Gear Acquisition Syndrome

Gear Acquisition Syndrome (sometimes Guitar Acquisition Syndrome, both abbreviated to GAS) is a term used to describe an urge to acquire and accumulate lots of equipment. This term commonly associated with:
* Guitarists (tend to acquire guitars, guitar amplifiers, pedals, effects processors, etc.)
* Bassists (seek hand carved, single cut designs, stomp boxes, boutique amplifiers, pre-amps and speaker cabinets)
* Keyboard / synth players (keyboards, synthesizers, samplers, effects units, etc.)
* Drummers (various types of drums, cymbals, percussion accessories, drumsticks, etc.)
* Photographers (cameras, its parts and accessories — bodies, video cameras, lens, mounts, filters, flashes, lighting rigs, etc.)
* Audiophiles and Sound Engineers (high-end preamps, microphones, amplifiers, converters, cables, CD players, speakers, etc.)
*Saxophonists (saxophones of all types, mouthpieces and other accessories)
*Fishermen (different spools, rods, lures, etc.)
The term "GAS" was coined by Walter Becker in 1996 in his article G.A.S. in Guitar Player as "Guitar Acquisition Syndrome". The term started to be frequently used by guitarists and spread out to other people of creative professions who were familiar with similar tendencies. As it no longer concerned guitars only, GAS became a backronym for "Gear Acquisition Syndrome".
GAS shouldn't be confused with collecting.
GAS is similar in many ways to very mild obsessive compulsive disorder. However, the urge or impulse to buy can be resisted without too much discomfort, and does not lead to panic attacks. Indeed, if it did, then the diagnosis would be obsessive compulsive disorder.
Many well known guitar/bass effects producers have taken the opportunity to 'exploit' GAS, often cloning or copying a well known circuit and make very minor modifications (often, these component changes do very little) and sell at inflated pricing. Most audiophiles and guitarists (often referred to as 'tone snobs') claim that hand-built versions of the same circuit can produce a better sound then one done by machine. This belief also transfers across to the Point-to-Point versus PCB argument.
A good example of this is the classic Ibanez Tube Screamer, arguably one of the most cloned and popular pedals to date, many boutique pedal builders have done their own versions and copies. While each claims that theirs is 'better than original', often, there is barely a sonic difference between each design. Through the capacitor, resistor, op-amp and diode changes, boutique effects builders increase price, often by a few hundred dollars, and capitalize on the status that these hand built pedals bring to those 'affected' by GAS.
Origin
GAS, while developed decades ago, acquired its name from internet based hobby forums such as Ultimate Guitar, Harmony Central, and the like.. The term has circulated around the web, increasing in usage. The term is predominantly found on guitar and bass related forums, when the impulse to buy expensive hardware is fueled by other members encouraging each other to purchase them. This often results in "bouncing", where one, on an impulse buy buys a rare or expensive product then sells for a higher price, because they can no longer justify or want it as they never really had a use for it in the first place. This inflation of price, is often justified, as others affected by GAS, are often willing to pay a significant amount more than what the item is truly worth, to save on waiting lists and production.
Root Causes
With reference to guitar players, one of the main objects of desire is an Effects unit that will, in some way, modify the sound of your electric guitar. Extending this definition to other instruments, the GAS victim is really looking for a way to modify his tone to sound like some other famous player and/or is trying to affect his intonation and/or playing positively. This is almost always a fallacy and why GAS can be considered unproductive: the time, money and effort spent in purchasing new gear would be better spent on practicing and/or lessons—provided the person afflicted with GAS has decent enough equipment to start out with. The "decent enough equipment" is something that a more knowledgeable player or instructor of the instrument should determine.
Or, more simply: beginners should not be allowed to have GAS.
GAS vs. Collecting, Investing or Scholarship
Some collectors might have a lot of gear, but this doesn't define a collector as having GAS. A collector is generally trying to complete or update his collection and that can mean that a collector might have gear that doesn't work, but has some sort of intrinsic value.
An investor might have a lot of gear, but it's purchased in the hope that the gear purchased will increase in value. The gear is an Investment.
A scholar might have a lot of gear, but it is primarily purchased to demonstrate a distinctive feature of the item purchased. A scholar is very similar to a collector, but the scholar's gear is generally purchased for the enlightenment of others, rather than for just personal gain; not a hobby.
Treatment
Numerous articles address GAS issue and try to propose methods to plan one's desires, incomes and expenses better. In addition, GAS can often be relieved with TUMS (Time to Unload My Stuff).
Many guitar players are trying to have "GAS" put under evaluation by the APA (American Psychological Association) to be put in the handbook as a real diagnosis.

It has also been stated that GAS may actually be a "disorder" and not a syndrome.

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