Taking Stock And Just Playing What I Have

it’s still spring.

 

I know what you mean.
I tried out a dozen basses today, quite a few of them good basses, but not one came close to moving me.

 

With any luck my latest bass purchase will be my last. I may be gas free forever.

 

I have learned to embrace sufficiency. I went from two Alembics to two Squiers . . . . . and although admittedly a little less hi-fi, I still sound like me. This was a life lesson I never imagined wrapping my head around, it almost seems un-American to appreciate 'less', but I really do. And truthfully, after living, sleeping, worrying, practicing myself to a bloody pulp for those many years, I find there are many other things I missed that I enjoy now. The Alembics broke me of going bass shopping (what the hell was I going to find at GC or Corner Music that sounded or was built better?), and now the Squiers are just for fun. And for a long time, fun and music . . . . . were mutually exclusive.

 

I too, am at that stage in life where I have the few basses, and guitars (all acoustics) that I am quite content with. I still go to SA and GC to play around with what they have, but nothing is going to be coming home with me, It is, literally, "Come In And Play!" SA's slogan. I'm even done in the amps & cabs world. Thrilled with what I've got, these days - Tone Hammer 500 with two custom LDS cabs, and a Markbass Minimark.

My money (what's left of it ) has, in the past several years, been going into antique lighting (Bradley & Hubbard, and generic pieces), Arts & Crafts furniture (primarily, Gustav Stickley), and art from regional art shows or shops such as The Roycrofters Gift Shop where we recently bought a Yoshiko Yamamoto block print (no relation to Tsuneyuki Yamamoto, that I know of, who makes fabulous acoustic guitars; I own two of his guitars).

 

Sounds like a fantastic interior deco but your Rics might stick out a bit?

 

I've had the same bass for the last 7.5 years. I like looking at/playing with new and different ones at the local shops, but I'm pretty happy with what I have.

 

Appreciating what you have is better than longing for what you don't. Especially if you eventually get what you thought you wanted and it turns out worse than what you already have. Say that three times fast.

 

Doc, we've heard this before. Your just one good Peavey away from GAS.

 

Exactly.

My aim is to own what I can use. A go-to and a backup.

I currently have 2 basses, 3 amps and 7 cabs. I'm planning to sell 1 amp and 3 cabs. That'll leave me with all the choices I need.

 

Felt this way for a while now. Still love the bass guitar but I just wanted to simplify it down to what I really needed.I even cancelled my bass guitar magazine subscription,as it has ceased to excite me to read it.
So I am down to a 2014 Am.Std Precision with flatwounds a 1986 Peavey Foundation with roundwounds , & my favorite bass of all my 1964 Hofner Violin 500/1 with flatwounds.
Amp wise it's a Fender Rumble 200 combo & pedal wise a Boss TU-3 chromatic tuner .

 

Haven't we heard this before, just before you got another bass...?

 

My bass GAS is solidly in check until it isn't.

Thump on,

One_Dude

 

I agree with the OP. I've got a bass and rig that go so well together, and will do it all, and more, that there is no "better". I even got a lightweight combo for smaller gigs, and it too overachieves and more. I really like my upright and how its setup, and I've tweeked the pickup system to be powerful and realistic. I've got a EUB that I did the same. All work better than good with my rigs. There's not much left, except to learn new music and just play.

 

Been enjoying what I have for some time, especially after coming full circle once already during the past 3 decades. However, I have been enjoying tweaking my basses & amps to look and/or preform their best.

 

The gig-playing Live situation is the factor that determines what gear I will own/use.

I’ve been through the collecting phase and am just using keeping the reliable tools.

 

For something new to collect, try wanting the old things

Just kidding! Enjoy your mental/spiritual freedom

 

Squirrel!