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I can't rationalize having more than one guitar

I

InternetAlias

Dec 16, 2010
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#1
I have those times... when I basically think I have too much stuff. I am now selling my fretless P because I feel I have more than I need (but I still play the P a lot). What's wrong with me, and did anyone here ever have issues like his? I get great deals for a 5 stringer, left and right, just to realize that, uh, I am not buying any, because... something. The second I get a second bass I feel bad for some reason, the second I am left with one I feel tremendous joy. Guess I am not your GAS type :D But seriously, has anyone ever felt the conflict of wanting more gear and feeling bad about having too much (to their opinion) gear?
 
#3
If one bass works for you, that's it:)

I'm not a gigging guy, but if I was I wouldn't take my Ric everywhere because I value it so much. But it's really the only bass I play. I have a crappy homemade fretless Squier P in the corner wiating for the 4 year old strings to come off my Ric, and a solid maple PJ in the closet. It's too heavy to move.:smug:
 
#5
I've been thinking the same thing lately. Been looking at all I own (bass AND guitar stuff) and keep telling myself that some of it has GOT to go. It really does.

Which raises a question. These days, what's the safest way to sell gear? I've been slowly buying this, that and the other thing since around 2000, but the last time I sold any gear was back in the 70's!! Back then you'd put an add in the local paper and that was it! These days I don't like the idea of strangers coming over to my house. I'm just not at all comfortable with that idea.
 
#6
I guess you have not heard of Ebay?....:D

Mike M. said:
I've been thinking the same thing lately. Been looking at all I own (bass AND guitar stuff) and keep telling myself that some of it has GOT to go. It really does.

Which raises a question. These days, what's the safest way to sell gear? I've been slowly buying this, that and the other thing since around 2000, but the last time I sold any gear was back in the 70's!! Back then you'd put an add in the local paper and that was it! These days I don't like the idea of strangers coming over to my house. I'm just not at all comfortable with that idea.
Click to expand...
 
#8
I see your point. I don't have a lot of basses - any more. I think it's different for different people. If you are a studio guy for example, you probably need a few options.

For me (no band currently, playing in church) I find two (Roscoe fretted and fretless 5's) to be justifiable for me. I could do any gig I would have around here (small town,no one cares that much, we all do jazz on fretted electrics, etc.) with a fretted 4. I like to have a 5 for church, and I like the option of the fretless for church and the occasional jazz fill in gig.

In my situation, I can't really justify any more than that. I don't see myself "needing" another bass, but I wouldn't mind a fretted 6 for some experimentation.
 
#9
If my bass would be stolen - I'm cooked.
If my bass needs being serviced or repaired - I'm cooked.

I have two P-basses. I don't need more, but I think a backup is a handy one.

I'm not afraid of string snapping or electronic failure during the gig, but there are certain times when I just HAVE to have a second bass. I hate borrowing an instrument and I can't say "no" to a good paying gig because my instrument is being serviced at the moment.
 
#10
Mike M. said:
I've been thinking the same thing lately. Been looking at all I own (bass AND guitar stuff) and keep telling myself that some of it has GOT to go. It really does.

Which raises a question. These days, what's the safest way to sell gear? I've been slowly buying this, that and the other thing since around 2000, but the last time I sold any gear was back in the 70's!! Back then you'd put an add in the local paper and that was it! These days I don't like the idea of strangers coming over to my house. I'm just not at all comfortable with that idea.
Click to expand...

To be honest, I'd not do it any other way. The selling-over-email-and-UPS thing is a recipe for utter disaster in my experience and I'll never sell anything that way again. UPS does everything in their power to destroy everything they ship, the buyer always finds some way to weasel out of the deal or they disappear with your bass, the seller always finds a way to do something bad to you or they disappear with your money... It's a total fustercluck buying/selling at a distance.

Nowadays, when I sell something (which is extremely rare), I insist that the buyer comes over personally to check it out. That way, there's no surprises - he or she sees exactly what they're getting, and the buyer is protected. And as the seller, they don't walk away with it until I see the fist full of dollars. The seller is protected.

So really, the Old Fashioned Way is still the only truly secure method of transacting a sale in my experience. This leaves out all the middle men like UPS, evilbay and all the rest.

But then again, that's why I too have so much stuff lol. My gigging amps I'd love to get rid of, but noone wants to come all the way to my place to check them out so...

LS
 
#13
I use an SR5 at every gig. It's built like a tank, so I'm confident that it will be there for me. But my Carvin XB75P sits patiently in it's case, because you never know. I can't imagine a gigging musician not having a backup. It's a risky business proposition, kinda like not having a backup of critical files on your computer.
 
#14
I felt bad about having to much gear when I had to restring 3 5-strings at a time because of different tunings. It was worse than lugging a 810 cab an being told to turn down. Now I have a 7 that covers all three of those tunings and a 410 cab. 7 strings are easier to change than 15. I haven't wanted another fretted bass since but I would like to also have a 5 or 6 string fretless.

What I'm saying is get a bass that can get all the fretted sounds you want and if you want something else get something completely different like a fretless or an upright.
 
#16
I go through this every so often. Usually after a period of collecting musical equipment I thought I needed, then I find that I have things sitting around collecting dust. It really just depends on your needs. I had one bass for years, a '75 Fender P bass. But that thing was indestructible. I didn't feel like I needed a backup. Barring a major accident, basses are pretty tough. They're not fragile little things like a violin.
 
#19
I think TWO is the best number. You basically have a back up. In my case, the two models I own I think cover all the musical genre's the best, and with some good crossover in tone options. :)
 

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