Is G.A.S. Ruining My Guitar Playing...

[Kamen_Kaiju]

Playing has to come before gear.

I used to think that.

But I understand now,...there's Collectors. And they serve a purpose too.

Curators,..preservers of old guitars,...guitar lovers.

I can't hate on someone who doesn't have the inclination or ability to play well but who really, truly loves guitars.

I used to,..I use to be a Player Snob. But I outgrew it after seeing how much good Collectors do.

Who else is buying those expensive guitars and then selling them for thousands less? They take that hit. That depreciation.

There's a lot of Players out there playing nice guitars because some Collector got that guitar first,..kept it in good shape,...and passed it down the line when the time came.

hell the only reason I have a nice guitar is because someone was collecting them who hooked me up.

Changed my whole view and appreciation.

it's easy to be a snob,..not so easy to be grateful.

The guitar world is huge,...everyone has a purpose from players to collectors to builders and pickup makers.

it's a community.

 

[rabidhamster]

Im to the point where I'm gassing for Vacations and trips and **** instead of more gear. Its just that retail therapy any way you look at it. guitars, purses ,shoes, we're all the same. You cant prance off to Jamaica this month, but you can probably spend your money on SOMETHING

 

[mdubya]

I try to channel it into inspiration to play.

I already have a stack of great guitars, a super cool vintage fuzz, and more good amps, with more usable tones than I probably deserve.

So when I see something that makes me drool, I use that as inspiration to play something I already have.

Two items missing from my equipment list:

1. the right Firebird
2. a Gold Top LP

But I don't need either one.

The Firebird, I would probably play. I would probably choose my 335 over the LP 9 times out of 10.

 

[C_Becker]

I can't hate on someone who doesn't have the inclination or ability to play well but who really, truly loves guitars.

THIS. Not everyone has the talent, time and dedication to become a great player. But that doesn't mean one cannot enjoy the beauty and the sound of a fine instrument.

Thats what I keep telling myself at least

 

[SWeAT hOg]

I've been thinking lately about how obsessed I've become with gathering gear and trying to tweak it as opposed to how much I've really been “playing” guitar. I think sometimes I spend to much time and money chasing a sound and not much else.

I buy a new guitar and it feels fantastic, I play it for a week and all the sudden I need a new one. Everyone needs a Telecaster right, but what about a Stratocaster, a Les Paul, an SG? Where's my hollow body? How come I don't have one of each with P90's...suddenly I have 15 guitars!

Now the thrill is gone, I need to get some more amps. Fender, Marshall, VOX. OK how about a dozen pedals.

Then let's try some modeling...You can spend every waking minute playing around with the settings on that stuff...and I have by the way.

I think it's time I got back to playing my guitar and stop concentrating so much on gear. I hope all of you out there are spending some quality time just playing and enjoying...

You didn't mention pedals. Why not try a few of them? That should help clear up the GAS.

 

[artis_xe]

The guitar world is huge,...everyone has a purpose from players to collectors to builders and pickup makers.

it's a community.

( is an ecospherical way of looking at it I suppose . )

 

[TheDevice]

I've just switched to studio gear cuz guitar just aren't expensive enough.

 

[NRBQ]

I've been thinking lately about how obsessed I've become with gathering gear and trying to tweak it as opposed to how much I've really been “playing” guitar. I think sometimes I spend to much time and money chasing a sound and not much else.

I buy a new guitar and it feels fantastic, I play it for a week and all the sudden I need a new one. Everyone needs a Telecaster right, but what about a Stratocaster, a Les Paul, an SG? Where's my hollow body? How come I don't have one of each with P90's...suddenly I have 15 guitars!

Now the thrill is gone, I need to get some more amps. Fender, Marshall, VOX. OK how about a dozen pedals.

Then let's try some modeling...You can spend every waking minute playing around with the settings on that stuff...and I have by the way.

I think it's time I got back to playing my guitar and stop concentrating so much on gear. I hope all of you out there are spending some quality time just playing and enjoying...

I had GAS for a time till I happened on my 2012 Goldtop Deluxe and I've been cured, not by design but just by sheer satisfaction with the guitar. I neglect my other guitars to a great degree because I only want to play the GT. So Gold cured my GAS, thanks GOLD!

 

[Alligatorbling]

We can't see the forest for the trees.
We can't hear our music for the tone.

 

[nick1962]

I've been thinking lately about how obsessed I've become with gathering gear and trying to tweak it as opposed to how much I've really been “playing” guitar. I think sometimes I spend to much time and money chasing a sound and not much else.

I buy a new guitar and it feels fantastic, I play it for a week and all the sudden I need a new one. Everyone needs a Telecaster right, but what about a Stratocaster, a Les Paul, an SG? Where's my hollow body? How come I don't have one of each with P90's...suddenly I have 15 guitars!

Now the thrill is gone, I need to get some more amps. Fender, Marshall, VOX. OK how about a dozen pedals.

