Bloc Riff Nut Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Earlier this week I had an attack of G.A.S. I couldn't stop myself searching the Amps For Sale section. I ended up buying one, and now I'm feeling much better. Does Gear Acquisition Syndrome only refer to musical gear, or is it applied to other interests/hobbies? The abbreviation itself sounds quite young, I wonder how old it is. Anyway, I'm just glad its over. I'm off to put my old amp up for sale [size=4] [/size][size=4] [/size] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 I believed its common to most hobbies. I used to think my camera was limiting me but now I know I don't use it's full capabilities , it's also true though that some cameras are easier to achieve good results from than others Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigjas Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 The more hobbies/interests you have, the more GAS you have....... I have GAS and it's crippling my bank account due to the many hobbies I have. Jas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alyctes Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 It's a way to avoid actually buckling down and learning stuff... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 True, generally it means you're in a rut with your playing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 People usually buy stuff irrationally because they think it will make them happier. It does, temporarily, which is why they keep doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 I've recently been reading about the activity of collecting (which is mentioned in the book 'A Field Guide to Melancholy' and it can be connected to existential anxiety) and I recognise the symptoms in myself (music collection, books, and now basses... ). Here are a couple more comments: [i]Kim A. Herzinger, an English professor, award-winning author and avid collector, provides yet another twist on obsession with collecting. "Collecting is a means by which one relieves a basic sense of incompletion brought on by unfulfilled childhood needs,” Herzinger said. “It functions as a form of wish fulfillment, which eases deep-rooted uncertainties and existential dread.” Psychologist Werner Muensterberger shares Herzinger’s idea. In his book titled “Collecting: An Unruly Passion: Psychological Perspectives,” Muensterberger says that control of the object collected brings “relief of the child’s anxiety and frustration that comes with feeling helpless and being alone.”[/i] from http://www.horizonlines.org/volume4/about/why/ Now I'm not saying that all of us 'suffering' with GAS do so because of the same reasons or that we should worry that we enjoy looking for and buying equipment but I would argue that the introduction of something new (to us) does inject fresh energy into the activity and a great deal of personal taste is involved in finding instruments and amps that offer the sound and playability that assist us in expressing ourselves, hence the familiar (and for some, seemingly never-ending) search for that 'perfect' bass and rig... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skybone Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 (edited) Either that, or just rampant consumerism. Companies make stuff and then need to sell it for them to (hopefully) make a profit and continue to make more stuff. Consumers need to purchase stuff made by said companies, but if their old stuff still works or they can't afford new stuff, then the old stuff will have to make do until such a time as they can afford to buy more stuff. Companies therefore employ Advertisers and Promoters to give their stuff a higher profile, and thus generate a "demand" for their stuff, so that they can sell more stuff and turn a profit. The more stuff you sell, the more profit you make, therefore the more profit you make, the more stuff you can make, therefore the increased need to advertise and promote new stuff as being "better" than the old stuff, therefore appealing to the Consumer's supposed "need" to acquire new stuff, because it's better than the old stuff. Unfortunately, in the meantime, the old stuff that's been sold on to Consumer's who have less disposable income, but who still have the desire to own stuff, has now acquired "Vintage" status, and is now desired more highly than the new stuff, therefore driving up demand and therefore price. The Companies see this and decide to make and sell new stuff that is made to the same (or similar) specification to the old stuff, and can therefore charge a premium for it. Then they get some blokes in a workshop to knock the new stuff around for a bit, and then sell the new stuff as "Aged" stuff, and charge even more for it... Edited March 26, 2014 by Skybone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muttley Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 N = n+1 is a fundamental rule in life... where: N = the number of <basses, amps, other musical instruments, cameras, bicycles, etc> needed n = the number of <basses, amps, other musical instruments, cameras, bicycles, etc> currently owned QED Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truckstop Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 I think it's a symptom of people being paid too much these days. I rarely buy things because I have no money (or rather, I have more important things to spend on). When I have money or get some sort of windfall, stuff gets bought! Truckstop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 The existence of GAS is a form of proof of the old adage: "Everything in moderation ... including moderation." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 I think GAS when connected to a 2nd hand market that almost allows you to rent whatever bass or amp you desire is fine Its only when buying new that we should be aware that it is going to be unrecoverable money spent , and the any rash purchase is like throwing money away, meaning your GAS is out of control Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skybone Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 "Need" vs "Want" Do you NEED something or do you just WANT it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 There's a difference? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skybone Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 Do you need to eat food to survive or just want to eat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 What's an emoticon between friends? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 [quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1395834426' post='2406810'] There's a difference? [/quote] Edited to avoid people thinking I was being serious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 GAS mostly comes from not playing enough with the gear you already have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immo Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 This may seem obvious and a form of excuse, but, good grief, some gear just LOOKS mighty fine and you want it because you want to look at it with pride and joy. Other than that, GAS comes from compensation of unfulfilled needs and/or lack of actual practice, like many wise Basschaters above mentioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 I've just accidentally bought another amp. Oops. A lot of it is down to carelessness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leroydiamond Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 [quote name='alyctes' timestamp='1395793405' post='2406504'] It's a way to avoid actually buckling down and learning stuff... [/quote] [quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1395794920' post='2406518'] True, generally it means you're in a rut with your playing [/quote] [quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1395816724' post='2406561'] People usually buy stuff irrationally because they think it will make them happier. It does, temporarily, which is why they keep doing it. [/quote] [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1395844925' post='2407036'] GAS mostly comes from not playing enough with the gear you already have. [/quote] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]All of these. I recently heard a guy play a cheap Squire through a Markbass 1X12 combo with no P.A. support and his tone sounded fabulous. We spoke after the gig and he told me he had been playing with the same gear for over 10 years and had no intention of spending money any time soon on equipment. He reckoned that the gear he had was as good as he needed, and after hearing him I had no hesitation in agreeing.[/font][/color] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 When I was in a band, I hardly bought anything and was happy with my sound. Now I'm not, I'm still happy with my sound, but because I have some disposable income, I buy and sell a lot of (mainly used) gear. Everything can be sold on again, and if I end up making a loss I just see it as a rental fee in return for me getting to play with new toys all the time! I want to join another band sometime this year, but I don't really have the time, I'm too busy messing around with different basses/amps/pedals! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-bbb Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 Sheryl Crow even sang about it I don't have digital I don't have diddly squat It's not having what you want It's wanting what you've got [url="http://youtu.be/KIYiGA_rIls"]http://youtu.be/KIYiGA_rIls[/url] however...... you can tell by his equipment that this young man has some serious GAS issues [url="http://youtu.be/rNzt3uNEVxU"]http://youtu.be/rNzt3uNEVxU[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyboo Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 [quote]if I end up making a loss I just see it as a rental fee in return for me getting to play with new toys all the time![/quote] I should not have read this, now I have an excuse! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 I have GAS a lot ! I find that I spend too much time looking at the inter web and thinking I need this or that instead of playing the stuff I already own! Its fun but financially crippling! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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