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Gear Acquisition Syndrome


toymaker
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When I was a kid just learning to play, I'd go into my local store in Connecticut, and the Steinberger would be there surrounded by a chorus of angels. The owner always let me play it even though he knew I'd never buy it. Years later he told me that you never knew what kid was going to walk in with a rich father or grandfather who wouldn't bat an eye at shelling out $1500 for a guitar. When I moved to Utah a few years later and started playing regularly, I'd always buy from him and he'd ship it out to me. I had the first Geddy Jazz shipped to New England.

 

In my old age I find my gear getting smaller and smaller. I just use a Hartke 2x10 cab for most gigs as opposed to the 3-cabinet monster stack I had going at one point. I'm down to 3 basses from 6. If money were no object there are a few I'd get, but space and time constraints mean gear is very task-oriented now. No flash, just function.

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I know a lot of people like to collect just to collect. Sometimes they do that and never play them. I’ve always been happy with one or maybe two instruments that are good quality and do what I need them to do.

 

 

 

I was going to make a deal with myself that for every new instrument I purchase, I have to sell two. But that's so harsh...

 

f**k that

 

Even though that painful notion has crossed my mind, I am always slapped back into reality by the thought of building a period-correct addition to the house and using it as a "collection room"

 

ahhhh, that feels much better

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Until just now, I had no idea Richard Gere had quite a collection of vintage guitars ..

 

And I see that he sold 102 guitars and amps in 2011 .. I don't know how much of his collection this 102 made up, but when I read that he sold off that many instruments, I felt a twinge of sadness ..

 

Breaking a bond with an instrument that, at one time, created not only the excitement of acquiring it, but was a link in a creative process - that is depressing ..

 

On the other hand, there are always those instruments that you never really feel connected to .. For whatever reason, they just didn't inspire you ..

 

Those I always part with ... But if it means something to you, and at some point has or will inspire you to create something, I will hang on to them

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Until just now, I had no idea Richard Gere had quite a collection of vintage guitars ..

 

And I see that he sold 102 guitars and amps in 2011 .. I don't know how much of his collection this 102 made up, but when I read that he sold off that many instruments, I felt a twinge of sadness ..

 

Breaking a bond with an instrument that, at one time, created not only the excitement of acquiring it, but was a link in a creative process - that is depressing ..

 

On the other hand, there are always those instruments that you never really feel connected to .. For whatever reason, they just didn't inspire you ..

 

Those I always part with ... But if it means something to you, and at some point has or will inspire you to create something, I will hang on to them

Steven Seagal has a massive collection. But he plays with the talent level of a chimp.

 

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Anyone experience GAS? For the last year I've been buying guitars and I can't seem to stop. With a couple of exceptions, I just buy anything kind of cool, playable and cheap on Kijiji. Something in me craves LOTS of guitars, rather than a few really great guitars. I do find them aesthetically pleasing. Everyone I know is enabling me - nothing wrong with buying guitars, better than spending it on drugs, etc. My own rationale is that I could be spending hundreds of bucks on paintings, but I'd rather look at a guitar than a dumb old painting anyway.

 

Anyway, here's part of my music room. Should I stop? Apart from a couple of things, you won't see anything super expensive. I just love havin' 'em.

 

lpopLDf.jpg

 

That is a gorgeous collection, there...make it a big pile of nothing but vintage acoustics, and I’d be salivating even more.

 

I had never heard of this Kijiji before...I see it’s a Canadian thing. Wow, there’s a lot on there.

 

This is not going to help my GAS!

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Anyone experience GAS? For the last year I've been buying guitars and I can't seem to stop. With a couple of exceptions, I just buy anything kind of cool, playable and cheap on Kijiji. Something in me craves LOTS of guitars, rather than a few really great guitars. I do find them aesthetically pleasing. Everyone I know is enabling me - nothing wrong with buying guitars, better than spending it on drugs, etc. My own rationale is that I could be spending hundreds of bucks on paintings, but I'd rather look at a guitar than a dumb old painting anyway.

