Getting something you need VS something you want

[UglyCasanova]

Yeah. Quite the first world conundrum.

Eivind and I are working on a new iRerror album and we're going for a more synthy vibe, so I thought the SubDecay Octave Theory and its shepard tone would work really well for making that album. I do, however, already have a Meris Enzo and some oscillating fuzzes which do cover a lot of that synthy ground, even if they don't necessarily do the more videogamey sounds found in the Octave Theory.

Then NAMM comes along and Rainger shows off his drone delay pedal and it just looks like something I'd have a bunch of fun with. For the last few months I haven't really messed around too much with my gear, so having some fun might make me more productive, even if I don't see myself using the Rainger too much, if at all, on the album.

Both is not an option (I know you, ILF)

Talk me in/out of things. Had similar dilemmas? Shoot!

[tremolo3]

Whatever that sparks your creativity, go for it You can always flip gear once you're done with it.


Ratio of things I need vs want is like 1:100 for me.

When budget and space stopped being a constraint, I had to find an excuse and I decided to adopt minimalism. And it could be even more simple if I had a band or something more serious than "listen to my new EP" type of projects

[Dowi]

I ve been having the same problem a couple of years ago: in need of a second semi acoustic guitar as a backup of my main one, and at the same time I just wanted to go back to the origins and buy a strat.
Decided to buy the strat, my main motivation was that what I need is something that makes me want to play it, all the rest is just not necessary.
It may not have been the smartest move, but that's my experience.

[neonblack]

I finally decided to buy a power supply like I've needed to for months, versus buying something fun like a pitch shifter. Then I got ripped off, lost money, and never got a power supply.

The moral is never buy what you need, only what you want

[whoismarykelly]

I find that the gear I use when writing is what makes it on the album and having extra stuff laying around with the idea of "oh Ill use this on a record at some point" never ends up working out. A long time ago I had huge plastic tubs full of pedals I was holding onto and even an entire PT Pro wired up with stuff that sat in a closet because I was really using other stuff when writing. It felt ridiculously good to purge all that stuff when I moved a couple years back.

More to the point of the thread, if a new toy inspires you more than another and you have the means then go for it. You can always recoup most of your cash down the road.

[coldbrightsunlight]

If you think about it you could just make music with a spoon and your mouth and maybe a jug.

So you don't need either!

Buy the one you want more.

[Confuzzled]

I tend to wait for sales to better justify a purchase, though if it's something I need (or think I'll need for a project) I'll buy it and if it's not a keeper (ie: the rainbow machine) I'll flip it.

[kbit]

You need to express yourself. Any equipment you use will be in service of your expression. A piece of gear can give you different channels to explore, but it will be a step removed from the core of your intentions.

Ultimately the value judgement is up to you, but I'd encourage you to think about how a new piece of gear would service your expression over anything else.

[Jwar]

Wait. There's a difference between needs and wants? I need to re-evaluate my entire life. I'll get back to you. lol

[Paul_C]

I've got all the pedals I need now, so everything from here on is purely because I want . . . to buy a pedal.

[odontophobia]

Wait. There's a difference between needs and wants? I need to re-evaluate my entire life. I'll get back to you. lol

You want to reevaluate but you NEED more pedlols.

[echorec]

Korora Audio Spira....just sayin'.....

[adamajah]

AFA gear... don't need anything... want everything

[JonnyAngle]

#yoloswag and buy both

[UglyCasanova]

Korora Audio Spira....just sayin'.....

I don't like how that sounds at all.

I don't like modulation that sounds like modulation.

Thanks for the suggestions and shared experiences!