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.
when is it "enough"?
- Thread starter JES
- Start date
You could compare owning multiple basses to owning multiple cars. Somewhat useful, but not necessary. You know you NEED an SUV (to haul gear) and a sports car (to save gas) and a family sedan or mini van to accomplish all the things that happen at your house. 
The reality is we all use a limited number of sounds and if we play often enough one of those many basses you own has become your "signature" sound. With that basses or couple of basses you can cover everything you ever need. Unfortuntately we like the instruments, and we can somewhat justify the necessity (I'm married with kids and I know I'm not the only one telling my wife that I need a particular bass to make a certain sound) of owning another instrument.
It's not necessary, I'm not gonna feel guilty and I looking for something new right now.
BTW... I own more shoes than the average guy and shoes are not basses!!
The reality is we all use a limited number of sounds and if we play often enough one of those many basses you own has become your "signature" sound. With that basses or couple of basses you can cover everything you ever need. Unfortuntately we like the instruments, and we can somewhat justify the necessity (I'm married with kids and I know I'm not the only one telling my wife that I need a particular bass to make a certain sound) of owning another instrument.It's not necessary, I'm not gonna feel guilty and I looking for something new right now.
BTW... I own more shoes than the average guy and shoes are not basses!!
I look at it from the same viewpoint as you. I now have six basses, but everyone of them is different from the next. I know I really only need one, but now I have options on which one. Where does it stop though? Looking at it from that angle there are a lot of different basses out there that will add to the functionality. In my opinion, functionality only puts GAS in an advanced stage because it gives you a more solid excuse to buy yet another bass.JES said:
I believe I have a well rounded collection but I still want (want=gas, not need) more though. For example, I would love to have a nice modern style Jazz bass even though my Lakland has that sound covered. Someday I know I'll cave in and get one simply because the Lakland is not a Jazz bass.
I'm doomed.
I've been through th whole G.A.S. thing years ago. Seems kind of foolish when I look back at it now. I've sold off a good chunk of what I had, but still have more than I should.
I could survive quite nicely with 3 P basses and a couple of guitars. One P to record with, and 2 to use for live situations, one primary, one backup. That basicly summs up my basses that get used the most right now.
I could survive quite nicely with 3 P basses and a couple of guitars. One P to record with, and 2 to use for live situations, one primary, one backup. That basicly summs up my basses that get used the most right now.
I'm suffering from a bit of GAS. Got 5 basses at the moment, and I'm desperately looking to offload some of them.
I'm arranging a viewing with one prospective buyer, so hopefully that will give me the opportunity to get more stuff.
I'm not even well off or anything. I have trouble storing my basses in my bedroom.
I gotta stop buying more stuff!!!!!
I'm arranging a viewing with one prospective buyer, so hopefully that will give me the opportunity to get more stuff.
I'm not even well off or anything. I have trouble storing my basses in my bedroom.
I gotta stop buying more stuff!!!!!
You can always convince yourself of a reason for a new bass! Hrm. I don't have a six string, hrm. I don't have a 24-fret, I'd like to do solo arangements. If I'm getting a 24-fret, why not get a 6, etc etc etc..
I think it is safe to say that for many of us this is our passion. Playing music is our diversion from real life. I can't control whether I am going to get laid off at work, can't stop the bills from coming, etc. But I can control what basses and guitars I have and getting a new one every now and then (more now) gives me a good feeling. I don't gamble or do drugs or waste money other than with my gear. The upside is that most of the time we can get our money back on gear when we need it. It does seem like we are always reaching for the Holy Grail...."If I only had that Brand X bass I would be done and sound killer.", but most of the time I find that what I thought would be the one is just another nice bass and I always still sound like me.
I'm totally two-faced about this issue, and I keep on trying to stop myself, but I seem to end up accumulating more and more gear.
I have 6 basses, and I rationalize each one by thinking that it's unique in its tone/playability.
(1) Heartfield DR5. It's a modern, active 5 string with 2 Jazz pickups.
(2) Fender MIJ '75 RI Jazz. Natural finish, rosewood fretboard with pearloid blocks. Don't we all need a 4 string Jazz bass? And this one is so nice looking...
(3) Ibanez ATK 300. Great bass. Lots of different tones. Close to the Stingray tone. Close to the Pbass tone. But not so close to keep me from getting...
(4) Ibanez RKB900. Don't we all need a P-J bass? Afterall, it's the swiss army knife of basses! This came with so many nice bits already installed: SD Quarter pounders, Badass II, Hipshot Ultralight tuners.
(5) Brice V2 fretless. I sold my MIM Fender Jazz fretless when I got this one. Great tone. Nice neck, but a little narrow on the string spacing. Doesn't everyone need a fretless?
(6) OLP Tony Levin Sig. Peach, white pearloid pickguard, rosewood fretboard. A great copy of the Stingray 5, and it nails the tone to my ears. This was a bit of an impulse purchase. I love the look. I've wanted to be able to cop the Timmy C tone as well. Now I can!
Right now, I only have the RKB900 and the OLP Tony Levin in my possession. The other 4 are in storage. Do I miss the others? Sure! Do I need them? Um, probably not. But I really like them. In fact I wish I had them with me, but my apartment in NYC is small, so I can only really have 1 or 2 here.
