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Why do you buy gear?

What is your motivation for buying new gear?

  • My current gear is not meeting my needs.

    Votes: 30 10.8%

  • I saw something really cool I had to have!

    Votes: 108 38.7%

  • It depends on the circumstances.

    Votes: 141 50.5%
  • Total voters
    279
#101
New instruments inspire me, and because I can.

Delving a bit deeper - when I was a kid my parents bought me knockoff sneakers, fake leather, and the least expensive stereos in the Radio Shack catalog. As soon as I realized I could buy whatever I wanted, I did. I buy responsibly, making fairly certain I can get back whatever money I put into a bass I purchase and therefore feel like it's just money in the bank. Should note that my parents were very good to me in other ways, and that frugality insured that they had a nice retirement, and were able to bail any of their kids out - whenever their kids needed bailing out :).
 
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#104
I think I operate on the erroneous theory that the " next " special purchase I make will somehow magically , make me practice more - play better - motivate my buddies to start jamming again and wondrously , improve my life ! Is there any other good reason !!!!! LOL ..... Kelly
 
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#105
Three main reasons for me.

#1 Genuine upgrade or need to replace something. I don't see the need to upgrade anything I own right now, so it will probably just be the latter going forward.

#2 Very unique item or amazing price (if the latter, I often end up reselling for some profit).

#3 There are a few things I am on a long-term search for. Two examples just came up recently (within the past month): an Epiphone SG with Maestro tremolo arm, and an early 70s Yamaha classical guitar in absolute mint condition.
 
#110
I tend to be pretty practical with my expenditures. That said, I don't really go cheap when I make purchases. But for me, if I have something that is fulfilling the function I need, I just stay with it until it doesn't or can't. Sure there are things that I want, but unless I have the extra disposable income and need it, I'm probably not going to make that purchase.

That said, I do love me a bargain. If I find something I want at an extraordinary price point, I might break from the above mentioned pattern.
 
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#111
Dr. Cheese said:
I was just thinking about my reasons for buying gear. I honestly can't say anything was wrong with what I had before my last few purchases. In the past, I was genuinely upgrading. I want to know where other folks are.
Click to expand...
For many of us, it is the thrill of the chase - plus, a new piece of equipment is like a new toy, in that you have to use it/play with it to get it where you want - so buying a new piece becomes a "project" no different than a new model kit or a new car to restore or whatever someone else's hobby equivalent would be.
Than there is always the quest for the "ultimate" tone - which is never really achievable b/c as we get closer our ears evolve to adjust to the actual tone coming at us changes our expectations.
 
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#112
I was raised in a materialistic culture which taught me that success and happiness are derived from endless accumulation of physical property. I also really like musical toys. It's a bad combination, but as long as my guitarist is worse......
 
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#115
I think the most honest answer I can give is that I buy (and lust after) gear because it makes me happy.

I could do any gig or recording session with what I already have - but I keep looking for nirvana or the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
 
#117
Why do you buy gear?

So you guys can't have it all . . . :laugh:

Seriously, I don't buy gear that I don't have a need for. I don't even have an amp at the moment and haven't had one for a year. Just don't need it. Yes, I want one but without a project to use one for I don't even know what I would buy so the $ stays in my drawer for the time being.
 
#118
To me all this stuff is nothing more than a toolbox to do a job with.
I have 4 different basses that each serve a basic performance need.
Jazz bass for the Studio. 5 string for live rock gigs.
Fretless for playing ballads live and also in the studio.
Double bass for bluegrass, folk, blues and acoustic rock gigs.

I have 3 different DIs that fit different needs and contexts.
I have a palette of roughly 20 Pedals I can mix up for any gig on a whim to experiment with tones.

The one thing I have found over time that I have purchased on a whim in multiples are tuners.
I think I own a half dozen different clip on headstock tuners and a half dozen different pedal tuners or tiuners that can be patched into an effects rig or loop.

After watching a lot of Janek Gwizdala's Vlog I settled on the TC Clip on as the definitive tuner - I use in on all my basses, guitars and mandolins:
TC Electronic Polytune Clip-On Guitar Tuner

So I guess there are are occasions I buy stuff when "juiced," by an influential players use of it.
 
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#119
JimmyM said:
I'm filling the deep black hole in my soul.

:D

I buy gear because I can. For a long time I couldn't and I operated on a shoestring budget that was all about rarely buying anything and making what I bought work as long as I could. I still don't buy ridonkulous amounts of gear or anything grossly expensive but I have indulged myself a little in the past 15 years or so.
Click to expand...

I'm with you, Jimmy. Plus, money is just 1s and 0s. Basses are beautiful, functional, emotive objects. After many years in corp world, I have realized that it's better to have bass in times of no money than money in times of no bass. Of course, if you can swing both it's best of all.
 
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#120
silvertone said:
To me all this stuff is nothing more than a toolbox to a job with.

...

So I guess there are are occasions I buy stuff when "juiced," by an influential players use of it.
Click to expand...

Your "toolbox" perspective is logical. I love basses, even when just looking at them. I don't drive a fancy car, a vacation home, or a mistress, but I've developed a heck of a bass collection. Hey, wait a minute...what have I done?
 

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