what is the normal GAS cycle like?

blakejcan

blakejcan

Well-known member
not sure if this is the right place to post this but since it's amp & pedals over here it's likely close enough.

so, being a relative latecomer to the guitar universe by picking it up only about 3+ years ago I feel like I've followed the standard arc of a person new and excited about anything. I got fully geeked out, did as much as I could to educate myself about stuff by asking my buddies that play and reading magazines and junk.

Then....I started buying stuff and here is more or less what's happened.


Bought first crappy acoustic to learn on, played that for about 8 months and still have it

Got my first electric guitar and vox modeling amp.

About my first year into it I got a wah pedal.

This led to my slow burning pedal addiction which is easily justifiable as they only cost about $50 or so a pop.

Got so many I built my own pedalboard

Then I started building my own pedals from BYOC kits

Next I built my own pedal from scratch

Somewhere in there I ditched my modeling amp for Cannabis Rex Blues Junior

Quickly followed by a real good deal on a Vox AC4

Bought my wife a bass so she could learn some junk and play with me plus a small amp

keep working on my own from scratch pedals for a fun hobby

Just bought an Epi Les Paul Custom I'm hoping to get in the mail this week (thanks Jake!)


so, basically now I have this whole room of guitar stuff that I love and use and have a great time with. No regrets

On my longterm list of purchases is a D-28 sunburst and even though it seems almost unplayable with that neck I love the look of Gibson Firebirds too. (dear god, not the firebird x, the normal ones).

So, my question is, does GAS ever slow down, stop or reverse itself entirely?

I don't expect or want it to stop, but it seems like lots of people have some point where they have kind of tried everything out enough for them to know what they like/need and do a giant purge and get back to one or two guitars and going back to one or two pedals max.

I'm probably rambling but does this make sense? Knowing my purchase history somewhat, where is GAS taking me next?

I need to know so I can tell my wife that the trip to Bora Bora might need to be postponed. Thank you forumites.
 
Re: what is the normal GAS cycle like?

I have alternating periods of GASS but its held in check by my inherent sense of Cheapskatism
sometimes prone to broad flourishes of spendthrift
but often brooding, "Dang I want"

I found sometime ago that if you ever get all the crap you want, there just isnt a thrill it the next issue of MF or Carvin's Catalog

I bought custom made Carvin, bass guitar of my dreams
the Martin Acoustic
the Tweed Tube amp

the thrill of "the new catalog is here" was gone
then one day your in GC
and you're just pluckin round
and it speaks, OMG its on again,

the nervous twitch, schweaty palms, dry throat
it could be an axe
a pedal, an amp
something that sends you scouring through the crap at home
its not there
you cant get that from what you've got
and you've gotta have it

in short





no
 
Re: what is the normal GAS cycle like?

Gas can slow down... it's easy once you force yourself to plan a bigger purchase, buy it, LOVE IT, and then you remember the satisfaction of waiting to find what you really want. Pick your purchases carefully and then each piece of gear will be more satisfying.

And, never sell yourself short... don't get the budget model as a replacement for the expensive one unless it'll be years before you can get the one you want and the budget replacement is something great in and of itself. i.e. don't get an epiphone std. if what you wanted was a gibson studio. Getting a gibson studio if you want a Historic isn't as bad, as a good studio model really may be able to satisfy the player in your while the gear hog watches the number in the bank acct go up.
 
Re: what is the normal GAS cycle like?

1) oooooo I like that
2) gotsta have it
3) FS: buy my crappy old gear for too high of a price! L@@K!
4) yay, I got it! Can't wait to make a dimly lit YouTube where I talk for the first 3 minutes!
5) glowing 3 page review posted on SDUGF
6) so, uhhhh, wanna hear me play a poorly-timed Layla again?
7) oooooo i like that new one better
8) petulant 3 page diss posted on SDUGF about same piece of gear from (4), (5) - "sounds sardonic in the lower-high-mids"
9) FS: last month's TGP darling, MINT CONDISH (for too high of a price)
10) WTB: this month's TGP darling - have pickups from Squier Affinity to trade (alinco?), can add up to $50 CASH (paypal gift option)
 
Last edited:
Re: what is the normal GAS cycle like?

ImmortalSix said:
1) oooooo I like that
2) gotsta have it
3) FS: buy my crappy old gear for too high of a price! L@@K!
4) yay, I got it!
5) Glowing 3 page review posted on SDUGF
6) so, uhhhh, wanna hear me play a poorly-timed Layla again?
7) oooooo i like that new one better
8) petulant 3 page diss posted on SDUGF about same piece of gear from (4), (5)
9) FS: this year's hot pedal, MINT CONDISH
Click to expand...

you're right, that's the "normal" GAS cycle!

Someday people should get on the pro GAS cycle. I want a white falcon. I know I need one. I'm not going to buy an Artcore and soup it up, and sell it in a year or less... I'm going to wait. But I will have a white falcon. Most likely a good used one.
 
Re: what is the normal GAS cycle like?

