How has your approach to gear changed in 2020?

[BobbyT]

How has your approach to gear changed in 2020?

Since the pandemic hit—like a lot of people—I've been playing solo a lot more. I don't know if I'd chalk it up more to boredom or a real need but I found myself looking for a different sound.

So after 10+ years playing heavy La Bella flats on my P-bass, I switched back to roundwound strings this year. It's been a lot of fun for solo improvisation and the amateur recording I do at home. (I even switched to Spirocores on my upright after many years with Evah Pirazzi, which was a similar experience... but that's a topic for another thread.)

I also rarely use my amp anymore.

What about you?

 

[wraub]

I'm writing more, and more creatively, with more happiness using the gear I have.

When I do use an amp, I use a combo instead of my bigger amp.

I stopped drinking, so I have more gear money now. I bought a second guitar (it was cheap), and I got a great pickup for my P bass (it was not).

I'm exploring other instruments- I got a drumset (love), some keys, and some other things...

I've realized that I am very well off when it comes to gear, and have no real need for anything else, besides basic supplies like strings, sticks, etc. I really have all the gear I need to make the music I want to make. I am set, I am done.
It's both a relief and a challenge.

YMMV.

 

[Oddly]

I've been considering getting a decent looper pedal, but apart from that, what I have is really all I need.

 

[Jefenator]

I guess doing my split screen / one man band thing has informed a few trades. (At no point in the past had I ever thought I was requiring a decent working guitar...)
The challenge is to remember that much of the stuff that's gathering dust right now WILL eventually get come into play again. Some of my buddies talk about selling everything, which is what I might do if I were just looking at next month. But I keep one eye on June 2022.

 

[Hummergeist]

Minimised and optimised my home studio setup. Replaced almost everything. If I get something new, something old has to go, to make room. As a result of having less gear, I can fire up my computer and get playing and recording faster than ever.

 

[Vinny_G]

I've never been very interested in the gear side of making music, and this year hasn't changed anything about that.

 

[BobbyT]

The challenge is to remember that much of the stuff that's gathering dust right now WILL eventually get come into play again.

This. I am keeping my old La Bella's in the "string drawer" in the hope that I'll be playing Motown covers with the wedding band at some point... and finding new uses for a few things that had been sitting in boxes. It's interesting how your perspective changes when you're not just focused on the next gig/session/whatever. Fortunately music isn't my main income so I have the opportunity to experiment right now.

 

[Leonid Nidis]

Expansive gear got sold and whiskey plus cheaper gear bought instead.
More playing time so comfort and playability became a priority over tone.
Got a strong urge to mess around with effects that I know will be useless to me post covid.

 

[Passinwind]

How has your approach to gear changed in 2020?

Since the pandemic hit—like a lot of people—I've been playing solo a lot more. I don't know if I'd chalk it up more to boredom or a real need but I found myself looking for a different sound.

So after 10+ years playing heavy La Bella flats on my P-bass, I switched back to roundwound strings this year. It's been a lot of fun for solo improvisation and the amateur recording I do at home. (I even switched to Spirocores on my upright after many years with Evah Pirazzi, which was a similar experience... but that's a topic for another thread.)

I also rarely use my amp anymore.

What about you?

I've been building myself a tube amp that may easily never leave my living room. Eventually I expect to use it for guitar too, which is something I'm overdue to get back to. I also put together a more portable recording rig, but that probably won't get a whole lot of use until I can get some live drum tracks done.

 

[SDC1-ClickClack]

1. After years of being musically inactive, I started playing guitar again and composing music.
2. Discovered Reverb.com as place to buy used gear.
3. Bought a new guitar amp.
4. Bought 10 pedals & a pedalboard.
5. Bought Logic Pro X and a couple of books to learn about it from scratch.
6. Bought a used Epiphone bass in near-mint condition
7. Bought a new Eastwood electric guitar.
8. Thanked my lucky stars that I have such an understanding & supportive wife!
9. Tried not to get overly stressed out while looking forward to putting 2020 behind me.

 

[alembicguy]

Nothings changed for me. Still one band is all ampless and in ear monitoring and another is live amps and loud as all bejesus.

 

[tubatodd]

I haven't pulled the trigger on purchasing one (yet), but I'm more interested in these micro scale cabinets like the TE 2x8, TCE 2x8 and Phil Jones cab 27 and 47. I'm leaning Phil Jones, but can't decide on which cabinet.

 

[MegaSwing]

I'm more interested in selling than buying.

 

[makanudo]

Decided to go full modeler route. Got a HX Stomp, IEMs and been playing a ton because of fiddling with the new hardware. Rehearsals have also been for the first time in 6+ years of playing with this band, with distinguishable instruments and vocals. This was life changing. I can hear the kick, vocals, and defined bass with the guitars on top and a whole new experience.

