Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Downsizing
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
Great thread!
I’m just about 60. Been playing most my life and gig a lot.
This past year I mainly used two or
Three of my basses, but I do play and enjoy the rest. Some are quite valuable and each has a story.
I spoke with my eldest child about them - told her I should sell them before I die. She told me not to worry about it, but asked I leave a cheat sheet detailing each one. Seemed like a good idea to me.
I’m just about 60. Been playing most my life and gig a lot.
This past year I mainly used two or
Three of my basses, but I do play and enjoy the rest. Some are quite valuable and each has a story.
I spoke with my eldest child about them - told her I should sell them before I die. She told me not to worry about it, but asked I leave a cheat sheet detailing each one. Seemed like a good idea to me.
I did this same exact thing about a year ago, before I went in for some surgery.
Sort of a instrument journal, with facts, values, and a couple short stories, in a notebook,
in a place, that I know would be found, in the case my demise.
EDIT-I even managed to rid a couple things in this year, so I just lined them out
Last edited:
A friend mentioned he'd done this with his many valuable items so his family will know what's of value, how to describe it, approx value etc. Not because he's particularly worried about the 'stuff' but so his family can max out the return on it when he goes. Apparently, the latest list is basically copyable into an auction listing as is.
I should do the same, not so much for my musical gear, more for all the antiques and the vintage Stickley furniture we have.
Yes, one of the items my friend has is a rare vintage book that doesn't look like much but is worth a lot. The photos and details kept in a file also make it easy for insurance whilst he's alive.
It would also be a shame if some items that people would love end up scrapped, or sold for little because of the ignorance of the beneficiaries when detailing the items should not be an issue for the owner, still alive, that appreciates and loves them.
It all comes back to, Everything is only worth what people are willing to pay for it
When the time comes, you have to find these people. Good Luck
When the time comes, you have to find these people. Good Luck
Hello Doc,
I understand the need to declutter. My man cave in the garage has been taking over by junk 2024 I'm reclaiming my space. It's only truly useable about 3 to 6 months a year depending how soon the heat turns on in my area. /2020/2021/2022 I invested in myself bought 4 basses (3 of which I still own) not a lot by TB standards but considering the price point for 2 of them I'd consider buying them a major decision one I do not regret. 2023 pedal buying madness completed 2 boards one for home and one for gigging although I only played a whopping 5 gigs all year. LOL I have a Ibanez SR500 2007 I'm going to finally give away /donate. There are few pedals on my try list in 2024 but I do not have any real needs just wants at this point. I need a New amp & Cab my current setup is getting a little long in the tooth & bulky. As for Basses I have wants not needs mainly a 5 string Jazz Bass but it will be a Sire V5 so not crazy expensive. The other bass is purely gas a more modern 4 string Jazz. But if I never bought a single new or new to me item I still find happiness in what I own.
I understand the need to declutter. My man cave in the garage has been taking over by junk 2024 I'm reclaiming my space. It's only truly useable about 3 to 6 months a year depending how soon the heat turns on in my area. /2020/2021/2022 I invested in myself bought 4 basses (3 of which I still own) not a lot by TB standards but considering the price point for 2 of them I'd consider buying them a major decision one I do not regret. 2023 pedal buying madness completed 2 boards one for home and one for gigging although I only played a whopping 5 gigs all year. LOL I have a Ibanez SR500 2007 I'm going to finally give away /donate. There are few pedals on my try list in 2024 but I do not have any real needs just wants at this point. I need a New amp & Cab my current setup is getting a little long in the tooth & bulky. As for Basses I have wants not needs mainly a 5 string Jazz Bass but it will be a Sire V5 so not crazy expensive. The other bass is purely gas a more modern 4 string Jazz. But if I never bought a single new or new to me item I still find happiness in what I own.
I am going though a similar “downsizing” crisis, and I’m 17 years away from retirement…!!!
I am constantly fighting with myself on whether or not I should just sell everything except for my L2500, and then maybe get one other quality USA-made instrument to just stay with 2.
Problem is that I don’t gig, I don’t play anywhere live. I just play for myself…sometimes I question why I even bother at all…
I am constantly fighting with myself on whether or not I should just sell everything except for my L2500, and then maybe get one other quality USA-made instrument to just stay with 2.
Problem is that I don’t gig, I don’t play anywhere live. I just play for myself…sometimes I question why I even bother at all…
Playing for enjoyment is valid. I often gig but I also play for my own pleasure. Enjoying music is its own reward. Get the second bass of your dreams.
