GAS vs. Motivation vs. Downsizing

[bigdaddybass12]

I have always liked having a 3 or 4 different types of basses. A 5 string for church, 4 string Ray4, 4 string Fender P. Looking at another 4 string. I have bought and sold 7 basses because I just did not like them, included are 2 nice Fender P basses, 2 nice fender jazz basses. I seem to like the Sterling Ray4 sound, a real Music Man is out of my price range, I know someday I need to trim down to 1 or 2. The last jazz I bought I thought it was going to be my keeper for life, after 1 set of 1 gig, returned it to GC. Now I have a nice Fender P, again, lifetime bass, but after owning 3 p basses, I dont like the wooly/muddy P bass sound. But I don't like the goofy jazz bass shape. I said all of that to say, find 1 or 2 keepers, and be happy. I am trying,,,,,,

 

[J Wilson]

I have found at times over the years it is remarkably freeing to sell everything, including the mental real estate that maintaining those conventions occupied.

When I walked away from the bandstand I found there was a whole world of new experiences and enthusiasms, and I discovered I had indeed become a dull, single minded boy over the years.

You can only play one at a time, and God knows you can always start over if the need arises.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I know I'm not the only person here who wavers between obsessing about Their Next Bass, Which Will Be Perfect™, and contemplating selling everything and sticking the money into their house or 401k or whatever.

I'm in such a valley at the moment. I recently went through obsessively partscaster-ing some guitars, upgrading a couple of very nice Fujigen-made basses, rebuilding my bass and guitar pedalboards, and...once that was completed, I realized I've just been upgrading-and-trading in a constant cycle, yet haven't actually been motivated to play at all. For years.

One side of this debate: Sell everything, walk away, stop digging myself into a financial hole for the privilege of temporarily owning some nice instruments.

The other side of that debate: Get just one quality, stock bass to practice and explore my own sound, keep one guitar, maybe get a Bass VI style instrument down the road, but either way, keep them for at least 5 years before I decide what to do with them.

(On that note, the bass I'm considering would be the Ibanez EHB1005SMS (short multiscale). I think it hits everything I've been looking for - ergonomics, light weight, shorter scale, and most of the demos I've heard are pretty fantastic. I might be actually motivated to practice, especially learning to navigate a low B.)

Thoughts?

You’re asking a guy that has primarily played and owned “A” PB for over 45 years about holding off gas for less than several decades before buying another bass?

What you need to do is join a band. Three benefits. One, just learning the music will elevate your ability to play. Secondly, take the money you earn making music to fund your gear purchases, not money you are going to need in the future. Finally, if you are in a commercial band that gigs and constantly updates their material, you aren’t going to have time to worry about your gear.

 

[Taborius]

he other side of that debate: Get just one quality, stock bass to practice and explore my own sound, keep one guitar, maybe get a Bass VI style instrument down the road, but either way, keep them for at least 5 years before I decide what to do with them.

I have been trying to stick to this. Ever since switching to guitar and now bass, I've constantly had to keep myself in check over G.A.S. Constant question is does it do something the others do not? (yes that barely works sometimes) I also always try to save those internal conversations after practicing or jamming for a bit. Then at least I get to tell myself I am still actively working!

I'm considering would be the Ibanez EHB1005SMS (short multiscale). I think it hits everything I've been looking for - ergonomics, light weight, shorter scale,

I have the 6 string full version and let me tell you, it is incredibly comfortable and lightweight. Plays beautifully. Mine has the Nord pups in it so I don't know how different the sounds is though.

 

[2strings2frets]

We all go through phases, I was in an experimental phase, buying different types number of strings, makes and price ranges. Then different amps , stacks , combos and power levels. Never geeked out on pedals but tried a few. Lately I’ve sold half the herd. I have three never sell basses now, a P , a J and my Schecter. With fewer choices I am playing more.

 

[hooky_marr]

Are you saying as soon as you get another bass, you play it for a few hours and then never again?

