At a loss

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the recluse
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Somehow over the last few years I seem to have completely lost my G.A.S. More to the point, whenever I look at the pile of gear I've accumulated it just kind of bums me out because I just don't have time to really do anything with it. I'm sitting on a dozen nice guitars, a similar amount of quality amps, and lots of pedals, and they are kind of just collecting dust.

For some background, I'm primarily a guitar player/singer for the last 30 years, and I'm in multiple bands, but only one is active and I play bass in that. All of the stuff in the gear pile is guitar stuff that I've picked up over the years.

I'm trying to figure out what the best way to get these all back into circulation is so they actually get used, while minimizing hassle and selling at a loss. I've put some stuff up on marketplace and craigslist but they've just sat there. I don't want to get rid of everything, and if some of it goes I may feel less urge to purge but anymore this stuff I lusted after for so long seems like kind of an albatross.

On the amp stand point, the irony is they are all Mesa, and I bought them all during that wonderful period about 5-10 years ago when no one seemed to want them, so I could sell below market and still make back at least what I paid, but the shipping is so prohibitive I don't know if it even makes sense to offer it.

How badly would I get hosed rolling up to guitar center or making the trip to sweetwater with everything and letting it go?

FWIW, I'm in the Cleveland OH area if anyone has any ideas of somewhere local, or wants to see what's available.
 
I am in the Cleveland area as well and have had pretty good luck on FB Marketplace if the item is priced right. Shipping has become very expensive so I avoid that whenever possible. Several forumites have mentioned PirateShip and ShipNerd as good places to get better shipping rates.

GC will cut into the profit margins quite a bit. I have taken the drive out to Sweetwater 3 times in the past year but have never had them quote me on any used gear.
 
the recluse said:
For some background, I'm primarily a guitar player/singer for the last 30 years, and I'm in multiple bands, but only one is active and I play bass in that. All of the stuff in the gear pile is guitar stuff that I've picked up over the years.
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Sounds like it's time to either sell all that stuff cluttering up your life or start a band doing your thing so you can put it back in service. I can't imagine having thousands in unused gear. I have like maybe a grand in unused stuff right now and it's starting to get on my nerves.
 
japetus said:
Whatever you decide to do, don't do this. You'll get 25-30% of your gears worth. Just list it on FB Marketplace, Craigslist or Reverb
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Yep, avoid Guitar Center and Sweetwater at all costs. List your items a few at a time on the above sites, including TGP or here. Factor in shipping costs using PirateShip or ShipNerd. Take the amp to FedEx and they’ll pack it for you for around $35, then take it home, measure/weigh it yourself, print out your Pirateship label (save ~$80 vs a store shipping it) and then drop it off. Done.

You’ll save thousands of dollars doing this vs trading the gear in to a store.
 
VonBonfire said:
Sounds like it's time to either sell all that stuff cluttering up your life or start a band doing your thing so you can put it back in service. I can't imagine having thousands in unused gear. I have like maybe a grand in unused stuff right now and it's starting to get on my nerves.
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I'm the same way, i HAVE to be using my stuff or else it drives me nuts
 
Pirateship.com


A guitar is usually $40. Just sent a USA Strat to Washington state. ($60.00 with $1500 insurance). Amps, depending on size and weight are STILL under $100 bucks.
Join,put in info,make label. Pay with (Ido it this way) PayPal.
Take it and drop off at the UPS HUB.
 
Before you offload your amps.. Pickup a Quad Cortex and a loadbox like a Neve RNDI, Redseven or Suhr RL and make a bunch of captures of those amps at various settings. I sold all my Mesas and have a bunch of captures that I continue to use. I don't miss lugging the amps around.
 
vultures said:
Before you offload your amps.. Pickup a Quad Cortex and a loadbox like a Neve RNDI, Redseven or Suhr RL and make a bunch of captures of those amps at various settings. I sold all my Mesas and have a bunch of captures that I continue to use. I don't miss lugging the amps around.
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Yeah that's a good point. I have a helix and Amplitude Max which will both stay at the end of the day, but getting captures of some of the rare ones makes sense.
 
the recluse said:
Somehow over the last few years I seem to have completely lost my G.A.S. More to the point, whenever I look at the pile of gear I've accumulated it just kind of bums me out because I just don't have time to really do anything with it. I'm sitting on a dozen nice guitars, a similar amount of quality amps, and lots of pedals, and they are kind of just collecting dust.

For some background, I'm primarily a guitar player/singer for the last 30 years, and I'm in multiple bands, but only one is active and I play bass in that. All of the stuff in the gear pile is guitar stuff that I've picked up over the years.
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Same boat here.. good luck with your decision!

Avoid GC - they will lowball the hell out of you
 
Im in a similar boat. I’ve spent my entire life restoring and obtaining the most rare pieces available. With family obligations and since moving, I too haven’t had the drive to play anymore. Here’s my thread even -

https://www.rig-talk.com/forum/threads/anyone-else.290441/

Anything I sell I likely will never get again - thats how rare some of my items are. I’m not even talking profit margins or losses, just the items themselves.

