Do gears play a big part in your playing?

[slyyde]

I'm a fan of Pink Floyd and I'm a fan of 'noise' per se as well. Yah I know those sounds come from a synth, but technically still knob-turning eh?

Like what dhalif mentioned earlier, the knob-twisters Crawldaddy referred to probably are those guys who think that efx can cover up their ass onstage.

Well truth to tell, I've seen some jokers who just turn the gain knob on their MIT SD-1s, scoop the mids and go through the whole song making a bloody racket whilst not having any recognisable note coming through.

Can gear make you a better player? Most probably yes if you've already covered the basics and it augments your playing and helps you to build your own sound and style.

I personally leave my knob-tweaking at home... at the most I adjust the amp EQ to fit my pedals, or shift the sliders on my EQ pedal ever so slightly.

 

[Crawldaddy]

Hmm.

In all honesty I'm not that exposed to noise performances unless you're referring to stuff like Pink Floyd's stuff and perhaps Jimmy Page's theremin solo??

And like what Slyyde meantioned above, I'm referring to the guys who seem to place gear possession over technical / musical ability.

Yes, RazrAsh, I too leave my pedals alone with minimal tweaking during jam sessions.

 

[ShredCow]

Hehehe... lets say in the da Singapore context.

We don't port amps around to gig right? We rely on the organiser's amps. And bring a pedal or 2.

Don't even have to talk about those with uber hi end, cost 1/2 ur house's downpayment rigs... there are those with 1 or 2 cheaper "standard" pedals can sound horrid!

The basics of tweaking gotta apply to all - so what if you have booteek pedals? And so what if you have standard issue Boss fare?

Can't tweak - wouldn't sound good.

For this matter, I only sounded better because of advise from Mr Randolf - hats off to him for taking the time to advise, very helpful person.



Its funny how one would say "effects can cover one dun worry"... This doesn't relate at all to dirt pedals, yet to hear a dirt pedal that can cover up mistakes.
And in the realm of ambient music or noise... its a fine line isn't it?
A HORDE of pedals at one's foot. Most of the time, player looking down, tweaking, turning, twisting... does that mean they... are a lesser guitar player than the others who can play technical pieces?
I dare-say the noise makers with a ton of pedals come up with insane soundscapes that are beyond the term "guitarist"...

On the other hand, I've known some guitarists who shun efx, "normal" ones mind you not the expensive type, because they can't afford it actually... and I've also met guitarists with crazy hi end gear who might be considered "un-worthy" players for the price-of-gearlayer-quality ratio - but far and few actually.

 

[ShredCow]

And like what Slyyde meantioned above, I'm referring to the guys who seem to place gear possession over technical / musical ability.

Dude, no worries! Just a discussion...

 

[PatheinRaindropMoe]

gear shud enhance playing to open up a wider space of ideas and sound to blend with the basic fundamental, which is the music we made.

some choose to have just acoustic and voice

some choose to have just electronic and no voice

some dont even bother, just voices

but then, when we cant/dont know how to use a piece of gear thats just a piece of wood or circuit thats lifeless by default(without us human to use it that is) to even blend with the music we are making, then i think what ever piece of chops, theory and fingers we have, its as good as useless.

the other side of the mirror..

 

[AgingYouth]

CrawlDaddy, which era of Pink Floyd are you talking about?

Can't remember much of Jimmy Page's theremin solo...

 

[Taylorboy87]

aiyah can play means can play, cannot play means cannot play. You can also get a good sound from a multi efx unit if you know how to tweak and get the sound you want. I own a ax1500g and my strat tone kicks all my friends ass with their stupid gibson sg or les paul using ANALOGUE pedals. meh!

 

[Josh]

Heh! You were like a big man racing against little kids who could hardly handle the steering wheels.

Try racing a 1400cc car against against an expert driver with his Porsche.

 

[theblueark]

Amusing thread. There seem to be several discussions going on at the same time.
1. Good set of gear allows you to play better?
which somehow lead on to
2. More gear allows you to play better? Or guitar-amp enough?
which then lead on to
3. ANALOGUE SI BETA THAN JIJITA ROOOAR!
and of course
4. TONE SI IN DA FINGERS! ROAR ROOAR!!
and strangely
5. guitar playing more important than turning knobs?
and philosphically
6. WHAT SI THE ESSENCE OF PLAYING GUITAR? CAN YOU ROCK YOUR HIPS LIKE ELVIS?
and a minor sidestep
7. is pedal stomping entertaining/important?
and then i'm not sure where the discussion goes.
But check this out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBm9gRYA1Ps
and maybe this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Fbi4lWr0Wk
And answering question 1. and the title question, I would say yes.

 

[Crawldaddy]

Hmm.

AY, I own a fair number of pink floyd albums, but I guess I can point to their "classic" songs which feature synth "noise" e.g.

Atom Heart Mother
Echoes
Welcome to the Machine
On The Run
Any Colour You Like
Pigs

And I enjoy all of these songs. Bear in mind that in all honesty I have trouble relating to "The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn", which is more psychedelia than I have ever been exposed to.

And regarding Jimmy Page's Theremin solo it's better if you get their live album(s) and listen to what he does on "Whole Lotta Love", which is very interesting.

 

[AgingYouth]

And I enjoy all of these songs. Bear in mind that in all honesty I have trouble relating to "The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn", which is more psychedelia than I have ever been exposed to.

Hehehe, I think it's LSD Brycream man!!!

 

[Crawldaddy]

Hmm.

^^ haha I know what you're talking about. Anyways, I know alot of people here on soft swear by their gear to get through a gig or jamming session, or just to get that mojo in their bedrooms.

I myself am going to make an investment this afternoon 8)

However I still think that in the days before electricity, the mojo from acoustic instruments really has yet to be matched.

haha another debate to spark of, eh blueark?

"ERHKOOSTIK GHEETARRERS PROLLY HAB MORE MOJOH"

 

[ShredCow]

I think guitarist wouldn't mind going to a Jamming studio with just guitar in hand IF the amps were to their liking. That would be sooooo much easier on the back.

 

[RazrAsh]

yeah! thats why i go to fourtones. back when they used the marshall mode 4 anyway. now they're using randall and ibanez toneblaster heads.. not that shiok anymore.

but one place i dont bring pedals to is Lcube. pedals dont work well with Line6 amps. or at least my pedals dont work well with those.