2026 Gear Abstinence Thread

[neepheid]

9 minutes ago, Bassman1974 said:

I think I might be out:

 

Toltec pickups bought for both my AM Standard Jazz and Vintera Jazz

 

Custom vintage TRC and PG bought for the Ric 4003

 

I've zero plans to buy any more basses for the foreseeable..

 

Pickups are gear, so yes, you're out.  Thank you for your participation, feel free to stick around to judge others!

[Bassman1974]

4 minutes ago, neepheid said:

 

Pickups are gear, so yes, you're out.  Thank you for your participation, feel free to stick around to judge others!

I should probably add that I ordered my first set of pickups on Jan 5th !

[neepheid]

2 minutes ago, Bassman1974 said:

I should probably add that I ordered my first set of pickups on Jan 5th !

 

Eh, I just put it down as today, I do an end of month report each month, I'm not going back and editing January, I'm doing this for free!

[Richard R]

1 hour ago, neepheid said:

 

Eh, I just put it down as today, I do an end of month report each month, I'm not going back and editing January, I'm doing this for free!

Much appreciated! 

[msb]

5 hours ago, neepheid said:

 

I'm not sure about this one.  It's certainly nowhere near the specified case of dragging one's other half round the guitar shops, trying a bunch of stuff then they buy it for you.  This is subtler than that.  Reuniting you with an old (bass) flame seems a little different to me.  I mean it was kinda pre-chosen, no?  Honestly, I'm in two minds about it. This is a very specific case of an accidental discovery, rather than a wilful and knowing enterprise of going out specifically to identify a bass for someone else to buy for you.  But on the other hand, it wasn't a total surprise, and there was some influence in the purchase.

 

What say you, jury?

I’d lean towards accidental discovery. And say you have a wonderful wife.

[Mrbigstuff]

9 hours ago, Machines said:

I am out.

 

Gf bought me my old MTD Super 5 I had a couple of years ago and regretted selling. It doesn't count as unsolicited as we'd swung by BassBros to pick up my Dad's unsold guitar and I spotted it and went OMG.

It may have been sudden, but you let GAS get the better of you. Such weakness has no place in this group!

 

I am of course joking and hope you enjoy your new bass and never let it leave again.

[Richard R]

9 hours ago, Machines said:

I am out.

 

Gf bought me my old MTD Super 5 I had a couple of years ago and regretted selling. It doesn't count as unsolicited as we'd swung by BassBros to pick up my Dad's unsold guitar and I spotted it and went OMG.

 

As she offered to buy it and presumably you didn't ask her to, then since it's such a heartwarming story of man, woman, and bass together again, then I think we should note it on the record but not class it as fail.

 

Enjoy the bass!

 

Edited 18 hours ago by Richard R

[Suburban Man]

6 hours ago, neepheid said:

 

I'm not sure about this one.  It's certainly nowhere near the specified case of dragging one's other half round the guitar shops, trying a bunch of stuff then they buy it for you.  This is subtler than that.  Reuniting you with an old (bass) flame seems a little different to me.  I mean it was kinda pre-chosen, no?  Honestly, I'm in two minds about it. This is a very specific case of an accidental discovery, rather than a wilful and knowing enterprise of going out specifically to identify a bass for someone else to buy for you.  But on the other hand, it wasn't a total surprise, and there was some influence in the purchase.

 

What say you, jury?

Definitely an act of God (or Providence) and therefore outside the definition of a purchase. Case dismissed. 

[Machines]

1 hour ago, Richard R said:

 

As she offered to buy it and presumably you didn't ask her to, then since it's such a heartwarming story of man, woman, and bass together again, then I think we should note it on the record but not class it as fail.

 

Enjoy the bass!

 

 

She did offer indeed, I was considering buying it myself and very well might have without the offer, how about this additional factor ?

[lozkerr]

10 hours ago, Machines said:

I am out.

 

Gf bought me my old MTD Super 5 I had a couple of years ago and regretted selling. It doesn't count as unsolicited as we'd swung by BassBros to pick up my Dad's unsold guitar and I spotted it and went OMG.

Some things were just meant to be, and stars do sometimes align. I say this gets a pass, as @Machines didn't go shopping for a bass - in fact, an award might be due because of his going to pick up a g****r in broad daylight.

[Bassman1974]

5 hours ago, neepheid said:

 

Eh, I just put it down as today, I do an end of month report each month, I'm not going back and editing January, I'm doing this for free!

