So...Has anyone here actually beat GAS?

#221
js1 said:
Yeah, I have.

Once I realized that I sound like ME through whatever I played, and that all the subtleties of pedals were lost on the audience, I settled on equipment that I enjoyed playing, sized for the gigs, and was lightweight with a quick setup. My two basses also record well.

The only thing I'm planning on buying is a cheap. ultralight amp backup, so I can stop carrying a big amp as a backup.

I frequently get compliments on my sound, and I know there's no gear that will make me play better. GAS gone.
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Subtleties lost on an an audience... so true. Just as a fiddle player's extras would be lost on me, so my detritus I carry round is probably only beneficial to the ears or the occasional bass player who might just be at a gig now and then. You've got me thinking about priorities.
 
#223
Avoid buying bass or guitar magazines as they tend to be 60% adverts / 40% articles of which half the articles are gear reviews, so are adverts by proxy.

Then unsubscribe from any emails that come from music gear stores or equipment suppliers.

That should help; if it doesn’t then give your spare cash to some poor needy soul...
like a hard up bass player!
 
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#226
I think I've got it licked. Actually started selling basses and rarely even play except at home. I've solved the problem by spending a lot more and buying trombones--currently holding at four but look for more every day.
 
#227
I haven't overcome GAS, but I've beat it back to a manageable level by following a bit of advice from somewhere (I don't remember where I originally heard it). If I have a GAS attack for a new axe, I do a string change and/or setup on one I already own, and sometimes that creates such an improvement that it feels like having a new instrument. Of course, that doesn't help much with amps, cabs, pedals, etc.
 
#228
chris_b said:
If I have GAS I don't appear to be doing it right!!

I had a brief spell of madness about 3 years ago. I bought 4 basses in as many months. I kept the best and sold the rest.

The 4 sting P bass that I bought in 1969 is in the house somewhere. I've owned my Lull PJ5 since 2011 and my Sadowsky RV5 since 2016. If I find a better bass I'll replace one of these, but that's not GAS it's upgrading. In reality I've stopped looking.
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that's how I feel... I have the fodera emperor standard 5, sadowsky NYC m524, fender jazz elite 5, and a Ken Smith bsr6mw. I don't feel the need to search/ purchase any more.
 
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#229
SlowpokeJoe said:
Hello, my name is Joe and I’m a GASoholic...I no longer can clearly say how many basses I have without having to stop and think.

It’s over 15 but less than 20, I think.

Have any of you fine readers actually made it back to the the ranks of only 1 or 2 bass ownership after “collecting” 10 plus basses?

Is there hope?
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Hello, my name is Hans and I’m a GASoholic...
I have owned, bought, sold and craved for so many basses I really lost count.

BUT THERE IS HOPE, BROTHER!

For after all that ado I have purified my soul, perfected my technique and limited my playing style and choise of music I play. And that, O Brother Gasoholico has saved me! AMEN!

YESSIRRIE! I AM saved!

I have learned that all the pre-amps in the world, all the knobs and switches, fine woods and more expensive models have not made me a better player. And that, my friend, is what it actually is all about!
So I have humbled myself and chosen the path of simplicity. I have rejected all them luxuries and I have learned to enjoy the passive, one pu, two-knobbed instrument. HALLELUJAAAAAH!!!

I now no longer crave for more; be it number of instruments, pu's or knobs. And I have also found myself (almost) free of GAS by this chosen path.

SO, YES BROTHER, THERE IS HOPE!

May you see the light soon and be saved!
 
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#231
Hello, my name is jeffro and I'm a Bassaholic. Only yesterday I went ape$#!% and bought a '78 B.C.Rich Mockingbird. Couldn't stop myself. I am not saying it was a bad move, but maybe I didn't NEED it...Wait..... What am I saying.... I HAD to have her!, I honestly think she is actually my old Bass from about 20 years ago, really, so there's that, anyway..
 
#235
My wife made a comment after my brother moved to a new place and returned 10 guitars and basses he was storing for me. You know your daughet will sell these at a garage sale. So 50+ guitars and 20+ basses later, I'm out of GAS. Down to 6 basses and about 15 guitars. (do not play guitar, barely remember basic chords). Have left notes and pictures explaining the value of each instrument. But I still crouse pawn shps and the net. never know?
 
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#238
3bc said:
I have. Read The Power of Now. My gas was cured before I did, but the book reaffirmed feelings I had been having for some time and articulated them very well.

Cliff notes:
1. Lots of psycho babble b.s.
2. The endless pursuit of material wealth/success/possessions will only bring with it more suffering and misery
3. Nothing lasts forever (see above)
4. The only true peace/happiness in this world is accepting who/what/where you are, right here and now
5. You are not who you think you are
6. You are enslaved by a mind that you can’t turn off, that is incessantly thinking about the past and future, judging yourself and others and you’ve come to identify that mind and those thoughts as being you (see above)
7. All of the above reinforces the fact that all you really have, and all that really matters is the present moment, and your relationship with it.

When was the last time you ate a great meal and felt satiated? Like that great meal was enough and you weren’t immediately looking forward to the next great meal you might experience?

Happiness or contentment that is conditional upon materialism, future experiences, etc. is a fools errand.
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^This.

So, in other words, Buddhism?
 
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#239
getting old said:
My wife made a comment after my brother moved to a new place and returned 10 guitars and basses he was storing for me. You know your daughet will sell these at a garage sale. So 50+ guitars and 20+ basses later, I'm out of GAS. Down to 6 basses and about 15 guitars. (do not play guitar, barely remember basic chords). Have left notes and pictures explaining the value of each instrument. But I still crouse pawn shps and the net. never know?
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Sounds familiar... I used to play a lot of guitar, have quite a few, but so long since I gigged them (or even played them at all) wouldn't feel at all confident about even the easy stuff.
 
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#240
SlowpokeJoe said:
Hello, my name is Joe and I’m a GASoholic...I no longer can clearly say how many basses I have without having to stop and think.

It’s over 15 but less than 20, I think.

Have any of you fine readers actually made it back to the the ranks of only 1 or 2 bass ownership after “collecting” 10 plus basses?

Is there hope?
Click to expand...

Males have been collecting 'things' for thousands of years. It started with sticks to make spears out of, rocks to make axes, oddly shaped bit of wood to make other things. Eventually as manufactured items became available, this instinctive trend continued - and ended up with you - and others - collecting things like bass guitars. As long as it's not negatively affecting anyone else - or yourself - I wouldn't worry about it...
 
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