GAS: Who's afflicted? How badly?

Newportlocal said:

My wife has a few guitars, but I had never had any interest. I had a fender acoustic for a while when I was younger.
However, recently I have spent way too much time looking at videos of Paul Reed Smith custom 24's. I don't think this will end until I get one. It will be a while, but it is definitely something that looks like addiction.

Click to expand...

I am a big fan of PRS guitars, I have 3 that I bought brand new; that is more "brand new" electric guitar purchases than any other guitar brand.

I highly recommend the Hollowbody series with the LR Baggs piezo
Bridge; I have a Hollowbody 1 in custom purple sparkle and a singlecut Hollowbody 2 in Armando's Amethyst.

I run the Humbuckers through one of my 4 tube amps and the Baggs through a Roland AC 60 or a Fender Acoustisonic amp simultaneously for a great sounding acoustic and electric stereo output

GASguy said:

I am a big fan of PRS guitars, I have 3 that I bought brand new; that is more "brand new" guitar purchases than any other guitar brand.

I highly recommend the Hollowbody series with the LR Baggs piezo
Bridge; I have a Hollowbody 1 in custom purple sparkle and a singlecut Hollowbody 2 in Armando's Amethyst.

I run the Humbuckers through one of my 4 tube amps and the Baggs through a Roland AC 60 or a Fender Acoustisonic amp simultaneously for a great sounding acoustic and electric stereo output

View attachment 61771

Click to expand...

You are just confirming my obsession. Appreciate your comments.

I had GAS long before I had UAS. I have two Martins, a Larrivee, an Epiphone, two Taylors, and I'm sure a couple more acoustics. I've also got about 5 electrics. And I've got four basses counting two Ubasses. Before UAS I had Woodwind Acquisition Syndrome and I have a few saxophones, clarinets and a flute too. It's a sickness but less damaging than drugs.

Unfortunately I also have Computer Acquisition Syndrome, but I've turned my experience with a wide range of computers and operating systems into the way I make my living.

Oh. My. GAS. (pt 1/2)

NOTE: this is a 2-parter due to the text input limitations. Sorry

I too was bit by the GAS bug.

(and still suffer from the PARENT condition of universal G)ear A)cquisition S)yndrome, that encompasses a whole spectrum of encumbering items/devices)

I've been playing guitar since I was 9 yrs old (44 now).

I started noodling on a my Dad's old unknown-brand acoustic (the action was like 1/2" at the 12th fret!) I dont know how he managed to even play it.

Then, after a few yrs. of continued interest, a used Magnatone Zephyr (strat-like electric) was bought for my birthday for $20 at the local music shop where I ended up taking weekly lessons for 2 yrs.. At first I had no amp, but quickly learned that if I plugged the guitar into the MIC-inputs on my parents cassette deck on the modular stereo, that the sound would come out of the speakers, and if I turned UP the record levels to the MAX, I got this really cool distortion, and all was well until the wooden speaker vibrated so much that it bounced itself off the bookshelf and like 6 ft down to the floor and the speaker's wooden cabinet separated at the corners, i.e., broke in half. Parents were not pleased! One day about a week later, I came home from school to find a brand new 5-watt Sears amplifier in my room HOORAY! That following weekend I learn how to (under threats of being killed in my sleep - ha ha) use wood filler paste, Elmer's glue and box clamps to repair the speaker. At 11 yrs. old how was I supposed to know that BOSE was VERY EXPENSIVE?

At the time, all I wanted was to learn how to play 'Eruption' by Van Halen or 'Dirty Deeds' by AC/DC, and besides that, there was little else I paid attention to...

But I digress...

Since then, my collection grew to include the following, in order of acquisition:

2. 1980- Magnatone Zephyr (strat-like electric) - tobacco sunburst (used)
   
3. 1982- Gibson Les Paul 'Firebrand - The Paul' all solid mahogany, satin finish (used)
4. 1985- Fender 12-string acoustic - natural glossy finish (new)
5. 1986- Casio DG-20 MIDI guitar controller (new), Aria Pro II 4-string Bass (metallic red sparkle)(new), Yamaha CG-120 Classical Nylon (mango)
6. 1987- Synsonics Acoustic/Electric dreadnaught - tobacco sunburst (new)
7. 1988- Generic strat copy beater (metallic red) (later given away)(used)
8. 1991- Kay upright 4/4 double-bass (used)
9. 1994- unknown brand steel string acoustic similar to 'Baby Taylor' (later given to a friend whom I taught to play)(used)
10. 1995- Generic Les Paul type copy (black w/white binding) (also later given away)(used)
11. 1996- Epiphone Casino (metallic pelham blue)(new)
12. 1997- antique-looking unknown brand name parlor-sized 'folk guitar' at an estate sale (has La Bella nylon strings on it now)(used)
13. 1999- Applause red strat-copy(used)
14. 2005- Yamaha EZ-EG MIDI guitar controller (new)
15. 2006- Agile AL-3000 Les Paul style - 'cherry wine-burst' flame maple top w/gold hardware (used)
16. 2012- Yamaha GL-1 Guitalele - yellow/red burst (new)
17. 2013- Antonia Hermosa HE-50 solid-body nylon (Les Paul shape, similar to Epiphone 'SST Classic' but THINNER)(new)

So, of the 16 guitars/basses, 3 were given away, and I still have the other 13.

