A Minimalists internal struggles with GAS

[MasterBrianD]

You're normal, mate. That said, what is drawing your attention lately?

I just bought a Squier 40th Anniversary Vintage Edition P Bass about 3 weeks ago and already thinking of selling it on.

 

[Polfuste]

I'm somewhere like you but with effects. Pedal 》 pedalboard 》 multieffect 》 nothing 》 pedal 》 ..
Do as i don't like keep things i'm not using, each time the same buy-sold cycle. But i've now reached a point i completely dig my sound. I feel like i'm arrived to the gear quest end. So I've sold all i stuff i'm not using anymore for (perhaps ?) the last time. Never had this "completion" feeling before. And i don't check gear anymore. Only the new gear day topics for eyes pleasure. And i don't need to force myself to not do it. It's just a lack of interest.
Are you 100% satisfied with your sound ?

 

[chris_b]

I see myself as a minimalist in pretty much all aspects of life, I hate clutter and I hate having too many of the same sort of thing that does the same job. For example with consumer electronics (phones, tablets, TVs, laptops etc.) I like having one high quality product for each task and getting the use out of that product for many years until its end-of-life instead of constantly buying cheaper products every year or so.

With instruments, I like just having one bass to do everything, I don't play in a band or do any sessions or anything, I just record at home and I like having "my sound" that my current bass perfectly produces.

At the same time I can't stop looking up basses online, in stores and on used guitar websites, constantly "on the hunt" for something new or a good deal.

The problem is GAS will get the better of me every now and then, easily justified if its a good used deal on something I have had my eye on anyway.

But then I always find that if I have over, say three or four basses, the option paralysis kicks in and I spend more time messing around with them, comparing them to each other, adjusting action, cleaning, thinking about mods etc. rather than playing/practicing... then I usually sell them off (usually at a loss) and keep my number 1.

Whenever I have basses sitting around un-played an unusual sense of "guilt" kicks in and I end up selling.

Am I over-thinking this wayyyy too much or does anyone else have the same kind of weird mental barrier like me?

I should just try get over this and enjoy having multiple basses because I'm not going to win against GAS lets be honest. Maybe stick with a rule of three and no more or something.

Curious if anyone else feels the same.

This.

For my first 35 years I owned one of everything . For the last 20 years I've owned 2 of everything. You can see when I discovered the internet. This year it's mushroomed to 4, but I feel a clear out coming on. The status quo will be resumed by Christmas and I will feel a lot happier.

 

[StevewiththePbass]

I have wild week-long emotional swings back and forth about whether I want to commit to carrying my full pedalboard to every gig, or leaving the board at home and switching to carrying an active jazz and a DI box with no amp. It never stops, I've just learned to manage the feelings.

I have a main P-bass (avatar pic) that's been my #1 for over a decade. I have no backup for it; the only other P I have is a parts Squier that sounds nothing like it. I absolutely *SHOULD* pickup or build a similar P as a #2, but I have such a hard time justifying a second really nice P that will mostly hang on the wall.

I bought a 2019 USA Jazz V for $800, wonderful bass. I sold it about a year later because I couldn't shake the feeling that I couldn't justify almost $1k hanging on my wall, no matter how good the deal was.

It's Maddening

 

[chadds]

There’s a 12 step program around here somewhere…….no wait, there isn’t, this is TB.

 

[BAG]

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.

That's what keeps me in check. I've got a couple of Warmoth necked parts basses, a couple of very cheap basses that I modified, tidying up the necks and having fret levels done, a couple of mid-range basses and a decent Ibanez SR1200 (probably the closest to high-end instrument I'll own) which I got second hand for a good price.

Whenever I try basses at shops, even quite high-end stuff, they don't have the great feel of those that I have so I can't quantify spending multiple thousands of dollars on something that doesn't feel as good as what i've got.

 

[timendous]

I just bought a Squier 40th Anniversary Vintage Edition P Bass about 3 weeks ago and already thinking of selling it on.

Been GASing for one of those. What color? What are you planning on asking for it??

 

[deff]

I have 4 basses right now. The newest always gets the most playing time for a while then I usually revert back to my 72 pbass. I look at my telecaster bass that I built with guilt all the time. I haven't found the right pickup for it. It is my favorite playing bass and is outfitted and dressed up exactly how I want it to be. It just doesn't sound like me. My band looks at me and says "you brought the country bass". It sounds a bit twangy and tame. The waste of it kinda kills me.

 

[Polfuste]

I have 4 basses right now. The newest always gets the most playing time for a while then I usually revert back to my 72 pbass. I look at my telecaster bass that I built with guilt all the time. I haven't found the right pickup for it. It is my favorite playing bass and is outfitted and dressed up exactly how I want it to be. It just doesn't sound like me. My band looks at me and says "you brought the country bass". It sounds a bit twangy and tame. The waste of it kinda kills me.

You'll find it. There's a zillion out there. Bartolini perhaps ?

 

[deff]

You'll find it. There's a zillion out there. Bartolini perhaps ?

Well because it is a WRHB I'd like to a at least be close in the style of the cover, size etc. and there aren't that many options. I think that the Stonewall boutique pickups will fit the bill. It's just difficult to get decent sound examples for a rare pickup configuration.

 

[MasterBrianD]

Been GASing for one of those. What color? What are you planning on asking for it??

Dakota Red. Got it for 298 Euro, its a nice bass but I'm finding the P bass tone a bit boring for solo stuff compared to my Spector. I knew that it would be before buying it but it still didn't stop me buying at this price.

I'm in Ireland so unfortunately shipping would cost more than the bass is worth.

 

[Seth DuSith]

I have three basses and another being saved for lol. I like to think 5 will be the magic number. But I know it's not. You need 5 of your favourite basses with rounds, 5 with flats and 5 experimental basses. And 5 beat arounds to modify

Edit : nearly forgot. 5 fretless

 

[Relsom]

So much for my declaration of a massive bass purge. What the hell is my problem? Its not like they're going to run out of Precisions any time soon.
2 identical 2021 Am Pro II P-Basses. Just because. The crazy thing is that I don't gig anything but Kubickis. The other couple of dozen never leave the house.