Is GAS a cruel joke?

[kesslari]

I'm feeling a bit dark today... and I heard some Elvin Bishop. Playing the same guitar he's played for years, probably unmodified, sounding great, through some decent amps. And he sounds freakin' great.
And I'm wondering - where do we get off in our endless "search for tone"?

Lots of great players do it with less.

I have great gear. I just treated myself to a new amp, only to find that "it might not be The One". It sounds great. A lot of players would kill for it. Just maybe not "my" tone. A different amp (a cheaper amp, actually) might just nail it.

What the ****? My rig sounds fine. Nobody I have played with has said "your sound sucks, dude". Of course, they didn't say that before I got this amp, either.

I should really play with the sound I have, and make it work for me with my playing, rather than chase a sound with dollars.

In my normal mood I'd say "if you can afford it, buy whatever you like", but today I'm thinking "you know, it really doesn't matter. get off the wheel".

Discuss.

[WhoSeyes]

I agree with you.

You should tag this thread as your home page for your web browser, just in case you fall in love with new gear next month or something...

[jam.majors]

As much as I love the sound of the new OD pedal that's coming tomorrow, you're right. As much as I want to build a fEarful (and still might), you're right. Because of all the effects I have, the only one that is used every time is my compressor (tuner not included).

[CALopes]

I agree. It ended up playing bass because of my GAS.
But now that I found what I like and droped the guitar, every time I think in a new piece of gear, I try to convince myself that if I where a great bass player, I'd play well even with strings on a stick. So I try to focus on playing.

I'm a bass player, not a bass collector...

[duff beer]

I've never really had GAS. I bought a '72 Precision about 20 years ago for $100 (I had no idea what it was worth) and it was my only bass until last year when I bought a $200 Squier Jazz as we were gigging a lot and I wanted a backup. I bought a new amp only because my old 100w Garnet combo couldn't keep up in a band situation and kept blowing fuses...oh, and it couldn't fit into my car.

I also bought a nice Taylor acoustic guitar even though I don't play guitar in a band...it was just so I'd have something to strum on the odd occasion. Now that I have all I need, I can't see myself buying another instrument.

[Rockmusician]

Elvin Bishop is my mother's cousin. Her maiden name was Bishop. I think Elvin is one of the best guitarists in the world and very under appreciated.

I think our search for tone is a product of becoming more experienced. When we first start playing, we have no idea what we should sound like. As we become more accomplished not only does our technique and playing improve but our "ear" evolves as well.

[funkinbottom]

Originally Posted by kesslari

I should really play with the sound I have, and make it work for me with my playing, rather than chase a sound with dollars.

but today I'm thinking "you know, it really doesn't matter. get off the wheel".

+1 My "daily driver" (and only bass to date) is a used jazz bass I bought in 1971. The Peavey MKlll I bought new in 1978 was the amp I used until it broke about 4 years ago. (I used that as an excuse to by a new amp, but have since fixed the Peavey. $18 capacitor and a couple 1.50 diodes) Always got compliments on good tone though. Love the old Peavey stuff.

[Darkstrike]

I'd definatly agree with your usual mood, "if you can afford it, buy whatever you like".


Way I figure it, for every BB King, or Willie Nelson playing the same old axe night in, night out, there's a Entwhisle who has more crazy gear than I could imagine, working it with something different every night.


Who's to say they're not all right, in their own way...

[My name is Mudd]

Originally Posted by kesslari

Playing the same guitar he's played for years, probably unmodified, sounding great, through some decent amps. And he sounds freakin' great.

Don't forget that some of that tone may have come from post-production tweaking, but yeah...at some point, it comes down to '...just go play the freakin' thing!'

[BigOldHarry]

I completely agree - Like the wise man said, less Ebay and more Mel Bay.

That said, gear shopping IS fun, new toys ARE very amusing and sometimes inspirational. What amazes me is how much money and energy is spent on gear that never leaves the bedroom. This I don't get. If you're a stay-at-home player, great - - why would you need all that gear??? THIS, I believe, is the real "GAS" victim, and the guy that the entire industry counts on to keep spending his $$$.

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by kesslari

- where do we get off in our endless "search for tone"?

Lots of great players do it with less.

I have great gear. I just treated myself to a new amp, only to find that "it might not be The One". It sounds great. A lot of players would kill for it. Just maybe not "my" tone. A different amp (a cheaper amp, actually) might just nail it.

What the ****? My rig sounds fine. Nobody I have played with has said "your sound sucks, dude". Of course, they didn't say that before I got this amp, either.

I should really play with the sound I have, and make it work for me with my playing, rather than chase a sound with dollars.

In my normal mood I'd say "if you can afford it, buy whatever you like", but today I'm thinking "you know, it really doesn't matter. get off the wheel".

Discuss.

I couldn't agree more. No one complains about my stuff...except me.I am trying very hard to stay off the merry-go-round. I have all the stuff I NEED to cover my gigs. It's hard not to look and wonder though, especially if you spend any time on TB.

I am concerned about my hands lately. General hurting. Seems to have accompanied my current use of an EUB for jazz gigs.

[Mike M.]

Originally Posted by My name is Mudd

Don't forget that some of that tone may have come from post-production tweaking, but yeah...at some point, it comes down to '...just go play the freakin' thing!'

That's what it came down to for me with my six string guitars. I can only imagine how much money I went thru between pickup changes and effects pedals. Then came the day when I realized all of my musical hero made due (and quite well) with equiptment that came AS IS. That was about eight years ago and I haven't changed a pickup or have bought an effects pedal since. I've aquired three basses since and have no desire to start modifying them at all.

Like you said: just go play the freakin' thing!

[Dr. Cheese]

Increasing expenses and decreasing income have taken care of my GAS big time. Knowing how little gear I can afford has pretty much killed my desire for more stuff. I would like to pick up another, probably used, bass, but it will certainly be cheap. More than likely it will be under $600.

The funny thing is that I am probably more content now than I ever was when I was constantly flipping basses and amps. I just hope I remember this feeling when I am flush again.

[ubersku]

Yup! Seems like the more I want to buy, or even the more I do buy, the more I am selling back to those who still have GAS. So thanks those folks who still have a need.

I like the KISS method (no not referring to Mr. Simmons). By far, I am the first one done packing up after a gig. I can pack up in 10 minutes, sometimes faster is our drummer stays out of my way!

Less is the new more!

[Derock85z]

ok so stupid question....... Whats the acronym GAS mean? I've only ever seen it on this forum and I see it getting brought up frequently..... A little help?

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

IThe funny thing is that I am probably more content now than I ever was when I was constantly flipping basses and amps. I just hope I remember this feeling when I am flush again.

That's the hard part. I still look, but even when I think I want something - like that Hwy One P or USA J at the store - I come home and play my Yamaha and think this is all I really need. I'm really trying to do this for a year.

..except today when I again think my Bartolini equipped bass sounds a little stuffy or compressed compared to say my friends Geddy Lee jazz.

[TomA1234]

Originally Posted by Derock85z

ok so stupid question....... Whats the acronym GAS mean? I've only ever seen it on this forum and I see it getting brought up frequently..... A little help?

G.A.S:

G.ear/Guitar
A.cquisition
S.yndrome

The worst affliction known to musician kind.