I Ain't Feelin' It

[Clef_de_fa]

I'm in the process of selling every bass I own except my Warwick. I want to go back to the time I was in music school and only had one bass. It felt great to me and I did every music possible with it. I miss those time. It helps focusing on the music and learning new thing.

 

[BassBrass]

My rule is GAS is ok for artistic growth and inspiration because that's important regardless of age. We don't take gear with us, but I'm pretty sure, from a variety of sources, that Music is a major thing on the other side...
Like,,,,, I just updated my ambient looping board to play with projected art films And bought a frettless because it's expressive for the same, where one or 2 notes does the job. I started on frettless about '78, switched to fretted 4 and 5 st and haven't had a frettless since 1981, but it's coming back like it never went away, a cool experience to have when approaching senior status... This kind of thing Virtually keeps people alive past the danger age of 55-65 when life long bad habits or genetics Gets some and lets some pass.

 

[Spidey2112]

I once said I would love to have either a bass or guitar hanging in each room of my house...

... good thing I have a small house.

It's OK to dream big... I think whatever it is one is searching for, the attempt of attaining the goal itself helps keep the 'ball in motion', so to speak. Once the ball starts to slow, sometimes warbling on it's own axis, you can do one of two things...

... you can let it come to a full stop, which usually has a 100% chance of not boding well, for any of us, or...

... you can nudge that ball in a different direction, an alternate path from the one you're currently on, creating yet another opportunity to achieve meaning within your own life.

No matter your current state of mind/being, Dr. C., I hope that you're well... Take care, brother...

 

[JRA]

Material things just have a different meaning now.

as they should...IMO: it's the old wisdom = "if i knew then what i know now...."

we get to that certain age and the "mortality issue" is no longer deniable.

 

[Gord_oh]

All of my refund check is going to bills. I've been buying little things here and there over the past few months to build a bass. Good way to deal with GAS gradually while trying to be a responsible adult.

 

[shawshank72]

You're just getting smarter with age.

We don't really need all the toys to win.

Perfectly said.

 

[markjazzbassist]

Tax refund? What's that? Can't ever remember getting one of those!

agreed, I haven't ever got a refund and Im married with kids.

 

[Pep]

I am the opposite. I am buying the toys now because I am older and not waiting anymore.

i'm doing the same!

 

[Shawn Luckman]

I turn 50 in August & 2 years ago went down the, 1 bass & amp route and still glad I did. I grew tired of saving and going without to make someone else a little richer, & now I make sure that my family's needs are taken care of first. I will always love the bass guitar best hobby I've ever had, (30 years playing this year) but I just don't have the GAS for it now.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Same here - I was in GC yesterday, and tried an Epi tbird and a Sqier CV jazz, t2o instruments that get a lot of love. Meh... I have zero interest in more equipment, unless it is something I need.

 

[SteveC]

When you start thinking you are old...you are.

True. I play on bands with guys 10-15 years younger than me. My wife is 14 years younger. Kids are 7 and 10. I have no choice but to try and keep up - even at 50.

True. I tend to feel young until my knee gets stiff, or I remember that I can't really jump or run anymore.

My back has been rough lately. If I could stop eating and drop 50 pounds that would help.

I'm in the process of selling every bass I own except my Warwick. I want to go back to the time I was in music school and only had one bass. It felt great to me and I did every music possible with it. I miss those time. It helps focusing on the music and learning new thing.

I'm down to two- Roscoe 5 and 6. I'm even debating downgrading those but my wife won't let me. She says keep them because you love them and they are awesome.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

I'm getting LESS picky about what I play.
My GAS is trending towards the "unusual" stuff (Dano's, Kay's, etc.) just for the quirkiness of them. I've had a lot of very good basses, including a couple of Alembics, and still have a birth-year Precision. I'm kinda "done" seeking instruments that "complete" me, and now am just seeking ones that AMUSE me.

The car analogy applies: Like, I've done the Ferrari thing, now I collect BMW 2002's.

I'll play anything that's in tune and reasonably comfortable.

