Time to sell it all?

[spiritbass]

You cannot sell the burgundy mist one. Because it's burgundy mist. That's all I can offer, and clearly, you understand these things because that is the one you would pare down to. Clearly sensible.

Burgundy Mist is one of my favorites.

 

[Jared Lash]

fwiw, when my son was born I wasn't playing much. When he got to be about 4 I started gigging again once a week, had a pair of Zon 5-strings and giggable amp setup, along with acoustic and electric guitar and a keyboard. Kept that "baseline" setup for a number of years, then went on somewhat of a hiatus for personal reasons. In 2010 (son was now 16) I decided I wasn't getting any younger, and dove back headlong into studying and gigging. Last couple years dialed it back due to a lot going on, but still playing out and recording. During those periods I trimmed down to essentials, but what constitutes essential has changed. I had an acoustic guitar forever, but finally gave up playing that last year due to hand issues. I typically have a keyboard around the house, but sometimes it has been just a midi keyboard, other times a synth I can play out with.

There will always be other instruments out there, so if you want to do a purge, go for it. I am down to only a couple of basses at this point, and don't anticipate going above four instruments. If I had to drop to one I suppose I could, but I have other projects where I want a bit of variety.

Sometime a reset is a good thing. Other times it launches a thousand regrets. At the end of the day, just depends on what moves you and what you really need in your life.

I think diving back headlong into studying and gigging is exactly what I need to do. The side benefit will likely be that I'll be able to better identify what I actually need when I'm playing out vs playing at home.

The motivation for selling is usually - a. You need money or b. You've run out of space.

You have the space, you don't need the money, you like the gear you have, and the old lady isn't on your back. So why would you consider selling anything?? Simmer down and take a step back. Sell nothing. This phase you're going through will pass.

This makes the most sense to me right now. We're leaving in a little over a week so maybe just pack it all up and figure things out later.

The closest I see to redundancy in that collection is between the two 4 strings. However, if you find yourself going between P-ish sound and J-ish sound then it kind of makes sense, given that you prefer 4s over 5s.

I like having a fretless, two fretted 5 strings for gigging, and a 4 for occasional gigging and just because. I don't find your collection excessive. However, if you really want to simplify a compromise might be the burgundy mist 4 and the fretless 5. Those two cover a lot of sonic bases. (Personally I'd pick the teal 4 string since the nick pickup solo'd usually is close enough to a P sound for my ears.)

If you plan on gigging again after the move I wouldn't sell anything.

It's funny you say that. Just this morning I was trying to see if I could get the neck pickup of the green bass to sound close enough to the burgundy one. I could get it somewhat in the same ballpark but they are really their own thing. The most versatile bass is the one one the end (the five string P/MM with the Nordstrand NP5 and BigSplitMan combo) but there is something so great about a fretless bass.

He just hasn't found the right music yet... So long as he doesn't end up wanting to be a jugalo it's all good

He's like a prematurely grumpy old man. He tells his brother and sister all the time that the music they listen to is, "just noise". And as much as I love my children I'd have to disown them if they became jugalos.

 

[logdrum]

If you cannot recoup 80% of the cost to buy these boutique basses you are losing money and that doesn't seem like a smart thing to do. I am deducing that being a house owner in Northern California, you are not hurting for cash. Your wife is right, keep all of these. It's not my business I know but you did ask strangers in an internet forum. Keep making music above all.

 

[Jared Lash]

Since divesting is not an immediate need, I fall to the side of, "Not now."

Consider also that these are not just instruments, but modern wood sculptures. Look again at the photo you posted, and the care with which these are displayed. In this collection, there is beauty for the eyes as well as the ears.

You hit on exactly the same point that my wife made. She thinks that they are worth displaying as functional art.

Well, except for the EBMM Valentine. She says that guitar reminds her of a tooth but with a gold grill. It's not her favorite . . .

 

[40Hz]

If your wife is good with you keeping what you’ve go Id bring the rest along. I wouldn’t sell everything and get a PB before your move since you can buy a PB anywhere if you end up wanting one.

Get yourself a good set of headphones (I recommend Sony MDR-7506 for $100 which is perfect for bass) and an Ampeg SCR/DI ($199 new, less used) or similarly decent preamp that has a headphones-out and aux-in jack, and use that for quiet evening silent practice sessions that won’t wake the kids. No point allowing your skills to atrophy just because you’ll be more busy with your family. You can fit in a daily practice session in without taking anything away from your wife and children if you want to. I often practice this way while keeping my SO company when she’s reading or watching a movie.

As far as the basses go, pick one or two if you still want to simplify matters. You’ll know pretty quick which you’ll really still want to keep based on what you find yourself most practicing with.

