How long before you found "The One?"

[T. B. Player]

Your post has made me think...

Is yours a true statement? Do we chase the ideal because we think that finding the "one" will make us better or do we chase the "one" because there are no limits to our choices?

50 years ago there was only one - now we think there has to be a "one".

We live in a world where you can not only change the bass you play, but yourself as well. You can alter your education, life status, even the way you look - nothing is out of reach. Our only limitations are financial.

Look at the postings, some are blissfully happy with their SX basses, some with a Fodera. It's all about choice. The fact that we have choices will always lead us to search out what we don't already have. This is true in life, not just in our TB world.

I know that there are many people out there who have an alder body bass and an ash body bass...maybe some like the tone of mahogany. We need different tools for different types of music. We play fretted and fretless, 4 - 5 - even 11 string basses. How can we be expected to choose one when the menu is so large?

At times, my GAS is frustrating. This is the reason I am really making an effort to stop with the seemingly endless cycle of buying-selling-trading. I have 2 on the way and am really making an effort to stop my own insanity.

I am going to have the "three", not the "one".

Excellent comments! Old Grouch's comments are well taken as well. Time does change us. When you walk into a studio and the producer asks "Where's your Fender?" ask him, "Where's your 16 track Ampex?"

 

[Nedmundo]

In terms of how long, it depends whether I measure from when I first played bass about 23 years ago, or when I picked it up three years ago after a nine year hiatus. I'll use the latter, and from then it took about a year. I started with a trusty old Peavey Patriot I bought in 1988, then moved to an Ibanez SRX 500, thinking I liked active electronics. Turns out I didn't, and shortly thereafter I found "the two."

First was a DiPinto Belvedere semi-hollow. As soon as I played it, I needed it. The tone is both monstrous and clear, and it looks awesome. So even though it's not as easy to play as my Fenders due to a long reach to first position, it comes to almost every gig.

Next came my main axe, a 2003 MIA Jazz, which now has Lindy Fralin Split-Jazz pickups. Again, as soon as I played a Jazz, I knew I needed one. Interestingly, it didn't really achieve "the one" status until the neck was replaced under warranty. The new neck is more resonant, and made the bass come alive even more. I don't think I'll ever part with this one.

Of course, "the two" has become "the three" with my 2004 MIA P-bass, and I just e-mailed Nino Valenti with an idea -- so no, it never stops!

 

[west*coast*bass]

Hmmmm -

I would respectfully disagree.

Quite often, we don't "need" different tools -- we WANT them. And we should learn how to be okay with that.

I believe that different people get into playing music for different reasons. Some of us want to be rock stars -- some of us want to play in church -- some of us want to play alone at home. But it's all good.

Same as with gear. Some of us are happy with one axe. Some of us are on an endless search for perfection. Some of us like collecting toys. But it's still all good.

The key is that you have to move past needing to justify your preferences to anyone. If you're one of those folks who likes the shiny, pretty toys that Basses are and want to try (buy/sell/trade) lots of 'em, ain't a daggone thing wrong with that! If you can afford it, go for it! (EMBRACE your GAS, don't fight it! )

To my way of thinking, this is why we go to work every day -- to be able to afford the things that give us pleasure.

Question: "Why did you buy ANOTHER Bass?"
Answer: "Because I liked it and could afford it."

Works for me!

Ok, I can accept that answer and I appreciate your point of view. See, now you have made me rethink my entire being...

Damn you!!!

I would like to petition the crowd for a change in the current acronym status from "G.A.S. - Gear Acquisition Syndrome" to "B.I.W.I - Because I want It"