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How do you get over GAS?

#101
Before Talkbass:
broken SDGR405 and Epiphone micro combo

After:
1998 EBMM Stingray fretless w/piezo
2012 Geddy neck on 2002 MIM Jazz body
Aguilar TH500 and Avatar B210 Special (cab en route)
PT Nano with BOSS LMB-3, BOSS DS-1 and Meridian Funkulator

Joining Talkbass, side effects may include but are not limited to:

G.A.S.

Spending more time reading than actually playing

Peak in curiosity about best bass for metal
 
#102
Jay Mastro said:
Before Talkbass:
broken SDGR405 and Epiphone micro combo

After:
1998 EBMM Stingray fretless w/piezo
2012 Geddy neck on 2002 MIM Jazz body
Aguilar TH500 and Avatar B210 Special (cab en route)
PT Nano with BOSS LMB-3, BOSS DS-1 and Meridian Funkulator
Click to expand...

Before Talkbass:
used stock Aria Pro II and and used Fender BXR200 combo

After:
Modulus TBX AND Q6
Alembic Fretless 6
Ken Smith fretted 6
TWO Fender basses (Jazz and PJ)
THREE G&L L2500 (Fret, fretless and Tribby)
FOUR string newly acquired 1960 Welson now being restored.
SIX string ESP LTD in spalted maple (I need like hole in the head)
SEVEN String Conklin AND a Bass Mods 7 string bass
EIGHT string Carlo Robelli bass
NINE SX Fender clone basses of all kinds

Added a 800 watt booster amp and cab for my BXR 200
Got TWO Carvin BX500 class D amps with two 2 x 10 neo cabs under construction.
Cripes! Can you believe this? I actually now have a pedal board full of stuff! Man I never ever in all those years of playing EVER did pedals for bass. You GOT to be kidding me! Something here is the work of the devil!

And I used to have gigs all the time and now.......

Kill me now.
 
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#103
G.A.S. - It's an emptiness you feel in your life that you're trying to fill with something material. In our case it's bass guitar gear.

In Buddhism it is said that the desire and longing for what we don't have is the greatest form of suffering. I'm sure other philosophies/religions have their own take on it. I was brought up with Christianity and I don't remember Jesus owning anything other than a robe and sandals.

I knew a guy a few years ago who had literally over 100 guitars. He played ok, but he was the most physically unhealthy and most unhappy person I had met in years. All those guitars did not make him any happier. He also collected other things as well. He was such a pessimist complainer that I couldn't bear to be around him.

I went through my share of instruments, maybe 30 or so. Now I've settled on a Sadowsky MV5 and an Aguilar rig, all other gear is gone. Now I G.A.S. for pedals. Sometimes I wish I had become a singer; all you need is what you were born with.
 
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#105
I've found that giving into GAS breeds more GAS, and not giving in breeds more GAS.
Having no money doesn't stop GAS--it just means you can't fill it.
Having other priorities to spend money on doesn't cure GAS--it just postpones it at best.
Even if you gladly spend the money on other stuff, GAS can still strike.
As long as you play bass, guitar &/or a few other musical instruments--GAS is there--no matter how much you deny it.

So, what do you do if this is all true?

You learn to be content with what you have and deal with that.

GAS can't be cured, but it can go into remission.
 
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#108
The good news: Gas can disappear. I experienced that with my Ken Smith burner plugged in my Gk 700 rb + Neo 2*12. I'm gas free. The only way is to find The bass which is just your voice.
The bad news:in fact you really want the german made one. So: keep your no name one, save money for the german one. And this day, perhaps you'll kill the Gas monster.
 
#109
Oh, back to the original post: I had a new top-of-the-line Hofner Beatle Bass, bought at the factory new with a new hard-shell case. It was beautiful! It was also the worst bass I have EVER owned. It would not stay in tune more than two songs. Brought it to the USA and made 4x my money selling it to a music store quickly. Now, whenever I see Sir Paul in concert, I always count how many songs he uses the BB on. Always just two! Now I know why.
 
#111
I'm presuming this question is rhetorical; but will offer some thoughts anyhow.

Regarding the Hofner; the right answer is to keep saving your Lincolns and Washingtons until you can afford the instrument you actually want. Buying and flipping is not an economically wise path.

More broadly; the first smart thing a cat can do is decide pretty quickly whether you are a player or collector. No problem with either; but generally unwise to get caught in the middle.

I see a lot of cats saying to not participate in TB. I disagree. TB can be part of making informed choices. TB's classifieds can be an excellent source of used gear when you actually need it.

But, here's the thing: if you are going to be a player, then play your stuff, and make that the focus. Practice, not gear, gets you to Carnegie Hall.

The hard part for the player is not the acquisition. It's the ACCUMULATION. This is the trap, because different gigs can require different gear. The key is recognize what is your core tool set and be prepared to shed the rest. And, that's harder than it sounds.

Now, get back to practicing.
 
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#114
bucephylus said:
I'm presuming this question is rhetorical; but will offer some thoughts anyhow.

Regarding the Hofner; the right answer is to keep saving your Lincolns and Washingtons until you can afford the instrument you actually want. Buying and flipping is not an economically wise path.

More broadly; the first smart thing a cat can do is decide pretty quickly whether you are a player or collector. No problem with either; but generally unwise to get caught in the middle.

I see a lot of cats saying to not participate in TB. I disagree. TB can be part of making informed choices. TB's classifieds can be an excellent source of used gear when you actually need it.

But, here's the thing: if you are going to be a player, then play your stuff, and make that the focus. Practice, not gear, gets you to Carnegie Hall.

The hard part for the player is not the acquisition. It's the ACCUMULATION. This is the trap, because different gigs can require different gear. The key is recognize what is your core tool set and be prepared to shed the rest. And, that's harder than it sounds.

Now, get back to practicing.
Click to expand...
Good post!

I might disagree about participating in TB though. I was perfectly happy with my 2-3 Fenders and an Ampeg amp before finding TB. 10 years and over 100 basses and 20 amps later, I am proudly playing Foderas, FBass and a Valenti (still have Fenders too!) thru a Jule Monique amp and two Bergantino cabs. I had never heard of ANY of this stuff prior to TB!
 
#116
Baird6869 said:
Good post!

I might disagree about participating in TB though. I was perfectly happy with my 2-3 Fenders and an Ampeg amp before finding TB. 10 years and over 100 basses and 20 amps later, I am proudly playing Foderas, FBass and a Valenti (still have Fenders too!) thru a Jule Monique amp and two Bergantino cabs. I had never heard of ANY of this stuff prior to TB!
Click to expand...
Awesome! You are an educated bass player!
 
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#117
TB gave me GAS for a while. Now, I read about all kinds of exotic stuff and don't get GAS at all. I'm pretty happy with what I have, so apparently there's a limit to GAS. My limit is pretty low, although I wouldn't mind having another Thunderbird... ;)
 
#118
I got over it for a while until I saw this on my FB page! Got it in a heartbeat!
image.jpg
 
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#119
I've been feeling good this past week. I have basically the perfect P bass, and Ps are all I really love.

But then earlier today my mind was wandering at work, and I started scratching that itch, and now I have stingrays on the brain. Ugh!:D
 

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