Yeah, sorry man. Didn't mention it to give you more work, more that I unsurprisingly couldn't last five days into the new year without buying stuff

[Stub Mandrel]

11 hours ago, neepheid said:

 

I'm not sure about this one.  It's certainly nowhere near the specified case of dragging one's other half round the guitar shops, trying a bunch of stuff then they buy it for you.  This is subtler than that.  Reuniting you with an old (bass) flame seems a little different to me.  I mean it was kinda pre-chosen, no?  Honestly, I'm in two minds about it. This is a very specific case of an accidental discovery, rather than a wilful and knowing enterprise of going out specifically to identify a bass for someone else to buy for you.  But on the other hand, it wasn't a total surprise, and there was some influence in the purchase.

 

What say you, jury?

 

Neeps... you're a lot more relaxed than previous adjudicators! 🤣

[bass_dinger]

3 hours ago, Machines said:

 

She did offer indeed, I was considering buying it myself and very well might have without the offer, how about this additional factor ?

 

I would say that desire is not action - that is to say, the fact that were considering it, does not mean that you would have done so had Mrs Machines not offered. You could have left the shop without the bass.

 

However, only you know whether you planned to buy the bass had she not offered. 

 

So, technically, this is an unsolicited gift, and it feels like you should remain in the game. 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Stub Mandrel said:

 

Neeps... you're a lot more relaxed than previous adjudicators! 🤣

He's gone soft in the head! Parsnip Head by name, @neepheid by nature! 

[neepheid]

1 hour ago, Stub Mandrel said:

 

Neeps... you're a lot more relaxed than previous adjudicators! 🤣

 

I don't know about that, I just try to call it how I see it.  See how efficiently I dealt with Mr. Toltec pickups?  Yup, guilty.  Next!

[neepheid]

53 minutes ago, bass_dinger said:

He's gone soft in the head! Parsnip Head by name, @neepheid by nature! 

 

I've always been a bit of a softie, really

 

[BassAgent]

I'm still in. However, it's very, very difficult. I'm currently borrowing a Rob Allen Deep 5 for a gig next month aaaaand I have MASSIVE GAS for one. Lucky me: they are very expensive.

Edited 6 hours ago by BassAgent

[Mrbigstuff]

41 minutes ago, BassAgent said:

I'm still in. However, it's very, very difficult. I'm currently borrowing a Rob Allen Deep 5 for a gig next month aaaaand I have MASSIVE GAS for one. Lucky me: they are very expensive.

That one’s particularly gorgeous 

[Geek99]

11 hours ago, lozkerr said:

Some things were just meant to be, and stars do sometimes align. I say this gets a pass, as @Machines didn't go shopping for a bass - in fact, an award might be due because of his going to pick up a g****r in broad daylight.

To be fair, it’s deviance by proxy as it wasn’t his. 

[Richard R]

2 hours ago, BassAgent said:

I'm still in. However, it's very, very difficult. I'm currently borrowing a Rob Allen Deep 5 for a gig next month aaaaand I have MASSIVE GAS for one. Lucky me: they are very expensive.

Ooooohhhh. 🥰

 

I sincerely hope the gig isn't a Motorhead tribute act at the local pub. 

 

 

[BassAgent]

Hahaha nope it's a musical where part of the songs are written for upright bass. I don't have the time (or the bass) to practice on upright so this is a great replacement.

[neepheid]

Last call for jury submissions on the @Machines case, then we'll reach a verdict.

[tauzero]

21 hours ago, BassAgent said:

Thanks, I spilled my coffee from laughter. 

He has a wife, you know.

 

She might be a bit cross about his girlfriend buying him a bass.

[Geek99]

47 minutes ago, neepheid said:

Last call for jury submissions on the @Machines case, then we'll reach a verdict.

It’s still a purchase, whether or not nostalgia is involved. 

off with his head …

Edited 1 hour ago by Geek99

[tauzero]

42 minutes ago, neepheid said:

Last call for jury submissions on the @Machines case, then we'll reach a verdict.

 

One must consider two factors - the act itself, and any premeditation. In this case, there was no premeditation, so a prima facie case fails if that was the sole criterion. However, there is the act itself, and in this case, it was perpetrated not by the (self) accused but by his girlfriend (whether with or without the knowledge of his wife), without any direct solicitation by the accused and apparently without his intention being to cause the purchase. I think a caution would be appropriate, and congratulations on the choice of girlfriend.

[SimonK]

44 minutes ago, tauzero said:

 

One must consider two factors - the act itself, and any premeditation. In this case, there was no premeditation, so a prima facie case fails if that was the sole criterion. However, there is the act itself, and in this case, it was perpetrated not by the (self) accused but by his girlfriend (whether with or without the knowledge of his wife), without any direct solicitation by the accused and apparently without his intention being to cause the purchase. I think a caution would be appropriate, and congratulations on the choice of girlfriend.

 

Oooh... so if I walk into a bass store and buy something without thinking it through in advance it doesn't count as a purchase? I think I'm beginning to like this game.... but may need some sort of letter of authority from the mods to show my wife...