Anyone ever have a problem "thining the heard"?

[jimmyb]

Man, I know this sounds pathetic, but I'm really having problems with this.
I'm at the point in my life where I'm fortunate to own every bass I've wanted. I'm also at the point of my life where I'm simply not going to play them all and don't gig nearly as much as I did. And I could also use some space.
So... I have 40(ish) American basses of various vintages.
Each one chosen carefully. Some for specific projects, others just cuz I always wanted one.
So now here we are, a rainy day in Maryland and I decide I'm going to list five. I pick a few out of the rack clean them up, plug them in, make sure they work as they should. And each bass reminds me while I chose it in the first place. "Can't get rid of this one" I keep repeating. Back it goes into the damn rack.
I was only able to choose two today I'd be willing to let go. And that was like pulling teeth.
So... Has anyone else had this problem?
Or am I just f'n nuts?

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Man, I know this sounds pathetic, but I'm really having problems with this.
I'm at the point in my life where I'm fortunate to own every bass I've wanted. I'm also at the point of my life where I'm simply not going to play them all and don't gig nearly as much as I did. And I could also use some space.
So... I have 40(ish) American basses of various vintages.
Each one chosen carefully. Some for specific projects, others just cuz I always wanted one.
So now here we are, a rainy day in Maryland and I decide I'm going to list five. I pick a few out of the rack clean them up, plug them in, make sure they work as they should. And each bass reminds me while I chose it in the first place. "Can't get rid of this one" I keep repeating. Back it goes into the damn rack.
I was only able to choose two today I'd be willing to let go. And that was like pulling teeth.
So... Has anyone else had this problem?
Or am I just f'n nuts?

You are not alone. I only have 7 basses and recently went through this. I finally just gave up and decided to keep it all. At least for now .

 

[ModuMan]

I'm going through the process now. I haven't even listed them yet. It's not easy, they were all picked for a reason and some of them even waited until the right opportunity came along to be played in a project. But yeah, it's time to let some go. Too bad selling is so much harder than buying!

 

[MynameisMe]

I'm at the point in my life where I'm fortunate to own every bass I've wanted.

Braggart!
Of course I'm kidding.
The struggle to thin the herd is real!
Bad part is I regret every bass I've sold, except one.

 

[JRA]

So... Has anyone else had this problem? Or am I just f'n nuts?

yes, you are "f'n nuts!"


so am i. good luck with yours!

You are not alone. I only have 7 basses and recently went through this. I finally just gave up and decided to keep it all. At least for now .

same: 7 axes --- i'm pretty sure i can barely keep up with 6. i'm heading for an 8th...i refuse to deal with it....

 

[Minimalist]

I used to have 9 or so and at first I couldn't decide. Then I started to put one or two away. If I didn't miss them I parted with them. I'm down to 5 and already know which ones will be next. I will keep 3. 2 P basses that sound really good but basically have no resale value and one moded Sterling Ray34.

 

[KenSmithFan]

I went from 20+ to two. The more you sell, the easier it gets. I fell victim to the “I bought the bass for XYZ reason too.” It’s actually very liberating and you’ll be happy.

 

[cdef]

I'm satisfied with what I'm using now, and could/should unload a number of basses that I know are good, but no longer essential. What makes it harder is the potential chore of impeccable packaging, especially if selling abroad. I'd prefer meeting up and handing it over, which limits the field.

 

[E2942]

I heard thine collection was worthy, but possibly more worthy as cash in thine investment account.

 

[WG Plum]

Nope, having basses I don't use is uncomfortable. I don't even hold onto pedals I'm not using. I think the most I've ever had was four, I now have three (one of which is an upright), but I think I'm going to donate one of them to a local music school.

 

[Killing Floor]

Instead of choosing 2 choose 10. Then the one or 2 you don’t think about when they’re stacked up can be listed. If you can sell 1 or 2 you’re cured.

Then you can buy more with the proceeds.

 

[Smurf-o-Deth]

I’ve got everything except for two basses stacked up and in the queue to part ways with. I’m not fond of having lots of unused things sitting around.

 

[Pyrrho Epoche]

All I need/want is a P, a Stingray and a Fretless jazz. I could get by and be happy with just the P.

 

[TrustRod]

It's human nature to value things more if you own them. I also can't get rid of all the excess basses I have but I try now and then.

A useful game is to take a bass you have and know how much you can sell it for. Say it's $1k. If you can imagine you didn't own the bass and saw it for sale for $1k would you buy it?

Or if you had all your basses stolen and insurance gave you exactly what you need to replace them, would you spend it all on getting the same ones again?

 

[Rocket Queen]

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/how-does-one-get-over-bass-instrument-hoarding.1174352/

 

[wiscoaster]

....
So... Has anyone else had this problem?
....

The main problem is just what I'd get for selling. It's just not hardly worth my time and effort to bring a couple basses to Guitar Center or Pawn America, and as far as selling them myself online or here in the classifieds, that's sure not worth my time, effort or RISK of loss.

 

[Gorilla Monsoon]

 

[C Stone]

It’s real, the ones that were “let go” didn’t make the cut for a reason, the ones that are here stayed for a reason.
I don’t need the space, I don’t need the money so they are in rotation, it is what it is. Sorry I can’t help. I wish you luck!

 

[KohanMike]

I started playing bass uke in mid 2014, and until early 2023 I accumulated 54 bass ukes and mini bass guitars, some custom made, some modified extensively. Then I found I was having more and more difficulty playing many of them because of nerve damage to my neck spinal cord from radiation treatments for cancer many years ago. Only one of them worked for me.

I looked over my collection, thinking about the journey I've taken with each, drawing mockups, accumulating them, having them modified, playing them, trying to decide if I would let them go, until I realized my comfort was much more important, and that I would buy only that one kind and have them modified to my liking. Over the next two weeks they all went cheap compared to what I paid. Once I made the decision, it was easy to let them go.

 

[singlemalt]

Around 2016, I tripped over a hardcase in my chock full music room and hurt my toes. And so began the Great Gear Purge of 2016.

I put 3 pedals up for sale and that broke the ice. A couple days later I had $500 in my PayPal and had shipped the boxes. Easy peasy.

Now I’m rolling, but what to sell? What to keep? So I gave it a think and put EVERYTHING up for sale. All the basses, all the amps, all the pedals. Cabs, monitors, mixer….straps extra strings.

The goal was to get to one bass, one amp set up and my Ovnilab Smoothie compressor. No way I was part with the Smoothie.

everything was priced slightly under the going rate in the TB classifieds, and included shipping and insurance.

My basement looked like a pack and ship for months. And I did it!
Over ten grand in cash. And I felt so much lighter and free. It took six months.

5 basses, three amps, four fearful cabs, pedals…so much stuff!

I’d look for a commercial account with Fed X or UPS, just to save some dough.

John Fox (who is now a highly respected Dingwall dealer and purveyor of fine bass gear) had the most epic bass sale ever. Then turned pro!