My father-in-law offered to hold any gear that I didn't want to take with at his house. I nearly took him up on it but realized that if I was fine with it being at his house for an extended period that I was probably also okay with selling it.
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Time to sell it all?
- Thread starter Jared Lash
- Start date
My father-in-law offered to hold any gear that I didn't want to take with at his house. I nearly took him up on it but realized that if I was fine with it being at his house for an extended period that I was probably also okay with selling it.
I say don’t sell just for the sake of keeping with the downsizing theme. If you have the space and don’t need the money, you really don’t gain anything. If you don’t have the space, maybe see about a more compact guitar holder.
My thinking is that by hanging on to the instruments, you’re also saving yourself from buying something else down the line (get a sudden urge to play fretless again? That’s a bass you might have to buy again). Not to mention, should you actually NEED the money some day, whether for music gear or something else, you have the instruments there that you can sell for cash.
My thinking is that by hanging on to the instruments, you’re also saving yourself from buying something else down the line (get a sudden urge to play fretless again? That’s a bass you might have to buy again). Not to mention, should you actually NEED the money some day, whether for music gear or something else, you have the instruments there that you can sell for cash.
When I finally let my actual gigging/musical needs dictate my rig, it ended up smaller than what my home "needs" suggested. I find it's easy to get obsessed with minutia playing alone (and reading too many GAS-inducing threads on TalkBass
); playing with others clarifies what's needed...and what's not. Another way to assess instruments is by musical repertoire: what of your current repertoire would you not be able to play if you were to sell this guitar or that bass? That keeps the focus on the music and not on the objects.
I cut down to 3 basses and 2 amp rigs, I'm seriously considering cutting down to one bass, I rotate them from gig to gig so they all get played but still....
Personally I think the amount of gear you have is perfectly fine as long you don’t need the money. It’s not like you’re in hoarder territory with 10+ basses. I had built A very expensive collection of basses at one point and eventually sold them off. My advice is if you do decide to sell more gear and you either already are or if you plan to play in a band that plays paying gigs that you should keep a minimum of two basses. I’ve gone down to one a couple times and it never lasts for me. Eventually something happens like there’s an issue with the main player like a messed up output jack or we play a big gig where I’m nervous about not having a backup and potentially ruining a great gig by not having a backup. I mean I have three basses now. A main player(5string) a backup 5 string. I also have an acoustic bass and I’d like to get another fretless at some point because I do miss playing fretless.
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yes..I have thoughts..............I understand your post and I understand your situation..you will get all varieties of responses based on other peoples feelings..but really..you must follow your own path..everyone feels the way they feel because of...life experiences..but your decision as what to do should be your own..I have had multiple basses at one time..and now only have my 2 favorites......dont let my story influence your decision..I would keep 2 basses..your favorite and one backup..that burgandy mist is certainly a beauty..could you give a little more description about it..such as pick up..body and neck wood..year model..neck thru or bolt on..?..I went to the bass website but didnt really see anything like it..have a great day..
I would say this. Either sell EVERYTHING, or keep only one. The happiest and "lightest" I've felt in years was the year I pared it to down to one bass that I kept for writing, and one bass that I was only hanging onto for sentimental reasons. I've since purchased a few things and that light feeling has definitely dulled a bit. I'm currently trying a few things to pick a favorite and then I'm almost certainly going to pare it down to 1 again. You won't regret it, let it all go!
Since there is nothing there that does anything for me, I would just leave it hanging there as high end wall art...and adjust the selling price of the house accordingly....Honestly if you are like me...it took a lot of years and time to accumulate such a nice collection. I would never leave any of it behind...list what you can live without on here and take the rest with you when it is time...You can ship me the Mesa stuff though. 
I see it as you will be able to someday leave two really nice basses to each of your children. Let them decide what to do with them....
Probably already been said but SELL the guitars and related crap.....KEEP the basses and related crap......
Simple really....
Simple really....
If selling gear wasn’t such a hassle, I’d problem downsize also. I’ve given away a few bases and guitars (to school programs) but haven’t sold anything and none of basses are high end items. I could easily get by with just one. Same goes for my guitars. I don’t play the bass unless I’m recording. In your case though , you play them all. A good reason to hold on to them if you can.
Keep one guitar, one bass and both rigs then use the money to buy a boat load of pedals!!
What is that btw?I'd be happy with this.
Toss up with the amps.
Nice that your wife is happy with you keeping everything but if you do feel it wise to sell most of your collection, go with the feeling.
Don't forget, someone else will be happy buying what you do sell.
That's a bolt-on. Alder body, wenge neck and rosewood fingerboard with Evo Gold frets. It has an Aero soapbar P pickup and an East P-Retro preamp. The switch is for active/passive.
The model is a Stambaugh ODB model but I think mine is the first with a solid color paint job and a pickguard .
All the basses are Stambaughs. That one is an northern Ash/maple ODB model with a sage green finish and Nordstrand electronics.
If it were me, I'd keep the fretted 5 string and the humbucker guitar. That would get by for any gig i have.
Congratulations on making changes to your life and committing more to family living/togetherness.
I have been downsizing all of my belongings now for years and it all feels really great. Down to one bass and amp, and one guitar.
The “spark joy” joke I think has a lot of validity. If something truly makes you happy or fills a very specific need you can’t leave unfulfilled there’s no reason to get rid of it, otherwise I’d let it go. Even things you enjoy having, but don’t necessarily love or need, can bring more joy to get rid of, ive found, because letting it go relinquishes it’s subtle power over you and you are that much more free.
I think reducing decision fatigue is a happy side effect of getting rid of stuff. Don’t need to worry about which bass to play, jeans to wear, shirt to pack, etc. helps focus on the more important things in life. Like sussing our others’ belongings on talkbass.
These must be the ones:
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Very cool. I like the mix of retro and modern and I bet that green one gets up and barks
