Bass Ownership - Feeling Guilty?

[spongebob]

Quite an odd one this.

I own two bass - both quality pieces of kit - both I love and play wonderfully.

However, as of recent times, I now only play in one band, just covers 'round the pubs and odd function since the originals band fragmented.

I keep pondering if I should sell one of the basses - I just feel a bit guilty having two, when it's not like we're gigging every night or even every week! The cash would come in handy elsewhere, but it's not a desperate situation or anything.

Maybe it's just a funny time, but if this band split right now, I think I'd have a gap anyway, as I'm a little jaded with the whole thing anyway as we all get from time to time, especially with the disintegration of the originals project. Don't get me wrong, I'd never stop playing, but it's just a thought to play one bass to bits.

Could be an age thing - I was 39 this month, and years and years more of dragging around the pubs is kind of losing it's appeal - especially after a couple of recent, 'through the motions' gigs is dives.....

Please tell me we've all be through this temptation to start flogging, and just own TBH, what I need?

[discreet]

Not sure where the guilt is coming from... but if you don't need the cash then hang on to both of 'em. In my experience, and from what I've read on here, you're very likely to regret selling! There is 'seller's remorse' as well as 'buyer's remorse', I've discovered!

[bertbass]

I always need a spare just in case.

[chrismuzz]

It will cost you more in the long run as you'll be likely to want a 2nd bass again in future. I know this from experience, which is why I now own 5

[KevB]

Know what you mean, I have 4 decent basses now which is really at least one too many for general covers bands. If the market weren't so depressed I'd let one go but I'm not going to take a big loss on it so it'll probably end up being back up to a back up

[Big_Stu]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1365093299' post='2035273']
you're very likely to regret selling! There is 'seller's remorse' as well as 'buyer's remorse', I've discovered!
[/quote]

This dammit! THIS!
.......... and it's not a seller's market just now - and probably won't be for a long time.

[MiltyG565]

[quote name='spongebob' timestamp='1365092849' post='2035265']
Quite an odd one this.

I own two bass - both quality pieces of kit - both I love and play wonderfully.

However, as of recent times, I now only play in one band, just covers 'round the pubs and odd function since the originals band fragmented.

I keep pondering if I should sell one of the basses - I just feel a bit guilty having two, when it's not like we're gigging every night or even every week! The cash would come in handy elsewhere, but it's not a desperate situation or anything.

Maybe it's just a funny time, but if this band split right now, I think I'd have a gap anyway, as I'm a little jaded with the whole thing anyway as we all get from time to time, especially with the disintegration of the originals project. Don't get me wrong, I'd never stop playing, but it's just a thought to play one bass to bits.

Could be an age thing - I was 39 this month, and years and years more of dragging around the pubs is kind of losing it's appeal - especially after a couple of recent, 'through the motions' gigs is dives.....

Please tell me we've all be through this temptation to start flogging, and just own TBH, what I need?
[/quote]

I have 2 and don't gig at all. I don't want to sell anything i have, but things are definitely looking like they are going that way. Hang on to your basses, dude!

[martin8708]

If you robbed an old granny or stole charity boxes to get the money for the bass's , I can understand why your feeling guilty about owning two basses .
Spending money you earn legally and can afford to spend on music stuff , why feel guilty ?
It sounds like you are using them and they are great basses to own , I would not sell if I did not need to .

To ease your guilt , have a look at " basses on the settee " thread in the gear porn section .

To me , it sounds like your thinking of packing up playing in the band , and selling off gear is just a bit of " life laundry ".

[spongebob]

Sounds like it I must admit!

I think with the demise of the band, which I put lot into, it's a bit like all I can see me ever doing is the pub/covers circuit....and TBH it's a bit depressing, what with gigs getting harder to get, and most venues being half-full!

I almost feel like I want to just get something else going on - music has always been, and is my life. Without it there's nothing going on - and so it's a little daunting when I started to look at it - and if that's all there is....

[discreet]

[quote name='spongebob' timestamp='1365096625' post='2035346']
I almost feel like I want to just get something else going on - music has always been, and is my life. Without it there's nothing going on - and so it's a little daunting when I started to look at it - and if that's all there is...
[/quote]

Do something else. There's plenty of other things going on apart from pub covers bands. Have a look on Starnow or Join My Band and all the other stuff on t'internetz and get yourself out and about. Play originals. Play a totally different genre, even. Why not?

Edited April 4, 2013 by discreet

[Dingus]

Just to echo what everybody else has said , two basses is really only one bass and a back up , and any gigging musician needs a back up . You will probably end up regretting it and spending more money in the long run if you sell . At least wait and see . Whatever you spend the money on if you sell will almost certainly not keep its' value like your bass will . Keep your powder dry .

[krysh]

buy another one. 2 is not enough.

[Grangur]

Hmmmm.. the timing on today is interesting. I saw this nice bass on ebay last night... well it "winked" at me. A very nice price and it was a Fender P.

