Is it time to rethink what really moves your music forward? We’ve been asking those same questions at the studio—and it’s reshaping the way we invest, maintain, and create. There was a time when a cool piece of gear could really turn my head. I’d think, “If I had that, I could…”—and then fill in the blank with some idealized version of creativity or sound. I collected a fair amount of gear that way. Some of it earned its place. Some of it didn’t.
Tracknotes
Tools, Toys, and Tenacity
Tools are what we reach for day in and day out. They help us get the job done. They’re dependable, they fit our workflow, and they make music better. Toys, on the other hand, can be aspirational—stuff we bought hoping it would unlock something in us, or impress someone else, or just feel good to own.Now, don’t get me wrong. Some tools are cool. Our EL8 Distressors, for example—they light up like a spaceship and look incredible in the rack. But they also work. They do the job. They’ve earned their spot.
The longer I do this, the less impressed I am by names on gear. “Neotek” is etched onto the frame of our console, but that name means less to me now than the actual quality of its output. And keeping that console in top shape? It’s not glamorous. It’s maintenance. It's tenacity. And that’s the third word in the title: tenacity.
Because running a hybrid studio—or being any kind of serious musician—takes persistence. It takes honesty. You start asking better questions: How much does this really matter? How can I make it work with what I already have? When is it time to make the leap?
Sometimes that leap means investing in new tools. Sometimes it means finding the right used gear. And sometimes it means changing your mindset entirely—seeing your resources not as limits, but as invitations to get creative, to dig deeper, to do more with less.
That’s where the growth is. Not in the next shiny thing. But in learning to tell the difference—and choosing tools over toys.
Some things to consider while you make your own action list.
🧹 1. Audit Your Gear
* Go through everything you own.
* Ask: Have I used this in the last 6 months? Would I miss it if it were gone?
* Separate items into: Essential Tools, Occasional Use, and Dust Collectors.
💸 2. Sell or Trade Unused Gear
* Turn clutter into cash or trade credit.
* Post items on:
* Reverb.com
* Facebook Marketplace
* eBay
* Local music shops or classifieds
🔍 3. Buy Used, Not New
* Let someone else pay full price first.
* Great used gear sources:
* Reverb.com (great for boutique & pro audio)
* Craigslist (deals to be had, but vet carefully)
* Sweetwater’s Used Gear listings
* Guitar Center Used Section (surprisingly wide selection)
🛠 4. Invest in Maintenance
* Allocate budget for keeping gear working—not just buying new stuff.
* Tools worth maintaining include:
* Consoles, interfaces, mics, preamps
* Instruments you actually play
* Monitoring chain (speakers, headphones)
🎯 5. Match Gear to Purpose
* Ask: What kind of music do I make? What gear gets me there faster or better?
* Build around workflows, not wish lists.
🧠 6. Change Your Mindset
* Gear is not status.
* Think in terms of investment, not indulgence.
* Focus on tools that serve the song—not your ego.
📚 7. Learn to Use What You Have
* Watch tutorials, read manuals, take a course.
* Maximize the value of gear you already own before upgrading.
💬 8. Ask a Trusted Friend or Mentor
* Sometimes you need an outside eye to say, “You never use that thing—why keep it?”
* Trade setup advice, feedback, or swap gear for trial runs.
⏳ 9. Wait 30 Days Before Big Purchases
* Add it to a wishlist, not a cart.
* After a month, reassess: Do I still want this, or was it just lust?
🤝 10. Reinvest into Your Music, Not Just Your Tools
* Spend on:
* Studio time
* Mixing/mastering help
* Cover art
* Distribution
* Education
