Back in the 90's I had my electric bass stuff and a white "plywood" King upright stored at my parents' house. They made the move from the big country house to the smaller city house, and it was "get it or lose it" time.
I was living in Texas, 2200 miles away. We made a family trip and I was able to pick up the electric bass stuff, but like a fool I sold the King upright because I didn't have room to take it back to Texas. I should have contacted one of my friends in town and asked them to store it for a while, but at that time I really hadn't decided to pick up bass again after a 23-year layoff.
I still regret losing that King bass. It wasn't orchestral quality, and it had done at least its share of beating around doing dance band jobs, and showed it. But it was a very good bass for big band work, and would have been killer for rockabilly. I only learned later that those old King basses are famous for their quality and playability.
Very much "one that got away", and entirely my fault.
