I walked into my garage this morning, which also doubles as my home studio and I looked around and saw several items that I’m not using at all right now. This includes a couple of solid state amps, a few pedals, and a sweet, digital recording workstation that I inherited from my brother that I never use because GarageBand is so much easier. My wife is great about all this, but she recently told me I have to do some spring cleaning. “Look at the big amp,” she said, “You haven’t gigged with that in a couple of years, and I haven’t seen you record with it either. Maybe you ought to get rid of some stuff… Besides, you need to make room for the shelving I want to put in here this spring”
Yikes! Looks like I have to take an inventory of what I can part with, but there is a rub to this. My friend Phil of Phil ‘n the Blanks said to me last week, “Don’t try to hide it, you’ve got GAS. I read your site all the time, and I’m amazed at all the s&*t you buy. Besides, if you get rid of some stuff, you’ll just replace it with other stuff…” OMG!!! How true. I found a place nearby that trades good-condition used gear for store credit. Damn! And on top of that, they’re a G & L guitar dealer! Maybe if I sell enough stuff…
The point? Sure, we gearheads go through periods of spring cleaning, but it’s more like gear rotation, as we rotate in new stuff for the stuff we no longer use.
Why not share your “spring cleaning” story?
I’m more of a packrat, myself. I have spent endless hours repairing and modifying pedals. Who knows, maybe I’ll come up with some new gadget for guitarists. Although that depends on the inspiration and time factor. especially.
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Well, if you feel you can let go of your equipment, it is better to focus on less but more important. Just that it’s not easy to let go music equipment, IMO…
Yeah, I’ve held onto my Flextone III for WAY too long. I just don’t use it now that I’ve got my sound with my Hot Rod Deluxe.
I have a rule of thumb – if its electronic in nature (such as a keyboard or a mixer) and you’re not using it, get rid of it while it still has value because in a few years they’ll be making better stuff – and electronics shouldnt sit around. If its a guitar or amp or effects pedal…NEVER get rid of it unless it’s traded on a better piece. I sold a ’64 Deluxe back in the late 70s…ugh! Thank God I hung on to my ’66 Princeton Reverb, ’67 ES-175D, my Vox Cry Baby (all bought used, all bought for a song).