Thoughts on GAS and energy levels

[project_c]

Some thoughts on energy levels, apathy and GAS. This may apply to you or not, but I've noticed that those 3 things are closely connected for me. I've noticed recently that if I pick up a bass first thing in the morning before the rest of the day starts, I connect with it a lot better, which means I play better, which means it makes a better sound. If on the other hand I pick up the same bass after a stressy day, or straight after eating a massive dinner, my energy levels are low and I have trouble concentrating, that same bass sounds very different, I can't connect with it and start finding problems with the tone or the setup. And that inevitably leads to GAS. But increasingly I'm realising that the problems are really down to me and my mood. The bass has not changed since the morning, but my energy levels and general state of mind has. I think it's all down to the physicality of the instrument, it responds to your playing by reflecting whatever mood you project into it. So if you're alert and energetic, your playing sounds alert and energetic. If you're tired, your bass sounds weird and lumpen.

So I suppose the point of this is before you get rid of that bass you just spent 2 grand on, you should play it in the right frame of mind first. (not saying this will cure all GAS, but in my case, sometimes I'm the problem, not the bass).

[FuNkShUi]

[quote name='project_c' timestamp='1465289039' post='3066727']
But increasingly I'm realising that the problems are really down to me
[/quote]

Took me a long while to realise this. GAS is akin to chasing the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
The problem was usually me. Being too fussy about this or that. Things that had no real consequence in a band dynamic.
There's nothing wrong with having GAS, but the harsh truth of the matter is we sometimes need to look closer to home to fix some of our perceived problems!!

[cheddatom]

This is more obvious to me on drums. When I'm in the right mood, nothing matters, I just sit down and play. When I'm in the wrong mood, I'm constantly moving stands and drums, tightening things, basically blaming everything I can possibly think of except myself for my lacklustre performance.

[bartelby]

I suffer from ME/CFS. When I'm having a rough day, where I have enough energy to even think about playing bass, my playing is utter crap. Not far off a decent beginners ability.

When I'm having a good day I'm a completely different player and best of all it doesn't cause agony the following day!


But I understand what's going on, so don't instantly think I need a new bass...

Well, no more than usual anyway.

Edited June 7, 2016 by bartelby

[Machines]

I find boredom is a big factor. At the moment I REALLY want a red Precision with a maple neck. It won't do anything my existing instruments can't but it looks nice.

When I take a break from all my instruments I come back to them and I swear they sound better than when I last played them.

[Coilte]

[quote name='bartelby' timestamp='1465292310' post='3066760']
I understand what's going on, so don't instantly think I need a new bass...
[/quote]

+1 to the above..

Often, as soon as I pick up the bass, even before I strap it on, I have a good idea of how my playing/practice session is going to be. Most times my perception is correct, but the odd time, after ten to fifteen minutes of playing, the "good time...happy feeling.." kicks in.

On the other hand, I know lots of people, who, after a stressful day, look forward to coming home, strapping on the bass, and chilling out by practicing or playing along to music they like.

[Roger2611]

[quote name='Machines' timestamp='1465295589' post='3066812']
I find boredom is a big factor. At the moment I REALLY want a red Precision with a maple neck. It won't do anything my existing instruments can't but it looks nice.

When I take a break from all my instruments I come back to them and I swear they sound better than when I last played them.
[/quote]

One possible fix is to learn to paint bodies yourself, that way you can get a new bass everytime you want one, I have a couple that change colour on a regular basis

[Lozz196]

I constantly lust after basses such as Jazzes, Stingrays, Precisons with Jazz pickups etc. And then I find out once I`ve bought them that I only like the sound of a Precision in my hands, everything else sounds wrong. So I`m trying to be strong and not get anything else - though an original Jazz Bass Special would be welcome, due to my much-liking of Duff McKagan.

[Wonky2]

[quote name='bartelby' timestamp='1465292310' post='3066760']
I suffer from ME/CFS. When I'm having a rough day, where I have enough energy to even think about playing bass, my playing is utter crap. Not far off a decent beginners ability.

When I'm having a good day I'm a completely different player and best of all it doesn't cause agony the following day!


But I understand what's going on, so don't instantly think I need a new bass...

Well, no more than usual anyway.
[/quote]

Feel your pain buddy, hope you can keep up playing for as long as it makes you happy.
I suffer with Ankylosing spondylitis and fibromyalgia , between the two, chronic pain and fatigue gets in the way of playing due to low energy...lugging gear, especially my Dbass is horrible and I'm often DOA hahaha... I play regularly but gigs need careful preparation and the pressure of being "bad" on the night adds to the whole thing.... Has stopped me committing to a regular gigging band who keep asking me to join them...
I pick up my bass daily and play, sometimes like a dead slug, other times like the badass groove machine I used to be...
Energy, or lack of it, most certainly can make you play poorly. And yes, this can often lead to a "falling out" with a bass....

