Have to sell my !@#$% main instrument. Kill me now.

Cafe Society
1

Being a broke-ass mofo sucks.

Some of y’all may have followed my “Starting a New Job” thread:

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=700592&page=3

Which I started more than two years ago and have kept updated. So I’m back at my previous job.

But, despite my boss trying to give me all the hours he can give me (union job, I lost all of my seniority when I left in 2013), my bank balance is now $90 in the hole (thank God I’ve been with the same local bank for 20 years, and they go ahead and honor my online payments - in this case, my Internet and car/renter’s insurance, even if the money isn’t there) and I don’t think I have worked enough this pay period to cover next month’s rent.

Normally, in this situation, I would pawn one of my instruments. Except I don’t think my favorite pawnshop would let me pawn one for more than $100. So I feel forced now to “sell”. Gonna do it on Craigslist.

The problem is … how much to ask?

The bass guitar in question is a 2008 (I think) “Fender Vintage Series 1960s Jazz Bass”.

The “list” price for a new one is $800.

Here is mine, when it was brand new (scroll down):

http://www.mister-rik.com/music.html

Via some “connections”, I was able to purchase that bass for somewhere between $400 and $500. I got a great deal on a great bass. Since taking possession, I’ve paid for a setup to correct some problems with the neck. I’ve played it for 7 years, and it’s amazing. The feel, the tone …

So I’m wondering how much to ask for it. I’m tempted to ask more than I paid.

Whoa, just checked, and Musician’s Friend is asking fucking $900!

(Wait, what? MF is asking $100 more than the list price?)

2

You got to go on ebay. You search your bass. And then choose “Sold items only” and you’ll see all the transactions in the last so many months.

3

Put the bass to work. Play some gigs and ya got dough.

4

My small town unfortunately abandoned live music for karaoke and DJs, many years ago. God, when I was in my 20s, there was live music everywhere. I had a band in 2003-2004, where I was the lead singer and bass player.

God, there ain’t nothing now.

5

Come to Nashville. There’s live music everywhere, plus food service jobs galore, I expect.

I’m sorry to hear about your troubles, Rik.

StG

6

Me, too, Rik. If you need to move it, good luck on maximizing your deal. If the buyer has a less-expensive bass, and the cash is still good, perhaps you can consider a trade to still have access. Thinking out loud.

7

Sorry to hear that Rik.

I hope you can revive live music in your small town.

8

Bummer, man - I’d make you an offer but I already have a 90’s Fender (Japan) ‘Foto-flame’ P-Bass and a P-Jazz Special as working instruments. My '64 P-Bass is now retired to prevent ‘walking off stage’. You mention the ‘bunghole of Wa’. Not to be specific but I smell Centralia, Quincy and Richland pretty strongly. :frowning:

9

On your recommendation, I did that. Most of the auctions I found were resolved with “Best offer accepted”, so I don’t know what was “accepted” relative to the asking price.

I’mma ask $500 and see what happens.

God, I would love to be in Nashville, if only to let somebody hear me sing (though, 5 months away from 50 years, old, I don’t expect a record contract). But I would be delighted to just be playing in a band :slight_smile:

Well, I have been in all three of those towns, (and have played in Quincy), but the “bunghole” is Wenatchee (the almost geographic center of Washington). A town of 50,000 (if you count East Wenatchee, across the river, in a different county), with pretentions of “big city”. Hah!

10

Okay, I just put it on Craigslist:

http://wenatchee.craigslist.org/msg/5358043008.html

11

When I was down and out I had to sell my bass and amp too, so I know how you feel. Luckily a year later I had a job and money and bought better equipment than I had originally. I don’t like Fenders though I play a Peavey Cirrus myself.

12

Thing is down the line you should be able to pick up a cheap bass for less than $200. If your not playing professionally, it will be enough for you to practice on.

13

I didn’t like Fenders until I played a Jazz. I had always tried P-Basses before, and always thought they felt “clunky”. Played a J for the first time, and fell in love with the skinny neck.

That said, once my Jazz is gone …

… I’ll still have my Rogue 6-string bass. My goodness, this is the most well-built, best-sounding bass I have ever played. I just can’t sell it for anything. “Rogue” is the house brand of Musician’s Friend, and I only paid $250 for that 6-string bass. Wow, what a steal!

Let me tell you, it’s a challenge trying to play Rush bass lines on a 6-string, 35"-scale bass!

14

I’m very sorry about your situation, Mister Rik.

I would think you’d do better on ebay. It doesn’t cost anything
to list it (as far as I know), and your ad will reach many more people
than a local craigslist ad would ever do. You can put a reserve
price, which is the minimum you’ll accept. The buyers won’t
see it.

If you do this, be sure to list a shipping price that will cover
your cost. You might even want to weigh the item at the post office
beforehand so you know how much it will be, including insurance, etc.

I really hope you get more than you’d imagined for it. :slight_smile:

15

I’d suggest ebay, too. You don’t pay a thing if you don’t sell your item, and most sellers recoup their listing costs through what they charge for shipping.

If you use ebay, try it first with a silent reserve price and see what kind of bids you get. If no one overtops your reserve, you can relist again at the highest price bid and you can always email the bidder to let them know you relisted.

Good luck. If I played enough anymore to justify buying a bass again, I’d buy it from you. But I only play once or twice a year now. :frowning:

16

There is also Reverb. My favorite site in the whole world. :smiley:

17

God, I gave up on Craigslist. The most serious offer I got was a guy offering to trade me an American Tele +$100. Had to tell him, “Dude, I need cash, not a trade!”

I need cash so bad that I removed the craigslist ad and pawned the bass. I need to eat.

18

I sold my Copeland whistles back when I was really broke. 10 years on and now they are so expensive I’ll never be able to replace them.

I feel your pain, man.

19

That’s really bad. There has to be somewhere you can play live music.

20

Probably, but I don’t have a band. Where am I going to gig as a solo bass player? Sure, I can sing, but to get a gig, I need a band. My favorite karaoke bar doesn’t pay.