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One Bass...no GAS

#41
I need some serious meds for GAS. I compiled a ton of basses, most never played, finally got myself to get rid of all but 3. Even with 3 I only use 2, a 4-94 lakland and a Sadowsky P/J. Now, I have lost all will power and keep buying more and land up looking at them rather than playing. This board doesn't help since it lets me know when new stuff is coming out. It pushed me to order a Skyline decade and now I am off the wagon again.
Please help!!!!:help:
 
#47
What started all this is I was talking with the LOML and she asked why I haven't been buying and selling bass's and gear like I did when I played guitar. I'll admit it...I was obsessive... I was a rhythm guitar player before and so I was always searching for tone....you how it is, this guitar sounds great for T Bone, this one for Texas shuffles, that one for BB, this one gives me Wayne Bennett etc... all vintage. Of course amps are a big part of the equation so it was the same thing, plus tubes etc...I will say I was never into pedals (I had 2, an original TS with the square button and an analog delay..very dusty).
When it comes to playing, Blues is what moves me. I love the old school sound so a P bass with flats and foam under the bridge is my idea of the perfect tone... Whenever I checked out other bass's I realized I didn't want another bass, I want more notes, more knowledge of where to put what to enhance the groove and the pocket. No GAS.
 
#49
racket said:
I know there's at least 100 threads about "if you could only have one bass"... Well I only have one bass, and find myself NOT GASing over any others. Just wondering if anyone else feels the same way?.

Before I started on bass I played guitar and was on a never ending quest for tone, ending up with 9 guitars and 12 amps. I've been playing bass for the last 5yrs and I feel weird not lusting after different bass's etc... My one GAS ending bass is an 03' Lakland Duck Dunn Pbass. Anyone else?.
Click to expand...

Close your browser window, and forget this web address...

(or you will ruin that zen state youre in now...)

;)

D.Don
 
#53
I was talking to my bass teacher about this, he says he
doesn't get Bass Player Mag or hangs out on forums,
mainly because its all about gear & not alot about
technique and playing.

He is a pro - plays multiple times a week (he has been
a pro musician 30+ years), teaches (at colleges in
the past and private lessons) - he does have 3 basses
but he has had them for years.

for some reason, and i'm not sure if its just in the US
or if this is a worldwide thing, is that in peoples mind
having gear =having talent, and often
aquiring gear = aquiring talent.

A look at bass player (mag) for example shows this -
its filled with ads (duh), reviews, lists of what people
play... there are lesson articles in there, some of which
are really good, but who sits down & goes thru them
each month? i know i dont (maybe once in 4 months),
but i sure do read all the equipment reviews.

but practicing, transcribing, learning how to read,
chord/music theory, etc is hard to do. it takes self
discipline and commitment, and is difficult.

however buying a new piece of gear is relativly easy -
sure it might take saving (or more likely putting it
on a credit card) and research, but it provides instant
gratification (look at my shiny new toy).

i'm not trying to preach btw - i have GAS as well - i just
bought a dingwall AB1 6 string for my 40th, and i really
dont need it. Practice is tough for me - finding time, sitting
down at the end of a long day, trying to learn these
hard concepts is really tough, and i admit i dont always
stick with it like i want to. I'm always plotting my next
purchase, even if 95% of hte time i dont go thru with it...

i see this behaviour all over the place - a look at say a
car enthusiasts forum its all about what car should i buy,
how should i upgrade it, etc, when in reality the first
thing you should do is take some driving lessons, that
will make you drive your car faster then any piece
of gear. ditto with hifi, photography, and probably every
other hobby that is out there.

so i admire & respect those who have moved beyond
GAS and are worried about how they are actually
playing vs what they are actually playing.

i might get to that point but i doubt it, i'm a shallow
materialistic person who equates money with talent.

-carl
 

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