Yeah, I think I am spending too much time thinking about gear, gear that I don't have. I think that time would be better spent on learning how to play what I have...

I must do a better job at that....

Amen brother, hence my recent selling off a few amps and settling on a simple but nice sounding solid state amp.

Hey Lefty,

What did you buy? I always like to hear 'bout new gear.

Ironic, in the context of the first post...

Yes. Learn to play what you have, then gigs can supply the "play money" to fill your house with gear... at least that's how it worked for me. The period in college when I played covers for a living I only had one electric, a solid state amp and a bass (I borrowed bass amps or went direct, and I seemed to get more gigs on bass, of course).

Now I have what a recent visitor referred to as "a music store" in my backyard. And of course all I play around the house is acoustics or electrics through tiny practice amps. It isn't even that much fun to go out there alone and play loud with all of the stuff hooked up. I think that's because we all try to subconsciously evoke the exciting period of discovery with that first guitar and how the world seemed limitless, even if intimidating and frustrating.

Troof!

I love talking about gear and trying all manner of things, but ultimately, gear doesn't play itself or make tone, it's up to you and your mind, heart, and fingers.

Fred, I bought a Fender Mustang II amp - simple, solid state. Danny - yes my reply was ironic but what I was attempting to say was that I did simplify by selling off two amps and ending up with one. It's fun trying different things but personally I need to just focus on practice. The past year was a setback for me but "you'll have that". My focus now is on daily, steady practice particulary finger picking. Thanks for listening.

If G.A.S. ever winds up in the DSM, they're coming for all of us.

Does the Mustang take pedals well or do you just use the built in effects?

Yep... Possession Obsession

I can't say anything about the Mustang, but I have found in general that digital modelers worth their salt are great when fed real-live analog pedals of various kinds, particularly octave-fuzz, wah, and distortion pedals...

This is pretty much what I see every couple of days listed near where I am:

http://neworleans.craigslist.org/msg/3457582196.html

It's about to the point where I can't pass one up at these prices, I've just been too busy to drive to drive to get one of them.

Will, I just use the onboard stuff but I've heard great reviews of the Mustang pedal board. I have a few basic pedals that I use sometimes, I've found that if I kick on the chorus for example I'll play different style/licks. So a little gear is OK for me but do not need much. Jimi on the other hand....

So much for this post... I bought a used Sterling by Music Man AX-40 on eBay last night... Time for some dive bombs....

Niiiiiiiiiiice...

Well any more guitars I get at this point will be a total conspiracy with a cover story. But an amp-I have criminally neglected that-with some justification but it`s time to make things right. To bring justice to gearland.