My Wife Poses the Ultimate Question

[ellipsis]

My wife and I agree on who pays which bills. Our budget allocates each of us enough to pay the bills we're responsible for plus some discretionary money. We have separate bank accounts. She spends her discretionary money however she wants and so do I. We haven't argued about money or personal spending choices once in 35 years.

 

[B-Lo]

Pick a few of the most different sounding basses you have. Now, set the pickup configuration and eq settings differently.

Ask her to indulge you and play a few notes on the basses you chose so she can hear the difference....different tools for different jobs.

To lay it on even thicker, while you're practicing or noodling around with her nearby, make it a point to sigh and huff as you say "I need to switch basses for this song" hahaha.

Go grab you P for your Jamerson tunes, then sigh and huff as you go and grab your Ric or Jazz for some Geddy tunes...rinse and repeat.

 

[catcauphonic]

Dunno how long you've been playing, but I see you joined here less than a year ago and your OP said something about the past 18 months...

If that's how long you've been playing and you've already collected all the instruments in your profile picture, then the answer is no you definitely do not NEED another one unless you fancy yourself more of a collector than an actual player.

 

[Ostie]

My wife and I have an agreement. Any money I make from gigs is mine to spend as I wish. If I sell a bass I can re-invest. It's worked for us for 35 years. I have 4 basses, 2 mandolins, 2 guitars, 4 amps, and assorted mics, cables, percussion, stands, etc. So I'm not wanting, and there's peace in the valley.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

Here, this oughta get me banned for life:

HYPERCONSUMERISM

Personal identity
Hyperconsumerism is fueled by brands, as people often form deep attachment to product brands, which affects people's identity, and which pressure people to buy and consume their goods.

Product lifecycle
Another of the characteristics of hyperconsumerism is the constant pursuit of novelty, encouraging consumers to buy new and discard the old, seen particularly in fashion, where the product lifecycle can be very short, measured sometimes in weeks only.

Conspicuous consumption
In hyperconsumerism, goods are often status symbols, as individuals buy them not so much to use them, as to display them to others, sending associated meanings (such as displaying wealth). However, according to other theorists, the need to consume in hyper-consumption society is driven less by competition with others than by their own hedonistic pleasure.

Sounds familiar, eh? I'm just as guilty as anyone else. And since you asked, my S.O. and I have separate budgets for discretionary items. Nobody gets to judge anyone else's purchases.

 

[3bc]

Tell her that it will spark joy for you.

In reality I'm also down to one bass as another said, and I've never had less gas in my life.

 

[imdkoz]

I thought the ultimate question was - Where do you want to eat?

 

[fhm555]

Wifey and i have an understanding. If i want another bass, amp, etc, i have sell one it's more a matter of available space than it is the money, but it has worked really well.
It's not a rigid thing in that i must sell before i can buy. If a deal comes up on something no longer made i can get money if i need it but it must be paid back, but i've always got several things in the works that bring cash into my mad money stash so between that and what i get from the eventual sale it's usually a quick turnaround if i do take money out of the household slush fund.
TBH, it's rare i want to buy anything these days besides strings and replacement parts.
If a really nice Peavey Dyna fiver or a killer deal on a Dub King bubbles up, i'll be after them but other than maybe a new amp or some newer cabs if i had some solid work lined up to justify the purchase, i'm GTG For now.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

So after several purchases over the past 18 months, my wife finally said those words that we all really dread, "Do you REALLY NEED another bass?" Now I know this is a running joke for those of us with chronic GAS, but now I actually have to defend myself with a foolproof response (I am in the process of ordering a custom made J-Bass). I am seeking the ultimate stone cold, show stopping, mic drop answer to this question. I like creativity and thoughtfulness with perhaps a sense of humor.

SOOOOOO TBers, lets have it

The never fail reply: "Of course I do dear. Why would you ask?"

 

[Jimmy4string]

@Bunk McNulty i think i fall in the "Conspicuous consumption" part in my bass buying. Of course i found that when i would quit a band and sell my basses in the past and swear i wasn't playing again i would end up buying new ones. I figured i would just get 2 and let them hang out in the corner as a monument to my spontaneous behavoir. Of course being a perpetual bachelor I have noone but myself to answer to for finances

 

[mrjim123]

If you own less than 8 basses tell her that, according to the Chinese, 8 is a lucky number, and that eventually you're going to have to own 8 to get your home's yin-yang in balance.

 

[Greyvagabond]

TBH I'm the happiest I've ever been with my gear & that means ONE bass right now!~
It does everything I need it to, but I shouldn't be so lazy & change the strings on it.

Its taken me a while, but I'm pretty satisfied with my two-bass set up. One vintage P/J, one modern 5-string J. Does the trick.

Oh, wait, what's that over there, a butterscotch '51 tele bass? Wow. Um. Hmmm. Interesting. I mean, I could string that with flats and . . . . DAMNIT

 

[Clark Dark]

 

[jdthebassman]

my wife used to give me grieve until she saw what my basses are worth and what I paid for them. now she finds them for me

 

[GIBrat51]

So after several purchases over the past 18 months, my wife finally said those words that we all really dread, "Do you REALLY NEED another bass?" Now I know this is a running joke for those of us with chronic GAS, but now I actually have to defend myself with a foolproof response (I am in the process of ordering a custom made J-Bass). I am seeking the ultimate stone cold, show stopping, mic drop answer to this question. I like creativity and thoughtfulness with perhaps a sense of humor.

SOOOOOO TBers, lets have it

Questions like this, are one of the reasons I've been divorced for a long time, now. Because, IME, that is not a question. "Do you REALLY NEED another bass?" is Wife-Speak for "I will make you regret buying that, until the day you die." And, any answer other than "No, I guess I really don't" is just asking for trouble. Your only chance for getting it, is being very attentive to her for a while - sometimes, a long while, depending on how vexed she is with you; giving her the sad puppy eye a lot; and looking sad and forlorn every chance you get (lots of random sighing can help, too). But, it's important not to overdo it. If you get carried away, she'll think you're just being sulky. And, if she does? Then, the basses you do have, might just wind up in her BFF's next garage sale - along with everything else she decides you don't "really need". Which is why I have no wife, 2 motorcycles, and 24 basses...

 

[bumperbass]

I've paid for every piece of gear I've EVER bought with money from gigs. I never even considered spending a dime of our "family money". My regular-job paycheck goes directly into the bank.
My band money is my money that I have earned, so I buy what I want. It's a blessing to have controlled GAS.

 

[CGremlin]

"Well, the hole in my heart is big enough where I need either one wife and multiple basses, or one bass and multiple wives to fill it. Because I respect you, I chose multiple basses."

I do not actually recommend this as an argument.

 

[BigAlBass69]

Dunno how long you've been playing, but I see you joined here less than a year ago and your OP said something about the past 18 months...

If that's how long you've been playing and you've already collected all the instruments in your profile picture, then the answer is no you definitely do not NEED another one unless you fancy yourself more of a collector than an actual player.

Actually have been at it for 46 years. Found the forum one year ago (not real big on internet etc...) as had a question and been hooked ever since.

 

[tekhedd]

Well, the obvious answer is "Yes." And you should make sure you say it loud and clear and happily, because that might be the last time you hear the word for a while.

 

[mikeswals]

Bass is a cheap hobby.
Motorcycles, cars, fishing are all more expensive.

oh, an you should have your own bank acct.