2026 Gear Abstinence Thread

[TrevorR]

Well, since I’ve got a Sandberg on order, expected around Easter time, I guess that’s me out before it started!

[bassist_lewis]

I thought I was ready to take part in this thread but my wife announced today I have permission to buy another Wilcock bass 😂

[BassAgent]

18 minutes ago, TrevorR said:

Well, since I’ve got a Sandberg on order, expected around Easter time, I guess that’s me out before it started!

Basses already on order don't count

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

I failed the 2025 challenge early and bought a lot of lovely guitars, basses and other gear in the last year.

 

In 2026 my aim should be to “right size” my collection and unload anything that I no longer want/need.

 

I managed to sneak in a last purchase at the Gibson Garage yesterday so one of first things I’ll need to list for sale in 2026 will be my amazing sunburst epiphone firebird which will be replaced with an even more amazing “inspired by Gibson custom shop” cherry epiphone firebird when that is delivered next week. Similarly my lake placid blue Squier bass VI will be added to the “to go” list due to the (Also LPB) Fender Vintera version that came about an month ago.

 

I currently have an active basket of pedalboard upgrade stuff on the thomann website, however I will try to resist placing an order. I could probably postpone the pedalboard project for twelve months if I try really hard — maybe I can allow myself to add stuff to the basket without ever actually hitting the “Place Order” button.

 

The biggest risk to make me lose the challenge will probably be if a secondhand boss RT-2 Rotary Speaker Pedal pops up for sale at an attractive price as I’d love to have one of these, but don’t love the £229 price tag.

[Franticsmurf]

I'm in. I've managed to sneak in my IEM upgrade before the starting gun and I don't anticipate anything else other than a couple of professional set-ups that fall within the rules.

[lozkerr]

<deep breath> OK, I'm in. I've offloaded a tonne of stuff this year and I really can't think of anything else I want at the moment, so let's see how it goes. If I get to the end of April, I'll be improving on previous years!

[tauzero]

I'm in, mainly to see how long I last. Agreed about straps, stands, etc, give them a pass.

 

Just want to check something - I have a bass being repaired which has been with Jon Shuker for a couple of months which I haven't paid for yet, so is that OK?

[msb]

I’m in. And seriously hope to last the year. I hope to downsize a bit this year.
 

I’m not going to stop scouring the local classifieds though. 
 

edit … I had to replace a broken Snark tuner , did it yesterday. 

Edited 10 hours ago by msb

[FiFoFum]

Ok - I'm in, Tiers I and II....what could possibly go wrong?  I'm looking forward to the arrival of a TCE Bc208 cab for my upright....sometime in April. But I ordered and paid for it in November -- honest!

I look forward to investing in developing better hands, better ears, and making more music.

[fergs40]

I’m in too.

 

I’m not going to stop looking at stuff, because I’m not an alcoholic, sorry, bassoholic, but as things stand I really don’t know what might present itself to break my resolve.

 

Maybe one of those eight-string Hagstroms. But they come up like never.

 

Right?

[TimR]

Ok. I'll play.

 

I have a PA for sale and some bass shaped cash I need to get rid of.

 

But going on past experience it could take several days (365+) to find the right bass shaped hole to put it in. 

 

Is lighting mentioned anywhere in the fail tiers? 

[Richard R]

13 hours ago, Geek99 said:

I seem to have been blessed with a bracket? 
 

count me in please 

It's the closing bracket for the phrase

"( stop sniggering @Geek99)"

 

[Richard R]

5 hours ago, TimR said:

Is lighting mentioned anywhere in the fail tiers? 

I defer to @neepheid as the man now in charge. PA and stage is a grey area, depending on the band etc, but if you're buying lighting then it won't be grey any longer but beautifully lit up, so I would allow it.

 

8 hours ago, tauzero said:

 I have a bass being repaired which has been with Jon Shuker for a couple of months which I haven't paid for yet, so is that OK?

 

Repairs are allowed, so nothing to declare.

Edited 1 hour ago by Richard R

[Mrbigstuff]

8 hours ago, tauzero said:

I'm in, mainly to see how long I last. Agreed about straps, stands, etc, give them a pass.

 

Just want to check something - I have a bass being repaired which has been with Jon Shuker for a couple of months which I haven't paid for yet, so is that OK?

Not unless you’re using it to sneak in upgrades

[Mudpup]

I'll give it another go.....

 

[TrevorR]

13 hours ago, TrevorR said:

Well, since I’ve got a Sandberg on order, expected around Easter time, I guess that’s me out before it started!

Ah, but the CC payment hasn’t gone out though (to my surprise and no deposit either) so I’ll deffo be paying for it this year!! 🤣  Not sure what sort of abstinence limbo that leaves me in… 🤨🤔🤣 …but (Sandberg excepted) I’m in!

Edited 29 minutes ago by TrevorR

[Sean]

Question:

 

What about joint purchases for bands made out of band funds? 

 

Upgrading lights, new monitors, a new backdrop. My contribution is 20% and it's deducted from the band slush fund.