2025 Gear Abstinence Thread

[Mrbigstuff]

10 hours ago, neepheid said:

 

Incorrect, in the context of this contest's rules at least.  If this is a completely out of the blue, unsolicited gift, it's not a fail.  Otherwise, I could find a bass in a skip and gift it to someone participating in the thread to knock them out of the running!

 

Offering to pay the for shipping ain't cheating either, it's merely polite.

If it’s the rules then fair enough. I think there is an argument on the unsolicited front as it sounds like it was prompted but I hope the accused enjoys his NBD!

[neepheid]

12 minutes ago, Mrbigstuff said:

If it’s the rules then fair enough. I think there is an argument on the unsolicited front as it sounds like it was prompted but I hope the accused enjoys his NBD!

 

Everyone's on their honour here.  I may be the reason the gift rules got tightened up now that I think about it - a couple of years back Mrs. Neepheid treated me to a Reverend Triad.  At the time the rule was more vague, merely stating that unsolicited gifts are exempt.  Now this wasn't a pre-arranged thing, we were in Glasgow and I was doing what I always do when we're down there, have a browse of the guitar shops.  I tried the Reverend, really liked it and popped it back down.  But she asked me if I liked it, I said yes, so she said that she'd buy me it as a treat.  This came as a complete surprise to me, there was no pre-discussion, I wasn't trawling the guitar shops looking for something for my wife to buy me.  In the end, my circumstance was deemed to have not contravened the rules as they were written at that time as I had not asked my wife to buy the bass for me, she offered.

 

Since then, this very scenario has been nixed with the addition of the text "Genuinely unsolicited presents, which you had no involvement in choosing."

 

Regarding msb's situation, I don't know what (if any) discussions were had between the parties regarding this bass.  My reading of the scenario as presented to us is that the third party saw something online that msb had written about having tried and failed to obtain a bass, then decided independently to do something about it ie. offer their bass to msb out of some feeling of sympathy and/or wanting to do a nice thing.  I'm confident that msb didn't write the online material which triggered this offer of donation with the express purpose of coercing or convincing someone (in)to gift(ing) them a bass.  "Involvement in choosing"?  Seems like a stretch to me.  Yes, the online text may have influenced the nature of the gift, but I don't believe it was an active involvement.  I've written about "the one that got away" before.  That doesn't mean I'm expecting a fairy godmother to appear with said bass or a copy of one, and I will argue until I'm blue in the face that I'd be exempt if such a thing ever happened.  Ergo, I consider this approach to be influenced, but not directly by msb, as there was no intent, and therefore is unsolicited.

 

Defence rests.

[Si600]

Does a new pedalboard count?  Nothing (more or less) on it is new, just the legs and top...

[msb]

2 hours ago, Mrbigstuff said:

If it’s the rules then fair enough. I think there is an argument on the unsolicited front as it sounds like it was prompted but I hope the accused enjoys his NBD!

No prompt. I had no idea my friend still had one. 

[BabyBlueSound]

3 hours ago, bass_dinger said:

Judging by your post, it's much harder than it looks!!

 

Any photos of your new kit?

Well the pedalboard is still being configured, but here's the anti-gas bass 😁

 

[msb]

Now , if I had been able to buy the original DanArmstrong for the asking price I would have done so in a minute. It was going for a song. I was not really willing to pay the market price for one. They do fetch a top dollar these days.
Several years ago I was tempted to order a Chinese copy but never did. 
My friend used to do a gear blog , and was always buying and selling gear. He reviewed much of what came in. His offer to send a bass was completely unexpected. He lives in LA , I live in Halifax. 
 

[Mrbigstuff]

2 hours ago, neepheid said:

Since then, this very scenario has been nixed with the addition of the text "Genuinely unsolicited presents, which you had no involvement in choosing."

Nice story, but this is where it falls down in my head. The online mentioning that triggered the gift was the desired model. I’d say that has an element of choice, similar to you picking a guitar up in store.

 

34 minutes ago, msb said:

No prompt. I had no idea my friend still had one. 

As above, no prompt as to receiving a gift but a prompt online as to what you wanted even if not directed at your friend.

 

There’s still room for interpretation in the rules that allow it to be judged on a case by case basis. The jury has spoken on this one!