My mentality is this - this economy we are all in is part of the reason. Stress dominates my ability to play. This is a hobby for me and not a business. I’ve worked too hard to find, rebuild, design, and restore what I do have. I’d rather sit on it than sell it at a loss and then decide to play again especially with what people expect on the used market today.
 
the recluse said:
I look at the pile of gear I've accumulated it just kind of bums me out because I just don't have time to really do anything with it. I'm sitting on a dozen nice guitars, a similar amount of quality amps, and lots of pedals, and they are kind of just collecting dust.
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This sounds like a place I was at for a bit a few years ago. You have the skills the knowledge and the resources but you're dormant. You need to go for the gold and seek out whatever it is you want.

I was there and I got off my butt, pushed myself to meet people and now play at a mega-church where I know nobody. That isn't normal or typical by any means but I took the risk, proved my worth and was rewarded.

It's time for you to get up and not be a recluse but see yourself as a warrior, take charge and strike the fear down.

Chances are, you can get connected to a decent sized church around the area and start playing for them before long. Not sure what that process would be like there as everywhere is different and it's also different for each individual but most people don't realize that new churches play everything from metal, rock, blues, etc.

Just something to consider, it's a guaranteed crowd, at least.
 
SteveGlitch said:
This sounds like a place I was at for a bit a few years ago. You have the skills the knowledge and the resources but you're dormant. You need to go for the gold and seek out whatever it is you want.

I was there and I got off my butt, pushed myself to meet people and now play at a mega-church where I know nobody. That isn't normal or typical by any means but I took the risk, proved my worth and was rewarded.

It's time for you to get up and not be a recluse but see yourself as a warrior, take charge and strike the fear down.

Chances are, you can get connected to a decent sized church around the area and start playing for them before long. Not sure what that process would be like there as everywhere is different and it's also different for each individual but most people don't realize that new churches play everything from metal, rock, blues, etc.

Just something to consider, it's a guaranteed crowd, at least.
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Honestly, the one band I'm in is active enough, that I don't feel a drive to do more. We've got a single out in the next couple of months, just finished a full length, and have a bunch of shows in and out of town over the next few months. I could say it's just that since I moved to bass that everything sat, but really when my other main band was active and I was singing and playing guitar I had a rig set up specifically to use for that that is still at our rehearsal space ready to get used.

I'm not even carrying like credit card debt or anything on this stuff it's just idle, and it's good stuff that should be getting used.
 
the recluse said:
Honestly, the one band I'm in is active enough, that I don't feel a drive to do more. We've got a single out in the next couple of months, just finished a full length, and have a bunch of shows in and out of town over the next few months. I could say it's just that since I moved to bass that everything sat, but really when my other main band was active and I was singing and playing guitar I had a rig set up specifically to use for that that is still at our rehearsal space ready to get used.

I'm not even carrying like credit card debt or anything on this stuff it's just idle, and it's good stuff that should be getting used.
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I have 30+ guitars, 5 amps and 6 pedalboards. No debt on anything here either. Some people aren't so fortunate, I cycle through my gear at church so I never sound the same and some people think I get a new guitar every week 😅
 
I've had good luck selling on reverb, but you need to be patient to get your price, or a reasonable offer.

I go through gear phases, sell gear buy different gear, each phase I keep a few items; I have a stage piano on order, that's backordered; and one new guitar on my list; and few items to sell.

I have had issues with shipping damage to heavy amps / cabs; and got decent money from GC (not great), but close enough that it was worth it vs shipping and chancing damage. If you put the money toward buying a new item, they may raise their offer. I look at the cost as a convenience fee for not having to ship certain items.
 
i just unloaded an SUV full of stuff I never used to GC. Sure I took a hit but I was done with it all in a day
some older stuff they had to wait for corporate to make decision on so that took time but i was still out of there pretty quick
put the $$$ aside for a rainy day put some cash on gift cards as well
 
Same for me. I'm just at a point I don't play much anymore. 46+ years of playing, doing the band thing, dreaming, spending for the next big thing that I supposedly need etc... Just kinda done. This would be my second big sell off. I mean I'm looking a drawer full of power and pre tubes that I don't ever see myself using lol.

Honestly the Syn 50 Head and the modules sound like something fun and I think I'm heading in the direction. That way, just buy a module and not worry about spending 3k on the next amp for as little as I play. Plus I'd never let my JVM go. For sure looking at jettisoning a couple Les Pauls, one of my strat style guitars and as soon as I get the chance I am selling my EVH Stealth. I really just don't want to deal with shipping that stuff, the cost, the worry, then worrying that somebody is gonna say this sucks or something got damaged in shipping. That's really been my only hold up at this point.
 
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