How Do You Guys Handle GAS?

[marwady]

Marwady and Bass Viking, you guys are right on; the thrill of a new purchase, and the thrill of posting about it are just about as big a rush as the new bass itself. As for the getting the bass of my dreams, I'm not sure if I really have one. I want a Sadowsky, but that's more because of everyone's raving. I was not impressed the little bit of time I actually played one. My favorites have been Yamaha TRB6, Quantum 5, SR5,,Jazzes, USA Millenniums/55-94s. I honestly think that part of my problem is paying too much attention to others instead of following my own mind.

Cheese,

Off topic but, are you being affected by the power outages in your area? Hope you are OK.

 

[Ole Man Blues]

With a Credit Card...........don't tell my wife....

OMB

 

[Rich L]

The empty wallet worked wonders for me too, but now that those days are over, I have bought, sold or traded more basses in the last year than in the last 20! I have it down to a manageable 8 basses now, but am always looking for the "one". I, like most, have a wish list...and now that I have some disposable income, I have stopped parting with and am only acquiring now. Current arsenal includes:
'90 Kubicki Ex-Factor (just got her today on my lunch break!)
'97 Fender Jazz Deluxe American
'58 Danelectro Longhorn re-issue
Conklin GT-7
'97 Warwick Fortress R&B
Peavey B-Quad-4 (one badass bass!)
'02 Rick 4003 Jetglo w/ '74 p/u's
'82 Rick 4001S Fireglow w/ toaster
Thsoe are all keepers...with the exception of the Conklin...still figuring that thing out.
Would love a Jerzy and/or a Ritter...definitely want a Modulus 6'er and the nice thing is I have a very supportive wife, who knows if I buy a bass, she gets to go to Vegas...pretty sweet deal for both of us...especially since Ed Roman's in Vegas has some pretty killer basses in stock...hee hee!

 

[lpjiang]

For GAS therapy, I always go to evilBay.
Bid something, lost it, bid again, lost again.
After 2-3 times of lost bidding, then I'll totally give up considering the thing, no matter new or used.
The feeling of being defeated overdo the GAS, I think.
That's how I passed a very nice Seamonk filter, Univox Beatle Bass, etc.

 

[Valerus]

Well, I never had GAS until I signed up on TalkBass.
But I am glad I have GAS, because it gives me something to look forward to.

I want to get a Geddy, a StingRay5 HH, and some sort of Sandberg.

 

[zombywoof5050]

The best way to prevent gas is to just not ever play any other basses, then you don't know what you're missing. I guess this only works if you're happy with the bass that you have. If you're a bass whore that has to go around trying every high end boutique bass you can get your hands on and then end up with gas, you get what you deserve.

 

[A9X]

Marwady and Bass Viking, you guys are right on; the thrill of a new purchase, and the thrill of posting about it are just about as big a rush as the new bass itself.

That's what GAS is: gear aquisition syndrome. Once the item is aquired, it loses much of it's perceived value to the new owner, as this was more about the hunt than the meal.

 

[Matt Call]

I used to have GAS really badly; and I guess I still do to some extent (seeing as I'm saving for a new amp).

However, I've found that I'm pretty content with my basses. I researched Sadowsky basses for close to two years before I finally got mine. Soon after that, I had an opportunity to get my Stingray - my first dream bass, which for some reason continually eluded me. Now, when I go play different basses, it's more about finding/learning things about them. If I find something that has a sound that I can't achieve with one of my current basses: cool. I'll remember that, and if I have some extra money in my savings... I'll think about it for a week or two before making a decision.

I learned a while ago that impulse buys never pan out. Look at my previously owned gear. It was substantially less before I found TB. I'm not saying it's a bad thing (I've actually learned a lot); but it's definitely not good.

 

[JimmyM]

GAS is possibly the most ******** aspect of being a musician that I have ever heard of. GAS is for people with too much money and not enough to do with it. I own 6 basses. I could easily sell 5 and work just as much as I ever have.

