I went through a few phases in building my herd (things like moving from 4 to 5 strings) where I ended up with a bunch of basses I no longer used. There are a couple places in my city that teach kids music (the public schools don't), and I have donated basses to both of those organizations. If you do it one of two at a time, it's pretty easy, over time, to thin a herd substantially - all you have to do is find one bass that is a bit less loved by you than the others, and you're good for a while. I have a few really nice basses, and the schools have 3 or 4 times as many good basses for the kids to learn on. Even though all of those basses are ones I used on gigs, and they were all really good, I've never regretted a single donation.
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Anyone ever have a problem "thining the heard"?
- Thread starter jimmyb
- Start date
..and it's thinning, not thining. Apparently, Talkbass is not the place to go for word choice or spelling help.
It's a form of addiction.
The things you own will eventually own you.
It's not easy, but it's good to let go of material things when you begin to value them as much or even more than family.
Recently I have started saving searches for basses I USED to own that I sold, casually looking to buy them back. Ibanez Bean Bass. Godin MB-5, Brute, Rumblefish (I had a BH but good luck with that!), and yet another Danelectro longhorn 
I bought 3 basses at the end of last year (Mustang, J and P) and told myself I would sell off one or 2 other instruments (P Special Deluxe, Tele Deluxe). But then I play the instruments I am planning to sell, and decide to keep them around for a while longer. I love all my basses! Only at 6 and an upright currently, so I need a few more at least to round out the collection. I mean, I don't even have a 5!
I bought 3 basses at the end of last year (Mustang, J and P) and told myself I would sell off one or 2 other instruments (P Special Deluxe, Tele Deluxe). But then I play the instruments I am planning to sell, and decide to keep them around for a while longer. I love all my basses! Only at 6 and an upright currently, so I need a few more at least to round out the collection. I mean, I don't even have a 5!
It is not easy but make a rule for yourself and don't look back. I haven't played it in 12 months (unless it's a never sell collectable) etc... .
Wow. 40 is a lot of basses. I have 12 and it feels excessive.
But that's not a judgment. There's nothing wrong with collecting basses (or guns or postage stamps or baseball cards or anything else). For me personally, it's just not the way I want to be.
I learnt early on that the fewer basses I played, the better I played them. It was a bitter but valuable lesson.
I've ended up with one fretted, a DB, a 5er and a fretless (in order of usage). The best, covering most bases. I sold my ABG and the UEB is going. Don't use them, no love.
It only took me 20 yrs to get it right!
I've ended up with one fretted, a DB, a 5er and a fretless (in order of usage). The best, covering most bases. I sold my ABG and the UEB is going. Don't use them, no love.
It only took me 20 yrs to get it right!
Anyone ever have a problem "thining the heard"?
I have had a probblem speling it.
I have had a probblem speling it.
I'm still trying to figure out what "thining" is as opposed to "thinning." Does it mean to give everything away to a close friend who is currently present? As in, "All of my current heard (sic) of basses are now thine... I doth tire of them and hereby bequeath them to thee, verily."
Was easier when BNW was around. Became easy again when I found The Lowend bass shop here in TN. Also TB is silly easy to buy , sell and trade. So yeah let’s get this party started! Bass up !
I have a simple rule, if it doesn’t get picked up within a month it moves on to a new home where it hopefully will be played. I have a personal limit of around 10. More than that and I become insane and here them at night weeping, and a little flat.
Yes it's hard....over the last 5 or 6 years I have gone down from about 30 basses to roughly a dozen and i'm trying to get that down to about 6...i just sold a bass two nights ago that i hardly ever played...and i now miss it...however deep down some part of my brain knows i'm better off with a few grand in my pocket instead of chunk of wood on a wall...
Bad thing is I now have a few grand in my pocket and other basses i want to try...lol
Bad thing is I now have a few grand in my pocket and other basses i want to try...lol
During the 2020 COVID lock down, one of my at-home projects was to compile a list of all the basses I'd owned in my life. I probably missed a few, but my list showed 82 basses (and 71 guitars). I'll attach a couple of partial pics below .
In thinning my bass herd over the years (I'm down down to about eight now), I learned a couple of things.
1. A divorce 25 years ago proved remarkably clarifying about what basses should go.
2. There really is something to the old saying that you don't own possessions. They own you. I feel lighter and more free now.
3. My criterion for keep or sell was, do I ever take this bass to play at a gig? A couple of times I would take two or three basses to a gig. While playing one on stage I would usually realize, "This one is a keeper," or more often, "This one is not a keeper."
To the OP: good luck!
I have mild regrets about selling one or two basses, but overall selling off this mass of basses was a Good Thing for me. And I love that they each went to a buyer who wanted it.
In thinning my bass herd over the years (I'm down down to about eight now), I learned a couple of things.
1. A divorce 25 years ago proved remarkably clarifying about what basses should go.
2. There really is something to the old saying that you don't own possessions. They own you. I feel lighter and more free now.
3. My criterion for keep or sell was, do I ever take this bass to play at a gig? A couple of times I would take two or three basses to a gig. While playing one on stage I would usually realize, "This one is a keeper," or more often, "This one is not a keeper."
To the OP: good luck!
I have mild regrets about selling one or two basses, but overall selling off this mass of basses was a Good Thing for me. And I love that they each went to a buyer who wanted it.
I had too many. Gave several to friends and the rest to a local school's music department. It is liberating. I am down to two. Now I feel better having just two basses that I rarely play.
Let me know when you want to thin down a fretless short scale. Hasn't been a good one up for sale for ages.