The best bass in my Arsenal for dealing with it all is my music man sterling, small, light, plays phenominally well and sounds killer. Would highly recommend..... (Doh! Hope that doesn't lead to fatigue related gas) hahahaha

[project_c]

A sort of workaround I have for those times when energy levels are low and thing are sounding bad is I use those times for technical exercises or transcribing or just shedding and metronome stuff. If you're practicing scales or something similar, the sound you make doesn't matter so much, you tend to focus on the task rather than the 'feely' stuff which needs creativity and inspiration. And often warming up by doing an hour of technical stuff gets your brain in the mood for creative playing anyway. I did that today in fact, had a day of tedious meetings, got back to my home studio and just stared into space, zero inspiration, but I know I have tunes I need to learn and rehearsals to prepare for so I just did some technical excercises around the tunes I'm learning and within an hour I was back on track, buzzing and ready to play properly.

Edited June 7, 2016 by project_c

[Dazed]

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1465329159' post='3067281']
I constantly lust after basses such as Jazzes, Stingrays, Precisons with Jazz pickups etc. And then I find out once I`ve bought them that I only like the sound of a Precision in my hands, everything else sounds wrong. So I`m trying to be strong and not get anything else - though an original Jazz Bass Special would be welcome, due to my much-liking of Duff McKagan.
[/quote]


http://bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Fender_Duff_McKagan_2.html

[LewisK1975]

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1465329159' post='3067281']
I constantly lust after basses such as Jazzes, Stingrays, Precisons with Jazz pickups etc. And then I find out once I`ve bought them that I only like the sound of a Precision in my hands, everything else sounds wrong. So I`m trying to be strong and not get anything else - though an original Jazz Bass Special would be welcome, due to my much-liking of Duff McKagan.
[/quote]
[quote name='Dazed' timestamp='1465338298' post='3067423']
[url="http://bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Fender_Duff_McKagan_2.html"]http://bassdirect.co..._McKagan_2.html[/url]


[/quote]

I've had a few of those 80's Jazz Bass specials in my time. Back in about 2006 you could pick them up for about £225-£275, at least that's what I paid for the 3 that passed through my hands anyway. That one in BD is in excellent nick, but it has been modified, the bridge and pickups are non-original as far as I can tell. The original pickups in those Basses were Fender made, but had massive pole pieces like the Duncan SPB-3's. And the bridge was a black BBOT type. Like these shown on a TB thread (Sorry Lozz this won't help your GAS for one):

[url="https://www.talkbass.com/threads/fender-jazz-bass-special-circa-1984-87.716045/"]https://www.talkbass...1984-87.716045/[/url]

Still great basses, TBX tone control as well, makes them sound like no other Fender. I wouldn't pay £650 for one though.

Edited June 8, 2016 by LewisK1975

[project_c]

…and so, a thread about avoiding GAS turns into a thread about buying basses.

It's like an AA meeting where someone turns up with a huge bottle of whisky. We are all doomed.



[size=2]*That's a nice PJ though..[/size]

[LewisK1975]

[quote name='project_c' timestamp='1465388283' post='3067728']
…and so, a thread about avoiding GAS turns into a thread about buying basses.

It's like an AA meeting where someone turns up with a huge bottle of whisky. We are all doomed.



[size=2]*That's a nice PJ though..[/size]
[/quote]

Haha - I can stop anyti.. what's that? oooh shiny! buy it!

[keefbaker]

A lot of the time my GAS has been based around getting something I don't have such as a 5 string, an EUB or a blank-board fretless. But yeah, I totally think perception of your own playing is related to GAS. I played the same bass for 15 years, took a break, got crap and all of a sudden I now own a ton of basses.

So yeah, I have to agree with the OP on this one.

[Chiliwailer]

[quote name='project_c' timestamp='1465289039' post='3066727']

energy levels are low and I have trouble concentrating, that same bass sounds very different, I can't connect with it and start finding problems with the tone or the setup.

I think it's all down to the physicality of the instrument, it responds to your playing by reflecting whatever mood you project into it.

[/quote]

Those 2 points remind me of when I nearly sold my Modulus Flea a couple of times. If my energy is low then I get absolutely no joy from that bass, however rather than leading to GAS it used to lead to thinking of putting it up for sale without having another bass that was GAS lead in mind to replace it. These days I just pick up my P Bass which I find I can play in any mood.

IMO, continual GAS is more of an ugly psychological thing... 'If you're always wanting then you're never getting' type scenario, and usually just a sideways move. With thousands of amazing basses out there it's an easy trap to fall into and get caught up in.