 

[Luke73]

How Do You Guys Handle GAS?

With my wallet!

 

[Nedmundo]

The best way to prevent gas is to just not ever play any other basses, then you don't know what you're missing. I guess this only works if you're happy with the bass that you have. If you're a bass whore that has to go around trying every high end boutique bass you can get your hands on and then end up with gas, you get what you deserve.

In the past few weeks, I've had almost the opposite experience. I play Fender Am. Ser. P and J (both with Fralins) almost exclusively, and I've tried Lakland, Lull, Pedulla, Fodera, Tobias, Modulus, and Dingwall to see what I'm missing. This has confirmed I prefer basses in the Fender mold with somewhat vintage tones, so I have literally no GAS for the likes of Modulus and Fodera. Luckily, my 2003 Jazz is a really great one, so I've found the benefits of going with a Lull or U.S. Lakland J, while perceptible, wouldn't be worth the expense. (I'd love a boutique P someday, but no rush.) So testing these basses has actually quelled my GAS to some degree.

The Dingwall Super J blew my mind, but I sense it's almost too good for what I do -- like using a BMW M5 for carpooling -- so even then the GAS isn't what it could be.

 

[alack]

I am finding I have the reverse problem. I don't even like pulling out the debit card to buy strings anymore (I do when there’s the need). The thought of investing money into an amp feels like getting the car repaired (ugh). A few things helped cure my gas.

My gear needs are pretty well met. I don't think there's anything out there that’s going to suit me more than my Lakland. I have that one great bass and a spare (Hamer 2tek cruise). My amps (old GK and a Hartke 3500) and cabs (3 different 2X10 cabs) are getting the job done.

Most importantly, I have spent the last few years watching two things, my retirement savings grow and the balance on my mortgage drop. Now whenever I feel a minor GAS pain coming on I just think of the interest that money would earn in the IRA or the months it will shave off of the mortgage. This was a revelation after years of bad financial decisions often associated with gear. I also used to rationalize it as a tax deduction. Many professional musicians (including part-timers like myself) don’t realize that a percentage of their earnings can go into an IRA. Just my opinion, but that seems like a better tax deduction than a bass.

Retire early and have more time to play. That's my new plan.

I had thought about starting a thread regarding good long term financial decisions vs. gas. Instead of Show Us Your New Bass, Show Us Your Plan for the Future Should Social Security Go Belly Up. If you are old enough to work you should have some kind of savings plan. And what about the guys who satisfy their GAS with high interest credit cards?

 

[tZer]

A trick Larry Burkette (financial author, he's awesome!) recommends is to put your "most wanted" item on your purchase list. Then the rule is, you can't buy it for 60 days. If at any point a different item becomes your "most wanted" non-essential, the 60 days start over. But if you make it 60 days, then use your savings (not credit) to buy it.
And no... I don't claim to have stuck to this.

This sounds like a really good idea - painful, but good

 

[thebassclef]

Trade with a fellow TB'er!

 

[The Mule]

A trick Larry Burkette (financial author, he's awesome!) recommends is to put your "most wanted" item on your purchase list. Then the rule is, you can't buy it for 60 days. If at any point a different item becomes your "most wanted" non-essential, the 60 days start over. But if you make it 60 days, then use your savings (not credit) to buy it.

Great way of testing the durability of your G.A.S. indeed. There's a problem when a certain bass isn't generally available and suddenly you come across a deal or chance that'll probably not be there after the 60 days consideration period. Big +111111111 to the savings vs. credit remark...

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Cheese,

Off topic but, are you being affected by the power outages in your area? Hope you are OK.

The storm got us pretty good. We lost power for a while Wednesday and then we lost power from Friday until about three hours ago. I can't complain other areas like Granite City, St. Charles, St. Louis County haven't had power since Wednesday.

