Ampitis (When is enough too much?)

[Rat Blitz]

I started playing bass 27 months ago in middle age. In the first year I bought and sold over 50 basses. I thought I was cured of my addiction. I haven't been buying (too) many basses of late but the amp situation is starting to get a but silly.
I've got two combo amps (not pictured -- 50 and 200 watt Yorkville) but I've been driving all over the province looking for great deals and trading basses ... problem is I'm running out of room!
.... Wish I had the time to play them all ....
What's next effects?

Here's the collection ... so far ??????

Ampeg VT-22 (V4B) Head with 1976 Ampeg SVT Cab 8x10

1967 Traynor YBA-3 Custom Special with EV-2150M 2x15 plus 6 cab







Traynor Mono Block II with originalTraynor 2150 2x15 Cab



From left to right
1) 1972Traynor YBA-1A Bass Master Mark II with Traynor YC-610 (6x10 Cab) (came with original cases).
2) Traynor YBA-200 Tube Head with Peavey 810TX cab
3) Hartke Model 3500 with Yorkville 410B Speaker (4 x 10 and horn) and Ampeg B115E 15 inch Cabinet.
4) 1974 Fender Bassman 100 with Yorkville XC808 8x8 Cabinet



Weird little Traynor TS-200 Amp with Traynor TS-98 9x8 Cab
1980



Problem is I'm a bit anal and I need a cab for each head.
Maybe I should bridge them all together to see if the walls will still be standing?

... The Peavey 810 (latest addition was in the front foyer for two days because I couldn't get it downstairs by myself (caused a bit of marital distress I should say). I had to call 3 of my neighbours before I found one to help me cart it downstairs ... I guess I won't be moving that one anytime soon;-).

[GrowlerBox]

Isn't disposable income wonderful?

[SactoBass]

Rat Blitz,

You are exhibiting signs of the very early stages of GAS. It's only going to get worse from here on out.

I suffer from not one but *TWO* debilitating diseases:

• GAS (gear acquisition syndrome)
• BASS (buy and sell stuff)

Vast amounts of research to find a cure has been futile.

[OtterOnBass]

It seems like music isn't as important as collecting to you. I'm not saying that's bad, but everything needs a limit. Set the limit (money, space, number, time or whatever) and then enjoy trading up to better your collection.

[vivifiction]

I mean, if it ever becomes too much of a problem, you could just send some my way

[MysticMichael]

Enough? Um, what does that mean?

Seriously, you've got a great old school-style collection of bass rigs. Congratulations. Well done.

But since there's a practical limit to how much space you can make available (not to mention how much you can afford to buy), I suggest you start getting a lot more strategic and disciplined about this. A couple of possibilities:

1) Draw a definite line in the sand - right now. No more bass rigs - for at least the next 12 months. If/when you want to buy another, you have to sell at least one of the rigs you already have in order to make room for it. Period.

2) Decide how many you really need for the sake of practical playing - and for which specific purposes (could be a small rig, medium rig and large rig - whatever). Then select those specific rigs that will be suit those purposes - and sell off the remainder. Or at the very least, put the remainder into long-term storage, so they no longer clutter up the house.

If all else fails, consider getting professional help. Compulsive collecting is a real disorder (i.e. packrat syndrome) - producing real problems, if it goes too far.

MM

[Lowbrow]

That is a big pile of amps. What do you think sounds best out of all that?

[colcifer]

If you have enough space and cash the affliction is manageable. You can expect it to strain relationships though.

One possible treatment is to limit your cash flow but this risks going into debt. As stated, there is no universal cure though a lucky few have rid themselves it.

Good luck!

[Zentner]

WOW A SEYMOUR DUNCAN CAB!

I have a friend with the 400W SS head they made to match that - great amp!

We have almost all the same gear haha!!

I have a... YBA200, SVT810, Traynor Mk3, traynor 2150...

Used to have a YSR-1 and YT-15, and bassman like yours too, haha....



