zorrow

IMO it's a combo of Lambert coming up on American Idol and him filling a role once occupied by perhaps the greatest entertainer in the history of rock. Both offend the snobbish sensibilities of music aficionados. Speaking of American Idol, would anyone outside of the industry be using the term "pitchy" if not for that show? I don't watch American Idol and I don't give a dime where Lambert came from. I think in fact he's a quite competent singer, he has a wide vocal range, he's rather good-looking and has a cool stage presence. He goes slightly off-key pretty often though -the term "pitchy" I think it's a shortcut I took from this forum. Well, I took it slightly personal, right? But my point is, I have no problem with someone else fronting what's left from Queen, even if Queen is my preferred rock band ever --and Brian May my most-loved guitar hero. In short, Lambert is OK and very probably has the potential to become a true new frontman for Queen. Let's just hope it will work in the long term. From my perspective, there's still a long way to go though.

Yes, I think you're absolutely right. PS: Still, Gaga is less pitchy live.

Adam Lambert is by times pitchy, which irritates me to the max, but no doubt he still got the vocal chops. I also liked what Brian May wrote, implying they're back to "rocking mode". Let's just hope now they'll get better together over time --at this moment I find what I hear and see "pretty good", but no more than that. PS: BTW, IMHO Lady Gaga would have done a better job in fronting Queen, but I can understand she has her own career going in full-throttle, so Lambert seems to be more convenient for the job. However, I am still allowed to dream, right?

The Steve Vai test -and you'll get some extra fans as a side-effect?

this is a great point. somehow i don't feel like i'm stealing a king diamond or twisted sister tune off the youtube/mp3 converter, because i'd never pay to download 'em (plus the quality sucks from youtube rips). Maybe Internet providers should pay "a royalty tax" to support every artist whose art might be "consumed" through the Internet? In fact, they did this with writable CD's and DVD's, right? So, if you offer (or manufacture) some kind of device (mp3 player, PC, CD player...) or media (writable CD, hard-disks, USB sticks...) or service (Internet, broadcasting program...) that might serve to reproduce/distribute/copy music, you should pay that extra tax -or if we as consumers buy some, we should pay that extra tax. I guess governments could enforce this kind of policies, and the collected money should go directly to artists (those whose main source of income is art -or music, in our specific case).

I've thought about this many many times. Music is "ethereal" and "reproducible" by nature, therefore it's very easy to steal. Instead of fighting reality, let's just embrace it and try to do something different. To me the problem is reduced to finding a way to adding non-reproducible-but-high-value content to the musical content. We need to rely more on the value of the "hardware" part added to the musical experience, and less on the "soft" side -which is the music itself. So, we need to come up with new ideas which would make of the "listening to music experience" an incomplete experience as a whole, if that extra "hardware" value is not present. Suggestions?

+1 I mean, +2 or +3. XL, please!

I'm not too picky about my live rig, so I'm okay with the Digitech modelers. I personally own an RP250, which after some tweaking works just fine. I've also used a Vox Tonelab with great results, although the unit was heavy as hell. One thing I must say though: the Digitech software to edit the patches is the best I've ever tried. It's the most intuitive to me, so I prefer it to the other two I know (Line6 and Vox).

Seriously, I'll try to make it to Musikmesse next year. There are flights Montreal-Frankfurt every day. And if Hell plays around on those days, you bet I'll be in the audience.

Killer artists on that festival, including three of my preferred ones: Michael Schenker, King Diamond... and Hell. I wished I lived in Europe!

With so many sustainblocks pictured, I'll have a heart attack!!!

I: 1- Apply the Steve Vai's test to every guitar -knocking the neck and the body must produce a consonant interval, or I discard it. 2- Do believe string-through-body improves sustain. 3- Do believe sustainblock and hardtail bridges give more "snap". 4- Believe big or irregular inlays alter the waveflow all along the fretboard, thus spoiling the guitar's tone -BTW, I heard about this one around here and tried to resist to it, but I've ended really believing so. Yours?

Every time I see your posts about Joel I feel a profound empathy and at the same time I freak out. I have two kids and there's nothing I fear the most than the possibility of outliving them. Life is so fragile!

I've acquired and sold quite a bunch of stuff around, received and sent presents, hanged out, jammed... and even shared the stage with some of you guys. The less I can say is that I trust the guys here like if you were my own family. It's just very sad things like this can still happen on this board. I thought we were above and beyond all that crap.

Shredders look great, Vees look great and everything looks great, provided you still believe. Play whatever you like/want/enjoy, in spite of what others might thing. FYI, I have an idol right now, who is to me a reference and an inspiration. This person is one of us. His name: Kev Bower!

Didn't we (you and I, Gene) say that we'll try to organize something in Washington? Dave will be very happy 4 sure! BTW, would love to play with master Zen as well.

I need to make a video and post it in YouTube "why you should play a Vee". These are the points that will be in my script: 1- The V can be placed to rest against a wall and it doesn't fall. Try to do that with any other shape! 2- Access to the higher frets is way easier on a V. Try to do the "BB King butterfly vibrato" on fret 22 with any other shape! 3- Stability: wanna play that complex solo live? Just put your right leg between the V legs and you can shred it steady, like if you were sit! 4- Ageless/Timeless GREAT look: from Albert King to Lonnie Mack to Michael Schenker to Jeff Waters to Dave Mustaine to Michael Amott, the Vees look awesomely great! Bonus: You can actually play a Vee when sit. Just sit... and put your right leg between the V legs. Disclaimer: The term "right" above is used for the sake of simplicity. If you're lefty, please replace the word "right" by "left".

+1 (I'm 41)

LOL! Ok.

True! So, maybe the best way to go would be choosing a bunch of popular songs you guys like and arrange them with more intense guitar parts? For example, there's a Rihanna song that just started playing in my head: "Drink to That". I can easily imagine a guitar-driven accompaniment for that one!

I don't expect a 12 year old to have much of a feel for what the kids in High School and college are listening to. Don't forget that I am a professional DJ, I do over a hundred of gigs a year. You got a point! BTW, didn't want to discredit your post at all, but only tell you about my ignorance.

Zen, man, I have a 12 y/o daughter who dances and sings, and who has many friends who also dance and sing. Excluding The Black Keys, all what you listed above is unknown to me. You sure they are popular enough?

Some suggestions: Lady Gaga's tunes translate well to guitar-driven rocking arrangements. I've also accompanied my daughter on Miley Cyrus' "The Climb" and another song from her whose title I don't remember. Those contain quite rocking guitar parts too, as well as solos. Maroon 5 is quite popular too, and their guitarist does play. Edited to add: Just remembered the title of the other Miley Cyrus song I played with my daughter: "When I Look At You"

Well it is a well though off guitar for sure. Maybe other Hamer's would fair better with you. OK, here's what happened: I thought "the second guitar" started after 2:30, as there's a pause. Wasn't watching it, so after a couple of more minutes I just said "this is it, I have a winner" and closed the web browser. This means I never got hear the Ibanez. Now I'm at home and watched the video until the end. The sound of the Ibanez sucks. The Diablo wins BIG time.

Didn't watch the video, just listened to it once -as I'm at job right now. I liked better the sound of the second guitar. It's fuller, has more dynamics and more "focus"... So, whatever it was, I think I prefer it. Have I (or my ears) betrayed Hamer?