Buying back an old bass

[Andy Marshman]

I've been on the other side of a buy-back. I traded a Ric 4003 for a Gibson T-Bird. There was a neck problem with the Ric that I was not aware of, and the buyer knew I wasn't out to rip him off. The problem was unknown to me. Anyways, the buyer who always wanted a Ric wasn't happy and he sold it. He contacted me and I told him I was really more into short scale and I'd be happy to let him purchase the T-Bird. We agreed on a fair price and he's got his #1 back again.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I would buy back my early 90s EBMM Stingray, but that's the only one.

View attachment 5351299I bought this baby in 1991 when I was 26 years old. By far my favorite bass that I had ever owned. We put in a lot of miles together. About 6 years later I was starting my family and money got tight. I sold all my gear to help out our situation and quit playing for a lot of years.
Fast forward to 2010 and my financial situation was much improved and I really missed playing. I contacted my friend who I had sold this baby to and asked if he knew where it was. He still had it in his closet and had never taken it out!
I bought it back and it was such a great feeling holding it again. I hope when I’m gone the next care taker will enjoy it as much as I have. I feel super lucky to have been given a 2nd chance.

I have to admit had 85 Teal Sabre back in late 80's and sold it to fund another bass. Really like it but good friend that was in our band kept wanting to buy. He still has it to this day,and won't sell it back to me. Got to surfing Reverb and saw one just like it,so nostaglia took over even though not the same bass it is 87 Sabre,and always like the Sabre basses.View attachment 5351463 View attachment 5351464

I had a 2006 Bongo 5 HS Limited Edition that was my #1 for years back in the early 2000s. I stupidly sold it and have been through 2 other Bongo 5s, another HS and now an HH and I just haven't been able to fall in love with either of them like I did with that LE. I'm not sure if it was the time in my life, the pairing with the amp I was using at the time, or if it was just "the one" but I haven't been able to recreate it with the others I've owned. If I could find it again, I would likely buy it back.

When it comes to regrets, letting this bass go is regret number one! I bought it for less than $350. It is a great deal to find one for $900 now.

I'm the one that bought back my old SR5 HH ceramic in the other Post. You know my answer. Good luck!

The moral of these stories is........ Never get rid of an Ernie Ball bass that you enjoy unless it's for another Ernie Ball that you like better.

 

[dustinymichaels]

I've sold a few out of financial necessity that I would love to have back. Specifically a 79 Stingray ($1000) and an 81 L-1000 ($400). Ideally, just to play them, but at today's prices I would have made a ton of $.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

The moral of these stories is........ Never get rid of an Ernie Ball bass that you enjoy unless it's for another Ernie Ball that you like better.

I've sold a few out of financial necessity that I would love to have back. Specifically a 79 Stingray ($1000) and an 81 L-1000 ($400). Ideally, just to play them, but at today's prices I would have made a ton of $.

I rest my case!!

 

[Bass Viking]

I recently (2023) had purchased a Cort Elrick NJS-4. It was FANTASTIC. A Ridiculously light 7lb 4oz. Very flat action due to the zero fret, 24 frets, stock electrics sounded fantastic, and played like a dream. Ticked every box. But I acquired a Spector RST and couldn’t afford the payments. So I did a fire sale on three basses to pay for it, with the Cort being one of the sacrifices. Well, The Spector turned out to not be to my tastes, despite the under 7 lb weight. I reached out to the buyer of the Cort letting him know if her ever wanted to sell it, I’d pay him every penny he paid for it to get it back. Well, he loves it. And has no desire to part with it any time soon. He’s a smart fella.
View attachment 5351600
Man do I miss this bass.

I’ve never played one of these but I’ve heard great things about them. Club Bass in Toronto carries them. Coincidentally, I own a Euro RST (very happy with it).

 

[Stinkoman20xx]

Last fall I got back my 90's Ibanez 1306 that I lost possesion of 18 years ago for much less than I paid for it then, but its priceless to me and forever greatful for the seller hooking me up with it.

On a different note, I had a refinished musicman Sabre that got stolen from me pop back up here for sale once. I told the seller how it was mine, showed pics, police report, and said i just want to buy it back it at his asking price, I didnt think he stole it and he refused to sell it back because somebody messaged him first. I keep hoping one day to fnd its whereabout's not even to buy it back, though I'd love to have it, just curious where it is these days

 

[dalkowski]

If I ever came across my first, a Guild B301A (and I'd know it in a second if I saw it, trust me), I'd jump on it assuming it wasn't beaten to death. But I'm not obsessed about it.

 

[Wesley R]

I used to get all whacky over the edge emotionally involved with my "keeper" basses. Getting one back would be a mind bending gut wrenching experience for me. The other basses were trading stock.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

The moral of these stories is........ Never get rid of an Ernie Ball bass that you enjoy unless it's for another Ernie Ball that you like better.

