Should you get more gear.

Even with the enhancement of technology, instruments take a very important place in the creation of music today. Which is quite obvious because without them we won’t get very far. Of course, there’s the ability to create with the never ending releases of systems like sample libraries. But even so, with either instruments or other music equipment, what is the limit? When is it necessary to have more and when is enough? I'm just going to set a threshold which I think is a good indicator for when to stop or when to let the credit card slide.

Equipment should never interfere with outgoing communication (whatever the form). In other words, the effect you want to produce should never be limited by the technical means employed. Whether it is painting, photography, music, dance or cinema, no matter the art, the technique comes second in terms of importance. If a part is missing and you can no longer play the notes you hear, put it there. The lens no longer stays in focus? Replace it. Is the camera producing an image that is not clear enough? Acquire the appropriate one. This is the real importance of the equipment: to enable the best possible communication exactly as it is desired.

I remember being in a music store in Nashville that had everything a musician could possibly want. I saw all these artists in ecstasies hearing such a guitar in such an amplifier. Being inside the store, I was paying close attention to what one of the musicians was doing with one of the guitars I wanted to try. This seemed curious to me, because objectively, the greater the value of the things he touched was to his eyes, the more what he produced in terms of sound appeared to him beautiful or "refined". Logically, a guitar has never produced even the slightest note without a musician. No theater has vibrated without a group that gives body and soul on stage. Yes, it is true that some instruments sound better than others. However, I believe there is another phenomenon here. This phenomenon is as follows: people become more sensitive towards their own creation when they use something that has more value in their eyes. This is what I’ve observed after working with many artists. It's not the guitar that sounds better. It is you who are inspired to play better. I'm talking about something quite sensitive and subtle here. As if a certain instrument put the creator in a situation where there was 25,000 people in front of him every time he played and then he plays as if “It has to count.”

So how do you know if a new guitar, camera, or stompbox is a necessary or an unnecessary expense? The question to ask is, will this purchase increase the desire to create and improve the value of your product? If so, well, go get it and be quick!