of Balls And Violet Icons

I am sick…. I finally diagnosis myself and I have contracted G.A.S

For those who wish to indulge more on this: Refer to this and that

Among my musically-inclined cohorts, we’ve modified that phrase to read “Got GAS?” Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS) is a common disease found particularly among, but not limited to, guitar players. A loose definition of GAS would be the obsessive and irrational horse trading or purchasing of musical related equipment.

GAS is NOT the same thing as collecting. In fact, many people find that the collecting of instruments is as much a joy as playing them (particularly if you have the financial means to collect).

Drugs for an addiction or a mild obsessive compulsory behavior? None. Its all in the head I guess.

They always say theres a will, theres a way, but hell. Easier say than done. If its so easy, why do we still have smokers, drug addicts and dealers

GAS is similar in many ways to very mild obsessive compulsive disorder. However, the urge or impulse to buy can be resisted without too much discomfort, and does not lead to panic attacks. Indeed, if it did, then the diagnosis would be obsessive compulsive disorder.

There are some traits, noticeable in many musicians that lead to this behaviour. Guitarists frequently deride their own playing, and encourage within themselves a self-loathing. They do this to spur themselves on to greater playing, often unconsciously. It backfires, worsening their self-esteem.

Self-doubt, and self-hatred are a potent combination that are the precursors of this desire to buy. I have observed anecdotally, how a new guitar or amplifier is imbued with the hopes and dreams around that “perfect guitar solo”. In this sense, the belief is more in keeping with the Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder rather than OCD.

Optimists? Lets see how many of y’all will tell me its all in my head?

Kei