we survived, so now what? GEAR GOALS 2021

[Lurker13]

Okay, I just ordered a *#$@ing phaser. That's it, dammit, I'm done for the year!

Meaning you’re looking forward to a Feber and a Paragraphs in 2022? That will be a killer year for rounding out your modulation collection!

Sure, as long as they're on sale for $99.

Okay, I just ordered a *#$@ing phaser. That's it, dammit, I'm done for the year!

yeah sure I believe this

Yeah I believe me too.

Okay, I just ordered a *#$@ing phaser. That's it, dammit, I'm done *with modulation* for the year! *month* evening.

Fixed.

Tweaked to improve the accuracy.

[Dowi]

ok no, I have a solid gear goal:

i want to mod the gain knob on my throat locust to be a rotary switch with 3 steps: current minimum, the perfect medium (right now found between 0.00 and 0.01 on the dial) and max gain OR a log pot, but tbh I can't find more than three different modes of gain on the current dial, no matter how I fine-tune it.

OR
You could sell it to me and forget about those problems.

not in a zillion years, but i'm here to cheer you on to get one!! bringing that FOMO.

dowi doesn't have a hm-2, can you imagine? he's missing out on so much. poor dowi.

there's no need to encourage it, the hm2/heavy dist GAS fuel has been flowing massively since the beginning of the year.

[cosmicevan]

- spend time getting to know some of the gear that I don't know too well

- limit the number of new to me pedals that I bring in (maybe no more than 1 per month of some sort of budget?)

- Develop an online presence for my music (as in organize it and just make it available/linkable)

- Create an album of already written music (see "organize and make available")

- Create an album of newly written music (see "organize and make available")

- Improve my ability to perform solo sets of 45-60 contiguous mins; record some of these (for release?)

- Not get into eurorack

- maybe try building a pedal?

- maybe try playing with video / editing a bit?

Lol....let's take stock...

- spend time getting to know some of the gear that I don't know too well
→ definitely did this a bit this year, the spirit of this goal was in place of getting more gear...Ooops, epic failure there

- limit the number of new to me pedals that I bring in (maybe no more than 1 per month of some sort of budget?)
→ ouch...what was I thinking here? This was a worse goal than trying to lose weight. I don't even want to count the damage, but I think we are somewhere in the 400% zone of this goal.

- Develop an online presence for my music (as in organize it and just make it available/linkable)
→ did not do this directly, but I did start create an online presence for my pedal hoarde/collection which is gaining slow and steady growth. I'm thinking that this could be a good avenue to put stuff out there if I do decide I will want to ever do that.

- Create an album of already written music (see "organize and make available")
→ Did not do any recording this year, but came to the realization that's not what I'm about. I'm about enjoying my time with my music and my gear and if it's gonna stress me out, like setting an unreachable goal, then I'm better suited not letting my joy become my stress...that said, I think I will carry forward a goal of recording a bit, to see if I enjoy it.

- Create an album of newly written music (see "organize and make available")
→ same as the last answer

- Improve my ability to perform solo sets of 45-60 contiguous mins; record some of these (for release?)
→ wow...totally forgot about this and I know why. My Boss ES-8 crapped the bed and I ended up spending the year re-building my board. I still kinda feel like my board isn't back together yet. That's a goal for 2022.

- Not get into eurorack
→ Great success!!! This was probably the most important goal of the year, so really glad I stuck to it.

- maybe try building a pedal?
→ Great success!!! I built my first DIY kit (a classic fuzz from BYOC) a few months ago. It was amazing and I totally got the bug to make more, but have been treading water whilst thinking about artwork and how I want me DIYs to look. I really want to take this to the next level and learn how to breadboard and experiment with different parts to really see what I like.

- maybe try playing with video / editing a bit?
→ still on my mind as a thing I want to do, but zero progress on this.


All-in-all, I'm not mad. I'm glad I hit some of these goals, interesting to me where I had success...now to ponder goals for 2022.

[MrNovember]

I'm also thinking that I will (hopefully) have a slow gear year. I am pretty much happy as far as synths, guitars, and pedals go.

It might finally be time to upgrade my amps. I am happy with my Excelsior and would probably keep if for a stereo setup, but I've wanted to pick up one of the Fender Bassbreakers since they came out. I'd also be interested in a Fender Vapourizer. Not sure what bass amp I'd want, but I would like to upgrade to something with more character than the Traynor DB200 combo I have.

