Ways to kill time until your new bass gets delivered?

[IngerAlb]

We all know how thrilling searching and finally ordering a new bass can be; but what if you'll have to wait more than just a few days 'til your new "baby" gets delivered? How do you cope with the waiting time, what are your tips to kill the time between ordering the bass and actually gettin' the "beast" delivered to your door?

I'm a pretty impatient guy when it comes to this; so far I had to go through all this acking process just once, when I ordered my Thumb; now I've just pulled the trigger on a new 'Vette and I'll prolly have to wait between 6 to 8 weeks (I know, it doesn't sound too long, but for a guy who's customed to walk in the guitar shop and just pick whatever's available & feels good, it is, hehe). I can say from my own experience that if you're in the same situation as me, doing the following will only make things worse, hehe:

1. pictures, audio and video files of that particular bass model - these actually increase my GAS level to dramatic proportions and really make me feel pissed off 'cause mine's not home yet
2. browsing the online instrument selling websites - major trap, 'cause sooner or later I'll start GAS-ing for a new and different bass even before my current order gets delivered
3. bass forums - possibly the worst of all, since in this case I'll get not only bass GAS, but the real mother of GAS: complete rig overhaulin', hehe Not to mention that seeing some of the finest basses some fellow bassists have will only make we wonder even more how will mine turn out to be? Will it be equally stunning?
4. last but not least: playing your current basses - well that raises to me lots of possible comparisons, so yeah, won't help much either.

So...what are you guys doing in this situation?

 

[Andy Brown]

Buying other basses from stock.

 

[snyderz]

Just keep writing lots of long posts. Your bass will be here in no time!

 

[FL Knifemaker]

I just play one of my other 16 basses or work on the 2-3 project basses I have. It's not gas, it's a sickness

 

[dvh]

Practice.

Practice to the point where you realize it's not the bass that counts so much as how you play it. That will cure your GAS and also make you a better player.

It's win-win.

 

[BassBob185]

cut the grass, wash the car, take out the trash, sleep, eat, watch TV

 

[MMcC]

drinking binge

 

[triarii117]

Play bass. Simple as that

 

[RickenBoogie]

I waited 26 months for my Ric 4004Cii. It was a long time, and sometimes, I actually didn't think about it. The rest of the time, I played "other" basses, and did alot of wondering.

 

[Entwistle]

6-8 week long crack binge. only solution i see.

 

[Quadzilla]

If you live in the city with an alley behind you, a good sling shot and an alley full of rats is great entertainment. Good times for me in the mid-80's in Baltimore

 

[Dave Vader]

I play the ones I have, which makes me feel bad, as there's clearly nothing wrong with them, in fact I usually find out they're a lot better than I remembered them, so why did I spend the rent on another one?
Maybe you should just drink through it?

 

[dave64o]

Practice... a lot ... absolutely throw yourself into it. Some specifics to work on are to play a genre you've never played before, work on a new practice method, work on some more advanced theory, develop a playing technique you've never used, work on songs that have always been difficult for you, find a new band ... anything to keep you occupied.

First of all, you'll grow as a musician. Second, you'll probably find new ways you can use the equipment that you currently have (could be dangerous - for a couple of reasons ). Finally, think of the new skills you can unleash when your new dream bass arrives.

Taking that kind of approach almost makes GAS a worthwhile affliction, doesn't it?!

 

[RONQUITO]

Get a job, a stressful one. You won´t be able to daydream about the dream bass that hasn´t arrived. Then, one day you´ll arrive at your house and when you´re busy taking off your shoes and preparing your bath while you curse the day your boss was born, your wife will tell you that the brown truck stopped by. That will be a nice surprise.

 

[bassist4dalord]

I'm sort of in the same boat as you guys; I'm waiting for my Squier P-Bass to come back from the guitar shop after a pro setup. It'll be at my house on friday, but the next day I'm going to Tennessee for a week on a mission trip with church! So that's two weeks without my baby Until I get it back I'll be playing my sweet (though not AS sweet as the P-Bass) Squier Affinity Jazz V, and trying not to think of how sweet and smooth the P will be when she is safe in my hands again.

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

"My advice to you is to start drinking heavily"

 

[TJBass]

Get all decked out in leather, a ball gag, and pay a cheap hooker to spank you every hour on the hour and tell you that you don't deserve a new bass! But ofcourse I am waiting on an SX.

 

[kjpollo]

6-8 week long crack binge. only solution i see.

Somehow this one's just a little TOO ironic, given your screen name!!

I recall when I ordered my Clement, I spent a lot of time showing progress pics to friends but that got very annoying to them. Like that person at work who cant stop showing you pics of his/her kids at EVERY step of their development-no matter how minor. (Look-this is 10 month old Junior WITHOUT drool on his lower lip-the doctor tells me that puts him in the 99th percentile for anti-drool development!).

What finally worked for me was my wife giving me a ginormous honey-do list. ( not that I would ever admit it to her!)

 

[phatduckk]

i mod something I already have to help pass the time

 

[IngerAlb]

Get a job, a stressful one

I already have a stressful job, why do you think I'm buying basses, ey? Hehe! Seriously guys, I didn't want to sound as serious as some of you seem to have thought I was, I just wanted to know if there are other ppl (like me) that dream of a bass, just to GAS about another one the next second, hehe! Lots of interesting responses, though...it seems GAS is the least of a bassist's "problems", lol!