I bought my first bass in 1978. It was at a garage sale in Ann Arbor, MI. There I found, leaning up against a car next to a 1968 Gibson Les Paul Custom, a stripped to natural finish 1968 Fender Precision. Both instruments looked to have been rocked hard. The P had a brass pick guard, the LP had Grovers, but were otherwise original. No cases, just out in the weather on a football Saturday.
I bought the Les Paul for $150 (I am a guitar player), raced home, scraped together change and such, and returned to buy the P bass for $90.
Still have them both and dig them heavily! Wish that I knew who had owned them and played them before me. MC5? Iggy? Seger? Rationals? Or just some kids rocking out in the garage.
BTW, I still have my very first guitar, too. a 1967 Gibson ES335TDC in Sparkling Burgundy bought from Al's Loans in Detroit, MI...found in 1976 while looking for a bass to learn on! Life is funny sometimes.