Downsizing

[Nedmundo]

I'm younger at 56, but I've already started downsizing, and I'm thinking about even more for the long term. So far, I've gotten rid of a keyboard, a Yamaha acoustic guitar, some studio monitors, one bass head, and one bass cab. I have yet to address the basses.

I have five, and my goal is also three, which I consider an ideal number when I'm playing out regularly. I could easily do with my Sandberg TT-5 Superlight, G&L M-2500, and Fender Jazz. This would mean selling my G&L JB and SB-2.

I would also sell my dad's old Gibson archtop guitar, and consolidate my amplification into a good 1x12 combo and my G-K MB-500 head.

I'm planning to start by selling the Gibson this year.

 

[RGerhart]

I am downsizing my gear this year. I will be 64 is about seven weeks, and just don’t want to pile up stuff anymore. Tomorrow is not promised to anybody, but the actuarial tables are really against me keeping a bass long enough for it to look relic’ed. I am not ruling out a retirement bass in 2.5 years when I retire, I do not want more than three basses anymore under any circumstances.
For what it’s worth, I plan to stop collecting pocket knives too and I have been doing that longer than any other hobby I have.

Don't do it, Doc.

 

[MaxSpinrun]

Doc, nice topic. I’m ahead of you age wise. I have 4 basses. A J, a Ray, 2 Laklands that are absolute keepers. Heavily modded
44-01 which I have received several offers to buy. My newest 44-02, again modded to my taste. Tonal chameleon. I do not need anymore basses, but I would like a classic Sabre and a fretless. No big deal if I don’t get them. A good deal on a fretless I would probably do since I do not have one. The Sabre I can live without since I have the Ray. I try to keep my life simple and not let the desire of the eyes, GAS, take over. IMO, your doing the right thing.

 

[chadds]

I downsized once but couldn't reach my amp. It was too hard to reach the pedals on the far side of my pedal board. It certainly didn't help me with the ladies at gigs. Your mileage may vary.

 

[CH Design]

It will be my Peavey, the Sadowsky Fretless, and Jazz 4.

I figured your Sadowsky fretless would stay, but I'm surprised that your MTD Super 5 didn't make the cut.

 

[Low End Scum]

Well, most of us bass guitar heroes on TB aren't getting any younger. I'll be 75 next year - still gigging, though. Been thinking about unloading a bunch of basses I've accumulated, since they're certainly more than I'll ever need again. Maybe try to make a deal with a local shop to sell them on commission. I know the guys, and they're straight.

EDIT: Still and all, I'm coveting a Reverend Dub King.

See, I've had the opposite experience. Been trading and added a +1 to my stable of 4 to make it a nice 5 over this year. Also, other than the 1 show haven't gigged since before '21. That and I actually have been getting younger

Jk, I hit 30 this year and threads like these make me feel like I'm still a kid so I'm grateful to y'all for that (and all the knowledge and online conversation)

 

[ahbass2500]

Just wanted to stop by to say that even though I have been a member of the forum since 2003, you all are making me feel like a little kid over here (I am in my mid 30s).

I can respect the downsizing instrument moves. I tend to rollercoaster up and down on amount of gear. I am due for another sell off here soon. I look forward to the day when I sell off and do not balloon back up.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I am downsizing my gear this year. I will be 64 is about seven weeks, and just don’t want to pile up stuff anymore. Tomorrow is not promised to anybody, but the actuarial tables are really against me keeping a bass long enough for it to look relic’ed. I am not ruling out a retirement bass in 2.5 years when I retire, I do not want more than three basses anymore under any circumstances.
For what it’s worth, I plan to stop collecting pocket knives too and I have been doing that longer than any other hobby I have.

Hey, Doc. As a a guy that used to be a financial advisor and dealt with life and health insurance over the decades, I hear you about mortality and morbidity tables. Odds are neither one of us are going to be around long enough to naturally (honestly) relic a bass.

Here is the deal, tables are tables and odds say what they are, but the truth is at our age all bets are off we are going to be here tomorrow. I’ve seen too many people over my lifetime that spent too many "tomorrows” waiting for the tomorrow they weren’t going to get.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying sell the ranch or make any stupid financial decisions in pursuit of your passions, BUT, my experience is with a good plan, much that may seem impossible really isn’t.

I’ve found two areas to find money for things like this. The number one, and easiest place to find savings is telcom. Telcom is expensive and usually comes with a lot of duplication that can be weeded out. In my case cutting the “cable” eliminating a landline saves me about $2,400 a year. Restructuring of cell phone plan another $800 a year.

The second is a little tougher because we love our conveniences, but give this some thought. Fast food. I found out years ago, I can take two slices of bread put something between the slices and put it in a plastic bag just as well as a fast food restaurant at 85% less the cost and in less time than it takes to get served. It healthier, tastes just as good better when you get the hang of it, and a great way to do something with leftovers than them sitting in the fridge until they turn green.

If you do end up in a restaurant, never order soft drinks. Ask for water with a slice of lemon. The sweetener is on the table and $2-$4 or so stays in your wallet.