If you are really not playing at all, I'm not sure what is going through your mind...seriously. Either get rid of everything or keep just one. If you don't play that one after another year, sell it, too.

Yeah, that is basically it. The purchasing/upgrading project seems to be what excites me, and I suppose the self-delusion that 'just one more / new instrument' will be the one to unlock my latent genius.

I think, as many posters have rightly said, that the only way over this is discipline, just dedicate SOME time every day to practicing and learning new things. External stimulus helps a lot, vs. having the perennial difficulty in just getting started on my own.

 

[hooky_marr]

I rolled through a few basses, guitars, baritones over the last 5 years I've been getting back into playing more - and after landing on the 1005SMS about a year ago, I'm genuinely annoyed by the idea of playing anything else. So, if you want to get down to one-ish instruments, that's a pretty good choice. I like it stock and always play passive, many others highly recommend a pickup swap, fewer recommend a preamp replacement, but there aren't many complaints about them beyond that.

Yeah, that seems to be the consensus from the reviews and demos. I don't think I'm good enough of a player to be a tone snob re: the Barts vs Aguilars or anything else, so the stock instrument is perfectly fine for my needs. I might do that +6dB cable swap thing that I saw on @LowEndLobster's channel. I do wish there were Lace Alumas that fit in those cavities solely for weight reduction but again, not complaining

 

[hooky_marr]

I have found at times over the years it is remarkably freeing to sell everything, including the mental real estate that maintaining those conventions occupied.

When I walked away from the bandstand I found there was a whole world of new experiences and enthusiasms, and I discovered I had indeed become a dull, single minded boy over the years.

You can only play one at a time, and God knows you can always start over if the need arises.

Absolutely.

 

[DubDee3]

I realized I've just been upgrading-and-trading in a constant cycle, yet haven't actually been motivated to play at all. For years.

This phenomenon can be seen in countless domains. The hobby/interest/pastime becomes all about obtaining the elusive perfect gear. The pursuit of the gear becomes becomes the pursuit, as it were. Procuring the means to an end becomes the end. This is not unique to music, as the exact same thing happens for people interested in things like photography and painting. Even carpentry.

And rather than becoming better bassists, photographers, painters, or cabinet makers, what may or may not have started as a means of artistic expression or craftsmanship, becomes a hobby about stuff. To be sure, there's nothing inherently wrong with that, as long as one is self-aware enough, and it seems that you are. Unfortunately, it is much more expensive to buy gear than practice. There's no rule that says you need to stick with something you don't seem to love to do (i.e., playing). But you need to decide for yourself whether it's worth it to keep buying stuff when you're not actually using it for its true purpose.

 

[Maxi Funkl]

Great thread and responses.....

The Pandemic started me on new Bass Crave in basses and learning.
Since 2020 I've bought 4 basses 3 of which I still have. Honestly I only now have wants in the bass department. With that being said... I'm still determining if 5 string basses are for me. I want a 5 string Jazz bass & 4 sting Jazz bass with a roasted maple neck. (my new favorite neck of choice. All of my new basses have roasted maple necks.)

I found a great bass teacher in 2021 but 2022 he ended up stop teaching. I am currently looking for a new teacher Local would be preferred but cyberspace is cool as well.

June of 2022 I jumped into the world of pedals its a far bigger rabbit hole than basses IMHO.
Once I figure out what I like and how far I'm willing to go down this rabbit. I'll figure out if its a distraction or hindrance but honestly at this point the exploring in the pedal world has me picking up my basses a helluva lot more. My 1st pedal board its almost at the point of completion.

For most people keeping your hobby or mental outlet in perspective can be an issue at times. Myself included! I'm just glad I'm no longer into photography or Audiophile Gear TALK ABOUT A RABBIT HOLE OF COST! OP good luck in finding your perfect musical zone.

 

[PennyroyalWe]

For about 2 years I was perfectly happy with the four basses I had…then I saw a deal I just couldn’t pass up. Since then, the GAS has been unleashed!

