I am a minimalist, I literally own one bass the majority of the time. I just like looking at new gear and occasionally buying and selling, hence the whole point of this thread.
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A Minimalists internal struggles with GAS
- Thread starter MasterBrianD
- Start date
Thank you, I thought it would be an interesting discussion to have, I was curious if other people felt the way I do, and judging by the feedback a lot of people do.
For all the part time psychologists chiming in to give me advice on how to live my life or telling me I'm over dramatic or whatever, relax.
I don't actually think this is an issue or an actual mental problem I need to address, obviously.
I just wanted to have a friendly discussion with like minded people. Thankfully most of the responses have been friendly and interesting.
In general I like having one bass as its always there and always out on the stand, ready to go, without any decision making at all, just pickup and play from where I left off, and my EQ is always set the last way I had it.
But I'm also a gear head and love buying new stuff, just that it usually doesn't last long as I feel like its a waste due to being a minimalist in every other aspect of my life.
No, you're not. I had bought and sold 15 basses after getting my white jazz that's "the one". It's outlasted instruments 2x as expensive or more. I used to hunt all the time on here. All through college. Boring class? TB Classifieds. Waiting on the bus? TB Classifieds. What eventually helped mostly cure it was determining a "game plan", and the prices on here not being better than reverb/other places as much anymore. Your rule of no more than 3 does seem to help a good number of people. My number, I think, is 5
I played my white '11 AmStand J for years and years. Covered my "rock" tone. Love the sound. Absolutely enamored by the playability. It's my swiss army knife bass. Everything after that was "specialist" or to try to get a specific sound. I got an AVRI '62 J for a Zeppelin II cover set we used to do. That's my vintage standard rock sound and feel. I'd gassed after Ric's for years and years. Love the sound, hate the instability. I've got a '77 Ric for when I want to pretend I'm Geddy Lee. Have the '05 for going to jam with other people since it's a little thrashed. Having 2 similar instruments also allowed one to get hit with flats and the other with rounds.
Last but not least, a Dingwall I have yet to post an NBD about on here. Did I need it? No, but I thought about having one for 6 years though and consider it my heavier and more modern styled instrument. That's the one I've been playing lately. So, should you get 5? No, not necessarily. However, I think that it's perfectly reasonable to enjoy a different feel or sound from time to time. If your main and your backup aren't curbing the GAS, what about these other instruments are you really GAS'ing over?
One of the things I've done to counter this is that I've adopted the strategy that gear pays for gear. I don't use my personal money to pay for gear anymore. If I want to get something new I have to either sell something or trade. This mindset has made me much more selective with my GAS.
One in, one out … that’s the household rule … basically, marriage has been my only bulwark against ruining myself with ill-advised bass purchases. Then you never have too many, and the one or two you do have keep getting better if you trade up, as they say.
It's made me more conscientious of my purchases and trades. In turn, I've gone from a bunch of $500-$1300 basses to fewer that start at $2300 and up now
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The only limitation is the capacity of your closet to store cases. Keep in mind that nobody is looking for "that" bass. So feel free to keep it as long as you'd like. Keep em all if you have the space for it. Ideally you'll set yourself up so that its like living in the finest of music stores. Play any one you'd like. You don't like that one. Fine, put it down and pick out another...... Get tired of looking at the same ole ones. Sell off 5 - 7 of them and start looking for your next "gotta have it". I don't see a problem here.
Nice bass !!! I've looked at those many times, that's probably one of my favorite colors I've ever seen on a bass. Maybe someday I'll own one. Now you've got me GASing !! LOL
I would consider myself a minimalist but not hardcore about it in all aspects of my life. Bass is really the only thing I indulge in excessively. There has to be balance.
You should definitely check them out if you get a chance, they're great. Expensive but worth it. Also very versatile.
Only problem is you may have to order it online sight unseen to try it out, I did anyway as they don't even sell them in my country. If you do that just make sure you order from an online retailer with a good return policy. I had to order mine from the Czech Republic and I'm based in Ireland (both within the EU so no import taxes). If you're based in the USA you may be able to find them in stores.
I spent nearly two years looking for this exact model and when one popped up online I just jumped on it and sold all my other basses.
