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gear shopping - it's a sickness

#61
Hambone 70 said:
My point is that money/time could perhaps be better spent on education for improvement, especially if one's goal is to be a better player.
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That is a great point, which I think everyone agrees with. :)

Killed_by_Death said:
I don't even know what you're talking about. Where did I say anything negative about folks who still like to play?
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Not sure how to respond, as that seems a bit disingenuous. And I don't intend to speak for anyone except myself, and how I felt about it. But I'm pretty sure everyone here on TB who has or has had "GAS" (or if you prefer, likes "gear shopping"), which I think we can both agree is a LOT of us, are also folks who still like to play, and therefore, according to the thread title, have a "sickness". And you've "liked" every post where someone has agreed with you: most often with claims that anyone who likes buying gear "above their skill level" or even just spends more than they "need" must indeed have some illness or character flaw, along with a supposed and serious dearth of talent/skill. Is this somehow a compliment then? If you think so, we can agree to disagree. Either way, I am done derailing this awesome thread... :)
 
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#62
I wasn't trying to put down people who still buy gear, just seeing how many can relate to my ongoing predicament.

If I was selectively liking only posts supporting my opinion, that's a subconscious thing, because I didn't actively intend to do it that way.

Some folks on FB reminded me that I suck as a player, when I posted about the Randy Rhoads V, so that keeps my wallet in check, because I know I won't get any better.

Maybe I should just sod off from TB, since the only reason I even looked at CL was prompted from here...
 
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#63
Killed_by_Death said:
Surely I'm not the only person who buys stuff & then doesn't use it to its full potential... & maybe even lament a little :sour:
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OK, if we're gonna be that hard on ourselves.....

Most/all of us never use any of our gear to its "full potential". Consider a couple videos of Victor Wooten and/or Jaco (any of their videos, really) - if my standard was to use my gear/develop my talent to that level, then I might as well burn it all in the back yard and move on and do something else with my time, rather than chase something I won't achieve. Yes, I strive to get better all the time, but I give myself a lot of grace, so I don't judge myself by some really tough standard.

I suggest:

1) have fun with music
2) work at getting better
3) Own some nice gear, but just don't go crazy
 
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#65
Killed_by_Death said:
I wasn't trying to put down people who still buy gear, just seeing how many can relate to my ongoing predicament.

If I was selectively liking only posts supporting my opinion, that's a subconscious thing, because I didn't actively intend to do it that way.

Some folks on FB reminded me that I suck as a player, when I posted about the Randy Rhoads V, so that keeps my wallet in check, because I know I won't get any better.

Maybe I should just sod off from TB, since the only reason I even looked at CL was prompted from here...
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Well, obviously, I *do* relate to your predicament. I've only been playing since May of last year (I joined TB before I had a bass!), and have waaaaaaay too much gear for such a noob. However, before I got discouraged by the tone of many posts, I was also going to say that I recently hit a DEFINITE plateau. I no longer have GAS. Sure I want a few more things, but I am not "driven" like I have felt in the past. Did getting to this point involve getting way more than I "need"? Hells ya! Is it more than I know how to use? well, duh! But I wouldn't change hardly anything I've done. I am on a journey, but I started late, so I gotta do me some learnin', and FAST! And I am loving every minute of it!

I just get a little irritated with the curmudgeon-syndrome that can flare up here on TB: folks that are already their own "tone-gods" looking down on the rest of us. It gets a little thick sometimes and frankly, it sucks. Further, I think is a detriment not only to new bass players, but the TB community. My $.02

And I hope you don't leave TB. I like a lot of your posts, even when I disagree with 'em!!! :D
 
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#67
Killed_by_Death said:
I wasn't trying to put down people who still buy gear, just seeing how many can relate to my ongoing predicament.

If I was selectively liking only posts supporting my opinion, that's a subconscious thing, because I didn't actively intend to do it that way.

Some folks on FB reminded me that I suck as a player, when I posted about the Randy Rhoads V, so that keeps my wallet in check, because I know I won't get any better.

Maybe I should just sod off from TB, since the only reason I even looked at CL was prompted from here...
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There are a lot of people who dislike the "negative" side of opinions but I am not one of them. One negative adds balance to the thousands of opinions regurgitating the same exact thing.

As for the people who think that GAS is an excuse/substitute for lack of talent, skill, and/or motivation, then be sure to go to the BASS subform and tell the people who are looking for opinions on the the $5,000+ custom basses.
 
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#68
jamro217 said:
Eventually you may reach the point where you're working so hard to obtain these treasures that you never get the opportunity to play them. Then when you're ready to retire you have to sell them all to buy food.
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This is a driving force in America. I've long ago learned that there's always a later & greater model that one will want, and it takes a lot of restraint and focus to enjoy what you have, & not get caught up in that.

Working more or making a career out of something you don't like just because it pays more is a sure way to be miserable in your day to day existence.

People can be so wasteful & even ungrateful for the multitude of things we're lucky to have. You can't take any of the material crap with you when your earthly rotations stop and you must exit the ride.
 
