Gearhead vs Player
- Thread starter Pierre
- Start date
benjaturner
New member
Re: Gearhead vs Player
Rid,
I don't mean gear junkie in the traditional sense, i.e. someone with more money than sense. I just mean I think it's important to be obsessed at ringing every ounce of tone out of your setup, whatever level it is. I think it's such a shame when players spend along time getting their chops down and then throw it all away by giving no thought to how they put them across to the audience.
That means spending time in places like this so you can pick up those little tips that we all know make a big difference. And playing around with your amp so you know what happens when you boost the mids or whatever. Stuff like spending extra on cables that do exactly the same thing, just better. Even if that means you've no money left to go out at the weekend.
That's what Gear Junkie means to me.
Rid,
I don't mean gear junkie in the traditional sense, i.e. someone with more money than sense. I just mean I think it's important to be obsessed at ringing every ounce of tone out of your setup, whatever level it is. I think it's such a shame when players spend along time getting their chops down and then throw it all away by giving no thought to how they put them across to the audience.
That means spending time in places like this so you can pick up those little tips that we all know make a big difference. And playing around with your amp so you know what happens when you boost the mids or whatever. Stuff like spending extra on cables that do exactly the same thing, just better. Even if that means you've no money left to go out at the weekend.
That's what Gear Junkie means to me.
Kommerzbassist
Thunderbirdologist
Re: Gearhead vs Player
Hehe I'm a student too and so I can't really afford mch gear, but if I had the $$ odr €€ i'd really like to get me some more guitars and a better amp n stuff... I mean it's cool to have several different sounding guitars... i.e. a classic Strat, a Les Paul... one end of the world ultimate output destroyer guitar... know what I mean? To have guitars which are different to each other... but well... it'll need some time until i can afford more gear... a this time I've got a Jackson MIJ 5 String Bass and a Squier Strat...
Hehe I'm a student too and so I can't really afford mch gear, but if I had the $$ odr €€ i'd really like to get me some more guitars and a better amp n stuff... I mean it's cool to have several different sounding guitars... i.e. a classic Strat, a Les Paul... one end of the world ultimate output destroyer guitar... know what I mean? To have guitars which are different to each other... but well... it'll need some time until i can afford more gear... a this time I've got a Jackson MIJ 5 String Bass and a Squier Strat...
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: Gearhead vs Player
It is about having fun playing, you know it is only other guitarplayers who are obsessed with "tone"
The rest don't really care.....I know
Have played for along time now.
Learning to play well is way more important, and you will be surprised by some of those cats out there...I have played with a guy who used a crummy Peavey solidstate amp, he got a great sound out of it, he just used the amp and his Japanese 62 reissue strat, nothing else.
The last time I met him he had "upgraded" to a classic 30 tubeamp, and he still sounded just the same...hehe
I thought it was deeply amusing, and he was just shrugging his shoulders, saying what can I do??
Well he can play his ass off, and he sounds great through a trashcan!
Playing is far more important.
I know that the hard way.
It is about having fun playing, you know it is only other guitarplayers who are obsessed with "tone"
The rest don't really care.....I knowHave played for along time now.
Learning to play well is way more important, and you will be surprised by some of those cats out there...I have played with a guy who used a crummy Peavey solidstate amp, he got a great sound out of it, he just used the amp and his Japanese 62 reissue strat, nothing else.
The last time I met him he had "upgraded" to a classic 30 tubeamp, and he still sounded just the same...hehe
I thought it was deeply amusing, and he was just shrugging his shoulders, saying what can I do??
Well he can play his ass off, and he sounds great through a trashcan!
Playing is far more important.
I know that the hard way.
benjaturner
New member
Re: Gearhead vs Player
I think when you play out people who couldn't care less about guitar still care about tone. They might not call it tone or talk about it like a guitarist would but they still notice when they can or can't hear you with any clarity. My mother for example (who still can't understand why I need an electric and an acoustic, hows that for a gear head!?!) still notices when guitars sound bad.
I think it's the difference between seeing live bands who are okay and bands who are good.
