The Guitar Corner: A Place Where Fellow Guitarists Can Talk Shop

[drogulus]

     I fear pedals metastasizing all over the floor. It give me the heebee-jeebies to even think about them all sitting on my spare gear table looking accusingly at me.

     In a situation like that nothing else will do than buying another pedal. Not just any pedal though, but a Swiss Army pedal to put an end to the madness.

     

     One pedal for everything.

     https://www.youtube.com/v/MRVGhVGvAwc

[Mirror Image]

     I fear pedals metastasizing all over the floor. It give me the heebee-jeebies to even think about them all sitting on my spare gear table looking accusingly at me.

     In a situation like that nothing else will do than buying another pedal. Not just any pedal though, but a Swiss Army pedal to put an end to the madness.

     

     One pedal for everything.

     https://www.youtube.com/v/MRVGhVGvAwc

I really despise pedals like this. One problem I have with this particular pedal is it does many things but doesn't really succeed at any of them as most multi-effects pedals and processors have proven to me in my 20+ years of playing. I think if you build a pedalboard and pick out certain pedals that you'd like use, then it wouldn't give you the 'heebee-jeebies'. But you don't really strike me as a guitarist that likes to explore new sonic terrain. You come across as a plug-and-play type of player, which is fine, but, personally, I like to have a variety of tonal palettes at my disposal.

[drogulus]

I really despise pedals like this. One problem I have with this particular pedal is it does many things but doesn't really succeed at any of them as most multi-effects pedals and processors have proven to me in my 20+ years of playing. I think if you build a pedalboard and pick out certain pedals that you'd like use, then it wouldn't give you the 'heebee-jeebies'. But you don't really strike me as a guitarist that likes to explore new sonic terrain. You come across as a plug-and-play type of player, which is fine, but, personally, I like to have a variety of tonal palettes at my disposal.

     You are mostly right. My tonal explorations can be done with a minimal pedal set. With the right overdrive pedal and the Flint I'd have all the options I need. For me the most important considerations are having the right guitar and pickups, and the right amp/speaker combination. These give me a base strong enough to get a good sound with or without pedals.

[Mirror Image]

     You are mostly right. My tonal explorations can be done with a minimal pedal set. With the right overdrive pedal and the Flint I'd have all the options I need. For me the most important considerations are having the right guitar and pickups, and the right amp/speaker combination. These give me a base strong enough to get a good sound with or without pedals.

Yes, you're definitely an amphead (if I may use such a term). I like a great sounding amplifier as much as you do, but I place more importance on the guitar (esp. pickups, the neck, and just the general playability of it), but also the effects that I'm using as I absolutely hate a dry signal and if I'm not inspired by my own sound, then I'm likely to put the guitar down in frustration, which is why I usually avoid guitar stores, because 1. I can't hear myself think and 2. I can never get a good sound in those places, but, also, the people (not all of them) that work in guitar stores are usually incredibly obnoxious.

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

Yes, you're definitely an amphead (if I may use such a term). I like a great sounding amplifier as much as you do, but I place more importance on the guitar (esp. pickups, the neck, and just the general playability of it), but also the effects that I'm using as I absolutely hate a dry signal and if I'm not inspired by my own sound, then I'm likely to put the guitar down in frustration, which is why I usually avoid guitar stores, because 1. I can't hear myself think and 2. I can never get a good sound in those places, but, also, the people (not all of them) that work in guitar stores are usually incredibly obnoxious.

No one can dispute the bolded statement.  I remember the last time I bought a guitar, it was the late 80's at the Sam Ash store in Manhattan, on 48th street. The procedure: you say, "I'm interested in that one," he takes it down and says, "let me check that it's set up okay" and plays it for 5 minutes to demonstrate that he plays better than you. Then he hands it over with an irritated look as if the say "I'm the one who should have this guitar, not a no-talent idiot like you." I want to say, "Nice that you play so nice, but I'm the one that can afford to buy the guitar."

[drogulus]

     Most of my stuff can't be bought in stores, not even online. The thing is, custom built stuff is not necessarily super expensive. Both of my guitars and my custom bass were less than $2k. You can spend much more than that in a store.

[Mirror Image]

No one can dispute the bolded statement.  I remember the last time I bought a guitar, it was the late 80's at the Sam Ash store in Manhattan, on 48th street. The procedure: you say, "I'm interested in that one," he takes it down and says, "let me check that it's set up okay" and plays it for 5 minutes to demonstrate that he plays better than you. Then he hands it over with an irritated look as if the say "I'm the one who should have this guitar, not a no-talent idiot like you." I want to say, "Nice that you play so nice, but I'm the one that can afford to buy the guitar."

