Why?

[BadSanta1281]

It's not that next bass. It's the endorphin rush of buying that next bass.

The euphoria is always fleeting. The urge to chase that dragon again comes back quickly.

 

[cnltb]

I have been sitting around letting some extra money coming my way burn a hole in my pockets thinking about what I can buy, and now I am thinking why? I could use a fretless upgrade, but I don’t need one. I certainly do not need another fretted bass. Why do I always want something else?

...because you haven't arrived at the place where you want less yet.

 

[Doctor Morbius]

... We don’t gather goats and wives but ...

Speak for yourself!

 

[M.R. Ogle]

I just bought a new Mac with Logic ProX. I'm learning my way through this music production software, very engaging, recording and editing tracks.

When it comes time to do a bass part, I turn around and look at the rack and think, "Heck, almost ANY of those basses will be fine to record this track." "This one's in tune", grabs the nearest one.

I love my basses, but really, they're just a single ingredient in the cake. I definitely do not need to purchase any more basses.

 

[40Hz]

Can’t speak for everyone. But I find picking that up a piece of new gear for the first time is inspiring. I play differently. I get new ideas. Occasionally, something that was difficult to play on another bass becomes far easier when played on a different bass.

It’s easy to get jaded or fall into a rut after you’ve been playing for awhile. Sometimes getting yourself something new lets you recapture a little of that magic feeling and sense of wonder you experienced when bass was a whole new thing to you.

 

[Artman]

I have the same problem. I’ve recently made a new personal rule that no amp, cab, or instrument comes home with me unless I first sell one away.

 

[dalkowski]

I barely play these days yet I still want to plunk down $199 to pre-order a shell pink bronco from CME that might never leave the closet. Shiny-Pretty-Object-Syndrome.

 

[groovaholic]

“I wish I’d have kept it…”

Those words are defining my recent purchases; I’ve been re-acquiring things that had staying power in my quest for tone, but that I parted ways with (for various reasons).

So, my current lineup of basses only includes basses that occupied my #1 spot for multiple years.

My first bass was an ‘84 Squier Precision, I traded it to get #2, but missed that P-Bass, so when I found a beat up (but great playing) ‘83 Squier for $89, it was an instant purchase.

That #2 bass has been with me for 33 years; it still sounds great.

From 1994 to 2003, my #1 was an Ernie Ball Sterling - I sold it in 2007 when I was playing 5-strings exclusively. A couple weeks ago, I found it’s twin on Reverb, and it’s SO similar to my old bass that I got chills when I first played it.

I started playing Dingwall basses in 2003, and they’ve been IT for me. I went to a 4-string Dingwall in 2016, and that bass has felt like home ever since…

So those are the 4 basses that I own, and they all represent different stages of my development as a player.

 

[Bad Bob]

Because when we are young and starting out, we cannot afford quality basses and amps and have to frustratingly make do with what we have. Even as we proceed in life and can acquire quality gear, we experience that feeling that we want more, different, better....
That burning desire, created for me gigging in my teens with a clunky bass and an underpowered amp, never goes away.

 

[B-Mac]

View attachment 4298941
I guess you have to tuck both lios inside your mouth and shave straight down from nose to chin!

It’s missing a blade

 

[Dr. Cheese]

As always, I love the feedback I get when I post here. The thing I want to achieve in terms of gear is to upgrade my fretless situation in response to the loss of my Pedulla. Ordering a Status graphite fretless neck for my SBMM SR50 ticks a lot of boxes. The bass is a present from my wife, so it is in my permanent rotation. It sounds great too, and I have been a Stingray fan about as long as I have played basses. The interesting thing is that the one issue the bass had has been it’s neck, and graphite will take care of that. Finally, I am a big fan of graphite necks, and putting a graphite neck on my Stingray is way cheaper than buying a Modulus or Gould bass!

Thanks, Low End Lobster, for your video!

 

[Passinwind]

I have been sitting around letting some extra money coming my way burn a hole in my pockets thinking about what I can buy, and now I am thinking why? I could use a fretless upgrade, but I don’t need one. I certainly do not need another fretted bass. Why do I always want something else?

How about buying some gigs instead of another bass? Hire a good band and go forth and prosper.

 

[mrjim123]

I have 9 basses and have been relatively GAS free, until recently. The last thing I need is another jazz bass, but the Zebrawood, black hardware and neck spec of this beauty (Schecter J-4 Exotic) have me GAS'ing again:

 

[felis]

I have been sitting around letting some extra money coming my way burn a hole in my pockets thinking about what I can buy, and now I am thinking why? I could use a fretless upgrade, but I don’t need one. I certainly do not need another fretted bass. Why do I always want something else?

That's dangerous thinking.
If enough people realized that they don't have to constantly buy stuff, society could collapse,
and people might live like they have for most of history - using what the earth freely provides.

 

[arbitrary]

instant gratification is a helluva drug

 

[Cheez]

I have been sitting around letting some extra money...………………….

"Extra Money"? Very nice.

 

[Jonathan C]

I don't need another bass, another amp, or cab! I've spent too much in the past year acquiring new gear, or modifying existing gear and have not played a single gig. What is the fascination with getting new gear without having the joy of performing outside the house with it? Soon my new bride and I will join our bank accounts together and all of this foolishness will cease!! (Unless I hurry up and increase my credit line with Sweetwater, and open some new music store credit accounts.)

 

[singlemalt]

It’s a habit. You raised it from a cute little baby monkey. Groomed it, fed it, lavished it with attention and praise and rewards.

And man, did you ever do an excellent job!

Now it’s a big healthy monkey and it loves doing what you trained it to do: go find cool new stuff, indulge in the research (acquisition foreplay), justifying the need, and putting down cash.

This monkey has some serious chops.

He lets you know when he might be getting hungry, and he’s not shy about if he needs feeding. Can be quite insistent about it.

That’s why.

 

[JRA]

Why?


without even understanding (or caring about) "why?" it still behooves most of us to tackle the "what" = what am i going to do about it? (it = "why?")

many TB folks have 'rules' for self-regulation:
- no more than a certain number of axes.
- "one in, one out."
- dollar/price limits.
- giving away (and donating) axes.
- yada yada

i think a new fretless neck is a good plan! also: how can anyone ever have too many fretless necks?!*


i hope a new neck works out for you, doc!


* TBH: i have a half dozen fretless necks hanging on a wall.....they're waiting. for something.

 

[Jack Butler]

...At this point I’ve almost come to terms with the fact that for me, seeking, buying, and owning musical gear is fun for its own sake. Using it is great, but I have more than enough for many lifetimes already.

Whataya gunna do? Just sayin.

This. I tend to keep it simple these days because I'm becoming something of a minimalist in life overall, so I don't have a huge gear collection. That said, whether from a quantity or quality standpoint, I like the gear aspect of it for it's own sake. I have a nice Gibson acoustic guitar that I just marvel at the sound and workmanship every time I pick it up. There is no justification for me to own that guitar based on my abilities. A $200 Epiphone would likely be more in line with my skillsBut I get a lot of joy I from owning it, I smile every time I pick it up. Plus, I don't treat musical equipment as legit investments like mutual funds or something, but that guitar is worth almost twice what I paid for it. So I'll get to enjoy the heck out of it, and sell it(or my kids will) for 3x+ of what I purchased it for.