What if you HAD to downsize your gear?

[m_d]

I'm in the reverse situation, looking to build up, or at least try some more gear, because at an age where many want to play and acquire gear, I quit playing altogether. Guitar playing had been a frustrating pursuit and a carefree single expat life in New York took over for a few years. I sold a Fender Stratocaster and a Guild Artist Award around that time. Back in Europe, raising a family, an Artist Award or a pedigreed archtop weren't a reasonable prospect, hence two Eastmans (which are plenty good instruments for my needs, anyway). The opportunity came recently to buy another guitar but I decided against an expensive archtop and ordered an ES-125 replica from Maurice Dupont - which could be all I ever need. I care about gear, and don't. As to amps, I have a Yamaha THR and don't really need anything else for now. I very much look forward to the coming years for new experiments in gear (a Collings 330 style if I can afford it; a Telecaster; a steel-string acoustic; different combinations of analog and digital boxes and devices) - but really, growing as a player is the priority.

[Max405]

I know this sounds ridiculous, but if I had to down size, I would sell headphones, Clothes, body parts - Then, I would sell the Solid Formed, and then the 165 (if anybody wanted it..) and then sell more body parts before I sold my L5.
But my L5 will be with me till the end. Hopefully with another L5 or a Gibson Johnny Smith.
Like SS would say, I can only have one wife. To make up for it, I would be cool to have 2 L5's fighting for my affection..
JD

[Gitfiddler]

I appreciate and understand the hypothetical question asked by the OP. However, I cannot answer it with a list of my surviving-the-purge gear.

My plan is simple...play and enjoy all of my lifelong acquired guitars and amps until I no longer enjoy them or cannot physically use them. That's why my heaviest amps (Mesa Mk IV and Fender Concert) were recently sold. The guitars all survived...this time.

[bohemian46]

After 22 yrs I just sold my 11.2 acres with barn, studio, 1000 Sq Ft work shop, oversized 2 car garage etc.
And moved to .33 acres, no barn, no studio, no workshop and a 1.5 car garage, house is larger but limited storage.

I sold and gave away quite a bit to include instruments, mics etc.

What I kept:

2003 Highway 1 Telecaster,
1997 Martin 0000-1 (one of 370)
2015 Martin 00-17 V with highly flamed mahogany backs and sides
1929 Stromberg-Voisinet 12 fret parlor guitar
Carlos Pina flamenco guitar

What I traded out..

1979 Lab Series L-5 Amp for a Schertler David 80W amp.

[Dave70]

If -I Haaaaad- to, the bare minimum might well be my Yamaha SLG200N.

Why? Because I play a lot of 'classical' and Brazilian stuff and the nylon goes well with that.

The built in amp! With headphones it makes for less intrusive practice when others are around, and plugged in sounds great. I think if the venue had a p.a. I wouldn't even need to bring an amplifier.

[mr. beaumont]

Tele, ZT Lunchbox, and a Tech 21 blonde.

[lukmanohnz]

If -I Haaaaad- to, the bare minimum might well be my Yamaha SLG200N.

Why? Because I play a lot of 'classical' and Brazilian stuff and the nylon goes well with that.

The built in amp! With headphones it makes for less intrusive practice when others are around, and plugged in sounds great. I think if the venue had a p.a. I wouldn't even need to bring an amplifier.

They are pretty amazing guitars. I bought mine because we moved into a tiny mother-in-law unit and I didn’t want my practicing to disturb our landlords. As it turned out they never complained when I played my dread, but I held on to the SLG200N and have gotten a lot of use out of it. Great for travel as well!

[Thumpalumpacus]

I only own three and two are cheapos, so downsizing wouldn't help me much. But I'd keep my Ibanez and Peavey VK.

[rabbit]

Downsize?

Quoting a wise man I knew as a kid, "let's not and say we did."

Lie, cheat, and steal as necessary. For the fun of it, too, once you get going.

Those with grandchildren could sell them into slavery. Alas, I have no grandchildren.

[campusfive]

The excess stuff I've got is mostly not worth getting rid of. Either because it wouldn't fetch much, or because I might want to replace it eventually, and it wouldn't be worth the trouble.