Still on my wish list is a Godin Multiac Nylon ACS 2.0 with MIDI (as well as the Godin MultiUke) and also one of the Rainsong carbon fiber nylon string guitars that has the RMC piezo saddle MIDI pickup built-in. I would be happy with just one of these, whichever I get first would obviate the other. I want the MIDI functions because I am not good at transcribing my compositions, and with MIDI input and then using a notation program, I can finally get some sheet music in standard notation to more easily render my compositions...

Yea, I know, instead of learning better to WRITE the sheet music by hand, I am looking at spending upwards of $1,200 for a fancy-shmancy gEEtar, but that's all part of the disease

Also, I'd like to get my hands on an Epiphone ZENITH bass, but sadly they are not in production any more (under the DISCONTINUED section of epiphone.com). Another one I'm pining for is some form of other fretless electric bass, but I may just opt for a fretless U-Bass or similar when the time comes, as the shorter scale will no doubt be easier for me to play.

I've been seriously considering selling off all of the above except for:

1. the Firebrand Les Paul
2. the Yamaha CG-120
3. Yamaha GL-1
4. Antonia Hermosa HE-50

(all of which I'd keep) in order to fund the acquisition cost of some really fine higher-end ukuleles, like Martin, Mainland, Compass Rose or any one of the 'K' brands.

Some of those guitars have been sleeping, unused, in their cases for years, and it's not fair to the instrument that it does not get played.

The best SOUNDING and PLAYING electric guitar in my collection, hands-down is my Firebrand Les Paul, the neck is SO fast and still perfectly straight, the body resonates with every note, and it has seemingly infinite sustain (even unplugged). The all-satin mahogany finish is not hard to look at either. Sorry folks, but I'm taking this one to my grave with me. After that would be the Epiphone Casino, and after that the Yamaha CG-120.

The Agile AL-3000 is actually a VERY CLOSE second to the playability and sound of the Firebrand Les Paul, but the body is MUCH heavier.

(continued in part 2 below)

Oh. My. GAS. (pt 2/2)

(This is part 2 of 2, continuing from previous post)

I've always been a Les Paul player and the only reasons I got the strat-style guitars was so that friends could come over and jam, and have something to beat on without busting up my 'nice' guitars. I made sure that they were all easily playable with good action and working perfectly otherwise.

I learned (from books at first, and later from the internet) how to set the intonation, replace the nut/saddle, and do all the wiring for the electronics, and have always done my own setups.

I never 'dressed' the frets on any of the instruments as at first I did not know about it, and then later realized that they did not really need it.

When I was in college and for a few years after, I played in bands that had gigs like 2-3 nights every other weekend, but mostly playing either bass or keyboards (my [K]AS is a WHOLE other story- ha ha) so these guitars did not see a lot of time outside the house.

As far as ukes go, see my forum signature below.

Don't get me started on DJ equipment, or this thread will never end (I was a co-founder and partner of a mobile DJ company for 20 yrs. until I cashed out due to back problems, and that was a time of incessant GEAR-buying).

All the guitars I've listed here have hard-shell cases, but since I became uke-crazy, they just do not get played as often as I would like.

Also I have seen that if you have only $400 to spend you can get an much nicer ukulele than you can with certain kinds of guitars. That gets even more true as you increase the budget it seems.

In the past 9 months I was able to AFFORD and buy SIX NEW ukuleles. The economy of scale for the same amount of cash would have been impossible for ALL NEW guitars.

When I moved about 14 yrs ago, the Fender 12-string did not like it's new home, and it took me almost a year before I unpacked it finally. After doing so, I was completely heartbroken to realize that the bridge had completely lifted and the soundboard was bowed up right where the saddle sits, almost like an archtop by about 1" higher than normal. I did some research at the time, and it seemed that if I could even find a competent luthier in my area that I could trust, that the cost of the repairs would exceed the value of the guitar itself. This is not a repair I was not confident enough to handle myself at that time. However, now, were I to spend about $300 in tools from StewMac and/or LMI, I could probably fix it without ruining the guitar completely, after watching about two dozen videos on the procedure on various websites (primarily youtube).

I have become quite handy with tools over the years, and while I'd never claim to be a luthier or attempt to repair any one else's precious instrument, I am reasonably confident that I can at least make it better than it's currently state, even though it may never be 'perfect' again. (I've also self-installed a Mi-Si Trio in both my KALA KA-T and Yamaha GL-1 perfectly, and they both sound great! - as well as making custom bone saddles for all my ukes save for the concert Flea)

Also, to note, the Yamaha CG-120 classical guitar's sound has gotten simply incredible with age. The wood has opened up and the richness and depth of the tone will melt your brain. The sound belies the fact that this was an entry-level instrument when I bought it. I am leaning towards believing that those ToneRite or ToneBug devices may actual do something that works, albeit in an accelerated time frame.

So my friends and family usually respond with some flavor/combination of disbelief, anger and ridicule as to why I have SO MANY instruments, and it's been a constant river of jealousy and snide remarks.

I am only too happy to oblige them when it comes around to 'Can you ACTUALLY play any/all of them?', to which I respond with an impromptu performance/demo, and typically afterwards, they are either simply quiet in that I have proven the naysayers wrong, or respond meekly with comments along the lines of 'Good job' or 'nice playing'.

It does not really matter to me what they say, because I play music, and WRITE music for MYSELF, it makes me happy, it makes ME feel better, and that is ALL that matters, and all I truly care about in this regard.

I tell them that I am not into sports, gambling, fishing, stamp collecting, etc, at all, but I am very involved in, and learning how to improve both my general musical ability/creativity and to increase my songwritng proficiency, and the instruments and related gear are the TOOLS required to do so.

They are NOT "TOYS". I may be preaching to the choir here, so I hope you all understand what I mean.

There is a thread elsewhere here on UU started by Hochapeafarm that gets into the dynamics of 'how feedback effects you' which may be worth reading if you are interested in what other members here on UU have to say on this topic. Link to that discussion is here.

Any way. This post is longer than I had originally intended, but necessary to just barely touch the surface of my UGAS (see top of post). Some have accused me of 'hoarding' and to that comment I just let out a giant maniacal belly-laugh, and grin to myself, thinking 'that if they only KNEW.

-Booli

katysax said:

I had GAS long before I had UAS.

Unfortunately I also have Computer Acquisition Syndrome, but I've turned my experience with a wide range of computers and operating systems into the way I make my living.

Click to expand...

Ha Ha, katysax,

You and I are the same in this regard, I too have made a 25 year career of working with computers (hardware/software/OS's/networking and most recently software development in Python). Financially, it has been an enabler of my 'condition'.

However, I fear that the details of my many different flavors of these 'Acquisition Syndromes' are extensive and outside the scope of UU.

Maybe, another time, another place.

I will say that lately, it's become a bit of a burden (the GAS), and I just found out about the '100 Things' philosophy, but fear that I could not achieve this without great distress.

Yes, the GAS becomes a burden. There are times I start selling things and disposing of things to get the burden under control. In fact I'm on the edge of selling a bunch of ukes and maybe a guitar or two. I'd like to unburden myself of some saxophones too but I've been waiting for the economy to improve so the market will be better. At least that's what I tell myself.

Almost two years ago I took a chance (on getting kicked out of the house 'sic') on buying a very expensive Taylor Grand Concert Cedar/Mahogany GC5e guitar. Gorgeous instrument. It has what I call "piano tone", based on that sound you get when you mic a piano soundboard and strum the strings of the grand piano, they make this bright yet sweet sound. This guitar is wonderful to hear and play. All the way up the neck too! It cost me over $2k but it has been every bit worth it. CURED my GAS... or at least acoustic GAS! Uke and electrics are still subject!

flyingace said:

... buying a very expensive Taylor Grand Concert Cedar/Mahogany GC5e guitar. Gorgeous instrument. ... It cost me over $2k ... CURED my GAS... or at least acoustic GAS! Uke and electrics are still subject!

Click to expand...

That's kinda how I'm hoping I feel once I get a Rainsong or Godin Multiac ACS Nylon, as well as the Godin MultiUke (but you just know they are eventually going to make a Multiac/MIDI version of the MultiUke, and then I'll just have to buy that one too).

OTOH, I would not refuse a Cordoba GK Studio or a 'Little Martin'...

I am able to stop now, only due to temporarily lack of funding. Somebody HELP ME. ¡ aaahhhhaaa haaaa !

Pre-GAS?

I've already got a couple of ukes but for some reason started surfing the net looking at guitars. A music store near by recommended Art and Lutheire as a good starter guitar. That led to Seagull and now I'm looking for stores that carry them in stock. Is it too late for me?

My collection consists of:

Acoustics:

Washburn D25-12 - Twelve string (1980)
Guild GAD-JF30BLD
Walnut 000 (made by my cousin)
Moon dreadnought acoustic.....A surprise gift from my cousin, just in the throws of being finished off.