I’m currently struggling with what to do. My logically side says 1 in, 1 out. My emotional side says “these are all great basses that I’m lucky to have found at the prices that I have. Why not just have them and be happy?!” My wife says “WHY do you need so many, and how are they different?”

To be fair, 3/5 (soon to be 4/6) are some variation of a p bass.

So, if/when I get this next one this weekend, I’m going to have to have a real reckoning and decide what stays and what goes. Hoping to get myself back down to 4 and stay there via modding the ones I have to the point that I can’t justify selling them later hahaha.

 

[wiscoaster]

....Thoughts?

I think you're just having a hard time ranking your financial priorities. Further, you can't prioritize your bass purchase until you're clear on WHY you own basses.

 

[Stranger Danger]

I am down to 2 basses, 1 amp, 2 cabs and a small pedal board. I could easily see myself with 1 bass and maybe a second small board for variety.

 

[Pings Bass]

I like gear almost as much as the next guy, but at the end of the day I'm way more interested in music. If I weren't playing music anymore, the crisis wouldn't be whether to get rid of gear, but whether to go on living. For real.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I like gear almost as much as the next guy, but at the end of the day I'm way more interested in music. If I weren't playing music anymore, the crisis wouldn't be whether to get rid of gear, but whether to go on living. For real.

 

[ModuMan]

Wow, what an interesting set of questions and man is there a LOT going on in there. I think a lot of us deal with them to some degree or another, particularly anyone with a collector-type leaning.

<--- I mean, I can relate (see tag line)

It was mentioned earlier, but I think that *playing* is the reason we have all this stuff. Or at least, why we started getting all this stuff. And despite the shed-load of gear I have I want to take as little of it as possible to a gig! It really made me focus on what was important.

That said, deciding on what instruments are the most important is so personal. I've found that a lot of instruments I got even as a "wow I can finally have this thing I always wanted" have become the right thing at the right time for various projects.

Flip side (so to speak), if you are feeling burdened by the amount of stuff you have then yes, clear some stuff out. It's good for the soul and not bad for the bank account either.

A lot to ponder but good for you for asking the questions!

 

[GIBrat51]

I know I'm not the only person here who wavers between obsessing about Their Next Bass, Which Will Be Perfect™, and contemplating selling everything and sticking the money into their house or 401k or whatever.

I'm in such a valley at the moment. I recently went through obsessively partscaster-ing some guitars, upgrading a couple of very nice Fujigen-made basses, rebuilding my bass and guitar pedalboards, and...once that was completed, I realized I've just been upgrading-and-trading in a constant cycle, yet haven't actually been motivated to play at all. For years.

One side of this debate: Sell everything, walk away, stop digging myself into a financial hole for the privilege of temporarily owning some nice instruments.

The other side of that debate: Get just one quality, stock bass to practice and explore my own sound, keep one guitar, maybe get a Bass VI style instrument down the road, but either way, keep them for at least 5 years before I decide what to do with them.

(On that note, the bass I'm considering would be the Ibanez EHB1005SMS (short multiscale). I think it hits everything I've been looking for - ergonomics, light weight, shorter scale, and most of the demos I've heard are pretty fantastic. I might be actually motivated to practice, especially learning to navigate a low B.)

Thoughts?

