I find it helps to remind myself that I own basses not to have them but to play music with them. I’m not looking anymore except to admire. I don’t need or want another bass. It won’t make the music I make any better having a new bass.
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A Minimalists internal struggles with GAS
- Thread starter MasterBrianD
- Start date
I've made a thread about it a while ago, saying the same stuff.
I've accepted that 1 high end bass for me it is
Fellow minimalist here! I currently only have 4 basses right now and all of them have their purposes. Having fewer basses means less to maintain, less to store, more limitations, more creativity (from said limitations), and more playing time for each bass. Plus, I've only ever owned 11 basses for those reasons along with finances.
GAS is a part of life as a bassist (and as a human). We always seem to want something more, but we have to consider if it's worth the time, money, and resources. I always think like that while considering adding a fifth bass to my collection.
GAS is a part of life as a bassist (and as a human). We always seem to want something more, but we have to consider if it's worth the time, money, and resources. I always think like that while considering adding a fifth bass to my collection.
i'm thinking about a 7 string with a low F#. been looking at this builder for 10 years.
do i really really need it right now?
no.
but, man.... drooling... i'll likely con myself into several reasons why it's a must-have.
more to the point- gear can always be sold off, but the search, within financial limits, for The Sound is ongoing.
don't worry about those basses not getting much playtime. they can always use a new friend to keep 'em company.
do i really really need it right now?
no.
but, man.... drooling... i'll likely con myself into several reasons why it's a must-have.
more to the point- gear can always be sold off, but the search, within financial limits, for The Sound is ongoing.
don't worry about those basses not getting much playtime. they can always use a new friend to keep 'em company.
I only keep instruments that I have an emotional attachment to, that really resonate with me. I consider each of them "my only bass". It's my only benchmark, I've found that the "one bass for every job/project" justification just doesn't work - you just frontload the project with a monetary guilt package... 
I have 7 basses, and I love having them. I rotate about every 2 or 3 days and take a different one out so they all get played. Usually just right down the line, I don't worry about which one, but my JB has been getting some extra attention recently. It's only 7lbs and I love that !
They're all decent quality (IMO) and I have no desire to tinker, I only fix if something goes wrong and change strings when needed, setup and intonation only when needed and as little else as possible. I've kept all stock stings also, as they sound great to me as they came. I'm not out to fix what's not broken. My tinkering goes into my practice and near obsession with reading sheet music.
They all sound and feel different, have different tone, and different colors. 4 active and 3 passive, including a Precision, G&L JB for the Jazz fix, dual humbuckers, etc.
I never know and neither will you, how I feel that day or what tone or color bass I'll show up with, but be rest assured it'll sound acceptable and I'll give it %110.
Anyways, best wishes to all, tinker less and play more !! Here's the basses I played yesterday, and my JB.
@MasterBrianD Hey now, lets see your bass (basses?)
They're all decent quality (IMO) and I have no desire to tinker, I only fix if something goes wrong and change strings when needed, setup and intonation only when needed and as little else as possible. I've kept all stock stings also, as they sound great to me as they came. I'm not out to fix what's not broken. My tinkering goes into my practice and near obsession with reading sheet music.
They all sound and feel different, have different tone, and different colors. 4 active and 3 passive, including a Precision, G&L JB for the Jazz fix, dual humbuckers, etc.
I never know and neither will you, how I feel that day or what tone or color bass I'll show up with, but be rest assured it'll sound acceptable and I'll give it %110.
Anyways, best wishes to all, tinker less and play more !! Here's the basses I played yesterday, and my JB.
@MasterBrianD Hey now, lets see your bass (basses?)
If having a small collection of goodies keeps your brain happy and healthy, do just that. I've been a huge GAS sufferer for about 6 months and completely replaced all my old gear because I decided that, as long as I'm not gonna put myself into financial hardship, that I'd never feel guilty about buying myself things that I want. Having new toys also jump started a love of making music that I'd lost for about a decade. I'm rambling, do what makes you happy (within reason)
I have three basses and a U-Bass.
