Name your method for defeating GAS!

[bwv1013]

I find it much easier just to give in to the GAS

me too. to the tune of 16 instruments. currently in the market for magical number 17...

at least i'm set in the amp department. ok maybe another 15" cab...

 

[Solarmist]

When you own the perfect bass, there is no need for another.

This has been the case for a while now till ... I want a 5er ... This one ... the new Ibanez SR755 ... $800

Did I derail? ... Sorry ... I got it bad

 

[Rocketpriest]

I just go for things I 'need' - I needed a Jazz bass, now I have my Lull, and I really don't need anything else in a five string or a Jazz bass (even if I want a Dingwall Super J 5). I'm now set for amps, since my Carvin 2x10+1x15 cab and my Ampeg SVT-CL do everything I want. Once I get my Macbook and Guitar Rig 3, I won't need a pedal board, etc. I try to find the single item or combination that I 'need', and then it becomes much easier to keep myself from buying things I want. I will admit to slipping every now and then, like when I ended up ordering two Carl Thompsons instead of one. Sure, I don't 'need' a fretted brother for the fretless I was planning for, but what if I liked the fretless a lot and then Carl stopped taking orders? He's gonna 70 in February, for heaven's sake! I also slipped and bought a Ric I don't 'need', but I really do love it. I'm just not sure what I'll do with it, since it doesn't fit too well with what I play - maybe some effects and EQ magic will fix that.

tl;dr: If you have what you need, what you want isn't quite so pressing.

 

[Red Rover]

By being perpetually broke! No money, no gas.

 

[Indiana Mike]

Wait a minimum off two weeks before buying anything , if you still want it ,consider it.

or

invest all of your money in a company specializing in home mortgages.

 

[CicadaSilence]

Stay busy, play gigs, and keep off the internet.

 

[smogg]

A new set of strings always helps me "deal"

 

[Baryonyx]

I just pick up my Spector and remind myself that for now, I'll not be needing to make another purchase!

 

[Boombass76]

Apparently, my GAS is pretty much incurable... And I am convinced that I am not alone here!

 

[manutabora]

A few cures for gas:

Hal Leonard

Mel Bay

Aebersold (spelling?)

The Real Book

The Charlie Parker Omnibook

Listening to Steve Bailey...

 

[deepdown]

A new set of strings always helps me "deal"

+100
I realize this, so true.

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

Besides acquiring the gear in question, how do you subdue that terrible beast known to so many as GAS?

For me, it's just taking the time to appreciate what I already have and what I can do with it.

Being an active, busy musician certainly helps.

And if you realize that if you give in to the GAS, then you're going to acquire more stuff than you can play on a regular and frequent basis, and will also have a hard time maintaining in ideal conditions...

It's my belief that although you could probably buy 50 basses or more over the years, how many can you play for long enough and spend enough time maintaining properly? I don't know. For me having 50 basses, while looking cool, would open up a potentially much greater neglect and un-use than say, keeping your collection to a max of 10 basses. If I was playing literally EVERY day and gigging every night, I might be able to make a case (to myself) for more than 10 basses if I had the money burning a hole in my pocket...

 

[marcau]

If it were possible... we'd all have known how by now.

 

[gillento]

I play my Sadowsky MV5

 

[kraigo]

invest all of your money in a company specializing in home mortgages.

Evil - I like it!

KO

 

[keb]

Like Frank Zappa said: shut up n' play yer guitar.

And like someone said here once: less ebay, more Mel Bay.

 

[Funkdrawer4]

I wank off a guitar center. The employees are usually disgusted, but MAN.. it feels so good.

Uh can you explain this statement in american english?

 

[Shareef]

Realising I can't actually afford anything.

 

[Lizooki]

I figure the price of my "rig-o-doom".
When I recover from the shock and the thud from hitting the floor.....the gas is gone.

That and looking at the price of gas...you know, the kind that makes your car go vroom vroom.


Matt

 

[Nedmundo]

Wait a minimum of two weeks before buying anything, and if you still want it, consider it.

That's exactly my approach, whether it's bass-related gear or something else. Usually the GAS is gone after two weeks, but I forgot about the rule this week and, somehow, ended up with a Tech 21 British "Character" stomp box for my Strats. It's very cool, but I should have waited out the GAS.