Does the GAS ever end?!

[Brandon Breeze]

I think that if you're always trying to sound like someone else it'll never end, but if you're doing your own thing and you finally figure out what works best for you it does stop.

Things finally clicked for me a few years ago and I havent had gas since (mostly selling off excess shit that I don't need anymore).

I don't agree. I don't try to sound like anyone else. I'm always on the search for a sound that I like. I have yet to find an amp that sounds exactly how I want it to sound. Guitars on the other hand I find the simpler fhe better. No trem, no neck pickup, no tone knob, just a volume & go. Oddly I am finding the same with amps. My orange dark terror has 3 knobs and it takes about 3 seconds to dial an awesome tone. Although my jvm410h has infinity knobs and I can dial that in quick too, so idk

 

[some dude]

I don't agree. I don't try to sound like anyone else. I'm always on the search for a sound that I like. I have yet to find an amp that sounds exactly how I want it to sound. Guitars on the other hand I find the simpler fhe better. No trem, no neck pickup, no tone knob, just a volume & go. Oddly I am finding the same with amps. My orange dark terror has 3 knobs and it takes about 3 seconds to dial an awesome tone. Although my jvm410h has infinity knobs and I can dial that in quick too, so idk

4 or 5 years ago I heard two recordings of me playing the same song on two totally different rigs recorded a few years apart. One was with an EMG loaded Les Paul into a Dual Rectifier with Recto 4x12, and the other was a PAF loaded Les Paul into some old school dirt pedal into an Orange AD140 with Orange full stack (V30 top and G12T-75 bottom). The thing that stunned me was that I sounded the same in both.

It was at that moment that I realized that while I thought I was searching for new sounds I actually spent a lot of time, money and effort trying to make every amp sound the same. Once I realized that I zoned in on the gear that gave up that sound really easily and started selling everything else. I then spent a year or so fine tuning things and haven't had gas since.

I'm sure it's different for everyone, particularly for those that aren't focused on a single style of music, but that's my story.

 

[Brandon Breeze]

I don't agree. I don't try to sound like anyone else. I'm always on the search for a sound that I like. I have yet to find an amp that sounds exactly how I want it to sound. Guitars on the other hand I find the simpler fhe better. No trem, no neck pickup, no tone knob, just a volume & go. Oddly I am finding the same with amps. My orange dark terror has 3 knobs and it takes about 3 seconds to dial an awesome tone. Although my jvm410h has infinity knobs and I can dial that in quick too, so idk

4 or 5 years ago I heard two recordings of me playing the same song on two totally different rigs recorded a few years apart. One was with an EMG loaded Les Paul into a Dual Rectifier with Recto 4x12, and the other was a PAF loaded Les Paul into some old school dirt pedal into an Orange AD140 with Orange full stack (V30 top and G12T-75 bottom). The thing that stunned me was that I sounded the same in both.

It was at that moment that I realized that while I thought I was searching for new sounds I actually spent a lot of time, money and effort trying to make every amp sound the same. Once I realized that I zoned in on the gear that gave up that sound really easily and started selling everything else. I then spent a year or so fine tuning things and haven't had gas since.

I'm sure it's different for everyone, particularly for those that aren't focused on a single style of music, but that's my story.

Recordings are much different than live sounds. All you have to do is listen to Ola on YouTube and you will see how similar most anps can sound, so I agree with that for sure. I find the same with pickups now. I can make any of my guitars sound nearly the same on my JVM410H because of the huge variety OD's, four channels and nearly infinite settings.

Gas has not ended for me because I havent found that one amp that sounds the way I want in all aspects.

 

[Joeytpg]

from the year 2007 to the year 2009 I was constantly around these boards, and I purchased and sold more than I've ever done before, still it wasn't CRAZY, but too much and more importantly I was never satisfied and always looking at the next best thing, it seriously got stupid. After I stepped away from these boars GAS immediately disappeared.

I lurk and read for quick entertainment but honestly these places are not good for creativity and will get you focused on the wrong things (gear). unless that's your hobby, to buy/try/sell/trade gear then fine, but if you're a musician trying to get better or get your music out there, getting away from the gear boards it's advisable

 

[Stumplegriltskin]

It does not help me being that this place is 45 min away. Unlike Guitar Center, this place has everything you NEED.

Trust me, you really don't want to go there. Yeah you do!!!!!



that place is WAY overpriced.

Perhaps, but my last guitar I got there, Ibanez 2015 Xiphos, I got 10% off. Nick will work with you, he's a cool dude.

 

[andross182]

from the year 2007 to the year 2009 I was constantly around these boards, and I purchased and sold more than I've ever done before, still it wasn't CRAZY, but too much and more importantly I was never satisfied and always looking at the next best thing, it seriously got stupid. After I stepped away from these boars GAS immediately disappeared.

I lurk and read for quick entertainment but honestly these places are not good for creativity and will get you focused on the wrong things (gear). unless that's your hobby, to buy/try/sell/trade gear then fine, but if you're a musician trying to get better or get your music out there, getting away from the gear boards it's advisable

I can see your point, if people spent as much time practicing and playing as they do on message boards, the world would be a much more musical place....that being said I technically can justify the 5150iii and 2x12 cabinet. I currently play acoustic guitar every Sunday in our worship group and our lead singer plays electric and he wants to switch to acoustic and me to electric. I could take my 1x12 cabinet to the church, leave the 2x12 at home, and just bring an amp head with me when its time to play!