I am on the waitlist for a few things (Revelation Marrakesh, Demedash T-120, Hordijk Blippoo Box) so I might grab those if my place comes up on the list. Maybe I'll finally invest in a 3D printer too

Hmmm, I wasn’t too far off on my goals, but it definitely wasn’t a slow year for gear. I bought and sold an absolute ton of gear. I did end up upgrading my guitar amp to a Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue (and still have the Blackstar ID15TVP around, which isn’t really an upgrade, but it’s kind of fun). Haven’t upgraded the bass amp yet. Also still haven’t bought that 3D printer. I’m still super close to pulling the trigger on that, but holiday spending and huge gear purchases have kind of prevented me from pulling the trigger.

[qersty]

I want a strat, maybe a jazzmaster. havent decided. think its leaning towards the strat tbh. i also want a guinness tshirt to go with it if i dont feel like wearing a denim jacket (as is customary for startocasterists)

i wanna learn how to use looping too. I like loops but i dont like playing loopers

I ended up with a jagwar (tho i had a strat for a bit that i didnt really like). Never got into loopers and dont miss it. Sadly I have no beverage t-shirt to match the jaguar

[MaxMaps]

My gear goalz are about the same for 2021 as they are for the rest of 2020.

- Some USB interface to plug into and record - I just need to get one and do it. Keep delaying because fun toys first.
-Delay (might have multiple)
-Looper ( could be part of a delay unit but I am thinking just a ditto or Boss looper is going to be enough)
-Ring Mod, Chorus or some other modulation - really looking at the Bitquest to pull a lot of these sounds - so that is looking more likely the next pedal I will probably get. Maybe an envelope filter if I find a good / cheep one.
-a nice pedal power supply - will probably go back to a Choiks DC10

my goal is add more if I am playing more and feel like my skill level understanding of bass guitar has grown - Almost 20 year of fucking around with this instrument and I feel like I should understand more / play better, it really has been such a positive addition in life that I never knew I was missing. Amazing how binge video game playing really makes you think less instead of more.

after that mayyyyybe start looking into a new amp / head situation. I can go any route from tube head / hotplate - class d amp of some sorts. I dont want to like the new darkglass bass heads but they do look rather good.

I posted earlier but so much of my music goals kept changing

- Gear wise I got everting I had set out for, other than the looper which I have not replaced. The amp situation I keep going back and forth on. I am either getting a load box and amp with a small board or continue doing what I have now.

What has changed is that I have a nice burning desire to play guitar and shred. It’s fun and new and I haven’t picked up my bass since I got my EVH Mexican Strat. I will be getting another guitar for Christmas and I am thinking about re assessing everything.

I may have not played everyday but I was consistent in keeping up this year - not a lot of skill gained but I am super happy with how I play on both instruments. 2022 is going to be more of focusing on playing rather than recording anything. More or less it’s about making music a part of my life forever and simply Enjoying the moment.

[Heraclitus Akimbo]

Managed to not get too much stuff in 2020, and through cautious pandemic livin' I'm in okay shape to think about something new.

Instead of several cheap things, been considering one expensive-assed thing... I keep hearing the word Zoia being whispered in my ear. Part of me thinks if we get back to being able to have shows, it'll help fulfil my dream of needing to haul less stuff around — and another part of me thinks if we don't have shows for another year it'll give me something deep to explore with.

In my mind I could do a lot of cool weirdness with it... and use it as a sound source as well as a manipulator.

Kinda want a PurPLL as well whenever there's another batch. And I'll inevitably covet whatever Pladask comes up with next year...

Damn... articulating these thoughts actually lead to all of this happening before the end of 2020. Goals achieved, 2021 is a win!

Haha indeed!

Didn't get too, too much stuff in 2021. For fancy pedals did get the Feber and Arcing Prisms. Biggest/best purchase of the year was definitely the lap steel, and that led to checking out a series of boost/dirt options for it.

Bought a rechargeable power supply that worked for droning in the park; grabbed a Zoom video camera that was a local deal on reverb for shooting live stuff. A couple of Rucci noisemakers, and the Wired Heart synth.

