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How much does your 'significant other' affect your gear choices?

#62
spade2you said:
My gf doesn't really think I need so many and thinks I'm more than a bit excessive with guns, bikes, n' basses. THIS is exactly why I'm trying to get all I can before I'm married and the answer is NO.
Click to expand...

Hmmmmmm, her attitude seems to have changed a bit. :hmm: She thinks my collection is getting excessive, which it is...but not sure why some women seem to think eliminating hobbies will "fix" the problem spots. :( Fortunately, my GAS list is getting a lot shorter than it had been.
 
#63
My wife of 20 yrs is very understanding about my G.A.S. She handles all our finances and will let me know if a purchase is not a good idea at the time. I work very hard and put in so many hours that playing in a band is not even an option at this point in my life. Acquiring gear is the only way I can "scratch my itch" and she acknowledges that fact.
 
#66
I have a serious problem...

Every time I show a bass to my wife, she says:

It's alright, but I still prefer Foderas... (She's crazy about the exotic tops)

I'm up to 4 now... She even lends me money sometimes...

The only thing she hates are the Bergantino cabs... They take too much space. They are 11 as of today...
 
#69
allexcosta said:
I have a serious problem...

Every time I show a bass to my wife, she says:

It's alright, but I still prefer Foderas... (She's crazy about the exotic tops)

I'm up to 4 now... She even lends me money sometimes...

The only thing she hates are the Bergantino cabs... They take too much space. They are 11 as of today...
Click to expand...


tell her it's not about the looks for a player- but the sound, feel, and playability that makes the difference... this comes from the SO of a Fodera owner- and yes it's beautiful, but can't always do the job for all the types of music he likes to play...you have to have a versatile arsenal. Maybe ask her if she has a favorite clothes or shoe designer, then why does she own so many different brands? just sayin....:)
 
#73
I lie. Say I buy a bass. I just tell her I got a good deal. I know I don't need another bass but I could sell this for more than I bought it for. This is the 1st step.
2nd step, I usually buy her a little something. That's about it.
Another thing is as long as I'm sitting at home playing my bass I'm not bugging her for something "special".:hmm:
 
#74
My first real girlfriend and I dated for 4 years. She was pretty supportive of my music though she tried to limit my number of basses to 7 which was pretty reasonable considering our age (teens) and as such a lot of basses came and went as I wanted to try more and more things. I had two constants. My G&L L1000 and my P-Bass. When I was moving to NY I had to sell everything except for 1 bass and I kept the P but I still miss my G&L. I sold the G&L to a friend of mine with the promise of getting first crack should he ever sell it. When I went back to California recently I found out that he sold it 4 months after I left for coke.

Yay... :hmm:

The girl I'm sorta seeing now thinks I have too many (I can agree with her on that) but I can't pass up a good deal and I've got a compulsion to buy more. She knows that and doesn't get angry and just says that I should sell some whenever I tell her I got a new one.
 
#75
I've been married 8 years, 3 months, 12 days, 11 hours and 18 minu.......I kid, I kid. My wife doesn't care what I spend my money on. The bills are paid. Other than that, She did tell me to get a G&L JB-2 I was lusting after......It's a keeper. She buys stuff, I buy stuff. :hmm:
 
#76
dlwelch68 said:
tell her it's not about the looks for a player- but the sound, feel, and playability that makes the difference... this comes from the SO of a Fodera owner- and yes it's beautiful, but can't always do the job for all the types of music he likes to play...you have to have a versatile arsenal. Maybe ask her if she has a favorite clothes or shoe designer, then why does she own so many different brands? just sayin....:)
Click to expand...

Yeah, I hear you... That's why I've also got 6 Fenders, 5 Celinders, 4 Laklands, a Dingwall...
 
#78
She had some fear until I told her and showed her that all the other things in our life finances etc. where on point.

She also couldn't keep up with these cabs going out and these coming in. The buying, selling, trading, situation. We would have discussed it if I'd taken a serious loss.

I really wanted her to support it or stay out of it. How could someone really understand why we spend what we spend unless they were enthusiastic about something similarly or were personally so comfortable that this stuff wouldn't bother them.
Either way I was going to do my thing. Why? Music was my passion almost since birth and this is who she married.

After I acquired a flexible stable of axes and amps for all the possible gigs I have I haven't bought a thing except strings.

Now she isn't that interested except she notices when others notice that I brought a different axe to a session. The analogy of different paint brushes works here.

We have really worked on our communication for years so it's pretty safe for each of us to say what we feel or want.

She hadn't attended many gigs and in fact refused to in earlier years because she said she wouldn't know anyone. Then the rest of the band's wives and girlfriends would be there.:hmm:

Recently I started playing with a duo. My wife asked the guitarist's wife was she coming to the next gig. She said, "of course I come to all of his gigs". So that kind of changed things back at my house.:)
 
#79
We've been married 17 years, I have been playing for 4. I offer the following:
1. My wife is a shopaholic so that severely curtails any comments she might make on my spending. In her defense she is extremely bargain-conscious.
2. I manage the household finances in such a way that neither her spending nor my spending puts up in any sort of financial jeopardy.
3. When I get ready to buy gear, I do discuss it with her in advance and I usually provide information on just how good the deal is. I'm not sure, however, if I do this for her benefit or mine. And here lately I have been all about selling something to help finance the incoming stuff.
In general, I would have to say that she is pretty supportive. I own two basses and two amps.
 
#80
You just know that eventually I would post in this thread. You may have heard of the 'Elrick lady'. That woman who surprised me twice with a brand new Elrick 5-string. The first in 2003, the second in 2005. How did she know what to buy? :hmm: Due to her unbelievable generosity and good taste, I accept quite a bit of her 'input'. (OK...I'm whipped). Like when she tells me that we can't afford my latest want, or she tells me that no blue colored basses are allowed in our home. Ironic, since I play in a Blues band. Whatever. When a spouse is so supportive, you pick your moments and count your blessings. Sometimes she even shows up at a gig. ;):D

M. M.
 

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