GAS - Why?

[Dr. Cheese]

I know there is no real answer to this question, but sometimes I cannot help but wonder why so many of us GAS so hard? I recently picked up a Ray35, and I felt like I had come home after a long vacation. That feeling should be no surprise since I have owned eight EBMM basses since 1986 as well as a few Stingray knockoffs.

The bottom line is that I love Stingrays and Stingray style basses. They work well for me, and I find them confortable, even if they do tend to be heavy and have 17.5mm spacing at the bridge. Knowing that, I just have to wonder why I ever bother to switch?

[zachbass02]

mainly for me...It's boredom. It gives me something to occupy my mind & time with. I don't gas when I'm actively gigging or away from a computer for a length of time. It's those times when I'm home and bored that I get my worst cases of gas.

I mean, I've got some amazing basses right now and should be perfectly happy & content with my setup. However, here I am...stalking around the classifieds, looking for something new or different even though I know I'll regret my decisions in the future.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by zachbass02

mainly for me...It's boredom. It gives me something to occupy my mind & time with. I don't gas when I'm actively gigging or away from a computer for a length of time. It's those times when I'm home and bored that I get my worst cases of gas.

That is so true! I never leave a rehearsal or performance complaining about my bass or amp! It was logging on to TB, and hearing people go on and on about heavy basses and 19mm spacing at the bridge that made me think my Stingrays weren't good enough!

[loend68]

I've been pretty GAS free for a few months now, but I think most of my GAS comes from hanging around the classifieds here and craigslist. I think what stopped it was that I can't see myself selling any of the basses I have and can't justify buying any new ones. That and I'm very happy with my rig.

And the even bigger 'mufunzalo' disease I have...

It'll probably change though...

[smogg]

TB = GAS, that's why

[Dave Siff]

I hear ya, Doc. I've been playing Reverend basses for 11 years and can't count how many times I've said, "Reverends are the only basses for me." And yet, I've bought numerous other basses during that time, only to sell them later.
I've come to realize that while I love my Revs, I'll always want to have one other bass around for variety. My latest is a Fender Precision 5-string, which is a different enough animal that it may stay.
Ultimately, I think there are just so many cool basses out there that no matter how happy you think you are, GAS will always rear its ugly head. And as others have said, boredom and Talkbass don't help..

[rappa29]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

That is so true! I never leave a rehearsal or performance complaining about my bass or amp! It was logging on to TB, and hearing people go on and on about heavy basses and 19mm spacing at the bridge that made me think my Stingrays weren't good enough!

Happens to me EVERY TIME I play or record my basses\rig! Whether it's a gig, session, jam, rehearsal, etc.

I'm always reminded WHY I own this specific gear and why I bought the gear in the first place!

That said, I'm GASing for one of those new Classic Stingray 5's because those are EXACTLY what I've wanted from a 5 string Stingray!

[SirGrotius]

TB is definitely a hugely contributing factor to my gasing.

[spade2you]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

It was logging on to TB, and hearing people go on and on about heavy basses and 19mm spacing at the bridge that made me think my Stingrays weren't good enough!

Whether they admit it or not, but most musicians subscribe hook, line, and sinker to various fads in music and instruments. Likewise, there's a degree of self-affirmation when other people play what they play. If I listened to 1/2 of that stuff, I would have been "forced" to ditch most of my gear.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by Dave Siff

I hear ya, Doc. I've been playing Reverend basses for 11 years and can't count how many times I've said, "Reverends are the only basses for me." And yet, I've bought numerous other basses during that time, only to sell them later.
I've come to realize that while I love my Revs, I'll always want to have one other bass around for variety. My latest is a Fender Precision 5-string, which is a different enough animal that it may stay.
Ultimately, I think there are just so many cool basses out there that no matter how happy you think you are, GAS will always rear its ugly head. And as others have said, boredom and Talkbass don't help..

Variety is the spice of life, and I really do enjoy my Yamaha since it gets a great sound for Urban Gospel, but I am at an age where I truly need to settle down and enjoy what I have instead of sinking more and more money into new toys.

[J. Crawford]

Originally Posted by zachbass02

mainly for me...It's boredom. It gives me something to occupy my mind & time with. I don't gas when I'm actively gigging or away from a computer for a length of time. It's those times when I'm home and bored that I get my worst cases of gas.