 

[rwmusician]

This one really does depend on the bass.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I know this subject came up last week with a member wanting to buy back a SR5 HH. My response was he may love it or he might remember why he sold it if he gets it back. The bass I am considering getting is one I know well because I had a year or two. I definitely know what I like about and I am not crazy about. The bottom line is that I can get it at a fair price and similar basses are more expensive and some have recently undergone model changes that I don’t like. I don’t need convincing or dissuasion about this bass. I just want the general consensus on getting back with an old flame.

Pretty much, when I’m done with an instrument, I am done. Over the last 50 years, the only piece of gear I regret selling was a Hiwatt Custom 100 head.

 

[Altitude]

In about 2017 I sold the Yamaha BB1600 I played through college and for the next dozen years after. Admittedly it had been sitting in my closet for a long time and I wasn’t playing it much because Yamaha BB basses were sort of out of style.

Then of course they roared back into vogue and if I still had mine I’d probably have taken it out eight or ten times since I sold it. It sounded and felt great. Plus, I sold it to fund a bass that wound up being mostly a notional interest and that I don’t have anymore - and I’m not usually a flipper.

I’d buy it back for sure if I could find it. I think I shipped it to Canada.

https://youtube.com/shorts/0SlOvZBeaTc?si=V4bFf1HL_o4rs_dT

 

[pb9717]

Last fall I got back my 90's Ibanez 1306 that I lost possesion of 18 years ago for much less than I paid for it then, but its priceless to me and forever greatful for the seller hooking me up with it.

On a different note, I had a refinished musicman Sabre that got stolen from me pop back up here for sale once. I told the seller how it was mine, showed pics, police report, and said i just want to buy it back it at his asking price, I didnt think he stole it and he refused to sell it back because somebody messaged him first. I keep hoping one day to fnd its whereabout's not even to buy it back, though I'd love to have it, just curious where it is these days

I once got a Ken Smith Design Jazz 5 from a retail store in Philly. I traded a Japan Geddy Lee bass for it. I used it for a season on gigs and then listed it on talkbass. I gave my phone number to a potential buyer out of Canada. He called me and told me it was his, and was stolen when an entire trailer of gear was taken while in Philly on a tour.

Literally, minutes later the local police knocked on my door. Fortunately, i had the receipt from the retailer evidencing the trade. The buyer had been paid by his insurance company, so I simply sold him his bass. But boy, if I hadn’t had that receipt, things coulda went very wrong, very fast.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I once got a Ken Smith Design Jazz 5 from a retail store in Philly. I traded a Japan Geddy Lee bass for it. I used it for a season on gigs and then listed it on talkbass. I gave my phone number to a potential buyer out of Canada. He called me and told me it was his, and was stolen when an entire trailer of gear was taken while in Philly on a tour.

Literally, minutes later the local police knocked on my door. Fortunately, i had the receipt from the retailer evidencing the trade. The buyer had been paid by his insurance company, so I simply sold him his bass. But boy, if I hadn’t had that receipt, things coulda went very wrong, very fast.

That had to be scary!

 

[dustinymichaels]

I rest my case!!

I'm trying to get rid of a 2013 Stingray Classic so I can get 1 more 90-95!!!

 

[WoodyJ]

I have three older Fenders that I sold to bass buddies years ago, and bought them back later when they were tired of them or bought new whatever's.

 

[KenSmithFan]

I sold this bass 2 years ago, with instructions for the new owner to call me first,
if he ever tires of it.
I actually got to play it again on a recent visit, and absolutely would buy it back in an instant.
View attachment 5350900

I had a friend who bugged me for months to sell him my Fender MIJ paisley telecaster many years ago. I sold it with the understanding that I had first right of refusal if he ever sold it. He swore up and down that he’d call me before he sold it. About six months later I went to one of his shows and his other guitar player was playing it. I said, “You lent Rusty the tele?” And he said, “No I sold it to him.” I reminded him of his promise, but it was too late. I never sell anything expecting to get it back.

 

[woodyng2]

I had a friend who bugged me for months to sell him my Fender MIJ paisley telecaster many years ago. I sold it with the understanding that I had first right of refusal if he ever sold it. He swore up and down that he’d call me before he sold it. About six months later I went to one of his shows and his other guitar player was playing it. I said, “You lent Rusty the tele?” And he said, “No I sold it to him.” I reminded him of his promise, but it was too late. I never sell anything expecting to get it back.

Well, the good thing is, I don’t really need it, as I still have these two.
But I do suspect that I could trust him on his promise.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

One lesson I am learning from this thread is to ignore “friends” begging to buy your bass. The first dibs promise is as reliable as a horny high school boy’s profession of undying love to his girlfriend.

 

[Guido Fawkes]

I have more regret invested in instruments I missed out on buying in the first place than I do on those I have sold.

Re the “dibs” nonsense, I have never subscribed or agreed to the idea of a seller retaining some kind of option-based interest in anything they have sold, whereby the buyer is compelled to contact them if he/she intends to sell it on. If someone approaches me with a spectacular part exchange, or offer for a bass I have bought do I turn it down to avoid upsetting the former keeper?