ADHD Bass GAS

[GWGuitar]

Although I have played bass since 1976, I have been primarily a guitarist over almost 50 years. During the pandemic quarantine, I started jonesing for a new bass. I bought an SX jazz bass like the one Laura Lee of Khruangbin plays. I set it up with flats and foam under the bridge. A few months later, I bought an Epiphone viola bass. I already had a Douglas fretless viola bass to start with. Now I’m three basses into the obsession.

Well, I started thinking “Every good bassist ought to have a P-bass.” It’s just kind of expected. It’s such a universal sound. As I’m shopping around looking for a P, I keep getting ADHD for everything else under the sun. I was at Guitar Center with the intent of trying out a Player series Fender when, all of a sudden, I end up with a short scale Stingray in my hands and I’m blown away by it. Then, later, I’m shopping online and I find a good deal on a Hagstrom Swede. I always wanted one of those. A few days later, I was at a pawn shop looking to see what they had, and there was a cool orange Ibanez that played amazingly.

Do you ever get ADHD when bass shopping? Everything that grabs my attention isn’t even close to a P-bass! It’s maddening.

 

[buldog5151bass]

No. I have three four basses:

- a Fender mutt I bought used about 36 years ago,
-Lull P4 I bought about 16 years ago,
- a Jazz fretless I bought used 3 years ago when I got back into playing jazz
- a '51 P build I did about 6 years ago because I wanted to try it.

Any time I look at new shiny things, I realize they very likely are not better instruments. If it weren't for the fact the mutt is over 11 pounds, it probably would be my only bass.

 

[JRA]

Do you ever get ADHD when bass shopping? Everything that grabs my attention isn’t even close to a P-bass! It’s maddening.

yeah, sounds like you've got it bad!

of one thing i'm certain: if you get a p-bass = it won't cure your GAS! they're the simple simon of basses and it sounds like you're into more "variety" than what a P-bass delivers. good luck with your current GAS episode!

 

[Oddly]

Sounds like a really bad case of GAS to me.
Tell you what, send me all your money, that way you can't buy any more. I'll set you a weekly allowance for essentials, and the rest I'll keep safe under my mattress until you regain control.

 

[Spidey2112]

If you invest in some really cheap sunglasses, it'll help block out the GAS, but not the harmful UV rays of the sun.

It really comes down to weighing, not only the bass, but the risk/reward of instrumental desire.

Confunkalicious has spoken.

 

[dadglasser]

Whenever I find myself lusting after anything new I always say to myself, "why don't you go play what you already have?" It seems to work.

 

[Lowendchamp]

I just got a P special for Christmas after I got SSBM short scale Stingray and I have another P on the way. Better luck than me.

 

[fhm555]

You could always give in to your compulsion, then come back here a few months later and wax poetic about your newfound low end bliss and it’s seemingly endless subtle nuances and how each new tone timbre and twang causes creative juices to ooze at a level never before experienced.
Or
You could give in to your compulsion, then come back a few months later and whine about how bad both legs hurt from constantly kicking yourself in the ass for being foolish enough to buy so many basses only to discover all you ever truly needed was the universal solvent of bass, a 3TSB P with tort scratch guard and flats.
Or
you could temper your compulsion and come back here every day to launch a new poll seeking a crowd sourced opinion on which bass is best for …SQUIRREL!!!

 

[MynameisMe]

 

[Jazz Ad]

You have GAS.
I'd drop the ADHD reference. This is not what ADHD makes you do and it is a serious condition that can lead to serious issues.

 

[ryan pate]

Do you ever get ADHD when bass shopping? Everything that grabs my attention isn’t even close to a P-bass! It’s maddening.

Yes.This happens to me.
Normally If I want or need something I know exactly what I’m after, thenI find it and go pick it up.in and out.done
With gear on the other hand,(especially guitars and basses) its anyone’s guess what I may bring home. I don’t have an answer. Online shopping buying used.There is it seems no preventative measure ,and I wish you,and all who suffer from this a speedy recovery.
get well soon

 

[Luftkopf]

If it weren’t for the fact that I’m pretty hard up, I’d be on a spree at the moment. I’ve got my starter bass and amp, and have added a distortion pedal (once I find a bloody power supply), and now I want a flanger too.

if I weren’t broke, I’d be looking at a Warwick BC80 combo, and I’d love a Höfner, also an Orange O Bass which was the first bass I decided I needed on first sight. Oh, and I’d love a Warwick Streamer too.