I sold my collection a while back to buy my flat, and then 3 years ago started to rebuild. It was fun, and the GAS was fun too for a while as I bought and sold some great basses to see which ones would stick. Now it's gone on too long and GAS feels like my enemy, especially as I have 4 great basses and the best balance of basses that I've had since the collection I sold to buy my home.

For guys like us, I believe it's a case of the right collection of basses to suit mood and the style of the day.

[discreet]

My Hayman is uncomfortable and not particularly easy to play, but I don't care - because it sounds brilliant. It's not much fun to sit and noodle with (especially if you're tired), as it's a slab body and the action won't go low enough - but at a gig it's utterly fantastic. It repays an attacking kind of technique - you have to work hard at it to get the best out of it, but it is absolutely worth it.

Edited June 9, 2016 by discreet

[Chiliwailer]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1465497704' post='3068826']
My Hayman is uncomfortable and not particularly easy to play, but I don't care - because it sounds brilliant. It's not much fun to sit and noodle with (especially if you're tired), as it's a slab body and the action won't go low enough - but at a gig it's utterly fantastic. It repays an attacking kind of technique - you have to work hard at it to get the best out of it, but it is absolutely worth it.
[/quote]

Sounds just like my old heavy MM Sabre that had a twisted neck and high action, but man did it sound amazing.

Uh oh, here comes the GAS, be strong now Chili....

(BTW, If I could afford and be able to store loads of basses then I wouldn't even be posting here....).

[discreet]

[quote name='Chiliwailer' timestamp='1465498056' post='3068829']
Uh oh, here comes the GAS, be strong now Chili....
[/quote]

Schroeder cab gone, Streamliner gone, Zoom B1xon gone... Hayman remains.

[project_c]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1465499217' post='3068845']


Schroeder cab gone, Streamliner gone, Zoom B1xon gone... Hayman remains.


[/quote]

Love the necks on those basses, had a fight with myself a couple of years ago to resist buying a beat up Marathon I really didn't need. The neck felt great, like a snappy P neck but faster. I did think at the time that bass responded well to energetic playing and digging in.

[Grangur]

Have to agree with all of the above (with the exception of the red P bass: you're on your own on that one).

I also have GDS - Guitar Disposal Syndrome. I have 5 basses. My playing, as far as traditional bass playing goes, sucks. work prevents me from committing to being in a band. Most of this week I've worked until at least 10:00 at night. So I can't be arsed to get playing along to CDs/MP3s because, with no band to play with as and end result, doing that would be like doing "it" with an inflatable woman.

So I play bass while sight reading. It's ok. I like the sound of the basses and it's a way of doing something I can enjoy. The problem is I get guilt feelings at having basses sitting there and no hope of gigging. So all the time I'm reviewing if it should sell this bass, or that one. Then I put them up for sale after a "bad" session. I'm then certain it's going... until i have a good session with it...

[RhysP]

[quote name='project_c' timestamp='1465289039' post='3066727']
If on the other hand I pick up the same bass... after eating a massive dinner... that inevitably leads to GAS.
[/quote]

I always find eating a massive dinner leads to GAS...

i agree with boredom being a trigger for GAS. I haven't picked up a guitar or bass for more than a minute or two since last September. I have no desire whatsoever to do anything musical but this has left a massive & very boring hole in my life. Despite not wanting to play I am still spending hours every day looking at Ebay & the for sale ads on here. No sense to it whatsoever.

[lowdown]

[quote name='project_c' timestamp='1465388283' post='3067728']
…and so, a thread about avoiding GAS turns into a thread about buying basses.

It's like an AA meeting where someone turns up with a huge bottle of whisky. We are all doomed.



[size=2]*That's a nice PJ though..[/size]
[/quote]

Just made me laugh out loud.

[project_c]

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1465499729' post='3068855']


I always find eating a massive dinner leads to GAS...

i agree with boredom being a trigger for GAS. I haven't picked up a guitar or bass for more than a minute or two since last September. I have no desire whatsoever to do anything musical but this has left a massive & very boring hole in my life. Despite not wanting to play I am still spending hours every day looking at Ebay & the for sale ads on here. No sense to it whatsoever.
[/quote]

maybe you need to look at finding something new to learn. Transcribe a difficult line, or a solo, or learn a new technique which will make your bass sound different.

[RhysP]

[quote name='project_c' timestamp='1465502613' post='3068881']
maybe you need to look at finding something new to learn. Transcribe a difficult line, or a solo, or learn a new technique which will make your bass sound different.
[/quote]

Nah, I always hated learning stuff even when I was interested in playing. I played for 37 years & never transcribed anything, if something was too difficult I just didn't bother with it.
I've pretty much got rid of all my gear now anyway.