[moth-fuzz]

Honestly my GAS subsided when I realized most of my favorite records were made with affordable or off the shelf gear. So many guitarists on the 80s used JCM800s because that was what Marshall was putting out. Eric Clapton’s Stratocaster wasn’t vintage when he bought it, it was just an off the shelf guitar! Same with most amps, instruments, keyboards, synths, drum machines, even samplers which are hailed as legendary because they have higher bass and a lower bitrate (an effect you can get with a one-knob EQ and a bit crusher, respectively). The artists were just using the tools available to them because… they were available.

I have simplified my recording and production setup to mainly just a computer, 10 channel audio interface, a 90s mackie mixer because it’s big and fun and sums neatly to the 10 channels (8 busses + master 2 buss), and whatever bits of quirky and fun gear I can find.

My GAS left when I realized I don’t need any of it. I could make music on just a laptop if I wanted to, I could just play my guitar and resample it for synth sounds if I wanted to. Plenty of iPhone producers out there who just make weird sounds with their mouth. It’s all relative. People will say you’ve Got to have at LEAST one analog mono, one poly, a digi, a sampler, and an endless supply of grooveboxes, but computers are truly more than capable. “Analog sound” is just an EQ away. Just focus on the creative aspect and the gear aspect diminishes and becomes yet another source of creativity - find quirky pawn shop stuff that makes you smile when you play it. Even if you don’t record it, you don’t feel like it’s GAS because it brings joy.