The disease that afflicts us- Part 1

[dead of night]

There is a disease or a syndrome often mentioned on these boards called "gas" or gear aquisition syndrome. This is a very real condition. I know because I've purchased 3 new, somewhat expensive electric guitars within the last six months. Yet, I'm searching the internet for my next one. The guitars recently purchased have barely been broken in yet! I know I'm not the only one with this condition; I am one of many. Let's examine one possible reason why we have this disease in Part One of this series.

We are all very creative people. When we see a new guitar, our next one, it is very possible that the next guitar will bring out a song, or a chord progression, or a riff, or an album that was not there before. How much is this worth to us? One thousand dollars? Two thousand dollars? It's priceless.

This is very real. Rock artists often talk about "oldboy" or "old black" or "blackie" or "Mcawber." These are guitars that fuel creativity. Our next guitar, the one we spend hours looking at on the net, could very well be the one that releases us and unleashes one of the most beautiful songs ever written. As artists, this is hard to ignore and it is more precious than silver.

[JDJ]

It's the chase that is seductive. Whether it's gear, women, cars, etc... no real difference. Men hunt. This place is like the local watering hole where we can bast in our conquests and look at the next hot thing as it walks through the door (or Emporium).

From a financial perspective, I've seriously considered taking a break from TGP. But I haven't. Oh well. :D

[dead of night]

Yes, but now you're getting way ahead of ourselves. There are a lot of components to our disease, just as in any other psychiatric disorder. However, as artists, the tool that will set us free and allow us to express ourselves is as important as Annie Sullivan was to Helen Keller.

[WurstBurst]

Well, I don't have too serious a case. I've got 3 guitars at the moment and that's the most I've ever owned in 30 years of playing.

That said, I think I understand a little about gas. Right now, I've got sitting in the house a used SG that our family bought for my niece's birthday coming up in a few months. I've played it a few times in the months since I got it and every time I play it, my SG GAS goes through the roof. It seems every time I plug it in, I make up a new riff, or a nice chord combination - it's just sooooo cool. :RoCkIn

I think that feeling you get from a different guitar or amp just makes you want to buy buy buy. But of course once you've got it, it no longer has that magic after a short time - you absorb the vibe, you learn the instrument and it's no longer new.

Time for some new GAS!

[Jim S]

I have had terminal GAS this year. I have two guitars on order and I think I've purchased a total of 5 this year excluding those. I'd like to promise myself that I won't buy any next year in 2008.

I love hearing and feeling tone, I love playing, I think some guitars & basses are works of art and sexy as hell.


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[The Last Rebel]

I've got general GAS, I know I want something, just not what it is.

[Nolatone Ampworks]

It's the chase that is seductive. Whether it's gear, women, cars, etc... no real difference. Men hunt. This place is like the local watering hole where we can bast in our conquests and look at the next hot thing as it walks through the door (or Emporium).

From a financial perspective, I've seriously considered taking a break from TGP. But I haven't. Oh well. :D

I'm one of the top tier sickos in this GAS thing. They should create a new forum called "The Asylum" for this stuff.

I think GAS is fueled by different things in different people.

I think I've come to the conclusion that my GAS, which has been going on in one form or another for about 9 years...interesting...that's how long I've been married, is a compensation for becoming monogomous.

I used to love the chase of the skirt when I was younger, and though I probably wouldn't be so much in that if I were single now (I'm too old for all that BS now!) there's a part of me that needs that "mysterious" and "not yet experienced" thing. I used to look for it in the opposite sex. That's not an option now, so gear is it.

Now I'm forced to back off for financial reasons. This is going to be a long night <shake....shake....> :worried

[phoenix 7]

Yeah, I'm a first-rate GAS-aholic myself and have spent ridiculous amounts of money chasing magical tone. So I'm no one to criticize others. But this idea of finding the guitar that will unlock the songs inside you -- I don't know. I feel that original songs come out of me, not out of my guitars. Certainly, a great guitar can be inspiring, but I sometimes wonder if this element is just another way of rationalizing the buying of new guitars: "I've got to get THIS guitar, as it will unchain my imprisoned creativity...."

[stratman89]

And yes GAS is also fuel! Fuelling our desires for that next beautiful guitar or amp. Since last Sept i've aquired a Suhr Pro S1, Suhr Classic T, Gibson 56' VOS Les Paul GT (arriving this week) and a Marshall 1974 x amp. I won't even mention the year before. :messedup:NUTS:NUTS:messedup

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q318/stratman89/qms_gas.gif

[NatDeroxL7]

I got my first guitar in the summer of '05. It was a $200 acoustic. That was my only guitar until Jan. 06 when I bought my first electric guitar and amp. It was an epiphone LP and a vox valvetronix AD30 i think. I started to attend more concerts around nashville as my interest grew and I began to notice "gear".

