• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

GAS has no known cure but TB sure doesn't help any...

Sundogue

Sundogue

Apr 26, 2001
8,795
481
65
Wausau, WI
#1
In the spirit of the Amps Forum (which I frequent the most), no matter how much gear one has acquired or flipped, the cure for GAS will never be found. Sure some gear acquisitions may put it in remission, but this forum offers up far too much information to ever truly be cured of it.

While some may say they are cured of it (myself being one), there is always the risk of reinfection when one frequents this forum. I built a fEARful 15/6 years ago and have had no desire for another cab since (aside from adding another one). Then I finally got a ShuttleMax 9.2 and now have no desire to buy another amphead.

Still, I see discussions on tube amps, sealed cabs, preamps, new cab designs and such and the mere suggestion of another or different piece of gear is intriguing. It's like kicking a drug habit saying you'll never do it again, only to be hanging out with addicts on a regular basis...oh so tempting.

I've probably kicked the habit and for the time being I am GAS free. How long can that last? Perhaps taking a break from the amps forum would help. Maybe I should hang out in the Basses forum or the Effects forum, so I can find a new drug of choice over there. ;)

We as bass players are so lucky to have all the choices we have today. I wonder how many remember the days when there was little to choose from, and there was no internet and we only had one or two music stores available to us to be able to drool over even one new thing that came out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Steakface
#2
Want to get rid of GAS for good?

Producing a band killed my GAS dead. I took on the role of producer earlier this year for the first time, after playing for over 40 years. It didn't take long for me see how silly the pursuit of the fine nuances of tone in an individual instrument (think guitar or bass or horn) are. It doesn't get reduced to broad brush strokes, but the equipment side subtle nuances don't matter as much in the context of a band as the nuances of timing and dynamics and phrasing do.

What I've come to realize regarding bass is that as long as the basic tone profile fits the genre, it is time to move on to timing, dynamics and phrasing.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: sloppy_phil, Moosehead1966 and StayLow
#3
Interceptor said:
Want to get rid of GAS for good?

Producing a band killed my GAS dead. I took on the role of producer earlier this year for the first time, after playing for over 40 years. It didn't take long for me see how silly the pursuit of the fine nuances of tone in an individual instrument (think guitar or bass or horn) are. It doesn't get reduced to broad brush strokes, but the equipment side subtle nuances don't matter as much in the context of a band as the nuances of timing and dynamics and phrasing do.

What I've come to realize regarding bass is that as long as the basic tone profile fits the genre, it is time to move on to timing, dynamics and phrasing.
Click to expand...

Those are two completely different issues, solved by two completely different sets of tasks. We're ALL picky...to varying degrees. Otherwise we'd all be playing the exact same gear we started out on. And really, there probably wouldn't be much of an Amps forum here. ;)

But I get your point. The more down time I have between gigs, the more I think about my gear. I still practice on my own, but I think on what could be improved gear-wise, especially if there is a particular tone or effect I'm after for a given project. And that down time, playing by myself, only inspires me so far before I get the itch to take the time to mess with my gear. The busier I get with band projects, the less I think about my gear and the more I play, practice and improve those things you mentioned. So no doubt, the busier one stays the less GAS one has...it's only natural.

Which makes it really difficult when one doesn't do this for a living. Back when it was my living, aside from strolling into a music store and just buying something I wanted while I was out on the road, I really never gave much thought to my gear. Once I changed career paths, I still wanted to play, but there was far more downtime.

GAS is, and never was, a replacement for working with your instrument to become a better player.
 
#4
I was around and playing in "the old days". Your gear discussions were the local guys playing out and exposure was live tours, local bands and occasional music stores. I different time for sure and cab tech was FAR behind amp releases. I guess that is why I don't jump on the flavor of the month and have very mild interest in the cool aid. You learned to do so much more with your hands.
 
  • Like
Reactions: spankdaplank and esa372
#5
I've never really had G.A.S. My previous rig (Eden-based) was put together in in '95, and I used it until 2010 (before that, I used a Trace-Elliot rig for six years). I have since replaced it with an Alembic/QSC/fEARful rig, and I don't expect to be looking for new gear for at least a decade - likely, never.

I've always failed to understand why some players constantly change their equipment... It may take me several months to get to know and really "dial-in" a rig. Once I do, I stick with it.

Several components tend to move from a previous rig to a new one, though - my compressor, filter, tuner, and rack case are all 20-25 years old. Heck, I've got an instrument cable (which I use at every gig) that's 24 years old!

Buy what you need, buy good-quality gear, go out and use it - that's how I work, anyway. :bassist:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Interceptor
#6
For me it was a combination of things. I had a Peavey 410TVX and blew two drivers (in a very loud band), and it was replaced by an Ampeg 410HLF (which also blew two drivers while playing in the same band). I became disgusted (with myself and my cabs) and started designing my own cabs which I played through until I built my fEARful 15/6 (one of the earliest ones). Haven't gassed for a cab since, although I still enjoy checking out new designs because I love the technical aspect of cab design.

I had a really great amp but it developed issues (Carvin BX1200), so I had to get a replacement but couldn't afford much at the the time. I found one (Peavey Tour 450) that, while not ideal, got me by to continue to do gigs but it was never going to be a long term answer. I actually used that a long time, until it came off my cab and crashed to the floor. Peavey's reputation for bullet proof gear notwithstanding, it was toast. Found a great sounding, powerful Kustom Groove 1200 very cheap. Loved it and still have it at my rehearsal space hooked up to my own designed and built 210/6 cab. But it ain't going anywhere because I don't like the weight. I now have a ShuttleMax 9.2 and I love everything about it, including tone weight and control. So long as it keeps running I don't see replacing it. So I'm relatively GAS free. It isn't as if I just go out and keep flipping rigs.

Once I really like something I do hang onto it, but sometimes things need to be replaced. And sometimes the things I like just become too much baggage to want to carry the older I get, so I might downsize. So with that in mind...I kind of check things out here.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Interceptor and esa372

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back