Still feel like I'm just scratching the surface of the Zoia, so I don't really find myself hungering for too much more...

[codetocontra]

1) New guitar build: Robot Graves baritone neck on order, should arrive in January. Will find a suitable body after that and confirm balance is good before deciding or buying the rest of the pieces. The only solid plan is to have a Mastery bridge on it. The rest is TBD.

2) Desk: The antique wood thing I use now has no leg room since buying a subwoofer for my monitors. It wasn't comfortable anyway.

3) Maybe a 2nd modular case: Focused on percussion and effects. But I am keeping the GAS away by committing to what I have already. Only will happen if three conditions are met:
A) achieve Jedi Master status with my current modules, fully understand all their capabilities and uses, RTFM, watch videos.
B) Release another solo album with modular gear as the focus. For me. Not that anyone ever listens to what I make. Nor should they.
C) Proper funding is secured from selling my EGC bass VI and other gear.

4) Shure SM-57: Need a 2nd mic for better stereo recordings of two amps.

5) Maybe a video camera: To make videos of gear shit. Duh. Might have to upgrade my laptop too.

1) Yep.
2) Kept the desk. Rearranged the whole basement/jam room. Subwoofer next to the desk now. Table on the left with a turntable. On the right there is a fireplace near me, and sometimes move a folding table over for extra gear. No money spent for a more comfortable and flexible setup.
3) Yep. Expanded into a 2nd case before meeting other criteria. Didn't like it the expansion. Decided to go back to my one 7U 104HP case. Still in process of changing up my modules.
3A) Lots of learning was achieved. Always more to learn and experiment, and that is the true knowledge.
3B) Less of a focus, but I have maybe half an album worth assembled of quality material, not just half assed jams or ambient in lieu of anything actually interesting.
3C) Gone. Bye, Felicia.
4) Yep.
5) Nope.

[Paul_C]

While I still like making the music I've been doing for the last three years, I also feel like trying a few other things as well.

When it comes to pedals I don't think I want anything other than another Count To 5 (I've bought two new ones and one s/h and currently have none).

I might spend a month or two playing bass through my set up just for some variety, maybe make a dub album.

I'd quite like to see if I can make something both stripped back and listenable too.

So unless I can find a way to justify it to myself and come into a sizeable amount of money, I think 2021 is going to be a quiet one for me when it comes to buying gear.

I bought a Count To 5.



. . . three Beebos, four guitars and some other bits and pieces.

I did create 100 albums on Bandcamp, so it wasn't all about acquiring gear.

Based on that, anything could happen in 2022.

[retinal orbita]

I said I’d like to buy a looper/DL4 and a drum machine in my initial post.

Instead I bought a Boss RC-500 that has enough rhythm options to keep me happy. I love it!

I bought back a Data Corrupter. Damn do I love that thing.

I bought back a big box Deluxe Memory Man. Always germinating in the back of my head as a vague goal but finally realized for a realistic price.

I sold a ton of pedals that were collecting dust. That felt great too!!

In non gear goals I sold my house, paid off 90% of my mortgage and moved out of the city.

In 2022 I’d like to play music in a room with other people. I’m not holding my breath! That was a goal for this year and it did not happen.

[goroth]

Hmm.

Get a new Macbook Pro. My current one is a decade old and going strong but I'm starting to wonder for how much longer.
Get a case for my amp head.
I think I've zenned as much gear as I can, but maybe see if I can get rid of a few more things.
Keep recording demos and pre-production stuff and try and get good with what I've got
Fix my Nelson so it doesn't play like trash
Avoid buying an 8 string.

Bought a Mac mini instead. Check.
Didn’t buy a case. Though no gigs, so that worked out.
Bought all the dirt. So that wasn’t good.
Recorded quite a few demos that sound aight
Haven’t fixed the Nelson. It plays even worse. Am fixing my Jackson though so… maybe?
Didn’t buy an 8. came close though

[Gone Fission]

A busy year hasn’t helped with fairly modest goals.

My big goal is upping my amp game for my needs/use. Watching for the updated version of the Fryette GP/DI to come out—seems like the perfect thing for real amp sounds, whether into a speaker or not, and gives a bit more flexibility than a straight preamp does. Going to liquidate all or most of my little solid state amps that are great for home use but not for my rack workflow.