One good thing about simplifying and having limited practice time. It forces you to focus. After you’ve had some band experience and learned how to play with other musicians, you’ll often find your skills improve more rapidly when you go off and work on them alone.

 

[808P123]

I am feeling the desire to downsize lately myself, no external pressures just considering simplifying. I say do it.

 

[rtslinger]

I've been wrestling with this lately and would love to get some outside opinions.

Our family is selling our house and moving to Denver. One thing my wife and I agreed on was downsizing. Not really for financial reasons but just to have less and simplify. And for all of us (we have three kids 7-11) to spend more time together outside etc.

And while it's been really easy (and cathartic) to cut down on stuff the one that has been hard has been my gear. I've sold my Baer Valkyrie and ML212 rig, one bass (my Stambaugh hollowbody), and a bunch of pedals etc. Those were all hard to give up, but now I'm okay with it and wondering if I shouldn't be really simplifying.

Right now I have four boutique basses, two relatively expensive guitars, a bass amp and cabs, a guitar amp, a guitar practice amp and a small pedalboard. But how much do I need? There's a part of me that feels like trimming down to a single bass (likely the burgundy mist one) and single guitar (the strat style Cutlass) would be plenty. Or even selling all of my boutique basses and just buying a cheap Pbass would be enough. My wife has told me to keep everything but it feels weird to be simplifying everything else but hanging onto these boutique instruments that are more than I need.

Thoughts?

Here are my basses and guitars:
View attachment 3359534

And my amps:

View attachment 3359535
View attachment 3359536

I say as a bassist kick the 6 strings to the curb and keep everything else. As for many as I have seen it the past making this decision, The regret of selling everything has come back to haunt so many of them.

 

[two fingers]

Your amps are tiny. No need to get rid of them. If you're mostly a bass player, keep a couple basses and a guitar.

I'm going through the same thing. It's tough and liberating at the same time. We're not downsizing. We're just decluttering.

 

[baileyboy]

If it were me, I'd keep the Mesa amp and Baer cabs, sell the other rig. Keep one guitar and one bass, based on which ones you use/favor the most. I'm a minimalist, so if I don't gig with it, it goes.

 

[Altitude]

This has to be some kind of middle age musician thing, because it's happening to me too.

I'm about to turn 48. I do play out, but I have four electrics and an electric upright, amounting to at least two and maybe three more basses than I need. I used to have two separate redundant amp rigs, as I kept one at the rehearsal studio. I did sell the redundant one, so there's that.

Frankly, two of my instruments are high-end customs that probably have far less value to anybody else in the world than what I paid for them. It doesn't make sense to sell those at a hideous loss. But the other two are the ones I'm gigging with more at this moment, mainly because they make more sense for the gig.

So for now I'm holding them all. I reevaluate from time to time.

BTW - ping me when you get here; I'd be happy to make some introductions to a few of the players in town, such as I know them.

 

[NotTylerHendley]

I go through this what seems like every 6 months.

“I have too much. I’m going to only what I need, not what I want.”

Then, inevitably “I want that.”

It’s a hard decision, and I’m usually happy I made it so long as I don’t get GAS-sy

 

[pappabass]

I am up to 3 but they are all different from each other. Depends if you collect or play. You have nice equipment, more like collector basses opposed to player. They would be hard to replace unless you are financially able to do so.

 

[Danny O Danny]

Don't do it. You'll regret it.

I'm from Denver (but I live in Seattle now). I few thoughts:
1. A majority of houses in Denver have basements. Basement = music room = plenty of space for gear.
2. The Colorado outdoors is awesome, but when it's -10 in January/February or +100 in July/August, you may find yourself spending more time indoors. Playing your basses. In your basement music room.
3. Denver's music scene is terrific. A variety of opportunities to play may be available to you. It would be good to have a variety of instruments to choose from.

 

[nilorius]

If you plan to play only bass in future, sell every guitar and everything connected to.

 

[jnsnj]

I'm in a similar boat. My bass stuff isn't getting downsized but many other things are. If you don't use it sell it. I have the tendency to pick up and discard new hobbies and related stuff far too quickly. One of the best things my wife said lately was how nice it is not having so much stuff. That was a week before important things went into storage while getting ready for the move so her sentiments may have changed since then.

 

[Jim622]

If your not sure and money is not the issue, wait you can always down size your gear after the move. Is it gear you will regret getting rid of when the kids are older?

 

[dan1952]

I'm okay with simplification and downsizing. However, I don't think your children's lives will necessarily be improved by you having fewer basses. I don't believe my world would have changed at all if my dad had sold a set of golf clubs or a couple of fishing rods in order to read me a story or go for a long meaningful walk. Sorry.

