Five Watt World - Minimalist guitar gear

[ED3]

I figured that I would leave this here for anyone that may need it. Yes, the video is three years old, but I think these are great words to hear and attempt to minimize GAS. As I get older, I realize less IS, in fact, more in most cases.

 

[HelpImaRock]

There was a thread on TGP a while back that was something like "so you find your sound and...that's it?" And my thought was "well yeah, isn't that what you've spent all this money and time chasing?"

I don't think "less is more". Not even a little bit. I do think practicing, playing, and learning what your tone is and how to achieve it, can have an end result. And if we're lucky, it will take less gear to achieve that result. But I'm not going to begrudge anyone trying to figure out what that is and how to achieve it either.

Now about that backup bass...

 

[JKos]

And a video that goes along with that.

 

[ED3]

There was a thread on TGP a while back that was something like "so you find your sound and...that's it?" And my thought was "well yeah, isn't that what you've spent all this money and time chasing?"

I don't think "less is more". Not even a little bit. I do think practicing, playing, and learning what your tone is and how to achieve it, can have an end result. And if we're lucky, it will take less gear to achieve that result. But I'm not going to begrudge anyone trying to figure out what that is and how to achieve it either.

Now about that backup bass...

I see what you're saying and that makes complete sense. I guess there was a time for me when I was buying so much gear it was actually hurting me in a way. I focused more on gear and less on actually learning. Nowadays, personally, I am able to achieve what I am looking for with way less gear and I'm content with that. It also helps my back, wallet, and keeps the lady happy with less clutter. haha

 

[HelpImaRock]

I see what you're saying and that makes complete sense. I guess there was a time for me when I was buying so much gear it was actually hurting me in a way. I focused more on gear and less on actually learning. Nowadays, personally, I am able to achieve what I am looking for with way less gear and I'm content with that. It also helps my back, wallet, and keeps the lady happy with less clutter. haha

Well sure. Some people buy gear to have stuff. What he's talking about is goals, and does buying stuff help you achieve that? If the sound in my head involves a delay pedal on the brink of self oscillation, no amount of technique is going to get me there. If I want a fatter, tubbier sound, I can probably get there through a mix of technique and EQ. But I have to know what I want first, and a lot of buying is about "ooh shiny!" instead of achieving a certain musical function.

 

[CallMeAl]

I know in my journey, there were a few times when new gear made a massive shift in my playing (building my parts J neck P bass, switching from Telecaster to semi hollow HH.) there were also many more times when it didn’t net much at all, mostly tone chasing (strings, pickups, amps.)

So I think a lot of players get hooked on that gain, and try to recreate that with every purchase- I know I did. But I also think that’s something you have to go through yourself. You kinda need to experiment and explore. Cross the line of “too much” to actually learn where the line is.