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Buying freeze till 2026

#21
Very relatable. Especially seeing something underpriced and buying to try it out and possibly flip it to make a few extra(much neeeded) bucks in case I don’t like it.

also Agree that Some awesome instruments also have gotten me playing more, but as you said the magic fades, and the cycle restarts. It’s def made me realize there’s no such thiing as that “magic” bass. The magic comes from what you’re feeling and with the right mindset you can get a lot out of a cheap instruments….also, it’s all in the setup.

I justify it with the fact that I generally only own one bass, with 2 at the most, while a lot of people have a whole herd. Also, the money helps me out. But it becomes a pretty nasty obsession.

I wanna stop the cycle too. For me it started with the pandemic. Probably have bought and sold 20+ instruments in the past 4 years which is ridiculous.
 
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#23
As my signature states, I basically have 5 right now and will be keeping them. The Sadowsky Japan models are the best value today within the catalogue. The German models are pricey and have features I don’t prefer. The chinese models are problematic to put it politely. ( I’ve never met one that didn’t need something fixed) and the NYC models are financially out of my reach. But find a Japan unit, and you’re gonna be very pleased. Very high quality, and value priced. So thats 2 standard ( but very different) Sadowsky 4’s, a chinese fretless Sadowsky 4, and a killin Ibanez 5 when I absolutely have to use a 5. Otherwise It’s rarely used. The Glarry was stumbled across for $99 bucks and is just a cheap backup, but still a fun P-Bass with flats on it. I see no need for anything further.

Although…before I made this commitment I’d ordered 2 of these from china, so…I do have 2 more coming in. But I’ll be selling 1 to pay for them both, once I mod it, and set it up.

IMG_1139.jpeg
 
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#29
pb9717 said:
I think I’ve also opted to concentrate more on practicing learning new solo pieces, Bach cello Concerto, solo bass pieces, like tears in heaven, or increasing my vocabulary for improvisation. For a period in the spring of this year, I took lessons from a local instructor.
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I've done something similar; I've engaged a classical guitar tutor and told him to assume I know nothing and start from scratch to find the holes in my theory knowledge and problems with my technique. Part of this is to get back to basics and to focus less on the gear, and to improve my song writing, some of which I can sort of hear in my head, but I can't seem to actualise. Maybe doing something different will shake that loose, and even if it doesn't, it'll be interesting and fun.
I also joined a community choir, run by a local opera singer and teacher which is challenging, and after thinking I have a terrible voice for years, she says I don't. Maybe in the new year I'll take personal lessons with her as well.

I still have a couple of instruments on my 'to buy' list, but they're rare so seldom pop up and almost never when I have the funds spare. I still get GAS, but lately it seems to be 'ooh, shiny' and that fades quickly when I start to question what buying that will bring to my life. Usually it's nothing more than a new toy I'll have to dust when the new wears off soon enough.
 
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#30
pb9717 said:
In the past 24 months I’ve bought and sold between 15 and 20 instruments. I did this for several reasons. First off was the hunt. To find that magical perfect instrument. The second reason was a hobby Ive had for years, flipping basses.

The gamut of instruments that have passed across my bench has been very wide. Four strings, five strings, six strings, headless, single cut, Bolt on, neck through, active, passive, vintage, and recent.

I don’t know what has exactly caused me to have this sudden affirmation to stop purchasing anymore instruments for the next 14 months or more. I suspect it’s that I have found what I’m looking for. Or at least I think so right now. And I find myself saying to myself, “ you don’t need that”. I’m then able to walk away from something that would have been reacted to in the past. For example, a severely underpriced instrument, that would be prime to flip and make a few hundred dollars on, while being able to try it out. Or commonly, you’d see that instrument That would make you think you would sound that much better using it.

On occasion, that assumption would be correct. You would find yourself playing an instrument that you simply sounded better on. But more often than not that feeling wouldn’t last, or the next shiny object made itself known. I’m not one to keep more than one or two types of basses on hand. If an instrument isn’t used for several months, I question why I even have it. I’ve given away basses to friends and family that has sat unused. Normally they were lower cost instruments. But sometimes not. I have a 1970 Rickenbacker that I’ve traded back-and-forth with a life long friend for many years. He will have it for three or four years, then I will take it back for a time. Eventually, I land on his front porch with it, so he may take possession again.

And then, of course, there is the modification hobby I have. Where I will take an inexpensive bass would normally sell for more, upgrade it, modify it, and improve the aesthetics, then sell it for a tidy profit. I’m very proud of some of the instruments. I’ve worked on.

I think I’ve also opted to concentrate more on practicing learning new solo pieces, Bach cello Concerto, solo bass pieces, like tears in heaven, or increasing my vocabulary for improvisation. For a period in the spring of this year, I took lessons from a local instructor. I’ve been playing bass for 45 years. Yet the material he introduced me to pretty much stopped me in my tracks. It became apparent that the curriculum he was looking to teach me was not the avenue. I wanted to take. He was a fine teacher, but sometimes the direction I Teacher wants to take you will not inspire you to want to follow his lessons. Nevertheless, I intend to improve as a player as I always have tried to, but I will focus more on increasing my vocabulary on the instrument versus increasing my stable in the rack.

Hoping my meandering thoughts provided some entertainment.
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If I was lucky enough to live in an area whereby I could acquire "severely underpriced" basses I would keep doing what you were doing and buying/flipping for fun as a hobby, unfortunately where I live its like:

New price: €999
Used price: €950
 
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#33
Good for you. You get flack for anti gas posts on a gear forum, but I applaud the initiative.

