Guitar Gear

I was perusing the latest issue of a guitar mag this morning and started thinking about my new guitar, Goldie, and what gold pickup covers would look like on her. Talk about dissociative thinking! The article I was reading had absolutely nothing to do with pickup covers! Ha! I went to my computer, then did a search on pickup covers, found a place to purchase them, pulled out my wallet, then stopped. I stood up, closed my eyes, and said out loud, “This is nuts! What the F#%k do I need pickup covers for? I gotta just stop this sh&t!” That was a case of what I’m now calling “impulsive GAS.”

Basically, as the term implies, “impulsive GAS” is gassing AND buying purely on impulse. No calculation, no evaluation of whether or not I may need the particular item. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve done that! I think of something, get a dose of GAS, then pull out my debit card and either order it or if I’m at a store, buy it on the spot. What’s worse is that it’s happened so much that I don’t even have buyer’s remorse! I used to get it, but no longer. Perhaps I’ve just tucked all those feelings away.

Now you might just say, “Hey man, it’s just pickup covers.” But that’s the whole point! Those two words, “It’s just…” are enough to send me and I’m sure other gear sluts over the edge. It has gotten to the point where “it’s just” justifies everything! And that’s dangerous.

Admittedly, while sometimes doing things impulsively can be rewarding, making a habit of it isn’t good – I can’t tell you how much stuff I’ve purchased that I just don’t use any longer – and I know I’m not alone in this.

So this was a wakeup call for me. I’m definitely going to look before I leap!