 

[Old Blastard]

I am down to 15 basses. I am lusting after another. I can only feel your pain.
Luckily, I own an old house so I'm broke fixing things

 

[WI Short Scaler]

One advantage to living in Central WI? No stores close by me to just stop in and look at shiny new basses. Shopping online can be tempting but much easier to click on past.

Best of luck, sounds like your individual case of GAS is severe.

 

[marchone]

The Ampeg PF-50T and Mesa SW115 cab I have on order since October are still are back ordered. Indeterminate supply problems. So I bought a new watch in the meantime.

 

[1st Bass]

What does the watch weigh?

 

[GWGuitar]

Luckily, even though I have GAS, it’s easily satiated. I don’t have expensive tastes. I was thinking hard about a Squier Classic Vibe. I was waiting to see if Rondo was going to get in any more. They have a P-J model SX, but only in medium or short scale. I found an Epiphone Accu Bass from the 90s. I used to run a music store back then and we sold them. I remember them being solidly built and we never had QC issues with them. Maybe I’ll upgrade the pickups. It was a cheap cure for GAS and it should fill the role of P-bass tone on my recordings. I’ll post pictures after it arrives and do the setup and clean-up on it.

 

[Jeremy Crockett]

Although I have played bass since 1976, I have been primarily a guitarist over almost 50 years. During the pandemic quarantine, I started jonesing for a new bass. I bought an SX jazz bass like the one Laura Lee of Khruangbin plays. I set it up with flats and foam under the bridge. A few months later, I bought an Epiphone viola bass. I already had a Douglas fretless viola bass to start with. Now I’m three basses into the obsession.

Well, I started thinking “Every good bassist ought to have a P-bass.” It’s just kind of expected. It’s such a universal sound. As I’m shopping around looking for a P, I keep getting ADHD for everything else under the sun. I was at Guitar Center with the intent of trying out a Player series Fender when, all of a sudden, I end up with a short scale Stingray in my hands and I’m blown away by it. Then, later, I’m shopping online and I find a good deal on a Hagstrom Swede. I always wanted one of those. A few days later, I was at a pawn shop looking to see what they had, and there was a cool orange Ibanez that played amazingly.

Do you ever get ADHD when bass shopping? Everything that grabs my attention isn’t even close to a P-bass! It’s maddening.

Musicians of whatever stripe are simply not immune to the GAS. 2020 and 2021 I purchased three guitars, two basses, two amplifiers, a drum kit, a bassload of accessories and songbooks, a mixer, a drum kit microphone set, two overhead mics, and a large-diaphragm condenser mic.

I have, now, traded and sold two of the three guitars, the guitar amp, and three basses to settle on a Fender Jazz and a Fender Precision.

GAS has abated. That's not to say there aren't basses I want. But such is a want and I treat it accordingly.

There will always be "shiny objects" out there. We need to recognize and deal with that fact. It makes playing a lot less expensive and frustrating. At least, that's how I see it.

 

[wazzel]

I am so glad I do not have that issue. I got a new bass and amp this year. The last time I purchased an amp was in 08. My last bass purchase was in 09.

 

[fhm555]

Yes.This happens to me.
Normally If I want or need something I know exactly what I’m after, thenI find it and go pick it up.in and out.done
With gear on the other hand,(especially guitars and basses) its anyone’s guess what I may bring home. I don’t have an answer. Online shopping buying used.There is it seems no preventative measure ,and I wish you,and all who suffer from this a speedy recovery.
get well soon

Sadly, there is no recovery, only periods of remission. These periods can run from minutes to decades, but GAS is never cured. There are cases on record where symptom free periods of more than 20 years were ended by a casual glance at some particularly tasty bass porn as well as attacks triggered by walking past the bass rack on the way out of a music store with a just purchased “dream bass”.