When you got the itch but no need - DOWNSIZE FINISHED

[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.

you say that like you're new here

Yeah, no, it's just that I am in the same boat when it comes to looking at pedals as tools for a specific job, but not really familiar with the "don't-need-anything-but-want-to-buy-something"-thing. I mean, if you gas for something you wanna try, sure, go for it. But if you're content, then enjoy the various other parts of your life. Buying something just to buy something doesn't sound right, but I might be reading too much into it.

[DarkAxel]

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.

Oh yeah, right... Nope, I think almost anything is pretty much replaceable by something else

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

Yeah, no, it's just that I am in the same boat when it comes to looking at pedals as tools for a specific job, but not really familiar with the "don't-need-anything-but-want-to-buy-something"-thing. I mean, if you gas for something you wanna try, sure, go for it. But if you're content, then enjoy the various other parts of your life. Buying something just to buy something doesn't sound right, but I might be reading too much into it.

i don't know what it is, maybe I'm still looking for something missing or looking to replace something with something better but can't put my finger on it

maybe I need to finally find a B:Assmaster or a Depth Charge to replace the FIngerprint for the punchy fuzz thing I like so much... To be seen/tried later, this downsizing biz is up first

[rfurtkamp]

That's usually a sign you're working too much.

Back when I ran a gun shop and did consulting on the side, I was in the triple digits in my personal collection at one point.

I literally bought something once a week or more because...I couldn't find time to enjoy anything else.

I still have enough to arm a platoon (and 13 guitars) but nowhere like what it was!

[Jwar]

Being a home player, I don't have the exact same issue but the spending thing I can relate to. I have a large board, so I always feel like it has to be full. It's not to my benefit either. I find a lot of overlap in my setups or that I'm not using thing that are really expensive but have a weird attachment to them.

I have a plan right now. I ordered a new pedal of course and once it gets here, it will take up a large portion of my board. I'm going to down size the pedals I have because I have larger items on my board. That way I'm covered on the fullness OCD and I have a good amount of quality pedals I'll enjoy. I don't need 21 plus pedals on one board. It's just silly.

In fact I don't need any of them, but they are fun.

I say sell what you don't use and wait on buying other shit as long as you can. There's always something cooler coming out. So there's no need to rush a purchase.

[D.o.S.]

You don't necessarily need to find new pedals -- there's all sorts of recording stuff you can fuck with too.

[aholidayatthesea]

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

Dude this is me. I always want to buy things when I'm not playing. I have to tell my band, "hey we need to have a band practice because otherwise I'm going to waste money on something I don't need."

I find that playing music, even on my own, helps me realize how many cool things I can do with what I have. The gear I already have is capable of so many sounds (it helps that I have an m9 and a Timebender haha).

If you see something that can do something different, but you don't think you need it, try to figure out how to accomplish a similar sound with gear you already have. Sometimes you end up with something more creative.

[DarkAxel]

In my case I think I'm after sounds I don't have yet but can't find/get with what I do have

I like way too many dirty bass sounds is the problem

the thing is... just because I like it doesn't mean I need to have it at hand/would use it in the band you know... so there's where the moderation comes in a lot

[resincum]

I'm basically at that point. instead I'm really fucking broke and I don't have pedals left to flip

[gnomethrone]

All the advice I have is to get your guitarist to buy a BAT black forest and run his You Dirty Rat into it. They make a great pair.

[Bartimaeus]

Having a project (or projects) to orient your rig for is very good. Sell anything that you don't use with your band. Unless it's quite rare, you can always buy it again later if you need it for a new project.

You could even try to keep the money from flipping in its own "musical projects" savings account of something. Have it on tap for when you need a new sound on your next album.

[DarkAxel]

Having a project (or projects) to orient your rig for is very good. Sell anything that you don't use with your band. Unless it's quite rare, you can always buy it again later if you need it for a new project.