I feel a little guilty about not playing the others, and I wonder at times if I should sell them off, but it'd be tough to replace most, if not all of them because most of the basses I own are not produced anymore. Plus, they're all pretty much bargain or inexpensive basses, so I don't have a ton of cash tied up in them. I think that I could sell them for pretty much what I bought them for, so owning them is not a huge fiscal hit.
I love the variety as well, and often, I'll bring a couple to gigs, either for extended range, different tones, or as backups.
How am I doing for rationalizing?
Oh, did I mention that I have a few pedals and amps too? ;-)
I have 6 basses, and I rationalize each one by thinking that it's unique in its tone/playability.
(1) Heartfield DR5. It's a modern, active 5 string with 2 Jazz pickups.
(2) Fender MIJ '75 RI Jazz. Natural finish, rosewood fretboard with pearloid blocks. Don't we all need a 4 string Jazz bass? And this one is so nice looking...
(3) Ibanez ATK 300. Great bass. Lots of different tones. Close to the Stingray tone. Close to the Pbass tone. But not so close to keep me from getting...
(4) Ibanez RKB900. Don't we all need a P-J bass? Afterall, it's the swiss army knife of basses! This came with so many nice bits already installed: SD Quarter pounders, Badass II, Hipshot Ultralight tuners.
(5) Brice V2 fretless. I sold my MIM Fender Jazz fretless when I got this one. Great tone. Nice neck, but a little narrow on the string spacing. Doesn't everyone need a fretless?
(6) OLP Tony Levin Sig. Peach, white pearloid pickguard, rosewood fretboard. A great copy of the Stingray 5, and it nails the tone to my ears. This was a bit of an impulse purchase. I love the look. I've wanted to be able to cop the Timmy C tone as well. Now I can!
Right now, I only have the RKB900 and the OLP Tony Levin in my possession. The other 4 are in storage. Do I miss the others? Sure! Do I need them? Um, probably not. But I really like them. In fact I wish I had them with me, but my apartment in NYC is small, so I can only really have 1 or 2 here.
I feel a little guilty about not playing the others, and I wonder at times if I should sell them off, but it'd be tough to replace most, if not all of them because most of the basses I own are not produced anymore. Plus, they're all pretty much bargain or inexpensive basses, so I don't have a ton of cash tied up in them. I think that I could sell them for pretty much what I bought them for, so owning them is not a huge fiscal hit.
I love the variety as well, and often, I'll bring a couple to gigs, either for extended range, different tones, or as backups.
How am I doing for rationalizing?
Oh, did I mention that I have a few pedals and amps too? ;-)
enough is:
a, your out of money
b, You cant fit any more into your house
also just to be sensible
c, when you feel that you have acchieved bass tone nirvana with your current collection of basses
a, your out of money
b, You cant fit any more into your house
also just to be sensible
c, when you feel that you have acchieved bass tone nirvana with your current collection of basses
i think that the urge to get new gear is sort of an instinct as a musician. you work hard to always get better, and you want the same for your sound too. you hear a bass or amp that sounds better, and you all of a sudden have a yearning to get it. will it ever stop? probably not, but then if money isnt an issue, why should stop?
Hm. Maybe because people are dying somewhere and the money would be better spent at unicef than on an expensive bass that will get played once a week?WHOlovesBASS? said:
Well, I said that they reflect my state too, which wouldn't happen if the lyrics were serious... Queensryche's lyricist is an intelligent man.
When you start buying instruments/toys instead of food, that's "enough"..... unless you aren't hungry......but if you're a musician....then you're hungry......catch 22.
Ok, Mungo's right.
Yoda say "there is no enough. there is only "can't carry more right now"
Ok, Mungo's right.
Yoda say "there is no enough. there is only "can't carry more right now"
The only things that suppress GAS for me are the realization that:
1) I REALLY cannot afford to be that self-indulgent ($$$...debt...sigh)
2) As cliche as it sounds, in the end its the MUSIC that makes me happy, not the gear.
I have a simple setup that gives me a decent enough sound and adequate volume for jamming with others. Every time I GAS for something and go to the store to try it, I always end up realizing the same thing: Its nice gear, but it doesn't TRULY add to my overall enjoyment of the experience of my favourite hobbie, music. No, my setup doesn't cover all the sounds for sure, but I don't really care about that...
I guess when I get older, the only item that I will really GAS for is a lighter/powerful amp that I can carry around without causing any permanent damage!!
P.S. whatever floats your boat...I am a hobbyist and this is good enough for me!!
1) I REALLY cannot afford to be that self-indulgent ($$$...debt...sigh)
2) As cliche as it sounds, in the end its the MUSIC that makes me happy, not the gear.
I have a simple setup that gives me a decent enough sound and adequate volume for jamming with others. Every time I GAS for something and go to the store to try it, I always end up realizing the same thing: Its nice gear, but it doesn't TRULY add to my overall enjoyment of the experience of my favourite hobbie, music. No, my setup doesn't cover all the sounds for sure, but I don't really care about that...
I guess when I get older, the only item that I will really GAS for is a lighter/powerful amp that I can carry around without causing any permanent damage!!
P.S. whatever floats your boat...I am a hobbyist and this is good enough for me!!
not been having diner, so i could spend my diner money on bass stuff, i have lost weight, and feel great, food is come-go bass is forever
