Real Groovy Relapse!

I was doing so well. Since moving cities around 13 weeks ago I had only bought 2 CDs for myself: Zao's Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest for $5 from Cash Convertors and U2's No Line on the Horizon for around $23 new from JB Hi Fi. The Zao album was a find I was particularly pleased with as I have owned it on tape for about 9 years and I have been trying to track it down on CD for around 7 and a 1/2 of those.

In the last 2 years before moving I probably averaged one every week or so, so cutting that down to 2 in around 13 weeks was quite a good effort, although was partially due to the lack of a Real Groovy in the city I'm now living.

I was in Auckland for a couple of nights last weekend, in which I managed to get to Real Groovy twice.
The first visit I managed to acquire for myself:

October - U2 (Which I have never listened to much)
War - U2 (which I own on vinyl, but don't have a player for)
The Unforgettable Fire - U2 (like October, I don't know much of this album except for the singles)
Paranoia - The Chase (Auckland Hardcore band)
Throwing Myself - Luti Kriss (the metalcore band that later changed their name to Norma Jean, not the rapper)

The Second visit I managed to Obtain:
Love, Liberty, Disco - Newsboys (who I'm starting to appreciate again since andrew pointed out how tasty their guitar tone often is.)
Where Meagre Die of Self Interest - 90 lb Wuss (late 90s christian chaotic, abrasive punk - at least that's the impression I got from the one song of theirs I had on a compilation)

All of these CDs were only 4 bucks each -so that's $28 - which is no more than some new releases, Which isn't too bad really is it?

Strain Three: The Dutch Hoarder Approach

This strain of gear acquisition syndrome is characterised by buying the cheapest equipment available that will fulfill a particular function. Over time, unlike the artist whose GAS constantly improves their gear, the dutch hoarder will instead expand their collection to include other cheap gear for different functions.
The acquisition process goes something like this.
- Want an electric guitar — buy a cheap package deal with a practice amp.
- Want a tube amp that could be giggable — acquire one cheaply off a friend who is going overseas.
- Want a guitar with humbuckers — acquire one cheaply off a friend who doesn't play much anymore.
- Want a bass — acquire one cheaply off an auction site, that can be used, but has "character."
- Want a steel string acoustic — buy one at a second hand shop.
- Want a small tube amp for miking at church — buy a cheap one.
- Want a bass amp — scour auction sites until a good deal is found.
Like the previous strain, this is further complicated by effects pedals, however in this case these are mostly acquired by gathering unreliable or odd ones that have been cast off by friends who no longer need them.

Amplification symptoms — multiple amps, all acquired relatively cheaply, but with different functions and problems.
Example of someone who suffers from this strain: Me

Strain Two: The Artist in pursuit of "their" tone

(Perhaps their "Platonic ideal" :) )

This strain of Gear Acquisition Syndrome is characterised by periodic replacement of equipment with something better or more "interesting".

The purchasing process goes something like this:
- Borrow a guitar.
- Buy a medium size combo.
Use them for a while.
- Buy own guitar.
Use it for a while.
- Buy an interesting head and cab.
Use them for a while, and dispose of the old combo.
- Buy a different more interesting guitar.
Use that instead of the old one for a while.
- Buy a different, more interesting head.
Use that and sell the old one
- Make own more interesting cab
This itself is an oversimplification, as there are also effects that come into play, normally progressing by periodic addition and replacement from standard pedals to boutique overdrives and modulations.
Each part is not the most expensive available at the time, and budgetary constraints are considered, but over time the sufferer of this strain of GAS builds up an interesting and unique, but useful signal chain.

Amplification symptoms present as a cab and head, so both can be replaced / upgraded separately. Less versatility in their gear than the engineer, but a more interesting and unique tone.
Example of someone who suffers from this strain : My friend Andrew

Strain One : The Engineers Approach

This strain is characterised by (over?)engineering the solution to each particular music gear function a GAS suffer decides they need— often by buying the best equipment you know of for a particular application.

The purchasing decision process goes something like this:
- Decide to purchase a piece of equipment (eg an amp or a twelve string acoustic).
- Determine a budget.
- Do some research and sample various makes and models within the budget.
- For comparative research sample one of the most expensive models available to see what the difference is between that and the models within budget.
- Ignore/ increase the budget and get the expensive one instead it.

Amplification symptoms present as a preference for expensive amplification that has a considerable level of versatility. Like an engineering model, The parameters are dialed in to achieve various tones based on the intended application.*

An example of someone suffering from this strain is my younger brother.

* Note — this is not the same as using cheap digital modelling gear. Versatility is important, but having the "right" gear is more so. This versatility refers to a multi channel tube amp, with separate gain, master and eq controls for each channel, not a myriad of digital effects that sound artificial.

Strains of GAS

With all the talk about the flu strains such as H1N1, I thought I might pose some thoughts on strains of an affliction that mostly affects guitarists...

"Gear Acquisition Syndrome"

Now you may think guitar geeks are all the same, and those who like acquiring gear only differ in how long they've been collecting and how much they've spent — However I contend that there are at least three strains of GAS, and will introduce you to these. All three are forms of the same condition — the overwhelming urge to purchase or acquire guitar /music gear, but the symptoms present somewhat differently in each case:

The engineer, the artist and the dutch hoarder.

Over the next few posts I will introduce you to these— outlining some of the acquisition process and example symptoms with regard to amplification for each strain.