Yeah, I agree. I've stopped consulting TB about my purchases (and purchases to be) and I enjoy the basses much better that way.
No offense TB
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GAS - I've officially lost my mind - downgrading (almost) everything
- Thread starter Killed_by_Death
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No offense TB
You could do what I do and put a limit on how much you allow yourself to own at one time.
If you are at your limit, then you have to unload something you already own in order to get anything new.
That keeps you from filling your space to the rafters with stuff. And also goes a long way toward helping you determine just how serious you are about what you already have - as opposed to what you still want to get.
I'm at my threshold right now for basses. So if I bring anything new in, something else has to go.
Fortunately, I'm a player rather than a collector or investor. So picking an elimination candidate doesn't cause me the mental distress it causes for some people.
If you are at your limit, then you have to unload something you already own in order to get anything new.
That keeps you from filling your space to the rafters with stuff. And also goes a long way toward helping you determine just how serious you are about what you already have - as opposed to what you still want to get.
I'm at my threshold right now for basses. So if I bring anything new in, something else has to go.
Fortunately, I'm a player rather than a collector or investor. So picking an elimination candidate doesn't cause me the mental distress it causes for some people.
If you want to be a collector, just do it, otherwise just play what you have. You admit that you have trouble hearing tone andand that a fender and a ric feel the same to you, but are talking like a player with golden ears who can discern 1mm string spacing difference instantly.
If you can afford the pawn shop bass and like how it sounds/feels then get it, if you have gear you dont play or like, sell it.
Now most importantly im waiting to hear how the jam goes.
If you can afford the pawn shop bass and like how it sounds/feels then get it, if you have gear you dont play or like, sell it.
Now most importantly im waiting to hear how the jam goes.
That's how I used to be, when I had one bass & one guitar. Then I realized I NEEDED alternate tunings, LOL.
I don't recall coming off like that. I don't like the tone of some basses (Music Man, Thunderbird) but I can't tell you why.
It might not. I tried contacting past the initial eMail & explained I'm pretty fresh & never played out of the house.
Maybe that was too much information, or maybe he got a look at my FB profile & decided I'm too hardcore.
I wouldn't call it a wash just yet though, as it's only been the first day.
I also tried driving by where the location is on the map I saw & it's all commercial, restaurants & hotels. So...
add: Here is what my stuff looks like. Since I just added it to the OP, I thought maybe I should add it here too. The MB200 is now a TH350.
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Okey dokey, my opinion is often in the minority. I meant no offence to @Super_Freak or anyone else.
Turns out, all I needed was some beer!
I've had 3 Guinness now & I don't care if I turn my home into a freakin' guitar & bass museum. I love my gear!
I've had 3 Guinness now & I don't care if I turn my home into a freakin' guitar & bass museum. I love my gear!
Here is what I am doing to keep my GAS under control:
I have made a spread sheet of all my gear - including books, straps, strings - with the purchase price and date next to the name. A running total is at the bottom of the list.
On the next tab, I have a "wishlist" that just has the name and price. New items are added to the bottom of the list to prevent impulse buys of cheaper stuff. Again, a running total at the bottom of the list.
Now when the urge of "oh, I cannot live without that" over powers me, instead of ordering it online right away, I open my spread sheet, and add it to my wishlist. Just like Medusa's eyes, I am turned to stone by all the money I have already spent on gear and it makes me re-evaluate my overall spending habits.
I have made a spread sheet of all my gear - including books, straps, strings - with the purchase price and date next to the name. A running total is at the bottom of the list.
On the next tab, I have a "wishlist" that just has the name and price. New items are added to the bottom of the list to prevent impulse buys of cheaper stuff. Again, a running total at the bottom of the list.
Now when the urge of "oh, I cannot live without that" over powers me, instead of ordering it online right away, I open my spread sheet, and add it to my wishlist. Just like Medusa's eyes, I am turned to stone by all the money I have already spent on gear and it makes me re-evaluate my overall spending habits.
Heh. I kind of go through what you are in phases... but slightly differently. I have gear that I love and use extensively. Over the past year or so I've found basses that really, really speak to me and are what I want exactly. I was holding onto a lot of my other gear because I liked how it looked, and some of the memories tied to them. But, over the past month, I've been able to pull back and think about things a bit more objectively, and have sold off a lot of the unplayed gear. I still kept some - some that I just have a lot of sentimental value in. But otherwise, have cut my gear collection way down.
