Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
What's wrong with me - can't stop shopping :-)
- Thread starter darwin-bass
- Start date
Same with my wife,. That's because I've learned how to manage the financial component of GAS. Always buy used where you can at least break even or maybe even make a few bucks. She still gets aggravated sometimes when I've accumulated too much stuff.
The irony for me is that I still ended up back at a 4 string P-bass after a bunch of buying and selling. At my level it does everything it needs to do and then some. Still hard to resist every time I see a MM Stingray though.
I have no problem shopping constantly. It is the buying constantly that issues come up!! Yikes... 6 basses last year and 5 amps
+1
I just bought a MIA Fender Precision in Mystic Red two weeks ago, and I'm already trying to decide whether my tax return is going to become a Mystic Red Fender MIA Jaguar bass, or a Ruby Red Ric 4003.
Seems I'm kind of suffering from some kind of candy apple red GAS lately....
Imagine the response we would get if we were talking about other addictions.
I've only had a couple of basses at any given time over the last 25 or so years, but in 2014 I ended up buying 5 basses (of which I already traded 1). I partially blame the Talkbass community for the sudden increase in GAS. For starters, there are a lot more options now from reputable builders and the basses are easily available from a community such as this one. I see this as a positive thing because it allows us the opportunity to play and try out different bass models at a minimal risk of $ loss, specially when buying used.
What can end up being a problem is developing a hoarder personality disorder. Personally, I don't think of myself as a collector, thus an instrument that is just going to remain unplayed for the most part brings me 0 utility. I also only gig out 2-4 times a month, and have used that as a gauge for what basses I want to keep. I have really liked all of the basses I've bought recently and would have a difficulty ranking them if I only played them at home. I find that some basses sound, or feel better to me when I've played them in a live setting.
I would like to scale back the basses I own to 2 basses, but I still want to try out some of the basses I haven't had a chance to play with yet, such as models from Dingwall, Valenti, Nordy, Fodera, Carvin, Sadowskys, G&L, etc. However I will not exceed my current self imposed limit of 5 basses, so I will have to sell or trade from now on in order to try different options. I realize that in the process of doing this I may end up selling a bass that I really liked, but I'll accept this as the price of being able to try out more. If my plan pans out, I would have sold all of my current basses and then some to finally be able to say, "having played all the basses my heart desired, I will now purchase these 2 and be contempt with my decision" ...at least that's my current plan (while I browse the damn classifieds)
What can end up being a problem is developing a hoarder personality disorder. Personally, I don't think of myself as a collector, thus an instrument that is just going to remain unplayed for the most part brings me 0 utility. I also only gig out 2-4 times a month, and have used that as a gauge for what basses I want to keep. I have really liked all of the basses I've bought recently and would have a difficulty ranking them if I only played them at home. I find that some basses sound, or feel better to me when I've played them in a live setting.
I would like to scale back the basses I own to 2 basses, but I still want to try out some of the basses I haven't had a chance to play with yet, such as models from Dingwall, Valenti, Nordy, Fodera, Carvin, Sadowskys, G&L, etc. However I will not exceed my current self imposed limit of 5 basses, so I will have to sell or trade from now on in order to try different options. I realize that in the process of doing this I may end up selling a bass that I really liked, but I'll accept this as the price of being able to try out more. If my plan pans out, I would have sold all of my current basses and then some to finally be able to say, "having played all the basses my heart desired, I will now purchase these 2 and be contempt with my decision" ...at least that's my current plan (while I browse the damn classifieds
)I look at new basses because the ones I have keep making mistakes! 
The chase begins anew the moment I set the newly arrived bass down after trying it out!
I'm pretty happy with the stingray right now. I know I said that with the Conklin, the thumb, the bongo and the corvette but I mean it this time lol
In all seriousness though I'm mainly just looking for a fretless 5 right now.
In all seriousness though I'm mainly just looking for a fretless 5 right now.
Parts building is my new GAS. Don't know what the acronym for that would be... Chronic Bass Guitar Building Syndrome sounds cool: "Honey, I can't go to work. I have just been diagnosed with a bad case of the CBGB's"...
I've had that trouble at one point. and usually it happens when I don't get a chance to go to a guitar center or a sam ash. when that happens, I develop g.a.s. the only thing that can prevent me from having g.a.s is being taken to a guitar center or a sam ash. and pepto bismol lol jk.
Went through the 15 year, 30+ bass thing, 3 pedalboard + pedals completed, now have 3 complete rigs. Thank goodness I've settled into tweaking (not replacing) what I have. Just as fun and WAY cheaper.
Yep - the constant, non-stop quest for a new bass must be maintained.
Otherwise starvation is inevitable. LOL
Seriously though - you've got somewhat of a point.
When your basic needs are met, you still need some type of diversion that makes you feel something.
The past couple of years I went from having two fairly inexpensive American Peavey basses to now having nine American Fender basses, an EBMM Stingray and a Rickenbacker 4003W on order. But I was done, there was nothing else piquing my interest.
Then at this this year's NAMM show Rickenbacker showed off the 4003S, including a walnut version with a maple neck? (4003SW)
REALLY?!
So, now I have nine American Fenders, an EBMM Stingray, and now TWO Rickenbacker basses on order...
But now I'm really done. Honest, no more GAS.
Then at this this year's NAMM show Rickenbacker showed off the 4003S, including a walnut version with a maple neck? (4003SW)
REALLY?!
So, now I have nine American Fenders, an EBMM Stingray, and now TWO Rickenbacker basses on order...
But now I'm really done. Honest, no more GAS.
The answer is easy - It is because of this DANG FORUM!!! I was perfectly happy until I joined. Now, after several years, and 40 or so basses passing through I am back playing my originals. D'Oh!
There IS this Lakland short scale I haven't tried . . . . . . .
There IS this Lakland short scale I haven't tried . . . . . . .
THIS!
I'm in this boat for sure. Although I suspect that once I get a 1.5" neck on my l2000 (instead of the 1.75) that I might actually be set. I have 2 G&L basses that I think sound amazing and are go to giggers (sb-2 and l2000), and two p basses (one with flats and one with rounds and a J width neck).
Maybe I should get a J bass too though... oh crap... here go again.
