Basses you don't regret selling (or regret buying)

[BassAgent]

Someone was wondering if a topic with basses you sold and don't miss would be entertaining. So let's find out, shall we? I'll start.

 

I bought this Guild M85 as a trade with a Lakland Skyline Bob Glaub I didn't really get along with and really really regretted that purchase. The sound, the ergonomics, it just wasn't for me. I almost got tendonitis from playing it (because I wasn't used to this kind of bass) and I sold it very very quickly. I didn't hate it because it was objectively a good bass, but I haven't missed it one second.

[HeadlessBassist]

I only really regret selling one bass many years ago, which I'm sure will crop up again. More recently I had to financially give up my Fender Am.Elite Dimension bass which I loved, and was sad to let go of when I was buying my KingBass Mk-II.

 

As for other basses that I haven't minded letting go, there have been a few recently - A 2004 American Deluxe Jazz in Butterscotch Blonde which was just surplus to the two Jazzes I actually need around, an early Aerodyne Jazz (too middy sounding), an Ibanez SR1400 and a curious Player Series Mustang which just sounded like a normal 'plinky' P&J and nothing at all like a Mustang.

[LeftyJ]

Briefly had a Fender Japan '57 P reissue that I really didn't get along with. I didn't like the fat and wide neck, the very lightweight basswood body, or the very dry and thumpy tone even with fresh roundwounds. Sold it to someone on here who loved it, and had a gold anodized aluminium pickguard made for it (try finding those in lefty) for more authentic looks. I don't have pics of it anymore, but just imagine your typical 2TS Precision with a maple neck and board 

 

I had two Carvin LB75's for a while that I also really didn't get along with. Both were silly cheap and really well-built and comfortable to play, but the tone was sooo... bland. Just meh. Didn't really care for the looks either. They weren't bad basses, just very uninspiring and dull. 

 

I paid just 250GBP for the black one (i think here on Basschat) and 350 for the flamed walnut one (on Gumtree). The black one was all stock, and the better of the two. The flamed walnut one had its neck stripped of its lacquer, slightly shaved down and refinished in tung oil. Funnily enough I sold both to the same guy, with a few years inbetween . I bought the black one back at one point to try again, but quickly sold it again for all the same reasons. 

 

 

Edited April 10 by LeftyJ

[basshead56]

I've shifted quite a few basses in the last couple of years but only to make room for stuff that I've wanted more .

Honestly thought I'd be more upset shifting some of them but as time goes on, I find myself feeling less attached, sentimentally anyways. Definitely thinking more logically, at least that's what I tell myself. Quality and value seem to be more important in my reckonings on curatong my collection these days.

Most recently, the Thunderbird Studio. Had it for about 16 yrs. Never thought I'd be ok to sell it as it looked brilliant and sounded great. Only Gibson I've owned that O've actually gotten on with but given I've hardly used it at all, I found it relatively easy to sell it on last week, to make way for something else.

Ditto for my Stingray 4H, both Jags, Dean Cabbie, 79 Precision, 90's Dano DC, Jackson Minion, Squier CV 50's and my 2011 Am Std Jazz (probaly a couple of more too)

But they've all gone away in the last 18-24 months and made way for some stuff I have really been enjoying: EBMMDarkray, Am PRO2 Jazz, 03 Am Dlx QMT Jazz, Victor Bailey Jazz, EBMM Stingray 4HH, a 75 Musicmaster (inbound, as of yesterday) and hopefully another Am PRO 2 Jazz in the coming weeks

 

There are always a couple that I will regret but time and GAS heals all...

To quote Mr Burns: "I'd trade it all for a little more"

 

That being said, I genuinely don't know if there is anything I now own that I'd be happy to sell 🤣🤣🤣

Edited April 12 by basshead56

[Dood]

I’m sure there are others like me who anguish over pretty much every purchase ever and go in to waaaaay to much detail to study all related alternatives before the wallet even gets to twitch.

 

So, I don’t think there’s any piece of music gear I have ever regretted buying. Maybe some items I had to get in order to make do. I built my first ‘big’ bass amp and cabinet as well as a distortion “preamp” because they simply weren’t reachable for me financially at the time. Maybe that says a bit about the kinda buyer I am? I dunno! (Obsessional, massive nerd, hashtag bass4lyfe ya had yahda)

 

If there was ever a bass that I didn’t think I’d keep falling in love with though and that was actually the first page I tore out of Bass Player Magazine and stuck on my wall  in a Wayne’s World “She will be mine” moment. Took me years to finally get round to buying one and I use it pretty much every day!

 

[Bassman1974]

I do not regret selling my 1964 Hofner 500/1. It was far too toy like and just felt fragile under my large hands. Really fiddly to play too. Some thumpy sound though.

 

Sold a Ric 4001 as I wasn't getting on with it. 3 months later, I bought a new 4003 as I couldn't live without that bridge tone. Struggled to get properly into it until I removed the daft bridge pickup cover. A set of JF344's later and I love it. What an angry, pis**d off sounding thing it is.

 

Nearly sold my Precision the other day too, but had a change of heart at the 11th hour. I would absolutely regret letting it go, especially when I don't really need to move it along.

 

I thoroughly regret selling an 1984 Ibanez RB850. It was given to me by my deceased friends wife to sell on after his death. I should have bought it from her. I know it's a much loved bass residing in Belgium now, so that fact brings me great comfort. I think Byron would have been happy with the resto work put into the bass by the present owner.

 

G

Edited 3 hours ago by Bassman1974
Additional info

[simonlittle]

27 minutes ago, Bassman1974 said:

 

I do not regret selling my 1964 Hofner 500/1. It was far too toy like and just felt fragile under my large hands. Really fiddly to play too. Some thumpy sound though.

 

I don’t regret selling my Hofner violin bass either. Sounded bloody fantastic in the studio but it was such an arse to play and, like you, I was worried I would break it all the time. Never once did I play it live but it made it onto a good few records over the few years I had it. Now happily replaced by a Wilcock bass which does that sound equally well and gives me loads more options. 

[chris_b]

I didn't regret selling any bass.

 

Some were good basses, and some weren't, but they were all sold because they were replaced by something better.