I started as a J-bass player and liked the versatility of the sounds it produced. Then I bought the P-J Warwick Streamer Stage 1. DAMMIT I find now I love using the P pup all the time. So the Fender on ebay was SOOOoooooo tempting.

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230956237344?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230956237344?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649[/url]

Well the bidding was at £285 ish and a few minutes to go.. umm... err... what do I do?

55 secs to go... damit all! "305" was just sooo easy to type in there. Well the other guy probably put in "300" and the 5 could make it mine. (Ooops letting out all the secrets here)

15s to go... woops!! I hit the enter key!

0s... oh Bu$$er!! It's mine!.. Well there's a thing!

I meet the guy tomorrow to collect! Pssst... don't tell Mrs G will you?!! PLEASE!!!

[BassTractor]

It's been said, I think, but have you ever written new music and recorded yourself on a computer?
Might just do away with the jadedness.

Though I must warn you: I did that and wound up with playing bass instead.


Me, I don't play in a band, and can't even play bass properly, but I do enjoy my synths, drums, guitars and 11 basses.
(My main Bongo is so badly constructed I need 10 backups! )

Then again, I recognise the feeling, and am in fact selling lots of equipment now as it gets to be too much.
You on the other hand, from the look of it, seem to need to wait a little before making that type of decision. It may just be a wave, and as said, you'll get relatively little for the bass now.


Good luck with whatever you decide.


best,
bert

[discreet]

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1365100087' post='2035406']
15s to go... woops!! I hit the enter key!
[/quote]

So that was [i]you[/i], was it..?

[BassTractor]

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1365100087' post='2035406']
Well the other guy probably put in "300" and the 5 could make it mine. (Ooops letting out all the secrets here)
[/quote]

Sorry, mate, but that plan is not a secret anymore.
Actually, V.4.22 is out, and it incorporates bidding differently:
Since most of the others are bidding £300, quite many of them are gonna bid smart, and put in £320, just to be sure.
A few of them know this, and bid £321.
One or two think outside the box, and say they just want it, and they bid £400, knowing full well it probably will be theirs for a mere £322.
Here's were the new version comes in. You bid £422 and are sure to get it whatever the others bid or think.
Congrats with the new £422 bass that you're hard presses to explain your wife the price of.



best,
bert

Edited April 5, 2013 by BassTractor

[JTUK]

[quote name='spongebob' timestamp='1365096625' post='2035346']
Sounds like it I must admit!

I think with the demise of the band, which I put lot into, it's a bit like all I can see me ever doing is the pub/covers circuit....and TBH it's a bit depressing, what with gigs getting harder to get, and most venues being half-full!

I almost feel like I want to just get something else going on - music has always been, and is my life. Without it there's nothing going on - and so it's a little daunting when I started to look at it - and if that's all there is....
[/quote]

First off, if you can get a useful price for a bass and you don't think you get full value from it, then sell..if you don't get the price you want, you don't have to.

As for gigs... yes, schlepping round pubs is depressing, so don't.... but you need to find a balance between desired gigs from your POV and desired bands from the bookers POV.
I always wonder why original bands are still going after 10 yrs and playing to nobody but it is probably because nobody wants what they are selling...
It can be the same equation for covers so you need to pick and stick to these gigs you want to do,.,, but you also need the other guys to agree to this..

Bands...??? can't live with 'em..... ...................

[Grangur]

Yes, Bert. I know that too. That's why I was stunned to see I won with a half-hearted bid, like only £5 over what I guessed was the top bid.

(TBH Mrs G was cheering me on telling me "Go for it!" )

[Myke]

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1365105039' post='2035491']
(TBH Mrs G was cheering me on telling me "Go for it!" )
[/quote]

Sounds like Mrs G is a very nice lady

[thunderider]

i got 4...and im thinking of buying another!

[Immo]

I have three basses I use, one I lent to a friend and I have parts to build three or four more. And I'm not ashamed or feeling guilty. This gear brings delight to my otherwise bitter soul and they are my priced possessions.

[martthebass]

Go through this all the time S. In fact just after I bought my last bass the band I'd been working hard with folded and I thought why not sell a couple including the one I'd just got. You've got 2 nice Ricks mate, enjoy, the passion always returns after a while....and 39 is young!

[spongebob]

Good point Martyn....and great input from all generally on the thread.

I think it's just having a moment of being a bit miffed with bands and stuff, swapping one bunch of you-know-what's for another...just trying to work out where I'm going.

I think you reach a point where you realise that musically, where you are and where you kind of finished up....for now at least.

Really loving the '04 Martyn...make me think if its all I need at the mo.

Just always bought gear to use and play live - and it just feels like I'm off that at the moment. One band, some gigs....and right now even that seems a little hard going.....

[neepheid]

I have 9, and I don't feel in the least bit bad about it. They all get played.

[discreet]

[quote name='martthebass' timestamp='1365110768' post='2035620']
...and 39 is young!
[/quote]

Yeah, it is! Bloody kids! Always moaning!

Edited April 5, 2013 by discreet