of my GAS and my mindless buying/selling of instruments. I was always looking for the next bass, not appreciating what I had. And in most cases, that was fine. But in my selling fury, I let this one go and have regretted it ever since. I even reached out to the guy who bought it to see if he’d ever sell it back. He kindly said, “No.” But the subtext (at least in my mind) was “Only an idiot would sell a bass this nice!”

Anyone else have regrets on a bass you never should have let go?

No regrets yet, but i'm sure i will regret it, no matter which one of my FSO's gets sold.

 

[Nakoatron]

I’ve regretted selling 2 basses.

My first Warwick pnut signature and my ken smith bsr white tiger elite.

 

[ColdEye]

Nothing too expensive or even rare/fancy. A JMJ mustang bass. Had 3 of them over the course of the years, last one I let go due to life circumstances was probably one of the best bass I have played.

 

[Evildrwallace]

My black '73 Ric 4000. Probably the best bass I will ever own - and had memories af the best gigs I will ever play. Sold it when I thought I was giving up playing forever. That was 30 years ago and I'm still at it.

 

[projectapollo]

I have purchased my used Fender Custom Shop Precision three times now. Bought it, sold it, repurchased, sold it, traded back for it. Now I've had it two years and it's not going anywhere.

 

[ebo]

I regret not buying a four bedroom house so I’d have enough room to never have to sell a bass. One in, one out, no looking back.

 

[Killing Floor]

I sold my 86 ExFactor that I made a living with. In return I paid for an entire semester of engineering classes and books. I still regret it.

 

[landrybass]

Anyone else have regrets on a bass you never should have let go?

I think most people have a bass like that, mine was a 1999 Modulus flea with an OG Lane Poor in Inca Silver with matching headstock and white pearl guard. I think I got about 1500-1600 out of it, I could probably get over 3k for it now.

 

[tb-player]

TB-Player, did you ever unload that spectacular blue Sugi you had on the classifieds several months ago? Because if you did, I have a feeling you may starting a similar thread about THAT bass at some point...

I did eventually sell that one. It was a great bass, just not exactly what I was looking for. If I have a regret, it's the amount of money I lost on the resale of that bass. International shipping and customs fees really came back to bite me on that one.

 

[HubbardsFate]

I did eventually sell that one. It was a great bass, just not exactly what I was looking for. If I have a regret, it's the amount of money I lost on the resale of that bass. International shipping and customs fees really came back to bite me on that one.

D'OH!!

 

[Phlipper]

My biggest regret is not buying more basses 10 years ago. Not because I would want to flip them but because prices are just outrageous these days!

I wish I still had all my SRs and BTBs. I could get rich.