The Year Without Gear

[Blood_mountain]

Hi Pals,

My name is Nathan and I'm a gear addict.

And so, I've decided I'm taking a year off from buying pedals. I mean, I'm going to try. No, I'm going to stick to it. Definitely, definitely sticking to it.

Am I crazy? I think probably. But something I've been struggling with for years now is that my goal has been to write, record and share music, and despite having bought a billion amazing and inspiring pedals, I've not done it. I think it's maybe a common story.

Now, is my lack of musical output the fault of all those lovely, creative machines? No, of course not. It has nothing to do with the pedals themselves, and everything to do with my focus and discipline (or lack thereof).

I find that I'm creating artificial scenarios in which a particular effect or device will give me the ability to create a sound/song that I have in my head, and so I go deep down the rabbit hole to explore every available option before settling on one (or two or three). But it seems invariably, I barely scratch the surface of that new sound before I become distracted by the next shiny/trendy/super cool/potentially limited/magical device. It's drunken consumerism, and I don't like the way the hangover feels.

And so, it's cold turkey time babies. I feel like I need to really kick the habit and rewire my brain to not crave that endorphin dump that comes with the research, the hunt, the purchase, the unboxing...and instead train myself to get that happy bump from creating music. Because I think that listening to and creating music is where the true happiness lies for me, and I've been doing a piss poor job of nurturing that.

I know it's going to be hard, and I already have GAS flowing along that Mesolimbic Pathway, but I'm hopeful I can develop some new habits and discipline and end up actually sending some music out there for one or two people to hear this year.

I still want to keep tabs on what's going on in the whole pedal world, so I'll pop by from time to time. If you are at all interested in seeing where this goes, you can follow me on IG @the_year_without_gear.

Peace!!

[John]

You can do it! You will be so much more creative without the crutch of the "magic brick"

[Blood_mountain]

You can do it! You will be so much more creative without the crutch of the "magic brick"

Thanks! I do love me some magic bricks, and realistically have enough of them to make the majority of the sounds I would need to.

[Paul_C]

I could do with a year off - spare funds and a world in crisis has seen me buy a ridiculous amount of equipment in the last twelve months and I still haven't finished, sadly.

I'm still waiting on a Wombtone II that I bought at the beginning of December and a Fender neck bought midway through the month and I've bought a Princeton Reverb combo and swamp ash Tele body since new year.

No excuses, I'm just amusing myself because it's bringing me some degree of joy.

[Velcro Bottom]

I think you're on the right track. Peace to you, too.

[Blood_mountain]

excellent idea.
As I've seen it mentioned elsewhere; a depth year. Go deep with the stuff you have.
I'd join you except I know I'm going to complete this rack quest with two more purchases.

Personally I feel very content with my synths and pedals, but I was on a bit of a spree this last year to "complete" my modular stuff so it hasn't lasted more than a couple of months yet honestly. I can't even see what I'd like to change right now, but I'm sure something will crop up.

I do think it's important to notice the direction of the need for a purchase. Am I using my instruments and tools and I'm constantly aggravated by this one thing or I'm actually lacking something? Or am I just bored and want a new toy, or looking to upgrade a phaser to a slightly better phaser, etc


Please update the quest here as well, dude!

A "depth year" is a nice way to think about it. I've got a few pedals like Blooper and Microcosm that I could probably spend a couple of months really learning and utilizing more fully.

[qersty]

i have been living gear free for almost 6 months now excluding christmas and it isn't as awful as one would think. I have had some ideas for very irresponsible buyenings but thankfully i have not been in the position to make it a reality. it isnt as hard as you would think. the hard part is still making something.

really excited to see what you cook up! and best of luck to you!

[friendship]

I support and encourage you! A full 60% of what I spent in 2022 was totally frivolous, the other 40% was a Minitaur and an isolated power supply for the pedals, which was a good move. I have several great instruments, amps, a steamer trunk full of effects, and solid recording equipment. What the hell else do I need really? I'll join you in this depth year.

[Blood_mountain]

it's bringing me some degree of joy.

I mean, I think that's ultimately what's most important.

[Blood_mountain]

I think you're on the right track. Peace to you, too.

Thanks!!

[Blood_mountain]

i have been living gear free for almost 6 months now excluding christmas and it isn't as awful as one would think. I have had some ideas for very irresponsible buyenings but thankfully i have not been in the position to make it a reality. it isnt as hard as you would think. the hard part is still making something.

really excited to see what you cook up! and best of luck to you!

That's amazing! I made some end of year purchases for things I felt like I would benefit from from a recording perspective, and I'm really hoping to get some tracks done. I'll link to them here when I've got something worth listening to.

And I did a dumb thing and watched a bunch of videos on the Meng Qi Wingie 2 last night. If I hadn't made this commitment to myself, that would have been a mildly irresponsible purchase.

Alas, I exercised some restraint!!

[Blood_mountain]

I support and encourage you! A full 60% of what I spent in 2022 was totally frivolous, the other 40% was a Minitaur and an isolated power supply for the pedals, which was a good move. I have several great instruments, amps, a steamer trunk full of effects, and solid recording equipment. What the hell else do I need really? I'll join you in this depth year.

I would be gassing for new pedals and devices and then take a look at what I have on hand and be like "why?" I can do the vast majority of what I would want to do with what I already have, so why not just dedicate myself to that instead of continually looking for another reverb or delay or unique noisemaker. I AM A UNIQUE NOISEMAKER.

[coldbrightsunlight]

I think this is a good idea. I consider it (then quickly decide not to) every year, but I have been trying to buy less and less as time goes on. I definitely find that I create more when I have a stable, fairly minimal board to plug into, if I'm using pedals, and otherwise just focus on playing.

The consumer hole is real. Not that I'm judging people getting their kicks this way, that box in the post is a lovely shot of joy sometimes.

Good luck!

[Blood_mountain]

I think this is a good idea. I consider it (then quickly decide not to) every year, but I have been trying to buy less and less as time goes on. I definitely find that I create more when I have a stable, fairly minimal board to plug into, if I'm using pedals, and otherwise just focus on playing.

The consumer hole is real. Not that I'm judging people getting their kicks this way, that box in the post is a lovely shot of joy sometimes.

Good luck!

I really put my mind to it after Black Friday this year. I was just mindlessly searching for anything to buy, and thought enough is enough, I'm not really achieving my goals I need to make a change. I am typically nauseated by "Achieve Your Goalz" culture, but I'm succumbing to it a bit I guess.

[Blood_mountain]

There is a new release from Fairfield Circuitry coming tomorrow, and this will be my first big GAS Test of the year.

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