I didn’t buy in 2022. 2023 I got I think 3 instruments, an amp and some pedals. One worked out well but the rest were duds. 2024 is shaping up to be a dry year again.

As you mentioned, I kinda like the feeling of not adjusting to new gear and putting that mental energy towards musicianship.

Best of luck to you!
 
#34
Best of luck! I really want to hear how it goes. Internet fueled addictions and compulsions are real and hard to quit. Trust me I know.

Lots of feel good brain chemicals involved in the hunt, the catch, the pics, the NBD post on talkbass, the honeymoon period, the sale down the road when you restart the cycle...

Shopping is more fun than practicing. Farrrr less return on the time investment though if your primary goal is to play better.
 
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#36
I’m goin got avoid looking at the classifieds, reverb GC used altogether. I know I’ll find an underpriced value, and want to move on it. Heres a few from my recent past…..


IMG_1189.jpeg

NOS P/J 4 MetroExpress ( Purchase price incl shipping $385…..modded and sold for $789)

IMG_9503.jpeg

Elrick USA NJS-4 ( $999 GC used, played for 6 months then sold for $1300) New they’re over 3 grand
IMG_0825.jpeg

Sadowsky MetroExpress P/J 5…( bought for $500, modded, Sold for $800)
 
#40
pb9717 said:
In the past 24 months I’ve bought and sold between 15 and 20 instruments. I did this for several reasons. First off was the hunt. To find that magical perfect instrument. The second reason was a hobby Ive had for years, flipping basses.

The gamut of instruments that have passed across my bench has been very wide. Four strings, five strings, six strings, headless, single cut, Bolt on, neck through, active, passive, vintage, and recent.

I don’t know what has exactly caused me to have this sudden affirmation to stop purchasing anymore instruments for the next 14 months or more. I suspect it’s that I have found what I’m looking for. Or at least I think so right now. And I find myself saying to myself, “ you don’t need that”. I’m then able to walk away from something that would have been reacted to in the past. For example, a severely underpriced instrument, that would be prime to flip and make a few hundred dollars on, while being able to try it out. Or commonly, you’d see that instrument That would make you think you would sound that much better using it.

On occasion, that assumption would be correct. You would find yourself playing an instrument that you simply sounded better on. But more often than not that feeling wouldn’t last, or the next shiny object made itself known. I’m not one to keep more than one or two types of basses on hand. If an instrument isn’t used for several months, I question why I even have it. I’ve given away basses to friends and family that has sat unused. Normally they were lower cost instruments. But sometimes not. I have a 1970 Rickenbacker that I’ve traded back-and-forth with a life long friend for many years. He will have it for three or four years, then I will take it back for a time. Eventually, I land on his front porch with it, so he may take possession again.

And then, of course, there is the modification hobby I have. Where I will take an inexpensive bass would normally sell for more, upgrade it, modify it, and improve the aesthetics, then sell it for a tidy profit. I’m very proud of some of the instruments. I’ve worked on.

I think I’ve also opted to concentrate more on practicing learning new solo pieces, Bach cello Concerto, solo bass pieces, like tears in heaven, or increasing my vocabulary for improvisation. For a period in the spring of this year, I took lessons from a local instructor. I’ve been playing bass for 45 years. Yet the material he introduced me to pretty much stopped me in my tracks. It became apparent that the curriculum he was looking to teach me was not the avenue. I wanted to take. He was a fine teacher, but sometimes the direction I Teacher wants to take you will not inspire you to want to follow his lessons. Nevertheless, I intend to improve as a player as I always have tried to, but I will focus more on increasing my vocabulary on the instrument versus increasing my stable in the rack.

Hoping my meandering thoughts provided some entertainment.
Click to expand...
Well...
I hope you can stick to your plan. Based on some of the betting here, though? Others don't seem so sure... but, good luck anyway....
Personally? I bought the last bass I plan to buy, in the first part of last June. The left handed Birdsong Fusion lined fretless bass that arrived at my house, was the last bass missing from my "Bass Herd". All the spots are now filled, so... unless one of my basses gets destroyed? No more basses for me... Sometime around 1991, when my only bass was a '78 "A" necked Fender P-Bass, I made a list of all the other basses I thought I'd like to own. Some were particular basses (like "Fender P-Bass"); some were brands of basses (Like "Gretsch"); and some were just types of bass ("Headless", or "Long Scale Neck-Thru"). The only real rules? 4-String only; left-handed - and NO conversions, unless there's no alternative: and, a bass can only fill one spot. A Rick 4003 can fill the "Rick 4003" spot, or it can fill the "Long Scale Neck-thru" spot - but, it can't fill both. Which isn't to say that I couldn't have two 4003's...;) Because of that lefty thing, some basses were very hard to find. The '94 Gretsch Broadkaster I found - after 12 years of looking - is still the only lefty factory Gretsch bass I've ever seen - and I'm still looking for another one. Some - like my lefty Gibson Thunderbird - weren't even made until 2013; and AFAIK, they've only made one small batch since (2018). EBMM didn't make a lefty 4HH Stingray until 2020... So, between waiting for the things to be made - or just having to have the thing made for me? It took me roughly 33 years to complete the Herd...
But, it is, finally, complete. And, like you, I can - finally - just concentrate on playing the things (and I do play every one of them), and getting better at it. However... I have so many, and this house is so small, that I have to break out a few every month; play the snot out of them; them put those basses away, and break out a few more. Which, TBH, sometimes feels like I didn't really retire; I just changed jobs... :cool:
 

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