Not playing anymore with expensive bass

[CascadeBass]

I agree with other folks here in that you should expect $2500 max on a used sale, regardless of how much you paid for the Euro, unless you're willing to wait. It doesn't seem like waiting aligns with the reason you're considering selling it.

And, you if you need the money, sell it and buy a used Legend.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

It is a 4k bass so yeah as long as I spend maybe half max

Your bass is 3 grand new at Sweetwater. 1800 used at guitar center. You might get around 2 for it. Most likely 1800. Then, you'd spend most of that on a replacement. Yeah, a couple hundred dollars (if you have any left over) and a bass you don't love, sounds like a losing scenario to me. You're much better off just keeping it, not spending anything on any bass gear, and therefore making the money you just saved.

 

[logdrum]

that's a possibility, i can't deny that. but FSOs are parts basses to begin with, so what we're really doing is reimagining the instrument with only ourselves in mind. to wit, i have no special skills with woods or tools (i can solder!), but my first ax, from nothing but the various parts i picked for it, was a real success (the "blonde P-bass"). i got lucky with the neck (it's a great one for my hands). the rest of the parts fit. the only hitch was "the looks" --- what did i want it to look like (i.e., what was i willing to settle for)? answer: i had a pickguard custom made, that defined "the look."

if the first neck had been a fail, i would have tried another one, and another, until i found a neck i liked. that said, i'm choosing necks based on my preferences and the specs advertised, so as long as they match up i'm at least in the ball park. and FWIW, i think fretless necks are easier to deal with than fretted ones, so there's that.

Looks like you got lucky. Actually my first did work with minimal adjustment and a luthier friend was around to set the everything straight, Then I transferred that to another body and I lucked out and it was fretless. You probably remembered that one, natural finish Jazz Bass MJT light body

Then when I went to a fretted with a fake Fender neck that I had no clue, then I had to deal with centering a slightly narrow neck, bad frets and what I did not notice before was also a misaligned (by Fender MIM) bridge. Lot's of cussing then I got another neck and I learned about fret leveling more and beveling and shimming. The 3rd and last neck had previous paint issues, I learned how to sand properly and what damage certain paint strippers will do. Then I had to re-shield and upgrade everything to CTS and Bourne. I created issues and learned to fix them as well as the issues before me. Then when all was well and good. One of those candles in a glass fell over on the table in our backyard. I have left the bass there to get a drink and the flames scorched the bass body where I rest my forearm, so that started my journey to relic it as well. Luckily I have done so many pre-amp upgrades in the bass that dropping a John East J-Tone plate was a no brainer and took 10 minutes

It's ugly but a good sounding bass - I would say great to me.

 

[Topkat13]

No. Try OBT. It's Online Bass Therapists. Tell them you are a TB member and get a 10% discount.

 

[Dincrest]

Keep that Spector. That bass is your Excalibur.

Don't make any rash decisions, especially when your mind is stressed. We NEVER make good decisions under duress. If you sell that Spector on an under-duress whim, chances are you WILL regret the decision sooner rather than later, especially if you downgrade.

 

[Yahboy]

If you love the bass and happy with the tone, why not keep it ?

 

[Ethix4]

I am more than happy with my MIK ns pulse Spector. Half the price of a euro usually , I can’t speak for everyone out there , but mine feels just as good as a euro in my hands .

 

[erratick]

I started collecting/accumulation basses around 7 years ago and I was up to 32. I've since downsized to 17 and am looking to get down to 7 or 8. I've had $5,000 basses and I have $200-$500 basses, plus some in the $800-$1,600 range. The Fodera is gone. The Wal is gone. The Rickenbacker is long gone (good riddance). I passed on an Alembic I had on loan. I've found that some of my favorite basses are the ones in the lower to intermediate price range. I love my $200 Ibanez Talman and my $600 Bruce Thomas Signature Profile bass. One of my favorite basses is a Spector Legend that cost me $450 plus a little extra for some work I had done to it. Check out a Spector Pulse. Great basses for around $1,000 new and less used.

I want to hear this story. I'm at 6 and will soon get to 5 or 4. I have some low to intermediate price fun basses. Makes for not having to worry at gigs. So I get the appeal of low and intermediate price.

But tell us about why the Wal and Ricky and Fodera are gone? I borrowed a Rick and a Spector at different times and still think about getting one of those at some time.

 

[HowieD72]

@OptimalOptimus, FWIW, i stopped buying the expensive stuff (or having them made). i'm dedicated to mods and parts basses these days because i got honest with myself about what a bass needs to have for me to bond with it: great feel (the neck mostly), balance, and i like 'em lightweight. other attributes are less important.