I mean, I've got some amazing basses right now and should be perfectly happy & content with my setup. However, here I am...stalking around the classifieds, looking for something new or different even though I know I'll regret my decisions in the future.

I concur. Solely out of boredom, and Talkbass. Im perfectly content with my P bass, until I see someone looking to trade for a P.. Then I start thinking.

Im happy though, but I plan on buying basses instead of trading for them in the coming years. You never know though.

[MNAirHead]

Bordom?

[lomo]

Humans (including me) inherently tend to want things.....which has become a problem for the planet and, as a result, all life upon it.

[cnltb]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

I know there is no real answer to this question, but sometimes I cannot help but wonder why so many of us GAS so hard? I recently picked up a Ray35, and I felt like I had come home after a long vacation. That feeling should be no surprise since I have owned eight EBMM basses since 1986 as well as a few Stingray knockoffs.

The bottom line is that I love Stingrays and Stingray style basses. They work well for me, and I find them confortable, even if they do tend to be heavy and have 17.5mm spacing at the bridge. Knowing that, I just have to wonder why I ever bother to switch?

Why not?

[Buskman]

Hey, Doc - how much will you selling the Ray35 for?

IMHO, GAS is (and always will be) a "the grass is greener" scenario - the thought that another instrument will get you closer to obtaining "that" sound (or looking as cool playing it as one of your favorite bassists).

Luckilly, GAS (for me, at least) tends to pass quickly - for example, I'll listen to Bernard Edwards & say "THAT'S the sound I want!" (I know you can relate to this, Doc!). But then I'll check my wallet then tell myself I can get a similar tone if I use one of my active basses & play closer to the bridge (it's all in the hands, people! ), etc., etc., etc...

[SteveC]

I have GAS bad. Even before TB. In my early (single with no family) years it was fun and really - living where I do - the only way to try different things. No big stores here. I bought and sold all the time. I can't even remember all the gear I've had. The next stage was a "keeping up with the Jones" stage. If others were using certain gear, there must be a reason, right? Then it was the quest for a small, light, loud amp. And there's always the "quest" for the "perfect" tone. I seem to always come back to my good old Yamaha BB605. I keep trying to replace it, but it never seems to work. You'd think I'd learn eventually.

I have a great amp (GB Max 12/Shuttle 12) and no one seems to complain about my tone/gear but me. I'm really going to try and take a break from the "quest" for a while and just play the stuff I have. I know it'll be hard and I'll probably do some looking, but I'm going to try and just stick with what (apparently) works. I don't have to think when I play the BB605. My hands just go and it's so easy. The sound is "modern" but I generally like that. When I play the old stuff with the horn band, it seems to work pretty well to just roll the treble off a bit. Not quite a "passive/vintage" tone control but does take some of the "edge" off I guess.

Since selling off the Sadowsky basses (that was hard) my bank account looks a little better, and when it comes time to get a different vehicle, or a new fridge, or get the patio built on the house, I'll have some funds to do so. The Yamaha has been paid for itself MANY times over the last 5 years. It's amazing that a bass that plays and sounds this good only cost me about $650 - Bartolini electronics and install included.

[marchone]

Sometimes it's as simple as being part of the learning curve. Whether or not having a better instrument can make a person a better player is subject to argument. But whatever works for the player is all fair.

[mike_v_s]

I've thought about this quite a bit, myself. My wife bought me a Tribute L-2000 5 or 6 years ago to replace a Rickenbacker that was in need of work. In that time, I've rolled through several basses that I thought might work as well. None have. The latest is a USA Millennium. Very nice bass, but I'm not sure it'll replace the L-2000. On the same note, I've considered picking up a US G&L, but can't seem to justify the price increase to purchase a similar bass in a different finish. So, in the end, I keep going back to the Tribute and wondering why I try to switch. I'll probably do it again, too.

Mike

[Mike Dimin]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

I know there is no real answer to this question, but sometimes I cannot help but wonder why so many of us GAS so hard?

It is written, "For he who dies with the most toys ... wins"

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by Mike Dimin

It is written, "For he who dies with the most toys ... wins"

The funny thing is the death of my parents, and my possession of some of their things made me think about GAS even more. I truly believe that we should have enough things so we can do what we want in life, but just hoarding stuff serves no purpose. When we die, this stuff is just junk that others have to dispose of. Why leave a closet full of basses when no one close to me may care about them at all? Why not just have what I can use and enjoy without developing a huge physical clutter?