I think when you play out people who couldn't care less about guitar still care about tone. They might not call it tone or talk about it like a guitarist would but they still notice when they can or can't hear you with any clarity. My mother for example (who still can't understand why I need an electric and an acoustic, hows that for a gear head!?!) still notices when guitars sound bad.
I think it's the difference between seeing live bands who are okay and bands who are good.
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: Gearhead vs Player
Well I once had a student, she hated my overdrives...all of them.
Hehe she said it sounded like a goddamm cat being strangled
She did not have all the usual concepts on how everything was supposed to sound, and she had a good sound all on her own, it was just a part of her.
Anyways if sound is important to other than players...how come so much crap is popular in music??
It does not sound good in any redeeming way, people might react to bad tuning or piercing sounds, but nobody will notice much if you played on a classic30 or a Bogner to be frank...that is just the guitar.
People like the singers and how the music as a whole is doing its job, guitars are mostly for guitarplayers.
Well enough explaining and debate about this
I can only tell you what I have seen and heard for more than 23 years of playing..probally counts for nothing...hehe
Well I once had a student, she hated my overdrives...all of them.
Hehe she said it sounded like a goddamm cat being strangled
She did not have all the usual concepts on how everything was supposed to sound, and she had a good sound all on her own, it was just a part of her.
Anyways if sound is important to other than players...how come so much crap is popular in music??
It does not sound good in any redeeming way, people might react to bad tuning or piercing sounds, but nobody will notice much if you played on a classic30 or a Bogner to be frank...that is just the guitar.
People like the singers and how the music as a whole is doing its job, guitars are mostly for guitarplayers.
Well enough explaining and debate about this
I can only tell you what I have seen and heard for more than 23 years of playing..probally counts for nothing...hehe
Re: Gearhead vs Player
Well I don't see a problem with having nice gear, like Xero said it's kinda like a hobby. So long as you can actually afford it, who's to stop you spending your money on it?
But if you find yourself blaming bad playing on the fact that a guitar doesn't have "xyz really sweet sounding and fast playing wood" or "uber jumbo hyper shiny frets" then you can't play guitar well enough, plain and simple.
Cash spent doesn't = talent
That is also the job for the sound engineer, to make sure everyone can be heard easily and is also dependant on how good the PA is etc..
Personally, I don't know much about guitars, but I find it intersting to find stuff out. Thats why I come here. I try and make sure I keep up my practising though.. at the end of the day thats what it's all about : what you can play, not what you play.
Well I don't see a problem with having nice gear, like Xero said it's kinda like a hobby. So long as you can actually afford it, who's to stop you spending your money on it?
But if you find yourself blaming bad playing on the fact that a guitar doesn't have "xyz really sweet sounding and fast playing wood" or "uber jumbo hyper shiny frets" then you can't play guitar well enough, plain and simple.
Cash spent doesn't = talent
That is also the job for the sound engineer, to make sure everyone can be heard easily and is also dependant on how good the PA is etc..
Personally, I don't know much about guitars, but I find it intersting to find stuff out. Thats why I come here. I try and make sure I keep up my practising though.. at the end of the day thats what it's all about : what you can play, not what you play.
benjaturner
New member
Re: Gearhead vs Player
I've been engineering live bands for about eight years now (I'm still a long way from being great but I reckon I'm alright) and if I've learnt anything it's that engineers can only good out proportionally what the band puts in. You can put the best engineer in the world infront of a crappy band and they're still gonna sound crap.
I've been engineering live bands for about eight years now (I'm still a long way from being great but I reckon I'm alright) and if I've learnt anything it's that engineers can only good out proportionally what the band puts in. You can put the best engineer in the world infront of a crappy band and they're still gonna sound crap.
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: Gearhead vs Player
Since you where 11 years old??
Since you where 11 years old??
benjaturner
New member
Re: Gearhead vs Player
yeah
yeah
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: Gearhead vs Player
How come?
