How Do You Approach Your GAS..?

[RickyRocknRoll]

It's gone for me. I got all I need, and all I have are perfectly good tools. In fact I'm selling more and more only to have what I'm using. It would be useless to spend more, and it would certainly not change the way I play. I always sound like myself regardless of the gear.

 

[JIO]

I approach it from the other end - working to get rid of basses, thus enabling some else's gas.

 

[Knavery]

My G.A.S. has been satiated for the time being. I have two basses, two electric guitars, a Mesa Boogie guitar amp, a Mesa Boogie bass amp, and a smaller practice amp for each. Oh, and I have an acoustic guitar.

I've looked back over the years and realized I've lost SO much money buying and selling. I think I'm close to done with that. My new game is trying to save as much money as I can. The current times have frightened me a bit.

 

[ComeHomeShane]

I used to be more loose with my money, giving into GAS often just because I could... Since then I have come to realize that if money weren't an object I would want to have one of every bass in every color! There's always going to be a new shiny toy that I don't have and the GAS is always greener on the other side... I've learned (or at least tried to) that I need to be satisfied just knowing that a cool things exists and that I don't have to possess it to validate myself.

Now I have much more strict criteria. To give into GAS, a bass or equipment must meet the following:
1. Will I actually perform or record with it often? If not, then purchasing it is just self validation.
2. Will it actually make a difference compared to what I already own? The bass doesn't make the player, especially live, 99% of people won't be able to tell the difference between a $400 squire and a $4000 Lakland.
Most of the time the sound guy will hide your sexy tone with sub. freq. garbage anyways.
3. Since gigging is not my main income and I own everything I need, I require myself to pay cash for whatever gear I am craving. My wife is very satisfied with this approach! "oh honey you want to buy that $3000 5 string custom build that you'll play three times a year? Sure, start saving now and you can purchase in 2-3 years..." If gigging and recording was my main source of income, I understand needing various equipment at a moments notice... but I'm a teacher who gigs a few times a month in a cover band. I don't need a big room with basses lining the walls.

Anyways, we're all adults and have bills to pay (most of us at least). I'm sure everyone has strategies to cope with GAS.

 

[bass12]

Nowadays I'm inclined to categorize any GAS I might get. I can generally fit my bass desires into one of the following categories:

- something that sounds significantly different from what I already own (fretless, acoustic, Rob Allen-style bass, etc.);

- something that will serve me in a practical-only sense (e.g., a specific bass for travelling);

- a bass that will help make me more employable (e.g., a Fender P);

- something with sentimental value (a bass that has I connect with a certain time in my life or with a certain person),

- something that I'm simply curious about or that I like the idea of owning for none of the above reasons.

Should GAS flare up the first thing I generally ask myself is, "Can I afford this?". The answer is usually "no" - at least not without selling something (or some things) I already own. If money is not an obstacle then I ask myself something along the lines of, "Will this new bass make me happy several months after I obtain it, or will the joy likely to be fleeting?". I can look at the basses I already own and ask, "Will this new bass bring me any long-term pleasure that these ones don't already bring me?". Then there's the question of, "Do I want another bass to have to maintain/make space for?". Of course, this is coming from someone with nine electric basses. If I had only one or two then the questions might not be the same.

There's a bass that's been in the TB classifieds for a while now that I have been ogling on and off. There's a degree of sentimentalism attached to that specific model (and era) despite the fact that I don't even like the company all that much. I would really like to have the bass (even though it is a four and I typically only gig fivers). I've told myself that these particular basses don't come up for sale very often and that I could use the bass for recording if not for live work. The price is reasonable enough but... Right now I wouldn't have the money unless I sold another bass (a process I don't want to go through at the moment - and probably wouldn't want to be bothered with even if it wasn't for the Covid-19 situation). I also can't help but wonder if the sentimental aspect of owning the bass in question would not be enough for me to feel my purchase was worthwhile in the long run. I also prefer to try before buying whenever possible.

Anyway, on a side note, Rob Allens are unique instruments and definitely fall into the "something that sounds significantly different from what I already own" category for me. I rarely play mine but I love having it in my line-up and would be very reluctant to sell it. I started playing upright three years ago on a whim and I'm really glad I did. If nothing else the process of studying upright from a Simandl and jazz approach has made me a better musician in general and a better bassist (including on electric) in particular. And a Rob Allen, as great as they are, just doesn't come close to offering the experience of playing double bass. I'd say don't let your age be the factor that prevents you from pursuing upright.

