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Hmm.

Even the one person with a “use it or sell it” animus is shrugging. I’d say keep it

Neither had I until I suddenly did… tastes change over time and I’ve found myself wishing I’d never sold a couple of basses I got shot of about ten years ago. Even considering getting in contact with one of the buyers (friend of a friend) to see if he still has the bass and might consider selling it back to me. Having said that, a bass sat doing nothing for years on end will end up needing some love to get it in top shape again. Recently bought an old Warwick that had been sat unplayed for 10/15 years and it’s needed some major setup work and some electrics replaced. Always try to keep my basses in rotation to maintain top playability.

Hear that. I literally remember saying “it’s just wood and metal” to the guy who bought my Stingray. Think I was either wrong, or simply fooling myself or trying to make it easier on myself. Other people’s mileage may vary

I’ve had similar experiences @kwmlondon, one with a Stingray I got in 1996 and one with an acoustic bass I got in 1994 when I was 16. The acoustic bass is with a mates daughter now, it’s been passed around a few times to kids or beginners as nerve damage issues mean I can’t play it for long anymore. But I’m glad to be keeping it, it’s got precious memories from learning, travel, and gigs. The Stingray was sold in 2008, mostly due to personal and health issues at the time, but also made easier by the fact I’d used Fenders or short scales since around 2000. But the regret kicked in shortly after as that bass was perhaps the most important part of my early journey. After years of looking, I got it back in about 2021 I think - don’t think I could have been any happier, and it’s not even the best Stingray I’ve owned. I now mostly play Music Man have come full circle. It’s modded to now be a bass that’s really useful to me, maybe yours could be strung BEAD with flats?

This is just my take on bass life, I'm not telling you what to do. Nostalgia is expensive. I have one rule - if it's not getting played, it's getting sold. I've sold my first bass. I've sold my "year of birth" bass. It's just stuff. They're just things. There's no mojo, there's no magic, it's just my brain being its usual soft and squidgy self. If it doesn't bring joy, get rid. Basses sitting around idle is a sin - get 'em sold to someone who'll hopefully play it to death. Or keep it. I'm shrugging now.

"Sorry guys, I've decided this is not for me. It's been nice playing with you but I'm leaving. Good luck with the band."

I just got rid of a couple to BD, they were nice basses but doing nothing in the cupboard. Still have 3 mind you, the P im 'still' restoring, A Jaguar (gigging bass keeper) and a BC Rich Mockingbird (midlife crisis) that ive always loved the look of.

I know exactly how you feel.

Well I can’t quickly find out too much…but that’s a fairly sizable pedalboard he has in the Jools Holland vid. Si

My first proper bass, a Fender Precision which I bought new in 1969, is sitting in its case, where it's been since the mid 90's when I switched to 5's. I will probably never gig it again, but we toured, recorded and gigged together for 26 years and I'll never sell it. I certainly wouldn’t trade it!

It'd be interesting. I'm not exactly in a rush. My ideal situation would be giving it to one of my friends kids who is an aspiring bassist and seeing them play it when they do a set at Glastonbury! We can all have fantasies...

I’d make an exception in this case, if it were me

Thanks for your thoughts everyone. Really interesting.

As far as I’m aware battered 60s fenders do sell. Perhaps not long from now late 80s stingrays will be equally considered to be a “nirvana”

I have never wanted to buy an instrument back after I've sold it. When I move on I move on!

One that finishes in time for me to get home before bedtime.

Will post a few pics a bit later with the progress - have stripped all the horrible rattle can paint and original finish and am now sanding through the sealer coat to get back to the wood. Front and back are back to the wood, I just need to do the sides and a few little nooks and crannies and then I can start doing some finish sanding before it goes to the local luthier for its refinish. Having seen the wood now, I think I am going to be boring and go for a natural finish - it's a lovely 2 piece matched grain and would be a shame to hide it, but I am going to speak to the guy about doing what he called - a dirty stain. Staining the wood darker, sanding it back but allowing some of the stain to remain. It should look a bit a smidge darker and it will hopefully bring the grain out and make it pop a bit more. Am doing a bit of sanding later so will upload some pics.

Cheers, I appreciate that. To be honest I'm not bothered about the money. It's properly battered and won't ever be of interest to a collector, though it's 100% original. It's more that I keep looking at the case on the shelf where it lives and I'd rather see it on a stage being played. I also have a totally strict one-in, one-out rule on instruments so I could actually have a bass I'd play. The thing I've mulled over would be doing a swap for a Stingray 5 string. That has an appeal.

Will post a few pics a bit later with the progress - have stripped all the horrible rattle can paint and original finish and am now sanding through the sealer coat to get back to the wood. Front and back are back to the wood, I just need to do the sides and a few little nooks and crannies and then I can start doing some finish sanding before it goes to the local luthier for its refinish. Having seen the wood now, I think I am going to be boring and go for a natural finish - it's a lovely 2 piece matched grain and would be a shame to hide it, but I am going to speak to the guy about doing what he called - a dirty stain. Staining the wood darker, sanding it back but allowing some of the stain to remain. It should look a bit a smidge darker and it will hopefully bring the grain out and make it pop a bit more. Am doing a bit of sanding later so will upload some pics.

Mine came with a Ruby Tubes ECC83, which is a selected/rebranded JJ. I replaced it with a JJ selected for V1 (driver) position. I've also got a 'phase inverter' version which has better gain matching between the sections.

I would keep it. Not everyone stays with 5/6 basses forever, so there will be a time when you will kick yourself for selling it.

Monetary considerations aside it is a simple question of which is more 'unbearable' : the guilt of having it but not being used or the regret that you would definitely feel once you sell it (and unsuccessfully trying to buy back)

Bought a Stingray from Alex in a super easy transaction, great comms and the bass is superb, cheers Alex!