[Jay Kahrs]

Yeah, that's kind of a kicker ain't it? But it's really the only way to figure out what you like and don't like. Nobody is going to (or even should tell you) what to buy. Also, it takes a bit of time for me to figure out what I like and don't like. I usually know after a day in the studio if XYZ gear is good or not, but it takes maybe another 3-4 months to figure out what it's really good for. Also, stuff that might seem amazing after the first listen might turn out to be really useless over the long haul.

In the old days this wasn't too much of a problem. People would intern and assist at studios and get to use their gear to figure out what they liked and didn't like without spending money. Plus, you learned the trade too. Now, everyone wants to just buy gear and have the "amazing" recordings. There really isn't a shortcut.

Sorry.