I've seen a few threads like this, but I'm struggling a little bit now so would appreciate any thoughts, opinions or advice from others...Should I get rid of the instruments I'm not playing? Would you? Have you? Why? Did you or do you regret it? Should I just shut up and go to bed?
I've been playing mandolin since this past september I think...haven't really touched my guitars or my fiddles since then. So of course I'm feeling some guilt over leaving nice things all alone collecting dust, but also tinges of nostalgia and fear of potential future regrets.
In my basement right now sits neglected a mid 90s gibson SG, a Peavey transtube 2 x 12, an Alvarez acoustic guitar, an August Koh K565 violin and another no name former rental violin from local music shop.
These are adequate to fairly nice gear, more capable than I have ever been. My skill with these instruments directly corresponds to how often I am playing them, but ultimately I am just a hack and well...don't play them much now. I would estimate that I have already exceeded my violin abilities with the mandolin, and probably approaching the edge of my guitar ability with the mandolin as well...as much as one can estimate such silly things.
Guitar inspired me to play and write but not study, practice or learn much. Violin inspired me to learn, study, and practice but was a bit of a struggle to play. So far the mandolin has drawn me to play, write, study, practice and learn. Enjoyable work and enjoyable play. That may be as much a statement about my personal develpment as the instrument. It's been 6 months since I wanted to pick up the other instruments except to make an empty stand for the mandolin. Then again it's only been six months.
These other instruments aren't mandolins. They can do some things mandolin can do, mandolin can do some things they can do, but nothing does everything. I'm worried that I would miss whatever I let go. The mandolin fills a void...but I don't know if it is enough to fill the whole thing. The other perspective is that without the other instruments, I'd be forced to explore and find more of the capabilities of the mandolin.
I haven't been without a guitar in my house for 20 some odd years. Both of these guitars I've had since high school, gifts from my departed father. The rental violin was a gift from mom. That said, they are ultimately just things and currently serving mostly as decoration.
There is only so much time for music after work, wife, cats, house, car, knee surgeries, etc. I'm aging well, but still aging. There are undoubtedly many musicians that could make better use of this gear than I do...blah blah, the usual story. The main nagging thought is that if I put time into guitars or fiddle, it's time that wouldn't be going to mandolin. But if I don't, then what's the point of having the other instruments? But if I don't have them, what if I miss them?
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