Which Memorable Bass do You Regret NOT Buying?

[bassbenj]

That is easy. there were two Used Roscoe Beck 5 strings showed up at GC. At the time I was actually in the market for a Fender-shaped headstock. One RB was totally sweet the other was a dog. Since I had just started my Fender quest I was just a little reluctant to just buy the first thing I found so I himmed and hawed and decided to wait. Overnight I came to my senses, blasted back to GC in the morning and got there 15 minutes after they opened. TOO LATE! Just sold! Ya snooze ya lose! The dog RB hung around GC for months.

Hey, I figured, well, if I REALLY wanted one I could always just order a new one from Fender I mean a new one was not THAT much money. But eventually I ended up with a Fender Jazz deluxe V. But then fate reared it's ugly head and Fender goes and discontinues the Roscoe Beck! (like Fender does to so much cool stuff) Prices immediately become stratospheric and my RB luck had just totally run out.

 

[Dincrest]

Several years ago, back when Bass Specialties in Bensalem PA was a brick-and-mortar store, I was in the market for a good 5-string. The best one I played there was this preowned Devon 5-string on consignment. That thing looked, felt, played, and sounded like a million bucks. However, it was about $600 more than I had to spend so I ended up going for a Zon Mosaic Standard 5-string instead. The Zon was a fine instrument, but I wish I had splurged on that Devon. To me, that's one bass that got away.

 

[TTPbass1]

A red 1978 Musicmaster for about US$ 250.00. Collected the money in a couple of days but the bass was gone.

 

[blowinblue]

A month or so after purchasing my Ken Lawrence in February of 2013 this Pete Hilton 5-string came up for sale in the TB classifieds. At the time I had money to burn and this bass hit all the right buttons for me. Sadly, my wife pushed back hard. Seeing as how I had just spent a bundle on the KL it was hard to argue with her. In the overall scheme of things it would have made no lasting impact on our finances, but one of the secrets to a long marriage is respecting your mates opinions. I still think about this bass from time to time. If I could have chosen only one of the two the decision I made was the correct one. The KL still blows my mind each and every time I pick it up. Pics are from the TB ad. It was advertised as in like new condition, as I recall. I hope it went to a good home.

M. M.

 

[Shlabotnik]

Back in 1991 I saw a Black Gloss Wal Mk1 in the window at Rudy's Music in NYC. Sticker was (I believe) $1200. That was a LOT of $ for me (still is!) but I had some graduation money to spend on a new bass yet I held off... next time I was there it was gone. Such regrets! It's my dream bass.

 

[ChriszW]

Not a bass but a guitar. The Replacements are my absolute favorite band of all time and I missed out on a chance to buy one of Paul Westerberg's long discontinued signature guitars when I was on a pilgrimage to Minneapolis. It would've been the perfect footnote of my trip.

 

[B-Mac]

This
1978 Gibson Ripper
It was a second
the seller was selling it for $1250 and $60 shipping on Reverb
I tried to talk him down to $1140 with $60 shipping so it would be an even $1200
Even came with pristine original HSC
I have never seen one in this condition for this price since.

I keep kicking myself ever since!

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

There was a 1973 Precision bass with a tort guard and maple board at Killer Vintage Guitars in St. Louis for $2k. Played great and had a lot of wear, but was all original. I met the guitarist for El Monstero there, so i didn't leave disappointed.

 

[bassdude51]

Back around 1975 or '6, a person was selling an Oly white + tort 1965 Jazz Bass for $250 in a local classified paper. Didn't have the money at the time. I was about 24 and newly wed.

 

[maxschrek]

A natural, maple board fretless 1978 Stingray in 1986 for $300 and Chris Squire's non-reverse Tbird for $1200 in 1992.

 

[roogbass]

In 1997 i went on holidays in former yugoslavia, after the war. So by then it was Croatia.
I met a bassplayer there, he knew a guy in Zagreb who had a pristine 1962 Jazzbass for sale.
So we drove to Zagreb and i played the bass, it was a fantastic sounding beauty.
He wanted DM4000 for it, approx $2500,-
To much for me...

I always kept dreaming of that bass.
6 weeks ago i bought a 1962 jazz, it was worth it.

 

[MCS4]

Not exactly on topic, but my dream bass would be a lefty Pedulla MVP four string in arctic night finish, and I missed out on a chance to buy a lefty MVP in a different finish for something like $1,600 on a different online forum because I didn't see the thread until after it had already sold. I would have loved to have picked that up and possibly had it refinished one day... and now Pedulla is gone for good, so there are decent odds that I might never have another chance given the relatively small number of lefty MVPs out there, and I definitely won't be able to have Pedulla do a refinish either way.

 

[Iridescentone]

Quite a few over the decades, but there's one that I'll go to my grave regretting not buying. In 1979 I found a brand new NOS '63 Burgundy Mist L-series P bass in a store that was going out of business. A Fender dealer, the store owner snatched it at NAMM in 1963 for his personal collection and stowed it away.

Included were the white/blk tolex case, original Fender cardboard shipping box, candy, and paperwork. The bass was originally destined for Japan after a brief stop at NAMM. Asking price?.....$650. I was practically broke at the time so I had to pass on it.

 

[Hot Rats]

In the late 80's I should have purchased a Factor bass.

I also regret not picking up a Dargie Delight and a limited edition in Buttercream EBMM sterling's.

 

[DWBass]

Peavey Cirrus and Millenniums when they were being blown out at MusiciansFriend!!