 

Anyway, here's part of my music room. Should I stop? Apart from a couple of things, you won't see anything super expensive. I just love havin' 'em.

 

lpopLDf.jpg

 

That is a gorgeous collection, there...make it a big pile of nothing but vintage acoustics, and I’d be salivating even more.

 

I had never heard of this Kijiji before...I see it’s a Canadian thing. Wow, there’s a lot on there.

 

This is not going to help my GAS!

 

There are a few vintage-y things in there - a couple of Kays, a couple of Harmonys - there's a Harmony Rocket leaning against the bookcase that I think is cool. I recently found an old Harmony Sovereign (someone told me that's the model Page used to record Stairway to Heaven, but I haven't confirmed it) that someone long ago jammed a couple of humbuckers into, along with volume and tone knobs. It's a pretty weird looking thing, so of course I instantly dug it. I stood there looking at it for while, picking it up and putting it down, and the store owner wandered over several times and kept dropping the price. Eventually the kids stood there rolling their eyes while I took the thing to the cash register...

 

I'll see if I can post a picture of the monstrosity.

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Also found a couple of lawsuit Rik copies - the fake 4005 bass sounds pretty groovy. The guitar is quiet, but has amazing playability.

 

a2u5JYu.jpgv9ThxlD.jpg

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Never knew a musician that didn't have it, or its partner, Gear Trading Syndrome. Hey the two best days are the day you buy it and the day you sell it, and it has 3 major phases: Damn, I want one of those, hey look what I got, and damn, why did I ever get rid of... My friend John sold off a 355 over 25 years ago, and he still curses that day.

 

As far as collecting for the collection's sake, that's the bane of any collector. Karen and went through that with the teddy bears.

:drool:

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The newest member of the family

 

Alvarez Yairi 5056 with the "Tree Of Life" inlay

 

I have always loved this model, but they are few and far between .. This one came available, and I made the owner an offer he couldn't refuse - he agreed, then changed his mind - I was crushed ... About a week later, he contacted me and agreed ... I assured him the 5056 was going to a good home !!

 

Older Alvarez acoustics are very hard to date, but the owner had it for 35 years - my guess is late 70s

 

Alvarez_5056_002.jpg

 

Alvarez_5056_003.jpg

Edited by Lucas
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I may have the opportunity to purchase the white Steinberger that was mentioned in another thread. This is a total-midlife crisis moment for me. I know they're not the best sounding instruments, but it's my "Eleanor". It was untouchable as a snot-nosed teenager, and by the time I started making real gig money in the 90's they were no longer in production. The Rick or Wal or Jazz bass never had the same effect on me. I haven't heard back on the asking price, but if it's under $1800, I'll be selling the Geddy Jazz and scrounging up the rest...
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I may have the opportunity to purchase the white Steinberger that was mentioned in another thread. This is a total-midlife crisis moment for me. I know they're not the best sounding instruments, but it's my "Eleanor". It was untouchable as a snot-nosed teenager, and by the time I started making real gig money in the 90's they were no longer in production. The Rick or Wal or Jazz bass never had the same effect on me. I haven't heard back on the asking price, but if it's under $1800, I'll be selling the Geddy Jazz and scrounging up the rest...

 

Do it !!!

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The newest member of the family

 

Alvarez Yairi 5056 with the "Tree Of Life" inlay

 

I have always loved this model, but they are few and far between .. This one came available, and I made the owner an offer he couldn't refuse - he agreed, then changed his mind - I was crushed ... About a week later, he contacted me and agreed ... I assured him the 5056 was going to a good home !!

 

Older Alvarez acoustics are very hard to date, but the owner had it for 35 years - my guess is late 70s

 

Alvarez_5056_002.jpg

 

Alvarez_5056_003.jpg

 

Nice - strange that I happened today to be playing a gorgeous AY that my cousin has at his place. This new instrument of yours is gorgeous.

