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When enough is enough
- Thread starter heavyhitter
- Start date
I used to have one of those, the neck was nice and I loved the weight, but man, it sounded absolutely awful...I sold it after 6 days!
I'm about in the same place. Have 7 basses but 2 are for sale. Originally I was going to limit myself to 4!?!?!? I have 2 heads, 3 cabs and a combo. Also do not play in a band and don't have the time anyway. Jam with friends once or twice a month. I do take lessons twice a month and practice everyday for 45 to 60 minutes, This is my release from running my business. Now my master plan is to retire in 4 years and then start playing. Not sure where I am going to be or what genre I will be playing by then but I will be playing.
If your bass collection does not put a strain on you or your family then what is the harm. Some people collect ceramic frogs and have over 100 of them and you can't play those
If your bass collection does not put a strain on you or your family then what is the harm. Some people collect ceramic frogs and have over 100 of them and you can't play those
From 60+basses (most of them high end, boutique and custom order ones) I am down to 40 basses right now (still trying to move stuff). If they are of no use or value to you, then move them IMHO
At the moment I only have one bass and two amps. I have my Geddy, with ongoing modifications, my Bassman 250 2x10 combo and my SVT-VR with 410HLF (1x15 joining it soon). For me, this is all I really need...at least for now. I'm not including pedals, but I only have 5 that I really ever use, anyway.
I have too much of everything, basses, amps, cabs and pedals.
I've slowed down, but haven't stopped yet.
Every time I think I'm done, something comes along that I've always wanted, or is such a good deal that I can't pass.
I keep meaning to sell some stuff, but I'm kind of lazy and sentimental.
I've slowed down, but haven't stopped yet.
Every time I think I'm done, something comes along that I've always wanted, or is such a good deal that I can't pass.
I keep meaning to sell some stuff, but I'm kind of lazy and sentimental.
I have a few basses, 1 squier vm fretless, 1squier 80's jazz bass, 1 GL fender Jazz, 1 hofner beatle bass, 1 telecaster guitar,1 short sale squier bronco bass(was my daughter's bass once). I need to get a pbass, and a new mark bass combo or a yorkville 800h amp head. I too suffer the effects of G.A.S.I have other amps,but you get the Picture.
You're thinking somewhat rationally. I could catalog my gear - I've got a lot of it, but that's not my point here.
About a year ago I had a night of insomnia and serious introspection. I had a lot of "projects" - instruments and amps that needed work done on them. I decided that I wanted to spend less time on gear and more time on myself as a musician. I sold a lot of gear and bought some books, DVD's and software. I'm not nearly through them. I also bought gear that would just plain work (most important was a good cab) in order to get me away from thinking about it.
The downside was that I still had a fair bit of cash left over and that if it went into the household I'd never see it again. My biggest concern was that I would drink it away, honestly. So I've still got a lot of gear (the cash went into more gear), but I like to think that it's more goal oriented now.
The other concern was and is that if you strip it too far back you are again susceptible to GAS. You have to find the balance between getting rid of the distracting excess gear and having enough that you don't end up wishing or regretting, which will again induce GAS.
I'll always have project instruments. They're cheap and when I'm done with them, I sell them, loan them out or give them to some kid who can't get music out of his system but doesn't have an instrument.
When I need to put my mind to something to fall asleep I think about shielding an instrument I have or building a cab or modding something else I have. It's cheap enough.
When I have time to fill up during waking hours, I might listen to something to get inspired or I might try to free-associate/journal toward being more of a writer or I might pick up a book (mythology and folklore are good for aspiring writers - I'm letting the music magazine subscriptions lapse - they don't move me toward my goals - to me they're the literary equivalent of junk food - I might as well be reading People magazine) for inspiration or I might pickup a book on music theory or I might play an instrument and perhaps record something. And I try to keep my calendar somewhat full socially so I can go out and see friends, bands or bands with friends in them.
Minimizing the gear to some extent and working toward utilizing my time a bit more effectively has been a good thing for beating back the GAS. I still succumb, but I like to think I'm making progress.
My motto is play more, buy less. The times I'm most susceptible to GAS are when I'm too busy to play much. The times I'm least susceptible to GAS are when I have time to enjoy the toys I have. I have plenty of toys now and the GAS isn't much of an issue.
When I stop posting to Talk Bass you can deduce that I'm either dead or I've achieved my "state of grace" in terms of gear.
