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Sell it all and keep one
- Thread starter leche
- Start date
I got down to just my p bass once... ONCE!
; ) did not last long.
The bass that I had sold was a black 72 Tele, was just too mint to play...
Kept the p bass, have it, and have since bought sold gave away variety of others, now down to the p bass, a t40, jaguar with a custom neck, and two projects laying around, a walnut slab 3 pickup t40 flying v, and a exotic wood prototype stick bass...
And now looking at ric's : )
So I say sell off what you cannot afford and do not play, then enjoy the garden of delights out there like the rest of us.
Good luck!
For several years I collected instruments and keep it all. Lately I started to sell what I don’t like or don’t use at all. It’s a waste. Somewhere out there there’s someone that could be happy with that jazz bass in his hands. I would sell it.
I would sell it to buy something new, but that’s just me...and a few other guys here....
I would sell it to buy something new, but that’s just me...and a few other guys here....
I really like the efficiency of a simple set up;
For example, if you have 1 bass, 1 amp, and 1 simple pedal board you will also have:
1. 1 instrument to learn on intimately (no secondary distractions)
2. Less maintenance = less expense/time with batteries/strings/tuning etc
3. Faster loading/pack down time for gigs/practices
4. Less overall handling weight for above
5. Less space needed at home and on stage
6. Less things to go wrong (simpler cabling)
7. Less financial outlay
8. Faster set up time (only 1 bass to tune/less cabling etc)
BUT...I realise and appreciate people have different tastes/goals/collections etc, so it really is an individual thing.
For example, if you have 1 bass, 1 amp, and 1 simple pedal board you will also have:
1. 1 instrument to learn on intimately (no secondary distractions)
2. Less maintenance = less expense/time with batteries/strings/tuning etc
3. Faster loading/pack down time for gigs/practices
4. Less overall handling weight for above
5. Less space needed at home and on stage
6. Less things to go wrong (simpler cabling)
7. Less financial outlay
8. Faster set up time (only 1 bass to tune/less cabling etc)
BUT...I realise and appreciate people have different tastes/goals/collections etc, so it really is an individual thing.
After 33-years of using round-wound strings, I moved to La Bella Taperwound flats on my Jazz in May. Really glad I did. They sound great and play great too.
If you're asking the question, a majority of your personal sentiment is to sell them. So sell them.
- I've sold all my stuff down to 1 bass and 1 combo at least twice in my life. I now have 9 basses 2 complete amp stacks and a combo. Trust me, it doesnt work.
Three years ago I sold all my basses to finance a high-end five string, which served as my sole bass for a couple of years. Then acquired a P bass with TI flats. As far as I’m concerned that covers all my needs.
I put flats on my Lull PJ5 about 4 years ago. My first set of flats since 1970, and I was amazed how much better they made an already great bass sound.
Currently my P bass is sharing active duty with an active Jazz with rounds. I can cover everything I'm asked to do with those two.
Currently my P bass is sharing active duty with an active Jazz with rounds. I can cover everything I'm asked to do with those two.
I'd suggest sell and keep what you love. After 45 years of playing, I am down to 3 basses (G&L JB2 that is for sale here on TB). The 2 that I use are a custom Dave Pushic (32" scale) and an Ibanez Vintage hollowbody (30" scale) and a recently purchased Acoustic B600C combo amp. I am content with less gear and don't need anything else. Sure, there are "pretty, shiny" things that give me G.A.S. but I refrain since retirement.
![Pushic[1].JPG](https://www.talkbass.com/attachments/pushic-1-jpg.3272218/ "Pushic[1].JPG")
It’s difficult for me to imagine not having at least one fretless bass and one fretted bass at my disposal. Then of course, there is the occasional need or want for a fretted five string.
*stands on soap box*
The only reason to keep them is if they make you happy. Having more of anything than you truly need (can only play one at a time) is wasteful unless music is your only hobby and the extras fill a specific need (which for you sounds like a decided no) or if they make you happy (also sounds like a no). I have been personally paring down my life and it feels great. I basically don’t allow myself to have more than one or two of anything unless it fills a specific need. Two pairs of jeans, two polos, two suits, two chinos, two sweaters, four dress shirts (I have a professional job). I donated probably 3 garbage bags of sweaters, shirts, shoes, band shirts, etc.
