2026 Gear Abstinence Thread

[knirirr]

2 minutes ago, neepheid said:

 

 

 

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

 

 

However, a local gypsy jazz guitarist recently purchased a Yamaha SLB 300 (which he cannot play) out of his own pocket which he claims is for use by whichever bassist is in his band. Presumably that would be a rare occurrence of a "band bass"?

[tauzero]

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. 

 

The decision to spend or not is not yours, in this case. Gear abstinence is about one's own decision to buy or not.

 

Like I've just realised that I should have picked up a rechargeable pedal power supply for a little pedalboard before 2026, and now I'm not sure whether to go for the record in failing the test or use a powered power supply. Oh, and whether to buy a little pedalboard or fashion one from bits of wood I have lying around.

[neepheid]

Also would just like to say that I am your compere and organiser for the year, but I'm not the boss.  It's a trial by jury when potential transgressions happen, I'm just here to smack a gavel and shout "ORDER" every so often...

[TimR]

5 minutes ago, neepheid said:

Happy to hear other people's take on it.

 

It is not GAS. I think the intention of the thread is to control rampant GAS.

 

Technically anything that you buy to fix GAS itch should be covered (there's probably some special cream you can buy)

[neepheid]

2 minutes ago, knirirr said:

 

However, a local gypsy jazz guitarist recently purchased a Yamaha SLB 300 (which he cannot play) out of his own pocket which he claims is for use by whichever bassist is in his band. Presumably that would be a rare occurrence of a "band bass"?

 

He's out.  He bought it with his own money.

[tauzero]

1 minute ago, knirirr said:

However, a local gypsy jazz guitarist recently purchased a Yamaha SLB 300 (which he cannot play) out of his own pocket which he claims is for use by whichever bassist is in his band. Presumably that would be a rare occurrence of a "band bass"?

 

An elderly sax player that I know bought quite a bit of gear for his long-departed band, including a bass.

 

More appropriately for this, many years ago, Mrs Zero and I were going to run an open mic night and I bought a cheap Tanglewood acoustic guitar[1] and unknown brand 4 string bass[2] for use by artistes - as it happened, it naver came to pass. As they were specifically for use by others, would they have counted? TBH, I think they would be fails.

 

[1] Recently auctioned for charity

[2] Recently swapped for an OLP Tony Levin

[TimR]

4 minutes ago, tauzero said:

Like I've just realised that I should have picked up a rechargeable pedal power supply for a little pedalboard before 2026, and now I'm not sure whether to go for the record in failing the test or use a powered power supply. Oh, and whether to buy a little pedalboard or fashion one from bits of wood I have lying around.

 

I'd be looking at the power supply as an 'allowance' or replacement to existing power supply, although possibly its an 'upgrade'. Batteries are consumables. Grey area. 

 

Pedalboard - Tier 1 fail. Any paint or screws you buy to fashion one out of scrap wood would be scrutinised. Photos would have to be supplied. 

[Mrbigstuff]

48 minutes ago, tauzero said:

 

The decision to spend or not is not yours, in this case. Gear abstinence is about one's own decision to buy or not.

I like this theory- and the loophole is covered by the rule of asking for something as a gift.

[2pods]

Count me in.

Hopefully I can at least make it out of January this time 

[msb]

12 hours ago, fergs40 said:

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?

I’ve seen several 8 string Hagstroms go in our local market. I was kinda shocked to see several around from the old days. A girl in a local punk band is making them popular again. Good player. She drives the bus.

[AndyTravis]

I’m not even entering.

 

Picking a guitar up this evening 😆

[neepheid]

10 minutes ago, AndyTravis said:

I’m not even entering.

 

Picking a guitar up this evening 😆

 

[Grooverjr]

I'm in, although it's not going to be much of a challenge because I live somewhere that provides zero temptation. It will at least make me think before burdening anyone who decides to come and visit with things I don't need anyway. 

