Who has done the big downsize/upgrade?

[Diminished Triad]

Re: Who has done the big downsize/upgrade?

I bought the R8 and I sold the Deluxe because as I already mentioned, I needed to sell three top guitars to pay for the R8 and the Deluxe was one of the three.

Very nice looking! How does it compare in sound and play to the Les Paul you sold?

 

[Aceman]

Re: Who has done the big downsize/upgrade?

I did this. Got rid of EVERYTHING that was not a Les Paul or variation on that theme. It happened because mostly I realized that at my core, I'm a Les Paul guy. I'd play a Strat or A Tele for a week, then LP's for two months.

Just came to "know" myself I guess. Flexibility and diversity? Bah - I can play whatever on a Tapped bucker or P-90. But I mostly play rock etc...so I always play buckers anyway.

Diversity? LP, Strat, Tele, Dot...You can do diversity in 4 guitars if you really want. Or one really well wired one. I'd say flexibility comes more from the amp and fx anyway.

Just ask yourself WHO you really are musically, get one or two killer guitars for that, and then whatever.

These days I GAS for V's (just more rock guitars), Super Starts with Floyds (like I'd use the Whammy anyway), and semi-hollows (Yet no great love for BTMN's Hamer...).

I honestly dig turning junk into cool stuff more these days. Know thyself sir, know thyself.

 

[TattooedCarrot]

Re: Who has done the big downsize/upgrade?

Very nice looking! How does it compare in sound and play to the Les Paul you sold?

Well P90 guitars are a different animal than humbuckers. The the production goldtop was cool, played nice and sounded nice, but stepping up to something like an Historic might as well be a whole different guitar company, they're different in feel and sound and to me much better. But $3,000 better? Probably not. I normally buy used but I was GASsing hard for the new 2013 specs and the killer pictures of this one Wildwood had up pushed me over. I doubt I'll buy new on something like this again anytime soon. I was already considering shrinking my collection, so selling three for one upgrade kinda helped me convince myself, LOL.

 

[crguti]

Re: Who has done the big downsize/upgrade?

I'm always upgrading my stuff but the amount keep the same.

 

[Silver]

Re: Who has done the big downsize/upgrade?

Look at all the famous guys who people admire, and more or less they're a one or two guitar guy.

I think people need to spend more time making their one guitar work for them, and carving out their personal musical identity on it, rather than collecting 5 or 6 completely different guitars and never having their own sound.

Brian May only needed the Red Special, Hendrix a Strat, Eddie a single humbucker in the bridge; there are many more examples. You listen to the musical catalogue of these guys and the range of tones and expressive qualities is huge and of vast range.

I went through a few years a while back where for one reason or another, 5 of my 6 guitars were in pieces and various stages of repair. The one guitar I had left, i had to make work for me. It really taught me a lot about tone and helped me focus more on playing and less on gear.

At most, you need two guitars. Page had his Tele and LP, Clapton his SG and Strat. But no more really.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Who has done the big downsize/upgrade?

I did about 4 years ago, in a major way.

Doing it now. Feeling good.

Going to end up with only "love it," no "like it" allowed.

I did this.

Just came to "know" myself I guess. Flexibility and diversity? Bah - I can play whatever on a Tapped bucker or P-90. But I mostly play rock etc...so I always play buckers anyway.

Know thyself sir, know thyself.

Such good advice from people who were obviously, at one time, in my shoes. I'm just (slowly) going through my pedals and while there are obvious "love it" pedals and "sell it" pedals, I'm having a tough time with those middle of the road ones. The above philosophy would say, "sell" but there are a few that although I use them infrequently I feel like I would miss. Maybe that puts them in the keep category?

This pedal situation got out of hand, in part because they are so cheap compared to an amp or guitar. It's like the junk food of guitar equipment. Easy to buy and store. Saving up for a nice guitar (like TC's paul up there :clap: ) or an amp requires saving, but more importantly, willingness to part with that chunk of money!

Know thyself... So wise sir.

 

[d1dsj]

Re: Who has done the big downsize/upgrade?

Been there and done that. Had a whole bunch of guitars that were all what you would call Pro standard meaning all were very good or better, I kept the absolute best and then added my PRS Modern Eagle. I have absolutely no regrets at downscaling and enjoy playing far more now than I did before.

 

[thespricket]

Re: Who has done the big downsize/upgrade?

I'm super happy with my CIJ Strat and my old '94 MIM tele, and I have a fantastic cheapo Douglas Tele Gib from rondo that I can also get a lot of use out of. I've got three other electrics and an acoustic that need to go.

I'm giving two cheapo strats away to close friends and in selling an Epi dot and a Breedlove acoustic to help pay for a Taylor DN3.

I'm very excited to get rid of a few "eh" guitars and something very nice like that Taylor.

