I am emotionally attached to a bass that's taking up space and I don't want any more

[kwmlondon]

I have a beaten up '89 Stingray 2EQ that I've had for 30 years and have gigged with when I was younger, but I've not really played much in the decades since. I got back inot bass over the past 5 years but I just have no interest in 4-string basses any more so it sits in a case... but... I am finding it it really hard to consider selling. It's the only consistent instrument I've had in my life. I've also been told by other people who have played it what a special instrument it is and how I'd be an idiot if I ever got rid of it, but it's sitting in a case doing nothing which seems awful to me.

 

I'd appreciate your thoughts.

 

EDIT - we have a very strict one-in, one-out rule with instruments here. This means I have a bass that is taking up the space that could be taken by something I'd actually play.

 

Having said that, I've played a Dingwall 5-string almost exclusively now for 5 years and have zero interest in playing anything else so maybe I'd be swapping one bass I don't play for another bass I don't play. 

Edited 1 hour ago by kwmlondon

[Geek99]

I have a stingray clone that I’m attached to, but don’t play much as I mainly play 5 string now. I’m attached as partner bought it for me. 
 

yours is more valuable; I invite you to consider those people on here who sold 60s and 70s basses for peanuts but now wish they had not done so. 
 

correlate much? 
 

you can always sell it if you get desperate for cash but if not, rationalise it as an investment and just keep it ticking over maintenance-wise. 

[Mrbigstuff]

18 minutes ago, kwmlondon said:

I have a beaten up '89 Stingray 2EQ that I've had for 30 years and have gigged with when I was younger, but I've not really played much in the decades since. I got back inot bass over the past 5 years but I just have no interest in 4-string basses any more so it sits in a case... but... I am finding it it really hard to consider selling. It's the only consistent instrument I've had in my life. I've also been told by other people who have played it what a special instrument it is and how I'd be an idiot if I ever got rid of it, but it's sitting in a case doing nothing which seems awful to me.

 

I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Keep it, it’s time may come. I had similar with my P bass that was largely untouched for nearly a decade but now is used regularly.

[obi 2 kenobi]

I’m in exactly the same position. Got a stingray that I bought new in 1989. 
 

It’s the only 4 string I still own.  Switched to 5 years ago. 
 

Don’t need the money but feel guilty it’s not being used. That said, it was a dream bass in the display window in sound control that I promised myself to get if I finished completing a qualification at the time

[Lozz196]

Keep hold unless you need the money.

[Paulhauser]

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)

 

Edited 2 hours ago by Paulhauser
typo fixed

[TheLowDown]

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.

Edited 2 hours ago by TheLowDown

[kwmlondon]

1 hour ago, Geek99 said:

I have a stingray clone that I’m attached to, but don’t play much as I mainly play 5 string now. I’m attached as partner bought it for me. 
 

yours is more valuable; I invite you to consider those people on here who sold 60s and 70s basses for peanuts but now wish they had not done so. 
 

correlate much? 
 

you can always sell it if you get desperate for cash but if not, rationalise it as an investment and just keep it ticking over maintenance-wise. 

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.

[kwmlondon]

15 minutes ago, Paulhauser said:

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)

 

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

[Geek99]

1 minute ago, kwmlondon said:

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.

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” 

[kwmlondon]

Thanks for your thoughts everyone. Really interesting.

[Geek99]

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

Edited 1 hour ago by Geek99

[kwmlondon]

Just now, Geek99 said:

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” 

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...

[chris_b]

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!

[kwmlondon]

1 minute ago, chris_b said:

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!

I know exactly how you feel. 

[andytoad]

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.

[neepheid]

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.

[Chiliwailer]

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? 

[Chiliwailer]

Just now, neepheid said:

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.

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  

[simonlittle]

11 minutes ago, kwmlondon said:

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

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. 

[Geek99]

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

[kwmlondon]

7 minutes ago, neepheid said:

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.

Hmm. 

[kwmlondon]

5 minutes ago, Geek99 said:

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

I'm not going to do anything in a hurry. It's been there years, I'm not going to do anything rash.

[Reggaebass]

If it holds emotional and good memories and you don’t need the money then I’d say keep it, they don’t take up much space and you could play it now and again just to keep things working 

[Geek99]

5 minutes ago, Reggaebass said:

If it holds emotional and good memories and you don’t need the money then I’d say keep it, they don’t take up much space and you could play it now and again just to keep things working 

This. And he gives better reasons than I did. 
I agree with you, as Treebeard said “don’t be hasty..”