GAS - I've officially lost my mind - downgrading (almost) everything

[Killed_by_Death]

DOH!
I couldn't remember who asked me that, but it's too late now.
We could have met halfway in WVA someplace.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Looked up threads with GAS in the title authored by me & this was the most telling one. Oh dear!
At least I don't know $5K worth of gear anymore, but TBH when I was down to 1 amp & 1 bass it only took two weeks before I bought another amp & another bass

 

[Killed_by_Death]

This thread went all sorts of different directions & TBH I realized where the misanthropy comes from.
If we can't share our thoughts about our gear collection on a forum like this, where the Hell can you?

Anyway, I couldn't be happier with my current collection, one mid-level bass, one cheap parts bass, & a single combo amp.
If I want fancy stuff I plug into Amplitube on my PC.

Only trouble is that tennis-elbow has kept me away from playing for most of 2020. Every time I think I'm over it, Wham!, it comes back.
3 weeks wasn't enough of a break, so I guess I'll try a whole month off.

In the meantime I've been working on sight-reading right from the staff & figuring out where those notes are on the fretboard.
Been meaning to get around to trying to learn the first Black Sabbath album by ear, but I'm procrastinating, because I have a tin-ear.

 

[2strings2frets]

A few years back I had tennis elbow, tried wearing the brace for awhile. Then I wore a neoprene elbow brace to keep it warm. Made my skin itchy so I would wear two sweat shirts, to keep my arms toasty , it took time but it finely healed. Best regards

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Mine is coarsely healed for now, but I'm going to test the limits tomorrow. Have a bunch of songs lined up I want to work on.
At the same time however, I'm thinking about selling up again, but for good. If my appreciation of playing doesn't resume soon, I might just make that plan & stash my gear under my bed until GC & Sam-Ash are open again.

 

[SteveC]

I didn’t read everything. You know me. I’ve been here as well. I only need one bass. My cheap G&L JB-2 Tribute (now with Hipshot Ultralite Tuners) my wife got me for Christmas is a fine bass. Looks great (fantastic finish and an almost Birdseye fingerboard) Would be fine for almost any gig. My Genzler amp and cab is great for jazz and show gigs. My DI/IEM board is fine for my church and cover gigs. Sell all those expensive Roscoe’s. But my wife said no. I’m glad. She also bought me a Roscoe Classic P bass. The stuff is paid for. I’d miss it if I sold it. And I wouldn’t really make that much so I just keep it and play it and enjoy it. Life is too short.

 

[CallMeAl]

Early this year, I cracked and bought that combo amp I was fighting the urges to buy. It’s more than enough and I feel set for the future. I’ve got a main and backup for both bass and amp. GAS is more than squashed....

then this virus hit. All gigs cancelled, not even rehearsals. So I feel a little guilty for even wanting/making needless purchases. I feel immensely grateful for what I have. Now I’m suffering from Gig Access Syndrome! All I want these days...

 

[Guild B301]

I have NEVER regretted anything I bought.
I have USUALLY regretted the stuff I sold.

 

[2strings2frets]

Mine is coarsely healed for now, but I'm going to test the limits tomorrow. Have a bunch of songs lined up I want to work on.
At the same time however, I'm thinking about selling up again, but for good. If my appreciation of playing doesn't resume soon, I might just make that plan & stash my gear under my bed until GC & Sam-Ash are open again.

Strangely enough I got into a slump shortly after St Patties day. Probably a result of the continued bad news from the C bug. With lots of time to kill I did not play all that much. Just this week I have resumed and feel fresh again. I noodle on the couch with my Mikro 4, then attack my Schecter 5 which has a 35” scale just for the challenge. 7 inches difference in scale does makes a difference. I have a tiny practice amp with a 6.5 inch speaker; after playing through that I appreciate my full stack tube setup , it sounds soo good. Loosing interest in what you like is a sign of depression. Take a break then resume. Best regards.

 

[SteveC]

I have NEVER regretted anything I bought.
I have USUALLY regretted the stuff I sold.

Yep. I’m not selling any more. I couldn’t have said that a few years ago but I am settled now. We have a violin that my daughter quit playing. My son plays viola and takes it out once in a while to try for fun. It’s a good instrument ($1,500) but I’d get maybe half If I sold so I’m just keeping it. It’ll get played someday, by my family or maybe it gets gifted down the road. Either way I’m just keeping it.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I don't regret anything I've sold, it's not like I didn't think long & with great effort before deciding,
but I do wish I'd given the Walnut Rickenbacker 4004 Cheyenne more interest when I had a chance to buy one for under $2k USD.

put your hands on everything you own, ask yourself if it sparks joy

At the moment, everything here is something I want to keep, in fact it's why I've been unable to quit again, LOL.
In the stock market, they say that if you are holding stock that you wouldn't buy right now, sell it!
However, with stocks they go up and down & in a month it could again be purchase-worthy.

In general I'm happy, but my playing isn't sparking joy currently.
I keep expecting a turn-around, but it hasn't come.
Maybe tomorrow is that day, I hope...

put every item in a place where it’s visible, accessible, and easy to grab and then put back

This has been how my stuff is for years now, my amp is across the room, line of sight, main bass is just a little over a Meter from my face.
Everything is within view & easily accessible.

I went a little nuts on Wednesday & was considering buying a guitar again, went around to all the local shops to see what was available.
They're like a Wah pedal to me, great fun for a day or two, and then it's time to get rid of it, LOL!

People who have room for loads of gear can't relate to me, I have hangers for just 3, 4 if you count one acoustic. (they're all full now)
I wouldn't want to have to stash one away in the closet or under the bed.

the Music Guild jams and the Central Virginia Blues Society nearby, CVBS is especially cool about people joining and there is a good mix of great players and meh players and they mix it up. They got me back into playing. Then you can alternate basses for each jam. It also pretty straight 1-4-5 blues so it's easy to play

I'm too tone-deaf to participate in a Jam situation. I didn't realize how bad it was when I started this thread. After much encouragement to play with others I have tried & it's always a train-wreck.
I've since started ear-training, but nothing helps. If there's an exercise to identify which note from 8 choices, I'll get it correct on the 8th choice.
Recently I was quite depressed over that, because I can never just pick up a bass & "play along" with a recording. It's like asking Stevie Wonder to read a book (that's not in Braille).

It just occurred to me that's when I lost the joy in playing, DOH!
TBH if I'd known I'd have come to this point at the beginning, I'd have skipped buying any Musical instruments, except perhaps bongos.

 

[Old Blastard]

Then just play for the hell of it. If you dig the instrument, the feel, the sound, just play it. I own a couple of guitars but I can't play a chord with stumbling over my fingers and I'll never play in public. I still play them though. I don't care how bad it sounds.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

The Hell of it is the tennis-elbow cutting back on my playing time. I had it bad enough to completely stop me from playing a couple of months ago & now it's still a dull pain when I'm trying to sleep at night.

 

[SteveC]

The Hell of it is the tennis-elbow cutting back on my playing time. I had it bad enough to completely stop me from playing a couple of months ago & now it's still a dull pain when I'm trying to sleep at night.

My upper arm/shoulder have ached recently. Mine is tied to stiffness in my shoulder. Been to the chiro but bed to go again. Just can’t loosen it up.