GAS article

[spade2you]

While I have more than a few basses, I don't think that owning many basses prohibits guys from being good musicians. Yes, I'm aware these types of musicians exist, although I think it's blown way out of proportion.

I also don't agree that it takes 3-5 years and 100 gigs to develop a relationship with an instrument. When I got my first Rob Allen, it felt so amazing, as if I had played it for 3-5 years and 100 gigs.

 

[drmckool]

Yup. I do. I make no apologies for that. I've tried a lot of others, but haven't found anything that I like as much. Here's the funny thing, I do a lot of (union) pit work and in the local union book electric bass is listed as "Fender Bass."

i've seen Electric Bass listed as Fender Bass before as well and i'm not criticizing you. i actually want to get a Fender J and a Fender J Fretless

 

[gmstudio99]

And while I completely agree with this article, this guy may have begged to differ:

 

[gmstudio99]

i've seen Electric Bass listed as Fender Bass before as well and i'm not criticizing you. i actually want to get a Fender J and a Fender J Fretless

No worries, I didn't think you were critcizing. I was just sharing the union story because I always find that amusing. Like if some MD took it literally and got pissed if a guy showed up to a gig with a Sadowsky and was sent packing because it wasn't specifically a Fender. LOL.

 

[Dan Christopher]

Dang, there are lots of good points in here. I actually have tried to stick to the philosophy of just putting all my money and time into a single, versatile bass that I'm absolutely happy with. He kind of inspired me to beef up my collection a bit!

By the way, I know what you guys are referring to when you say "GAS", but can anyone tell me exactly what that stands for?

 

[Wadge]

Its a painfull truth that. I know that I'm hired for many gigs on my ability to keep a groove solid. However, I also know that I will only get the second or third call to a jazz gig because my ability at playing jazz is limited.

Were I to invest as much time on practicing as I do browsing TB, I'd probably get more gigs (not that I have time for them) and would increase my ability. Now that is an investment.

Instrument wise I'm also pretty sorted:

1) Main Axe: Sadowsky UV 5 string
2) Fretless: CIJ Fender 62 reissue 4 string (sometimes taking place as my main bass).
3) Something different: Tobias Toby Pro 6 string (was my main bass for many years)
4) backup: Frankenfender jazz bass
5) Investment: My 1980 Precision - a great bass, not sure it will ever appretiate in value (don't care), just don't use it as much because I'm not a huge fan of the P sound.
6) Also have a fretless Acoustic Bass guitar - great to use for practice at home and for acoustic gigs.

 

[drmckool]

Dang, there are lots of good points in here. I actually have tried to stick to the philosophy of just putting all my money and time into a single, versatile bass that I'm absolutely happy with. He kind of inspired me to beef up my collection a bit!

By the way, I know what you guys are referring to when you say "GAS", but can anyone tell me exactly what that stands for?

Gear
Acquisition
Syndrom

 

[Wadge]

By the way, I know what you guys are referring to when you say "GAS", but can anyone tell me exactly what that stands for?

It stands for Gear Acquisition Syndrome - a condition made worse by browsing talkbass.

 

[butchblack]

Good article

I agree for the most part, however, I just spent more then I paid for a bass to mod it. However I got the bass for a song (Fernandes APB-90 I think for $162 to my door) between new pups, pots, strings, I've probably dumped $200 into it. As I can't afford multiple basses I only own 2. I'm hoping this will work well as both a backup bass that I can get my sound on and yet have a bit different sounding bass at the same time. I'm betting on the bit different sound as the body is noticeably lighter and less resonant then my main axe. The only other bass I might consider buying is another Fernandes the function if I can find one reasonably priced as I love the neck and the resonance of the wood.

When I hit the lottery or have some long lost relative leave me big $ I'll consider the vintage and the fretless.

Poverty cures GAS (or sometimes GAS causes poverty)

 

[Warpticon]

Ya, that guy writing the article is like an alcoholic with a beer in his hand telling other alcoholics not to drink. Still, he's right. What keep a person working is their playing and not so much their basses.

It kind of varies, though. Having more instruments keeps me from burning out. I practice more when I have more instruments to practice on. I only have three basses at the moment, but I hope to have ten by the end of the year. 4 jazz (got it), 4 p/j, 4 fretless, 4 violin, 5 active jazz (got it), 5 fretless, 5 sb/h, 6 j, 6 sb/h, acoustic, acoustic fretless...an I know I can mix in some more variations.