Sell surplus bass...... Or don't

[tpaul]

I would agree with the "sell it" crowd except for one thing most of them seem to have overlooked:

Gift. From. The. Wife.

Might want to try to make it more useful and enjoyable, before doing something drastic...

 

[Maxi Funkl]

There's gonna be a bunch of "I gigged for 30 years with one bass" responses coming.
The fact that you don't like this particular bass makes selling it a no brainer to me. If you're that nervous about not having a backup, sell the MIM J, pick up a cheaper Squier/Yamaha/Schecter/Peavey etc. that you do like and pocket a bit of extra cash for whatever else.

Good advice

 

[DrBnz]

I hear ya.... it took me years to finally appreciate the J-bass sound and I still prefer a "P" or a Stingray. Now selling any bass is a painful process. I'd try to trade up for something different to get you a #2 that you like.

 

[fhm555]

If you are busy enough you can’t be without an instrument for more than the average time in your area for an occasional setup, then you need a backup. I worked a lot and only owned 1 bass but I had access to a music store inventory if I needed to borrow one for a while, so I didn’t really need a backup.

 

[Lowendtech]

I would tell my wife that the J has so much sentimental value that I couldn’t risk anything happening to it so I couldn’t use it out of the house and it must stay in its safety corner.
Then I would respectfully ask my wife for a P bass for a backup as no self-respecting bassist should be without one.

Maybe she tells you to pound salt and sell the J.

or maybe you get a P bass.

you’re welcome.

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

I have no opinion on whether you sell this particular bass or not, but if you consider yourself even a semi-pro, you should have a "back-up" bass.

 

[FearNoEvil65]

If you don't like the bass, sell and get another you like more. If you gig it's always a good bet to have a backup instrument. Years ago I was playing and almost never brought a backup bass, but I decided to one night because I had put new strings on both and wanted to try them both out. Well a guy walked onto the stage during a break and knocked my bass over and broke 2 of the tuning pegs off. Bringing the 2nd bass saved my butt, as it was a large crown and not finishing the night wasn't an option.

 

[Tommy Sparks]

To echo what was said above,
strings make a big difference. If you can keep it and try different strings do so even just for fun.
If you need the cash at this time and you’re not liking the bass as is sell it.
I know my answer is kind of useless but I’ve sold basses and guitars in the past and regretted it. One bass till this day.

 

[sgiacomo]

Trade it for a Precision or something else you like.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Are you a working player? Definitely keep it. The day will come when you need a backup instrument OR you get a gig where a Fender is the appropriate choice. If you don't like the bass you should try different pickups, strings, better setup, etc.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

It’s all a trade off between how much you could use the cash versus how much you could use a backup if your SBMM had issues.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I have a Fender J bass MIM. Sits in the corner, I hardly ever touch it. When I do, I dont like the feel any more.

My main bass is a Sterling by Musicman which I love, purchased nearly 2 years ago. Great for all I do.

The J bass had flats on and I hung on to it, to use with synth pedals or have tuned down. The string tension was always too tight.

But I prefer sound/performance of Sterling with synth pedals.
Tried replacing roundwounds on J bass. Better action but still dont love it much.

Obvious answer - sell it. Money is tight, surplus item, could do with funds..... BUT..... what if Sterling gets damaged.....?? Do I need a spare back up??

Anyone similar? Anyone sold their 2nd bass and regretted it when main bass was out of action??

Help me decide please!! Thanks

I have a well used, very well loved Fender PB. I got it 19 years ago. It was used and its age is about 25 years. I’ve played it on well over a 1,000s gigs rehearsals and worship services. In that time the only repair it’s needed was the jack needed to be replaced that took 5 minutes. Before that bass I had a Rickenbacker for 34 years. The only repair it needed was to remove a small piece of lint from the contact points of the pickup selector switch.

My point is, while odd things can happen to instruments, odds are against it if reasonable care is given.

As.for your FB , my son , has a MIM Jazz the bass I bought him in 1996 when he was age 13.He played for the first 10 years of his career as a bassist in the Marine fleet band program until it was not presentable for Marine standards. When I bought it, I took the time to make sure it was playable, and it is still a very playable bass.

 

[Count Bassie]

I have a Fender J bass MIM. Sits in the corner, I hardly ever touch it. When I do, I dont like the feel any more.

My main bass is a Sterling by Musicman which I love, purchased nearly 2 years ago. Great for all I do.

The J bass had flats on and I hung on to it, to use with synth pedals or have tuned down. The string tension was always too tight.

But I prefer sound/performance of Sterling with synth pedals.
Tried replacing roundwounds on J bass. Better action but still dont love it much.

Obvious answer - sell it. Money is tight, surplus item, could do with funds..... BUT..... what if Sterling gets damaged.....?? Do I need a spare back up??

Anyone similar? Anyone sold their 2nd bass and regretted it when main bass was out of action??

Help me decide please!! Thanks

Sell the J.
Get another Sterling.

 

[CallMeAl]

If you’re gigging, I wouldn’t be without a backup. I think there’s value in further exploring new strings and sanding the neck again* and see if you can like the bass in that process.

But, you should like your backup! Selling it and getting a cheapie SUB bass would certainly be a good option too (sorry wifey.)

*my favorite neck is an old MIM, and I hate gloss necks. I got mine to a lovely satin with progression of sandpaper grits, starting at 600 I believe, stepping gradually down to 2000

 

[bassGtar]

You are going to have to estimate whether your buyer’s remorse will more or less than your seller’s regret, and then act accordingly.

If your wife gave you the bass, she already knows you don’t like it and is probably upset that you haven’t been more upfront about it. No-one wants to live with an elephant in the room. FWIW, I couldn’t find anywhere where you said it was a gift. Perhaps you could gift it to your wife (you are married, aren’t you?), so that you don’t have to deal with it.

 

[chris_b]

. . . . Sell surplus bass...... Or don't. . . .

You have 2 basses. . . . IMO that's a requirement, not a surplus.

Find another bass that you love to play and then sell the Jazz, but we all need 2 basses, just in case.

 

[39-Bassist]

Easy, if you like the MM then sell the Jazz and replace with MM as backup. (maybe a different configuration of pickups)

 

[G On Bass]

Sell the Fender, pick up a used current version of the Sterling Sub Ray basses as a backup and likely put some cash in your pocket in the process. No point in keeping a bass you don't like or play, and backups are life-savers.

 

[Andy Marshman]

My answer won't be popular with some people. I've got multiple basses at home, BUT I never take a spare to a gig, ever. In decades of playing, never had anything fail or get damaged. If I did, I'd borrow one in a hurry if I wasn't close to home. It's a risk, but that's my choice.
Ive got a new to me SBMM Stingray. I have no worries that it's gonna let me down. I say sell your surplus bass.

 

[tb-player]

Sell it and put the $$ aside for when you come across something you like.