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Downgrading your rig?

#22
I'm with the others: don't do it! You'll forget what you did with the extra cash and miss the equipment that you love.

How do I know? I did the same thing and it was super dumb. I'm still living with the "lesser" gear and missing my old stuff desperately.
 
#23
I would agree with not selling the bass, unless there is something about the bass that you don't like. I've sold gear that I regretted, and have sold gear that I didn't regret. In the cases where I didn't regret it it was because there was something about it that I didn't like. For example, I sold a Warwick Thumb 5'er once. It was my first (and only) 5 string bass. It was a very expensive way to learn that I don't like 5 string basses.
 
#24
I wouldn't sell a guitar I like, but I've had several stages of downgrades among the rest of my gear, and am always pleased with the results.

I used to practice through a Markbass 1x15 combo, but I traded that for a tiny Phil Jones Bass Cub (13# and the size of shoe box).

But then I needed something gig worthy, so I got a Mesa D-800+ and a Subway 1x15. Too big; too $$$. So I returned the cab, sold the head, and went with a Tecamp Puma 500 and an Audiokinesis Hathor 1203. I got about 1/3rd of my money back and several square feet of floor space.

I got the bug to play through some tubes, so I got an Ashdown LB-30. That was great, but more than I needed, so I sold it and got a CTM-15 plus some money back.

There's a lot to be said for "right sizing," whatever that means to you. For me it meant turning extra watts and bulk into cash. But none of those "downgrades" sacrificed tone or quality.
 
#25
aah_scary said:
Hey guys, looking to get some advice.

I'm thinking of selling my gear for cheaper gear and pocketing the difference. I'll start off with the fact that I'm a novice bedroom player who bought a good bass and amp not long after I started playing. I don't practice every day or even often but pick it up every now and then. Nowhere even close to being able to play gigs and stuff.
I've currently got a MIJ FSR Aerodyne Jazz in LPB and a TV Electronic BG250-112 which is a lot more than I need (and maybe a tad expensive). I'm not sure what amp I'd get (Could keep it) but I was looking at getting an Ibanez SR300E, which after picking up in a shop, seemed to be a very good bass for £265!
I reckon I could get a good £500 by swapping the bass and amp; which, while I don't necessarily need the money, it would come in useful at the moment. The downside is, I quite like this bass, even if it doesn't see a lot of action.

So, if you were me. Would you keep the gear or downgrade?
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If you sell your more expensive rig for a 'new' cheaper rig in a store then you will get a bad deal and miss out on optimal return value. Instead sell the rig on the second hand market and buy something good second hand back for it. You will get more money in your pocket in the end.
 
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#26
Wesley R said:
Every time I traded down, i ended up feeling bad. The twinkle of the coin so to speak did not last as long as one may have wished for.
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Heh I know the feeling. I have sold a great high end bass in the past (my baby), because I was in a tight financial spot and I never have been able to buy the same bass back again. Things changed after 2008 and the financial crisis for a lot of people, c'est la vie.
 
#27
bonin in the boneyard said:
But then I needed something gig worthy, so I got a Mesa D-800+ and a Subway 1x15. Too big; too $$$. So I returned the cab, sold the head, and went with a Tecamp Puma 500 and an Audiokinesis Hathor 1203. I got about 1/3rd of my money back and several square feet of floor space.
Click to expand...
I am impressed and encouraged that a Puma 500 and Hathor 1203 cost that much less than a Mesa D-800+ and Subway 115! I love the TecAmp gear I've had the chance to play through.
 
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#29
Well, that's one thing. I've still got the money from selling my expensive gear last year. It only cost me 1/5 of what I spent on those other instruments to build back a small collection & TBH I always felt out of place trying to play those higher end instruments, LOL!

I was thinking about driving up to the RIC dealer some time in the Fall & buying another 4004, but then lamented about how heavy the last one was & how thick the neck was.
 
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#30
I have a suspicion that you probably won't get as much as you think selling the gear that you have now. And perhaps, someday before long, you won't be a bedroom player any more, and you're going to end up just rebuying anyway.
 
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#31
HolmeBass said:
I am impressed and encouraged that a Puma 500 and Hathor 1203 cost that much less than a Mesa D-800+ and Subway 115! I love the TecAmp gear I've had the chance to play through.
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Yup. But the big difference was that I bought the Mesa stuff new when it first hit the market, but I was able to pick up the TecAmp and the AK used. But the TecAmp is a real sleeper; for the price it's stupidly small and light, sounds amazing, and has great features.
 
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#33
Yikes. This is going to run somewhat contrary to most (all) of the advice of others in this thread. Don't kill me.

Sell it. You're not using it that much and you need the money. You can always get other instruments. And you'll like those too if you do. I've sold some instruments that were "cool" and hey, i lost that cool thing in my life, but the truth was I wasn't really using them that much. And so they were expendable. And I needed the money more. I don't regret it.

WhenTheDrumsStops said:
If you sell your more expensive rig for a 'new' cheaper rig in a store then you will get a bad deal and miss out on optimal return value. Instead sell the rig on the second hand market and buy something good second hand back for it. You will get more money in your pocket in the end.
Click to expand...

This is insanely good advice if you sell. Music stores are not your friends.
 
#34
you bought decent, value for money gear that should last a very long time and make you sound as good as your skill will let you for a long time to come...I feel that you did the right thing to begin with and the effort for making a VERY small amount of money is pretty negligible really. If you are still using and planning on sticking to playing bass I would totally keep what you have and enjoy it. We aren't exactly talking about selling prestige gear this is middle road gear that was bought to serve your needs perfectly. IMO no offence or anything do of what you will. cheers
 
#35
Keep your stuff. I've had cheap gear. It's like drivig the cheapest car you can get. It will get you where you are going but you can get there better with a nicer car. Besides, the hit you will take isn't worth it. Keep your stuff. Especially that amp. It's 300-ish USD, and they do t make halfway decent stuff that costs less. Keep your stuff...
 
#37
If you must get rid of some but can keep some I'd say keep the pieces of gear that mean more to you and you find to be not replaceable no matter even if they are, regret is pain later on. Anything you don't second guess on should be first to go...again if you must.
 

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