Swap the pedal collection or hold onto them?

[jonc]

I'm doing a lot less playing out and due to my hand/nerve problems will probably never get back to the level of playing I was. Over the past years I've amassed a very large pedal collection although I actually use just a few and the majority are now in storage. Every once in a while I go and look through them and think I should sell them off, but like some folks on the board, I'm a hoarder at heart, and just close the bins and leave it at that. A couple of weeks ago I sold off two BJF's I had dupes of and thought I should just put the whole collection (about 200 pedals, most of them boosts, od's, distortions, fuzz) up as a swap for a vintage guitar or something along those lines, as the pedals are just sitting there and doing no one any good. I'm sure others have had the same thoughts, but I don't want to sell everything off just to either a) regret it or b) try and buy back those I've sold like I once did.

You guys have always been a great source of advice so what would you do?

Thanks as always.

Jon

[L*F*B]

Always keep the essentials.

Pedals are not the commodity they once were. Hold the rest and sell when the market recovers, until then, sell into the hype.

[cubba]

Tuff call Jon!
You could part with a lot of the stuff now but you might not get as much money for it with the economy the way it is.
It might be best to sell off the things that are still in higher demand.
Or you may want to do as you say, trade them all for a 1959 Strat or something.

It's a tough call since things may get worse before they get better.

If anything, I always find it's best to sell things when you aren't in a hurry to
and to be patient about it for sure.

AFA actually hanging onto it or parting ... if I'm not so into the things anymore,
it's always nice to see they're getting used or coveted by someone else who really wants them.

I don't think I've helped you at all have I .... ?

[jonc]

Thx guys. And Paul, on the contrary your post is very helpful and echo's my back and forth on all this. These pedals represent not only a wealth of great sounds and textures but in many ways also an era (especially with this 1st decade of the "new millenium" soon to be history), an art, and a whole slew of stories. From the cool sculpted plates and engraving (and then the downfall) of Joe Gagan's stuff, to the cheap but great pedals like the EM5, and all the builders, types, chips, goop, and whatnot in-between, there's a lot of "history" sitting in those 3 huge plastic bins. I think you guys are right and I'll continue to hold onto these until things rebound a bit, and there are always a set of pedals (most of my BJF's - - although I have promised my early LGW to da Butler if I ever sell it -- and a few odds and ends) that I'll keep no matter what. I do think that getting what I'm not using into the hands of those who will is a good thing or for the guy with a cool vintage guitar who wants a ready-made pedal collection, so we'll see.

[Glo®bz]

I used to sort of collect pedals and gear or shoudl I say pile it up... rack units, guitars, bass, acoustics, etc

Untill I reached the point where I had to admit that;

1- I don't use it as much as I once did
2- I could settle for less but with more of what I really want in terms of features or sound.

Basically downsize but with what works for you with no care for brand name, hype etc... simply put: what feels and sound right to you and no one else. After all who's using it the world out there or you ???

So I don't hold on to anything anymore... I have my key elements and I'm always trying things out if something intrigues me enough I buy compare it and if it works better than what I had and make sense I keep it if not out it goes!

But hey that's just me and where I'm at with my GAS who knows I might get worse than what it was when I get older but I don't see it coming for sure!

[dosmun]

It's a tough call. I also have a ton of pedals and could sell them and pretty much buy any guitar or amp I wanted (within Reason) but for some reason I still hold on to most of it. I did trade a few things a year or so ago for a guitar. I would hold onto stuff until prices rise again as most stuff has dropped a bit. but you can always put out some trade ideas for stuff you might be interested in and see what happens. As of late I have been considering selling some stuff if the right guitar comes along.

[pothole]

I'm in the same boat...sitting on 13 different versions of Big Muff pedals from the first Triangle to the latest reissue. Each one is worth silly money, but I can't break up the full collection. I did sell a duplicate the other week of a Rams Head and got big money from it..that felt pretty good but I knew I had another one. I don't even use Big Muffs on my board anymore. I'm either putting them deep into a closet or selling them..seems like the prices of these are unaffected by the economy. I don't really need anything right now...well, except a ring modulator..haha.

[MeZadude]

Keep everything! If not, you may regret it later!!
MeZa

[JackButler]

Oh wow, Jon! I wasn't aware of your hand issue. Sorry to hear that my friend.
I've been lurking lately, but not posting(maybe I'm scared and enjoying my current
GAS-X! :>)

I have had the wonderful chance to try many of these out, thanks to you sir! Some truly amazing and unique pedals that I had never had the chance to try. IF it wasn't for you, I might not have been such a gearhound the past several years! When I first got interested in pedals, other than OTC ones, you sir...helped me out and threw me a bone...the rest is history! I can't even name the pedals you helped me with!
That old LGW is the shiznit, yummy awesome pedal....no other had that magic IMO. That old E has some real mojo working too. So many of those peds were just cool and you have some rare ones along with early issues.

Tough call, a killer vintage or great piece of gear might spark you better than a bunch of those peds do anymore, but I'd think you'd miss a lot of them down the road.
If you do sell them, I really think the extra effort in selling them individually would yield a much better $ for ya. It would take just the right person, with the right piece to make it worht it on a big dealio, odds of those two worlds coming together would be small I'd think. But, hey...ya just never know!

I personally would love to see about 20 pictures of the entire collection!

[Guittguy1]

Keep 'em. At least wait till the economy bounces back some. Maybe you'll get better by then too!