No disrespect is meant towards 12 step programs in this article, but I think gear addiction is a bit of a problem amongst the audio and music community. I don’t know many of us that don’t have gear addiction. This addiction can be destructive to relationships and careers. I will attempt to help you overcome this problem and realize how to appreciate your current setup. Maybe we can start a movement for national meetings? Street corners outside of Guitar Centers are lined with junkies waiting for someone to drop a mic cord on their way out of the store. Don't become one the street rable.

Read the following article with tongue in cheek, but realize that the steps below may really help you to discover new ideas and methods to help further your hobby or career.

1. Acknowledge That We Feel Compelled To Buy More And Better Equipment

Most of us are in pursuit of the perfect sound, or the best instrument. This path never ends. I don’t care how much you’ve spent. You can always improve something.

I own at least 12 guitars (give or take a few depending on the project). When I make a new purchase, my Wife wants me to explain why I need a different guitar. I usually launch into a speech about the benefits of a hollow body for jazz or a Strat for my latest blues song. This has worked for a while, but the excuses are wearing thin.

2. Someone (wives/husbands, girl/boyfriends, parents) Will Help Us Stop

Hopefully, in the above scenario, your significant other can help you see the financial pitfalls of the purchase. We are often blinded by what the situation needs. If it’s a country gig, do we need that new Tele? Or can we tweak a bit to get some twang from our current options? What about that great new mic? Can we justify a $500 mic for a $250 vocal session?

Hopefully the voice in your head will win out before you get into an argument. If not, you need to take stock in what you are trying to accomplish. Do you want to make money or collect gear? Those two concepts are in opposition most of the time.

3. Cut Up Our Visa Cards

Certainly our lives revolve around credit and debt. When I buy something new I don’t usually bring cash to the store. But what if you put that channel strip on the Visa card? Is it a convenience or a loan? If it’s a loan, then you need to take the purchase seriously. How much extra is that equipment going to cost with added interest? What if it was an impulse buy? Generally, once you walk out the door with the new gear it depreciates with every step. You will never sell it for what it’s worth.

So, ask yourself: Will this gear make the session or create magic? Probably not. What do you have in your current setup that might work? If you really need a good preamp for vocal sessions, consider saving for the piece of gear. If you are losing gigs because of a lack of gear, then your decision might be wise. But if not, save your money.

Never let a store talk you into their “no interest” plans. That’s a black hole you don’t want to go down. If gear is holding you back, then consider a proper small business loan.

4. Take Inventory Of Our Current Equipment

This may sound silly. Take a look at what you’ve got. Sometimes we don’t know what the situation will require. Perhaps the client that requires an expensive compressor isn’t worth the cost. What kind of limitations do you have because of gear? Know where you are and what your equipment will allow you to do.

If you find yourself always playing in an AC/DC cover band, then an SG could be a wise purchase. But if your band does “Back in Black” only at weddings, then it’s probably not something you really need. I have found that dragging more than two guitars to a wedding gig is a liability, not an enhancement.

5. Admit That We Are Addicted To Gear

I know my penchant for gear. So what do I do? Usually, I check with someone before I buy. Ask the basic questions to somebody in the know. What do you think about xyz keyboards? Have you used it? Is it worth the money? Maybe I can pick it up on craigslist or eBay and save some bucks. Probably the most important thing is to give it time. After researching and thinking about that new mic, you may find the desire goes away. If not, you still probably don’t need it. But at least you have made an educated buy. Admitting that you have a problem is a big step.

6. Ready To Give Up Our Gear Lust And Use What We Have

As stated before, you need to take inventory of what you have. Once you have that inventory, decide if you know how to use everything. Maybe that keyboard seems outdated. Or does it have some features you haven’t explored? It’s surprising how many of us just use presets and don’t know our stomp box has an edit feature.

Perhaps it’s not the monitors that don’t sound good. Maybe they are in the wrong place in the room. Research how to set up a proper listening environment. I’ve sold things in the past that I regretted.

Usually, things look shiny and bright in the store. When you get it home, the gear loses some of its appeal. Clean the studio/guitar up and see what it looks like in the light of day. Once you’ve cleaned it up and adjusted things, the old guitar may not seem so bad after all. It’s much cheaper to adjust the string action than to buy a whole new guitar.

7. Have The Gear Addiction Surgically Removed

Of course, the easiest thing would be some kind of medical intervention. But this doesn’t exist yet. Maybe one day they will invent one of those pills that take the gear desire away. Or maybe they will discover how to remove this problem through DNA research. I’m thinking not. We can always hope for a brighter future.

8. Make A List Of Everyone We’ve Borrowed Money From (including banks)

Let’s face it; our local music store isn’t really in business to give you good financial advice. They are in the business of selling you whatever’s new. Don’t let a music store salesperson turn your head. Knowing that I can be easily lured, I try to have an idea of what I’m shopping for. Never “browse” in a music store. This is dangerous. Keep your hand on your purse/wallet and your credit score.

9. Pay Off Equipment Before Buying More Equipment

How much gear is still on the credit card? Are you still making payments on some distortion pedal from 1976? If so, it’s time to get with it and pay it off. Some of your addiction might be satisfied if you stop making the minimum payments. Pay if off, and you’ll have more money for more gear. Oops. I shouldn’t have given you that idea. I’m obviously still recovering.

10. Evaluate What We Need vs. What We Want

We think we need, but we really want. It’s funny how that 1974 guitar that had a warped neck and bad intonation has become a collector’s item. I couldn’t wait to get rid of that thing in 1979. I’ve made a new vow to never sell anything until the cycle of old to vintage has been given a chance.

As stated earlier, you need to evaluate what is required versus what is desired. How many pieces of gear is enough? Everyone is different. But I will maintain that you never have enough. If that’s the case, then we have the rest of our life to think, weigh the options, and then acquire.

11. Understand And Maximize Our Gear

I’m sure that by now you can see that maybe there are more possibilities in your setup than you thought. Perhaps you’re evaluating the $75 acoustic guitar as a potential vintage piece in 25 years. One thing is for sure; we’ve all heard performances and recordings using equipment that was less than desirable. How did they do it? I think that’s the magic that often eludes the gear addict. Perhaps that new piece of gear will inspire? Or maybe the sound I hear in my head can’t be realized with an SM57?

The best tools you have in the studio or in a performance are in you. Your ears, hands, heart, and head make the real difference. All of us bring some unique view to this crazy audio/music world. You don’t even need to be the top studio musician to create. We’ve all heard evidence of that in recordings or on the radio. Of course, these days, what is the radio? That’s a topic for another article.

12. Pass These Steps On To Others Who Have This Addiction Unless They Are Competitors

The last and final step is sharing your knowledge with others. Maybe we can all help. If you see someone about to make a purchase, step in between them and the salesperson(Ok, maybe not always the best idea, but you get the point). Ask them “why?”. If we watch out for each other, I think we can beat this problem. We are always addicts, but we can recover and live normal lives.

I think gear addiction is the musician or studio owner’s biggest threat. Countless hours are spent pouring over mail order catalogs. The dream of nirvana when we get that new channel strip. If only I had a new 17 string guitar. These are not the things that make great art. Take that creative energy and put it into the music and the recording, not the addiction.

Jeffrey Tackett