2025 Gear Abstinence Thread

[Richard R]

So it does, it was hidden behind the Like icon.

[SimonK]

3 hours ago, Richard R said:

 

No.  Good story though 😅

 

...although it would solve the quandry of whether strings, cables, spare parts etc. counted if there was a minimum price threshold - maybe anything under £50 doesn't count?

[neepheid]

28 minutes ago, SimonK said:

 

...although it would solve the quandry of whether strings, cables, spare parts etc. counted if there was a minimum price threshold - maybe anything under £50 doesn't count?

 

There is no quandary - there is a posted list of exceptions, and the bargaining is half the fun.  Compelling cases can add to the list of exceptions.  I do not support a minimum price threshold.  We define what constitutes gear, it's not difficult.  Stop trying to push this narrative that it is.  You know what gear is, you're not stupid.

[SimonK]

56 minutes ago, neepheid said:

 

You know what gear is, you're not stupid.

 

Sorry my bad - of course it wasn't new gear, merely a coffee/whisky table! 🙂

 

[neepheid]

4 minutes ago, SimonK said:

 

Sorry my bad - of course it wasn't new gear, merely a coffee/whisky table! 🙂

 

 

Ahh, it's the VAT 69 talking - say no more

[SimonK]

8 minutes ago, neepheid said:

 

Ahh, it's the VAT 69 talking - say no more

 

...it's amazing how this thread is becoming a bit like a conversation with my wife!!

[Geek99]

1 minute ago, neepheid said:

 

There is no quandary - there is a posted list of exceptions, and the bargaining is half the fun.  Compelling cases can add to the list of exceptions.  I do not support a minimum price threshold.  We define what constitutes gear, it's not difficult.  Stop trying to push this narrative that it is.  You know what gear is, you're not stupid.

I really wish you’d stop mincing words and just say it like it is. 🤨f***ing diplomat 

[Geek99]

14 minutes ago, SimonK said:

 

...it's amazing how this thread is becoming a bit like a conversation with my wife!!

@neepheid is undercover. You think he is a mild mannered Scot from Aberdeen but actually it’s an elaborate masquerade planned by your wife to keep tabs on your spending. As long as I don’t blow her cover by telling anyone …
Mums the word 

[SimonK]

Oh god - just realised that this thread is actually an elaborate game of traitor with a number of wives/partners masquerading as faithful forum members...

[Geek99]

16 minutes ago, SimonK said:

Oh god - just realised that this thread is actually an elaborate game of traitor with a number of wives/partners masquerading as faithful forum members...

Yep, those NBD threads are a honeypot for “those-who-watch” 😱

[Franticsmurf]

Tier 2 fail confession. I have just taken delivery of a small guitar multi FX pedal for an upcoming gig where I will be sharing bass and guitar duties. The new pedal is strictly for guitar only and I'll be using existing bass FX pedals for the bass parts.

[Richard R]

Updated page 2.

I guess putting the guitar through the bass pedals wasn't going to work? 😉

[Franticsmurf]

6 hours ago, Richard R said:

Updated page 2.

I guess putting the guitar through the bass pedals wasn't going to work? 😉

I did try using an amp for drive plus the chorus and delay from my B1-4, but it wasn't working. The guitar gig is a support slot to the main band gig and I'll be playing guitar and bass during that set. The simplest solution was to use an A/B switch (which I have) and the multi FX straight into the DI channel I use for bass.

[ezbass]

BOOM! Tier 1 fail!

 

 

[Richard R]

New stand, or the EUB itself?

And what sort of EUB is it?

[ezbass]

17 minutes ago, Richard R said:

New stand, or the EUB itself?

Just the stand, which isn't signal chain at all , but the tripod the EUB is currently on isn't broken, so I think I'm busted. I've not been playing it much recently and was wondering if it was time to move it on (doesn't look like I'll ever gig with it sadly, as much as I'd like to ), but I tried folding the tripod legs in to emulate an endpin and it was just so much more fun that I pulled the trigger on the endpin immediately (I had considered one before but was distracted by abstinence in '24  and kinda forgot about it). I often wonder about a bow, but man alive is that a rabbit warren and potentially a very expensive one too.

 

22 minutes ago, Richard R said:

And what sort of EUB is it?

NS WAV4. I really wanted a proper doghouse, but there was nothing doing down south. Then covid hit, so even less doing and then we moved to Scotland (arrived the day before lockdown #2). Since then there have been quite a few DBs for sale that would've suited if I hadn't moved house. Driving the 1000+ miles round trip the try and maybe buy is a non starter. Nothing remotely available up here (at least not on BC) so I bought the NS. I think it's really good and, with some judicious EQing via a cheap 10 band graphic, I think it gives a very convincing DB tone (YMMV). It currently features as my entry in this month's photo comp.

[Obrienp]

I bought a replacement stereo jack socket for my Maruszczyk, which I don’t think counts as a fail, as the original was on the blink.

 

I was about to fail big time by buying another cab but the band I intended to use it with has suffered a huge wobble in the last few days. The wobble almost provoked me into throwing in the towel but I decided to see if we can still ride it out.  Time will tell if I am going to need that cab. At the moment, I’m not about to spend a big chunk of cash on something I might not need, so I’m still on the wagon.

[ezbass]

3 minutes ago, Obrienp said:

I bought a replacement stereo jack socket for my Maruszczyk, which I don’t think counts as a fail, as the original was on the blink.

Safe as houses IMO.

[Richard R]

28 minutes ago, ezbass said:

Just the stand, which isn't signal chain at all , but the tripod the EUB is currently on isn't broken, so I think I'm busted. I've not been playing it much recently and was wondering if it was time to move it on (doesn't look like I'll ever gig with it sadly, as much as I'd like to ), but I tried folding the tripod legs in to emulate an endpin and it was just so much more fun that I pulled the trigger on the endpin immediately (I had considered one before but was distracted by abstinence in '24  and kinda forgot about it). 

 

The last line of the ammendments says straps are OK, and it fulfills the same purpose as a strap, so arguably still in.

What do the rest think?

[Richard R]

5 minutes ago, Obrienp said:

I bought a replacement stereo jack socket for my Maruszczyk, which I don’t think counts as a fail, as the original was on the blink.

 

 Yep, still in.

[neepheid]

1 minute ago, Richard R said:

 

The last line of the ammendments says straps are OK, and it fulfills the same purpose as a strap, so arguably still in.

What do the rest think?

 

I think it's pretty galling that such a fancy bass doesn't come with the choice of endpin/tripod.  Why is the tripod the standard?  That's weird to me also.  Honestly, I feel like you're addressing a design (or at least product staging/packaging) flaw.  Cheeky barstewards!

[ezbass]

18 minutes ago, neepheid said:

I feel like you're addressing a design (or at least product staging/packaging) flaw.

Not a cheap fix either, £149 + £15 delivery. That said, that's nothing compared to £75 each for little bits of plastic or rubber (endpin holder & stick on 'body join' reference point).

[ezbass]

26 minutes ago, Richard R said:

so arguably still in.

[Richard R]

Welcome, @ezbass

 

 

 

[Mrbigstuff]

13 hours ago, ezbass said:

I often wonder about a bow, but man alive is that a rabbit warren and potentially a very expensive one too.

 

It was the reviews of playing these arco that put me off and I ended up getting a cheap 3/4 DB. I’d love to try a Yamaha silent bass but can’t justify the price of a decent German bass on one.

 

Unless you’ve played with a bow before I’d recommend lessons for it. I didn’t find it an intuitive skill.