IME/IMO, you could have a phenomenal player for somewhere between $500 to $1000 from great parts, and it could/would be a customized instrument with all of your preferences distilled into an affordable package.

some show and tell:
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anyway, think about a parts ax to fill the need! if you assemble the parts yourself, there's also something satisfying about that, otherwise, it's an easy project for a reliable tech or a luthier to assemble the parts for you! good luck!

Couldn't agree more! My main ax (Warwick Fortress Masterman) has pretty much been replaced by my made at home Jazz parts bass that cost me 1/4 of my Warwick. The joy of putting a parts bass together yourself and it giving you that option of everything you want in a bass. I love my Jazz parts bass!

 

[buldog5151bass]

Put it up on the market for a good, fair price. Sell it if you get that price.

 

[AK Bass Guy]

Just my 2 cents, once you’ve drank primo fine aged wine it’s hard to go back to box wine.
But If you need the cash, do what you have to do. Family before fun.

 

[mcrawfordmusic]

Hello everyone,

I don't really play music anymore. Found other things to do with my limited time between chores and family time.

I have this beautiful Spector Euro 5LT that I barely play. Like an hour a month at best for the past 2 years.

Since we are in more difficult time with money and all, I feel like selling it and get something cheaper and bank the rest. But I feel like I won't find something else as satisfying to play when I feel like playing it a little.

Other people did go through something similar ?

If you're struggling for cash and not using it, I would be inclined to sell it. However, if you can afford to keep it, you should.

 

[edwinhurwitz]

If you need the money, you need the money and you can certainly get a less expensive instrument and put the remaining money from a sale towards something your family needs.

Personal story, I did that when I retired from gigging - sold what at the time was a pretty expensive bass to fund some beginning of adult life/career type things. I think in the end I personally regret it, but only because about 7 years later life opened back up for more playing and to buy the bass that I'd sold the price had more than doubled. While I acknowledge that was a pretty unique situation involving a Dingwall Z2 6 string, it was no longer in the realm of reasonable to purchase another of those basses.

I've experienced that several times over, especially with my first Alembic Series bass, which I purchased for $750 in the early 90s. Now, there's no way I could ever get another one. OTOH, I love the basses I have. Also, a Fender Jazz that I'm guessing is from the late 60s (block inlay with bound fingerboard with strap button on the back of the headstock), which I bought and sold for next to nothing in the early 80s.

 

[Kevan Campbell]

I’m yet another vote for “think long and hard before selling”.

I love Spectors but they don’t seem to move as quickly on the market as most Fenders and FSO’s, and I agree with others that you’re going to be lucky to walk with $1600-$2000 cash after seller fees on Reverb (maybe more if locally sold).

You may be just fine stepping down to a lower cost instrument! I’m amazed at the quality of the $250 Squire P and J that a couple of my friends picked up this year from GC. I think it’ll be a bit tougher both stepping down to a lower cost instrument AND moving away from a Spector-styled bass to another platform if your finances dictate you must.

If there’s any way to keep it I’d advise you do unless family or friends are in dire need. This sounds like the kind of bass that you really like and it'll be tough to get back into this level of Spector. I sold a ‘72 Fender P last year to raise money for a custom build. I can’t say I entirely regret it but if I could go back I’d figure out another way to raise money so I could keep an instrument that was special to me.

 

[Rezdog]

Greetings from the North,

Depending where you are located go spend some time at Long & McQuade or Steves and spend some time playing inexpensive stuff. It might help with your dilemma.

Rezdog

 

[Blues Bass 2]

Is the Spector your only bass ? What's the bass you play when the Spector's just sitting ? Like everybody says there are a lot of great basses these days for under $1000 and even under $500 .

 

[Jari Kurri]

if it's a bass you really, really love i wouldn't sell it. i got a lakland joe osborn in the early 2000s that i instantly bonded with. i had a few other basses around that time that were nice, but nothing i bonded with like that JO. life happened and i stepped away from music for around ten years yet i still held onto the lakland. only in the last few have i really gotten back into playing again. i've since picked up another couple basses i like, but there's no replacing my lakland.

if i had sold that bass, i know i'd be spending my days trying to replace it.

 

[Barticus]

It is a 4k bass so yeah as long as I spend maybe half max

An LT likely won’t be $4k in a used market, do the math, research and evaluation before making a decision you may regret later. I say this as someone with experience who recently bought a Euro LT for way less than that.

 

[Lava]

Yes. Do it.

 

[bordinco90]

I feel ya! I just bought an Ibanez GSR100EX from Sweetwater. It was about $220 shipped to my door. It plays better than many of the higher Ibanez SRs and even some MIA Fenders that I've owned. Maybe I just got lucky, but I'm digging this one. Wouldn't hesitate to gig with it.