As for pedals I've finally weeded out all the cheap budget stuff and I've a useful board with 6 killer pedals that do everything I could ever need. A maleiko comp, phase 90, fulltone Plimsoul, PC Tim, EH memory toy, and a Line 6 M5 for literally anything else.

Not that there's anything wrong with cheap stuff!!

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Who has done the big downsize/upgrade?

I'd take such a bath on my already chea...um,"inexpensive" guitars that I'm better off just keeping them,I think...

Could maybe trade some things,but I usually try to get what I like in the first place,as inexpensive as they may be.

I've got an old MIJ Squier Strat that paid for itself within a month,& has bought quite a few items thru gigging with it.

"General" philosophy is to have "whatever" paid for between 90 days-6 months thru playing out.

 

[marantz1300]

Re: Who has done the big downsize/upgrade?

Its what I did.I use to have a lot of mid price guitars and amps.I was lucky to find some boogies and a two 70's Hiwatts cheap.I kept one of the Hiwatts and traded the rest.
After having PRS,Hamer ,Musicman,USA Fenders & Gibson's.I now have a 69 Les Paul Custom,78 Tele and a MIJ 62 RI tele with a few pedals and a line 6 pod .
While my old guitars are not a million times better then cheaper guitars,they are a joy to play and I love the tone I get through my Hiwatt..
Very happy.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Who has done the big downsize/upgrade?

+1

Keep finding new "essential" things to buy. Not trying nearly so hard to sell.

Last month, a Fender AVRI '62 Jazz Bass "had" to come home with me. My AVRI '75 is staying because the two models do different FJB voices. This leaves an FSR Am Std Jazz Bass in a precarious position - unless or until I install a pair of the old SD Active EQ series pickups. Three's a crowd.

 

[hydro]

Re: Who has done the big downsize/upgrade?

It's like the junk food of guitar equipment.

This is so true... Get your gear fix for a small commitment of money and space, not to mention it's so easy to buy online...
I have way too many and have 5 or 6 I need to get rid of.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Who has done the big downsize/upgrade?

I've always followed the formula of 'consolidate stepping stones, sell them, add money, and buy top end.' It's all part of the gear game.

But ItsaBass brought up a good point. Musical value, if you're a real musician, should be a priority. Sometimes, it's not just the monetary value, but other things like sentimental value, musical necessity, or the fact that something is worth more to you than it's current market value.

I have Gibson, PRS, amps, and pedals that I love and won't ever sell (knock on wood). I always contemplate the idea of selling off all my Fender guitars and turning them into the best Custom Shop strat and tele I can find.
The problem is that they all play and sound like Custom Shop stuff, and I love the colors I chose, their playability, and one or two that have a musical history with me. To sell off guitars worth $700 to get $2500 guitars doesn't make sense in this case. Not to mention that it would hurt to see 6 guitars turn into 2, when those 6 all make me happy.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Who has done the big downsize/upgrade?

Excellent points...

I just started tonight by cataloging all my pedals. (Amps and Guitars are in my head ) Now I need to assign each a realistic value and say "If I had $XXX would I buy this piece of gear?" If the answer is no, then time to go. I think that's a very easy way to keep around my Epi LP (worth very little) but more fairly evaluate some of the nicer pedals.

I hope this pedalboard will help me too by forcing me to concentrate on a collection of pedals. Right now I can swap and grab anything I want at anytime. Nt to mention, I KNOW getting to know a specific setup can only help my musicianship.

 

[Wattage]

Re: Who has done the big downsize/upgrade?

Binge and purge

 

[Bludave]

Re: Who has done the big downsize/upgrade?

I've considered selling a few guitars but then I collect myself...... Not gonna happen I want to but I have a hard time parting with my babies. Even amps. I gave 6 and a few I haven't turned on in quite some time but what if I need them? I ain't selling. Just buying

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Who has done the big downsize/upgrade?

Binge and purge

That's good! :chairfall

 

[Lux84]

Re: Who has done the big downsize/upgrade?

I think i am gonna have to sell at most one guitar to get one more proffesional level guitar. Squier Classic Vibe 60 Strat is a keeper. also Vintage Les Paul and SG are. actually i am thinking how to get rid of my Ibanez RGA and Hamer Explorer. those two are definately not keepers.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Who has done the big downsize/upgrade?

What's w/the Hamer?

 

[blakejcan]

Re: Who has done the big downsize/upgrade?

If you ever need motivation to purge some guitars you should get married and have a baby. I've done both of those things in the last 2 years and man, the baby really makes you get rid of some stuff. But, it's been great cause I just sell all the junk and then use that money to buy something great like my Martin HD 28.

Next up is a real nice Les Paul. Only problem is, with a baby, you can never play.