No progress. GPDI IR is still not out. (Chip shortage on the IR part, and I believe the same testing of the IR’s is happening as for the Power Load IR, which means they should be getting Joe Baressi’s thumbs up. That part seems worth waiting for at least a bit longer.) Still gotta try to move some of those great little amps because we bought a great but compact house and I need to downsize.

I’ve put together a small rack with an Eventide Orville, a Lexicon PCM-80, and a mixer. Gonna do permanent wiring of that and try work it to the hilt next year to do better immersion in these units without bringing others into the mix. Other stuff I have is great, but I want that focus and to see whether, after extracting all I can from the two, whether I really need or want more . Along with this plan, getting serious about my MIDI control.

Still need to really dig in further on this, especially the control side. Thinking about finally springing for the Italo De Angelis preset packs for the 80 and Orville—deep programming wonderment with less effort on my part, getting more out of what I already have, and not needing more rack spaces or floor space. (Moderately sized house.)

I want to try to hack together a lap steel for a homeless pickup, maybe two. Might stave off guitar G.A.S., which is starting to kick in a bit.

Nope, project ambitions thwarted. But a nice acoustic fell into my lap, an Epi J-200 from the new “inspired” series. I’m not big on Gibson’s treatment of competitors, but this is a really nice sounding and playing guitar. And it’s gotten me playing quite a bit more. I’m gonna have to have a non bog standard pickup system put in so I can run it through effects. (Stock under saddle piezo sounds like Dave Matthews. Of course that’s not good.)

[Blackened Soul]

I think getting my 7 string bass project up and running... and some day, some day receiving my replicator jr delay from T-rex that I ordered in June...

7 string turned out to be a success, and am building a second headless one. Never got the t-rex as discontinued what I had ordered without telling their vendors.. so I ended up just going back to a boss re-20… t-Rex now has a new version out again but I am pretty disinterested

[MrNovember]

I'm also thinking that I will (hopefully) have a slow gear year. I am pretty much happy as far as synths, guitars, and pedals go.

It might finally be time to upgrade my amps. I am happy with my Excelsior and would probably keep if for a stereo setup, but I've wanted to pick up one of the Fender Bassbreakers since they came out. I'd also be interested in a Fender Vapourizer. Not sure what bass amp I'd want, but I would like to upgrade to something with more character than the Traynor DB200 combo I have.

I am on the waitlist for a few things (Revelation Marrakesh, Demedash T-120, Hordijk Blippoo Box) so I might grab those if my place comes up on the list. Maybe I'll finally invest in a 3D printer too

Hmmm, I wasn’t too far off on my goals, but it definitely wasn’t a slow year for gear. I bought and sold an absolute ton of gear. I did end up upgrading my guitar amp to a Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue (and still have the Blackstar ID15TVP around, which isn’t really an upgrade, but it’s kind of fun). Haven’t upgraded the bass amp yet. Also still haven’t bought that 3D printer. I’m still super close to pulling the trigger on that, but holiday spending and huge gear purchases have kind of prevented me from pulling the trigger.

Well shit, my family got me a 3D printer for Christmas, so I guess I can cross that goal off the list for this year too!

[ognoy]

Looking forward to seeing that dubkitty!

My 2021GearGoals:

-TTTides guitar. TB500-body with P90s. Allready paid the deposit, so should be here in about a year. - CHECK
-Drolo Stammen. - Kind of CHECK. Got a CB MOOD instead for the microlooper itch.
-a propper case for my cello. Still on the list.
-shortscale bass - Still on the list.
-maybe a synth(or two)? - Got two Casios. SK1 and SA20. Still want some kind of analog synth for the rumble though.
-Digital Flora Draugen! - Hey UC!!


Non-gear:
-get better at playing the cello - Think I got better. At least did some gigs and did some recording with the cello.
-get better at recording and mixing - Got better, still a lot to learn though. But had a fun year recording both my own bands and getting paid to record other bands.
-get a new band going - DID THIS! We're still in the writing/finding out what kind of band this is, but we're getting there!
-make more music - Yes! Compared to 2020 made a lot more music in 2021.
-record more music - Definitely recorded more in 21 than in 20.
-listen to more music - listened to a lot of music!