Cases in point:
- Mid 1990's Mexican P Bass - how much could I get for it? and what if I ever needed an electric bass for something?
- 1995 Les Paul Standard (black) - while it's now 25 years old, and (unbelievably) started to go up in value, I would never be able to replace it with something similar without also spending a decent chunk of money. I suppose I could actually see replacing it with a blonde/blackguard '52-style parts Tele, but it's about 10 priorities down the list....
- 1999 Peavy Classic 30 - I've got enough amps that I can't ever see having to use it as a back up, and it's in need of a touch up to the tweed, so it definitely would be on the low end up the market rate....

[Joeontheguitar]

I have 5 guitars, 3 Ukes, a banjo, and a bass - plus 3 amps, an analog multi-effects unit, and a microphone and stand. I plan to keep them all for as long as I can (i.e., for the foreseeable future).

But what if I had to downsize to just an absolute bare minimum? I figure I'd keep the following:

Eastman AR403ce (Electric Archtop Hollowbody)
Gibson Parlor Rosewood Modern 2019 (Flattop Cutaway Acoustic Electric)
Blackbird Farallon (Acoustic Tenor Uke)
Godin MultiUke (Electric Tenor Uke)
Henriksen Bud 6 (but maybe I'd get a Raezer’s Edge One-6 ER to beef it up when necessary)
Beyer M69 Dynamic Cardioid Mic and mic stand with gooseneck extension

I mean, I'll be 72 by the end of the year and just thinking ...

Do you like the Multi-uke? I read some good reviews about it.

[2bornot2bop]

Face it, we have attachments to gear. And when it comes to departing with instruments, amps, pieces it’s your emotional attachment to that item that makes it difficult to part with. I believe it’s better to look at the upside, and be grateful for the time you spent with that instrument and if it’s necessary to move it live with gratitude rather than wallow in the fact you had to sell it. Live with the sense of detachment rather than attachment. It’s a healthier way of living and you’re grateful for the opportunity life brought to you. Attachment is a choice.

[sgosnell]

Face it, we have attachments to gear. And when it comes to departing with instruments, amps, pieces it’s your emotional attachment to that item that makes it difficult to part with. I believe it’s better to look at the upside, and be grateful for the time you spent with that instrument and if it’s necessary to move it live with gratitude rather than wallow in the fact you had to sell it. Live with the sense of detachment rather than attachment. It’s a healthier way of living and you’re grateful for the opportunity life brought to you. Attachment is a choice.

Easy to say, not necessarily easy, or even possible to do. I do feel that way toward most of my stuff, but some of it has sentimental value far beyond the market value. Just a couple of days ago, with Laura possibly heading here, I thought seriously about what I really wanted to protect and what wasn't worth a lot of effort. Most of my stuff is easy enough to replace, and my insurance would easily cover all of it. BUt some things just can't be replaced, however much money is involved. And the stuff that I really care about doesn't have all that much monetary value to anyone else. In the end, if everything in my home disappeared, I would be fine as long as my family was safe. But I wouldn't be quite as happy.

[A. Kingstone]

I'd move the refrigerator into the shed and build an outhouse.

[guavajelly]

I'd probably keep my Ibanez GB10 for jazz and a telecaster for everything else. I'd also keep the tech21 fly rig, audio interface, Macbook, Genelec speakers and headphone. This way I can record and play – in a band setting (funk!) I plug into the mixer anyway. If our organ trio ever gigs again I'd be happy to still have my vibrolux, but due to Corona haven't used it since january – it stays at our organ players house anyway.

[oldane]

.....body parts - Then, I would sell the Solid Formed, and then the 165 (if anybody wanted it..) and then sell more body parts ....
JD

Joe, when selling body parts, be sure not to sell your arms by accident, or your L5 will be of no use.

Well, seriously, if I had to, I'd sell my 1961 Gibson 175, 1997 Benedetto Fratello, 1961 Gretsch New Yorker, Levin classical, Ibanez Dreadnaught. As for amps, I'd sell my Gibson 79RV, Acoustic Image Corus. Boxes full of pedals and other gizmos I never use could also be gotten rid of at the same time. BTW, three camera bodies (2 Nikon D700 and one Sony A7S) and a number of lenses could be sold as well - but that's another story.

