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Serious question: is there a cure for a gas?

#61
Yes. Finally have everything you wanted. Sounds trite, but it is true. After a decade of chasing my own backside I have a perfect setup. My basses sound and play like I want. My amp is loud and sounds right. My cab is light and loud. For a gigging rig I don't need anything else.
For just toying with, I've got nearly every basic type of bass.
I just don't want anything else.
 
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#62
It always seems to me extreme GAS and collecting is unique to guitar and bass players. Wind players tend to have “that one” main instrument, and play the snot out of it. We seem unique in wanting so many instruments that play the same range of notes. My point here is making improving as a player a top priority, and being grateful for what we have, might help change our mindset and relationships with our instruments.

While it’s easy to say either “get off the gear forums and go practice” or “give in, GAS for life,” I don’t think you’re crazy. If you’re on a fretted electric now, but want a DB, a fretless 4 and 5, it kinda makes sense. They’re all unique and useful in their own way. It’s possible this is just a crossroads in your musical journey on you path to finding what works for you. I do agree the electrics seem like a placeholder, and that DB should be your top priority.

In my collection, I’m up to 4 basses and 4 guitars (one acoustic of each.) I really don’t like seeing instruments sit unplayed, I could honestly get by with 2 of each. I don’t want to sell any now, and I definitely don’t want to add any and have even more I can’t play. So in a lot of ways I’m over it (the GAS) simply by getting it out of my system. I just wanna play what I have now.
 
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#63
It looks like I’ve bought a lot of gear in the past 2-3 years. And I have, in monetary terms.

I reactivated my hobby a few years ago since retirement. I got active on TalkBass again after a long hiatus following a stroke.

I made a plan as l learned about new gear here and have pretty much stuck to it. Now I’m set up in one location for amps and in a year will have another. So the plan stays in place. My sole bass has since been joined by two others and have two more coming in. One any day now, the other a year out. These weren’t impulse buys.

My estate can handle it all when I’m gone.

It’s true that new gear hits the market all the time, and prices always increase. I guess timing was good since Mesa has introduced the Subway line. As a hobbyist, a new Mesa rig will last my lifetime.

GAS is exciting while on the hunt. Then, for me, it peters out. I’ll become less active on TalkBass as time goes by, I’m sure.
 
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#65
There's no real cure for GAS. There's the realization that I have everything I need...but I still like looking. I subscribe to the 1 in 1 out mentality (sort of).
I sold 2 basses and bought 1--A G&L Fallout Tribute Bass. I sold 1 amp and bought 2--both Genz Benz 6.0 combos (at a great price). I sold one bass preamp and bought a MXR M81. This way I don't have stuff just sitting around collecting dust and my wife (who's in the band with me) sees my attempt to have more efficient and effective gear without being a "collector".
 
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#66
for me, resistance is futile. I acquire stuff that I can [usually] afford yet I still continuously look at multiple buy/sell sites to see if there's anything that captures my interest. This year I've moved a lot of gear around. It should have been enough to say "I'm all set now" but the 'window shopping' never stops. I've finally stopped looking at P's. I never cared for J's, so it's not like this website is influencing me to look for the next big thing, new or vintage. I've happily accepted the fact that gas will only die in me when I don't have the strength to pick up an instrument.
 
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#67
Matthew_84 said:
Also, I should really mention that this question isn't that serious, LOL. It was actually meant to be somewhat of a joke, but you know, there's some truth to every joke
Click to expand...
6C765ED1-8CF7-41F7-AC30-A41BA71DB166.jpeg

:woot:
 
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#70
Matthew_84 said:
I hate this place - I cannot be satisfied with what I have, and even when I think I’m certain about what my next bass will be, it is sure to change to something completely different - often multiple times a day.

I currently have two basses: a fretted 4-string PJ with rounds, and a fretless 5-string with flats and a foam mute for that thump.

I am currently studying jazz and want to be a decent jazz bassist and jam/gig with others eventually (I am currently just learning by myself, though I am looking for other jazz newbs to practice jazz standards with). The obvious next bass to get is an upright. I love how it sounds, I feel like it’d suit me perfectly, and I want to take jazz seriously - it’s a win win… The issue is that I also just really, really love bass guitars, especially fretlesses. If I could own a few really nice fretlesses (preferably an aged/worn fretless P and a slick/clean fretless J), I’d be a real happy man (with or without an upright). I really have no practical uses for the fretless P and J mind you, but I still want them to a near-desperate level…

I know what’d happen if I got them, I’d barely play them, and go “yeah… I should’ve got the upright”, but I cannot stop this itch…

And if y’all could stop posting pictures of your glorious Ps and Js (fretless or not), I’d really appreciate it. Thanks in advance!

(I’m joking btw, keep posting your beautiful basses… It’s a me problem).
Click to expand...
No cure. Don’t try. But if there is some seriousness in your question, get the upright and get a good teacher (in-person or online). You have to practice upright every day. You won’t have time for TalkBass. Problem solved! :thumbsup:
 
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#73
Whatever it is (passion, hobby, pastime, etc.) you're going to run into this. You love and enjoy music, you want to do it to the best of your ability, and gear is a component of that. Plenty of folks do it with fishing, cars, carpentry, etc....except you have a lot more on the line, as this is your field of study and passion.