 

[TheDirtyLowDown]

Piling on here, but I'm also in a decluttering phase, and working through what to give away or sell. Given the short time before you move, I'd agree that sorting it all out after the move is a good idea.

I started playing music early, but stopped playing entirely in my mid twenties. That lasted for about 15 years, and I started back up when I turned 40. I really regret not playing during that time. So don't make my mistake! Find a way to keep playing regularly, even if it's just you and a mixer and some headphones after the kids are in bed.

And for the record, I'd definitely keep the burgundy mist! Good luck with your move and music!

 

[DarnellBass]

I sold all my basses and got an Alembic Series I, best decision I've made. Thought I would post a pic I took the other day here in Denver lol....

 

[Jared Lash]

If your wife is hood with you keeping what you’ve go Id bring the rest along. I wouldn’t sell everything and get a PB before your move since you can buy a PB anywhere if you end up wanting one.

Get yourself a good set of headphones (I recommend Sony MDR-7506 for $100 which is perfect for bass) and an Ampeg SCR/DI ($199 new, less used) or similarly decent preamp that has a headphones-out and aux-in jack, and use that for quiet evening silent practice sessions that won’t wake the kids. No point allowing your skills to atrophy just because you’ll be more busy with your family. You can fit in a daily practice session in without taking anything away from your wife and children if you want to. I often practice this way while keeping my SO company when she’s reading or watching a movie.

As far as the basses go, pick one or two if you still want to simplify matters. You’ll know pretty quick which you’ll really still want to keep based on what you find yourself most practicing with.

One good thing about simplifying and having limited practice time. It forces you to focus. After you’ve had some band experience and learned how to play with other musicians, you’ll often find your skills improve more rapidly when you go off and work on them alone.

Part of why I kept the Mesa D800 is that it has the headphone out which I'll probably use more often going forward. That and the auxillary input which is great for learning songs by ear.

I say as a bassist kick the 6 strings to the curb and keep everything else. As for many as I have seen it the past making this decision, The regret of selling everything has come back to haunt so many of them.

I am a bassist through and through, starting on upright in middle school. I've always dabbled a bit with guitars but it wasn't until a couple years ago that I felt like I wanted to really work on my guitar playing.

This has to be some kind of middle age musician thing, because it's happening to me too.

I'm about to turn 48. I do play out, but I have four electrics and an electric upright, amounting to at least two and maybe three more basses than I need. I used to have two separate redundant amp rigs, as I kept one at the rehearsal studio. I did sell the redundant one, so there's that.

Frankly, two of my instruments are high-end customs that probably have far less value to anybody else in the world than what I paid for them. It doesn't make sense to sell those at a hideous loss. But the other two are the ones I'm gigging with more at this moment, mainly because they make more sense for the gig.

So for now I'm holding them all. I reevaluate from time to time.

BTW - ping me when you get here; I'd be happy to make some introductions to a few of the players in town, such as I know them.

I think there is a little mid-life thing happening. At least in terms of reevaluating things. And I'll probably take you up on getting some introductions in Denver. Always good to meet new people, especially other bass players.

I go through this what seems like every 6 months.

“I have too much. I’m going to only what I need, not what I want.”

Then, inevitably “I want that.”

It’s a hard decision, and I’m usually happy I made it so long as I don’t get GAS-sy

That's pretty much it in a nutshell.

I am up to 3 but they are all different from each other. Depends if you collect or play. You have nice equipment, more like collector basses opposed to player. They would be hard to replace unless you are financially able to do so.

Mine are all fairly different. And I practice/play around 2-3 hours a day, usually toward the end of the night. But I'm not gigging now, which I think is a big part of my current thinking.

Don't do it. You'll regret it.

I'm from Denver (but I live in Seattle now). I few thoughts:
1. A majority of houses in Denver have basements. Basement = music room = plenty of space for gear.
2. The Colorado outdoors is awesome, but when it's -10 in January/February or +100 in July/August, you may find yourself spending more time indoors. Playing your basses. In your basement music room.
3. Denver's music scene is terrific. A variety of opportunities to play may be available to you. It would be good to have a variety of instruments to choose from.

I visited my wife and oldest son in Denver a couple weekends ago when they had heavy snow. And then this last week they had blizzard warnings. I can definitely see some days spent totally inside and playing bass being a good way to pass the time.

I'm okay with simplification and downsizing. However, I don't think your children's lives will necessarily be improved by you having fewer basses. I don't believe my world would have changed at all if my dad had sold a set of golf clubs or a couple of fishing rods in order to read me a story or go for a long meaningful walk. Sorry.

You're right of course. Me having extra basses doesn't preclude me from being as involved as possible with the kids. They are mutually exclusive things. It really comes down to whether I need all the gear I have or not.