ImmortalSix said:
1) oooooo I like that
2) gotsta have it
3) FS: buy my crappy old gear for too high of a price! L@@K!
4) yay, I got it! Can't wait to make a dimly lit YouTube where I talk for the first 3 minutes!
5) glowing 3 page review posted on SDUGF
6) so, uhhhh, wanna hear me play a poorly-timed Layla again?
7) oooooo i like that new one better
8) petulant 3 page diss posted on SDUGF about same piece of gear from (4), (5) - "sounds sardonic in the lower-high-mids"
9) FS: last month's TGP darling, MINT CONDISH (for too high of a price)
10) WTB: this month's TGP darling - have pickups from Squier Affinity to trade (alinco?), can add up to $50 CASH (paypal gift option)
Click to expand...

Pretty much sums it up but I sometimes sell my gear for too little amount of money... Well, not anymore 'cuz I'm wise and old. Dammit those Blackmachines are nice, anyone want to buy my Regius for 500€?





j/k
 
Re: what is the normal GAS cycle like?

FuseG4 said:
you're right, that's the "normal" GAS cycle!

Someday people should get on the pro GAS cycle. I want a white falcon. I know I need one. I'm not going to buy an Artcore and soup it up, and sell it in a year or less... I'm going to wait. But I will have a white falcon. Most likely a good used one.
Click to expand...

yea, wish I could get that point of just sucking on it till I get the dough for something truly truly awesome but I just love trolling for good deals all the time and if it's affordable enough at the time and something I like it's too hard to pass up

once my car is paid off in a couple months though.........look out. GAS city here I come
 
Re: what is the normal GAS cycle like?

blakejcan said:
So, my question is, does GAS ever slow down, stop or reverse itself entirely?

I don't expect or want it to stop, but it seems like lots of people have some point where they have kind of tried everything out enough for them to know what they like/need and do a giant purge and get back to one or two guitars and going back to one or two pedals max.

I'm probably rambling but does this make sense? Knowing my purchase history somewhat, where is GAS taking me next?
Click to expand...

It only slows down if you are realistic. There is no magical gear combination that will make you play like your favorite guitar hero. The sooner you realize that the more you can focus on playing/practicing.
 
Re: what is the normal GAS cycle like?

I agree with you xntrick. seriously, that is all very true.

then again...........NEW STUFF!!

both are compelling arguments.
 
Re: what is the normal GAS cycle like?

Its different for everybody. I just try and remind myself that its just gear and I'm only using it to make music.
 
Re: what is the normal GAS cycle like?

...and in a lot of ways, it just speaks to the consumer in all of us. We all want one more
 
Re: what is the normal GAS cycle like?

ImmortalSix said:
1) oooooo I like that
2) gotsta have it
3) FS: buy my crappy old gear for too high of a price! L@@K!
4) yay, I got it! Can't wait to make a dimly lit YouTube where I talk for the first 3 minutes!
5) glowing 3 page review posted on SDUGF
6) so, uhhhh, wanna hear me play a poorly-timed Layla again?
7) oooooo i like that new one better
8) petulant 3 page diss posted on SDUGF about same piece of gear from (4), (5) - "sounds sardonic in the lower-high-mids"
9) FS: last month's TGP darling, MINT CONDISH (for too high of a price)
10) WTB: this month's TGP darling - have pickups from Squier Affinity to trade (alinco?), can add up to $50 CASH (paypal gift option)
Click to expand...
If I could sig all of this I would. :fing2:
 
Re: what is the normal GAS cycle like?

Join a band, it's the only cure. I assume you have a working guitar and amp? You want pedals and pickups and amps and guitars because you're not getting enough playing in. Once you have a project, you'll be too busy worrying about strings, picks, cables, and tuners to obsess about $200 overdrives.
 
Re: what is the normal GAS cycle like?

1) Beans for dinner
2) Fascinating smell under duvet
3) Wife disagrees
4) Banished to spare room
 
Re: what is the normal GAS cycle like?

It's a journey, and a lot of it is in the mind. If you're younger, your listening and tastes will be exploring and evolving. If you're a little older, those things may be more settled and your 'target' may be more stationary. Either way you can go through a lot of gear .... the more you listen, the more you hear the subtleties, and that can lead to more searching.

It can be fun. It can be expensive. It can become tedious. It ebbs and flows. But like i said, knowing all that, use your mind to control if, when and how GAS affects your situation.

But be sure to keep the act of playing high in the priority list, preferably at the top.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Z
What are your performance rigs?
2 3
Replies
46
Views
803
jeremy
jeremy
PS412
The King Is Dead
Replies
16
Views
445
Ascension
Ascension
ehdwuld
NSD EMINENCE AND LASE CONTENT
Replies
5
Views
195
jeremy
jeremy
ehdwuld
AMP GAS 2024
2 3 4
Replies
67
Views
1K
playas
playas
Bfeeney
Multiple Amp Splitting
Replies
15
Views
302
Bfeeney
Bfeeney
Back
Top