Beedster Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 I was just chatting with Lawrie @Burns-bass and he mentioned selling some gear because it solves a problem he no longer has, and it consolidated a lot of my recent thinking around gear generally, that is far from getting rid of gear on that basis, I was often buying gear that solved a problem I don't have (most notably the Chadwick folding bass that while absolutely beautiful in design and engineering terms was an absolute PITA at gigs generally, leading me to decide that the best bet was simply to sell it and take better care at gigs of my non-foldable DBs). But as with life generally, I suspect a lot of the gear we have is bought either explicitly or sometimes subcobscioulsy to solve similarly non-existent problems (by which I mean that we make choices based on a set of parameters that while current on web forums really do not solve any problems for us as an individual. Good examples for me Chadwick folding bass: as I've said, beautifully designed and engineered, but..... East P-Retro: again beautifully designed and engineered but having had three of them (!), I've always found Precisions just work better passive Enfield Fusion/EBMM Reflex: both beautiful instruments and technologically wonderfully advanced, but while the idea of a 'take one and only one bass to every session/gig'/huge tonal palette appealed, the Fusion stayed in Precision mode 90% of the time, and the Reflex never really got off the ground Badass bridges: I even bought one this week, what am I like. A difference yes, does it solve a problem, rarely if ever, but for some reason there's a part of my brain that drives me to try one on any Fender bass that's passed the 3-months at Beedster Towers test....... My therapist has put it on the list for our next session Neck LEDs: No more in tune on a fretless that without them, but annoyed the guitarist immensely 'If you want to be in tune that badly that you have to walk on stage with traffick lights stuck to your neck, perhaps try playing a fretted bass' Micro/lightweight heads: My biggest challenge with heads that fit into the pocket of a bass gig bag is my tendency to forget about them/lose them. Ironically the only time a head went down on stage and I needed the backup I'd taken the wrong (double) gig bag to the gig. i take two 19" heads to gigs now, because I have no problem with either size or weight. Expensive DB strings: Don't get me started.......... Interested to hear what gear falls into the 'solves a problem I don't have/never did have' category for the BC crowd? 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
borntohang Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 5 strings or any kind of extended scale. Love it when other people use them so I buy one, inevitably end up using it like a four string because that's what band leaders want, and then sell them on a few months later. I stick to synth or octave for the rare subby stuff I do these days. Same goes for active basses if I'm being honest with myself, but that quest continues in the hope I'll work out what to do with one. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SH73 Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 Drums, then expanding the kit with more toms and cymbals, rarely play it and it's just a massive obstacle in the music room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 4 minutes ago, SH73 said: Drums, then expanding the kit with more toms and cymbals, rarely play it and it's just a massive obstacle in the music room. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackopie1 Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 It's so easy to do! Pedals seem to creep into my life- even though gigging life almost never calls for more than a very occasional octaver/envelope filter for the stubby stuff, there are eqs, preamps, Chinese knock-offs and fuzzes hidden away in the practice room. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burns-bass Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 Yes, Chris and I had this conversation. It’s based around the Czech Ease bass I own. I bought it as a lightweight and easy to carry bass for gigs when the metal one was too heavy. Now the metal one has been replaced with a wood one, I now longer need two. Solves a problem I don’t have. So that’ll be up for the cull after my holiday as it’s currently used as a cat bed. 11 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SH73 Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 1 hour ago, Dad3353 said: How much? 😀 Nice kit, only kidding though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 12 minutes ago, SH73 said: How much? 😀 Nice kit, only kidding though Random photo; my kits sparkle far less than that one. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OliverBlackman Posted August 17 Share Posted August 17 When I was around 18 I ’needed’ similar basses to what big names used - I was not a big name When I was at uni I ‘needed’ a ‘pro’ level instrument - I was no pro Now that I’m just a hobby bassist I finally have what I need to learn what I want; Sire V5 5 string, mex Fender P bass with flats, and a nice fretless 4 string. When I get a bit more cash I may buy to solves a problems I don’t have (other than the cure GAS) but for now I’m covered. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted August 17 Share Posted August 17 Pedal tuner: - eats a lot of pedal board space - mutes the signal (a red Neutrik plug does it, too) - I can tune between songs or sets (but I have basses that stay in tune, and I go away from the stage between sets) That pedal tuner would be in its pedal board case when I need it at home while changing strings. At home I have a Peterson SAM, and my mono bass cases carry Ibanez MU40 tuner/metronome units. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted August 17 Share Posted August 17 Yep. I have - a DB-friendly amp (GK MB150S) just in case I play DB live again ... I haven't played DB live in 6 years 😕 - a Markbass 121P combo in case I need a cleaner sound than my Orange TB based rig ... I not only do not need a clean sound in my current (goth) band but also every one of our gigs in the past year has had supplied back line so arguably I don't need an amp at all, let alone 3 ... - a "rawk" bass (Rick 4000) in case I play, well, rawk ... I auditioned for an AC/DC covers band a year ago which never got off the ground as both the drummer and vocalist failed to turn up to the first two rehearsals ... I should probably sell some of the above but my BC-addled brain would probably end up buying something else "just in case" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gwilym Posted August 17 Share Posted August 17 I don't think i bought anything to solve a problem. That might be a problem. Certainly it's a problem having way too much stuff than i can justify given how much i play now, but find it very hard to get rid of it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassbiscuits Posted August 17 Share Posted August 17 I bought a Darkglass microtubes to add some vintage grit/drive to my tone. I don’t think I’ve ever used it. My band no longer does the one song it would have been good on…. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted August 17 Share Posted August 17 I get all this and I'm not arguing, but my experience has been that a problem which needs solving with one band will invariably surface again later with another band. I've sold and then had to re-buy just too bloody often. 🙄 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted August 17 Share Posted August 17 Neutrik muting jack plugs - I've never had a problem muting the amp before plugging/unplugging stuff and I still do so out of force of habit even when I am using the lead with muting jack plugs. I simply wanted my last obbm cable to be the fanciest one it was possible to be. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunderwonder Posted August 18 Share Posted August 18 17 hours ago, Clarky said: should probably sell some of the above but my BC-addled brain would probably end up buying something else "just in case" Therefore you have solved a problem by hanging onto it all. Think of all the time saved in not shopping for more stuff to not play. Think of all the time you have saved your bass playing brothers by not listing it for sale for them to obsess over not buying until one caves in. You are doing everyone a favour. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexDelores Posted August 18 Share Posted August 18 (edited) As much as I love this forum I definitely think it contributes to this. I gigged for 5 years within an acoustic duo with 1 bass which was an Ortega KT Walker acoustic bass. I then rejoined Basschat after a long absence and within 6 months I’d decided I ‘needed’ to go back to electric bass so got a Fender Mustang. I then ‘needed’ a backup, even though I’d never ‘needed’ one before. Now, I’m taking 2 basses to every gig and a mini pedalboard. Granted, I do now ‘need’ that setup. But, the problem was never a problem until I decided I had a problem. Edited August 18 by AlexDelores 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leschirons Posted August 18 Share Posted August 18 Yes, guilty. Recent ads on here and facebook have seen me get rid of tons of problem solving guitar pedals, a couple of bass amps I bought in case of inevitable breakdowns I never had, a Jazz bass I bought because you need a Jazz bass because bands expect you to have a Jazz bass😉 All stuff I "needed" The £900 Mackie studio monitors I bought because I needed to hear totally unbiased and uncoloured recorded music are now the telly sound bar😂 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted August 18 Share Posted August 18 14 hours ago, neepheid said: Neutrik muting jack plugs - I've never had a problem muting the amp before plugging/unplugging stuff and I still do so out of force of habit even when I am using the lead with muting jack plugs. These are quite handy if you have several instruments and only one amp, for busking or monitoring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted August 18 Share Posted August 18 An electronic drum kit, bought several years ago so I could try and play drums a bit for recording purposes. It's packed up in a cupboard somewhere and Mrs Zero won't tell me where it is, and at the moment we don't have the room for me to put it up anyway. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted August 18 Share Posted August 18 1 hour ago, tauzero said: An electronic drum kit, bought several years ago so I could try and play drums a bit for recording purposes. It's packed up in a cupboard somewhere and Mrs Zero won't tell me where it is, and at the moment we don't have the room for me to put it up anyway. Surely that gave you a problem you didn’t have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin8708 Posted August 18 Share Posted August 18 20 years ago I discovered Fender Precision Bass , always was a Yamaha BB1200 bass player ( bloody good bass’s they are ) Enjoyed the first P bass , thought I’d better get a back up , I’m now up to number 7 ( or 8 ? ) The fender Jazz is unused ( we all need a Jazz Bass ? ) Dont get me started on amp / Cabs . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted August 19 Share Posted August 19 17 hours ago, ezbass said: Surely that gave you a problem you didn’t have? Well, since then I've discovered MIDI drum patterns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeEvans Posted August 19 Share Posted August 19 Surely all bass gear solves one of three key problems? 1. I haven't got one of those 2. I've only got one of those 3. My collection of those is unsatisfyingly small 4 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted August 19 Share Posted August 19 5 minutes ago, JoeEvans said: Surely all bass gear solves one of three key problems? 1. I haven't got one of those 2. I've only got one of those 3. My collection of those is unsatisfyingly small I would say that 1 and 2 are subsets of 3. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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