Would you throw out an old bass?

[RichardW]

I have an old bass--the first one I bought as part of a Hartke starter kit. It's an entry level instrument for sure. I haven't played it in in more than 10 years, having moved on to higher quality basses. Never gigged with it. It's not particularly beautiful. The last time I touched it, the electronics were kinda shot; I'm sure they've just decayed. I have no intention of playing it again, so it's been sitting around gathering dust.

I don't think it has any re-sale value and I'm not that much of a gear-head that I would rebuild or modify it.

I feel sort of bad thinking about putting it out in the trash.

What would you do with it?

 

[FranF]

Offer it here. I'm sure it's worth something.

 

[FranF]

Or make it marginally playable, and offer it free to a local music school, or inner city program

 

[Gorn]

Yah. Put it up for sale for $0 plus shipping. Or try to get it close to functional and give it to a local school or something.

 

[Vinnie Boombatz]

Donate it to a school.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Any school with a music program will take it.

 

[mellowinman]

Agree with the posters that say donate it. Be a pal, and get it as playable as possible first.

 

[73BLow]

I've been debating the same thing myself. I have an Ibanez acoustic electric and I can't get the Fishman sonicore tuner/eq/preamp to work or I would donate it to one of the local schools. I think I paid around $389 for it new almost 10 years ago and never really used it. Every now and then I try to source a replacement preamp but can't see putting another $100 into something I don't want.

If I leave it on the sidewalk in front of my house I'm sure it will disappear in minutes.

 

[Lesfunk]

Give it to a kid for Christs sake!

 

[garp]

No matter how terrible it might be, it just could ignite the passion of a next-generation player, and that's reason enough to donate it. I recently had the pleasure of helping to donate a drum kit to a young person who has demonstrated spectacular talent in percussion. It was a very rewarding experience for me.

 

[Trouztrouz]

You need to use more of a pushing motion, like throwing a shotput. Don't throw it like a baseball or you'll throw your back out.

 

[micguy]

I've donated perfectly good basses to the Intonation Music Workshop in Chicago - they find kids starting out that can use them. There may or may not be some organization like that near you - I'd try a search and see if you can find someone that can use it. Some of those organizations will take instruments in any condition and fix them up.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

The only reason I'd toss it is if it was completely non-functional & beyond repair.

but even then I'd nick all the salvageable parts off it

 

[sowilson]

Get it playable and then donate it to Goodwill (keep the receipt). Then at tax time deduct it as a charitable deduction.

 

[kodiakblair]

@73BLow

You can get a similar replacement for $10.
Guitar Pickup Tuner Acoustic Electric Guitar Bass Preamplifier EQ Equalizer EF | eBay

 

[Ross W. Lovell]

I have an old bass--the first one I bought as part of a Hartke starter kit. It's an entry level instrument for sure. I haven't played it in in more than 10 years, having moved on to higher quality basses. Never gigged with it. It's not particularly beautiful. The last time I touched it, the electronics were kinda shot; I'm sure they've just decayed. I have no intention of playing it again, so it's been sitting around gathering dust.

I don't think it has any re-sale value and I'm not that much of a gear-head that I would rebuild or modify it.

I feel sort of bad thinking about putting it out in the trash.

What would you do with it?

GIve it a once over with new strings and donate to a school or ask a couple of bass teachers if they have a worthy student in need.

 

[FilTurd]

Donate it to a school.

Second that, public schools have lost a lot of funding for electives.

 

[UNICORN BASS]

+1 TO JUST ABOUT ALL THE REPLIES!

 

[JRA]

donate!

 

[MDBass]

I have an old bass--the first one I bought as part of a Hartke starter kit. It's an entry level instrument for sure. I haven't played it in in more than 10 years, having moved on to higher quality basses. Never gigged with it. It's not particularly beautiful. The last time I touched it, the electronics were kinda shot; I'm sure they've just decayed. I have no intention of playing it again, so it's been sitting around gathering dust.

I don't think it has any re-sale value and I'm not that much of a gear-head that I would rebuild or modify it.

I feel sort of bad thinking about putting it out in the trash.

What would you do with it?

Donate it.

My long neglected upright was donated to a after school music program for inner city kids, and I've done the same with a handful of other old/cheap electric basses.

Much better than simply throwing it away.