As guitar players, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of buying new gear. Whether it’s a new guitar, amplifier, or effects pedal, we all have a wishlist of items we’d love to add to our collection. However, what many of us fail to consider are the hidden costs of being a guitar gear hoarder.
In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the hidden costs of being a guitar gear hoarder and how to avoid falling into the trap of overspending.
- Financial Costs
Let’s start with the obvious one: the financial costs of being a gear hoarder. The reality is that buying new gear can quickly add up and become a significant expense. When you add up the cost of guitars, amps, pedals, cables, and other accessories, it’s easy to see how quickly it can all add up.
To avoid overspending, it’s important to set a budget for your gear purchases and stick to it. Consider investing in quality gear that will last you for years, rather than buying cheap equipment that will need to be replaced sooner.
- Time Costs
Another hidden cost of being a gear hoarder is the amount of time it takes to maintain and organize your gear. You’ll need to spend time cleaning and maintaining your instruments and equipment, as well as organizing them in a way that makes sense for you.
This can be a significant time investment, especially if you have a large collection of gear. To avoid this, consider selling or trading in gear that you no longer use or need, and only keep the essentials.
- Space Costs
As your gear collection grows, so does the amount of space you’ll need to store it all. This can be a problem if you live in a small apartment or have limited space for your equipment.
To avoid running out of space, consider investing in storage solutions that make the most of the space you have. This could be a wall-mounted guitar rack or a pedalboard that can be easily stored when not in use.
- Opportunity Costs
When you spend all your time and money on buying new gear, you may be missing out on other opportunities. For example, you may not have the time or money to attend music festivals or take lessons from a professional teacher.
To avoid missing out on these opportunities, it’s important to prioritize your spending and make sure that you’re investing in things that will help you grow as a musician.
- Emotional Costs
Finally, being a gear hoarder can also have emotional costs. When you’re constantly buying new gear, it can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking that the next purchase will be the one that finally makes you a better player.
However, the reality is that no amount of gear can replace practice and hard work. Instead of focusing on buying new gear, focus on improving your playing skills and making the most of the gear you already have.
In conclusion, being a gear hoarder can have hidden costs that many guitar players don’t consider. By setting a budget, prioritizing your spending, and focusing on improving your playing skills, you can avoid falling into the trap of overspending on gear. Remember, it’s not the gear that makes the player, it’s the player that makes the gear.
If, however all this was lost on you – Here’s a great pedal that you may not own…