That sounds like a similar experience of my own. I remember one guy shredding the guitar like a Yngwie Malmsteen clone that I asked if I could play and a a couple of minutes went by before I couldn't take his egomania any longer, so I told him "If I wanted to hear Yngwie Malmsteen, I'd go listen to one of his boring albums to hear the real thing, so can I now play the guitar I asked you to get down for me?" The look this wanker gave me was priceless.

[Mirror Image]

     Most of my stuff can't be bought in stores, not even online. The thing is, custom built stuff is not necessarily super expensive. Both of my guitars and my custom bass were less than $2k. You can spend much more than that in a store.

Same here. My dad has built several guitars. Well, I shouldn't have said 'built' but assembled from various parts, but he's done a lot of work with pickups (soldering and so forth). He does fine work and knows exactly how to setup a guitar to where it's playing extremely well. We both favor lower action on the strings.

[drogulus]

Same here. My dad has built several guitars. Well, I shouldn't have said 'built' but assembled from various parts, but he's done a lot of work with pickups (soldering and so forth). He does fine work and knows exactly how to setup a guitar to where it's playing extremely well. We both favor lower action on the strings.

     I wouldn't have action so low I couldn't do bends right. I call it the Black Magic Woman test. If I can't do my cruddy approximation of what Peter Green did the action is probably too low.

     

     

[NikF4]

     I wouldn't have action so low I couldn't do bends right. I call it the Black Magic Woman test. If I can't do my cruddy approximation of what Peter Green did the action is probably too low.
   

Yeah. When bending the third string it's usually up the way - towards the fourth string - but sometimes I incorporate a bend (of a whole tone) by bending the third string down towards the second string, keeping it ringing, then catching the second string under the same finger, and playing it, then finally pushing them both back up that same whole tone. And there's no way I can do that with a low action. Having said that, all my Telecasters have 6100 frets.
Maybe someone with more skill can do it with a low action, but not me.

e: if my description of that bend doesn't make sense, let me know and maybe I'll break the habit of a lifetime and record a video to illustrate it. Or you could always check out Jerry Donahue executing it with panache. 

[drogulus]

Yeah. When bending the third string it's usually up the way - towards the fourth string - but sometimes I incorporate a bend (of a whole tone) by bending the third string down towards the second string, keeping it ringing, then catching the second string under the same finger, and playing it, then finally pushing them both back up that same whole tone. And there's no way I can do that with a low action. Having said that, all my Telecasters have 6100 frets.
Maybe someone with more skill can do it with a low action, but not me.

e: if my description of that bend doesn't make sense, let me know and maybe I'll break the habit of a lifetime and record a video to illustrate it. Or you could always check out Jerry Donahue executing it with panache. 

     A whole tone bend down towards the second string makes sense, but I'm not good at it.

     Uh oh.....my Green Thing cost more than $2k. I went to the site and read the FAQ.

[NikF4]

     A whole tone bend down towards the second string makes sense, but I'm not good at it.

     Uh oh.....my Green Thing cost more than $2k. I went to the site and read the FAQ.

'Not good at it'; It's like anything else, mate - time and patience bring reward. And I'll be fucked if I ever allow myself to be intimidated by learning something new on guitar. Really, bollocks to that.
Having said that, your Green Thing intimidates both me and even the inanimate objects that are my Teles. Good stuff. 

[greg]

Yeah. When bending the third string it's usually up the way - towards the fourth string - but sometimes I incorporate a bend (of a whole tone) by bending the third string down towards the second string, keeping it ringing, then catching the second string under the same finger, and playing it, then finally pushing them both back up that same whole tone. And there's no way I can do that with a low action. Having said that, all my Telecasters have 6100 frets.
Maybe someone with more skill can do it with a low action, but not me.

e: if my description of that bend doesn't make sense, let me know and maybe I'll break the habit of a lifetime and record a video to illustrate it. Or you could always check out Jerry Donahue executing it with panache. 

Um... I'm gonna have to try this.
But not completely sure what you mean by the final bend.

Sometimes i like to play the strings using dimes over the frets, with both hands. You can even make it contrapuntal this way.

[NikF4]

Um... I'm gonna have to try this.
But not completely sure what you mean by the final bend.

Sometimes i like to play the strings using dimes over the frets, with both hands. You can even make it contrapuntal this way.

I've made a video but can't get my new YouTube account to accept it. So for now, bend any note on the third/G string down and away from you a whole tone. While it rings, with the same finger on the same fret play the second/B string. Note: at this point the third/G is still ringing. Push the second/B string up and towards you a whole tone while allowing the third/G string to return to it's original pitch. It's two notes sounding at the same time, but one bending up while the other bends down.
Further, you can make it bluesy by playing it natural and loose, or almost pedal steel like by making it mechanical and almost sterile im execution.