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I may have the opportunity to purchase the white Steinberger that was mentioned in another thread. This is a total-midlife crisis moment for me. I know they're not the best sounding instruments, but it's my "Eleanor". It was untouchable as a snot-nosed teenager, and by the time I started making real gig money in the 90's they were no longer in production. The Rick or Wal or Jazz bass never had the same effect on me. I haven't heard back on the asking price, but if it's under $1800, I'll be selling the Geddy Jazz and scrounging up the rest...

Do it man. I own a Steinberger GM4T guitar and love it. They're so easy to play and sound great.
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I may have the opportunity to purchase the white Steinberger that was mentioned in another thread. This is a total-midlife crisis moment for me. I know they're not the best sounding instruments, but it's my "Eleanor". It was untouchable as a snot-nosed teenager, and by the time I started making real gig money in the 90's they were no longer in production. The Rick or Wal or Jazz bass never had the same effect on me. I haven't heard back on the asking price, but if it's under $1800, I'll be selling the Geddy Jazz and scrounging up the rest...

Do it man. I own a Steinberger GM4T guitar and love it. They're so easy to play and sound great.

 

Still waiting to hear back. The ones on ebay right now are going for over $2400. With this one being a single-digit serial # and having at least been in Geddy's possession for a bit, I'm thinking its gonna be in the $3000 range.

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The newest member of the family

 

Alvarez Yairi 5056 with the "Tree Of Life" inlay

 

I have always loved this model, but they are few and far between .. This one came available, and I made the owner an offer he couldn't refuse - he agreed, then changed his mind - I was crushed ... About a week later, he contacted me and agreed ... I assured him the 5056 was going to a good home !!

 

Older Alvarez acoustics are very hard to date, but the owner had it for 35 years - my guess is late 70s

 

Alvarez_5056_002.jpg

 

Alvarez_5056_003.jpg

Noice! I got a 93 Alverez Regent 5212 that I use for my 'screwing around while watching tv' guitar. Really surprised that it plays well for a $300 or so beginner instrument that's 25 years old. But the quality of mine doesn't hold a candle to your Yairi.
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The newest member of the family

 

Alvarez Yairi 5056 with the "Tree Of Life" inlay

 

I have always loved this model, but they are few and far between .. This one came available, and I made the owner an offer he couldn't refuse - he agreed, then changed his mind - I was crushed ... About a week later, he contacted me and agreed ... I assured him the 5056 was going to a good home !!

 

Older Alvarez acoustics are very hard to date, but the owner had it for 35 years - my guess is late 70s

 

Alvarez_5056_002.jpg

 

Alvarez_5056_003.jpg

 

Beautiful!

 

I haven’t been around enough lately to know that you posted pics of it here.

 

Isn’t there a serial number inside that you could verify the date exactly, if you wanted to?

 

That’s what I’d do. But I’m a total numbers and dates geek, and I realize that others may not be, haha.

 

Now I’m thinking of getting an image-hosting account just so I can post a few pics of my prize possession, too! (Well...two or three of them!).

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My GAS seems to have stopped for the meantime....I used to buy things like crazy, but I now find myself in a position where I now have the best sounding gear (to my ears anyway) I have ever owned, and nothing I have tried out recently can top it.

 

It's not even particularly expensive, just an Ernie Ball Musicman Silhouette, a Blackstar HT Stage 60, and a Boss GT8 (yes really lol) which I run in 4CM for effects only.

 

Crazy I know, but even the likes of Mesa Boogie stuff etc can't seem to improve on it.

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I hear ya, Fridge. I have what I want too, for the most part. Love my Boogie. Love my Les Paul. Love my Yamaha AES 420. Very much love the 30 year-old Washburn dreadnaught I've had for most of my adult life. Love my Strat most of all. The only two things that tempt me now are a PRS P22 with the piezo, and perhaps a Gibson doubleneck. I need a doubleneck like I need a hole in the head, but who ever said GAS had to make any sense at all?
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I hear ya, Fridge. I have what I want too, for the most part. Love my Boogie. Love my Les Paul. Love my Yamaha AES 420. Very much love the 30 year-old Washburn dreadnaught I've had for most of my adult life. Love my Strat most of all. The only two things that tempt me now are a PRS P22 with the piezo, and perhaps a Gibson doubleneck. I need a doubleneck like I need a hole in the head, but who ever said GAS had to make any sense at all?

