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How has your approach to gear changed in 2020?

#42
I coincidentally found myself in a position to get a few new things and a few repairs that I've been needing/wanting but putting off for years. Most of what I've gotten has been with an eye towards live performances. I got my main guitar head repaired, got a new electric guitar so I could retire my old one, got a new nut for the old one so I can have it as a reliable backup, and put together an all-purpose pedalboard around an HX Effects to make performances easier and make it so I don't have to take apart and reconfigure all my pedals every time I switch between bass and guitar. Both my live bands are working on recordings now, and I had what I needed for that, but I want to be ready to jump back in when shows become a possibility again.
 
#44
Since covid: I use the knobs on my basses. Before it was 100% volume always. And tone was usually 50%+ on passive basses and flat on active. Now it's all over the place, and I'm really enjoying it. P bass at 50% volume? Sure.

I'm using a PJB HA-1 headphone amp, EBS comp in multi band mode, and a TCE Mojo Mojo. Amps are stored in the closet...
 
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#46
Sold all my $500+ bass guitars with the exception of my 1976 Rickenbacker 4001 which I will never sell, built my dream '54 P-bass from parts and gigged my @$$ off in 95° temperatures outside all summer/fall long. Found out that my favorite La Bella flats get very sticky in 95°, 90% humidity conditions. Also found that GHS pressurewounds are perfect for those conditions and get closer to a flats sound than rounds.

Played my first indoor gig since March last night. But NJ is verging on another lockdown, so I'm outta here soon. Southwest Florida, here I come.
 
#47
From flats to rounds (and thank you Talkbass for recommending TI Jazz Rounds :thumbsup:)
Intermittent use of effects to simulate bi-amping, but I've been a bit lazy to do it again recently (for the last 2 months or so, while I've been busy as heck at work).
 
#48
Ive made a hundred small changes. The type things i find me doing inform the gear far more than COVID has.
Since im doing new things, and dont feel like im in a rut, everything is easy . I feel no resistance.
 
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#50
I bought a ridiculous amount of gear, this year. A drum machine, two synths, a Markbass amp and over a grand of pedals, easily, and have another custom bass coming.

I hadn't been gigging as much before COVID, just fretless in a trio, and a synth duo I was getting off the ground, so I'm just doing fine locking myself in the studio for four hours every night.
 
#51
My approach has been to become the bassist! lol
Our bassist decided he wants to play guitar for awhile. So now it's him and the guitarist playing guitar.... and I'm finally getting the opportunity to play my basses in a group context again.

The gear itself is the same as it was in October 2019. One thing I've found is that I've no need for more or different gear at this point. I'm just delving into the song books now and working on improvising good bass lines.
 
#53
2020 had no effect on my approach to music as I always preferred a solo project to a band situation but while my approach to gear was on track to be more streamlined and minimal anyway 2020 allowed me to make that final push and sell off stuff I couldn't see myself using even a couple months from now so I could get myself out of a couple rough spots during the pandemic.

I have added gear as well but it's mostly been to upgrade from an older instrument/amp/pedal rather than add another one to the clutter of gear. I also don't really buy gear to noodle with anymore. Its either going to add something important or it's something I don't need.

Overall, I've been satisfied with my gear since 2019 but I just needed to trim the fat which 2020 gave me the motivation to do.
 
#54
My teen girl wanted to take up the bass, so I learned to solder and built her a parts bass from an Aerodyne Jazz neck an a pink GFS body.

Used my newfound skills to put a Fralin in a P and a toaster in a 4003S.

Bought 3 P's (76, 57RI and RW) and a (RW) J, this last of which I completely disassembled and sent off to MJT for a (elsewhere documented) surf green refin. Bought a EBMM SR Classic.

When the J came back, I put it back together.

Bought a '73 P neck and tried it on my 57RI for a while.

Rented a DB, which has resulted in all kinds of arm pain, but I've enjoyed playing along with Tom Waits tunes.

Went down a string rabbit hole (including putting a used set of La Bella tapes on my rented DB)

So suffice it to say I've gotten more acquainted with this instrument we all love from a tech standpoint.
 
#55
BobbyT said:
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?
Click to expand...
Most of my gear has stayed in the closet since March. That's different.

Oh, I got a looper so I could play with myself...
 
#56
Buy buy buy buy buy...Anything to fill the void...Last year I promised i would not buy a bass and did it next year will be no pedals and no basses (except what i make). I sold one bass and bought two so not too crazy but still i did order a Wal, bigger pedalboard and lots of pedals..ergh
 
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#59
Only one purchase, a Scarlet 212. Otherwise I have all the cool stuff I might want.
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#60
I finally went out and grabbed a USB interface. Game changing -- I wished I had made the investment earlier. It is so much fun to groove along to toons, with your bass mixed in above the song, at midnight without bothering the roomies.

Did finally cave on that headless bass-itch. Corona has me at my desk... which of course means it was a sensible investment.
 
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