[neepheid]

2 minutes ago, Grooverjr said:

I'm in, although it's not going to be much of a challenge because I live somewhere that provides zero temptation. It will at least make me think before burdening anyone who decides to come and visit with things I don't need anyway. 

 

Umm, look where I live.  There's the internet, couriers and road trips.  That's a dangerous false sense of security you've got there.  My top tip - stay the flock out of of Facebook Marketplace.  That has been the source of many a "damn, that's a good price, and it's only 3-5 hours away..." shenanigans for me.

[chris_b]

I'm ruining a clean sheet. . . picking up 2 cabs tomorrow. . . . and looking at a couple of basses next week!

[Richard R]

15 minutes ago, chris_b said:

I'm ruining a clean sheet.

 

Hope the old problem clears up quickly...

[Maude]

1 hour ago, neepheid said:

 

Umm, look where I live.  There's the internet, couriers and road trips.  That's a dangerous false sense of security you've got there.  My top tip - stay the flock out of of Facebook Marketplace.  That has been the source of many a "damn, that's a good price, and it's only 3-5 hours away..." shenanigans for me.

Likewise, but at the other end of the UK. Nothing is close to Cornwall, but research, couriers and calculated risk means I've got far more basses than fingers and toes to play them with... and that's saying something for someone from Cornwall! 😁

[SimonK]

I would say band purchases count as a fail - I have periodically taken great delight in buying pieces of PA, microphones, and even stage lights for band usage, and my wife (who is the ultimate authority) has counted all of these as GAS related!

[neepheid]

9 minutes ago, SimonK said:

I would say band purchases count as a fail - I have periodically taken great delight in buying pieces of PA, microphones, and even stage lights for band usage, and my wife (who is the ultimate authority) has counted all of these as GAS related!

 

Yes, but did you pay for it 100% yourself or was it part financed my others?

[tauzero]

17 minutes ago, neepheid said:

 

Yes, but did you pay for it 100% yourself or was it part financed my others?

 

If part financed by others, shouldn't whose decision it was then come into it? If entirely the decision of the BCer, it's a fail, if it's a democratic decision or an autocratic one where the autocrat is other than the BCer, it isn't a fail.

[Grooverjr]

4 hours ago, neepheid said:

 

Umm, look where I live.  There's the internet, couriers and road trips.  That's a dangerous false sense of security you've got there.  My top tip - stay the flock out of of Facebook Marketplace.  That has been the source of many a "damn, that's a good price, and it's only 3-5 hours away..." shenanigans for me.

Oh, I have bought stuff when I was on a different continent and left it until I came back many months later so I know the dangers of GAS. However I can be fairly sure this time because a) I am now in La Paz Bolivia which is almost as 'a*se end of nowhere' as you can get and b) I am unemployed so there is no spare cash to be silly with. 

Of course, none of this is a guarantee and I fully expect to find a way to crumble at some point....

[bass_dinger]

1 hour ago, SimonK said:

I would say band purchases count as a fail - I have periodically taken great delight in buying pieces of PA, microphones, and even stage lights for band usage, and my wife (who is the ultimate authority) has counted all of these as GAS related!

 

Thankfully, @neepheid is in charge this year, so, fill your sparkly silver platform stage-wear boots!   

[AndyTravis]

Deffo out. Glad I didn’t enter and embarrass myself again 😆

[LukeFRC]

6 minutes ago, AndyTravis said:

Deffo out. Glad I didn’t enter and embarrass myself again 😆

That’s like turning up at a AA meeting with a bottle of single malt

[SimonK]

47 minutes ago, bass_dinger said:

 

Thankfully, @neepheid is in charge this year, so, fill your sparkly silver platform stage-wear boots!   

 

I suppose it depends how band finances are set up. All the ones I have been in have not had joint owned kit, favouring individuals buying specific items so if they leave we know exactly whose is whose (and what the other band members then need to buy). Also the reason why my garage is shrine of random pieces of PA/lighting kit!!