KO
I had my "enough is enough" moment a while ago. Way more gear than I NEEDED so I got rid of everything but 1 bass and a combo amp. G.A.S. is tough to fight. There is so much good gear, and it's fun to try new things.
If you are a person who wants/needs lots of stuff, that's great. everyone's situation is different. It's your call as to what's enough or too much.
I am happy with my modded Yamaha an dGenz combo. They work for all my gigs. That said, I used to have 2 Modulus Q5's - one fretted an done fretless - and I'd lov eto have them back. My wife is tired of me always swapping basses so she said just get the ones you want and be done. So I am searching for Q5's. I may try a Roscoe for my fret;less though as the wood neck may be better for jazz than the Modulus graphite - which I love for fretted.
Oops, got a little sidetracked.
If you are a person who wants/needs lots of stuff, that's great. everyone's situation is different. It's your call as to what's enough or too much.
I am happy with my modded Yamaha an dGenz combo. They work for all my gigs. That said, I used to have 2 Modulus Q5's - one fretted an done fretless - and I'd lov eto have them back. My wife is tired of me always swapping basses so she said just get the ones you want and be done. So I am searching for Q5's. I may try a Roscoe for my fret;less though as the wood neck may be better for jazz than the Modulus graphite - which I love for fretted.
Oops, got a little sidetracked.
I've gone through this process over the last 30 years: see something cool, buy it, fool around with it, get tired of it, put it aside, see something cool....
So a couple of years ago I found myself with 16 instruments and a number of amps, and I looked at each one with these criteria: do I play it? Does it actually fill a need? Is it of a quality that my kids will get something for it when I'm gone? And, in the case of amps, is it light enough for an old guy like me to move it around unaided?
Now I've got 2 flat top guitars, 2 resonators (a '30s Regal tuned to D and an '84 Dobro tuned to G), 3 electric guitars (a Les Paul, an ES-335 and an SG, each with a different voice), and 3 Precisions ('51 RI, '50s RI, fretless), and each one comes out of its case reasonably frequently depending on what I'm required to play at any given gig. All the cases fit in a rack about 8' long that takes up a wall in my office, and the amps are lined up along another wall.
This is winnowed down from a total or 31 guitars and basses over the years, and every one is a keeper AND a distinctive voice AND has intrinsic value for after I'm gone.
Amps are down to 2 Fender guitar amps, a Pignose tube amp for harp, and a Hartke bass rig...oh yeah, and my '63 Silvertone Twin Twelve that I've had since '74. Gone are the Ampegs, the Music Man stack, the Carvin, and so on. Anything over 50 lb is somebody else's darlin' now.
So a couple of years ago I found myself with 16 instruments and a number of amps, and I looked at each one with these criteria: do I play it? Does it actually fill a need? Is it of a quality that my kids will get something for it when I'm gone? And, in the case of amps, is it light enough for an old guy like me to move it around unaided?
Now I've got 2 flat top guitars, 2 resonators (a '30s Regal tuned to D and an '84 Dobro tuned to G), 3 electric guitars (a Les Paul, an ES-335 and an SG, each with a different voice), and 3 Precisions ('51 RI, '50s RI, fretless), and each one comes out of its case reasonably frequently depending on what I'm required to play at any given gig. All the cases fit in a rack about 8' long that takes up a wall in my office, and the amps are lined up along another wall.
This is winnowed down from a total or 31 guitars and basses over the years, and every one is a keeper AND a distinctive voice AND has intrinsic value for after I'm gone.
Amps are down to 2 Fender guitar amps, a Pignose tube amp for harp, and a Hartke bass rig...oh yeah, and my '63 Silvertone Twin Twelve that I've had since '74. Gone are the Ampegs, the Music Man stack, the Carvin, and so on. Anything over 50 lb is somebody else's darlin' now.
I have 4 basses and it's enough:
- My main basse is a P/J with barts, perfect for all situations
- My backline, which is also my house work bass, a little hohner headless, very useful in my little computer place.
- Then the third is my partner bass (yes she played bass ! ), a squier jazz which can be an efficient backline too.
The fourth is my first bass ever, that i defretted in order to try fretless, but i never play it now, as i am really not a fretless guy.
So two basses would be sufficient, but three is the good number to me.
- My main basse is a P/J with barts, perfect for all situations
- My backline, which is also my house work bass, a little hohner headless, very useful in my little computer place.