While I understand - and sympathize - with your situation, I have to say that my bass owning journey has been... just a little different.
While I currently own 22 basses (plus 3 or 4 guitars, and an old, obscure long scale banjo), You couldn't really call my situation GAS. Over-compensating for being deprived as a child, maybe; but, not really GAS. Being incurably left handed, and being born while Harry S. Truman was still President, meant that, much as I wanted to play bass (never wanted a guitar), there simply weren't any to be had - that weren't special order/custom. And my family just couldn't afford that kind of thing... So, when I became old enough to buy my own bass guitar - and there were actual, production left handed basses to buy? Yeah, I admit to going... maybe just a little overboard.
However, I was methodical about it. 30-some years ago I made a list of the particular basses; brands of basses; and types of basses that I wanted. The rule that no bass could fill more than one spot (my '01 Rickenbacker 4003, for example, could fill the "4003 Rick" spot, or the "Long scale neck-thru" spot - but not both) is the main reason I have so many. In any case; finding lefty basses that filled all the spots took a long time (a couple of them are probably not replaceable, as well), but I completed the herd, early last March. So, my bass buying days are over. And, I can't say I'm sorry, either...
As for playing them? Yes, I do play them - all of them. Even the banjo; although I seem to spend more time tuning than playing it... Aside from 2 basses and a guitar that live out on stands, the rest rotate out of "storage", 3 at a time, for a month of maintenance and playing before they get cleaned, and returned to their cases. Until they come out again, in about 6 months. It's definitely a chore, but; hey, I'm retired. And it's a nice break from being dragged out to the golf course - which, if my friends had their way, is where I'd be 5 days a week. Besides; it actually rains here, so I can't ride my Harley as often as I did, when I lived in Las Vegas...
Giving them all up - and walking away? That's my usual answer to all the "If you could only have one bass..." threads. Sell EVERYTHING: load up my Harley with just enough for life on the road; and become a homeless road warrior... And, to be perfectly honest? I have thought - very seriously - about doing just that. More than once, too. I've done the research - and the math; I could, actually, do it very easily... But, I'm thinking; "Nah; not quite yet..."
Finally; actually doing the "you can have only one" thing? Yeah, it's certainly doable, I guess... But, for me? Which one of the basses that I've spent half my life acquiring, would it be? There really isn't a real, #1, all-time favorite in the herd; even though I've always said that my '73 Rick 4001 was. And, it did sit next to the amp for many more years than any of the others. But, it's one of the little batch of "extra" basses that I acquired along the way - and that I'm selling. Yes, it could fill the "long scale neck-thru" spot; but TBH? The bass filling that spot right now, is a better one for that role. I'll miss it when it goes, but - I don't think I'll miss it all that much... So, bottom line?
For you? Yeah, it does sound like "just one Bass" may be the way to go. It will certainly focus your attention on the playing, rather than the getting/selling/getting another one thing. Which, in the end, is what GAS really boils down to. As for the "sell everything" scenario? If you're really a musician, I really can't see that as an option. It would - probably - work for me, because like I've said lots of times; "I'm not a musician who also likes motorcycles. I'm a BIKER who also likes to play bass guitar". In any case; good luck with whatever you decide to do...

 

[hooky_marr]

I think you're just having a hard time ranking your financial priorities. Further, you can't prioritize your bass purchase until you're clear on WHY you own basses.

I just wanna be cool like Mick Karn, man

 

[Alan Ace Cooper]

I’m always torn on topics like this.

I gig enough to justify owning the instruments I have. I have tamed my desires to do the “Parts Bass” thing. Sometimes they are not cool enough to keep, but I think having so much money tied into them makes us keep them longer than we would normally keep a gear piece. I still haven’t cured myself from pickup swapping, or trying a neck from one bass on another. These swapping and tinkering moments do take up a LOT of time. I could be / should be practicing, to sharpen my skills, but all of the tinkering relaxes my mind.

I have 2 “modern”, Devon 5 String Basses, that I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of. My only GAS focus now is collecting vintage pieces. Not collectors grade, but playable stuff…. and I’m sure like many of us here, before the first part is mounted, or before the, “Newly acquired” bass even leaves the house, I am already shopping again. And that is a problem! LOL!!!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I talked about possibly downsizing last week. I have decided not to get back a bass I used to have because I sound better on the basses I already have. Practicing and learning have given me joy that buying stuff never did. Going on YouTube and Instagram keeps me humble. There are so many great bassists a third or a fourth my age that can blow my doors off and I know buying another bass will do absolutely nothing about it either.