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The Bass That Got Away

#21
Back in the 80's a local business man who used to be a musician took a liking to me and the guitar player in my band. He had a 59 P bass in immaculate condition, and a 60 something model telecaster and was going to sell them to each of us for around 400 bucks a piece. Neither of us jumped on it. Dumbasses both of us.
 
#23
Back about 74 or so, when I was first starting to play, my dad had been talking to a guy he knew who was down on his luck, and wanted to sell a bass. We got there and saw a red bass with matching peghead. The guy said it was about 10 years old so he wasn't asking much for it. I told my dad, "I kinda want a rock bass, not a Jazz Bass." and passed on it. If you just heard a loud thump, it was the sound of me kicking myself again for missing that opportunity when I was young and dumb!
 
#24
So was it a Fender Jazz? or just something some guy made in wood shop?



oyobass said:
Back about 74 or so, when I was first starting to play, my dad had been talking to a guy he knew who was down on his luck, and wanted to sell a bass. We got there and saw a red bass with matching peghead. The guy said it was about 10 years old so he wasn't asking much for it. I told my dad, "I kinda want a rock bass, not a Jazz Bass." and passed on it. If you just heard a loud thump, it was the sound of me kicking myself again for missing that opportunity when I was young and dumb!
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#25
Back about 1970 I had a '58 Jazz that I bought from the bank after they repo'd it. Cost me $50. A couple of years later I was short on cash so I sold it to a friend for $85 and a bag of reefer. I figured I did good because I doubled my money.

I also had a Gibson EB 3L, a long neck bass with double humbuckers that they only made for a short while, beautiful guitar. I sold, for a half way decent price but wish I never had.
 
#27
gjbassist said:
About four years ago I found a very nice used Warwick at a small local guitar shop. He had taken it in on trade and had very little interest in it to that point. IIRC he was asking about $850 for it. It had a very cool silver paint job that I was told must have been a custom order. I didn't know much about Warwick basses so I posted a pic of the bass (linked directly from the stores site) here on TB. The next day I went back to put a deposit to hold it and it had been sold. Owner told me someone outside the area bought it over the phone that evening. That will teach me to put direct links on the web to something I plan to buy!:(
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Bummer! TB biting you in the @$$.
 
#29
Frayed Knot said:
Back about 1970 I had a '58 Jazz that I bought from the bank after they repo'd it. Cost me $50. A couple of years later I was short on cash so I sold it to a friend for $85 and a bag of reefer. I figured I did good because I doubled my money.

I also had a Gibson EB 3L, a long neck bass with double humbuckers that they only made for a short while, beautiful guitar. I sold, for a half way decent price but wish I never had.
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Fender introduced the Jazz Bass in August 1960. It was called the Deluxe at the time.
 
#30
Found an EB-335 with minor buckle rash for 200 bucks non-working in a pawn shop.. Took it home, fished out the jack and found a broken wire... Fixed that and it worked fine.

Being 20-21, I thought it was too heavy, and was prone to feedback. I sold it for $450 shortly thereafter... what an idiot!
 
#32
Back in the 80s, a white Alembic on W48th Street in NYC for $600.

About 5 or 6 years ago, a white MM Sterling with black pickgard in Albany, NY for a little over $600 with case and it looked mint too!

And just a few months back, this nice looking Carvin SB5000 that was in stock that no one wanted for months!!! Someone finally nabbed it for a little over $900. Here's a pic:
 
#33
TL5 said:
Was it my Rick that got away in the late 80s?
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fwiw, I had a Sun Cliseum way back when as well.. :hmm:
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It was a Jetglo Rickenbacker. '73 I believe. BTW the Sunn Coliseum is truly awesome. I ran it thru two 4x12's last week. All I can say is WOW.

And, Bassmickeyd, I really thought about killing him, but there were too many witnesses.
 
#35
I had a black MIM Jazz that sounded so amazing and felt so good. The funny thing about it was that there was a huge chunk of finish missing off the heel, but it sounded better than any Jazz bass I had ever played before. I played a ton of shows with it in my old band, but had to sell it once I switched instruments and needed cash. I miss that bass so bad.
 
#36
In 1989, someone gave me a '71 Precision for helping him set up a sound system a couple times. It was probably stolen but... anyway I didnt like it because it was too heavy, so I sold it to my local music store. He gave me $150 and proudly displayed it with the matching Jazz bass and Strat. I took the money and bought my "Dream Bass"...a BC Rich NJ Eagle...was I stupid or what?
 
#38
I have told this story before, but sit down kiddies and I will tell it again..

Back in 89 I bought a brand spanking new MIJ Fender Jazz Special Fretless (black) from GC that I kept for a few months. Loved it, but my Fender fretted P was have a serious case of Neck warpage that could not be fixed. I was in a gigging band and my fretless skills were not up to snuff yet. I had to get a good fretted. Found my main Bass (a Pink Barrington) at another music store, but I couldn't afford it. Brought in the P bass and was offered $150, but I still couldn't swing the deal. So, I had to bring in the Jazz Special. I think he bought it for $350 (I can not remember) but owner told me that I could buy it back for the same amount if it was still around. Well, right after I walked out, another bass player I know had walked in. Turns out he had headed into GC the same day I bought the bass, but just missed it by a few minutes. Now, he walks in and see this bass that had gotten away from him in this other shop and he bought it on the spot, I came back a few weeks later with $350, but the owner told me it was gone. Fast forward a few years, I am talking to yet another bass player friend and lay this story on him and he tells me about how our friend John had wanted to buy that bass from GC , but when he went to get it, it was gone. Then John went into the other music shop and could not believe the bass was there. He had no idea I had bought it and sold it. I had lost contact with him right after he bought Fender. But I kick myself once a week for doing that. I had it and then a lost it! and someone else who had lost it, found it!
 

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