Then let's try some modeling...You can spend every waking minute playing around with the settings on that stuff...and I have by the way.

I think it's time I got back to playing my guitar and stop concentrating so much on gear. I hope all of you out there are spending some quality time just playing and enjoying...

I am exactly the same as you, brother!

 

[Alligatorbling]

Today I played though my very first electric that i owned... i got it for christmas when i was 10 (23 years ago) its an epiphone strat copy. i played though the amp that i used the most as a teenager (crate gfx 212) i played for about 30 mins... not once did i listen for nuances, roll the tone knobs to listen for taper, twist the dials on the amp for 10 mins... i tuned it, plugged in, and played.

ive come full circle. i enjoy playing guitar again.


edit:

though all the years ive been here at mlp, ive seen a variety of cork sniffers, some have stood out more than others.... some are refined cork sniffers. they stay with the other cork sniffers and they all sniff cork together.

some venture into groups of non cork sniffers, and run around with a basket of corks telling everyone to sniff them, then put down everyone else's gear.... or make jokes.

what does it all mean? ... its not worth figuring it out. just play your guitar.

 

[Sp8ctre]

I realized the error of my ways a month or so ago. I've been selling some gear and concentrating on playing what I have. I know I will still pick a few things up here and there, but I will be very selective.

My goal is to sell about 3 or 4 more guitars which will leave me with my 4 favorites. I will still be looking out for a great deal on a Casino Elitist.

Amp wise I think I'm done. My wife is buying me an FRFR powered speaker for my modeling equipment and that should do it.

Playing good music is why I started this journey, not acquiring and collecting a bunch of gear...

 

[Sp8ctre]

You didn't mention pedals. Why not try a few of them? That should help clear up the GAS.

My pedal blurb was just a one liner in paragraph 3...easy to miss. But I have too many of those as well...

 

[mdubya]

Playing good music is why I started this journey, not acquiring and collecting a bunch of gear...

The goal might be sex, but you have to lust for your partner for it to be truly enjoyable.

 

[Sp8ctre]

The goal might be sex, but you have to lust for your partner for to be truly enjoyable.

Oh, I lust for music and the ability to play it better...but I'd just like to use less toys now...

 

[WholeLottaIzzy]

I used to be into gear. Had lots of guitars. But then I noticed I always come back to my Les Paul. Always. So I sold all my gear except my Les Paul. Now, I focus on earning my Les Paul through practice. Making sure I am good enough to justify having it. Because after all, it's a Gibson Les Paul. Don't forgot how in awe we all were when we saw our first Les Paul.

 

[NRBQ]

I used to be into gear. Had lots of guitars. But then I noticed I always come back to my Les Paul. Always. So I sold all my gear except my Les Paul. Now, I focus on earning my Les Paul through practice. Making sure I am good enough to justify having it. Because after all, it's a Gibson Les Paul. Don't forgot how in awe we all were when we saw our first Les Paul.

Although I have other guitars, I fully understand what you're saying, every time I pick up my LP I get to know it a little better, and it gets to know me. Every time I pick it up the grooves that come from my particular way of playing become more imprinted on the guitar, making it all the more my guitar. I absolutely love this concept, it's very satisfying to know that as the years go passing by, that the guitar will become even more special and play even better as it slowly forms itself around the way I play it. So there's that.

 

[Phil47uk]

There is no such thing as 'The tone' unless you keep your playing confined to a bedroom.
The same gear with the same settings with the same person playing it will sound entirely different in a working situation, where even the same venue can sound different according to the size and density of the audience.
Stacks of variables come into the equation on gigs.
The size of venue. The height of the ceilings, the walls, carpeted or non carpeted floors. The audience size etc etc.
Anyone setting their gear up for the ultimate bedroom tone ( whatever that happens to be ) is going to be in for one hell of a surprise should they ever start gigging.
You find a basic sound you like and will then need to constantly adjust from venue to venue.
Same with effects..Whatever sounds good in a bedroom will have to be tweaked at least 50% down in the mix for live performance.

 

[roeg]

Playing good music is why I started this journey, not acquiring and collecting a bunch of gear...

Spoken like a true player.You will go far in your quest to play.

I've been there,hell,i bought my first Lespaul in 1975,cherry deluxe,could hardly play a note! But i was lucky,a friend who also had the same instrument co-signed for me...i was in heaven!...More importantly,he taught me a few things to play.We jammed for hours on ABB's whipping post.

Even today for me,i get a little obsessive from time to time.My Acoustic obsession 4 yrs ago. I play those Martins and get tone that is incredibly inspirational,every time i pick them up....and this year my Telecaster obsession.But man i am playing the **** out of those Tele's,and loving every minute.It's all about the music for me,they have so much tone,it blows me away.

Once i have that piece i'm obsessing about,and i play the music,it becomes clear to me,that,for me,its all about the music as well.

 

[acstorfer]

play about as well as a one-armed guitarist

Ha! Modesty doesn't flatter you sir!

Jason is a player and anyone here would be thrilled to jam with him!