You “bother” because you enjoy it. That is the best reason of all!
I'm running fairly lean at the moment (and am a few years from retirement) - 5 basses but they all have a specific purpose for gigs/recording. I could shed one as I have duplicate Mouse fretless but I gig those a lot and it is nice to have a dedicated backup. What complicated things was getting back into doing solo shows which meant acoustic guitars, which meant dobro, which meant thinline, which meant solid body with trem. So now 5 of those (oh, and a banjo). But kinda the same deal - they all do different things for different projects. I have a 5-instrument rack and 5 wall hangers so everything fits.
I just finished recording a new album, took 2 weeks vacation and ended up working harder than when I'm doing the day job. Finally submitted everything Thu, but then had a solo show Fri. Coming home from that (hour drive) I was talking with a friend who asked me what I was going to do now that the album was done. My answer was that I probably was going to woodshed some jazz guitar for fun when I got home as I hadn't been able to really do that while I was in recording frenzy.
Long way of saying if playing your instrument makes you happy - no matter what the context - then it is worth your time, effort, and funds. How much of each of those just depends on your circumstances. And sanity.
Life is short and you're dead a long time.
I just finished recording a new album, took 2 weeks vacation and ended up working harder than when I'm doing the day job. Finally submitted everything Thu, but then had a solo show Fri. Coming home from that (hour drive) I was talking with a friend who asked me what I was going to do now that the album was done. My answer was that I probably was going to woodshed some jazz guitar for fun when I got home as I hadn't been able to really do that while I was in recording frenzy.
Long way of saying if playing your instrument makes you happy - no matter what the context - then it is worth your time, effort, and funds. How much of each of those just depends on your circumstances. And sanity.
Life is short and you're dead a long time.
Last edited:
“Life is short and you’re dead a long time”
Ha! Love this. May have to quote you on that.
wait…. I just did!
Ha! Love this. May have to quote you on that.
wait…. I just did!
I'm a bit older than Dr. Cheese and I keep thinking about downsizing (and I've got over 100 basses). I mentioned this to my guitarist and he said do you really need the money and I thought about and decided I might as well enjoy them all when I'm still above ground cause I never could afford to replace them.
Sure it will be a huge pain in the ass for my estate and it's not that I hate my wife or kids but it took me a while to put this collection together and I feel like a little of me dies every time I decide to sell one. And of course every time I sell one I end up regretting it and buying a more expensive one to replace it.
Sure it will be a huge pain in the ass for my estate and it's not that I hate my wife or kids but it took me a while to put this collection together and I feel like a little of me dies every time I decide to sell one. And of course every time I sell one I end up regretting it and buying a more expensive one to replace it.
I have 20-odd basses but I’m in my 40’s. So maybe 10 in my 50’s and a few in my 60’s….?
From a good play about letting go:
Now my charms are all o’erthrown,
And what strength I have ’s mine own,
Which is most faint. Now ’tis true
I must be here confined by you,
Or sent to Naples. Let me not,
Since I have my dukedom got
And pardoned the deceiver, dwell
In this bare island by your spell,
But release me from my bands
With the help of your good hands.
Gentle breath of yours my sails
Must fill, or else my project fails,
Which was to please. Now I want
Spirits to enforce, art to enchant,
And my ending is despair,
Unless I be relieved by prayer,
Which pierces so that it assaults
Mercy itself, and frees all faults.
As you from crimes would pardoned be,
Let your indulgence set me free.
He exits.
Now my charms are all o’erthrown,
And what strength I have ’s mine own,
Which is most faint. Now ’tis true
I must be here confined by you,
Or sent to Naples. Let me not,
Since I have my dukedom got
And pardoned the deceiver, dwell
In this bare island by your spell,
But release me from my bands
With the help of your good hands.
Gentle breath of yours my sails
Must fill, or else my project fails,
Which was to please. Now I want
Spirits to enforce, art to enchant,
And my ending is despair,
Unless I be relieved by prayer,
Which pierces so that it assaults
Mercy itself, and frees all faults.
As you from crimes would pardoned be,
Let your indulgence set me free.
He exits.
My essential three basses:
Peavey Forum 5 AX:
RSD Fretless JJ:
Tagima TJB535:
Peavey Forum 5 AX:
RSD Fretless JJ:
Tagima TJB535:
