I am never saying I 'hate' any amps or effects again.

TimmyPage

New member
I used to be a serious gear elitist. In my jazz phase I was a pure archtop through solid state amp guy, and I hated any effects, distortion, overdrive etc. I've been growing back into blues, rock and soul music and finding that every time I say I hate something, within a month or two I'll try it in a different context and find a new angle to it that I love. It took me years even to really find the beauty and warmth of a good tube amp just very slightly pushed.

Case in point, I HATED flangers, I thought they were the second worst effect ever, after chorus. I recently played a few shows of Police tunes where I borrowed a Deluxe Mistress flanger and left it on the whole gig, and loved it. But at least it was a step above those disgusting chorus pedals..

...cut ahead a month and a half later, after playing a few solo gigs with a borrowed VS Liquid Chorus pedal, and I'm having serious chorus gas. Turns out, a well made chorus is a LOT more than a cheesy 80s effect, it can sound beautiful and lush and deep.

TL;DR: I've spent way too much of my young life being a judgemental a-hole and not really judging things with my ears. My tone has been getting better and better as I open myself up to new tonal tools.
 
Re: I am never saying I 'hate' any amps or effects again.

finding that every time I say I hate something, within a month or two I'll try it in a different context and find a new angle to it that I love.

That can be said about hate in general. I think that's a phase of maturity; you discover over time that hating things closes more doors than it opens.
 
Re: I am never saying I 'hate' any amps or effects again.

Jazz guy being an elitist? Naaaawww. :p

You are still allowed to hate the boss mt-2, Timmy.
 
Re: I am never saying I 'hate' any amps or effects again.

Congrats on growing up and all, but remember that love can be as belligerent and blind as hate when it comes to gear. Many ppl will forestall creating new music and getting out there, waiting for their gear stars to align into a perfect conjunction, tweaking and saving for that next magical piece of the puzzle ("one more X pedal and then I am done") instead of just playing their instrument.

Nothing wrong w effects pedals, I own a couple/few myself, but they are a means to an end and should not stop one from playing.

Is playing a police tunes without Flange as 'authentic'? Maybe not, but it's better than not playing at all!
 
Re: I am never saying I 'hate' any amps or effects again.

I said it here first. Timmy will be ordering his second PedalTrain Pro this time next year.
 
Re: I am never saying I 'hate' any amps or effects again.

Time and a place for every pedal….even if you don't know where or when it is.
 
Re: I am never saying I 'hate' any amps or effects again.

Jazz guy being an elitist? Naaaawww. :p

You are still allowed to hate the boss mt-2, Timmy.

Time and a place for every pedal….even if you don't know where or when it is.

HM-2 + MT-2 into Peavey solid state amp:

 
Re: I am never saying I 'hate' any amps or effects again.

When you're young, everything galvanizes you to either love it or hate it. Later on you end up finding out you don't mind those things you once decried.
There's a reason why soldiers are recruited young. Always ready for war.
Just remember to don't go losing all your hate; you'll lose direction.
 
Re: I am never saying I 'hate' any amps or effects again.

That can be said about hate in general. I think that's a phase of maturity; you discover over time that hating things closes more doors than it opens.

It's hard to put it better than that. Compare the lives of angry hateful people to those who keep their minds open to people and opportunities. It's like night and day.
 
Re: I am never saying I 'hate' any amps or effects again.

a lot of tones etc become trivial in the mix and to the audience's ears... playing the right notes matters way more!
 
Re: I am never saying I 'hate' any amps or effects again.

Yeah, your first problem was a jazz phase.

There are plenty of Jazz guys out there that are super heavy pedal users. Jon Scofield, Alan Holdsworth and John McLaughlin come immediately to mind.
 
Re: I am never saying I 'hate' any amps or effects again.

I hear you big time.

What I've learned is to be open to the idea that I'm not the smartest guy in the "room."

Good example: I used to think Telecasters were either harsh and shrill or muddy and thin. I used to think Fender amps could only do a scooped clean. I used to think compressors were cheating.

Good for you. The whole world is so open, and so free for experimenting and finding great things. Not just with music, obviously. Have fun!
 
Re: I am never saying I 'hate' any amps or effects again.

Heh not always true that age makes you more closed minded.....I hear music these days that I would never dream about hearing when I was younger, my taste is still expanding.....now I am more like.....jeez I can never hear it all.....and I so want to hear and learn more....life is sometimes a wee bit too short for this...
I am more hungry for life now than I was 20 years ago....in most aspects....Just try to enjoy as much as possible....I am older but not dead ;)
 
Re: I am never saying I 'hate' any amps or effects again.

I'm with Rid Vasshu. I really hope as I get older I can continue to become more open and curious as I figure out who I am and hopefully become more confident and balanced of an individual.

I'm at the point now where I almost like getting proven wrong and humiliated. Reminds me to stop being a bigoted ***** and to be slow to judge but quick to encourage.

Have also got to an interesting point with guitars and gear. Apparently the stuff I get emotionally attached to is not the stuff that best suits me. I've had the best luck stepping back and trying to think "if I was not me, what gear would best suit what I'm trying to do?" and get that even if I have no desire for or attraction to it.

So apparently my own tastes aren't good for me. Definitely need to avoid making any sort of gear judgement until I've tried it live.
 
Re: I am never saying I 'hate' any amps or effects again.

When you're immersed in forums, sales catalogs, theory books, chord charts, band schedules, and all the other junk, it's really easy to forget that people PLAY music for FUN.

Nice to see you're having fun again.
 
Re: I am never saying I 'hate' any amps or effects again.

When you're immersed in forums, sales catalogs, theory books, chord charts, band schedules, and all the other junk, it's really easy to forget that people PLAY music for FUN.

Nice to see you're having fun again.
 
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