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GAS: As I see it.

Dr. Cheese

Dr. Cheese

Supporting Member
Mar 3, 2004
57,317
120,583
Metro St. Louis
#1
For the last few months, I have laid pretty low in terms of talking about my gear. First I really haven't bought that much, second, I really want to hold back and get something that really means something to me, not get something new for the heck of it.

During this time, I have thought about GAS, and what has made me GAS. I have worked up a list of GAS factors for me, YMMV.:)

1. Buying stuff is easier than practicing!
2. Boredom
3.Falling in love with a great sound from a recording or a performance.
4. Listening too much to others instead of trusting my experience (this is why I got rid of some nice 17mm spaced basses like Millenniums.)
5. Wanting to get the "hot" bass.
6. Impatience, instead of saving, I have traded or sold a great bass to get something new.
7. Buying a "good" bass because of the price although it's not what I really want. This sets up future GAS, trades, swaps, or sales.

That's about it for me. Those of you who like to rip me for talking about GAS, go for it. GAS may not be your weakness, but assuming you are human, you do something that you shouldn't, you just don't talk about it on TB!:D
 
#4
Doc Cheese...Still the KING of GAS....
GASTrophy.jpg
 
#7
Dr. Cheese said:
I have worked up a list of GAS factors for me, YMMV.:)

1. Buying stuff is MORE FUN than practicing!
2. Boredom
3. Falling in love with a great sound from a recording or a performance.
5. Wanting to get the "hot" bass.

That's about it for me. Those of you who like to rip me for talking about GAS, go for it. GAS may not be your weakness, but assuming you are human, you do something that you shouldn't, you just don't talk about it on TB!:D
Click to expand...

I changed the wording in 1.
I am guilty of the above.
I get ripped for my gear swapping and stuff all the time. My skin is pretty thick. I am waiting for a new Genz Benz Uber Quad to get in town so I can try it with a 9.0 head. Might be the new rig.

I am also very close to getting a passive 4 string. I'm tired of my sound, and my sound for years has been an active 5 string. If you watch Seinfeld, it's like my tuna on toast. Nothing is working with tuna on toast so maybe the opposite would be better - chicken on rye, untoasted.
 
#10
Wow Dr. , your post really made me think.
Its sad but true. it is easier to be obsessed with you gear then practicing.

I'm starting to realize I've become such a Lakland "snob", I've lost site of all the other great basses out there. Hope none of my LOG brotheron reads this.

Right now...I'm GASsing for a Nash 63P.
Then I really need to be done.....Really
 
#15
I've always wondered what made me buy things, or be on the lookout for something new. I play guitar as well, and have been satisfied with one guitar for the past 5 years. But basses... there's something about the sheer variety and number of small builders, etc, that seems to keep me looking.

A few months back I bought something and felt like an idiot shortly thereafter. I was just overcome by GAS and excitement. I complained about how I felt silly for having spent the money when I really oughtn't have to my girlfriend, and she said: "Well, I won't pretend I'm not mad, but I understand, because it's something you're passionate about."

Maybe that's it. The passion for musical instruments overtakes our rational brains?
 
#17
Dr. Cheese said:
That's true, but nothing is totally random, IMO. There are patterns to ourr passions.
Click to expand...

I agree completely. There are certain things that excite people everytime. I'm always after something I've never seen before, for example. Some people like 70s Fenders, or a certain wood, etc. But when I actually give in, like when I go from "That's really cool" to getting out a credit card, that's the moment I blame on passion.

Maybe I just do that to escape responsibility though. :D
 
#18
I use my disdain for blind consumerism to temper my GAS.

I prioritize, save (I won't go into debt for gear) and make informed decisions about gear. I will say it's a lot easier to do with musical gear than it is to do with things such as consumer electronics.

Having to have the latest gadgetry is probably my biggest pet peeve. People are so impatient and entitled that they will do whatever it takes to make sure they have the latest (and likely obsolete in 3 months) toys on the day they are released. These people are rubes to me, but you know the saying. A fool and his money are easily parted.

I do have a tough time drawing the parallels between this and musical gear because instruments, effects, and amps are all tools for our craft,...it's the incidentals that I cast a skeptical eye on,...things like overrated and overly expensive instrument cables,...etc, etc, etc. I just try to convince myself that what I'm looking at is really a gimmick and my money stays in my pocket.

It also helps that my main focus of GAS is effects and outside of sourcing stuff on the internet,...there really isn't anything of interest locally that I want to buy. This town is too vanilla and I looking for Pecans and Praline.
 

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