 

[kev451]

Well I've revamped my entire setup. I've traded away almost every bass I had except for two my Gibson Tbird which has been with me since 1999, and my Fender Jaguar. I had all Spector Euro Basses 4 of them. Well i realized I needed variety. I sold them all, I picked up two Fender P Basses which I converted to PJ style setups. I was also able to get a Kramer era Spector which I sold to be able to purchase my first Spector NS2 bass, only to find out it was one of 8 specially made. I then sold my two bass heads and a couple of bass cabs. 1-tech 21 500 watt head and a GKMB500 head. I purchased a DG 500 watt head the 900watt V2 head and a DG 2X12 bass cab.
Basically I've learned to have variety in terms of Basses. And I think I have accomplished this.

 

[Indiana Mike]

I found I like short scales , age , arthritis, neck surgery etc...
I've got three long scales I am contemplating selling and picking up a second short scale with humbuckers

I've been playing 15-20 hours a week. The short scale comfort factor has made this possible for me.

I also fell in love with flat wounds. Tried before , but never stuck until now.


next is amps , tried the preamp thing , got a plex and rack mount geddy pre, probably gonna sell those too.
Keep my ampeg 210 and pick up a Mesa head and cab.

 

[thabassmon]

I purposely set a goal last year not to buy any gear in 2020, and so far I have stuck to it. The pause has allowed to reassess what I actually want.

There is one instrument that I may buy, there is only one left in my country and considering it has been discontinued for a while I may decide to buy it for myself for Christmas.

An Ibanez SR7VII 7 string short scale bass. I like the Fender Bass VI and this is taking that same concept but expanding the range by incorporating 7 strings and 24 frets. Stock it comes B0E1A1D2G2C3E3 but I'd alter that to E1A1D2G2C3F3Bb3. It doesn't have and whammy bar, which is good and has an active preamp with a sweepable midrange.

I do need a new amp, but I do not think amps are worth buying these days. I am targeting FRFR powered speakers instead, the model that has the most appeal to me currently is the Line 6 L3T.

So for me 2020 marked a shift in my attitude towards gear to simplify my equipment goals.

Instruments (using plain steel string where required)
Fretted E1 - F3 Thomastik Jazz Flats
Fretless E1 - F3 La Bella Deep Talking Flats
Short Scale E1 - Bb3 D'Addario Chromes
Fretted E1 - C3 D'Addario Nickel Rounds

Amplification
Two powered speakers.

Processors
Modeler, ADSR, Drive, Synth, Filter, Vocoder, Modulator

Auxiliaries
Foot switch controller, Expression pedal, Sequencer, MIDI router, Power Supply.

Targets all missing components for 2021.

Sell all extraneous pedals and auxiliaries.

Retire old instruments.

 

[JimmyM]

Haven't changed much except I'm not gigging. And I bought a reverb pedal earlier this year.

 

[Nephilymbass]

How has your approach to gear changed in 2020?

Since the pandemic hit—like a lot of people—I've been playing solo a lot more. I don't know if I'd chalk it up more to boredom or a real need but I found myself looking for a different sound.

So after 10+ years playing heavy La Bella flats on my P-bass, I switched back to roundwound strings this year. It's been a lot of fun for solo improvisation and the amateur recording I do at home. (I even switched to Spirocores on my upright after many years with Evah Pirazzi, which was a similar experience... but that's a topic for another thread.)

I also rarely use my amp anymore.

What about you?

Nothing has changed amp wise. I was playing at home with headphones before covid. Covid did change a couple things though. For one I was really GASing for a lighter cab situation but because my cabs have been living at the rehearsal spot that's been put off as I don't get tired of moving them because I'm well not moving them.

I also haven't changed my strings as often as I normally do.

Bass wise i was pretty settled before covid. Kind of past the need thing and more so just looking at "want" stuff. I have a bass that suits my band very well and a decent backup bass. There are other basses I'd like to have. In particular I miss playing fretless. But it's not a "need" thing.

I have been into pedals but being pretty happy with my board, not wanting a bigger board, and power supply and space limitations, while not wanting to remove anything has kept me from buying a lot of different pedals this year. I have space for one more mxr size pedal max and only one 100mA out on my power supply left. Lot of times I'll see a pedal and then see it's draws more than that and I think Nah I'm not removing this or that to use that power jack.

 

[singlemalt]

Selling gear that doesn't spark joy and exploring the lightest strings I can find.

I'm set for basses, and have amps that could go to new homes.

Happy with my HD500x as a practice station. The Beat Buddy remains at the top of my list of great tools.

Still working on reading and my totally self indulgent deep dive into slap. Not really interested in playing out or a band.

It's more of an enjoyable meditation than a goal oriented thing these days.