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#71
Herrick said:
I've caught a few TOS episodes here and there when I was a kid. A few months ago, I watched the whole series and good gawd it could be tough to get through. I don't know if I would've been able to get through it without Leonard Nimoy and DeForest Kelley. Those two were great.

I started TNG about a month ago and even season 1 was a lot better than the whole TOS. And season 1 of TNG is supposed to be pretty bad.
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The cheesiness of it is a big part of the enjoyment I think. Shatner being the all great knowing captain, that gets all the hot intergalactic tail, is most enjoyable. But all the characters make it cool. Watch it but don't take so serious and you'll enjoy it for what it is.
 
#73
I've got a really big step up coming for me in terms of how often I will be playing and the number of people I will be playing in front of. And I found myself asking (myself) if I needed a new bass for this position. Or if I could justify a new purchase.
This was GAS/want/lust/feelings (whatever label you give it) talking. Because once I thought about it for more than two seconds I practically said out loud, "No you dummy, you already have like seven basses!! Not to mention student loans you haven't finished paying!"

I have absolutely no need for a new bass. Yes, I would like a five string P or P/J at some point. But there's no way I will buy another bass, unless I can sell two and completely cover the cost of a new one. The important part is unloading the two before that purchase. I've made the mistake of not following that rule a few times. No more.
In fact, I'm encouraged to list a couple for sale right now... Next problem: Which to unload?
 
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#74
anecdote time:

I knew a guy named John Earl, nice guy, in a very lucrative job.
He worked & worked, & kept track of literally every penny he spent. I know this, because I was the numbers guy in the maintenance department & helped him with some M$-Excel stuff.

He successfully bought stuff when the Thai Baht was low against the British Pound, until he'd finally got into his dream house.
Then he got cancer. He worked hard most of his life, bringing home lots of money, and then didn't get to enjoy it.

OTOH, he was such a good employee that he got to pick & choose assignments & was able to drive home from work to his family every night. Almost everyone else at his level of pay were working offshore & spending a month away from their family every other month.

So I guess I'm saying don't wait to get your dream amp/bass/cabinet before you throw in the time playing/practicing.
That's basically what I did, & then realized I hate practicing. Talk about a stark realization when that epiphany came!
 
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#75
catcauphonic said:
This is a driving force in America. I've long ago learned that there's always a later & greater model that one will want, and it takes a lot of restraint and focus to enjoy what you have, & not get caught up in that.

Working more or making a career out of something you don't like just because it pays more is a sure way to be miserable in your day to day existence.

People can be so wasteful & even ungrateful for the multitude of things we're lucky to have. You can't take any of the material crap with you when your earthly rotations stop and you must exit the ride.
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My Dad is 95 years old.
He had a big job at Xerox being the plant manager of 8000 people and then the head of Xerox Procurement, meanwhile he and my Mom were raising six children.
When I asked him about his life, his time in World War II, his career, everything he had accomplished, his reply was that family and friends and love are the only things that ended up meaning much.
 
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#77
Killed_by_Death said:
anecdote time:

I knew a guy named John Earl, nice guy, in a very lucrative job.
He worked & worked, & kept track of literally every penny he spent. I know this, because I was the numbers guy in the maintenance department & helped him with some M$-Excel stuff.

He successfully bought stuff when the Thai Baht was low against the British Pound, until he'd finally got into his dream house.
Then he got cancer. He worked hard most of his life, bringing home lots of money, and then didn't get to enjoy it.

OTOH, he was such a good employee that he got to pick & choose assignments & was able to drive home from work to his family every night. Almost everyone else at his level of pay were working offshore & spending a month away from their family every other month.

So I guess I'm saying don't wait to get your dream amp/bass/cabinet before you throw in the time playing/practicing.
That's basically what I did, & then realized I hate practicing. Talk about a stark realization when that epiphany came!
Click to expand...
I've always operated under the assumption that i may never see retirement (or even tomorrow) cuz i can die in a hot air balloon accident or so many other such unexpected ways, long before then. It's good for appreciating the day to day stuff, but my retirement account is lower than a snakes belly.
 
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#78
Killed_by_Death said:
So I guess I'm saying don't wait to get your dream amp/bass/cabinet before you throw in the time playing/practicing.
That's basically what I did, & then realized I hate practicing. Talk about a stark realization when that epiphany came!
Click to expand...

This is such a great point. I'm not at that disadvantage thankfully, because I started playing bass as a teen with very little money. But I practiced frequently with the cheap instrument I had. And now that I am grown and in the working world I can afford better gear that I am able to get decent use out of.
But I will also say that I don't have my "dream" rig either. And I probably never will. So instead, I diversify in mixed middle and low-end basses. I'm getting rid of this GAS now, (and I'm almost there) because I'll hopefully be married soon and there won't be too much extra room in my marriage for it. (I say that from my own viewpoint. Not my girlfriend's. :smug: )
 
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