[neepheid]

1 hour ago, Mrbigstuff said:

Nice story, but this is where it falls down in my head. The online mentioning that triggered the gift was the desired model. I’d say that has an element of choice, similar to you picking a guitar up in store.

 

I strongly disagree that they're similar.  I am not going to filter everything I say online lest it be interpreted as some sort of call to action or intended prompt for someone to do me a solid.  You make out like it would be my fault if someone noised me up and offered to gift me an example of the Fazley bass I had ordered back in September last year and now will not receive due to the collapse of Bax Music, just because I've been documenting the saga on here.  Nuh-huh, I'm not having it.  I don't control what other people do as a consequence of what I write online (unless I've got the begging bowl out - which I don't).  I didn't ask anyone to help me out, and as such I would consider myself blameless and having had no involvement in them choosing to do it.

 

It's not even remotely similar to me trying out basses in the physical presence of my surprise benefactor, save for the most mean spirited of argumentativeness, which I'm concerned that's the route it's starting to go down.  I think it's been mentioned before, but this thread is ultimately supposed to be a bit of fun, so I'm going to stop the discount Asda SmartPrice Perry Mason routine now and return you to your scheduled programmes.

[ezbass]

I would really like a good double bass…
 

 

 

…Waits patiently for unexpected delivery truck 🫳🫳🫳.

Edited Wednesday at 14:29 by ezbass

[Franticsmurf]

This is the mistress of my downfall. I needed a 5. I got a 5. An Ibanez GSR205 relic-ed by the previous owner more through neglect than intent but not so you'd notice (a screw forced into a bolt insert for the battery cover, some dings and scratches, all pointed out by the seller). 

 

[Mrbigstuff]

2 hours ago, neepheid said:

 

I strongly disagree that they're similar.  I am not going to filter everything I say online lest it be interpreted as some sort of call to action or intended prompt for someone to do me a solid.  You make out like it would be my fault if someone noised me up and offered to gift me an example of the Fazley bass I had ordered back in September last year and now will not receive due to the collapse of Bax Music, just because I've been documenting the saga on here.  Nuh-huh, I'm not having it.  I don't control what other people do as a consequence of what I write online (unless I've got the begging bowl out - which I don't).  I didn't ask anyone to help me out, and as such I would consider myself blameless and having had no involvement in them choosing to do it.

 

It's not even remotely similar to me trying out basses in the physical presence of my surprise benefactor, save for the most mean spirited of argumentativeness, which I'm concerned that's the route it's starting to go down.  I think it's been mentioned before, but this thread is ultimately supposed to be a bit of fun, so I'm going to stop the discount Asda SmartPrice Perry Mason routine now and return you to your scheduled programmes.

Well I disagree with you but that’s why judges/ jury’s exist. In the poster’s scenario he could turn down the offer of the bass so as not to acquire any new gear… the point of the thread.

 

Mean spirited, from a Scot, blimey! 
 

Agree it is just for fun. It’s a difference in opinion and no one is forcing the happy basschatter to return his new bass or leave the group.

Edited Wednesday at 16:30 by Mrbigstuff

[Geek99]

If you get new signal chain stuff, you’re out. One exception - genuine surprise gift like a birthday or somesuch 

[Stub Mandrel]

My evil brother kerps asking me why I haven't got a bass vi yet as it's 'the obviouscgap in your collection'. Apparently a Harley Benton is best as it hasn't got a 'tremelo bridge'. He says.

[Geek99]

Just now, Stub Mandrel said:

My evil brother kerps asking me why I haven't got a bass vi yet as it's 'the obviouscgap in your collection'. Apparently a Harley Benton is best as it hasn't got a 'tremelo bridge'. He says.

He’s obviously possessed. He needs to see the path of the righteous (wo)man and how it is seeded with valid instruments rather than toy ones that are clearly the work of satanic imps

 

[fretmeister]

Tier 2 breach incoming.

 

I have some recording to do on guitar and it needs fuzz. My collection of fuzz pedals is very small and is mostly cheap clones / inspired by stuff and I can't get them sounding how I need.

So - Walrus Audio Eons 5 State Fuzz should be here on Saturday.