I've always liked that, it also gives you nice limitations sometimes so you're not lost in the possibilities

also... if I ever feel like playing with soemthing else, I can always plug in something I have in stock at www.eaststompboutique.com

I got pretty stoked for the downsizing and the new board and all that jazz... thanks for a direction, guys

[popvulture]

I wonder about this dilemma quite a bit. Having not been in a band for the last couple of years, I've aimlessly lusted after stuff and ultimately realized that I was acquiring a lot of redundant stuff, or pedals that I just don't need. Starting a recent project has really helped me to focus in on what's actually useful to me, and it's helped me to trim the fat and finally get rid of some things.

In a way I guess that's been my best realization—I was always such a hoarder about holding onto gear, thinking that I'd "need it sometime," but getting rid of stuff has made me realize how much I was wasting. I basically dug through my pedals and a few other pieces of gear that are merely redundant—I made sure to hang onto the few awesomely weird things that I don't use regularly but are tons of fun when I can apply them to something (Ct5, for ex). When it's all sold I'll have enough to buy a Jazzmaster I've been wanting for years, and have a little left over for who knows what. Obvious lesson that it took me this long to learn: that shit adds up. Impulse buys, chasing the dragon of tone when I should really be focusing on making good music... no bueno.

I still want a Particle though

[codetocontra]

I was going to post a thread similar to this. My relationship with pedals is contentious. I love them, but don't really need anything. Yet, I keep coming to forums to find out what is new and happening and keep in touch with fellow gear geeks. Also visit Reverb and Craigslist multiple times a day just to see if there is anything special for a good price, and like a slot machine, the payout is few and far between but it keeps me coming back.

Been downsized for a few years, and several pedal purchases end up leaving fairly quickly. My pedalboard has been taken apart for the last year and a half while I contemplate how little I really need. Have a new band has been very slow getting our shit together, still in the primordial ooze of what we may become, and in reality my pedal requirements are completely up to me. I could take nothing or I could bring a loaded case full of pedals, either way I will make it work and it will ultimately shape our sound. But I don't know what I actually want to be yet. Too cerebral about the approach, not letting things just happen. The answer is that I need to just start making decisions about my gear and our direction.

My problem right now is that I want to put my board back together. It is a tiny DIY build, made out of a tool case, about the size of a PT Jr I think. No amount of pedal tetris is working out. Doesn't help that I just acquired a Hexe Revolver DX and two more DL4s, while also selling off my long-beloved Rat and my PP2 power supply. The Revolver is awesome and three DL4s are insanely fun to mess with, but I don't want to lug something like a PT Pro around. I like my light and compact old board so I should stay downsized. I have to think about every pedal I own and decide if I want to keep it, but I am tempted to list everything and see what disappears and put my board together with whatever is left that fits. I could use another power supply if I keep certain pedals. Selling anything isn't about the money, it is about not keeping things around that don't suite an immediate purpose, but I have no immediate purpose at the moment.

TLDR: I like pedals, but only want to own a few, and they don't fit on my small board anymore.

[DarkAxel]

step one: probably not three DL4s but no - I get that, man... that ought to be fun I have big respect for people who can do the DL4 magic
And dude - I am currently somewhere around that PT Pro size and yeah, pain in the ass

God I hate buying utility stuff, so hard to choose! Considering these:

1) http://www.thomann.de/cz/harley_benton_spaceship_60.htm - which is a copy of a Palmer pedalboard only a couple € more expensive the bag seems a bit sub-par, but after my Mono everything will... this is more of the chickened-out-low-budget version
2) http://www.thomann.de/cz/gator_gpb_bak_1_pedalboard.htm this honestly seems pretty dope to me, lightweight with a good case, perfect size
3) http://www.thomann.de/cz/pedaltrain_classic_2_sc.htm the classic - literally. Hard to go wrong here I guess... worth the money though? how are those cases?

I reckon the PT-2/Classic 2 size is perfect because I will be able to fit everything on comfortably and still have space for getting a little more/different stuff. Within reason, of course. I mean... I believe I owe myself finally trying a B:Assmaster this year (or being very lucky and finding a Depth Charge)

for a PS I'm probably going Trex classic http://www.thomann.de/cz/trex_fuel_tank ... ch_prv_3_2

[gnomethrone]

I believe I owe myself finally trying a B:Assmaster

Yes! Those are so rude in the best way.