Torn to sell a sentimental bass

[squish]

A few years back, after a rough patch in our relationship my wife buys me a nifty bass off Craigslist. It's a giant Washburn semi-acoustic electric bass. Lots of binding and inlays. Fancy and tough sounding. But it is uncomfortable to play, has a long reach, the biggest semi body I've ever seen, and I have three other basses (P, J, SR) that I always grab first. The Washburn sounds killer, but it NEVER gets played. In any other case I'd move it, but since it is a symbolic peace offering, I'm not so sure.
Anyone have a sentimental instrument that you can't let go?

 

[two fingers]

I am usually not one for keeping basses that are not played. But in this case, if you don't really need the money or space, I would keep that one. She is a woman. It will mean more to her that you keep it than it will mean to you to get a few bucks for it. If it were worth $3K I would say go for it. But it isn't. Keep it. And play it in front of her every now and then. It'll make her smile.

 

[bassbully]

No not really with todays market its easy to buy and sell. If I lost the bond to it..it goes.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

It would be wise to keep it. I have an AM J I was going to sell to offset the purchase of a G&L SB-2T. I told my wife and she went to tears. She bought me a custom pickguard for it for my birthday. She said I was not allowed to sell any basses. However, she didn't forbid my buying any more.

 

[two fingers]

It would be wise to keep it. I have an AM J I was going to sell to offset the purchase of a G&L SB-2T. I told my wife and she went to tears. She bought me a custom pickguard for it for my birthday. She said I was not allowed to sell any basses. However, she didn't forbid my buying any more.

Seems like the wife, and the bass, are keepers.

 

[garp]

My general philosophy on such matters is: If you don't need the money to keep a roof over your head or to put food into a child's mouth, don't sell it. Yes, I've sold basses that I simply didn't "bond" with, but it sounds as though your Washburn (a.k.a. "symbolic peace offering") is a tad more significant than "just another bass."

 

[Flaked Beans]

I am usually not one for keeping basses that are not played. But in this case, if you don't really need the money or space, I would keep that one. She is a woman. It will mean more to her that you keep it than it will mean to you to get a few bucks for it. If it were worth $3K I would say go for it. But it isn't. Keep it. And play it in front of her every now and then. It'll make her smile.

This! ^ ^

 

[dave64o]

(Sniff) Sorry, something must have gotten into my eye ...

Yeah, in this case you need to keep it. It would probably be worth letting her see you play it once in a while, too, even if you don't gig it.

I've owned about 15 basses but I haven't had any that had that kind of sentimental value. So, other than the two that I concluded are lifetime keepers, they've all been on permanent probation and can go anytime I find something else I want to try.

 

[DigitalMan]

I would get the bass appraised and then compare it to the going local rate for a divorce attorney.

 

[squish]

I pulled the big Washburn out of its case tonight. It's been many months since I've looked at it. I gave it a good polish, tuned it up, and played it for a while. It really looks great (big). Kidding. It is beautiful (like her). Sounds great too. There are a lot of parallels here, guys. Thanks.