Maybe use it to get some new skills under your belt? You'll save money if you make modifications yourself, I learned to do so when I was younger and it has served me quite well. Saved literal thousands on labor costs that pickup/preamp installs, neck swaps, and setups would have cost me.
 
#74
CallMeAl said:
It always seems to me extreme GAS and collecting is unique to guitar and bass players. Wind players tend to have “that one” main instrument, and play the snot out of it.
Click to expand...
That's true, but I'd argue that (good) wind players generally put a lot more effort into coming to terms with their instrument, cos they're all so different. The finger muscle memory on a sax is not like on a bass, especially if the bass has frets. A new bass is maybe a 30 minute exercise to be ok to basically gig with for a competent player (if they're picky about how they sound). A sax or clarinet, especially if it's vintage could be a completely different beast.
Mouthpieces, on the other hand can be a woodwind player's version of gas....there's a lot of woodwind players that have one horn and a drawer full of mouthpieces, and they can cost more than a decent bass.
 
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#75
I had GAS just about as bad as anyone, never tried to stop, went through lots of basses and TB 'best bass ever' recommendations. But then I went to NAMM, played a Wilkins bass and something clicked. Not too long thereafter, I was able to by my first of 2 Wilkins PJ5's. Whether I wanted it to or not, the pilot light for my GAS just went out on it's own. I realized I'd never be able to find anything else that fit, felt and sounded as right for me as these basses. They have been my number ones since then. That was it. The right gear found me. Now I am so picky, that every bass I pick up just doesn't feel right.
 
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#77
Matthew_84 said:
I hate this place - I cannot be satisfied with what I have, and even when I think I’m certain about what my next bass will be, it is sure to change to something completely different - often multiple times a day.

I currently have two basses: a fretted 4-string PJ with rounds, and a fretless 5-string with flats and a foam mute for that thump.

I am currently studying jazz and want to be a decent jazz bassist and jam/gig with others eventually (I am currently just learning by myself, though I am looking for other jazz newbs to practice jazz standards with). The obvious next bass to get is an upright. I love how it sounds, I feel like it’d suit me perfectly, and I want to take jazz seriously - it’s a win win… The issue is that I also just really, really love bass guitars, especially fretlesses. If I could own a few really nice fretlesses (preferably an aged/worn fretless P and a slick/clean fretless J), I’d be a real happy man (with or without an upright). I really have no practical uses for the fretless P and J mind you, but I still want them to a near-desperate level…

I know what’d happen if I got them, I’d barely play them, and go “yeah… I should’ve got the upright”, but I cannot stop this itch…

And if y’all could stop posting pictures of your glorious Ps and Js (fretless or not), I’d really appreciate it. Thanks in advance!

(I’m joking btw, keep posting your beautiful basses… It’s a me problem).
Click to expand...

Brother, I don’t know how to respond other than you sound quite normal. I had a pastor once mention something about a thing called envy, but this applies in your case. “‘It is human nature that when you look at something long enough (car-house-neighbor’s wife), you are going to want it.” Or from an anthropological stand point, the more you look at that Buffalo, the more it looks like dinner for the family.

The deal is the more you look, the worse gas is. There is nothing wrong with life goals, so if it really means you want to be the next Thelonious Monk, that is ok. What I’m sensing here is you have little faith you will put in the work and dedication for realizing your goal. Sort of like being on the prairie face to face with that buffalo, but not sure you have enough arrows to bring him down. That too it normal.

in summation, goal are good, but be realistic. Buying stuff is not the same as hard work and dedication. I would set a goal, but along with that goal,before you make any purchases, make sure you set your commitment to reaching that goal in stone and hold yourself accountable. If not, you may as well fill a wheel barrel full of $20s and toss them down a storm sewer.
 
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#80
dbsfgyd1 said:
What I’m sensing here is you have little faith you will put in the work and dedication for realizing your goal. Sort of like being on the prairie face to face with that buffalo, but not sure you have enough arrows to bring him down. That too it normal.
Click to expand...
Good observation because there is some truth here…

I have never played a DB, other plucking the G string on one once (*) at a local music store two weeks ago.

Owning a DB and practicing it at home, and lugging it around (to lessons, jams, etc) is a lot less practical than bass guitar. I have this tickling at the back of my mind, as well as the fact that I know it’s going to be hard and my hands will work hard to play it.

There is definitely a part of me that thinks owning a good fretless 4 string would be a better option… I counter those thoughts with listening to a DB and realizing a bass guitar won’t likely get me the complex sounds a DB has… Maybe with the right bass, strings, technique, electronics/EQ/IR/effects I could get closer, but that’s all very convoluted and I always remind myself to “KISS”.

And while I enjoy playing fretless basses, I feel like I’d enjoy playing with an upright more (as long as I can play it comfortably anyway).

My first step is to rent a DB and take lessons, and take at least 3 months to really determine if I love the upright and want to keep learning it. I have some things going on that prevent me from renting an upright for a few months, which gives me more time to dwell on these questions I can’t answer until I get my hands on one and deal with trying to play and store it at home.

(* that feels like some word game, “add a new letter to make a new word” LOL)
 
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