Sold a motorcycle (down to one), sold my full time player for ten years (Warwick) because I got a lakland and it had a more versatile sound. Now I’m down to the lakland and my first ever bass I bought myself a mid 90’s carvin that just makes me happy so I allow it.
I didn’t need the money or space back for any of this. For me it was a very zen experience. It’s weight off my body and weight off my mind. With very few exceptions nothing I’ve ever purchased has brought me long term, meaningful happiness. The joy slowly (or quickly ) fades away and there’s a new hole waiting to be filled by my mindless consumption. And those things that I hold on to for happiness rather than utility (ie carvin) I recognize are me just living in the past, but I’m not quite present and mindful enough to give it up just yet.
You may not be where I’m at on a personal/emotional level of coming to grips with dissatisfaction and what’s driving it, and you may never want to get there, sometimes i wish I could go back to my old normal. But I’m “woke” to my mindless consumption and materialism, and to the fact that seeking happiness in external things is a fools errand and the simplifying of my life has been a wonderful thing for me.
To each their own.
*steps down from the soap box*
The only reason to keep them is if they make you happy. Having more of anything than you truly need (can only play one at a time) is wasteful unless music is your only hobby and the extras fill a specific need (which for you sounds like a decided no) or if they make you happy (also sounds like a no). I have been personally paring down my life and it feels great. I basically don’t allow myself to have more than one or two of anything unless it fills a specific need. Two pairs of jeans, two polos, two suits, two chinos, two sweaters, four dress shirts (I have a professional job). I donated probably 3 garbage bags of sweaters, shirts, shoes, band shirts, etc.
Sold a motorcycle (down to one), sold my full time player for ten years (Warwick) because I got a lakland and it had a more versatile sound. Now I’m down to the lakland and my first ever bass I bought myself a mid 90’s carvin that just makes me happy so I allow it.
I didn’t need the money or space back for any of this. For me it was a very zen experience. It’s weight off my body and weight off my mind. With very few exceptions nothing I’ve ever purchased has brought me long term, meaningful happiness. The joy slowly (or quickly ) fades away and there’s a new hole waiting to be filled by my mindless consumption. And those things that I hold on to for happiness rather than utility (ie carvin) I recognize are me just living in the past, but I’m not quite present and mindful enough to give it up just yet.
You may not be where I’m at on a personal/emotional level of coming to grips with dissatisfaction and what’s driving it, and you may never want to get there, sometimes i wish I could go back to my old normal. But I’m “woke” to my mindless consumption and materialism, and to the fact that seeking happiness in external things is a fools errand and the simplifying of my life has been a wonderful thing for me.
To each their own.
*steps down from the soap box*
As long as I am gigging for money, I'll always have a certain amount of redundancy. For me, the minimum to own is:
1. Two bass guitars. This can be one premium no1 player and one old beater that is purely meant for backup or two different models - as long as I can play the next gig on both (comfort aside)
2. Two amp solutions.
This can be two heads and two cabs or one head+cab(s) and a combo or two combos.
I'd consider it very unprofessional if I hired a sub for a gig and got a call the afternoon right before along the lines of
'I can't make it, my guitar fell out of its stand and the headstock has a crack.'
1. Two bass guitars. This can be one premium no1 player and one old beater that is purely meant for backup or two different models - as long as I can play the next gig on both (comfort aside)
2. Two amp solutions.
This can be two heads and two cabs or one head+cab(s) and a combo or two combos.
I'd consider it very unprofessional if I hired a sub for a gig and got a call the afternoon right before along the lines of
'I can't make it, my guitar fell out of its stand and the headstock has a crack.'
Put 'em up for a reasonable, but not great, price. If they sell, cool. If not, cool. I had a couple like that, where the actual price people would pay for them was so low, I decided to keep them. Market's kinda soft for sellers atm.
