[JoAnnPeeler]

Is GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) related to OCD (obsessive–compulsive disorder)? And is the forum's market place akin to walking into a gambler's anonymous meeting selling hot tips on the ponies? Please consider this thread with the light hearted intentions that it was meant. I often struggle with GAS and Tums just doesn't do the trick. Instead I'm out $100-$300 dollars here or there on a new mouthpiece (in the best case) or having to struggle to pull away from bidding on a mint condition vintage horn.

I've gotta run. I think 10mfan still has some mouthpieces unsold. :innocent02:

 

[Rogerrr]

Overly Creative Disorder is rampant here

GAS just afflicted me — a friend gave me an old beat up cornet and I couldn’t resist the urge to get it fixed — I don’t even play trumpet/cornet....

 

[Rogerrr]

Overly Curious Disorder is also common

 

[JoAnnPeeler]

Overly Curious Disorder is also common

Ha! I find that my curiosity often gets the best of me. Also, I find that a period of unrestrained GAS is usually followed by a G.D. (No, not what you are thinking. I still remember my catechism teachings.)

 

[pitsen3]

How about OTE "Over Think Everything" for us engineering types, or engineering want to be's. This afflicts me in every thing I do.

 

[zapatista]

I am living confirmation of the link between GAS and OCD.

 

[Sigmund451]

I spent nearly 30 years as a therapist.

If there is a link I believe it to be quite small. Especially if we are talking true OCD.

OCD as it reaches clinical levels tends to reek havoc on creativity. Creative types certainly have their quirks but they generally dont have true OCD. They may have a few traits but a true OCD individual tends to be a concrete thinker and is far too wrapped up in their own world to seek answers through change.

If an OCD individual happened to play saxophone the last thing he or she would want to do is change gear. That would be an invitation to chaos. Change=Pain.

 

[Dr G]

... and once again a perfectly good thread is killed by facts. :twisted: :bluewink:

 

[Manitou]

more like addictive personality disorder. at least an addiction to equipment won't lead to obesity and it won't kill you - although your spouse might.

 

[JayeLID]

I spent nearly 30 years as a therapist.

If there is a link I believe it to be quite small. Especially if we are talking true OCD.

OCD as it reaches clinical levels tends to reek havoc on creativity. Creative types certainly have their quirks but they generally dont have true OCD. They may have a few traits but a true OCD individual tends to be a concrete thinker and is far too wrapped up in their own world to seek answers through change.

If an OCD individual happened to play saxophone the last thing he or she would want to do is change gear. That would be an invitation to chaos. Change=Pain.

So what would one consider an individual who is continually buying and selling saxes or mouthpieces, even 'grail' ones, not because they are a flipper...not because they have a clear idea that they just wanna try out a wide range of what is out there (and have the means to do it)... but rather truly because they are never satisfied that they have found what they 'need'...or 'the one' ?

 

[Grumps]

Is GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) related to OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder)?

In a word... no.

Some folks simply need the distraction of new equipment to keep their interest peaked. They keep buying, they keep playing, and most important of all, having something new gives them something to share with the membership here. Some don't want to seek advice if it shows a lack of skill on their part. So they don't ask about that. Some don't gig. So they don't talk about that. But what do they do? Buy everything under the sun if only to come here and give us their "review". Generally, they disappear after an initial wave of thread after thread about something new they bought. And why? Because eventually it comes down to actually making music; and that was never their goal.

 

[ZootTheSim]

I spent nearly 30 years as a therapist.

Well that explains your forum handle! So would you describe making mouthpieces as therapeutic--or at least more so than buying them?

So what would one consider an individual who is continually buying and selling saxes or mouthpieces ... because they are never satisfied that they have found what they 'need'...or 'the one' ?

When I first started playing again, I was nervous about being under-prepared for an upcoming gig, and certain that a new mouthpiece would make it all okay. In this case, it was my performance anxiety that led directly to GAS, not OCD. Of course, the gig was just fine--not because of any new equipment, but because I practised a lot beforehand.

