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How do you feel with selling your basses?

#61
There are only 2 that I have sold that I miss. A mid 90's Stingray (nothing sentimental, just a nice solid bass) and a late 90's Pedulla. I recently found the Rapture on an old listing and contacted the seller - and he still has it. We are currently in negotiations.

Other than it being a great bass, it was my first really nice bass. It took me a year of saving and sacrificing in high school to buy it. It would be nice to get it back.

I currently have 6 other fairly nice basses, no plans to sell any of them.
 
#63
sam91 said:
Hey all - I've been pondering for a while now about selling one of my 70's p bass and get a jazz b instead to refresh my inventory (I own 3 p basses which each one has its own unique thing) - but for some reason, the thought of selling one of my basses that have been through a lot with me is very saddening...

How do you see about selling your basses? Does your bass is nothing but an instrument to serve your musical needs? or do you have any sentimental value to your instruments?

I think this question is even more relevant during COVID 19 era which a lot of musicians are having a rough time financially.

Would love to hear your thoughts!
Click to expand...


They're like selling my kids.
 
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#65
32A8984E-5CD4-4147-A61B-1F8797359D40.jpeg
In over ten years I have had 8 Basses, just because I was looking for the “one”.

I sold my first bass which I regret, a Squire VM Jazz bass.

Regret selling my 2010 FSR Antigua Jazz Bass.

All the others, I said goodbye and never looked back.

Now I keep just my 3 players.

Just received my special ordered Sadowsky NYC, that’s it, I finally found the “one”.

This one is never going anywhere.
 
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#66
I started playing bass again about 12 years ago. I joined TB soon after and went through the full cycle of buying tons of gear, enjoying being a hoarder, and then ultimately selling off anything that was redundant. To me, once I make the decision that I’m going to sell something, that’s it - I’m ready to part with it, no regrets. Of course, I’ve also been fortunate to not have to sell off gear for financial issues. I might feel differently if this were the case.
 
#67
These are not people--you didn't make a marriage vow with these inanimate objects designed and manufactured to do a specific job. They're just tools for making/playing music, so I try to be very pragmatic about buying/selling, and I've done so many times over the decades. No reason to hold on to something just because it's been with you for a while, when you can get something that plays better, looks better, sounds better, etc.
 
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#68
I have 5 electric basses (and one "homemade" acoustic bass) and, of those, there are really only two I will do my best to avoid selling.
Really, to lose my specifically created collection? I don't wanna. :D
But, if I had ta? Those two stay. ;)
 
#71
I personally would not sell a bass I had an attachment to. I have only sold a few basses I’ve owned. For instance, I can’t see myself selling my 77 Jazz or my Warwick. I might be coaxed into selling my SSD. Depends on the bass. I was really happy to trade an EBMM Stingray and some cash for my Wick.

Save up your money, in a year you’ll be able to just buy the bass you want.

Of course I also don’t buy that many basses. One every few years, and for over 20 all I had was my Jazz, except for one span of four months in 1994 when someone stole it. I was so stoked when the police recovered it! It definitely has the most sentimental value to me.
 
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#72
I've only sold 2 of my basses and fortunately I don't regret letting them go. I do tend to get sentimentally attached to my basses, so if I don't then I know they're not right for me. It actually bothers me to continue owning a bass that I have no special feeling for.
 
#73
I have 30 bass uke/mini bass guitars. I used to have 32, but four of the acoustic 20.5" scale bass uke exacerbated the nerve damage in my neck, and even though I really liked them, I sold them. I actually replaced them with two 23" scale, my sweet spot that does give me a neck problem, which are even nicer than the other four.
 
#75
It depends on why you're selling them. To directly fund another bass, usually no regrets. When I was younger, I've had to sell some basses and guitars over the years to pay rent, pay tuition, car payments, etc. A couple of those were special, more now than then, and I regret it, much after the fact.

These days, it's mostly about return on investment. Shipping on a bass, in case, is $100+. Local sales are Craigslist creepos. Trade-in values are laughable (or cryable). I've pretty much given up on selling basses. Out of seven, three have some sentimental/personal value to me. The others live in their cases, waiting for the estate sale.

:hyper:
 
#76
Sentimental for me as they are mostly gifts, some stuff I've had over 20 years. If I were to sell anything, I would only sell what I bought, which these days would be a bass, a guitar, a flute, a saxophone, an amp and a bunch of effects.
But I use all of the stuff I have in one way or another so I don't feel any need to sell anything.
 
#77
sam91 said:
Hey all - I've been pondering for a while now about selling one of my 70's p bass and get a jazz b instead to refresh my inventory (I own 3 p basses which each one has its own unique thing) - but for some reason, the thought of selling one of my basses that have been through a lot with me is very saddening...

How do you see about selling your basses? Does your bass is nothing but an instrument to serve your musical needs? or do you have any sentimental value to your instruments?

I think this question is even more relevant during COVID 19 era which a lot of musicians are having a rough time financially.

Would love to hear your thoughts!
Click to expand...

My inventory is very similar to Yours. 3 P basses and a Sandberg, and my thoughts are that it is one or two more than I need, but when it comes to selling, I'm in the same dilemma.

I'm trying to setup every P bass differently and find an excuse not to sell any of them.

Also, too much hard cases and Gig bags around. All of that stops me of buying a new Sting Ray, but selling a good P bass is just too hard for me :)
IMG_6670.JPG
 
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#78
sam91 said:
How do you see about selling your basses? Does your bass is nothing but an instrument to serve your musical needs? or do you have any sentimental value to your instruments?
Click to expand...

Fine with selling a bass if it doesn't suit me any more. To me they are tools to get a job done. Some are better at some jobs than others. Just like I have two different chainsaws. Tools. Jobs.
 
#79
I have bought and sold MANY basses. The reason is they either no longer suit my needs or I simply needed the money. I try not to get sentimentally attached but there are a few I miss...
1996 Alembic Rogue
Ovation Magnum II
Custom G&L Asat
 
#80
Clark Westfield said:
View attachment 3988797 In over ten years I have had 8 Basses, just because I was looking for the “one”.

I sold my first bass which I regret, a Squire VM Jazz bass.

Regret selling my 2010 FSR Antigua Jazz Bass.

All the others, I said goodbye and never looked back.

Now I keep just my 3 players.

Just received my special ordered Sadowsky NYC, that’s it, I finally found the “one”.

This one is never going anywhere.
Click to expand...
Sorry 2012 Antigua Jazz
 

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