🎸 Cure for G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) - Get Great Tone on a Budget! 🎸 

I've gotten a lot of great tone out of budget gear and I've gotten great sleep in budget motels...but I prefer The Plaza! Cheers Brad!!

Eventually, GAS morphs into Gear Acquisition Stress. Great advice, Brad.

Had been playing quite expensive guitars in my band , one night decided to play my inexpensive Ibanez Gio , at the end of the gig my bass player and keyboard player said how good my guitar sounded, I think I’ll leave it there.

One great way to save some money when buying gear is to get stuff used and a little off the beaten track. I have had great success buying used Yamaha guitars and even after having enough money to buy bigger brand names, I didn't feel like I had to change them out.

I've busked on the street with a funky old Martin and in concert halls with Ramirez, PRS, Fender, and then some but my mantra has always been the same: One man one guitar. Thank you, Brad, I couldn't agree with you more. Keep ot simple and work to improve.

I recently bought a 1984 MIJ Ibanez bass for a very fair price: more than a Squier but less than a comparable bass on the market made in Mexico. The point is: GAS can be cured by any great-sounding instrument and doesn't need to be the "latest, shiny" new toy.

For years, I have used my Line 6, M9 multi effect unit whenever playing anywhere other than at home...simply due to the convenience of being able to put it in a bag only having to carry one thing. Until recently, I used to worry that people would think that I had bad, cheap tone most of the time. But then about a year ago while watching RU-vid videos, I discovered that a lot of pros use the M9...and not only live, but they also record with them. Tom Bukovac even made a video about his use of the M9 and praised it. So now, I don't worry about it sounding bad. hehe. So yeah, I highly recommend the Line 6, M series.... the M5, M9 and M13. I'd say the 9 has the best combination of value and usability though.

I've had 5 electric guitars for years. I started to think that too many guitars would mean old strings left on them too long, and so all my guitars would then sound less than crisp. (Changing strings is expense and time). So stopped buying more -so far so good. Found my fave sounding and playing guitar already. Cheap guitars were crap back in 80's but modern Ibanez Gio and defo new Jacksons are great guitars to play I think.

I agree. We are in the best times of guitars and amps at value prices. Although I’m admittedly a gear nerd with GAS but I have some lower priced gear that’s great. Never needed to change pickups but did with some guitars and sometimes with marginal improvements if any. My favourite rig at the moment being a Fender FR-12 with an amp model pedal, my favourite being the Boss IR-200. I own an older Boss GT-100, GT-1 and a pile of older Joyo amp in a box pedals that also sound great when dialed into the FR-12. I guess the day will come when I’ll just sell off most of it and keep the gear that gets me through. At least I’m trying to convince myself of that. Lol.

Awesome advice Brad, love this channel! What model Fender p bass is on your rack??

Something ironic about this video being sponsored by Sweetwater 😂

I've settled on a tonex in the loop of a HX stomp, I don't use my vox, mesa, fender or jackson amps, I'm a strat, tele guy

I’ve owned only a few basses in my life. Early in my studio career all I needed was a Fender P and J bass. I also toted a fretless J. Nothing has really changed for me. Still the same basses. Never got into the boutique stuff. I did get into the pedals a few years ago but mainly to meet the demands of the gigs I play. You do need to be careful not to get pulled too far down that rabbit hole!

Oops, I have a Second Life Pro Tip - If you don't know how to set up a guitar almost as well as a professional, then you need to learn to do that before you get another guitar (with some exceptions)

Excellent

My gear Buying obsession stopped once I achieved what I really wanted for many years but was always too expensive for me, Which was a Gibson custom shop Historic R9.Les Paul. I'm finally at peace no more guitars!!!!😁

I played one of them,nice guitar.Have you tried the new Bad Cat amps?

Sweetwater is great and Guitar Center is going out of business……times have changed for guitarists

You into Allan Holdsworth?

Ibanez is coming for Harley Benton with that guitar. The best part is the consumer wins.

And there you have it my people. This is what experience and maturity sounds like. ♫♪♫ G.A.S. is treatable. P.S. I have a MIJ drum set that I picked up from a thrift store for 49 bucks and it is my go to set for gigs. Yeah, I had to do some cleaning, adjustment, head upgrades and such but they sound really good! Just sayin'. Peace and best wishes to everyone out there today fighting the good fight! ♫♪♫

Here's my Life Pro Tip - do the spider walk exercise with your guitars (rotate through your full collection using a different guitar every day) while watching RU-vid. It'll help remind you what type of attachment you have, or don't have, with your guitars.

When I spend too much time searching for that next great piece of gear, that’s time that I could have been using to play guitar. Might even get better at playing guitar. And one of the things in life I can’t replace is time. Maybe I should spend it more wisely.

"Ya know"...

I've always said the audience couldn't tell the difference from a $1500 American strat and a Squire.

I think we all love the dopamine rush from getting a new toy, and I’m not immune to that as well. Also, I think some of us feel too self conscious if we play budget gear. If you are a solid player with an Epiphone or Squire into a Boss Katana, you should never feel insecure because you’re not playing something more expensive. If you’re happy, sound good, and can play well, then we should truly not feel insecure at all. Not saying there is anything wrong with expensive gear , either.

GAS blew up during the reviews booming of product niches. I was bad with the smartphones for 10 years. I wish i had guitars instead all those years. I stopped watching Phone videos as android matured and i got over it (mostly 😅) but, i then got into guitar and began looking up one id buy as my first. I knew a little as i bought many for my son who played most his childhood to this day 30 years old. When he grad and moved i had nobody to solo over my keyboard tracks i used to make. Moxf6 yamaha then...So i loved David Gilmour and found the reverb listing for Fender MIM gilmour strat. No sooner , before i knew it i started seeing videos of reviews and gear and wound up salivating over tons of guitars and multi effects. I got 7 more guitars. Then slowly sold them all but the strat and then bought classic vibe. Harley benton Fusion t and kit ..i built. I stopped watching as much and just uploaded my journey reviewing each and learning. Now i concentrate more on playing. But, i must be honest. Guitars like Harley Benton modern HSS new releases at the prices im back wishing. 😅 ...I remember the 80s 90s early 00s i had been a gigging drummer totally into it and pretty damned good. I never had drum gas like that. Just cymbal gas. Hahah. But if the net was like it is today i cant imagine. So man, YOU nailed it here. Ive been there and you are spot on. Killer chops Brad!

Great video and it's so true. You can buy such a nice guitar now for little money compared to when I started. I might have to try that tone x pedal. Too cool man ! ❤ I love that paint job. People love my Ibanez S series I holoflashed. That thing is a great guitar and I have a Strat I built and I'm pretty happy man. Two guitars and and amp and a man is set. ❤.. I used to use a Rat with a fender twin. I used the twin for cleans and hit the rat for distortion. Later I got an SD1 to boost the level up, but that was all I used forever man. ❤.. It's so much easier now. We definitely live in a great time. Good video Brad. ❤

Great advice. I have 1961 es 345 Gibson I never play it now. my go to guitar is an 2005 Ibanez jazz box, its very light.

Liked the video I’m gonna get one of those tone x pedals I got the new PRS NF 3 yesterday in gunmetal finish