Hi, my name is Alex, and I'm a guitar gear whore...

[Metallicdream91]

I've been playing guitar now for about 6 years, and while I spent the first few years just tooling around in random garage band after random garage band, once I got to college, I got serious...about gear.

I became obsessed with guitar gear. Amps, guitars, pedals, pickups, speakers, tubes, rack gear, you name it, I wanted to learn everything I could/can about it. I also quickly found that while I do love playing, I don't have the patience to sit there for hours and learn new, difficult techniques, but since every time I fire up my laptop there's something new to read about, I never lose interest in gear. I'm also a self-proclaimed tone hound. I've never been satisfied with the gear I've had, but I also suppose that's because I want to get Mesa/Boogie tones from Line 6 price-bracket gear.

Most of my freshman year in college was spent on the internet, scrounging for any new gear that had come out, in any form. Worst of all, I had no one, and I mean no one to talk to about it. Even my friends who played guitar didn't have a fraction of the interest that I did in their gear, they were guitar players (that being said, I always knew how to get the best tone out of their amps for them).

My parents are sick of me talking about it, my girlfriend is sick of me talking about it; I'm even sick for them! That being said, I will never stop, and that's why I thank the guitar gods everyday for The Gear Page!

Anyone else out there share my obsession?

[sinner]

I understand the obsession. I'm back online reading about gear and the obsession, taking a break from practicing. I spent the last hour and a half in the bathroom, sitting on a little stool in there playing my new guitar, unplugged, listening to every little nuance. There's so much to listen to, when you really listen, and the bathroom is a great place to focus in on the instrument and your fingers. I love it in there. I love my new guitar. I bonded with it just now, in the bathroom.

I love gear, love learning about it, and love playing it. Playing it is better. Listening is better learning than reading about it. Yes, it's great we get to do both, reading and playing. Reading when I'm tired, taking a break, or at work without my guitar. I wouldn't have heard of my new guitar brand without reading about them here first on TGP so I'm happy and have found a pretty good balance between gear obsession and gear playing.

[UncleLarry]

The majority of TGP has that obsession.

The rest of us just like to play music.

[bobcs71]

I never understood the importance of gear when I started playing. It was the '80s. I had a Peavey Bandit that was loud. What more did I need? Before a gig I was talking with bassist Doug Matthews (Sam Rivers, lots of session work). Doug told me why he thought tone was important "If 2 guys at an audition both play just as well it can come down to who has a better tone. That guy will get the gig (paraphrased)."

[DCComputersa]

I am right there with you guys, my "savings account" is a bunch of guitar gear that I "could" sell if I HAD to!

[es125tcd]

Just don't start building them ... its an addiction with no known cure !!! the wife doesn't even question WHAT those packages are on the front porch, just tells me "UPS just left another package... She even lets me spend HOURS in the exotic wood shed at Keim Lumber ,in Charm , Ohio - its just a terrible addiction , totally terminal !!!

[DrumBob]

Gear-obsessed people love it here. You've found a home, young man.

[JimmyD]

While gear is kewl, practicing and honing your craft is even better and in the end ultimately more satisfying. Not trying to rain on your parade. Just a helpful suggestion.

[keithrockshaka]

Hi, Alex!

You may want to read an article on your condition: http://theguitarbuzz.com/guitars/how...-are-too-many/