The one that got away...

[El_Charro]

Never mind regretting selling basses long after they are gone, what about basses you could have bought but didn't?

Back in 1976 my wife was several months pregnant and we were saving money to build a house on 10 acres we had already bought and paid for. Not bad for being 22 years old.

Then a friend was selling a Fender Precision with a Traynor amp for $500.

Now $500 in 1976 was a significant amount of cash, my wife had just given me a fretless Japanese bass for Valentine's day, we lived in a one-room cabin with no electricity or running water and though I had a steady job, I had no prospect of earning back that $500 playing music so it just wasn't a practical or economically wise thing to do at the time.

He'd had that bass since the 1960s so goodness knows what vintage it was.

So I let it go.

But sometimes I wonder what if...

——————-
UGH…STILL kicking myself for not buying an Ibanez 400 that I found at GC in Las Vegas in 2014…

I wasn’t playing yet but desperately wanted that bass…

Talked myself out of it bc I was afraid I wouldn’t play it and we lived in an apartment at the time and didn’t think I could just play with just headphones…

If only I knew how much I would end up loving playing all these years later, I would’ve bought it…

Started playing last year (better late than never?), but still to this day I wish I had just gone for it…I don’t think it was the model either-I think that particular bass just was made of a really good piece of wood…

Oh well… *sigh*

Thanks! \m/

 

[Gothic]

I had the chance to get a custom headless fretless fiver from a local luthier that the original client apparently didn't want. It was at a greatly reduced price and it was one of (if not THE) most comfortable basses I've ever played. Not to mention expertly made. I loved that thing. My damn "logical" side said to not spend that much and sadly prevailed and I said eff it and bought something cheaper instead. Still regret it to this day.

 

[JimmyM]

Can't say I ever regretted not getting the basses I passed on. I regret not having the money for some of the basses I wanted, but I did fine with what I had.

 

[OOD]

Sound like you made the correct choice not getting it. It’s not about the gear anyway. You always make due with what you have. If I didn’t have any instrument I’d be singing.

 

[lug]

Lefty Birdsong just recently on Ebay. The "Buy it now" price was great but I hesitated just a bit too long.