Good luck whatever path you choose.
Good luck whatever path you choose.
I went through a phase where I was buying gear because I just needed something very specific for some very specific situation. The problem, however, was that I never found myself in those situations, and I found myself with about 22 different stringed instruments that weren't being used.
I've since reduced my fleet to just 4 basses and two acoustic guitars. My Modulus Funk and Q5 are my main basses. My Fender P is, well, a Fender P for whenever something more traditional is needed. And my Squier CV Jazz is my "beater" for whenever I don't want to risk one of my high dollar basses. I could honestly sell the Jazz off, but I don't think the price I would get for it would be worth the hassle.
I've since reduced my fleet to just 4 basses and two acoustic guitars. My Modulus Funk and Q5 are my main basses. My Fender P is, well, a Fender P for whenever something more traditional is needed. And my Squier CV Jazz is my "beater" for whenever I don't want to risk one of my high dollar basses. I could honestly sell the Jazz off, but I don't think the price I would get for it would be worth the hassle.
Well, I did it!
There are only 4 items in that last photo that I still have:
Markbass 2x10
H&K tube amp
4004 Laredo
Rumble 15
All my guitars are different, & GAS got me yesterday. I bought another Floyd Rose style bridge Ibanez to replace the original FR BC Rich.
I've got two cheap basses, Yamaha & Cort. The Cort is actually more comfortable to play than the 4004 & 1-1/2 lbs. lighter.
There are only 4 items in that last photo that I still have:
Markbass 2x10
H&K tube amp
4004 Laredo
Rumble 15
All my guitars are different, & GAS got me yesterday. I bought another Floyd Rose style bridge Ibanez to replace the original FR BC Rich.
I've got two cheap basses, Yamaha & Cort. The Cort is actually more comfortable to play than the 4004 & 1-1/2 lbs. lighter.
I can comiserate with the o.p.
I am a quality and tone snob if there ever was one, but I there is someting that I really appreciate about playing out with cheap gear. It sounds silly but you should try this- pick up that old squier with mile high action, decade old strings and find yourself playing heavy ass simple grooves that you may normally find too boring or easy but fit right in with a different setup of gear.
Reminds me of being a kid just having fun playing not being so tied up in gear.
I have found myself thinking wow great tone at parties and small shows at players to look behind them at a 100W GC combo amp.
Then I think wow how much did I spend on my rig components and does it really sound light years ahead of that?
I am a quality and tone snob if there ever was one, but I there is someting that I really appreciate about playing out with cheap gear. It sounds silly but you should try this- pick up that old squier with mile high action, decade old strings and find yourself playing heavy ass simple grooves that you may normally find too boring or easy but fit right in with a different setup of gear.
Reminds me of being a kid just having fun playing not being so tied up in gear.
I have found myself thinking wow great tone at parties and small shows at players to look behind them at a 100W GC combo amp.
Then I think wow how much did I spend on my rig components and does it really sound light years ahead of that?
I'm up to 9 basses (and i'm trying to figure out which ones i'm not keeping).
All of them are 20 fret 4's,except for one 4-string fretless,and a 24-fret 8-string. Even so,i'm enjoying all of them,and really having a hard time trying to downsize. My probelm is the exact opposite of yours-i find each bass has differing tonal qualities that i invariably really like. I've got 3 4004 models,and they sound nothing alike. Storage space and money are not my issues,basically i just feel like maintenance and preference are my problems.
@Killed_by_Death wait a minute, you got rid of a load of gear and did not even consult me? As your biggest fan i would have happily displayed the basses at my museum and all you would have had to have done was donate them, as a kind offer i would have covered shipping.
Bad form young man.......
Bad form young man.......
I missed this thread the first time around and enjoyed reading all the reasons different people acquire and part with gear. I can connect with so many of them. Seeing other people's acquisitions IS a huge part of it. So is being bored or feeling limited. I sort of have a one-of-everything approach. I definitely buy instruments I don't "need" or may not use frequently. I only buy used items that I think are a great bargain. I did find it capped my collection if I have to honestly ask myself what the new acquisition does that I can't already do. The sentiment I don't feel strongly is owning a bunch of identical style instruments, but I guess that has to do with my style being all over the place.
Wow. You have to do what makes you happy.
By the way, if you ever decide to sell the Laredo, keep me in mind. I have a 4003W, a 4003SW and I'd love to have an early Laredo with a maple fingerboard.
