G.A.S. attacks have been intense lately...

bammbamm · #1 06-07-2007, 04:57 PM

So this all started when I decided my drummer was right and that I needed a more transparent effects system for my Triaxis based rig...
So I started digging around, and lo and behold, there was the G-system at a paltry 2300 list, $1350.00 delivered from an online retailer.
I lubed up the old mental faculties, as I had to sweet talk the wife into something of that magnitude...then I thought, "hmm, perhaps it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission, eh?" WHAT Am I saying, she'll kill me, I can't just blow that kind of money any more, I have kids, I have a mortgage...

So 2 days later the G-system arrives...
What?!?!

I sold some stuff !

Ok?

Ok, well, I was in the process of selling some stuff...

Anyway, I started messing with it at home and was not thoroughly impressed with it, sadly. I jeopardized my happy home life for this thing?! So I go nuts on the forums, digging for a reason it could be making so much noise and sounding so badly. I find the answers I was looking for and bring it to the practice spot with me. Hmm, still noisy. "Maybe it's those cables you made back in the early 90's?", my Drummer chimed in. He might have a point.
I found a decent deal on 20' of George L's cable, a bunch of new Switchcraft 1/4" ends (I can't buy into the whole solderless thing) and make my new patch cables. I wire it up and there is a discernible improvement, but not enough for either my own or my Drummer's liking.

**Side note, before you start scratching your head at why the hell I, a seasoned veteran of the guitar rig would be entertaining advice from a drummer, know that this guy is an uber-geek on tone and recording clarity, not to mention in the process of getting his Masters in Music.**

So after much effort and hours of tweaking and dialing, I just couldn't get the G-system dialed in to my liking.
Back it went, All I had to pay was return shipping ($50) not a bad rental fee, I guess....

To be continued...

Salamander In The Sun · #2 06-07-2007, 05:07 PM

Tell me about it. I was bitten just last week.

It's a sickness you can never rid yourself of.

Big Job · #3 06-07-2007, 05:07 PM

Bamm,

interesting little story. What are you going to look into now?

BigJob

SimpleMind · #4 06-07-2007, 05:13 PM

Funny!! Seems we all do have exactly the same problems here! Quite funny that approach regarding not telling your wife. I think if i would ask my wife for permission and even listen to here before buying something i still would be playing guitar on my tennis racket. So you did quite right.

markg5150 · #5 06-07-2007, 05:26 PM

So did the wife ever discover this latest GAS eruption?

If the G system is not for you then I suggest you go completely in the opposite direction and blow $1350 on boutique/vintage pedals. You'll get through the money really quickly and will have more cardboard boxes to show for it. Your wife will be impressed that you got so many boxes for your money rather than 1 big gadget box like the G system came in

yoyo1299 · #6 06-07-2007, 05:42 PM

i'm 14 - you guys have to deal with ur wives, me my dad. My dad can possibly see the reason to spend $500 on a boss gt-8 when you can get a crappy digitech rp200 for $100. he doesn't see the quality difference. i was extremely lucky he said he'd help pay for thegt8. but i'm gonna want to add some pedals to the gt8, he's gonna be like, you've already got that big expensive thing, why do u want more!!???? and i will spend 1 hour in pointless exasperation explaining, and he still won't get it....

when i'm buying a new amp is gonna be anighmare

Salamander In The Sun · #7 06-07-2007, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yoyo1299

i'm 14 - you guys have to deal with ur wives, me my dad. My dad can possibly see the reason to spend $500 on a boss gt-8 when you can get a crappy digitech rp200 for $100. he doesn't see the quality difference. i was extremely lucky he said he'd help pay for thegt8. but i'm gonna want to add some pedals to the gt8, he's gonna be like, you've already got that big expensive thing, why do u want more!!???? and i will spend 1 hour in pointless exasperation explaining, and he still won't get it....

when i'm buying a new amp is gonna be anighmare

You shouldn't expect somebody who's not a musician to be able to understand the difference between cheap gear and expensive gear. Having said that, I don't think you should expect him to pay for it. I think you should scrape and save for it, and prove to him that there's a big enough difference that you're willing to work hard for it.

And don't say "I'm 14, I can't find work", because you can. I remember being 12, and working my ass off mowing lawns for next to nothing while trying to save for my first guitar.

fyrie · #8 06-07-2007, 06:23 PM

Most likely you needed some iso boxes for the insert loop on the G-System. Mine buzzed horribly, but after adding the iso boxes it's extremely quiet.

I'm glad you were able to send it back without much hassle

.

yoyo1299 · #9 06-07-2007, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salamander In The Sun

You shouldn't expect somebody who's not a musician to be able to understand the difference between cheap gear and expensive gear. Having said that, I don't think you should expect him to pay for it. I think you should scrape and save for it, and prove to him that there's a big enough difference that you're willing to work hard for it.

