Controlling the GAS

[ch willie]

I don't think I'm the only one of us who is obsessed about guitars and who wants soooo many that we see. I do have OCD, and I've always figured out a way to get whatever guitar that I wanted, to a limit. Burned to get it. Well, I have resisted GAS for six months. I've learned that I don't HAVE to move on to something different, that I don't have to have something right now. I've been penny wise and pound foolish over the years.

I have a $5 uke that i need to attack with the same energy that I would attack a shiny new SG or better a Gaskell Explorer (The objects of my present OCD). I'll wait until I can really afford it before I go for a set neck mahogany lefty.

Anybody relate?

[Gravity Jim]

When I start daydreaming about some piece of gear, I do two things:

1. Go play one.
2. Go home and play what I have.

One of two things happens:

1. I realize it's not as good or any better than what I already own;
2. I realize I don't make better music on the desired precious.

Not suggesting there's anything wrong with buying guitars the way women buy shoes and purses: if that's what you want, knock yourself out. But if the goal is to play better, sound better... Gear that does that is pretty rare. Unless your stuff is real cheap, you probably get farther by getting intimately connected to what you own.

[phantomman]

Unless your stuff is real cheap, you probably get farther by getting intimately connected to what you own.

+1

As many times as I have succumbed to the "dark side" of temptation, I'm forced to agree with Jim.

(unless you have a mega-wad burning a hole through the pocket of your chinos).

[ch willie]

I'm with you guys. That's what I've learned too--after too long of a time. It's really under control now. I haven't even bought a pick in 6 months.

[Rickenjangle]

I've been penny wise and pound foolish over the years...

Anybody relate?

Yep - I have picked up a new electric guitar, a new amp, and a few new pedals lately - and this is generally an OK thing because I make enough money by playing out in the summer to fund my habit - but recently I was in a situation and I think I might have chosen poorly...

I need to get my old faithful Taylor 414CE partially refretted sometime soon...and I needed a backup - or to completely take my old pal off the road, she's an old girl...so I started playing cheaper guitars at stores. Nothing really was awesome but i did like a $500 Takamine. Then I picked up a $1000 Taylor - a 214CE Deluxe (which is still cheap for Taylors) and fell in love with it...but didn't want to tie up that many $$ for a backup.

Found a nice Takamine on CL for not a lot of buxxx. Picked it up - used it this weekend...and it sounds tinny amplified and probably needs a pro setup and maybe a new freakin' nut, and it's not at all like I'm used to hearing from my Taylor. To the point that I'm thinking of getting the damn Taylor 214 also even though I didn't want to deplete my savings. So I "saved" money on the Takamine (not a bad guitar, mind you - just not performing at the level that I am expecting) but in the end might be out more money to get the guitar I probably "should" have gotten in the first place.

GRRRRR! Lesson learned.

[Old Ranger]

I can be long winded, so I'll try to keep this short.
Since around the beginning of the '60s to now I've gone through well over 175 guitars (as best I can recall) most of which stayed with me for only a short while and just a select few for many years. Same thing with amps as I lost count when it was over 50 that I had owned and sold/traded. Here's my point:

Guitars are nothing more than a mass of wood, metal, and plastic. Stuffed with a few electronic parts for most. They are not living animate beings to be called "She" or "Her" and such. They're tools for creating or mimicking musical notes. Nothing more. Many may think I'm being an a$$hole saying this, but if you work on them for decades then you'll understand. They're inanimate objects that require maintenance, years of practice to master, and most of all are.... EXPENSIVE!

How do I control the GAS? Simple.

1. see above statements.

2. I'm retired, living on piddly chump change from Social Security and a monthly pension from the PD. In short, I"M ALWAYS FRIGGIN' BROKE!!!

Case closed. (Told ya I was the resident grumpy old man! )