Why I slowed down gear acquisition.

[Dr. Cheese]

Way too often, I got the shiny new thing, only to miss that old and used thing I let go to get it. The USA SUB Sterling in the video was one of the best basses I ever owned and I got much cheaper than I will ever find one again. I traded it towards a bass kind of like a Music Man with more features only to never be quite satisfied with that bass, especially its slap tone. I have also found that while I really like five string basses, I am perfectly fine using fours. In fact, I would often find myself getting stuck in the first position on fives instead using the whole fingerboard. Of course, since I have noticed that tendency, I do it much less on fives now, but my point is that any bass is versatile if you know what you are doing.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Too many people here think you can buy talent. Too many people here think musical instruments are fashion accessories, and collect stacks of cheaper basses, while complaining that they are unhappy with xxx.

 

[msb]

There's only a couple I wouldn't mind selling. I enjoy different basses.

 

[J Wilson]

To condense a lot of life and music experience . . . it's the playing, not the bass. I had two Alembic fives, and they didn't automatically raise my game, and the Squiers I play now didn't lead to one bit more difficulty or any less enjoyment of playing.

You should play whatever helps you make your best music, but believe me, there's no bass, effect, or amp that will turn Clark Kent into Superman.

It's down to you.

 

[RSBBass]

I have slowed down my instrument acquisition also. What I need is time to play the ones I have.

 

[RattleSnack]

It's natural for musician (artist) to research looking for new sounds. I have flipped lots of bass guitars and still do it often, the one that's longest time with me I got last year
But when I think about what I miss the most, it's situations, not equipment. Great gigs, concerts, festivals, fun times, that feeling when band sounds great and we all know it.
So, I guess, let go of clinging to material things and just keep playing

 

[Deleted member 394181]

Different basses make me play differently. I noticed that when I started getting more than one bass at a time.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Too many people here think you can buy talent. Too many people here think musical instruments are fashion accessories, and collect stacks of cheaper basses, while complaining that they are unhappy with xxx.

For years, I would buy a bass, really love it, then sell it. Ultimately, I realized what that I was unhappy because I had so little growth as a player. Studying and learning five or six years has given me joy that gear never gave me. Sometimes, I get frustrated because I am old and may not have time to get as good as I would like to be, but I have also learned to love the process of improving instead obsessing about the result.

 

[MattZilla]

Hey Doc. Have you imposed a limit on how many you keep in the house?

I only miss my 5ers when I get invited to sit in on a Modern R&B set and have to either decline or suffer with BEAD. Still saving for a Dingwall Sklar or NG rather than settling for another not-Dingwall (with a ton of other priorities above performing/recording music).

I can definitely relate though.

There were basses that kinda sucked for application in all but one or two soundscapes, but did those one or two things 100x better than a passive P or J could- like SBR or Dino BBQ sauce vs just salt, onion powder, and pepper.

Two or three times a year I really miss each: my zero-fatness snarly & pretty Geddy, my totally obese & greasy and snarly stereo EB3L, kinda wish I'd bought one of the Rics I'd borrowed, totally miss the athletically tight & strong sound & look of the super uncomfortable Corvette. I don't miss the sound my fingers made on the StingRay I had though it might've been the most comfy bass I've ever owned, but there have been good paying gigs (gp for music) I've passed up where the Ray would've been perfect- moreso now that slapping is kinda being welcomed back in moderation by the hoi polloi instead of only loved by the practitioners.

My P with rounds and Fallout with flats can perfectly support 99% of everything I want to support when they're tuned EADG. And they're both fun to write & record with in strange tunings.

I do wish that I treated my music instruments like I treat all of my car/bike/construction/woodcraft hand/power tools and just keep them all stored efficiently & responsibly, knowing that I will be having a need/want for them again and that re-obtaining them when that time comes will be a pain.

Heck, I have a couple nice pens that I like to write with a few times a year and worse: multiple bicycles that I ride 1/100 as much as my other bikes but still keep for those rare days- and they take up more space than the basses & guitars! So stupid.

 

[Gluvhand]

Too many people here think you can buy talent. Too many people here think musical instruments are fashion accessories, and collect stacks of cheaper basses, while complaining that they are unhappy with xxx.

And too many people use sweeping generalizations and presume to know what motivates too many people.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

It's natural for musician (artist) to research looking for new sounds. I have flipped lots of bass guitars and still do it often, the one that's longest time with me I got last year
But when I think about what I miss the most, it's situations, not equipment. Great gigs, concerts, festivals, fun times, that feeling when band sounds great and we all know it.
So, I guess, let go of clinging to material things and just keep playing

I understand your logic and if I had experienced a different trajectory in my musical career, I would probably feel as you do.

 

[DrBnz]

I view the study of the bass itself is just as fun as learning to play it. And I can't really learn a bass with 10 min of playing it in the store. I have to take it home for a couple days at least. Then it becomes a study of all the finite characteristics of the instrument. From fret size and neck dimensions to the overall weight & balance, everything matters. Then the constant analyzing and comparing you realize that all Jazz bass are NOT the same and the most expensive doesn't mean the best. Hence the large number of toys in the playpen.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Hey Doc. Have you imposed a limit on how many you keep in the house?

I only miss my 5ers when I get invited to sit in on a Modern R&B set and have to either decline or suffer with BEAD. Still saving for a Dingwall Sklar or NG rather than settling for another not-Dingwall (with a ton of other priorities above performing/recording music).

