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 14 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 6 hours 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 4 hours 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. 

[BassAgent]

15 hours ago, BassAgent said:

I am in for Tier 2. I have a De Gier Bebop coming in June but I ordered that last October so it doesn't count. I'm not planning on buying anything else. Amps, cables, pedals, I'm set. For now. My gf and I have agreed that if I buy another bass before I take delivery of my Bebop, one of my USA Laklands has to go. Aaaaaand I don't want that.

Oh and I'm expecting my new IEMs somewhere later this month. But I already paid for those a few weeks ago.

[Merton]

16 hours ago, bass_dinger said:

Is that because you already know how to spend more?!

I can still find new ways to spend more but I do feel like I’m semi pro at it now 😄

[Mrbigstuff]

58 minutes ago, Sean said:

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. 

Listed as a tier 2 fail. 

[Richard R]

1 hour ago, Sean said:

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. 

 

I would say that's OK - band funds not your personal gear - but as @Mrbigstuff points out, it has always been a T2 fail.

 

@neepheid is in Aberdeen and Hogmannay falls just before a weekend.

When the party's over and he's sobered up he can have final say. 😊

Edited 3 hours ago by Richard R

[knirirr]

18 hours ago, knirirr said:

I'd like to see if I can manage this coming year without multiple tier 2 fails again.

 

I was just thinking that technically I managed a tier 1 success last year and could probably do it again, but I don't think it counts.
Once I'm able to play what I would like to play adequately enough and have an opportunity to do so then the GAS tends to evaporate. Plus, the only bass that would tempt me at present is one of those where if one has to ask the price then it's too much. Even a relatively cheap in comparison EUB upgrade is not justifiable. So, resisting bass gear is fairly easy at the moment. 
But, I suck at jazz guitar and no-one wants me to play it, so there's plenty of GAS still around.

[neepheid]

12 hours ago, tauzero said:

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?

 

Sounds good to me:

 

1) it's repairs

2) you engaged Jon's services last year, so it is considered 2025 business, doesn't matter if you actually pay for it this year.

 

But:

 

If the scope of works agreed in 2025 changes in 2026 to include any upgrades/additions, it's a fail.

[miles'tone]

I'm not in.

I took out 2025 like Scarface by the end.

 

 

 

 

[neepheid]

2 hours ago, Sean said:

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. 

 

This raises an interesting question which I think needs some debate - and possibly an addition/clarification to the rules.  I will stick my tuppence worth in, but I'm not the boss - everyone is free to chime in and contribute to the evolution of the rules (even you @Sean as the petitioner).

 

My take is that "band" acquisitions shouldn't count.  My reasoning is that you only own a part share of the item(s), it is a precarious part ownership (if you leave the band, you'll (or at least you should) get cashed out of your share and no longer own part of it), sometimes it's not even you driving the decision to buy band stuff, there may be times when you thought the purchase was unnecessary but were overruled (in a dictatorship band) or outvoted (in a democratic band).

 

If the gear in question is "band" property (as in paid for from a band kitty of some kind) then you don't really own it, the "band" does.  Of course, "band" acquisitions need to be things the whole band uses - lights, monitors, mixing desk, subs, backdrops/stage dressing etc.  I'm sure some items will be contentious and I look forward to some twists and turns in the future. 

 

There's no such thing as a "band bass" or a "band bass amp", so dinna start with your p!sh

 

Happy to hear other people's take on it.