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GAS: As I see it.

#61
I find GAS easy to resist for 2 big reasons...

1) Ive always been very conservative with my money, I try not to spend unless necessary. Often I'll pass up stuff like ice cream because I'll think "Oh no, you should just put that in the bank."

2) Im a poor, jobless 17 year old. :)
 
#62
GAS is one of the most difficult things for me to resist. The combination of Musicians Friend, TB, YouTube, Craigslist, and the Guitar Showcase Consignment center I am smothered by all kinds of wonderful new toys.

I made the mistake when I first started to just buy buy buy and then attempt to implement what I'd bought. At one time I had 10 pedals of which I only ever used 2!!

I've gotten better however and have now downsized to 5 pedals, all of which I regularly use and toy around with and a rig that makes me smile every time the tubes kick in.

It's not a horrible thing unless you're buying needlessly; just "because". If it's something you really will use and will open doors for you, I don't really consider that GAS. That's an investment :D
 
#64
For the last few months, I've been a hopeless case -- GAS stimulated by TB and CL and not enough money to indulge any of it. I don't think it's the buying being easier than practicing, I practice plenty, it's just all these shiny toys out there, especially when a really good (relatively speaking) deal comes along -- that for me is the $600 bass on clearance at $300 or what have you. Seeing that kind of thing kills me.

At the moment, though, my GAS seems to have quieted. My GAS had mostly been to get a five-string with p-bass tone to go along with my more jazz fiver, and I got one for Christmas. All of a sudden I'm not really craving much any more -- I've got my two basic tones, and to build on that the only thing I could imagine would be to go for some over-$1000 bass that I know I am never going to be able to afford in the foreseeable future. I can't really look at a bass in the $500ish price range and say I need it, so end of story.
 
#66
Dr. Cheese said:
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
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I totaly agree with you!!!

GAS is really BAD thing...

:(
 
#67
To me it's a want versus need issue. The only new bass I ever really needed was a 5er for the low B. The rest were all wants (mostly TB generated).

Although I sold a lot of over 9 pound basses due to shoulder issues, some time in the weight room fixed the shoulder, but some truly wonderful basses are gone:bawl:

I will admit, although I have all the basses I will ever need, I want another Roscoe just for the pleasure of it.
 
#68
I know perfectly what you mean.
But I 'm pretty young, already have a car and can 't buy everything I want form y GAS.
Eventualy, I ended up with 2ampeg cabs, a tube head and the fire-engine red rickenbacker.
I 'm happy for now, but still gassing on a pedalboard these days.
Even on a second amp .... but what the hell, I don 't really need it.
So I think I 'm going to ceep it simple.
Somethimes if you watch youtube you see guys with a 50 watt practice amp get massive sounds.
So I 'm going to practice more instead of gassing i think :p
 
#70
mtshark said:
I find GAS easy to resist for 2 big reasons...

1) Ive always been very conservative with my money, I try not to spend unless necessary. Often I'll pass up stuff like ice cream because I'll think "Oh no, you should just put that in the bank."

2) Im a poor, jobless 17 year old. :)
Click to expand...

Same situation here, also even when i do have enough money for a new bass, usually a cheap one to defret/relic, i end up lying in bed and wondering whether i need it, and the answer is usually no. however i may soon be able to afford something hollow, and GAS will strike again!
 
#71
There is another that may factor in, for some: Wanting to replace those basses that you, now, kick yourself for trading or selling. Whether you need that bass, or not, you regret losing it (for whatever reason) and you want it back. Not necessarily "it" but a like quality replacement.

I don't even gig anymore and only occasionally play with others but there are basses that would like have again.

The problem with this line of reasoning is that, after buying said replacement, you may come to realize that you like the memory and idea of that old bass more than you actually like that old bass. :D
 
#72
Heck, I'm not even in a band, although I hope to change that status over the next few months. I have a half-stack (410/300W head) and two basses. I really don't need anything, yet I find myself continually debating whether I should buy a smaller combo amp, or a pedal of some sort, or sometimes even a new bass. Then I ask myself what the H for?

I have realized that a high-end bass is not going to make me a better player. And no pedal/effect is going to accomplish that either. Instead of new gear, I should learn new material and more theory, etc. But I did get about $120 worth of GC gift certificates for Christmas, and I can't let them go to waste!
 
#73
Classical musicians do have GAS. My son's piano teacher, who graduated from Juliard, has three Steinway grand pianos and a Bosendorf grand piano. The total cost is greater than $300k.

A cellist that I know has 3 cellos including a hi-tech all graphite cello. He paid $100k for it.

Compared with classical instruments, even the most expensive bass seems affordable.
 
#75
At this point I realize I have more then enough gear to cover both my bass and guitar playing situations. Reliable roadcases for tours, a nice moderate pedal board for all my pedal needs, and a good set of basses. It's helped cure my gas a lot to just be playing more but I'm still always looking for cool stuff I want to try. My only rule is that I can spend money on instruments that I earned from playing music. However with playing being almost my exclusive income, things like rent, schooling, and essentials come first and a custom 51 p bass can wait as far as I see it :p
 
#76
Russell Bergum said:
I find that the more I practice, the less I have GAS. I realize how nice the basses that I already have are.

I think a lot of it is 1)boredom, 2)I like shiny new things, 3) curiosity.

I think the amount of time spent on TB directly correlates to my level of GAS.
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This is a good post. Every time I play my bass (that I always try to replace for some dumb reason) I remember how great it sounds and how fantastic - and easy - it is to play. Boredom, Talk Bass, curiosity, the fun of tracking and opening something new are all contributing factors. I am going to really try to just be happy with my bass and amp this year. They are all I really NEED and sound juts fine.
 
#77
I have 6 basses..I recenty bought an old Ibanez and I told the wife I was going to sell one....I spend about an hour every night playing them all and can't decide which one to sell...they all have a distinct tone that I love...I thought the Fodera would be the cure for GAS but it hasn't been.

maybe it's an obsession...maybe I'll buy one someday and just KNOW that is the one for me, but maybe there isn't just one
 
#79
Dr. Cheese said:
Financial reality has shut down my GAS. I just have less disposable income lately. I also have really taken stock of what I like too. I honestly see me buying one more good bass when I can, and then shutting it down.
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oh heck yes, I was playing last night and thinking back to when I only had one bass and you just play the bass and go play your gigs and most people don't really notice the bass enough to make a big deal about it
 
#80
Dr. Cheese said:
Financial reality has shut down my GAS. I just have less disposable income lately. I also have really taken stock of what I like too. I honestly see me buying one more good bass when I can, and then shutting it down.
Click to expand...

Financial reality is a big one. $1,200 a month for daycare/preschool is reality. That's more than my mortgage.

I have tried a lot of gear recently, much of it pretty nice, and while it was great stuff, no one could tell between it and my current gear so what's the point? I am fine not playing a Sadowsky or Lakland or whatever, really.

I am really going to try to not buy/sell/swap basses this year. I still may change my amp, but even that is a big maybe. Like the good doctor, I do see a "nice" bass in my future, but it may be a very distant future.
 

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