When you got the itch but no need - DOWNSIZE FINISHED

[DarkAxel]

So this might not apply to some of you but I approach pedals from a very practical, almost pragmatic direction - if I don't use it, I don't own it (mainly because I can't afford owning stuff just for the shits and giggles and also because I judge my pedals from the point of view of the band usage)
I have found myself in need of money to fund a band vinyl release so I started downsizing a little - first thing that went was the PDS 20/20 because I don't need such a heavy and big pedal for a flanger sound I don't even use during our set (I do plan to replace it with something like an FL9 or something like that because we did start writing some songs-to-be in which I'd like to chorus/flange it up a bit). I can modulate with my RPS-10 but honestly it's sort of the same story - too big, impractical, not the best sounding in the end or rather capable of much more than I use ot for etc...

Then I decided to get rid of my Huge Box II because I thought I could replace it with something else... After trying Buzzz and TAFM, I realized I can just stack my Elements and Fingerprint for the heavy fuzz sound and use them separately for tamer drive/fuzz bass sounds...
I'm also contemplating getting rid of more stuff like the rehoused RV-3 but I could use that for the sideproject's rare live shows so... on the fence with that one

Anyway now I look at my balance and I'm like "yeah, probably could buy something" and then I think "wait a minute - I don't need anything" and I don't like that I don't like that I'm starting to feel like I'm going towards being quite conservative while I don't feel conservative at all

What do you do in moments like that? Try to upgrade the stuff you already have and use? Walk it off? Buy the nastiest thing you can and just punch the uncertainty in the face? Say "Fuck it" and look for pedals you've wanted to try but haven't yet, seeing if anything sticks? Turn your focus to instruments? Get a smaller board so the empty space doesn't stress you out?


TL;DR: help me with a crisis of pedal identity

[ognoy]

I hate empty spaces on pedalboards, so I would get a smaller board.

And if you still have money burning in your pocket I would consider buying a new instrument, depending on your budget off course. Maybe a cheap synth, drum machine, sampler, a lapsteel, beat up second hand banjo, etc.
I usually find more inspiration in new instruments, rather than just buying new pedals for the heck of it, and I have bought my fair share of pedals!

Or maybe spend more on "utility" things like, new cables, recording gear(microphones, a nice headset, etc), getting your favorite guitar set up by a great luthier.

There is always something to spend money on.

[DarkAxel]

ugh yeah, utility... i ought to buy a new tuner since my 5 year old Polytune is crapping out a little. I should also buy a better power supply... but I hate utility stuff don't we all...

Maybe smaller board is the way to go after all. Or I might try tricking myself by spreading the pedals out a little

[Olin]

Had this exact problem fairly recently. Moved continent so had to rebuild my pedalboard, reached a point where it was actually done but I was used to buying a pedal a month so was at a bit of a loss. Still had space for two or three pedals on my board so had that insatiable urge to fill that space. Decided instead to get a smaller board, as recommended above, and cut a bunch of cables to make it all tidy and nice. Still found myself roaming reverb/here for new things/possible things but nothing I could justify. Went with getting a new neck for my main guitar instead, upgrading my interface and buying some new shoes.

Basically I'm agreeing entirely with what was already said but from a very recent standpoint. Downsizing has been really enjoyable for me at least, and I think it was just breaking a habit like any other that made it feel uncomfortable initially.

[fcknoise]

I get this all the time, and I only feel it when I've gone a period of not playing. In stressful times I usually have twice as much gear lust but I think it's partly because I don't have the time to play stuff

[Eivind August]

Well, if you don't really need anything, then don't buy anything? Spend money on beer, clothes, or better yet, start saving. Travel somewhere you've never been before. Invest.

Alternatively you could start unicorn hunting. As in looking for dream pedals that pop up seldom. Or as in hunting down unicorns. What do I care.

[DarkAxel]

You know what... I remember our guitar player/frontman telling me he needs my skillz to get his pedals together... he also said he wants a new board and could most probably use a decent power supply

so I can probably sell him my big Gator board in the big Mono softcase with the Fame power supply and get it all up and running for him, using my funds to buy the Pedaltrain Classic 2 (which is some 6" narrower), a Palmer PWT 8 or a Trex Fueltank Classic... selling the RPT-10 and buying a smaller flanger (probably the Ibanez FL-9 or FL-303 or something like that) and later buying a new Polytune...

I'd work with him to, instead of blowing money on a new distortion pedal, find the right settings for his Boss Parametric EQ/booster, You Dirty Rat and a Fuzz Factory and buy my shit. I mean I am a bit skeptical about the fuzz factory as we'd need to find a sound that's sort of a fuzzy distortion for those noisier moments of ours but I reckon it might work We might also try just using the dirty channels on his Fender amps, too and boost them with the Rat or the Boss...

Thinking aloud but damn... this might work the only thing is we need to move fast as we're playing a festival next Saturday and another one the Friday after... luckily they have all the shit I'd need in stock at thomann.de

sounds like a plan-ish?

[DarkAxel]

Well, if you don't really need anything, then don't buy anything? Spend money on beer, clothes, or better yet, start saving. Travel somewhere you've never been before. Invest.

you say that like you're new here

[rfurtkamp]

You' don't *need* anything.

So wait until you do?

I have the moon and the goddamn stars at this point in terms of guitars, effects, amps.

I haven't *needed* anything in a couple years except backups or expanded versions of what I had - but those days did come.

And because I wasn't tapped out from buying something I didn't need, I could do so!

[DarkAxel]

yeah, I mean you're obviously right... It's just a weird psychological effect of having a way too big of a board

good impulse to finally downsize and get my shit sorted in a better way

[rfurtkamp]

Likewise, if you don't *need* the cash, no point on flipping stuff that you like but don't use daily either.

Downsizing won't save you money if you come back to wanting it again in a month or a year.

[DarkAxel]

I know and I did need the cash for the vinyl which I got out of the way now and feel I can actually use the roll I'm on to improve my situation

also to sound better. And not have a half-rack plus a footswitch taking up more than vintage EHX pedals do for a sound I don't really use (speaking of the RPS-10 again)

plus if I feel I want something new there's always new stuff to try out

[rfurtkamp]

If it works for you, do it.

I have a "sell it once" philosophy - if I buy it again, it's a keeper unless I'm starving and it'll be replaced, period.

[DarkAxel]

Yeah, I can dig that... Don't think I've ever done that but it does make sense

although I did own the PDS 20/20 twice because I couldn't pass on the deal the second time

[rfurtkamp]

If you buy something to flip, different!

But if it's a "I miss or need X", I've seen people buy the same stuff a dozen times.