should I trade my bass?

[sonicnuance]

This is a toughie

This is my first bass that my dad bought me as a teenager (I saved all my neighborhood gardening money for a Pbass, went to pay for it and he said "nah I got it. But you better learn how to play that thing!" He's since regretted that comment )

Well that was 26 years ago. It is a USA Fender Precision that I played a LOT. It has dings, scratches - lotsa mojo. The pickup never thrilled me and it buzzed so I replaced it with a Seymour Duncan Quarter pounder and strung it with flatwounds.

I was never quite satisfied with the tone variety and playability (nothing wrong with it, just didn't quite "fit" me if you know what I mean) and have gravitated toward five string Musicman basses. (I am not slamming Fenders btw, I think they make nice instruments)

So my question is, since I almost never use it and could use a five string fretless, will I regret trading this bass considering the sentimental value and the potential resale (I don't have the original pickups or pots)? I would trade for a five string Jazz bass (Fender or otherwise), or Musicman (Stingray, Bongo, Sterling, BigAl or Reflex)

Thanks for your help,
mozar

 

[TheBasicBassist]

I, personally, wouldn't. But I'm a sentimental guy.

 

[rocknrollbandit]

if it was mine, I wouldn't

 

[ThunderousFunk]

I've done that, and regretted it all!!!

 

[hdracer]

They would have to bury it with me. You have had it this long, just keep it. You will most likely regret getting rid of it.

 

[Staccato]

Never quite satisfied...

There's your answer, time to evolve!

I would miss it, but then I'm sentimental.

 

[sonicnuance]

Never quite satisfied...

There's your answer, time to evolve!

I would miss it, but then I'm sentimental.

Sorry, I don't understand. Are you saying keep it and I should change or sell it and "evolve" my bass collection?

 

[CultofJay]

I see a lot of people express regret over selling starter basses just because it was the first bass they owned and there are so many memories attached to that. Your "starter" bass is a MIA Fender. Keep it! I learned to play on my high school's '78 p bass. Talk about character. I've since learned that it has just been sitting in storage for the last 7 years and that breaks my heart.

Think of it this way... You'll never regret keeping a bass even if it's not played, but you may regret selling it once it's gone.

 

[John S]

It will cost you nothing to keep it, and some day your son may want to play it.

 

[cassanova]

I got rid of my first bass that was a Christmas gift from my parents. I was 16 when I got it and about 21 or 22 when I got rid of it. I didn't think much of it at the time but now that I'm much older (40) I really regret parting with it.

Not to mention, it's a MIA P. Not exactly what most would call a "starter" bass.

 

[NecroticImbecil]

I would keep it; for me the sentimental value would outweigh the pathetic trade in value any used instrument has. If you could trade it even for a bass you know you would love, that's a tougher call to make.

I do regret that after reading about Jaco I ruined my first bass with a fretless conversion/epoxy attempt (ah, youth). I still have the body, waiting for the right (cheap) neck to come along. You could always try something different with it...if you have always had flats on it, but it never floated your boat, try rounds, for example.

 

[bass-flyer]

I, personally, wouldn't. But I'm a sentimental guy.

+1

Buy another bass.

 

[Exploiter8]

Keep it.

 

[ThunderousFunk]

Think of it this way... You'll never regret keeping a bass even if it's not played, but you may regret selling it once it's gone.

Amen! I have a similar story to cassanova. I got a Washburn XB800 for Christmas, when I was round 15yrs old. it went through a buttload of gigs/shows with me. When I was in my early 20's, had a signed band, and a Warwick Corvette Std 5string, I did't think I would play that bass anymore cause I "moved up". Now I look back in regret, cause it was a bass that my father got me, and modded for me with EMGs, and was the bass that I used to record our 1st demo CD. Cash will never afford you the sentimental moments you have with items like that, no matter how "beginner, not your thing" you think they are.

 

[murphy]

Sell it!!!!! Get what you really want!

 

[Infidelity]

Keep it.!

 

[George Himmel]

I personally am not big on P-Basses. That said, I'd keep it 'til the day I died, or my future offspring proved him/herself worthy to take it on.

 

[desertsolace]

keep it. I`ll always regret getting rid of my first: fender precision lyte deluxe... from that and also always hearing my dad regrettably reminisce some of his first instruments I`ll only now trade an instrument that I bought as a trial. Besides a p-bass isn`t an easily replaceable tone; if you ever need to dial that in on your new bass it won`t be easy.

You can always mod: I still have my first electric guitar: a squier strat now with sd hot rail at bridge, tele pups at neck and mid...

Route in a MM pup at the bridge.

 

[sonicnuance]

I got rid of my first bass that was a Christmas gift from my parents. I was 16 when I got it and about 21 or 22 when I got rid of it. I didn't think much of it at the time but now that I'm much older (40) I really regret parting with it.

Not to mention, it's a MIA P. Not exactly what most would call a "starter" bass.

The bass is made in the USA by the way

Doesn't MIA stand for Made in Asia?

 

[sonicnuance]

It kinda hurts to see it unplayed... but I'll learn to deal with it

What you have convinced me of is that I will regret trading it. My father is still alive but when he passes on, just seeing the bass will bring a smile to my face for the kindness of him buying it for me after making me earn it for several years

Thanks, much appreciated everyone.