 

[LoTone]

I take a peek at my bank account online. Usually, it ends up a hard no!

 

[Snibborwocky]

I usually throw items on a wish list until I have paid off a credit card from past purchases.

 

[Ace Of Bass]

Nowadays I'm inclined to categorize any GAS I might get. I can generally fit my bass desires into one of the following categories:

- something that sounds significantly different from what I already own (fretless, acoustic, Rob Allen-style bass, etc.);

- something that will serve me in a practical-only sense (e.g., a specific bass for travelling);

- a bass that will help make me more employable (e.g., a Fender P);

- something with sentimental value (a bass that has I connect with a certain time in my life or with a certain person),

- something that I'm simply curious about or that I like the idea of owning for none of the above reasons.

Should GAS flare up the first thing I generally ask myself is, "Can I afford this?". The answer is usually "no" - at least not without selling something (or some things) I already own. If money is not an obstacle then I ask myself something along the lines of, "Will this new bass make me happy several months after I obtain it, or will the joy likely to be fleeting?". I can look at the basses I already own and ask, "Will this new bass bring me any long-term pleasure that these ones don't already bring me?". Then there's the question of, "Do I want another bass to have to maintain/make space for?". Of course, this is coming from someone with nine electric basses. If I had only one or two then the questions might not be the same.

There's a bass that's been in the TB classifieds for a while now that I have been ogling on and off. There's a degree of sentimentalism attached to that specific model (and era) despite the fact that I don't even like the company all that much. I would really like to have the bass (even though it is a four and I typically only gig fivers). I've told myself that these particular basses don't come up for sale very often and that I could use the bass for recording if not for live work. The price is reasonable enough but... Right now I wouldn't have the money unless I sold another bass (a process I don't want to go through at the moment - and probably wouldn't want to be bothered with even if it wasn't for the Covid-19 situation). I also can't help but wonder if the sentimental aspect of owning the bass in question would not be enough for me to feel my purchase was worthwhile in the long run. I also prefer to try before buying whenever possible.

Anyway, on a side note, Rob Allens are unique instruments and definitely fall into the "something that sounds significantly different from what I already own" category for me. I rarely play mine but I love having it in my line-up and would be very reluctant to sell it. I started playing upright three years ago on a whim and I'm really glad I did. If nothing else the process of studying upright from a Simandl and jazz approach has made me a better musician in general and a better bassist (including on electric) in particular. And a Rob Allen, as great as they are, just doesn't come close to offering the experience of playing double bass. I'd say don't let your age be the factor that prevents you from pursuing upright.

Selling here cl(or anywhere) can definitely be stressful and I try to a solid it as much as possible as well...I’d love to give upright a shot at some point, and perhaps someday I will, but it’s not in the cards right now...it’s more of an age/having space/having to buy equipment for it/having trouble maintaining it etc. kinda issue...I know playing a fretless Mouse will be its own endeavor I’m sure and will take time adjusting to, and that feels like (at this point anyway) a direction is like to go in...the bass wouldn’t have to nail the upright tone for me, just give me something similar that I can use in situations where the P Bass wouldn’t work (like all acoustic settings perhaps)....

 

[bass12]

Selling here cl(or anywhere) can definitely be stressful and I try to a solid it as much as possible as well...I’d love to give upright a shot at some point, and perhaps someday I will, but it’s not in the cards right now...it’s more of an age/having space/having to buy equipment for it/having trouble maintaining it etc. kinda issue...I know playing a fretless Mouse will be its own endeavor I’m sure and will take time adjusting to, and that feels like (at this point anyway) a direction is like to go in...the bass wouldn’t have to nail the upright tone for me, just give me something similar that I can use in situations where the P Bass wouldn’t work (like all acoustic settings perhaps)....

I can definitely understand why upright would not be a viable possibility for someone (even taking the money part out of the equation). As I mentioned before, the Rob Allens are great (or at least mine is - I've only ever played the one) and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to someone looking for a different "voice" on the instrument. I'm sure you'd have a blast seeing what one of Rob's basses brings out in your playing.

