User:GreyCat/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 gear. This term commonly associated with:


 * Guitarists (tend to acquire guitars, guitar amplifiers, pedals, effects processors)
 * Keyboard / synth players (tend to acquire keyboards, synthesizers, samplers, effects units, etc)
 * Drummers (various drums, percussion, drumsticks)
 * Audiophiles (amplifiers, headphones, speakers, etc)
 * Photographers (cameras and its parts - bodies, lens, mounts, filters, flash, etc.)
 * Bike accessories (racks, lights, fenders, etc.)
 * Vapers (vape mods, atomisers, juice flavours, 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 musicians who were familiar with similar tendencies. As it no longer concerns guitars only, GAS is now commonly backronym

GAS shouldn't be confused with collection.

Similar addictions
GAS is similar in many ways to obsessive compulsive disorder

Treatment
None.

GAS hasn't received any major medical attention yet. GAS is not a clinical condition. It can be the result of a psychological lack of personality (trying to give an impression of being the best by imitating a famous icon or celebrity), but this wouldn't explain why musicians "affected" by GAS tend to accumulate cheap gear, not linked to famous brands or music icons.