"This bass deserves to be played." Does it?

[bobyoung53]

Reality is that the bass didn’t make the cut

But why? Some people just don't like certain basses, it's not always the bass, could be a player who doesn't take time to get accustomed to new style basses, cough cough, Rickenbacker, Gibsons, and then bashes them up and down for the rest of his life.

 

[DC Stevens]

“…it deserves to be played…”
1. Purchased by someone with deep pockets and no talent; it’s got two less strings than a guitar… “how difficult could it be?”
2. Purchased by a real bassist that’s been surviving on a couple of strong instruments for a long time, finds the bass of his/her dreams and significant other can’t get their head around what said bassist knows is a good deal on a dream…
3. This is a sales pitch by a bassist that dug deep on a purchase and immediately knew they were driving a Porsche that handled like a minivan…
I’m playing bass for almost 40 years and have more instruments at my disposal than Howard Hughs had gallon bottles of pee scattered around his flat when he passed away… and I almost always show up to a gig with the same bass; and when I don’t, the keyboard player will say, “gee, I’ve never seen that bass before…”
When you’re selling a nice base that you haven’t been able to connect with for some reason, it’s better to say it’s needs a good home than try to explain why it doesn’t meet your quirky expectations… and yes, we’re bass players… WE’RE QUIRKY!!! But we’re essentially stable and reliable, and don’t subject our bandmates to ego/drama silliness like lead vocals or guitarists!!!

 

[SleepyShark]

I just think it's a way of saying that you don't like seeing the instrument sitting around not being played. If you have others you prefer, why not offer it up to someone who might enjoy it?

Absolutely.

Is it a trite thing to say on a listing? Sure. But everyone here can understand the sentiment behind it. Some people here just love being obtuse about everything.

There are many reasons to get rid of a good instrument.

 

[Lesfunk]

Although I’ve bought and sold many basses over the years, I’m not a collector.
I tried the collector thing and it just left me dissatisfied. I didn’t enjoy owning an instrument that I won’t play just because it may be worth more in time.
My enjoyment comes from using them.
I choose an instrument bases on a perceived use I have or a sound I’m looking for.
Sometimes it doesn’t pan out and the bass gets offered for sale (hopefully to someone who will play it) , but all my basses get played. That’s what they’re for.

 

[Frank Vozak]

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.

Whenever I read that, I always think, "What does that mean?” Is it just another way of saying, "this bass is worth a lot of money and I'd rather have some cash-in-hand than see an expensive bass just sit there." Maybe it’s guilt for having paid a lot of money and not putting in the time? Or maybe it’s a nice bass that you don’t like but hope someone else will?

I don’t think I’ve ever used that phrase in a listing (I could be wrong on that), but for me, it would be because I'm not vibing with it. I've sold a lot of basses that I just didn't get along with, but the buyers ended up loving them. They just needed an owner who appreciated them more than I did.

When you read “this bass deserves to be played,” what does that mean to you?

hen somebody is honest they are saying that the bass is a good one but does not get used .

 

[Frank Vozak]

"I don't want to sell it, as it's the best bass I've ever owned. However, wife give me no choice."

Had the same problem when I wanted a Kala U Bass and my wife says you don't need five basses, your are not a pro.. So had to sell my Squier VM Jaguar

 

[Flaked Beans]

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.

Whenever I read that, I always think, "What does that mean?” Is it just another way of saying, "this bass is worth a lot of money and I'd rather have some cash-in-hand than see an expensive bass just sit there." Maybe it’s guilt for having paid a lot of money and not putting in the time? Or maybe it’s a nice bass that you don’t like but hope someone else will?

I don’t think I’ve ever used that phrase in a listing (I could be wrong on that), but for me, it would be because I'm not vibing with it. I've sold a lot of basses that I just didn't get along with, but the buyers ended up loving them. They just needed an owner who appreciated them more than I did.

When you read “this bass deserves to be played,” what does that mean to you?

That means the bass shuold be played and loved by some one instead of sitting in it's case most of the time. Like my '77 P bass that I sold for peanuts back in 2014.

 

[Eilif]

In an ad for a production electric bass it likely means almost nothing. Still, the sentiment resonates. I try to own no bases that aren't played.

Mostly though it reminds me of an interaction I had with my former upright bass instructor Warren Benfield.