I got down there from 8 basses and a U-Bass and I'm way happier with less.
From here, it's a strict one in - one out policy.
If I want a bass, I must want it badly enough to give up one of the three I have.
I got down there from 8 basses and a U-Bass and I'm way happier with less.
From here, it's a strict one in - one out policy.
If I want a bass, I must want it badly enough to give up one of the three I have.
Only one thing beats gas and thats unemployment,even that doesnt work all the time.
It's easy to justify GAS once you realize by buying lots of basses, you are helping provide employment for the bass building community. If we all cut back, many of those people's children won't get braces and we'd end up with lots more people with crooked teeth. In summmation, I do it for the childrem : saint:
I experienced guilt like this a few years back during covid. I believed that my constant shopping was bass-adjacent activity that created a false sense of progress with my instrument, since I wasn’t gigging during that time.
I was wrong.
Basses are fun. They’re fun to buy. They’re fun to play. And they’re fun to sell. I actually get great joy out of someone digging a bass I’ve sold them. It’s a neat way to connect over a common interest. If I make money on the sale… great! If I lose money… I call it rent. Either way, I’ve gotten to play a lot of great basses over the years.
As for my collection, I only keep 3 or 4 at a time. If I see something I want to buy, I sell something I’m not playing. I don’t like seeing money sitting on my bass rack. And I still like to try new gear.
It’s a hobby that harms no one and brings me joy. My advice: drop the guilt and embrace what brings you joy.
I have similar issues, but changed my mindset to treat everything as temporary, rather than seeing excess basses as a burden.
E.g. rather than stressing about buying a bass then selling it for say a $100 loss, I see it as spending $100 to rent a bass, try it out for unlimited time, to learn about different sounds and models, and to get hours of fun/experience/education from it.
So I guess I treat it more like an expensive meal, something to experience and enjoy, then move on from, rather than seeking perfection of "the one".
E.g. rather than stressing about buying a bass then selling it for say a $100 loss, I see it as spending $100 to rent a bass, try it out for unlimited time, to learn about different sounds and models, and to get hours of fun/experience/education from it.
So I guess I treat it more like an expensive meal, something to experience and enjoy, then move on from, rather than seeking perfection of "the one".
If you are already struggling, maybe you are nor a minimalist anymore. My friend is Seattle calls himself a minimalist, but to buy his 2 room (but massive ) house next to the water , his one G wagon and AMG sedan, his 9 foot grand, it can't be done with minimal money. He gives me a hard time for having 2 trucks and too many basses. He loves open spaces and he used to rent in the warehouse district, and would have a bed and a desk in the corner of a 6 thousand square foot space.
I’m a multi as well. When I took up electric guitar, and I saw the gaping chasm that is guitar GAS- my outlook on gear became a lot more utilitarian.
This has been one of my favorite threads on TB for me in recent memory. A lot of good insight and opinions. I've really enjoyed it.
For me, I only play out about twice a month. The rest of the time is noodling around at home. I've found that whenever I have more than one bass I end up convincing myself I only need one so I sell the other.
I really like the thought posted by someone on here about looking at it as "renting" various instruments to have the enjoyment and experience of playing different basses, rather than it being a never ending quest for "the one." And, while I've definitely taken a bath on some basses I've sold, there have been times I've been able to trade up and gotten to own some fantastic instruments.
For me, I only play out about twice a month. The rest of the time is noodling around at home. I've found that whenever I have more than one bass I end up convincing myself I only need one so I sell the other.
I really like the thought posted by someone on here about looking at it as "renting" various instruments to have the enjoyment and experience of playing different basses, rather than it being a never ending quest for "the one." And, while I've definitely taken a bath on some basses I've sold, there have been times I've been able to trade up and gotten to own some fantastic instruments.
