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Need psychological help

Stoch

Stoch

Mar 23, 2009
113
33
#1
This is a weird one admittedly, but I have no one else to pour my heart out to but TB, so any kind of advice/criticism would be welcome.

I once bought a magnificent used Custom Shop Jazz Bass for a very attractive price. It was very well-built, had beautiful wood (perfect, perfect neck!) and an amazing Aztec Gold finish. It was an active bass. I also swapped the Noiseless pickups for some Lollars (time to order from the US + money). Overall great deal. Had it for about a year.

Then I foolishly sold it. For no real reason. I didn't *need* the money. I didn't really have a strategy of what I'm gonna do next. Just one day decided to sell it. Partly because I thought I wanted a passive bass, maybe a P-Bass, I don't even remember now, I was delusional.

It's worth noting I don't gig or rehearse now because I'm currently far away from home in a foreign country and have zero chance of finding a band. When I come back, though, joining a band will be my top priority. I used to play in a band back home. The idea is that while I have the time and stable income, I'd assemble a nice rig and work on my chops to be ready to kick some *** back home.

I was left without a bass. I also play guitar, so I thought I'd maybe focus on guitar...

Anyway, the real point of this thread is the following: I'm now hunting for a bass but I absolutely cannot get rid of the feeling that I screwed up big time and nothing I might buy will ever be as good in terms of quality/price. In other words, right now I'm looking at spending at least the same amount of money on a regular, non-CS Fender. A Stingray, which I'm reluctantly considering, costs even more (oh yes, I'm in Europe, so our prices suck). If I decide to swallow it and get a regular American Standard P-Bass, I hate the current finishes. I hate sunburst, while the only other options are black and white. The most attractive option currently is a used AVRI-75 Jazz Bass for about 600$ less than the bass I sold. But if I'm getting a Jazz Bass, why did I sell the previous one?

I don't know if I'm making any sense, but hopefully you see my point. I'm just unable to make a decision right now at all, because the bass I sold keeps haunting me. There was absolutely nothing wrong with it. Ok, I thought it hummed, but what do I know? It was a beauty! How can I justify spending the same amount of money now but on an inferior bass?

So what are my options?

Thank you all!
 
#5
Thank you guys!

Gorn said:
Get a PJ. It's a P when you need it but the J at the bridge adds that extra edge that you'd miss from the jazz. It's the ultimate configuration for a two pickup Fender.

Or get a Stingray. I've always found that a properly aggressive PJ is very Stingrayesque.
Click to expand...

Do PJs get respect around here? Are they a viable choice? More classic than a Stringray? What puts me off a Stingray is that I've heard they're one-dimensional and have a very specific tone that sometimes isn't the right choice. What attracts me is looks, design, build quality (or so I've heard).
 
#7
I've sold 1 bass in particular that I shouldn't have, a Fender RBV signature bass with which I earned my livelihood. Won't bore you with details, but I got another one of the same model with somehow even more sentimental value. Point is, I know how you feel, but material things are replaceable.

Getting a PJ is sound advice. Such a versatile combo. A Stingray would also be a great option.

And yes, Europe sucks with US basses. But you'd pay less for a Sandberg here, which you should also check out. :)
 
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#8
Stoch said:
Thank you guys!



Do PJs get respect around here? Are they a viable choice? More classic than a Stringray? What puts me off a Stingray is that I've heard they're one-dimensional and have a very specific tone that sometimes isn't the right choice. What attracts me is looks, design, build quality (or so I've heard).
Click to expand...
Sure they get respect. Why shouldn't they? People have been putting jazz pickups in p basses for decades and there are a bunch of fantastic production models.

Stingrays are hardly one dimensional. You got the active EQ (the only active bass I like) and varied finger position makes for a variety of tones.
 
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#12
Stoch said:
Thank you guys!
Do PJs get respect around here? Are they a viable choice? More classic than a Stringray? What puts me off a Stingray is that I've heard they're one-dimensional and have a very specific tone that sometimes isn't the right choice. What attracts me is looks, design, build quality (or so I've heard).
Click to expand...

As far as I can tell PJ get minimal repect. Who cares? *I* love my PJ and it does just what I want. The "P" part gives me a nice P (Not all PJs do that) and "J" part is the icing on the cake. So hard to go wrong.

And a stingray is very much similar to a P in that it is very much it's own thing. I wouldn't call it one-dimensional as it is reasonably versatile (the idea is some serious EQ to control your tone) but it is very much a 'Ray. And when you love what it does you absolutely LOVE it! No reservations. But it's sort of an acquired taste and in my opinion needs to fit the particular music you are interested in to work well.

Since this is TB, the answer is totally obvious. You need a Stingray AND a nice PJ bass. That's what I did. I'm not sorry nor have any psychological problems for doing that. :)
 
#13
Stoch said:
This is a weird one admittedly, but I have no one else to pour my heart out to but TB, so any kind of advice/criticism would be welcome.

I once bought a magnificent used Custom Shop Jazz Bass for a very attractive price. It was very well-built, had beautiful wood (perfect, perfect neck!) and an amazing Aztec Gold finish. It was an active bass. I also swapped the Noiseless pickups for some Lollars (time to order from the US + money). Overall great deal. Had it for about a year.

Then I foolishly sold it. For no real reason. I didn't *need* the money. I didn't really have a strategy of what I'm gonna do next. Just one day decided to sell it. Partly because I thought I wanted a passive bass, maybe a P-Bass, I don't even remember now, I was delusional.

