With regard to “spending time with your gear, and learning it well,” I had a helix twice, and spent 3 years with it.
I loved the clean tones and ambient sounds I got from it; even successfully made an Eric Johnson clean/chorus preset which was amazing.
However, I just could NOT get the high gain tones I wanted, despite trying eq’s, dual amps, a ton of IRs, and countless hours of tweaking.
I ended up selling it and building a massive pedalboard that sounded incredible. But THEN, my health went in the sh$tter—
I had an unsuccessful back surgery, a terrible reaction to pain meds which made me suicidal (I’m autistic, bipolar AND have OCD…yup, I won the genetic lottery!)
Then I got told I likely had prostate cancer—which I have a biopsy to confirm this Tuesday. I was also told that there were multiple neoplasias around my abdomen, chest, etc.
SO, I told myself “F this. I’m gonna die, I might as well sell all my gear. I can’t play if I’m dead.”
Then, I sold everything.
However, my pain meds were adjusted, and my mood went back to normal.
Further imaging showed the neoplasias were NOT malignant.
I started to think, “Damn! I might live after all. I think I’ll buy back some gear… but it can’t be a massive full stack, or an 80 pound pedalboard like before. It’s gotta be compact, and sound good.”
So, I ordered a new guitar and a Kemper— the guitar should be here Tuesday, and the Kemper Thursday.
If I DONT have cancer…. We’ll, even if I DO, and have to have my prostate removed (and there goes my sex life,) I’m gonna need SOMETHING to make me want to keep living. For me, that something in music.
I love playing guitar, and I can hardly wait for my new gear!
And, with any luck, I WONT have prostate cancer.
We’ll see.
:)