And don't say "I'm 14, I can't find work", because you can. I remember being 12, and working my ass off mowing lawns for next to nothing while trying to save for my first guitar.

i worked my ass off to pay half of it. i asked him to pay half of it, and he agreed since i'm getting pretty decent, and i've paid for all my own gear so far and he would like me to expand.

and i'm not expecting him to understand the difference between gear, i'm just saying it's really hard as a kid to buy something when your parents aren't exactly behind you in a purchase

and i am starting a business to maek money, don't just automatically assume i'm sitting here begging for money. but remember, i'm saving for college and a car. i'm thinking ahead

Salamander In The Sun · #10 06-07-2007, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yoyo1299

i worked my ass off to pay half of it. i asked him to pay half of it, and he agreed since i'm getting pretty decent, and i've paid for all my own gear so far and he would like me to expand.

and i'm not expecting him to understand the difference between gear, i'm just saying it's really hard as a kid to buy something when your parents aren't exactly behind you in a purchase

and i am starting a business to maek money, don't just automatically assume i'm sitting here begging for money. but remember, i'm saving for college and a car. i'm thinking ahead

Well, the way you posted earlier, you made it sound as though you were just begging. That was my mistake, and I apologize.

Way to be on the ball, kid.

bammbamm · #11 06-08-2007, 02:11 AM

...So after I shipped back the G-system, I was in a quandary.
What to get, what to get? Hmm, maybe the G-Force would be the next best thing to do, eh? OF COURSE IT WOULD ! Now through my mind changes and waffling, Spectrum Audio in California was totally cool, they said, "As long as it shows up like we sent it, you can get a refund." So I asked about an even exchange for the G-force, they said NP... Except they didn't have any in stock and they were minimum 2-4 weeks on back order.... Not what I feel like dealing with, but patience IS a virtue, right?

Right.

So I'm over on the gear page and a guy has a G-Major for sale dirt cheap, I mean like, "I'm being evicted and would sell my wife to you if she'd let me", cheap. I snatch it and she arrives in MINTY shape (the G-Major, not the guy's wife), with the manuals, stickers, the whole 9 yards... And God Bless those guys over there, they, about 90% of them, LOATHE rack gear, so I'm as happy in a pig in slop to take a nice unit from someone who can't STAND that rack "crap". SO the box arrives, albeit, somewhat smaller than the previous cargo container the G-system came in, but it arrives safely. I eagerly open it and inspect it, all is well.

The wife BTW, noticed the G-system as I was fiddling with it. I'd forgotten to mention that... Mind you, I still hadn't really come up with a way to account for all the $ I'd put on the Discover card on that bad boy, maybe 70% but not all of it... so she asked "whats that thing?" Thinking quickly, I told her it was a new "Chronosynclastic-infindibulum".

She wasn't having it.

So she asked again..

This time I said, ahh, just a lil guitar effects thingy I'm checking out

*cringe*

"And how much was that thing?", she asked.

"Uhh only umm...well uhh...mumble mumblehundred dollars."

She smelled weakness.

"HOW MUCH?!"

*phone rings*

Praise Jesus!

It's her Mom !

I say AMEN ! ! !

"I uh, hafta run to the store, I'll be back"
I leave in a flurry of cell phone grabbing, key snatching fervor that can only be equated to that of Jeff Gordon winning the Piston cup.

Mater: He did WHAT in his cup?!

I emerged unscathed, for now...

Jemwielder · #12 06-08-2007, 02:18 AM

Yeah I've been craving a Reverend guitar. Preferably the one with the wilkinson trem and 3 p-90 pickups.

neptoess · #13 06-08-2007, 02:25 AM

ive been craving a new amp but Arby's paying me every two weeks sucks. I'm 16 and have little control over blowing my money. See I have GAS like all of you. But I also have severe BAS(Booze Acquisition Syndrome). So I make a little over 100 a week and spend about 10 of it each week on beer. Then you gotta account food, females, random ****, and the fact that the amp itself is gonna be around 800 total

Aussie_Rocker · #14 06-08-2007, 04:09 AM

It happens to the best of us. *holds fist in the air*

jb4674 · #15 06-08-2007, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yoyo1299

i worked my ass off to pay half of it. i asked him to pay half of it, and he agreed since i'm getting pretty decent, and i've paid for all my own gear so far and he would like me to expand.

and i'm not expecting him to understand the difference between gear, i'm just saying it's really hard as a kid to buy something when your parents aren't exactly behind you in a purchase

and i am starting a business to maek money, don't just automatically assume i'm sitting here begging for money. but remember, i'm saving for college and a car. i'm thinking ahead

Yoyo,

It's great that you have those priorities set towards your education, I think it's really commendable. Have you looked at getting used equipment instead? Sites like carigslist and the bay have a myriad of effects for sale and GT-8's will usually go for less than 500 and more like 300 ish with shipping. Personally, I think you should really focus on school and playing what you have instead of acquiring more gear because there really isn't a need for it (considering you mentioned you don't even have a great amp to begin with), so why get a GT8? Like I said, if you must have one, then get a used one. You'll save a lot of money that you don't have and your dad will appreciate you looking out for his pocket.

Jimmy