 

[Keith Ridenhour]

For many years when I had a day gig that took 50 hours a week and I was exhausted the rest of the time I could only play 30 minutes a day on non gig weekdays. So for me I simply could't practice .I filled that void of not getting any better with buying and selling lots of stuff that made me marginally better or worse. Now, 10 years into retirement where I can spend a couple of hours practicing a day I no longer search activly . I see progress on a regular basis and low and behold all I"ve had to buy are lessons . But I know from both as a player and a teacher until you can find the time to actually do something to make your playing better sometimes that new mouthpiece/horn/reed/lig/corkgrease seems like a step toward enjoying playing more. Just how it is. K

 

[Airflyte]

I joke with some friends at work. I coined a new acronym - TOA - meaning "Thrill Of Acquisition". We all scour the thrift stores ( deleted ) for the next "big score". It's fun and relatively cheap.

When we get our "treasures" home, TOA commonly transitions to ***! Why did I buy this???

 

[Airflyte]

In a word... no.

Some folks simply need the distraction of new equipment to keep their interest peaked. They keep buying, they keep playing, and most important of all, having something new gives them something to share with the membership here. Some don't want to seek advice if it shows a lack of skill on their part. So they don't ask about that. Some don't gig. So they don't talk about that. But what do they do? Buy everything under the sun if only to come here and give us their "review". Generally, they disappear after an initial wave of thread after thread about something new they bought. And why? Because eventually it comes down to actually making music; and that was never their goal.

That's kind of been me. As I get older, the new shiny things don't hold much value anymore. This year, it's going to be the same mouth piece with the same horn (well, maybe 2 or 3 horns) but the focus is on the music and some theory.

 

[claxton]

I spent nearly 30 years as a therapist.

If there is a link I believe it to be quite small. Especially if we are talking true OCD.

OCD as it reaches clinical levels tends to reek havoc on creativity. Creative types certainly have their quirks but they generally dont have true OCD. They may have a few traits but a true OCD individual tends to be a concrete thinker and is far too wrapped up in their own world to seek answers through change.

If an OCD individual happened to play saxophone the last thing he or she would want to do is change gear. That would be an invitation to chaos. Change=Pain.

A quick internet search of "OCD and obsessive shopping behavior" shows many articles in peer-reviewed journals recognizing compulsive shopping and compulsive buying as one possible manifestation of the broader umbrella of obsessive compulsive behavior.

 

[Sigmund451]

So what would one consider an individual who is continually buying and selling saxes or mouthpieces, even 'grail' ones, not because they are a flipper...not because they have a clear idea that they just wanna try out a wide range of what is out there (and have the means to do it)... but rather truly because they are never satisfied that they have found what they 'need'...or 'the one' ?

Job Security

As for compulsive shopping being a manifestation, keep in mind Im talking about true OCD. Not scattered traits.

Also, without getting political, I dont think its difficult to call American culture a consumer culture. It is its own condition. I wont enter into how it relates to mental health because it can be a manifestation of a many conditions as well as simply an expression of discontent.

 

[Dr G]

I joke with some friends at work. I coined a new acronym - TOA - meaning "Thrill Of Acquisition". We all scour the thrift stores (like everyone else) for the next "big score". It's fun and relatively cheap.

When we get our "treasures" home, TOA commonly transitions to ***! Why did I buy this???

It is delusional to say that everyone else is scouring the thrift stores for the next big score. We aren't.

 

[Airflyte]

It is delusional to say that everyone else is scouring the thrift stores for the next big score. We aren't.

That may be Dr G. Sometimes resistance is futile.

I didn't mean sax shopping . . . .

 

[Dr G]

That may be Dr G. Sometimes resistance is futile.

I didn't mean sax shopping . . . .

I understand that you don't mean shopping for saxophones. I have to make a mindful choice each time I drop off several bags to Goodwill, or similar, not to go inside to browse. I already have more than I need, why take on more of someone else's castoffs?

Be well.