I keep my Painter P350T, Triggs "Master 400", 1934 Gibson L37 (with retrofitted 1938 Gibson CC PU), Customized Squier Tele, Warmouth Partscaster. I'd also keep my Mambo 8 Wedge amp and 1980s Cube 40.

One musical instrument that will surely go in a not too far future, even if it doesn't have to, is the grand piano my late wife inherited and played. I don't play piano and it takes up a whole room which I could make good use of for other things.

[rsclosson]

I wouldn't want to lose anything I currently have, but if I had to, I think I would cover everything with my Eastman AR-371 and my G&L Tele style. One amp would have to my my Tonemaster Deluxe.

[KirkP]

I don’t have any particularly valuable instruments. But if I had to eliminate all but one of my guitars I’d be left with either my Eastman AR810CE or 1937/8 Gibson L-7 with a DeArmond 1100 reissue pickup. It would be a difficult choice. The Eastman has a wider neck, cutaway, and sounds a little sweeter unplugged. But the thicker L-7 neck feels pretty good too, and sounds sweeter plugged in. If the Eastman was my only guitar, I might replace the pickup with a DeArmond or something sonically similar. Both guitars are too prone to feedback at high volumes, but I don’t have much desire to play in loud bands anymore.

If I were allowed to keep two more guitars, they would be a Telecaster and Yamaha NTX700 nylon string crossover. With those three I’d be able to play in just about any situation I’d care to.

If I was forced to choose one amp, my Jazzkat has always been my grab and go. I like my tube amps, but if I’m down to one amp I need something light, compact, and low maintenance. With an outboard tweeter (a long-discontinued Henricksen Tweety) it can also serve as a decent acoustic guitar amp, and in a pinch vocals or a mic’ed instrument.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Face it, we have attachments to gear. And when it comes to departing with instruments, amps, pieces it’s your emotional attachment to that item that makes it difficult to part with. I believe it’s better to look at the upside, and be grateful for the time you spent with that instrument and if it’s necessary to move it live with gratitude rather than wallow in the fact you had to sell it. Live with the sense of detachment rather than attachment. It’s a healthier way of living and you’re grateful for the opportunity life brought to you. Attachment is a choice.

Do you own stuff ... or does stuff own you? That is the question.

There's a few guitars I've sold that I miss, because they were great guitars, but oh well. Circumstances and random chances intervened. Outside of gifts or inheritances, they don't stir any deep feelings in me. They're gear.

[bohemian46]

"Do you own stuff ... or does stuff own you? That is the question."

The latter. And that has changed dramatically as a result of my recent move.
It's all gear.

And when circumstances change.. there will be another bus.

[Tom Karol]

Do you like the Multi-uke? I read some good reviews about it.

Yes - very much, but Godin has raised the price significantly since I got mine.
Might be better to get an acoustic uke you really like and install a high-quality pickup.

[Joeontheguitar]

Yes - very much, but Godin has raised the price significantly since I got mine.
Might be better to get an acoustic uke you really like and install a high-quality pickup.

Yes, it used to be around 700-800 USD. Now it's 1200 or more. I have a nice Pono uke, but for recording (I have no acoustic studio) the Godin sounds like a great option. Also, I'd like to used it in live settings, where my Pono is unusable because of the feedback.

Do you think it's worth the 1200?

[Tom Karol]

Tough question. I got mine new when they were selling for $619 USD. But it plays great, looks great, and sounds great with no feedback issues. And it records direct very well. That said, Pono makes a chambered solid body TE model that you might want to consider; it's around the same price the Godin used to be. Check it out here: https://www.theukulelesite.com/shop-...no.html?size=4.

[Joeontheguitar]

I should add that I can buy the Godin locally and deduct the price (I'm self employed and work - also - in the music business) from taxes, which means it will cost me roughly half the price. With international purchases (especially from non-EU countries) it will involve more paperwork which I'll have to pay my accountant for.

[Tom Karol]

Go for it then - it's very well designed and made! And then start a new thread telling us how you like it.