But... to answer the question.... no. you have just enough gear.

[Calaverasgrande]

First off congrats, welcome to bass. I play guitar, drums keyboard and bit of F horn but I am always a bassist. Bass is the place.
2nd, man you need to sell some of those dogs and focus on the good stuff. The Traynor amps (esp the tube ones!) are true classics. I love those suckers! They scream on guitar as well! Peavey, I dont know, it's mostly just ok. Learn to focus on just acquiring good quality gear. It holds its value better and a side effect is that it almost always sounds better. Careful though, some brands like Mesa, Ampeg, Matamp, Sound City etc are hard to escape from!
Oh yeah, if you like funky amps, check out Garnet and old (70's) Acoustic.

Ps have you met Tom Bowlus yet? He truely has a mind blowing array of gear. You can not mention an amp, bass or cab that he doesnt own or has owned. Serious.

[billta]

Geezer alert! This list starts in 1964!
Amplivox (small, low wattage battery-powered transistor amp)
Danelectro DM-25 (25 Watt(?) 1x12" w/reverb + tremolo)
Separate amp/cabinet
Guild Thunderbass (My first "real" bass amp - 40(?) watts;
separate amp/cabinet
Cab upgraded eventually w/2 JBL D120fs.
I still own this although it's no
longer stock. As purchased, it had an
aluminum (I think..) pedestal
"shock mounted"(i.e. attached through
rubber bushings) which was screwed
onto the top of the cabinet and doubled
as a carrying handle. I thought it looked
dumb and removed it. Otherwise, stock
down to the tubes! Not too bad a guitar
amp, but not quite sufficient for bass.
Peavey Megabass My first "real" transistor amp. Actually two
separately adjustable 200W amps
(High/Low range) with 7 band EQ and
chorus. Still have this one as well.
Thunderfunk TFB-550 I love this thing! Lots of low end and
good mids and high. My current amp.

[JimmyM]

wow dude, you've got it bad! i haven't owned anywhere near 50 basses in my life and i'm almost 50!

[spaz21387]

that seymour duncan cab looks like one that was floating around the portland craigslist for a while

[DanNowhere]

Without my glasses, I thought the thread title said "armpits". You certainly seem to be up to yours in amps.

[perkidan]

Hell, at this point in time, I consider myself lucky to have one bass and one amp.

[KramerBassFan]

You call that a lot?

Pft!

Get more amps!

[HeadyVan Halen]

What's your address?
I know some dudes with nothing to lose to help you 'get rid of that stuff'..

What do you do for a living?
If buy a set of strings, no more cheese on the quarter pounder for a while...

[RickenBoogie]

You have a pretty bad case, but so long as you're not getting into debt, it's all good. Been there myself for a few years of "heavy buying". It does settle in, especially if you find a good musical outlet, like a band. That'll take the time away. Good luck with that.

[thumpbass1]

Hey, you ain't hurting or depriving me of anything with your interesting collection. Enjoy what you can afford to enjoy, as long as it isn't bankrupting you, or putting other folks in harm or need. I'm afraid none of us can help you with any neighbor or cop issues if you decide to fire up the whole collection at once. Nor would we be able to stop any structual damage to your home either, but I would recommend ear protection if you do. You have some cool stuff.

[impactwrench]

Frankly, if I'm not playing in a band, I only need one amp. Either stick with my little crate BX25 which sounds fine, or keep one GK head and a 2x10 cab. Since I gig I have about 3 heads (4 if you count the power block) and 2 cabs.

I probably wouldn't hang onto anything that won't appreciate in value, or at least NOT depreciate. I'm also not a fan of anything hard to move or ship. So I'd definitely dump every big amp but maybe 2. IMO on the used market, big cabs are worth next to nothing and hard to move (sell) because there aren't a lot of people who want to lug them around. At least I don't. Ebay/paypal costs too much these days, and shipping big items is nearly impossible.