He pulled out an ISB magazine and turned to a picture of a gorgeous hundred(s) year old instrument. It had scales carved into the scroll and a little dragon carved in the back just below the neck. He explained that it had been his orchestral bass before he retired from performance. I asked why he didn't have it anymore and it was made clear to me that such an instrument could not simply be kept at home for practice and instruction. It would be a shame to do so. It must be put in the hands of an active performer and shared with the world!

This sentiment runs deep in the classical string instrument community with priceless instruments still in players hands even if their value puts them out of reach for ownership. The players and their personal and institutional benefactors all know these instruments must be played!

Whether or not that sentiment is justified with an "ordinary" electric instrument is up to the reader.

 

[Bass Viking]

This bass deserves a spanking!

 

[sleddogn]

I have often been asked why i'm selling a particular bass. Maybe 8 or so times out of 50ish i've sold over the years.

How about listing your bass with all its build specs and weight? Thats all you need to know. All the rest is noise

 

[fretno]

this one is a sluuuuuuut

 

[BadSanta1281]

That bass deserves nothing and it doesn't care what anyone thinks about it.

That bass is quite content to keep sleeping in its comfortable case indefinitely.

That bass is so lazy it won't make any music by itself.

I deserve a bass that cares more about me.

 

[Frank Vozak]

As I think back, I had several basses in this category:

1. 67 Jazz Bass---did not play comfortably

2. 67 Fender Mustang Bass: My original bass that I still loved --played like a dream but the original pickups
were weak and I did not know how to get better after market pickups installed
The singer and rhythm guitar player Danny Pace who was a good friend c ontacted
my parents to see if I would sell the bass to him. After I left for college they could
not find another bass player so Danny became the bass player and the bass he
could afford was crap. Danny was always short of money with a college student
wife and a young child. He asked me if I would sell him my Mustang for $100.
Gibson EB-O was my main bass and I no longer needed the bass as backup.
Didn't really need the money and Danny was a good friend so I sold it to
him--I'm guessing that was all he could afford. Sadly I lost contact with him
and only now found out he died 2 yrs ago.
3. 67 Gibson EB-O---Bought as floor model in 1968. Played in high school band and orchestra plus multiple
rock bands plus pep band in college, received athletic letter. Then went to the Army travel
with it to San Antonio, Fairbank, Nashville and then Chicago but could never connect with
other musicians. After ,many years of not playing I figured I'd never play it so sold it for $850 to a vintage guitar and bass dealer/rock musician from SAint Louis. He peeled off 8 c notes and a 50 for the4transaction
4. 2018 Squier Precision P/J-----as a really good bass but I could not get the playing comfort I was looking for so I sold it to a local music store for way too little. But was concerned my wife would think I have too many basses.

5. Squier CV Jaguar Bass----w-hen I bought a Kala U-Bass my wife said one had to go so I sold this bass
to Chicago Music Exchange which both kept me under the 4 bass limit but
also paid for the Kala U Bass

I intend to die owning my Squier Mini P, my FenderCB-60, my Kala U Bass, and my Glarry PB with maple fretboard and wilkinson pickups

 

[Runlikegregg]

Personally I don't really want extra basses around.
I actually do think that basses and guitars should be played.
And I find I have no use for more than 2 basses.
If I get a new one I sell an old one.
When I stopped playing my 77 Ric it broke my heart to sell, but felt silly having that beauty just sit in the case unplayed.
And luckily it was worth some money! Ha ha ha ha.

 

[tb-player]

Maybe "this bass deserves to be played" actually means "I deserve to get paid" (instead of watching this expensive bass just sit there)

 

[jmattbassplaya]

Maybe "this bass deserves to be played" actually means "I deserve to get paid" (instead of watching this expensive bass just sit there)

I think it’s perfectly acceptable to look at an asset that’s not being utilized and say you would rather turn it into something liquid that can be used elsewhere.

I also think it’s perfectly reasonable for someone to not enjoy seeing good instruments go to waste when they could be used elsewhere.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

There’s also the investment aspect to consider.

If you always pay full MSRP and stick to mid-priced consumer gear, music can be a hole that you throw money into.

If you’re a little more selective (and lucky) you can double your money in ten years. If I’d had the $$$, it would have been a smart move to order 3 Dingwalls in popular colours when I got mine in 2013.

Looked at that way, it’s a lot more fun than investing the money at 10%…