In April '07 I purchased a PRS CU24 and Gibson LP Supreme, Larivee L-60 and a peavey JSX 212 combo within a week of each other. I just purchased this week an XTC 101B and Bogner 4x12........and am looking for something to buy with the money I will get from selling the JSX......

I do the same thing with beer and sunglasses....always looking for the next best thing....

[tonefinger]

The Leftys BBQ dude does have some GAS. He has a different guitar everytime I go in to have some tasty Q.

I believe it has something to do with the never ending quest for the ultimate tone. I currently have 11 guitars and 7 amps and will probably end up with more before it's all said and done. My trouble is I have a hard time parting with anything once I get it. I still have my first guitar, which I never play- but I just can't let it go.

[Rockin J]

As much as most of us work and deal with family time and responsibilities, I think we just have to have something that is our's instead of everyone else's. I have imediate access to my guitars and gear when I have the time to use them, where other hobbies can consume more of your time with travel and deadlines (tee times, hunting hours and locations, basketball & softball schedules and so on). The gear quest is just simply something I enjoy. Like other guy's enjoy motorcycles or cars. I've spent enough on gear that I could buy a Harley but not a Corvette. :D

[socalscott]

I went from the 70's to '00 with 1 git and 1 amp. Now it's 4 and 4.

I was just pondering how to cut back to less gits, but I picked them up and...well, you know how it turns out. I have to have P90 and Strat tones, a semi-hollow and I just picked up a HB trem(FR Discovery SpeedLoader).

All I can do is try to keep this as my limit. A mini-hum model is always on my mind though. One of these P90 gits needs a set of mini-hums...that's progress, right?

[Sniper-V]

From a financial perspective, I've seriously considered taking a break from TGP. But I haven't. Oh well. :D

Seriously!

I need to be banned or my internet needs to be taken away!

[WILLIEKENDRICK]

I think a loophole to the GAS thing is trading. One coming in, one going out! It satisfies my hunting for gear craving and generally saves a TON of money. Wheeling and dealing can be a blast to boot!

[AaeCee]

I enjoy the ebbs and flows of GAS. For a spell I won't make any changes, then within 30 days I'll end up with 3 or 4 new guitars (mostly through trades). We must til the garden from time to time in our endless quest for our perfect tone. Unfortunately in my case, my prefered tone seems to morph a bit over time.

[Balance]

I think I've come to the conclusion that my GAS, which has been going on in one form or another for about 9 years...interesting...that's how long I've been married, is a compensation for becoming monogomous.

Funny, the seven years between my proposing to my wife and now have also been my GAS years. These days, the price of chasing tone is much lower than the the price of chasing skirts would be.

[Sniper-V]

I guess we could be addicted to other "substances"...

Thank God for that!

[Sniper-V]

I think a loophole to the GAS thing is trading. One coming in, one going out! It satisfies my hunting for gear craving and generally saves a TON of money. Wheeling and dealing can be a blast to boot!

I agree that's the way to go.

But,

Its still hard to let go something really good to get something else very good.

Then you have 2 somethings that are very good...

And so on,

And so on,

:bkw

[mextremist666]

nothing wrong with gas, this is a good addicton,at least were not out smoking crack..........cmon .:crazyguy madness justified.

[dudeunitx5000]

I came into some money last year and have probably bought close to thirty guitars in just one year. Though it has gotten to the point that I will usually sell some stuff every time I get a new one.

I have a Harmony H44 Stratotone- not a reissue, a 1962 Carvin, and a Supro solidbody from the sixties coming in the mail very soon. I have already started looking around for a nice old Supro Val Trol.

[Chops]

Very good post, dead of night. I'm alway looking for something that's going to provide a seamless interface between the music I hear in my head and the audience. Something that just melts away and lets it happen. I've spent way too much money looking for it, but I am starting to think the answer isn't anything very esoteric. A Les Paul, a Strat and a couple of acoustics; a Marshall amp and a fender amp; a wah and a chorus pedal.

[XKnight]

I think a loophole to the GAS thing is trading. One coming in, one going out! It satisfies my hunting for gear craving and generally saves a TON of money. Wheeling and dealing can be a blast to boot!

+1. I've learned to accept GAS as a condition that is incurable, but I've limited its negative financial impact by trading. One in one out is a great concept that seems to have kept my marriage intact, for now. :)

[Csapo]

What are you guys talking about???? :confused: :confused: :confused:


GAS??? I have no clue what you mean by this. I certainly don't suffer from this affliction in any form. :nono

I can't waste anymore time here, :munch there is a telecaster on eBay I need to bid on...

[Oasis.Guitar]

Ah....if only I had spent 1/3 of the time I have spent searching for and buying guitars, actually practicing.......

[A-Bone]

Ah....if only I had spent 1/3 of the time I have spent searching for and buying guitars, actually practicing.......

+1 for that sentiment.

[TattooedCarrot]

I dont use drugs or run around on my wife. GAS is my vice, and I am weak.