It's worth noting I don't gig or rehearse now because I'm currently far away from home in a foreign country and have zero chance of finding a band. When I come back, though, joining a band will be my top priority. I used to play in a band back home. The idea is that while I have the time and stable income, I'd assemble a nice rig and work on my chops to be ready to kick some *** back home.

I was left without a bass. I also play guitar, so I thought I'd maybe focus on guitar...

Anyway, the real point of this thread is the following: I'm now hunting for a bass but I absolutely cannot get rid of the feeling that I screwed up big time and nothing I might buy will ever be as good in terms of quality/price. In other words, right now I'm looking at spending at least the same amount of money on a regular, non-CS Fender. A Stingray, which I'm reluctantly considering, costs even more (oh yes, I'm in Europe, so our prices suck). If I decide to swallow it and get a regular American Standard P-Bass, I hate the current finishes. I hate sunburst, while the only other options are black and white. The most attractive option currently is a used AVRI-75 Jazz Bass for about 600$ less than the bass I sold. But if I'm getting a Jazz Bass, why did I sell the previous one?

I don't know if I'm making any sense, but hopefully you see my point. I'm just unable to make a decision right now at all, because the bass I sold keeps haunting me. There was absolutely nothing wrong with it. Ok, I thought it hummed, but what do I know? It was a beauty! How can I justify spending the same amount of money now but on an inferior bass?

So what are my options?

Thank you all!
Click to expand...
I have to agree about getting a PJ, one of the MIM ones or even a Squier. If I can make an inexpensive bass sound good, so can you.
As for screwing up by getting rid of your old bass, hey, ask me how many good ones I've let slip through my fingers.
As for Stingrays, I decided to go this route.
1j3i2c.jpg

Under $600...Guitar Center clearance. I put on a set of GHS Precision flatwounds. Is it versatile? Yes...I ask a lot out of any bass I play and once I start playing and my bass sees how serious I am, it delivers everything I ask of it!
 
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#16
There are people around the world dodging bombs and praying the government doesn't come torture them and kill them. I think you will be OK :D

Anyway, there's nothing you can do now except get a new one or don't play bass. But I'll tell you this much...I have basses that I really love, and if something happened to them, I would get another one tomorrow and continue on as before without missing a beat.
 
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#18
JimmyM said:
There are people around the world dodging bombs and praying the government doesn't come torture them and kill them. I think you will be OK :D

Anyway, there's nothing you can do now except get a new one or don't play bass. But I'll tell you this much...I have basses that I really love, and if something happened to them, I would get another one tomorrow and continue on as before without missing a beat.
Click to expand...

Couldn't have said it any better.
 
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#19
Stoch said:
This is a weird one admittedly, but I have no one else to pour my heart out to but TB, so any kind of advice/criticism would be welcome.

I once bought a magnificent used Custom Shop Jazz Bass for a very attractive price. It was very well-built, had beautiful wood (perfect, perfect neck!) and an amazing Aztec Gold finish. It was an active bass. I also swapped the Noiseless pickups for some Lollars (time to order from the US + money). Overall great deal. Had it for about a year.

Then I foolishly sold it. For no real reason. I didn't *need* the money. I didn't really have a strategy of what I'm gonna do next. Just one day decided to sell it. Partly because I thought I wanted a passive bass, maybe a P-Bass, I don't even remember now, I was delusional.

It's worth noting I don't gig or rehearse now because I'm currently far away from home in a foreign country and have zero chance of finding a band. When I come back, though, joining a band will be my top priority. I used to play in a band back home. The idea is that while I have the time and stable income, I'd assemble a nice rig and work on my chops to be ready to kick some *** back home.

I was left without a bass. I also play guitar, so I thought I'd maybe focus on guitar...

Anyway, the real point of this thread is the following: I'm now hunting for a bass but I absolutely cannot get rid of the feeling that I screwed up big time and nothing I might buy will ever be as good in terms of quality/price. In other words, right now I'm looking at spending at least the same amount of money on a regular, non-CS Fender. A Stingray, which I'm reluctantly considering, costs even more (oh yes, I'm in Europe, so our prices suck). If I decide to swallow it and get a regular American Standard P-Bass, I hate the current finishes. I hate sunburst, while the only other options are black and white. The most attractive option currently is a used AVRI-75 Jazz Bass for about 600$ less than the bass I sold. But if I'm getting a Jazz Bass, why did I sell the previous one?

I don't know if I'm making any sense, but hopefully you see my point. I'm just unable to make a decision right now at all, because the bass I sold keeps haunting me. There was absolutely nothing wrong with it. Ok, I thought it hummed, but what do I know? It was a beauty! How can I justify spending the same amount of money now but on an inferior bass?

So what are my options?

Thank you all!
Click to expand...
Get a P bass from G&L. Or a P/J. Great basses and excellent tone.
 
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#20
Yes things could be a lot worse as JimmyM said above. As far as bass get over it and get another one. I think pretty much every one who is on this forum regrets selling something at some point, probably some have done it several times! I don't believe there is such a thing as a one dimensional bass. If it has a volume and a tone control, you can put different strings on it, and you can play it with a pick or fingerstyle, it is versatile enough. I hear this about Rickenbackers all the time and it's ridiculous. Its has two different pickups, with a volume and tone for each. You put flats on it you can cop a Beetles or Eagles tone then toss on some rounds for a more progressive Squire or Geddy tone. And yes a PJ pickup setup is super versatile, I wouldn't hesitate to Rock one. Heck I think a P bass is versatile too, it depends on how you play it, set it up or what you play it through. Besides unless your a one man band, most people probably won't know or care what your bass sounds like. If you liked your Jazz bass and want one that's super nice for low money, check out the Sire. Get's a lot of love on these forums.
 
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