Author Topic: Tossing away an old bass you once loved... (Read 496 times)

toma_hawk01 · « **on:** December 13, 2009, 07:07:58 PM »

How does it feel to let an old bass go?

I ask this question because, a new year is around the corner, and as a tradition, I clean out things which are no longer needed or desired.

For example, I am tossing away an old Ibanez bass I purchased in 1980 (almost 30 years ago...). The bass is empty without pickups, neck or controls period. The body is lifeless and looking at the exposed wood, I was surprised a company would even consider this wood fit for being a bass.

Anyway, I kept this thing for years thinking I would customize it, but as the years gone by, I done nothing with it.

Today, the journey with this bass is over, and it's a little sad, because this bass had been with me for so long.

(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on December 13, 2009)

toma_hawk01 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 13, 2009, 07:19:47 PM »

Yeah, I know...it's sCRAP.

tmoney61092 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 13, 2009, 07:26:24 PM »

i've never thrown away an old bass, i have my first bass(Ibanez GSR 190) that i've taken apart, stripped, put back together and am now using the bridge on a custom project(with Alembic elctronics) but i could never get rid of her because of the centimental value she holds, i also plan on putting it back together and giving her to my kid some day :-D

~Taylor

toma_hawk01 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 13, 2009, 07:29:11 PM »

I am lighting a match to it... This is great fire wood. Just kidding...

The bass is now in the recycling can. It's only a memory now.

(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on December 13, 2009)

sonicus · « **Reply #4 on:** December 13, 2009, 07:41:29 PM »

It could be refinished. Schaller bridge installed. Alembic PJ pickups or Bartolini's installed and either a Warmoth or Moses graphite neck installed. And there you have it ; a not that bad beater Bass! I have done that before and played them for a while to tweak them in right and then let them go to a deserving young player or friend. The Karmic return is great !

(Message edited by sonicus on December 14, 2009)

mike1762 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 13, 2009, 07:47:10 PM »

As soon as you get your new bass, send me your old piece of crap blondie. LOL

toma_hawk01 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 13, 2009, 09:17:25 PM »

Let's see... I'll be around 75 years old.

If I am still a mere mortal, I'll be jamming Shorty (Blondie) and Tommy without a care until my judgment day.

jacko · « **Reply #7 on:** December 14, 2009, 04:14:01 AM »

The bass is now in the recycling can. It's only a memory now.

Shame - it could have gone to a worthy cause e.g. high school crafting department or a community musicians collective.

Graeme

toma_hawk01 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 14, 2009, 07:07:42 AM »

Graeme,

A true gift is never perceived as one's garbage.

I remember when I bought my first home. My cousin and his wife came over, and seen my garage was without an automatic garage opener, so they came over with this very old spare machine they had for years (10 years or more).

So, these guys all of a sudden started taking something out of the car, and all along, I didn't know, what they'd bring.

Anyway, they took all the old rusted parts out of the car, and smiled and said:

Here you go Cousin... we brought something for you, a garage door machine... We had this thing for years, and all you have to do is slap this baby up...

To make a long story short...

I told my cousin, and his wife to pack that thing, right back in his car and take it back -- to where ever they'd stored it, because that was pure junk, and should be thrown away and used as scrap metal.

They both looked at me, and started cracking-up laughing, because they knew I was on to them...

They knew their gift was junk. In their hearts, they knew I was right -- pure junk and that's why their hearts reviled the laughter. They were busted.

Now, that situation had been over 20 years ago, and on occasions, me and my cousins still laugh about the whole thing.

I don't think it's a shame to throw away shoes with holes in the soles. Clearly, to give a brethren soul holey shoes on what considered junk, is unthinkable. I give shoes away with soles.

I think it a shame, to give junk, and think one could earn good karma with junk.

Peace and Love.

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #9 on:** December 14, 2009, 07:11:26 AM »

Let's not forget that one man's trash, is another man's treasure.

jacko · « **Reply #10 on:** December 14, 2009, 07:30:12 AM »

hal.
From your picture, this is clearly not Junk as I would define it. It would be easy enough to create a perfectly useable bass with bits from the warmoth catalogue.

Graeme

p.s. I enjoyed your story and do understand where you're coming from. Peace and love right back at ya ;-)

(Message edited by jacko on December 14, 2009)

toma_hawk01 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 14, 2009, 07:32:30 AM »

If anyone see value of my junk, they are free to rummage through my garbage or go to the sanitation fields, and go at it.

I will never feel guilty about throwing away trash.

jacko · « **Reply #12 on:** December 14, 2009, 07:36:43 AM »

Hey hal. I'm not trying to lay a guilt trip on you - just looking at possibilities. We have alot of 'Charity' shops in the town i live in (here in Scotland) so it's very easy for us to recycle anything we can see the slightlest value in. I'm sure many of the items we've sent along will have gone straight into the bin ;-)

Graeme

toma_hawk01 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 14, 2009, 07:47:32 AM »

Graeme,

I understood what you meant.

You have a great heart, and you sounded like those great people I honored as great teachers in my up-bringing.

We saved everything, and made something with nothing.

Thank you G.

serialnumber12 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 14, 2009, 08:14:55 AM »

That's a good idea we could use more wood crafting musical instruments classes / projects in our schools!