Just making those adjustments in my life has made a profound financial difference enough that if I wanted to I could buy a $4,000 bass in a little over a year with the savings if I wanted to. I still could, I just don’t see the need.

My advice is to follow your passions with the resources you have to make “Life” happen. We were born to enjoy life given us, not fear it.

JMO Doc. As always, Nest wishes.

 

[fishdreams]

I recognize the sentiment. I'll be looking at 59 next year and the same realization has been creeping in. Especially after my wife made it perfectly clear to me that she is NOT interested in inheriting a flock of 'valuable' basses only to go through the torture of having to sell them to the likes of you&me to pay for the funeral. ('Im returning the bass because it was 9.02 lbs instead of the 9 lbs you said it was'; 'please take off $500 for that tiny scratch no-one can see'). yeah the excuses i used to come up with to justify the 'collection'. Finally growing up. Good luck Dr. Cheese!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Hey, Doc. As a a guy that used to be a financial advisor and dealt with life and health insurance over the decades, I hear you about mortality and morbidity tables. Odds are neither one of us are going to be around long enough to naturally (honestly) relic a bass.

Here is the deal, tables are tables and odds say what they are, but the truth is at our age all bets are off we are going to be here tomorrow. I’ve seen too many people over my lifetime that spent too many "tomorrows” waiting for the tomorrow they weren’t going to get.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying sell the ranch or make any stupid financial decisions in pursuit of your passions, BUT, my experience is with a good plan, much that may seem impossible really isn’t.

I’ve found two areas to find money for things like this. The number one, and easiest place to find savings is telcom. Telcom is expensive and usually comes with a lot of duplication that can be weeded out. In my case cutting the “cable” eliminating a landline saves me about $2,400 a year. Restructuring of cell phone plan another $800 a year.

The second is a little tougher because we love our conveniences, but give this some thought. Fast food. I found out years ago, I can take two slices of bread put something between the slices and put it in a plastic bag just as well as a fast food restaurant at 85% less the cost and in less time than it takes to get served. It healthier, tastes just as good better when you get the hang of it, and a great way to do something with leftovers than them sitting in the fridge until they turn green.

If you do end up in a restaurant, never order soft drinks. Ask for water with a slice of lemon. The sweetener is on the table and $2-$4 or so stays in your wallet.

Just making those adjustments in my life has made a profound financial difference enough that if I wanted to I could buy a $4,000 bass in a little over a year with the savings if I wanted to. I still could, I just don’t see the need.

My advice is to follow your passions with the resources you have to make “Life” happen. We were born to enjoy life given us, not fear it.

JMO Doc. As always, Nest wishes.

Thanks! I appreciate your advice. I actually have reduced my phone bill by a huge amount and cable/internet is next.
I know me well enough that I never felt happy simply from owning an expensive bass. Studying and getting better has made me much happier than owning a prestige brand instrument. I don’t need a name brand instrument to be happy. I may yet get a Sadowsky Metroline, but it will be because I enjoy playing them, not to impress folks online (nobody at my church has a clue about what I play.)

I simply don’t want more stuff than I am going to actually use. That is the same with pocketknife's. I have bought way too much of the same thing and I need to stop wasting money.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I recognize the sentiment. I'll be looking at 59 next year and the same realization has been creeping in. Especially after my wife made it perfectly clear to me that she is NOT interested in inheriting a flock of 'valuable' basses only to go through the torture of having to sell them to the likes of you&me to pay for the funeral. ('Im returning the bass because it was 9.02 lbs instead of the 9 lbs you said it was'; 'please take off $500 for that tiny scratch no-one can see'). yeah the excuses i used to come up with to justify the 'collection'. Finally growing up. Good luck Dr. Cheese!

Amen!

 

[Low End Scum]

If you do end up in a restaurant, never order soft drinks. Ask for water with a slice of lemon. The sweetener is on the table and $2-$4 or so stays in your wallet.

To this point, one of the best decisions I ever made was to challenge my roomie to a month of no soda when we started college together. Sort of a bid to leverage our bets against the freshman 15 weight gain with the all day access to the food plan cafeteria and unlimited soda. After a month, I couldn't go back. It's too sweet. Ever since, if I have soda (maaaaaaaaaaybe a few times a year at most) it's with liquor in it. The only carbonated beverage I ever drink is beer. Otherwise it's always un-flavored water, black coffee, or unsweet tea. Compared to my brother who loves his sweets and likes fancy coffees I spend soooooo much less than he does when it comes to splurging and getting fast food or going out to eat. It's so worth it, and is an easier adjustment to make than you'd think.

Plus, 1 can of coke is 10 calories shy of half of an entire dollar burger at Micky D's. One of their mediums is probably closer to a whole burgers calories. Way easier to feel full when you're eating all your calories as opposed to drinking them.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

To this point, one of the best decisions I ever made was to challenge my roomie to a month of no soda when we started college together. Sort of a bid to leverage our bets against the freshman 15 weight gain with the all day access to the food plan cafeteria and unlimited soda. After a month, I couldn't go back. It's too sweet. Ever since, if I have soda (maaaaaaaaaaybe a few times a year at most) it's with liquor in it. The only carbonated beverage I ever drink is beer. Otherwise it's always un-flavored water, black coffee, or unsweet tea. Compared to my brother who loves his sweets and likes fancy coffees I spend soooooo much less than he does when it comes to splurging and getting fast food or going out to eat. It's so worth it, and is an easier adjustment to make than you'd think.