I honestly don't play my roadster that much, the fan noise is EXTREMELY loud at bedroom levels and I find myself fiddling with knobs more often than actually playing, plus that thing would be a pain to lug around, I think it weighs like 110 lbs or something crazy like that!

 

[gkinsingapore]

Why would you want it to end??

One of the great things about this hobby is being able to tinker with an endless supply of gear.... enjoy it!

 

[some dude]

Recordings are much different than live sounds. All you have to do is listen to Ola on YouTube and you will see how similar most anps can sound, so I agree with that for sure. I find the same with pickups now. I can make any of my guitars sound nearly the same on my JVM410H because of the huge variety OD's, four channels and nearly infinite settings.

Gas has not ended for me because I havent found that one amp that sounds the way I want in all aspects.

Neither did I. I switch it up between a Recto and a Mark V. Between the pair of them they hit all the sounds I want. I'm probably fortunate that I'm not into Marshalls... I don't have a whole lot of flavours I have to choose from.

 

[goHAM!]

unplug from forums and youtube for a while and focus on improving your chops. (Now I just need to take my own advice...)

I said this 5 years ago...

 

[prsplayer86]

Yes it can. If you get a "tone" that your happy with and stay off the boards, and away from high end gear shops... Hell, don't even talk shop.

The moment you find that "Dear God this is my tone" sound, stop looking. Don't look in the forums to see what the latest boutique amp builder is cooking up, or what new guitar finish PRS/Gibson/etc are putting on their guitars... It'll only fuel the GAS.

Just play your setup and enjoy it.

 

[d1469d]

I am a confessed gear freak. I just recently purchased a 5150III stealth. I have the 5150III 2 x 12 combo and a Baron Custom amps K88/MII and several different speaker cabs and a bunch of rack gear. I told my self that I wasn't going to sell any of my gear. It has been going on almost five years since I have sold anything. I just keep on collecting things.If anything the more gear I collect the more I play my guitar. I like collecting gear and making new sounds. It never ends going on playing guitar for 30 years.

 

[Mailman1971]

Its part of the game. I love being on the forum talking gear. Yeah I could unplug and practice and practice.....
But I like the mix of still actively playing and talking and getting new gear. Gotta keep a good balance.
Some guys just buy and dont play. Some guys just play and could give a fuck less about forums.

 

[squank]

I think the Gas ends when you realize that no guitar or amp or anything except playing is going to make you a better player.

If being a better player isn't your goal, then being a better gear hoarder is your next best bet, because thats all you will be if you don't stop buying shit and playing more.

I know what you mean, Reza, and I agree. But I know that when I buy a piece of gear that is significantly better than what I have in a certain area, it makes me play better, probably because it motivates me to play more. I think they are inextricably related.

The problem for me (and I think this is probably widespread) is we are tempted to chase incremental differences in gear because it's new, different, or because we are just obsessive over guitar gear. Then when we get it, it doesn't inspire us much.

 

[lessthan12]

It does not help me being that this place is 45 min away. Unlike Guitar Center, this place has everything you NEED.

Trust me, you really don't want to go there. Yeah you do!!!!!

Here, let me help.

Ive been a few times, too bad the owner is a douchebag.

 

[Candiria]

The moment you find that "Dear God this is my tone" sound, stop looking.

I think this is my biggest problem, as I don't have a sound. I haven't found it. I think it stems from not playing in a band. There's too much creative freedom, and not enough creative focus. I listen to a bunch of different types of music, and I love a lot of different types of guitar tones. As a result I have gear/tone ADD. What I'm attempting to do is just assemble a collection of versatile guitars, and not have guitars that overlap, ie. not have five 24 fret, 25.5", 2 high output hum guitars.

The guitars are the easy part though, the hard part is the amps. The amp I have is overkill, and yet I want two more. Something for blues, and something for 80's high gain Marshall sounds. I'm thinking about a Mesa Royal Atlatnic as I think it would be passable enough for me for both, but even then I'm adding a second 100w head to a bedroom haha. It's just crazy.

Maybe some high quality pedals will help me? I've had my eye on Kempers for awhile, but for all intents and purposes that's the equivalent of another 100w head.

 

[dfrattaroli]

No, it doesn't. And why should it? You can't be practicing all the time either. Whether or not you submit to GAS, you should know you won't get better if you don't play more. And who cares then either? Maybe you don't need to get better. We all enjoy the guitar for different reasons. We all get different things out of it.

 

[dfrattaroli]

... and holy shit that purple 7!

 

[Gurtz]

It does not help me being that this place is 45 min away. Unlike Guitar Center, this place has everything you NEED.

Trust me, you really don't want to go there. Yeah you do!!!!!

Here, let me help.

Ive been a few times, too bad the owner is a douchebag.

I was just thinking... I'll bet that whoever owns that place is a gash.

Aside from the Dean V and the Orange amps, there's not a single item I'd be interested in. Did he offer you a wine and cheese sampler?

 

[Stumplegriltskin]

I've met Nick a few times. Most people seem to like him. At least he's trying to cater to guitar players, unlike most B+M shops that cater to 10 year olds.
Can't please everybody I suppose.

 

[gtrplr71]

I unplugged from the forums for a few years. Saved a ton of money and just played a lot. the only thing I purchased since I have been back online is the 5150III w/2x12 cab. I have looked around for stuff that interest me but so far I have not wanted anything and still have 90% of the saved coin left.