I feel for ya right now...
Should have never sold this one.
I just put a new battery in mine (tri-burst with black pg), decided to use it for tomorrow's rehearsal.
I was actually thinking of selling it, but I'm kinda glad I didn't.
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Bass regret.
- Thread starter tb-player
- Start date
I just put a new battery in mine (tri-burst with black pg), decided to use it for tomorrow's rehearsal.
I was actually thinking of selling it, but I'm kinda glad I didn't.
my 1976 jet-glo Rickenbacker 3000 (short-scale, bolt-on neck)
( not this exact one, but it looked identical...)
Gigged it for years, and I have a pile of great sounding recordings made with it.
Around 1988 I scratch-built a headless homebrew that kicked it to the curb, but of the two I think I miss this one more.
Always had a really well-balanced "simultaneously-deep-and-twangy" tone wearing whatever random round-wound strings that were handy...
( not this exact one, but it looked identical...)
Gigged it for years, and I have a pile of great sounding recordings made with it.
Around 1988 I scratch-built a headless homebrew that kicked it to the curb, but of the two I think I miss this one more.
Always had a really well-balanced "simultaneously-deep-and-twangy" tone wearing whatever random round-wound strings that were handy...
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a defretted Yamaha TRB6PII i owned at one point, yeah:
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1976 Fender P. Heavily modded and probably not worth a lot but I have some good memories with it. Also a 1972 Fender P that I sold to a friend with the agreement that I could buy it back if he ever sold. So far he hasn't. It's been since 1995, so not looking good.
I've not, but I have been glad of one coming back a few days later. I had no other bass and no need of one at the time. The buyer panicked at the standard buzz on the first fret bottom string. It could only be heard unplugged, but that was still too much for him.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?
My beloved Mercalli 5 FM in blue...
This bass played and sounded perfect in every single way, and I regret to this day selling it.
I've played a few since, but none have hit me in the feels like this one did.
This bass played and sounded perfect in every single way, and I regret to this day selling it.
I've played a few since, but none have hit me in the feels like this one did.
(OP here) Fair enough. Let’s give it a try.
The Stingray in question would never be my #1. My favorite tone is an active jazz and I’ve found it perfectly in my Lull M-5. At the time I sold this bass, I didn’t have the Lull so I was still searching. Also, the Stingray neck is a bit thicker than I normally like so maybe that’s a reason?
Then again, I exclusively played a Stingray 5 for about 10 years before I started buying/selling. For nostalgia, it would be cool to have a nice Stingray back on the rack. This one was the lightest, prettiest and best playing SR5 of all the ones I had. It would fill that void nicely. And it’s pretty to look at.
Nope. Didn’t work. I still regret it… lol. But I’m not sad about it. Just remembering a really sweet bass that came through here. I’m sure another one will come along. If the situation is right, maybe I’ll snatch it up. For now, I’m thankful for the basses that survived (for now… I’m considering selling a couple that don’t get played much) and even more thankful that my GAS is (relatively) under control.
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Oh yes...
A 1977 Fender Precision, all black with a maple neck (I added the tort pick guard) that my parents bought brand new for me when I was in my teens.
That was the first brand new bass, and first really nice bass I had ever owned. I can still remember the exact ~new bass~ odor I smelled the first time I cracked that case open.
And then...I sold it so my first wife could buy some stupid geegaw or another, for, get this, $400. (Early 80s)
<------ Moron.
Yes, I was a messy kid.
A 1977 Fender Precision, all black with a maple neck (I added the tort pick guard) that my parents bought brand new for me when I was in my teens.
That was the first brand new bass, and first really nice bass I had ever owned. I can still remember the exact ~new bass~ odor I smelled the first time I cracked that case open.
And then...I sold it so my first wife could buy some stupid geegaw or another, for, get this, $400. (Early 80s)
<------ Moron.
Yes, I was a messy kid.
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D
The only bass I really miss is my American Vintage '63 P-bass. It got thrashed beyond repair by an airline (thanks KLM) and at that point the Vintage series had been replaced with the American Originals. I should have known better and brought a Harley Benton or something for air travel.
I got an Original 60s P-bass to replace it but is wasn't even remotely the same. Riddled with QC issues and the neck didn't feel nearly as nice (the latter is just a matter of personal taste of course).
I got an Original 60s P-bass to replace it but is wasn't even remotely the same. Riddled with QC issues and the neck didn't feel nearly as nice (the latter is just a matter of personal taste of course).
Biggest regret - Selling a Hofner V'63 to fund going back to school
I sold the German Hofner (and a Ric 330-12) to get my HR certification thinking I'd get a decent job in HR and replace the Hofner.
Nope. Kept getting stuck in sales roles. Sure, they'd let me train new hires but never made me the actual trainer. A worthless piece paper and I miss that bass a lot.
I sold the German Hofner (and a Ric 330-12) to get my HR certification thinking I'd get a decent job in HR and replace the Hofner.
Nope. Kept getting stuck in sales roles. Sure, they'd let me train new hires but never made me the actual trainer. A worthless piece paper and I miss that bass a lot.
Yea......the one that got away from me was a Fender Precision Elite. The neck on that thing is something I will always remember, shame they don't make them anymore. @Arch58 traded it to me, then I traded it back to him when I was in this musicman phase, man do I miss that thing. If I ever buy another 4 string I will be one of those.
I'm the kind of person who holds onto everything -- hey, you never know when you'll need a purple rubber band! And I've got one!! 
So, I only sell a bass when I am certain, after months of indecision, that it doesn't "work" for me.
Having said that, I once had to part with a 1968 Jazz Bass... It was a "player", not a collector's item, with a 1981 P-Bass neck, Bartolini pickups and a Badass bridge. Just gorgeous tone. But I was forced to sell it because my band (sole source of income) broke up, my car's engine died, and my girlfriend and I parted ways, all in the same month. I first needed a new engine, so there went the bass. I can't say that I *regret* it, since it had to be done... No other options. But I still miss that bass!
So, I only sell a bass when I am certain, after months of indecision, that it doesn't "work" for me.
Having said that, I once had to part with a 1968 Jazz Bass... It was a "player", not a collector's item, with a 1981 P-Bass neck, Bartolini pickups and a Badass bridge. Just gorgeous tone. But I was forced to sell it because my band (sole source of income) broke up, my car's engine died, and my girlfriend and I parted ways, all in the same month. I first needed a new engine, so there went the bass. I can't say that I *regret* it, since it had to be done... No other options. But I still miss that bass!
German Corvette $$! Same here.....alas.... Sold it after a few months due to gas and probably not havcing the right strings on her and not the best amp setup... I regret it dearly....
I've had more than 100 basses and I regret selling only 3:
1- Fender Precision American Vintage'57: I was just perfect, the best Precision I've ever had.
2- Sandberg Terra Bass: An oddity, a 4 string 34" bass which asked to be detuned, it sounded thunderous detuned to C.
3- Hamer Cruise 5 string: Paid for it 100$ and it was an incredible instrument
1- Fender Precision American Vintage'57: I was just perfect, the best Precision I've ever had.
2- Sandberg Terra Bass: An oddity, a 4 string 34" bass which asked to be detuned, it sounded thunderous detuned to C.
3- Hamer Cruise 5 string: Paid for it 100$ and it was an incredible instrument