 

[Fxpmusic]

Refund time is just about here, and there are some things I could get while leaving something for my wife and taking care of important business, but I am having misgivings about buying something I don't need. I guess I am just getting old. Charles Mingus died at my age, and at my age, my father only had five years left. No, as far as I know my health is okay, but I like what I have, and who knows how many more really productive years of playing I have left? I am really enjoying the challenge of lessons, and picking up little things like hand position that make a huge difference in speed and tone. My teacher even played my Fernandes Atlas, and loved how it played, and he is an endorsed artist with complimentary USA Lakland Joe Osbornes. Of course, my DJ5 is great as is my Forum.

I am not saying my GAS is dead, I am just saying that I feel my perspective is changing with age, and I guess that is just natural. The older I get, the reality that I have a shorter future than past has really hit home. Material things just have a different meaning now.

Go on a trip?

 

[Pep]

I'm 68 and still gigging (2 groups and filling in with others). I still have the passion to play and so far I can't see that changing. I've started to sell off some basses and equipment, and as it has been said here by others, I don't need everything that's available. I used to have about 15 basses. I'm down to 5: a modified jazz clone, a Tobias Growler 4, a Carvin PB5, a 1984 Ibanez RB850 Roadstar II, and a "Vintage Brand" P-Bass clone with a Carvin P-Bass pickup.
I am working on a project bass: 1993 Stu Hamm Urge MIM. I'm converting it to resemble an American version, adding a P-Bass pickup, making it passive, and new hardware and new finish.
I may rebuild the Jazz after I this one but that's going to be it . . . . . . . . I think.
I had 8 amp/speaker set-ups and am down to (1) rackmount rig, (1) amp head and two combos. Everything is light weight but still sounds great. I'd still like to own an Ampeg SVT Classic with an 810 Classic cabinet just for giggles.

The music keeps me feeling young (well younger than 68) and it keeps the brain working strong! Don't give it up guys, It's the fountain of youth!

 

[Pep]

Oh, I nearly forgot. I want to build a Tele Bass. It's on my bucket list.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

GAS definitely increases life expectancy. I am 97 but eBay keeps me young.

 

[RED J]

All of these expressions have a familiar ring. I am truly to the point there is nothing I can add that would be meaningful to my bass gear.
I did recently buy a Les Paul guitar to round out my 3 guitar collection of Strat Tele and now Lester, and felt a bit greedy in doing so. It wasn't even a pricey one.
I sold my five string but Missed the B, so I restrung one of my fours BEAD. Done.

Learning to improve my marginal guitar playing, ever improving my bass playing, and I never stop tinkering and tweaking with my instruments because I'm just a inveterate hands on mechanical guy. Cultivating contentment. I have more than I need and all I could reasonably want.

 

[Clark Dark]

View attachment 1065799
GAS is over for me. I have all the instruments I want. I may get others from time to time, but nothing is burning. I would like to have a Precision and a Thunderbird, but the thing is, I pretty much always play the 4003 when I play bass.

Never mind the dreadnaughts and your basses, that Paul in dead center is orgasmic tonally, sweet dual P-90's
That's your flagship right there

 

[RED J]

Mid fifties is not that old in today's world.

Maybe not in concept or culture, but your genetic heritage has the final say. That's a sad but cold reality.
It's sad when people go young, but it's also sad when they spend the last five or ten years of their life staring at the walls or ceiling because their ability to enjoy life has been robbed by physical or mental disability.

 

[40Hz]

If you continue to grow as a person, I think you discover your interests and priorities changing over time. And you reach a point where you finally and begin to master the art of truly letting go. Up until a few years ago I used to think I was pretty good at letting go. But one day realized I wasn't letting anything go. Ever. I was just pushing it all down and doing my best not to think about it afterwards.

It was a bad habit to get into.

These days I take most things in stride. And like you, I've pretty much got over getting one more thing. There was a Gibson Victory Artist here I missed out on by a nose recently. But that's about it. The new Jumbo Sweetwater catalog that just showed up left me completely cold. And my last visit to a music store made question my habit of dropping by most times I was in the neighborhood.

For the most part I think I'm actually satisfied. Finally.

It's a good feeling. Frees up time and attention for more important and far more interesting things.