Plus, 1 can of coke is 10 calories shy of half of an entire dollar burger at Micky D's. One of their mediums is probably closer to a whole burgers calories. Way easier to feel full when you're eating all your calories as opposed to drinking them.

Cutting back on soda really helped me drop weight 2022.

 

[Low End Scum]

Cutting back on soda really helped me drop weight 2022.

It's one of those things that if you're a passive soda drinker just doesn't get factored in. I dropped 30 pounds in 2015 from not counting calories per se` but just comparing what X calories got me food wise/drink wise compared to other things. Less alcohol and going to black coffee (sweetened and creamed coffee was the last sweet drink I had) was big. The only thing that was hard is that it basically meant that all the best forms of potatoes are out the window. Fries are just heartbreakingly calorically expensive.

 

[SteveC]

The funny thing is that the Peavey was a gift, not a bass I was all that crazy about, but it has really grown on me, and I can get absolutely every tone I want out of it.

My G&L JB2 Tribute was a gift that I wanted to like but never did. The finish is great. It’s light. Plays fine. Just that the cheap electronics made it sound blah. I just got it back from the shop with custom wound pickups, vol/blend/tone wiring (never cared for vol/vol/tone) and a fresh set up. Going to gig it next weekend. It sounds like a completely different bass. Can’t wait to gig it.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

No, I do not have a PJ at all.

Then your collection is incomplete. You obviously need another bass.

 

[MCF]

I am downsizing my gear this year. I will be 64 is about seven weeks, and just don’t want to pile up stuff anymore. Tomorrow is not promised to anybody, but the actuarial tables are really against me keeping a bass long enough for it to look relic’ed. I am not ruling out a retirement bass in 2.5 years when I retire, I do not want more than three basses anymore under any circumstances.
For what it’s worth, I plan to stop collecting pocket knives too and I have been doing that longer than any other hobby I have.

I’ll probably not go that far until the doc says it’s time.

I bought three Thunderbirds this year. But I’ve vowed to not add anymore until all the basses I have are dialed in and sounding, playing, and looking how I want them to. A few will get other pickups. A couple will get new truss rod covers or pick guards. At least one will get a fret job. And one will get a refinish.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I need to correct one thing. I would probably always have at least four basses because my wife gave me an SBMM Stingray 5 HH. That is a good thing because I like Stingrays and that bass gets good Stingray tone.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Thanks! I appreciate your advice. I actually have reduced my phone bill by a huge amount and cable/internet is next.
I know me well enough that I never felt happy simply from owning an expensive bass. Studying and getting better has made me much happier than owning a prestige brand instrument. I don’t need a name brand instrument to be happy. I may yet get a Sadowsky Metroline, but it will be because I enjoy playing them, not to impress folks online (nobody at my church has a clue about what I play.)

I simply don’t want more stuff than I am going to actually use. That is the same with pocketknife's. I have bought way too much of the same thing and I need to stop wasting money.

Just to be clear, my point was don’t wait for the tomorrow you may not get unless it is truly impossible. Doc, you’ve been toying around with this idea of a retirement bass for over a couple of years now. I’m not so sure I understand your reticence. Make no mistake, I respect it, but I don’t understand it.

I’m not one that should be talking about expediency. It took my 5 years from the time the light bulb went on that I needed a computer to actually buy one. But that was in my 40’s. It took 7 years for my Warwick Corvette to show up at the right price and condition, but I was in my early 60s. Now I’m 71 and I’m afraid if a light bulb comes on, I’ll probably not be around to see it through..LOL!!!

Have a good one Doc.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Just to be clear, my point was don’t wait for the tomorrow you may not get unless it is truly impossible. Doc, you’ve been toying around with this idea of a retirement bass for over a couple of years now. I’m not so sure I understand your reticence. Make no mistake, I respect it, but I don’t understand it.

I’m not one that should be talking about expediency. It took my 5 years from the time the light bulb went on that I needed a computer to actually buy one. But that was in my 40’s. It took 7 years for my Warwick Corvette to show up at the right price and condition, but I was in my early 60s. Now I’m 71 and I’m afraid if a light bulb comes on, I’ll probably not be around to see it through..LOL!!!

Have a good one Doc.

My reticence revolved around kids in college and some bad luck with a car I bought. I also needed to give up pocket knife collecting. Even cheaper nice knives are fairly expensive these days. Dropping $45-$275 on pocket knives regularly adds up to a lot of money. If all goes well (that is a big if,) I should be in great shape when I retire, financially, and that will be the time to roll with some cash to a cool bass I want. If I leave this world before then, I will have much bigger regrets than not buying a given bass.