 

I could pretend that I'd never use it on bass but I think we all know I'd at least give it a try, so it looks like I'm out.

 

I lasted longer than I thought!  

[BabyBlueSound]

15 minutes ago, fretmeister said:

Tier 2 breach incoming.

 

I have some recording to do on guitar and it needs fuzz. My collection of fuzz pedals is very small and is mostly cheap clones / inspired by stuff and I can't get them sounding how I need.

So - Walrus Audio Eons 5 State Fuzz should be here on Saturday.

 

I could pretend that I'd never use it on bass but I think we all know I'd at least give it a try, so it looks like I'm out.

 

I lasted longer than I thought!  

Send it back! I can make you a ZVEX Mastotron clone for parts prices. That MUST be a smaller breach! 😁

[fretmeister]

27 minutes ago, BabyBlueSound said:

Send it back! I can make you a ZVEX Mastotron clone for parts prices. That MUST be a smaller breach! 😁

 

If I knew how to solder without burning myself I'd be having a Basstortion clone already!

 

In a sensible enclosure of course.

[neepheid]

1 minute ago, fretmeister said:

 

If I knew how to solder without burning myself I'd be having a Basstortion clone already!

 

In a sensible enclosure of course.

 

You hold the iron by the handle - that's the fatter part of it, not the thin, pointy, extremely hot part...

[fretmeister]

11 minutes ago, neepheid said:

 

You hold the iron by the handle - that's the fatter part of it, not the thin, pointy, extremely hot part...

 

 

They annoying bit is that my eldest is at uni doing aerospace engineering and as part of the Avionics bit she's spending a lot of time in their skills lab assembling / soldering circuits using traditional components to test things before using Surface Mount stuff.

 

Over the last few years I have sent her 3 pedal kits that I reckon she could bang out in about 10 mins each and she hasn't done any of them!

 

But when she asks for money apparently I'm supposed to respond within 30 seconds! Bloody kids!  

[ezbass]

3 minutes ago, fretmeister said:

Over the last few years I have sent her 3 pedal kits that I reckon she could bang out in about 10 mins each and she hasn't done any of them!

 

But when she asks for money apparently I'm supposed to respond within 30 seconds!

I feel a potential lesson in commerce is available here.  
 

I should’ve encouraged Wee Ezette to become a painter and decorator, now I come to think about it .

Edited Thursday at 10:31 by ezbass

[BabyBlueSound]

32 minutes ago, fretmeister said:

 

If I knew how to solder without burning myself I'd be having a Basstortion clone already!

 

In a sensible enclosure of course.

 

Talk about my sensible colour choices 😁 

 

So in theory, is it a breach if you'd pay only for my time but not the parts? Time does not go on the signal chain 😁

[fretmeister]

That does look very cool!

[Stub Mandrel]

Di Marzio 5-string banjo strings... ok? But I've also bought a bridge and a wire hoop to cut down to size. I will be ordering a skin too, all for a 100 year old John Grey & sons Dulccetta zither banjo. It's taken me over 20 years to repair some cracks and extra holes...

 

Do these all count as consumables?

[neepheid]

1 minute ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Di Marzio 5-string banjo strings... ok? But I've also bought a bridge and a wire hoop to cut down to size. I will be ordering a skin too, all for a 100 year old John Grey & sons Dulccetta zither banjo. It's taken me over 20 years to repair some cracks and extra holes...

 

Do these all count as consumables?

 

Strings deffo consumables, I presume the skins are too?  Don't really know anything about banjos.  Are you replacing a broken/malfunctioning bridge, or are they consumables also?

 

Anyway, it's not a bass, so at worst - tier 2?

[Stub Mandrel]

4 minutes ago, neepheid said:

 

Strings deffo consumables, I presume the skins are too?  Don't really know anything about banjos.  Are you replacing a broken/malfunctioning bridge, or are they consumables also?

 

Anyway, it's not a bass, so at worst - tier 2?

 

I think bridges often get lost as they fall off if a skin splits. I don't know how long a skin lasts but a century seems unlikely.

 

I've ordered a wildly oversize skin as apparently that makes fitting easier. Last time I did one was about forty years ago... hmm on reflection, I've probably been 'restoring' this one for nearer 35 years...