• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

I Can't Keep a Foundation

#22
I had a chance to do the same thing. Picked up a a Squier Jazz for cheap to keep at church for when my "active only" MTD Kingston's battery might die (happened once, glad I had the Squier). We had an adult team/teen team combo service and the 14 year old bassist played my Squier. He was in love and I knew it. So one night I walked into rehearsal and my Squier was sitting by the bass amp. There was about 15 other people in the sanctuary and in walks Sam, the 14 year old bassist. I yelled really loud and angry "Hey man, You been playing my bass?!" He looked terrified but said "Yes". I yelled "Why?". He shrugged his shoulders and you could have heard a pin drop. I yelled, "So, you really like it, don't you?" , but didn't smile. He nodded. I yelled, "Good, because it now belongs to you!" He literally stood there for 10 seconds with his jaw hangin' open as everyone started hootin' and yellin' "Yeah!" It was one of the most fun times I ever had on stage. Reading your post made me live it all over again. He'll never know how much joy that gave me until he does the same thing if given the chance. Well done, Doc. The joy is ours.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Fabian_Aryo, mikeyjm2, JACink and 3 others
#23
Dr. Cheese said:
I have gotten more pleasure out of giving that bass away than I have gotten from buying almost any bass I have ever owned. I had cold feet about giving it away for a moment, but when I saw how happy he was, I knew I did the right thing.
Click to expand...
Giving is the source of real happiness! You are blessed to have felt that joy! And you've passed the warn fuzziness on to all of us as well :-) thanks!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dr. Cheese
#31
i've been helped two different times by having free loans- both of which were for about 2 years before the owner asked for it back. in one case, upon returning the instrument i asked to buy it off of the owner, who had been my bass teacher in college. he sold it to me for almost nothing and it's a great bass worth more than i could ever afford to pay.

though i was able to afford an instrument, being encouraged in that way made a huge difference for me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dr. Cheese
#32
You're alright, Doc! There are plenty of Foundations in the world if you decide you can't live without one, but you really made an impact on that kid. That's cool.

About 25 years ago, a jazz violinist friend of mine - single parent of limited means - had a 13-year-old son who wanted to learn bass. I was about 22 at the time and I had a mid '70s Ibanez Silver Series P-bass copy that I wasn't playing much at the time. I offered to sell it to him for some very low price and he agreed, telling me he'd get me when he had some cash. I gave him the bass - knowing he would never pay me the agreed-upon price. I think he made one installment of about $20. I never asked him for the rest of the money and he never mentioned it again.

That bass was one of the best faux Fenders I ever played, but you know what? I have plenty of basses. I never missed a gig because I didn't have that bass and I never felt any sense of loss for just about giving that bass away. His son went on to music school and became a very accomplished bassist - probably better than I'll ever be. I have no regrets.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Blueinred and Dr. Cheese
#33
When I was young....a long time ago, I smashed a cheap guitar on stage to be cool like the rock bands of the time. The owner's kid came up to me and just said, "You could have given it to me." I went home and built a new body for it out of good wood and drove back after the couple weeks it took me to finish it. I gave it to him. Since then I have enjoyed taking inexpensive, broken, and abused instruments and getting them back in playing condition.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lo-E and Dr. Cheese
#37
Dr. Cheese said:
This time I gave it away. A young drummer at my church had been wanting to learn bass, but he is financially challenged. I gave him a black Foundation I picked up two days after Christmas. The young fellow was so happy that seven hours later, I'm still smiling inside!:D
Click to expand...

--You definitely did the right thing. I gave a multi-effect pedal to a young, guitar player at a church that I used to go to. All he had at the time was a Squier started pack with a Frontman amp. He used the effect unit for a few years and just recently gave it to another young player just starting out. The original kid has really become a great guitar player too....got a full music scholarship to college. You never know where "your" young drummer will end up.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Blueinred and Dr. Cheese

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back