My Dorky Headphones
The gear we use are tools. Tools, generally speaking, are replaceable. I've been working in music, with MIDI, and audio for a long time. Over the last twenty years or so, it's accurate to say that almost everything I currently use in my studio and professional life has been swapped out or updated during that time. The few that haven't (a couple of old mics, and old rack mount synth) are more a result of inertia rather than any defined intention. There is one exception.
There is one "tool" in my life that I have not replaced since the early 1990s, simply because I haven't found anything superior or that has suited me better. I am talking about an old pair of yellow Sony Walkman headphones that a friend gave me well over twenty-five years ago. They have been with me on every plane flight since then, as well as every walk I go on. They’re not much to look at. They are a dirty yellow sports colour that was discontinued long ago. The cable is constantly twisted up. When not in use, I wrap it all up with an old fraying elastic band.
I love listening to music when I go on walks. I've tried many different headphones, with the various cassette, walkman, MP3 players, and iPods I've had over the years. I haven't found anything I like better yet. They fit my ears perfectly. They have great response in the low end, high end, and mid-range. They block out just enough of the noise to let me focus on the music but also allow me to hear enough of the surrounding traffic. That way I am not entirely isolated from the world around me. That's very important to me. Sure, I could get some closed-back noise-cancelling headphones that might sound superior, but are they safe to use out in public? These are the perfect balance between sound, safety, fit, and comfort.
My wife hates the look of them. On me, that is. She says they are dorky. I say they are vintage. Besides, I tell her, they sound great. She's never tried them though. I wonder if hearing them would change her mind. I strongly doubt exploring this opportunity will ever happen.
Sadly, the ubiquitous 1'8" stereo mini-jack is now orphaned on my new iPhone XR. I'll likely go through another round of trying out some new Bluetooth models. It would sure be convenient not to have to deal with the wire. But if the last twenty-five years are any indication, I suspect I'll be incorporating a mini-jack to lightning adapter in my future. Either way, though, I don't plan on ever getting rid of these. If the day comes when I do find something better, I will still keep them - they do sound great.
My Old Jazz Drum Set
Tools are replaceable. Musical instruments themselves, though, are much more than a mere means to an end. As we play on them over time, a relationship forms. The instrument itself becomes an inextricably linked element to the "sound" we develop as players. Therefore replacing an instrument we have a personal relationship with isn't so simple.
When I was much younger and beginning to play around town professionally, I had a set of Ludwig jazz drums. There was nothing particularly remarkable about the kit. It had an 18" bass drum - which is the thing about it I coveted the most about it at the time. I used it on all my gigs for years. I developed my sound on it. It was a versatile kit that served me well when I was playing straight-ahead mainstream jazz. And it did a respectable enough job on the odd commercial gig when necessary.
As time went on and I got busier, I bought another drum kit - mainly for a steady six night a week gig I was doing. The jazz kit became used less and less as my professional life moved more towards commercial styles of playing. After a couple of years, I no longer needed this type of predominantly jazz sounding kit. So I decided to sell it.
I didn't think much about it over the years. Now that I am older now, my feelings have changed somewhat. While it's true, I didn't particularly need it professionally at that point in my life; I would cherish having it around now if it were possible. There were perfectly good reasons for selling it at the time. I didn't need it for gigs, it took space to store, and I could use the money for something else rather than having it sit in a closet in the form of an unused drum set. And sure I could replace them now with another set of similar dimensions. But it wouldn't be the same for two reasons.
First, there is a unique sentimental aspect. And secondly, with drums, in particular, there are several components that go into making up the sound of a kit. I had just the right cymbals at the time to go with it that blended and worked perfectly with the kit. Those are harder to replace. So, no matter what I might try and replace it with now, it wouldn't be quite the same.
So there you have it, two different pieces of equipment I have used in my life. One I don't plan ever to sell. Another I wish, in hindsight I hadn't sold. While for the most part, hoarding old unused gear is generally of no long term benefit, think carefully before you get rid of something. Might you eventually want it down the road? Do you anticipate it might have any "vintage" value in a decade or two? Or can you anticipate just plain "missing" it in your life?