What happens to old basses?

[Chickenwheels]

My stepfather has a barn. There’s all sorts of “treasure” in there, but nothing to get excited about.
I found a Riverhead Unicorn Bass with a missing bridge in there last time I looked.
There’s at least 8 other forgotten instruments in there that I’m aware of.
I’m guessing this isn’t too uncommon.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

Seems most of them were sold and sent to Japan, only to be placed back on the market with inflated prices to be sold to those of us reliving our pasts and grabbing the guitars once again.

My guess is to check your closet over the next five years.

This!

I have given up searching ebay for vintage basses. The first 10 pages are usually sold from Japan at insane prices. Many of them are double listings of the same bass from different sellers. I've seen basses there with water damage, mold stains and practically rotten necks listed at unbelievable prices. I picture a huge Japanese warehouse where pre-CBS P-basses are left to die...

 

[bettyseldest]

My friend bought it secondhand in 70, I borrowed it and fitted new nut and strings in 77, last spoke to him around 2011, last played it a couple of years ago. Who knows what will happen to it in the future!

 

[Chickenwheels]

There are at least two stores in Sydney that have a good supply of wacky and cool old basses, although their main focus is on sourcing old MIJ effects pedals. Bass-wise, MIJ imports feature heavily, especially 80s oddities and quality clones of US classics.
This market seems new and growing here.

 

[dvs20]

I know for a fact I launched an Ibanez GSR-205 into a dumpster around 2007.

 

[staurosjohn]

I know for a fact I launched an Ibanez GSR-205 into a dumpster around 2007.

 

[micguy]

I had a parts bass with a Dean body (which I had to modify to work), and a 66 jazz neck that...someone decided to ‘borrow” from my house, without my permission.

 

[rtslinger]

Old basses in the hands of old bass players end up in estate sales is my guess

 

[klejst]

They could come to my house, I'd take care of them all.

But in reality, the old basses in the attic usually are found and sold sometimes for peanuts because the second or third gen's of the family don't know what dad's/grandpa's bass really was worth but props to the new owner, especially if they have morals. Some are never found, it's a cool yet strange thing to think about.

 

[DirkP]

they have a much higher life expectancy and a higher chance to get re-married than most of the stuff we surround ourselfes with.

 

[EmuBass]

 

[garak7]

 

[Sbassman Scratch]

View attachment 3347643

Gibson stock after the flood?

I notice all the metal has been removed. Make a great bonfire.

 

[SoundOfOneHandSlapping]

Perhaps they all wind up at Hard Rock Cafes, it seems they accept instruments from just about anyone, now. I spotted this in Ho Chi Minh City...

I thought I saw my old Charvel hanging in the can.

 

[gln1955]

They are hiding away, transforming into closet queen vintage gems.

My very first electric guitar was a POS and ended up as a teenager's angst wall art piece. Guitars like that are now selling for close to $1000.

 

[bassliner50]

They (old basses) are under my bed. Surrounded by dust bunnies.

 

[43ManSquamish]

Old basses never die. They just ride that last sustained note - the coolest note you've ever heard, echoing with all of the mojo earned by every instrument and player through time - to Musical Nirvana.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Hay lofts in barns in central Wisconsin, stored in the cheap chipboard case?

Oh wait, that's where my '78 Musicmaster was found.

 

[Muttleybass]

I think they're handed down and eventually wind up smashed to bits in a teenage punk band.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Does anyone have actual numbers of P and J basses built early on by Fender?