LeftyBassist.com

I have had to admit to myself that my pursuit of playing is over. Rheumatoid, osteo, carpal tunnel, cysts in my wrists--I can't pretend any long that I can work through it all. The quality of my playing isn't worth a turd anymore.

This isn't a trantrum--I've been dealing with it a while, and the pain is worsening. Doc told me that he could perform four surgeries and I'd be no better off. The damage is what it is.

I plan to keep several of my instruments, but initially, I plan to sell 9 on the first go.

The thoughts of getting rammed by Reverb fees and taxes isn't appealing. I don't even know where I'd get boxes to mail them in. I was hoping this would be something my kids would sort out after a had another decade or two of playing.

If you guys were going to sell that many at a time, what would you do? Most are fairly good pieces, nothing custom shop but nothing crap. Usual brands for a boomer.

Do you have any relationships with local instrument shops? I was able to sell some basses years ago because a store owner let me put them on the rack in his guitar shop. Obviously he took a commission but it was much less than the online marketplaces plus the packing.

That’s a good idea. Thank you.

I am very sorry you are going though this, Willie. It must be very hard.

Very sorry to hear this, brother. I know firsthand, with the advancement of age, some of my limbs and muscles are simply not bouncing back to where they once were either.

Yes, the IRS BS is only going to get worse. Next year's tax laws will require you to pay tax on any earnings above $600, and it's going to become increasingly harder to keep your money. Meanwhile, everything's gone up, especially shipping costs. When you bought the instrument, you likely paid tax. Now the IRS wants you to pay additional tax when you get rid of it? Furthermore, these selling sites like Reverb are going to 1099 you the full listing amount BEFORE they took out their fees before they paid you. So you're paying a higher tax on earnings you never made. Total, complete, scumbag, robbery BS.

My first suggestion would be to post right here on leftybassist.com any instruments you want to sell. Arrange your form of payment via a method that won't be traced as a merchandise sale (i.e. get purchaser to agree to send payment marked as, "Gift"). Same goes for Craig's List or Facebook marketplace, which can be full of flakes and tire kickers that waste your time, but at least you can arrange a similar payment method or if the buyer is close enough, arrange a person to person exchange and collect cash. Cash is STILL king, and we need to preserve that. But many establishments are doing away with cash altogether, and it's absolutely insane that we would allow cash to go extinct.

Good luck!

Do you get to reduce your sale tax amount by the cost basis? That should dramatically reduce taxes. Every other asset sales operates that way.

Not positive, but you should be able to deduct all fees and purchase costs, shipping etc. Check with a tax specialist that is up with all regulations. There could be other things that can reduce the tax owed. Not sure if losses on private sales can reduce your over all tax burden. Business can.

Thanks. I'm just trying to accept it. There's not much to do. I am going back to the doc next week to ask for steroid shots. That makes it hurt a little less when I play, therefore improves my abilities, if slightly.

Thanks, pjmuck. Great advice.

Agreed - Sell here first then use Gift Feature
Post in Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist as well, sometimes there are local folks and you avoid shipping
If you have to ship Go to a local music store and see if they have any guitar boxes they want to sell cheap. I purchased a box from a store once for $25 bucks, it was just sitting there for months
Agreed See if you can do a consignment with a local music store, especially if they have a good web presence

What about Ebay? As we're relocating to Spain soon, I'm going to be selling everything I have except for my Spector Bantam.

pete

Well, this certainly hits home for me.
I'm 72, and have, I think at last count- 26 left handed basses. I had ONE gig in 2022, and a few in 2023. Incredibly, I have two bands I sub with now, and next year I will actually have a 1099 to provide to my accountant!
So, how do I relate to CH Willie? Well, there is the inevitable thing we all have to face. Prior, there are sad and hard to face realities, and life's hurdles. For me, it's a serious illness- thankfully under control, for now. I know more doctors and specialists now, than I do bandleaders.
Retirement from a life of truly disappointing 'career' day jobs came for me at 62. I tried to get a job at a local company. They lied to me, never really intending to hire me. So, I stopped looking. No one really will hire Senor citizens anyway. Age discrimination, is rampant, even though it is, illegal.
So- to the point. I've tried selling some of my parts basses- all pretty decent builds..and at what I thought ere reasonable prices. I'm a Luthier and repairman, and some of my scratch built basses are pretty up there in terms of the parts. hardware, wood, and electronics. How much to ask? Where do I list them? What about shipping? Ebay? reverb? Who wants these highly personal instruments?
Talkbass was cool- but now using Paypal Friends and Family is not allowed on there. So- there I went to Facebook Marketplace, where I have got some gear deals. Had a few potential buyers, but they ALL flaked. Some of these individuals seem to want to come right over and rob you once they find out you have a bunch of gear.
It is NOT the same times as when I'd put things in New York's "Buy Lines" and "Selling Post" in the 80's, before the internet.
Frankly, I'll likely pass, and the burden of selling all my basses, amps, cabinets, stands, mics, speakers, and all my other gear, will be unfairly heaped on my wonderful wife.. and she really has no idea what all of it is worth. I don't really know, myself. I have a list- but it seems some vulture of an auctioneer will get it all for a stupid price. So be it.

Good Luck to all retiring, and all dealing with life's little twists.. it's still great to be alive and to play the bass.

I don't have a huge collection, but I am going to have to offload them some time in the next 10 years. I am putting it off, because I have a huge personal attachment to some of them. I've owned one since sophomore year of high school. Even if I haven't used these particular instruments for years, they are part of my identity (and those would be the ones worth the bigger money too). Definitely don't want to burden my wife with it if/when I pre-decease her and also would like to use the sale money for fun stuff before I'm too old to appreciate it. But the how of selling them is something I've already started to think about and research.

I'm just seeing this. Thanks for your thoughtful reply.