 

[Kaa]

I ask myself "Is it this bass that's keeping you from being a better bass player?" The answer is invariably no. I don't have GAS, I suppose. I think I have GWS (Gear Wanting Syndrome), since I rarely acquire anymore.

 

[mikewalker]

I think I am 'almost' done with acquisitions, these days my focus is on divestitures...

 

[gully_jones]

 

[Rabidhamster]

With a lot of time in my hands lately, I’ve spent some of it trying to define a future path for my approach to bass playing...with that comes the thought of exactly what direction do I want to go in when it comes to choosing my next instrument...sometimes I feel like I’m kinda willy nilly, falling in love with a bunch of heat and wanting everything but I’m trying to approach things a little differently this time..stepping back from the classifieds and thinking of exactly where I’d like to go kinda has opened my eyes a bit to what should be my next bass....how do y’all approach buying your next Basses for the most part..?

Do you just up and go window shopping with nothing in particular in mind..? Do you just get custom builds by spec..? Do you think about musically where’d you like to venture next and let that dictate the purchase..? As always, thanks in advance..

I ask myself:

What happens if I have to sell it tomorrow?
What am I going to miss out on if I buy this?
Would I rather have this ‘whatever it is’ than eat a good dinner the rest of the week?
Can I put it on layaway?
When is the next time I get paid and it doesn’t all go to bills?

I ask every question - sometimes the answer to one question stops the gas.
Sometimes the answer to every single question is “shut up you, you’re buying it!”
But at least I ask myself the questions...

 

[LowActionHero]

There's plenty of instruments or pedals etc that I drool over, but I usually talk myself out of em by asking myself if it would really bring something to the table that's noticeably different from what I already own.

Then I try to consider what else I could spend that money on, that the family might actually need.

If I can still find a way to justify or rationalize it then maybe I mention it to my wife and wait for 'that look'.

That cure MOST of my GAS... (But not all. )

 

[lbbc]

It doesn't cost anything to look...but, man, I do like shiny new (or vintage) things. But am curbing my GAS until I start playing again

 

[ezstep]

Being lefty, it is very rare that I can walk into a music store and find... left-handed basses and/or guitars. If they have one, most of the time it is an entry-level model only. So, when I find myself getting G.A.S., I begin to read up on whatever I am interested in buying. I will read 15-20 articles and as many (or all) reviews that I can find, etc. Just study up on it. This process will take me some time (working full-time), and that usually calms me down a bit.

I have an envelope marked "Music Money" and I make regular deposits to it - at least I did before the virus set in and cancelled everything for a couple of months. If I don't have the cash, I don't buy it. Very simple. If I do have the cash, my wife does not object to the purchase. My wife actually bought me my last bass - sort of a birthday/anniversary gift - only a few weeks ago. I am good for months.

 

[alembicbones]

To be perfectly honest, I'm really set up well for gear. The last bass I bought was a Rickenbacker 4003s/5 last year. I have 8 basses right now and they cover all my needs and I don't want to part with any of them. That being said, I continue to window shop. The basses that interest me most are Fodera and Canadian Dingwall 5 strings. To pull the trigger on one would be a major financial investment. With a daughter in college right now, it would probably be a mistake to buy one. Back in December, I test drove a Dingwall ABI at the Bass Shop and was blown away. I could have made the move but I would have had to sell my NG-3 to justify it. Ultimately, I really didn't want to part with the NG-3 and thought it made sense to let somebody else buy the bass and make it their "forever bass". Maybe when my daughter finishes college, I'll make a move.

Bones

 

[drumvsbass]

not with a match?

 

[Plectrum72]

If a bass strikes my fancy and I have disposable cash on hand, I get it. Exceptions would be makes/models I've previously owned and sold. I try not to repeat buy. Over the years I've come to find I prefer P/Js to either a P or a J. I also like dual humbuckers. Not fond of active basses as I prefer to use my amp's EQ or a pre-amp pedal. Currently trying to get down to 4 basses and call it good, but current events are making that difficult as I don't ship basses, only do F2F sales.

 

[mrcbass]

When/if I need another bass, I research and find the best fit. "Need" is the key for me. I have several basses I need to get rid of and not finding it easy, so I'm very careful about requiring new gear that is "just because".