mcnach Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 I'm afflicted with GAS like the vast majority here, judging by the posts I see. Lately I've gone through a phase where I've been letting some instruments go and trying to rationalise my "collection" (for there's no better name for it), as I realised that over the past year I could have just owned two basses and I would not have really missed anything. Still, I like shiny new objects. I must have been a magpie in a previous life Between Thursday and Friday, however, I've gone "wow, I love this" several times, about gear I already have and that it just works and sounds great. Little things... 1) Entwistle neodimium Precision pickups. I have this little Mike Dirnt Squier Precision I got for peanuts a while ago, for no reason, which has a really nice neck and became my "throw around" bass. A bass that works well that I'm not too precious about so I use it when we go busking as a band and in other situations where there is a high risk of it being mistreated or misplaced. I recently decided to replace its pickup with one of those Entwistle neodimium pickups. They were cheap and I keep hearing wonderful things about them. They do sound very good. It transformed the bass. So, on Thursday I used it for my band's rehearsal. I was late because of work, so when I arrived they were starting one of our newest songs, practicing for Friday's gig. I am listening while I set up my things, and I just joined after a chorus. First impression... "damn! bass just makes any song better!" and second "damn! this bass sounds fantastic!". Those pickups are brilliant! I have a Maruszczyc in order (P/J) coming in 2-3 weeks now (see? I told you I have GAS) for which I did not specify any particular pickups as I like to hear a bass first before deciding on changing things... and an Entwistle P/J set will be just the thing if I think the originals are not inspiring enough. The screw polepieces are not very pretty, but it sounds so good, I don't mind! 2) Fender Precision Classic 50 Gig on Friday. As usual, the Precision comes out. Bloody brilliant. That's all. What a great bass! Nice wide fingerboard, meaty neck, comfortable, and with the snap of the DR Fat Beams (steel), this bass is just the best sounding and playing bass I currently own (sorry Stingray ). I barely play it at home, and then I take it on gigs and everytime I end up thinking "why do I bother with any other bass?". Ok, the Stingray will stay, and a Jazz or two but, seriously, the "lowly" Precision can do so much more than people often give it credit for. 3) MarkBass CMD121P combo. Last night's gig was one of many where I only need a stage monitor. There is an Ampeg 410 and PF350 head provided, but I'm not a fan. So I generally bring my own amp to these gigs. It can be a single cab and a GB head, or the MarkBass combo. Last night it was the combo. Tiny, yet powerful enough, and just sounds great. So much sound in such little box! One of the best purchases I have ever made. This small combo is a jewel. The Precision through this was great last night: a bit of ska, a bit of funk, some reggae hints here and there, 98% fingerstyle, some slap. I loved it. I just use an EBS Multicomp pedal set to "multiband" for a bit of compression, I love what that pedal does... it's not transparent but I love the colour it confers. Smiles. 4) Sue Ryder bass. Yes, you heard it. A few years ago I bought three of the beasts to play around with. I didn't even like Precisions then! One was stripped, and I never finished the "project", sold recently as a set of parts. Another one was modified with a new pickguard and a Wizard pickup, and apart from the odd busking session and appearing in one video of my band I barely paid attention to it. I played one gig with it, I think. So I sold it too, last month. The third one... the third one was converted to fretless and installed a Model P pickup on it. Nylon tapewound strings. I have had other fretless basses, but this is the only one I have now, and it's a hoot to play! I just spent an hour this morning (girlfriend away for the weekend, I can make noise! Yay! ) jamming along to a Lettuce album with the Sue Ryder fretless... GAS... [i]"GAS[/i], huh, yeah. What is it good for. Absolutely nothing. Say it again, y'all. [i]GAS[/i], huh, good God What is it good for. Absolutely nothing" Ok, it is fun, 'though. However, sometimes a lot of us get too focused on gear and forget that we probably already own all we really need to have fun playing music, and we should focus on that more. Much more rewarding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 I'm TOTALLY happy with what I've got. I just need ONE more bass and ONE more amp, and I'll be there... Absolutely agree with you about the Precision Bass. It was my only bass for decades, and it looks like the wheel has come full circle... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 Macnach back in the day... [quote name='mcnach'] Gig on Friday. As usual, one of the OLPs comes out. [/quote] Macnach a year or so later [quote name='mcnach'] Gig on Friday. As usual, the Stingray comes out. [/quote] Macnach a bit later [quote name='mcnach'] Gig on Friday. As usual, I couldn't decide between my Stingray and my Jazz with a MM pickup. [/quote] Macnach later still [quote name='mcnach'] Gig on Friday. As usual, the Stingray comes out. [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 Macnach the next year [quote name='mcnach'] Gig on Friday. As usual, the Jazz comes out. [/quote] Macnach the last year [quote name='mcnach'] Gig on Friday. Bl***y hell - Precisions aren't as awful as I thought. [/quote] Macnach yesterday [quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1431772150' post='2774777'] Gig on Friday. As usual, the Precision comes out [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 I recently went through this, and have realised that the gear I have is what works best for me. Sure there are items I`d love such as a full valve-amp and 810 but they wouldn`t work for me, due to not being able to lift/transport them. So, aside from tuner and pre-amp/DI pedal, I now have two of everything, 78 Precision, Aguilar Tonehammer, Barefaced Super 12T. Sure I`d love a range of different amps, cabs and basses, but I`ve come to the conclusion that if there are any sounds that can`t be achieved with the items I have, in all likelyhood they are sounds I`m unlikely to want/need to make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 [quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1431777557' post='2774854'] Macnach back in the day... Macnach a year or so later... Macnach a bit later... Macnach later still [/quote] [quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1431777565' post='2774855'] Macnach the next year... Macnach the last year... Macnach yesterday [/quote] Brilliantly researched and hilarious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shockwave Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 Pretty happy with what I got at the moment. Took me a number of years to find a Stingray that was light, played great and sounded great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1431778031' post='2774861'] ...if there are any sounds that can't be achieved with the items I have, in all likelihood they are sounds I'm unlikely to want/need to make. [/quote] It's taken me four or five years and thousands of pounds to come to the same conclusion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1431778077' post='2774862'] Brilliantly researched and hilarious. [/quote] And there was me thinking - bloody hell, stalker alert, I bet Mcnach's relieved that Luke doesn't still live in Edinburgh! But yeah - I think I'm about as GAS-free & unattached to gear as I've ever been. Only last week I swapped a bass & head as part-payment for some building work. ...Hope he looks after it, though... Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 [quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1431778792' post='2774882'] Only last week I swapped a bass & head as part-payment for some building work. [/quote] Presumably he's into hardcore..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1431778904' post='2774885'] Presumably he's into hardcore..? [/quote] Tbh I can't profess to that level of familiarity with his taste in pornography. I'll ask next time I see him. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 I have 3 basses, 2 of which need to be sold, because the only way they are going to be gigged is if the P bass is stolen. There are 2 cabs, a 212 and a 112. That's the minimum i need. And out of the 3 amps I own, 2 are used regularly, and the 3rd is a backup. I am always looking at info on gear and other players, but as for GAS? Not interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 No 1 rig is sorted but I have some new cabs coming and will want to run that as a lightweight rig but already I have my eye on a possible upgrade amp-wise... and that is more about the power output than the sound. That will leave me with a minimum of 3 amps... which means 1 is spare and never gets used,. As for basses, I have an idea about a AC J5 but it will probably spell the end on another bass so I have to be sure it is a viable better bass for me... Failing that, I might finally go for that commission I've been thinking about for some time...or just get a Fender Am Deluxe J5 ..?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1431780360' post='2774917'] I might finally go for that commission I've been thinking about for some time...or just get a Fender Am Deluxe J5 ..?? [/quote] My 2p - go for the Am Deluxe, it's more likely to hold its value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1431780890' post='2774926'] My 2p - go for the Am Deluxe, it's more likely to hold its value. [/quote] Yup... it may be a factor. The AC will be second hand so hopefully that price will stay there or thereabouts..? I don't fancy the AM D at new ...so will pay around £k I think, so the loss will likely be in the commission and if I'm spending that sort of money, maybe the AC prices come into play as well..?? Depends what I see for sale and when... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted May 16, 2015 Author Share Posted May 16, 2015 (edited) [quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1431777557' post='2774854'] Macnach back in the day... Macnach a year or so later Macnach a bit later Macnach later still [/quote] That's before I became I born-again Precisionist... Man, I've seen thiiiings! I still play the Stingray, there's no danger of me selling that bass anytime soon, in fact I just had its neck lacquered to make it even more delicious -for me-... but I only really play in one band these days, and the Precision works best. I used to be in the RHCP band (Stingray) and the RATM one (Stingray), in addition to SBK (eclectic mix of funky-ska with lashes of reggae/blues/rock, for which the Stingray and a Jazz were the usual weapons)... and I was dabbling with a couple of funk projects that did not get far... so the Stingray was deeply ingrained in me. When I was left with SBK only, the Precision came round and said "hellooo there, handsome"... and she never left [b]edit:[/b] ah! I hadn't yet seen the next message documenting my transition well done! My two favourite basses: Stingray and Precision were originally the two basses I never thought I'd play. One was ugly and the other sounded booooring. I thought Jazz was the only way. Now I have a bunch of Jazz basses decorating my walls when I play a Precision and a Stingray. Life... Edited May 16, 2015 by mcnach Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted May 16, 2015 Author Share Posted May 16, 2015 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1431778077' post='2774862'] Brilliantly researched and hilarious. [/quote] LukeFRC has a good memory, watch out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 I am happy with what I've got. However GAS is rising for doing my own scratch build... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbytodd Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 I always wanted different gear until I got my genz streamliner and lakland dj4.now im happy with what I have Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 (edited) I'm happy, you know I rarely gig with my P Basses. Blue Edited May 16, 2015 by blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChunkyMunky Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 http://i893.photobucket.com/albums/ac132/ChunkyMunky92/ScreenShot2014-09-20at204103_zps14ff8e0c.png The Musicman Bongo, of course! Cringey picture but still. At least the Bongo looks sweet as! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 [quote name='ChunkyMunky' timestamp='1431822228' post='2775371'] [url="http://i893.photobucket.com/albums/ac132/ChunkyMunky92/ScreenShot2014-09-20at204103_zps14ff8e0c.png"]http://i893.photobuc...zps14ff8e0c.png[/url] [/quote] Loving the pointy shoes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChunkyMunky Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1431823653' post='2775375'] Loving the pointy shoes... [/quote] Having size 13 feet don't help much, I can assure you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 [quote name='ChunkyMunky' timestamp='1431823856' post='2775376'] Having size 13 feet don't help much, I can assure you! [/quote] Must be good for stability with the Bongo? Stability-with-the-Bongo... it's a small village in Gloucestershire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChunkyMunky Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1431824073' post='2775377'] Must be good for stability with the Bongo? Stability-with-the-Bongo... it's a small village in Gloucestershire. [/quote] The Bongo is awesome but standing up, it has a ridiculous amount of neckdive. The Mono strap kind of helps a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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