2025 Gear Abstinence Thread

[fretmeister]

1 hour ago, neepheid said:

 

I'm in two minds about this.  On the one hand, I have sympathy and can understand the frustration of being thwarted by the omission of such a tiny, yet crucial part.  On the other hand, I am also in the waiting room for a bitsa (I'm actually waiting for the cheapo donor bass to arrive - been on backorder since September last year!) and I took the time to make sure I had all the parts I needed ordered before the end of the year, so why did I bother?

 

Is this your first bitsa?  No spares box?  Nothing you can pinch from some other poor unfortunate project?

 

 

It is my first bitsa.

 

I don't have any string trees that aren't already on basses.

[neepheid]

20 minutes ago, fretmeister said:

It is my first bitsa.

 

I don't have any string trees that aren't already on basses.

 

Hmm, I'd be inclined to let you off with a warning in that case.  You made a good effort to get everything else bought before the cutoff if the string tree is the only thing missing.  And if I had a quid for every time I've come back from the shops and said "aw bollox, I forgot <item>!".

 

Any objections, court of dubious opinion?

[Shockwave]

2 hours ago, neepheid said:

 

Hmm, I'd be inclined to let you off with a warning in that case.  You made a good effort to get everything else bought before the cutoff if the string tree is the only thing missing.  And if I had a quid for every time I've come back from the shops and said "aw bollox, I forgot <item>!".

 

Any objections, court of dubious opinion?

 

I think a good attempt should be made at trying to acquire one for free first. Anyone got something in a parts bin somewhere?

[bass_dinger]

4 minutes ago, Shockwave said:

Anyone got something in a parts bin somewhere?

Came here to suggest the same thing.  Surely someone has string tree in their Box of Bits? 

[tauzero]

3 hours ago, fretmeister said:

It is my first bitsa.

 

I don't have any string trees that aren't already on basses.

 

Do any of the string trees, er, "need replacing"?

[neepheid]

I've got one lying around, I'm sure.  Standard round Fender style like, nothing fancy.

Edited January 22 by neepheid

[neepheid]

1 hour ago, tauzero said:

 

Do any of the string trees, er, "need replacing"?

 

I'm surprised you even know what a string tree is...

 

[tauzero]

1 hour ago, neepheid said:

 

I'm surprised you even know what a string tree is...

 

 

<George Takei> I've read books... </GT>

[neepheid]

18 minutes ago, tauzero said:

 

<George Takei> I've read books... </GT>

 

Oh my!

[Richard R]

3 hours ago, neepheid said:

 

I'm surprised you even know what a string tree is...

 

 

It's like a rope tree, but smaller and more suited to domestic gardens.

[neepheid]

9 hours ago, fretmeister said:

 

 

It is my first bitsa.

 

I don't have any string trees that aren't already on basses.

 

 

PM me your deets if you want it.  You can even have the rusty bit of the thread, for free!  (man, the zooming in makes it look so much worse than it is)

[fretmeister]

That's very kind but I actually found one - they are the same as PRS strap buttons and when I had a PRS a long time ago I swapped the strap buttons for strap locks, so there was one in my random jar of metal shiny things.

 

There's a thread on it in Bass Guitars now.

 

Just needs some good strings on it now.

[Chienmortbb]

I have succumbed, but in my defence, it is only an amp gig bag. £15 from my Chinese mate Ali.

[neepheid]

2 minutes ago, Chienmortbb said:

I have succumbed, but in my defence, it is only an amp gig bag. £15 from my Chinese mate Ali.

 

From the rules - "There used to be a convention that things not in the signal path didn’t count. So straps, stands and the like were allowed. I'm cool with that - what do others think?"

 

I for one don't think something as paltry as a bag counts.  Protecting our gear is only prudent and perfectly in line with the mantra of using what we have (in this case, protecting it so we don't have to replace it).

[SimonK]

33 minutes ago, neepheid said:

 

From the rules - "There used to be a convention that things not in the signal path didn’t count. So straps, stands and the like were allowed. I'm cool with that - what do others think?"

 

I for one don't think something as paltry as a bag counts.  Protecting our gear is only prudent and perfectly in line with the mantra of using what we have (in this case, protecting it so we don't have to replace it).

 

I am wondering whether rather than always arguing for creative exclusions (albeit fun!) it might be more helpful just to state what does count as a purchase? Something like:

 

Tier 1:

Bass Guitars

Bass Amps/Cabs

Pedals

 

Tier 2:

Guitars or other instruments including percussion

Guitar or other instruments/PA amps or cabs

Effects pedals

Studio equipment, keyboards, synths etc.

 

[tauzero]

17 minutes ago, SimonK said:

 

I am wondering whether rather than always arguing for creative exclusions (albeit fun!) it might be more helpful just to state what does count as a purchase? Something like:

 

Tier 1:

Bass Guitars

Bass Amps/Cabs

Pedals

 

Tier 2:

Guitars or other instruments including percussion

Guitar or other instruments/PA amps or cabs

Effects pedals

Studio equipment, keyboards, synths etc.