I can definitely relate though.

There were basses that kinda sucked for application in all but one or two soundscapes, but did those one or two things 100x better than a passive P or J could- like SBR or Dino BBQ sauce vs just salt, onion powder, and pepper.

Two or three times a year I really miss each: my zero-fatness snarly & pretty Geddy, my totally obese & greasy and snarly stereo EB3L, kinda wish I'd bought one of the Rics I'd borrowed, totally miss the athletically tight & strong sound & look of the super uncomfortable Corvette. I don't miss the sound my fingers made on the StingRay I had though it might've been the most comfy bass I've ever owned, but there have been good paying gigs (gp for music) I've passed up where the Ray would've been perfect- moreso now that slapping is kinda being welcomed back in moderation by the hoi polloi instead of only loved by the practitioners.

My P with rounds and Fallout with flats can perfectly support 99% of everything I want to support when they're tuned EADG. And they're both fun to write & record with in strange tunings.

I do wish that I treated my music instruments like I treat all of my car/bike/construction/woodcraft hand/power tools and just keep them all stored efficiently & responsibly, knowing that I will be having a need/want for them again and that re-obtaining them when that time comes will be a pain.

Heck, I have a couple nice pens that I like to write with a few times a year and worse: multiple bicycles that I ride 1/100 as much as my other bikes but still keep for those rare days- and they take up more space than the basses & guitars! So stupid.

I don't really have a limit, but I don't want anything I don't use regularly.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

My aquisition of multiple basses has never had anything to do with getting magical tones or extreme playability. I buy basses because they are pretty. Think of it a musical harem.
I know that how I sound, how well I play, or how easy a bass is to play has nothing to do with the maker, the finish, the wood, or the electronics. That is all on me. The only magic is the time spent practicing.
At the moment I, too, have slowed my aquisitions. The primary reason for that is I don't see anything prettier than what I already have.

 

[2saddleslab]

Except for my last bass purchased a decade ago all my other basses I've had over for 30 years or more.

Not needing to buy the latest [and supposedly greatest] next thing is a great place to be.

 

[nonohmic]

This is my fretted bass I have for practice and sight reading. It intonates well, the neck never moves, and it holds tune. I replaced the tuners and bridge for Hipshots and the balance is better. The pickup sounds fine, and with proper EQ it can get a good thump. The neck is super comfortable and the 32" scale makes getting around a breeze. In fact it may be the most comfortable fretted instrument I've ever had.

Point is if I gave this to a cat that really knew what they were doing there is nothing about this bass that would stop them from putting on a show.

And there is nothing about this bass that is holding me back from getting better (plenty of other things in life do though, ha)

 

[bassdude51]

Why I slowed down gear acquisition.

Good for you, Dr. Cheese! I always love your threads, posts and videos!

GAS.....several reasons for it IMO. Boredom. Lust. OCD. Compulsive buying. Lack of appreciation with what we already have. (GAS can go beyond basses and gear. It can be many different kinds of material items.)

I'm gonna be 73 in a couple of months and influence from GAS is slowing down. I've gone from 23 basses down to 14 with more going up for sale soon.

But.........yesterday, damn it!.........I bought a 5er from Sweetwater. A Schecter CV-5. It was a demo and $200 off price. Supposed to be coming today. Already, I'm condemning myself for buying it! I can see myself putting it up for sell in a few months and taking "and yet another loss".

I have also found that while I really like five string basses, I am perfectly fine using fours.

Yeah, me too and yet I sinned and bought a 5er! It'll be the only one in "my pile". I've had 5ers in the past and never could bond with them but now here I am going to have another one! That's what GAS does to logical, common sense buying!

Here's what FedEx Ground is bringing today.

Thanks Dr. Cheese for your thread!

 

[Geepers]

I have also learned to love the process of improving instead of obsessing about the result.

Yes!!! That's all of it right there… the path to peace. Great insight sir.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

Too many people here think you can buy talent. Too many people here think musical instruments are fashion accessories, and collect stacks of cheaper basses, while complaining that they are unhappy with xxx.

Amen, but I'd add that this is applicable to just about any hobby or profession.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - I made the most progress as a player when I owned only one bass (technically two, but the second lived under the bed and was only kept because it was a backup/my first bass ever). What made the difference was I was practicing on that one bass for 3+hrs a day, almost every day, for about 4 years. When you put that much consistent time into something and are dedicated to improve then you can't help but get better.

I often joke, but there's a hair of truth to it, that the worst thing to happen to me as a bass player was me joining TB. Before TB, I wasn't aware of all the different brands, gizmos, and gadgets or intricacies of music. I just knew I wanted to play, had "goal" pieces of music to learn, and I put in the time to figure it out without making excuses.

 

[nickpc]

If a new bass (or other gear) helps your motivation to play more then that's a good thing.

I'm really enjoying playing my 5-string fretless. I'm realizing that my ear is a lot better than I thought, but also how much room I have to improve there. It's also making me want to work on slapping more, which is something I've been ignoring. I want to play on it more than I can, so it's drawing me to

A few years ago I picked up a Peavey T20 - 1982 model, the year I WANTED to start playing bass. So it was a "this could have been my first bass" nostalgia kind of purchase. I play it once in a while, but it mostly hangs on the wall looking pretty. If I have to thin the herd it's probably the first one to go. It's done nothing to help me improve my playing.