How come?
benjaturner
New member
Re: Gearhead vs Player
I just got really lucky. My primary school (ages 4-11) teacher is a guitarist and was always really interested in putting on local events. Y'know, band nights, street parties, anything. I thought it was really cool so got involved when ever I could They ended up letting me engineer the whole show by the time I was 11 and was hooked ever since. In a round about way that's how I started playing guitar. By the time I was fourteen I was really into it so decided I wanted to go to music college to do a music tech course. They said I'd stand a better chance of getting in if I could play an instrument. I choose guitar got hooked all over again. Got my music tech BTEC and now I'm applying for a degree in popular music. Wierd how things work out
I just got really lucky. My primary school (ages 4-11) teacher is a guitarist and was always really interested in putting on local events. Y'know, band nights, street parties, anything. I thought it was really cool so got involved when ever I could They ended up letting me engineer the whole show by the time I was 11 and was hooked ever since. In a round about way that's how I started playing guitar. By the time I was fourteen I was really into it so decided I wanted to go to music college to do a music tech course. They said I'd stand a better chance of getting in if I could play an instrument. I choose guitar got hooked all over again. Got my music tech BTEC and now I'm applying for a degree in popular music. Wierd how things work out
korovamilkdud
WhoDatologist
Re: Gearhead vs Player
I'm a gearhead with no money.
I know plenty about changin pickups and wiring and setups and stuff. My playing isn't what it used to be when I was in high school.
I'm a gearhead with no money.
I know plenty about changin pickups and wiring and setups and stuff. My playing isn't what it used to be when I was in high school.
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: Gearhead vs Player
Ok sounds like good times
^^
Ok sounds like good times
^^
aleclee
Major General GAS
Re: Gearhead vs Player
If sane girlfriends are important to guys, how come so many of us have dated psychos even after realizing they were wacky? Very few things in life are cut and dried so it shouldn't surprise us when popular music has timbre that would be more appropriate coming out your bunghole than your stereo.Rid said:
I generally agree but I'd point out that knowing how to dial in the gear you own is a big part of the "tone is in the hands" school of thought.nuntius said:
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: Gearhead vs Player
Well it was an observation...not really a question
So who would really give a **** about some mad guitarplayer and his crazy obsession with, crack bypass, tututique amps and stompers??
Monster cables and special batteries and mojo picks??
It is only us in this strange world of guitarplaying...hehe
Medication is needed...
And buy more Plexitones by the way
Well it was an observation...not really a question
So who would really give a **** about some mad guitarplayer and his crazy obsession with, crack bypass, tututique amps and stompers??
Monster cables and special batteries and mojo picks??
It is only us in this strange world of guitarplaying...hehe
Medication is needed...
And buy more Plexitones by the way
bungalowbill
Luckybastidologist
Re: Gearhead vs Player
I would rather hear an incredible musician (guitarist) play through crap gear than to here a mediocre player. I love to have good gear and have a good tone but, it"s only part of picture. Equipment never takes the place of talent, skill, musicianship etc. Just my 2 cents worth......Joe
I would rather hear an incredible musician (guitarist) play through crap gear than to here a mediocre player. I love to have good gear and have a good tone but, it"s only part of picture. Equipment never takes the place of talent, skill, musicianship etc. Just my 2 cents worth......Joe
Quencho092
New member
Re: Gearhead vs Player
i wish i didnt have to worry about gear...ever! That's why im selling all of my vintage speakers and getting a new vibrolux with a warranty and free of old parts waiting to crap out. So i can just kick back and play without thinking-oh crap is that transformer going to give out on me, or if the bias is set right, or why the speakers are farting so much, etc...
I was thinking about a polytone even, i'd sacrifice tube tone for a dark, clean, light, reliable amp with awesome clean tones and is loud.
i wish i didnt have to worry about gear...ever! That's why im selling all of my vintage speakers and getting a new vibrolux with a warranty and free of old parts waiting to crap out. So i can just kick back and play without thinking-oh crap is that transformer going to give out on me, or if the bias is set right, or why the speakers are farting so much, etc...
I was thinking about a polytone even, i'd sacrifice tube tone for a dark, clean, light, reliable amp with awesome clean tones and is loud.
benjaturner
New member
Re: Gearhead vs Player
****. I just realised who rid is. Aren't you the guy who invented/developed the plexitone? And I've been telling YOU about tone? Oops! I feel a bit silly now.
****. I just realised who rid is. Aren't you the guy who invented/developed the plexitone? And I've been telling YOU about tone? Oops! I feel a bit silly now.
Similar threads
