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I've noticed that many times, sellers in the classifieds will share the reason their bass is for sale is because "this bass deserves to be played." It’s kind of a curious phrase.
Maybe it’s guilt for having paid a lot of money and not putting in the time?
If you're the "Why are you selling?" person it's highly unlikely I will take you seriously anyway!
A combination of guilt and the cold slap of reality. I'm getting older (...who isn't?), gigs are drying-up, and I don't want my surviving family members saddled with the task of parting the stuff out. I've whittled down the inventory to four basses and two amp rigs....combined value is probably less than a motorcycle / import auto / boat repair. It's not really a "deserves to be played" scenario...more like I want the future owner to be overcome by the "wow" factor and of the impression he's stumbled upon the Hope diamond.
Riis
So weird isn’t it. I don’t think I’ve ever asked that question… I’d think it was really rude if someone asked me!
“Uhhhh to buy other stuff? You know, it’s mine and I decided I didn’t need it anymore?”
I have one bass and one guitar that I keep for this reason."This bass deserves to be burned as firewood."
i got a bass here recently. It was my dream bass/specs… but it sold three times in 2021. And twice three years before that. Sure it had a few dings… bit i had to ask the question. And i asked it to the two prior owners figuring there must be some inherent flaw. Bit one loved it for year and replaced it with a fully custom model of the same bass… the next needed the money and sold many bases… the final that sold it to me did not like the tone. My experience so far is that it is a perfectly fine bass. Just a few dings. But i was nervous… i wont lie… because it was not a cheap bass.
Hahah. Yeah curiosity is a thing. And when you operate in the used market… especially the current one… it is easy to buy and sell the same bass at no loss… maybe a gain. So it is easy to buy/sell/try and just flip. Unlike most women, Bases dont complain if you fool around. Many great basses are sold for this reason. (We all have different tastes).yeah I guess fair enough in that case, if you’re thinking “this one’s up for sale again!?” - that’d probably make me curious. Although knowing me it’d be curiosity to the point of needing to buy it just to see what was wrong with it… yeah, i’ve never been great with money!
I beg to differ, Erica needs a good home.Why do people feel a need to list a reason for the sale in the first place? Its an inanimate object and doesn't need anything including a good home.![]()
Probably to preempt the very common question of “why are you selling it?” Which is code for “you are selling it, so something must be wrong with it… but i don't want to offend you by outright saying it, but i have suspicions.”Why do people feel a need to list a reason for the sale in the first place? Its an inanimate object and doesn't need anything including a good home.![]()
So weird isn’t it. I don’t think I’ve ever asked that question… I’d think it was really rude if someone asked me!
“Uhhhh to buy other stuff? You know, it’s mine and I decided I didn’t need it anymore?”
Probably to preempt the very common question of “why are you selling it?” Which is code for “you are selling it, so something must be wrong with it… but i don't want to offend you by outright saying it, but i have suspicions.”
my questions are usually, why are you selling, how is the neck, and asking about any damage if not explicitly photographed.