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Do you have a sentimental attachment to your basses?

#41
There's three that I keep around for sentimental reasons.

Dano Silvertone it's the second bass I ever owned, my first "vintage" bass and it's just so cool to play but it hasn't seen a gig for many years

Fender P Elite my first Fender, one of the few basses I ever bought brand new, my #1 for about ten years but I never gig it any more

Pedulla Buzz the fretless I wanted 35 years ago but stupidly bought a BC Rich instead, found one at great price a few years ago but by that time I wasn't playing fretless any more and it's never left the house
 
#43
When I was in high school my dad helped me buy my first real bass. I had been playing a Peavey Milestone, but had already spent about $400 on a new combo amp and was saving up some cash for a new bass. I was making $5.50 an hour at Papa Johns working about 20-25 hours a week, so it took me quite a bit of time to save. I had about another $150 saved up when my dad asked if I wanted to go to a guitar show in town. While browsing he pointed out a Fender MIM P-deluxe in orange, he's slightly knowledgeable about guitars and basses from being a music fan but doesn't have any playing experience. I liked it and it was a great deal at $250; the deal would be that he would buy it and I would pay him $150 when we got home and then make installments over the next few months. I did that, and when I had finally paid him back the full $250 he just gave me all the money back and told me to spend it on something else I wanted. My dad and I had a rocky relationship growing up that really started to turn into a friendship as I became an adult, I always reference this experience as one of the turning points.

As for the bass, I flipped it in a trade several years later when I switched from being a 4 string player to a 5 string player. Being as the P was my first real bass, she had some battle scars. Paint chips coming off, several knobs loose, a messy input jack, huge dings on the headstock. The last I saw it, it was hanging in a local pawn shop with a $500 price tag on it. I would have paid $250 for it to have it for sentimental reasons, but I'd say its value is less than $200 now. I don't lose any sleep at night not having it. My dad asks me about it occasionally, I tell him that it's in a case at the practice space safe and sound :rolleyes:
 
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#44
I have a sentimental attachment to my MIA Jazz Deluxe. It was a gift from my wife. She also bought the Lindy Fralin pickups that I had installed when I converted the bass to completely passive. I also removed the original black pick guard and installed the white pearl. I have used it at many gigs and recording for several TV shows. This is the one bass I will not sell.
2011 Jazz (2).JPG
 
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#48
I have 20 Basses but only one that I have a truly sentimental attachment to. It's the NS-2 in my avatar. I bought it new in '93 as kind of a birthday present to myself. I made the trip from Richmond to Rockville and got with PJ Rubal when he worked in the Bass department at Veneman's. I remember that he had 2 or 3 for me to try out and I settled on this one. They wouldn't accept an out of state check and I didn't have a credit card on me. After much pleading and raising some hell they relented and sold it to me. It doesn't get much use these days but if I had to choose one to be buried with, it would be this one.
 
#52
All of the basses I have are keepers for sentimental reasons. My 94' and 95' SR 500 Soundgear basses I bought new and have done a majority of my work in the music industry with them. The next is my custom made Music Man Stingray Classic Breast Cancer Awareness bass that Sterling Ball made for me after my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010. And yes, she is a survivor and has been cancer free for 6 years and counting now. The last two are my Music Man Bongos. Both were made as limited runs. The BFR Roasted Neck had only 3 made that were Bongo 4 H's and the other one is a candy apple red Bongo 4 H with an all rosewood neck. It was the only one made during that order window. Both of my Bongos are now my main players and the Breast Cancer Awareness bass only gets played on special occasions or events. The Soungear basses I have kind of retired but play them at the house on certain occasions.
 
#54
I am most sentimentally attached to the the bass I like playing the least.:banghead: My P-bass. I have done several upgrades to it and it still will not earn as much playing time. I'll never get rid it. At one time it was my ONLY bass, when I gigged/practiced/recorded almost every day.

I have told the story about it before on TB - on other threads. Here's the summary version:

"I did the same thing (saw it in a store and had to have it -NOW) a long,long time ago. Borrowed the money from my stripper girlfriend. She cheated on me (are you surprised?) and I never paid her back.:thumbsup:. I still have it. Played it yesterday. Every bassist needs a P-bass."

may2016%20075_zpsehddggms.jpg
 
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#55
In past years, I thought I was sentimental about my basses, but I eventually realized I'm more practical. If it doesn't get played, and I don't think it's likely to get played, it goes. I generally haven't missed any I've sold, apart from a 2004 MIA Fender P with a Fralin pickup. Wouldn't mind having that back.

Nevertheless, I have two instruments I doubt I'll ever sell -- 2003 MIA Jazz, and 2004 MIA Strat, which are fantastic, and matching in Chrome Red/maple. I'm very attached to these two, and love playing them. The J was my first Fender and my number one for many years, and the Strat is my first truly great electric guitar and still my favorite despite the excellence of my 2015 G&L Comanche.
 
#56
If any, it would be my MIM Jazz. It was my first bass and I've done a lot of mods to really make it my own. It's also a very good player, so I can't see ever getting rid of it. But if it got stolen or destroyed, I wouldn't cry or anything.:)
 
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#57
Not in the sense that it would stop me from getting rid of any, if I didn't need them. I don't have my first bass or the ones that didn't work 100% for me. I do really, really like the ones I have now, and would be really hurt if they were taken away from me. I like the sound, feel and look of all 5 of them. But these are "the chosen" ones; out of say 30-ish I've owned in total. If lost they would have to be replaced.
 
#58
Absolutely. I have nine basses and can't part with any of them. I have parted with some over the years but still have my first bass, a 1989 Yamaha rbx 200 that I picked up new. I honestly would like to have an entire wall full of basses.
 
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#59
HankHillWaluigi said:
I currently have two basses: an SX 5 string and a Fender Jazz 62 RI. Of the two, the Fender gets all the playtime and the SX just kinda... sits there. I think the only reason I'm holding onto it is because it's the first bass I bought with my own money and that it has a great grain in the ash and a good sound. However, I feel like I'm doing it a disservice and that some kid just starting out could have a great bass from the get-go. This sentimental attachment isn't helping me, but I feel like I'd get over it but I can't bring myself to sell it at the time. I've been eyeing a Fender Road Worn P for some time and selling it could help me with that purchase, but I digress.

How about you guys? Got any sentimental attachments?
Click to expand...

Yeah, I have some for my '77 Travis Bean fretless which I bought new. I use it so infrequently that I probably will sell it soon though, since it sounds fantastic and I would really prefer that it be out making music regularly. Three basses is definitely one more than I need or want in any case.
 

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