What bass is your current number one?
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My Option order G&L, L-2000. I chose the color, matching headstock, ebony board with pearl block inlays. Paulonia wood body, 7.4lbs (3.35kg) It really feels like "my" bass. There may not be another like it in the wild, there's a couple similar but without the block inlays. I've been calling it "The Humbuckler" LOL. I never name my basses
Wow, that's a really nice bass... I would love to try a USA G&L someday. Yet to lay my hands on one. Very hard to come by around my neck of the woods.
I usually don't like the G&L headstock but that black sparkle finish on the headstock actually somehow makes it look really nice!
The G&L headstock is polarizing, many dislike it. I dig it, so it's good for me. But you have to like the look of your instrument, everyone has their preferences
I'm a minimalist on just about everything except bass guitars, bass amps, bass FX pedals, bicycles- (road, mountain, gravel), Alpine Skiing equipment and tennis rackets. 
As are all things in life, it's just about perspective, and how we were conditioned growing up. Our perspectives on money, materialism, desire, and attachment to "things". I have been a gearhead for over 50 years. If it wasn't basses, it was keyboards, amps, audiophile stereo gear, cameras, and even tools. I like things, and I like to know how they work. So I build furniture, I build basses and guitars, and I've helped build companies.
I'm also a history buff, and music gear is a vehicle for exploring the history of one of humankind's most mystical and universal languages: Music. On the more mundane level, I love trying out new things, and learning about them. So I endeavor to try as many basses as i can, in order to discover those that may find their way into my heart and mind the most.
I am starting to learn a lesson ( for myself ) about the affliction of GAS. I have found that it can be very powerful to try basses that the "pros" or the snobs often cite as the best. It puts my whole collection to the test. For instance, once I allowed myself to purchase a fantastic pre-CBS P bass, my GAS has significantly decreased. As a lover of vintage basses, and not so much modern boutique basses ( lucky ), I used to dream, and frankly torture myself about wanting to buy CS basses, Moollons, Olintos, Lull, Alleva-Coppolo, etc. I finally just did it. It helped my GAS immensely. Then finally the real 50's P. It's the best, and it actually plays and sounds the best of my P basses. Not mind games, just feel and sound. That even put the Mollons, Olintos, and Alleva into a new light. A much less bright light. I think sometimes, if you have and you understand your tendencies, your desires, and have full awareness of the role they play in your personality, perspectives, and motivation, you might do best to indulge your desires for gear to the extent you are able. I envy those here that are completely satisfied with their one or two basses, as they see them as tools, or simply that a few basses meet all of their needs and desires.
I'm just not that way, and someday in the not too distant future, I will be moving my collection along to the next bassist who desires something that I valued so much.....and on and on...thanks for indulging.
I'm also a history buff, and music gear is a vehicle for exploring the history of one of humankind's most mystical and universal languages: Music. On the more mundane level, I love trying out new things, and learning about them. So I endeavor to try as many basses as i can, in order to discover those that may find their way into my heart and mind the most.
I am starting to learn a lesson ( for myself ) about the affliction of GAS. I have found that it can be very powerful to try basses that the "pros" or the snobs often cite as the best. It puts my whole collection to the test. For instance, once I allowed myself to purchase a fantastic pre-CBS P bass, my GAS has significantly decreased. As a lover of vintage basses, and not so much modern boutique basses ( lucky ), I used to dream, and frankly torture myself about wanting to buy CS basses, Moollons, Olintos, Lull, Alleva-Coppolo, etc. I finally just did it. It helped my GAS immensely. Then finally the real 50's P. It's the best, and it actually plays and sounds the best of my P basses. Not mind games, just feel and sound. That even put the Mollons, Olintos, and Alleva into a new light. A much less bright light. I think sometimes, if you have and you understand your tendencies, your desires, and have full awareness of the role they play in your personality, perspectives, and motivation, you might do best to indulge your desires for gear to the extent you are able. I envy those here that are completely satisfied with their one or two basses, as they see them as tools, or simply that a few basses meet all of their needs and desires.
I'm just not that way, and someday in the not too distant future, I will be moving my collection along to the next bassist who desires something that I valued so much.....and on and on...thanks for indulging.