Electrics:

Red Special Pro - prototype made by KZ Guitar Works in Japan
Red Special Jr. - made by KZ Guitar Works in Japan
Blue RS - Custom built by RS Guitars (Steve Turpin - Arizona)
Home made replica of Brian May's Red Special - built by myself back in 1996
Squier Strat - I customised it to replicate George Harrison's psychedelic "Rocky" Strat.

Ukulele's:

Lanikai LU-11 - I have two of these
Makai CK-65

Amplifiers:

Vox AC30 TBX re-issues (I have four)
Vox Pathfinder 15 (I have three)

It might sound greedy having multiple amps but I use them for the three part harmony effect that Brian May does (I am a big fan of Queen!)

Other instruments:

Sitar (I have two)
6 string Male Tanpura.
Toy Koto

If you wish, you can view the instruments here:

http://s244.photobucket.com/user/TriSonics/library/Instruments

heres a few

At the height of my guitar collecting/buying/actively gigging 3-5 nights per week I owned 32 electrics. I'm down to the following now:GAS has subsided for the most part, replaced by UAS at the moment.
1) Suhr Strat
2) 2 Fender USA made standard strats/1 vintage 77 hardtail strat
3) 1988 Gibson SG
4) 2 Thorn Artisan Deluxe models
5) 2 Mcnaughts
6) 1 1991 PRS Custom
7) 1 Mexican Tele
8) 3 Vintage Mustangs, 66, 71, and 72

Acoustics:
1) Martin D18
2) Pono 12 Fret parlor
3) Seagull Parlor
4) Taylor Baby Liberty Tree
5) Talyor GS Mini Magohany

Hmmm I wonder if I can even remember all of mine:

Electric:
Rickenbacker 365 (1966)
Fender Paisley Telecaster (Japanese reissue)
Gibson Les Paul Studio
Parker P-38
DiPinto Belvedere

Acoustic:
Beardsell 4G
Dell Arte Swing 16
Eastman PG-2
Eastman OM
Kevin Mathers Custom
Tacoma AJF22CE
Martin Felix the Cat

I think that's all of them...

I have overcome Guitar Acquisition Syndrome! I've got it down to four guitars. I recently sold one to fund UAS, and had previously sold off five handmade classicals, so I've made huge strides in paring down the collection.

I didn't want to admit this, but I see I'm in good company. I have a 3/4 size Amigo(?) classical guitar with 3 old strings on it. Just ordered a full set. I don't even know what the materials are, that's how long it's been sitting around, no case. It has terrible fretwork, maybe a result of that and maybe not. So I'm going to string it up and see what happens.

I'm tired of telling myself I can't play guitar. It's time I tried again. After all, I'm not 16 anymore.

Still, I need a guilele of some sort, and a Little Martin, I like the koa HPL one. This thing I have now is only a test.

Just sayin'.

peaceweaver3 said:

Still, I need a guilele of some sort, and a Little Martin, I like the koa HPL one. This thing I have now is only a test.

Just sayin'.

Click to expand...

I have one that is available. It was handmade in Spain by Ricardo Sanchis. It's solid spruce top, laminated rosewood back, solid rosewood sides. It is over 20 years old and sounds great, but it does have a repaired crack on the top. It was built as a half size guitar/requinto with a string length of 21 3/4". Comes with a hard Bausach case. My son played it when he was little, after playing three ukuleles literally to death, and the instrument later became the first chair requinto of the New York Guitar Orchestra! (Tuned with 1st string to A just like a uke, and as a requinto is intended to be tuned.) Retail price new: $1500. Selling for $325 due to the repaired crack and assorted dings. Buyer pays shipping. At some point I will post it in the Marketplace, but just haven't gotten around to it yet. If I put new strings on it, I just might change my mind about selling it altogether!

Jamie

I hope I have not started a case of GAS. I just bought my first electric guitar, an Ibanez AG-95-DBS. I do have an acoustic that I bought about 7 or 8 years ago, a Yamaha FG-04-LTD. Took a few lessons from a friend but never kept up with it. The ukulele has ignited a desire to learn more, so I'm gonna give it a go and see how it goes.

A couple of pix of the new Ibanez.

My affliction is worse. I own ukes, guitars, mandolins, and banjos and I'm going off to luthier school for two months this fall. Guess what? We build two guitars during that two months so I'll come back with probably two of the best guitars I've ever played.

Did I mention that I have 14 Native American Flutes and two Didgeridoos as well? Oh, and I'm building a separate room in my house just to maintain all of my babies at the right humidity level. I don't have to worry about the flutes. Oh, and I also play Xiao flute too. Yes, I'm addicted. My tongue drum is trying to hide from this thread.