Do you hang on to your basses for sentimental value

[the wako kid]

I will never sell my first bass because I'd only get $100 for it.maybe. it holds such a special place in my heart that I couldn't sell it anyway. all of my guitars are special to me really, though there is onme electric guitar that is simply a tool.

 

[HardAbz]

I still have my first bass. A 1978 (?) Fender Precision Bass, Blonde body, maple neck/fingerboard. Not sure if I'll ever sell it, because it was my first. But the thought has crossed my mind, once or twice.

 

[rtslinger]

Yeah I have 4 that I will keep
Gibson Ripper, El Segundo, Dean Hollywood Z, Charvel/Jackson 2b
picture with a Longhorn copy I no longer own

 

[LarryCrabtree]

My first a '64 Jazz that I bought new for $250 and a '63 Jazz that my best friend bought brand new and left me when he passed. I can never sell any of these and plan to give them to my grand daughter when I pass. She is a player and loves bass.

 

[El_Duderino]

Sometimes.
I have a 1960 Gibson EBO.
One of 342 made.
It's a wonderful playing and sounding bass.
This bass thru a tube amp and a 2x15 cab is gods voice.
But I never use it now.
King of the closet.

Reminds me of my' 72 EB0 that was my first bass...

 

[Jack]

Some have come and gone, some are not going anywhere. So yes and no. I have never gotten sentimental about an amp but the last bass (and one of the last things) I'd ever sell would be my Squier. As my first bass it is sentimentally priceless and monetarily worthless.

 

[BassikLee]

I have two that I likely will never sell, but not for sentimental reasons. They are simply much better basses than their street value would suggest. Both are Brice Douglas jazz bass 5s. Other than those two, the rest are always potentially for sale

 

[Bass1965]

I had an Ibanez SR505 until two weeks ago. For the last couple of years I have been using a Carvin as my main bass, but I was holding onto the Ibanez, hoping that something would pop up on Craigslist that someone would trade for my bass. Sure enough, two weeks ago someone wanted to trade their Fender P Aerodyne for a 5-string. I was all over that and now have two basses that I really like and probably won't be parting with anytime soon.

 

[BullHorn]

I still own my first Yamaha RBX170. I haven't touched it since around 2008. I think I should get rid of it...

 

[Korladis]

So not to highjack this thread or anything, but let me pose this question/scenario:

Lots of times if I go see local bands in my area, I will see someone that plays in a band, that is technically an extremely good player, but they don't have the passion or the heart in it, and it comes across. On the flip side, I will see someone who's maybe not technically nearly as good, but has passion and plays with their heart on their sleeve.

Here's my question, do you think that these two types of people correlate to the two types of people that hold on to basses (or instruments in general) for sentimental reasons, and those that just see them as a tool? As in, the people that have the passion, have a sentimental connection to their instrument, and vice versa? I'm not trying to start a flame war or anything, and I hope I don't offend anyone here, I'm just curious is all.

Me personally, I do have sentimental instruments. I have my first student trombone that got me into music in the first place, that holds a very sentimental place in my heart. The first bass I bought, the first bass I built (well assembled is more like it), my Grandpa's old acoustic and banjo, things like that. I do have some that don't hold as much of a sentimental place that I might be willing to part with, but at the same time, they fill a need, so unless I'm upgrading, they're not going anywhere.

See, I don't get the "I see it only as a tool, of course I would sell it" thing, either.

I would never sell the tools I have that are more usually thought of as tools (hammers, shovels, etc.), either. They were my father's.

 

[Barkless Dog]

It's normal, if you sell them you will regret it.

Just like your first cool car.

 

[NoiseNinja]

No... The only reason I still have my first bass, some Aria Pro II, is that it is too beat up to sell.
Regret selling my Jerry Jones Longhorn though.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

So not to highjack this thread or anything, but let me pose this question/scenario:

Lots of times if I go see local bands in my area, I will see someone that plays in a band, that is technically an extremely good player, but they don't have the passion or the heart in it, and it comes across. On the flip side, I will see someone who's maybe not technically nearly as good, but has passion and plays with their heart on their sleeve.

Here's my question, do you think that these two types of people correlate to the two types of people that hold on to basses (or instruments in general) for sentimental reasons, and those that just see them as a tool? As in, the people that have the passion, have a sentimental connection to their instrument, and vice versa? I'm not trying to start a flame war or anything, and I hope I don't offend anyone here, I'm just curious is all.

I have received many compliments on how "into" I am on stage, I believe we are there to entertain, but I totally view my bass as nothing more than a working tool. I still have my first Fender and I probably won't ever sell it, but I still pick it up fairly regularly. So I don't think somebody who has more sentimental attachment to inanimate objects plays with more heart, than somebody who uses a bass like a tool.

I currently play an Ibanez BTB 676 but my Carvin LB76 is finally finished and on it's way here for next week, if I like it more I won't hesitate to sell the Ibanez and I have many fond memories of it and put many miles into it. At the end of the day, I have no use for two six string basses and cannot justify keeping them. I already own too much stuff.

 

[Sleeq]

Yeah; my first Fender, an MIJ Foto-Flame P-bass. I don't use it as much as my other basses anymore; but don't feel right selling it.

 

[music fun]

I have about 15. About 7 have not been played in years. Can't bring myself to part with them. I kind of feel sorry for my significant other, if I should kick the bucket first. She ain't got a clue what to do with them and all the amps. It's normal.

Give me your address, your age, and general health status.

Just kidding. Enjoy that collection. But leave a note for your wife to send them to me when you kick, my friend.

Just kidding.

 

[SteveC]

Nope.

 

[music fun]

I bought this beast new in 1981 and it still looks like it did that day. I've played in mostly in my house all these years, but also infrequently in some rehearsal space when I've been trying to get a group together.

It weighs about 1,800 pounds, but it sustains all day. It punches and scoops deep and strong. It growls and murmurs. It's easy to play for such a long-necked bass, and the action and intonation are perfect. It doesn't even buzz with round wounds on it.

Nope, I'm keeping it, but not for sentimental reasons. It just sounds great and plays great. Also, it's the counterpoint to the Hofner I just got two days ago. Between those two, I cover the waterfront on tone.

 

[Mike M.]

Of all instruments I've owned I really wish I would have kept my first good bass, which was a Gibson EB-3. Bought it new around 1970 and I'll tell ya, I worked my tail off for that bass. I was a junior back in high school and saved for it by washing dishes in a resturant after school and on weekends. All I could think about was owning that bass and when I finally got it I felt like a kid who got his first ever toy! Felt like I really accomplished something by working for it myself. My dad told me "you want it, you work for it." (Thank you, dad!)

So for sentimental reasons and for remembering how I felt back then I really wish I kept it.