[greg]

I've made a video but can't get my new YouTube account to accept it. So for now, bend any note on the third/G string down and away from you a whole tone. While it rings, with the same finger on the same fret play the second/B string. Note: at this point the third/G is still ringing. Push the second/B string up and towards you a whole tone while allowing the third/G string to return to it's original pitch. It's two notes sounding at the same time, but one bending up while the other bends down.
Further, you can make it bluesy by playing it natural and loose, or almost pedal steel like by making it mechanical and almost sterile im execution.

Ok thanks for clarifying. This is what i thought you might have meant, but wasn't sure.
I'll try it at home, though like you said, might be hard for a guitar with low action.

[NikF4]

Ok thanks for clarifying. This is what i thought you might have meant, but wasn't sure.
I'll try it at home, though like you said, might be hard for a guitar with low action.

You're welcome.

I can't seem to get YouTube to accept the whole file, but -
https://youtu.be/mZaSmcH3pCM

Yeah, I get the difficulty with the low action. It's a compromise.

[drogulus]

     
     Reverb says these are the best selling overdrive pedals on their site. Some are used, some new.

1    Electro-Harmonix Soul Food    $50 - $79
2    Paul Cochrane Timmy    $115 - $130
3    Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer    $65 - $100
4    Fulltone OCD V4    $80 - $115
5    Xotic EP Booster    $80 - $115
6    Boss BD-2 Blues Driver    $50 - $99
7    Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive    $30 - $49
8    Ibanez Tube Screamer Mini    $65 - $80
9    J. Rockett Archer    $130 - $189
10    Fulltone Full-Drive 2 MOSFET    $80 - $115
11    JHS Morning Glory    $140 - $199
12    Klon KTR    $220 - $270
13    Xotic RC Booster    $110 - $169
14    Analogman King of Tone V4    $400 - $500
15    Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer Reissue    $100 - $179
16    Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret MKIII    $120 - $169
17    J. Rockett Archer Ikon    $150 - $199
18    JHS Superbolt    $135 - $199
19    Walrus Audio Voyager    $120 - $189
20    Earthquaker Devices Palisades    $180 - $250

     Something tells me I want a Klon (or "Klone"). Something else tells me to just get the goddam Tube Screamer and stop being a gear snob about something that doesn't matter.

     

[NikF4]

     
     Reverb says these are the best selling overdrive pedals on their site. Some are used, some new.

1    Electro-Harmonix Soul Food    $50 - $79
2    Paul Cochrane Timmy    $115 - $130
3    Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer    $65 - $100
4    Fulltone OCD V4    $80 - $115
5    Xotic EP Booster    $80 - $115
6    Boss BD-2 Blues Driver    $50 - $99
7    Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive    $30 - $49
8    Ibanez Tube Screamer Mini    $65 - $80
9    J. Rockett Archer    $130 - $189
10    Fulltone Full-Drive 2 MOSFET    $80 - $115
11    JHS Morning Glory    $140 - $199
12    Klon KTR    $220 - $270
13    Xotic RC Booster    $110 - $169
14    Analogman King of Tone V4    $400 - $500
15    Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer Reissue    $100 - $179
16    Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret MKIII    $120 - $169
17    J. Rockett Archer Ikon    $150 - $199
18    JHS Superbolt    $135 - $199
19    Walrus Audio Voyager    $120 - $189
20    Earthquaker Devices Palisades    $180 - $250

     Something tells me I want a Klon (or "Klone"). Something else tells me to just get the goddam Tube Screamer and stop being a gear snob about something that doesn't matter.

   

I've no idea, but only because it's not my bag.

e: it's like custom wound pickups '5 or 10% under/over wound' - there are no conditions under which I'm going to perceive any difference.

[drogulus]

I've no idea, but only because it's not my bag.

e: it's like custom wound pickups '5 or 10% under/over wound' - there are no conditions under which I'm going to perceive any difference.

     I wouldn't want hot humbuckers. They're hot enough just being the kind of pickups they are. A Peter Green set would be just the thing for me.

     https://www.youtube.com/v/nMrbz_gsYSk

     

[NikF4]

     I wouldn't want hot humbuckers. They're hot enough just being the kind of pickups they are. A Peter Green set would be just the thing for me.

     https://www.youtube.com/v/nMrbz_gsYSk

   

Very nice. Despite all the variables they kind of sound underwound to me, although I'm not sure that's the correct term. I remember playing a Duncan Seth Lover set for all of five minutes and liking them - especially the neck pickup - and those seem in the ballpark.
Anyway, you thinking of acquiring that Peter Green set and putting them in something?