 

What Mesa Boogie do you have? I have a 2006 Lone Star Classic and a 2013 Mark V.

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I hear ya, Fridge. I have what I want too, for the most part. Love my Boogie. Love my Les Paul. Love my Yamaha AES 420. Very much love the 30 year-old Washburn dreadnaught I've had for most of my adult life. Love my Strat most of all. The only two things that tempt me now are a PRS P22 with the piezo, and perhaps a Gibson doubleneck. I need a doubleneck like I need a hole in the head, but who ever said GAS had to make any sense at all?

 

What Mesa Boogie do you have? I have a 2006 Lone Star Classic and a 2013 Mark V.

 

 

The Mark v seems like a whole load of amp for the money, but unfortunately funds won't allow it.

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I hear ya, Fridge. I have what I want too, for the most part. Love my Boogie. Love my Les Paul. Love my Yamaha AES 420. Very much love the 30 year-old Washburn dreadnaught I've had for most of my adult life. Love my Strat most of all. The only two things that tempt me now are a PRS P22 with the piezo, and perhaps a Gibson doubleneck. I need a doubleneck like I need a hole in the head, but who ever said GAS had to make any sense at all?

 

What Mesa Boogie do you have? I have a 2006 Lone Star Classic and a 2013 Mark V.

 

 

The Mark v seems like a whole load of amp for the money, but unfortunately funds won't allow it.

 

I got mine from Guitar Center here in the states for basically $1000 off ($1300 instead of $2300) because Guitar Center had terminated their contract with Mesa, and were just trying to unload their inventory. It's a beast of an amp, totally versatile. But I generally set it up like a Lone Star but with the graphic EQ, which the Lone Star doesn't have.

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The only two things that tempt me now are a PRS P22 with the piezo,

 

I must admit, if I could somehow get a piezo bridge fitted to my musicman, I would be very tempted.....I know the MM JP6 has one, so maybe it's possible.

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I think if I were going to get an electric guitar, I’d have to get a Gretsch. I played one at my local independent shop about a week ago, and man, it was nice.

 

There’s another local shop in another part of town, where I bought my latest (well, vintage) Martin- they had a 1964 Country Gentleman there, and god, it was a beauty. A bit too rich for my blood, though, at $4000.

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I hear ya, Fridge. I have what I want too, for the most part. Love my Boogie. Love my Les Paul. Love my Yamaha AES 420. Very much love the 30 year-old Washburn dreadnaught I've had for most of my adult life. Love my Strat most of all. The only two things that tempt me now are a PRS P22 with the piezo, and perhaps a Gibson doubleneck. I need a doubleneck like I need a hole in the head, but who ever said GAS had to make any sense at all?

 

What Mesa Boogie do you have? I have a 2006 Lone Star Classic and a 2013 Mark V.

 

Little Mark V 25, pushing two Boogie Thiele 1x12 cabinets (one open backed, one closed backed). Most of the time I run it at 10 watts and it's still massively loud for such a little head.

 

What I like about the V 25 is the clean channel. It sparkles like nothing else ... add a tiny bit of reverb for color and it's just ... luscious.

 

The dirty channel is nice, but running it in clean (Ch. 1) with crunch on, gain, treble and mids cranked up gives it a meaty, Marshall plexi-like sound that's even nicer. Check it out - here it is with the Strat (2014 American Deluxe, with fender Noiseless 3 single coils ... same guitar in my avatar pic) ... I know I muffed up the solo but you get the point. This is on the clean channel, with the crunch on and gain/treb/mids all around 8. Just hacking around in the basement, playing along with the album, recorded on my phone. https://soundcloud.c...imelight-almost

 

Seriously, it's the nicest amp I've ever owned. I couldn't be more impressed with it.

Edited by Symmetre
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