 

 

That would make life simpler, but possibly less fun. Tier 1 would have to include major bitsa components to avoid sneaking in a bass in parts, but the issue then becomes which parts are major?

[neepheid]

25 minutes ago, SimonK said:

 

I am wondering whether rather than always arguing for creative exclusions (albeit fun!) it might be more helpful just to state what does count as a purchase? Something like:

 

Tier 1:

Bass Guitars

Bass Amps/Cabs

Pedals

 

Tier 2:

Guitars or other instruments including percussion

Guitar or other instruments/PA amps or cabs

Effects pedals

Studio equipment, keyboards, synths etc.

 

 

What fun would that be?  Boo!  Also, none of you are thick, you know damn well what is and isn't gear, but don't stop squirming, it's most of the fun (because abstaining from buying gear roundly sucks - we need the entertainment!)

 

Bags/straps are accessories/consumables as far as I'm concerned.  Hell, you could argue that straps are safety equipment, or even clothing!  Straplocks are gear though - so unless you're replacing a broken one - tough luck.  Go buy a couple of Grolsch and use the free straplocks that come with them instead.  Or enjoy the free beer which comes with those "straplocks", depending upon how you look at it.

 

I've already told you about the straps I ordered using my D'addario Player Circle points (accumulated from strings not bought this year for added piousness!) and I'm not out.  I debated whether or not to even mention it, that's how innocuous I consider these items to be in the context of this challenge, but I figured transparency would be appreciated - as well as give folk ideas for "legal" ways to calm their withdrawl symptoms...

Edited January 24 by neepheid

[ezbass]

4 minutes ago, neepheid said:

because abstaining from buying gear roundly sucks

Yes, yes it does.

 

4 minutes ago, neepheid said:

we need the entertainment!

I read that as need the equipment. GAS is real and causes hallucinations.

[SimonK]

17 minutes ago, neepheid said:

 

What fun would that be?  Boo!  Also, none of you are thick, you know damn well what is and isn't gear, but don't stop squirming, it's most of the fun (because abstaining from buying gear roundly sucks - we need the entertainment!)

 

 

Awesome - so that cab shaped Trace Elliot side board that I have never plugged in (who knew you could play bass through a table!) doesn't count - and it looks so nice with a lamp and some pictures on top!

[MrDinsdale]

If I buy a pedal I already own in a different colour it doesn't count, does it? Kind of a Double Jeopardy type situation?

[Geek99]

6 minutes ago, MrDinsdale said:

If I buy a pedal I already own in a different colour it doesn't count, does it? Kind of a Double Jeopardy type situation?

It’s new stuff.

Guilty.

Take him down… the gallows await 

[Geek99]

On 24/01/2025 at 11:04, neepheid said:

 

What fun would that be?  Boo!  Also, none of you are thick, you know damn well what is and isn't gear, but don't stop squirming, it's most of the fun (because abstaining from buying gear roundly sucks - we need the entertainment!)

 

Bags/straps are accessories/consumables as far as I'm concerned.  Hell, you could argue that straps are safety equipment, or even clothing!  Straplocks are gear though - so unless you're replacing a broken one - tough luck.  Go buy a couple of Grolsch and use the free straplocks that come with them instead.  Or enjoy the free beer which comes with those "straplocks", depending upon how you look at it.

 

I've already told you about the straps I ordered using my D'addario Player Circle points (accumulated from strings not bought this year for added piousness!) and I'm not out.  I debated whether or not to even mention it, that's how innocuous I consider these items to be in the context of this challenge, but I figured transparency would be appreciated - as well as give folk ideas for "legal" ways to calm their withdrawl symptoms...

Voice of reason 

[MrDinsdale]

14 minutes ago, Geek99 said:

It’s new stuff.

Guilty.

Take him down… the gallows await 

 

Well I haven't bought it yet… Its so pretty though. 

 

Tbf I don't think the wife would accept that line of mental gymnastics either 🤣

[Geek99]

16 minutes ago, MrDinsdale said:

 

Well I haven't bought it yet… Its so pretty though. 

 

Tbf I don't think the wife would accept that line of mental gymnastics either 🤣

If you cannot persuade us, you stand zero chance of convincing SWMBO

[Richard R]

1 hour ago, MrDinsdale said:

If I buy a pedal I already own in a different colour it doesn't count, does it? Kind of a Double Jeopardy type situation?

 

1 hour ago, MrDinsdale said:

Well I haven't bought it yet… Its so pretty though. 

 

That is absolutely the worst reason I have ever heard in my life 🤣
Having basses in different colours to match the visual aesthetic of the band is at least vaguely defensible, but come on - NOBODY looks at the bass player's pedalboard to check the colour co-ordination!

Full marks and a bonus for honesty though.