- Then the third is my partner bass (yes she played bass ! ), a squier jazz which can be an efficient backline too.
The fourth is my first bass ever, that i defretted in order to try fretless, but i never play it now, as i am really not a fretless guy.
So two basses would be sufficient, but three is the good number to me.
I can certainly relate! I started off as a bassist and branched into acoustic guitar, electric guitar and drums by necessity. Though I love being able to play all of these instruments, they do take up a lot of space and each can cost a substantial amount of money.
I'd say that if you don't owe any money on your equipment and you enjoy each piece, keep them. You never know when you may get a call to play for a jazz quartet and think "Man, I wish I still had that Roscoe!", or start your own rock band while missing that MIA Fender P Deluxe that would roar so well in the FOH mix.
For what it's worth, I have come up with one possible solution to my GAS that may help: I keep a rotating musical fund. When I bought my PRS, I had no trouble buying it because I had done my research on them and got it for $1000 off normal retail (thanks, recession!), but I now have to sell off enough of my other gear to make up for what the guitar cost me. Also, I traded an Epiphone Les Paul and my RoadReady Mesa 2x15 for the Megoliath.
I guess that I'm recommending improving the overall quality of the herd instead of the quantity. Though you still may end up with a sizable collection, at least you'll have a better chance of recouping the money spent with higher quality instruments than lower ones.
My thoughts for a penny, and you can keep the change!
And now, the obligatory gear list:
-1975 Fender Jazz Reissue, Carvin LB75, Mesa 400+, SWR Studio 220 & Crown XLS 602 power amp, SWR Megoliath.
-PRS Custom 24, Gibson SG, modded Epiphone Explorer, Alvarez AD60CK and Gibson Chet Atkins SST w/ flame maple top, Mesa Nomad 100 & Mesa Rectifier 4x12
-Pearl Export 6-piece (Mahogany) Fusion Kit with Paiste Cymbals
I'd say that if you don't owe any money on your equipment and you enjoy each piece, keep them. You never know when you may get a call to play for a jazz quartet and think "Man, I wish I still had that Roscoe!", or start your own rock band while missing that MIA Fender P Deluxe that would roar so well in the FOH mix.
For what it's worth, I have come up with one possible solution to my GAS that may help: I keep a rotating musical fund. When I bought my PRS, I had no trouble buying it because I had done my research on them and got it for $1000 off normal retail (thanks, recession!), but I now have to sell off enough of my other gear to make up for what the guitar cost me. Also, I traded an Epiphone Les Paul and my RoadReady Mesa 2x15 for the Megoliath.
I guess that I'm recommending improving the overall quality of the herd instead of the quantity. Though you still may end up with a sizable collection, at least you'll have a better chance of recouping the money spent with higher quality instruments than lower ones.
My thoughts for a penny, and you can keep the change!
And now, the obligatory gear list:
-1975 Fender Jazz Reissue, Carvin LB75, Mesa 400+, SWR Studio 220 & Crown XLS 602 power amp, SWR Megoliath.
-PRS Custom 24, Gibson SG, modded Epiphone Explorer, Alvarez AD60CK and Gibson Chet Atkins SST w/ flame maple top, Mesa Nomad 100 & Mesa Rectifier 4x12
-Pearl Export 6-piece (Mahogany) Fusion Kit with Paiste Cymbals
I have 8 basses, two cabs and three heads (only one stout enough for gigging). I also have two project basses in various stages of repair. My band hasn't played on months because we've placed a player and since we only practice occasionally, we're not back up to speed yet. However, I've added a pedal or two and I'm watching a couple of basses on Ebay.
I'm keeping EVERY PIECE of gear. Why?
- It's paid for.
- I have room.
- I LIKE IT.
That's all the justification that I or anyone else need. I haven't spent the kids' college tuition on anything, and there's no reason for me to get rid of anything. If I feel like it I'll sell a bass or get another, but my price range is $300 and under (preferably under $200)...so there aren't a ton of opportunities for me to get what I like in the price range I will accept.
I'm keeping EVERY PIECE of gear. Why?
- It's paid for.
- I have room.
- I LIKE IT.
That's all the justification that I or anyone else need. I haven't spent the kids' college tuition on anything, and there's no reason for me to get rid of anything. If I feel like it I'll sell a bass or get another, but my price range is $300 and under (preferably under $200)...so there aren't a ton of opportunities for me to get what I like in the price range I will accept.