On a happier topic, there is a new Guitar Center on the Illinois side of the STL metro area, and they have a really sweet MIA Fender Jazz V Deluxe. All of a sudden, I feel a GAS attack coming on!

 

[spiritbass]

Another factor *FOR ME* is, it bothers me that so many trees are being harvested (many are rare, exotic, or even endangered), in part to be used on instruments that some guy is only going to own for 3 months. I don't think that's good stewardship of God's earth.
Also, *FOR ME*, I think about how many kids could be fed for the same $2,500-3,000 I just plunked down selfishly on a bass. I really have a heart for the hungry and helpless so I have given money that was meant for a bass and donated it to charity, family, church, etc. For me, it's a better high than when I open the case of a new bass -- I've made a difference to someone.

Same boat here, Gruvitas. I have two 'dream' fivers, a fretless four-string, excellent practice and gig rigs. No true need for more equipment. I'd rather use the funds to meet real human need...

Ken

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I think I have finally conquered my GAS, but I did it the hard way! I gave into temptation and talked to the folks at the new GC about a trade for their MIA Fender Jazz V Deluxe for a couple of my basses. I got a great deal as far as trade in go, but I really began to question the whole idea of trading in because I knew that in absolute terms, I was losing money. Later I talked to a fellow TB'er and I really began to second guess myself. This morning I got to GC shortly after opening time and I saw my two old basses there and I told the manager that I was considering a return. Since I was alone in the bass room, I a/b'ed all the basses, and I decided for sure that I needed to take my old basses back because they could actually cover the tones I wanted in the Jazz anyway. I have to wait a day because my basses are in the computer police check system, but I am glad I can get my babies back. Although it was a bit silly to go through with the trade in the first place, I think it has really helped me see that what I had was fine all along, and that I really don't need anymore basses. Frankly, some prayer and meditation has helped me see this more clearly too. I am officially off the market now. I know I will always see basses I like, just like I see cars I like. I just will now look and appreciate instead scanning plastic and letting my debt appreciate.

 

[marwady]

I think I have finally conquered my GAS, but I did it the hard way! I gave into temptation and talked to the folks at the new GC about a trade for their MIA Fender Jazz V Deluxe for a couple of my basses. I got a great deal as far as trade in go, but I really began to question the whole idea of trading in because I knew that in absolute terms, I was losing money. Later I talked to a fellow TB'er and I really began to second guess myself. This morning I got to GC shortly after opening time and I saw my two old basses there and I told the manager that I was considering a return. Since I was alone in the bass room, I a/b'ed all the basses, and I decided for sure that I needed to take my old basses back because they could actually cover the tones I wanted in the Jazz anyway. I have to wait a day because my basses are in the computer police check system, but I am glad I can get my babies back. Although it was a bit silly to go through with the trade in the first place, I think it has really helped me see that what I had was fine all along, and that I really don't need anymore basses. Frankly, some prayer and meditation has helped me see this more clearly too. I am officially off the market now. I know I will always see basses I like, just like I see cars I like. I just will now look and appreciate instead scanning plastic and letting my debt appreciate.

Cheese,

If you have buyers remorse, there is a reason. Obviously, you saw the benefits of not trading in and the Jazz V was not going to give you a "silver bullet" you could not get with your other basses. Good move, my man!!

I bet the next bass you get (and there will be one) will be purchased with good business sense and will be something you will keep for awhile (just my .02).

Chalk one up to common sense and fiduciary responsibility!!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Cheese,

If you have buyers remorse, there is a reason. Obviously, you saw the benefits of not trading in and the Jazz V was not going to give you a "silver bullet" you could not get with your other basses. Good move, my man!!

I bet the next bass you get (and there will be one) will be purchased with good business sense and will be something you will keep for awhile (just my .02).

Chalk one up to common sense and fiduciary responsibility!!

Yeah, i know there will be others eventually, but I am in no rush. A boutique P5 like a Lull or sadowsky would be nice, but I am in no hurry, afterall i play out several times a month without one already.