A Cold Dose of Reality

[Brewmaster]

After judging a local Guitarmegeddon at the local Guitarget last night, me and a friend decided to go for a late dinner. We go to one of the local places and after about 15 minutes two guys hit the stage, one plays sax or congas depending on the track, the other is playing guitar. The guitar player was a monster. This guy had such a feel for blues and jazz I wanted to go home and sell my collection. Since there were only a few people in the place he came over to talk to us after the set. One thing led to another and he asked us about his gear since he didn't know too much about it.

It turns out he had a 25th anniverary Strat that someone spray painted to get a black burst effect, and it also had a Washburn Kahler thing on it as well. He bought it about 15 years ago for cheap and has played it almost exclusively. He was playing through an old tweed covered Peavey Classic 30.

Bottom line, the man had monster chops, great tone, no formal training, he can't even tell you some of the chords he uses, and knew next to nothing about his gear.

I think Tonejunkee has it right, we need to stop spending so much time on the board obsessing about gear and spend more time playing.

[Stike]

Imagine how much better his tone would be with some original PAF'S, double whites of course.

[MCChris]

And a Bad Monkey (USA-made only, please).

[BCR Greg]

Double whites are LOUDER than any other PAF.

Yup.

Saw it on Ebay.

Brew, there are LOTS of good guys like that out there. I see them come in the store and try out guitars and KILL without having ANY knowledge of what they are doing.

It gives me hope.

[Guest teefus2]

i agree 100% brew. one of the best things that has happened to my playing is the result of going to the open stage EVERY thursday regardless. i get up and play with few people and feel better about it when i go home. i have noticed a big improvement in my playing. now, if i could just get some more pedals............

[Jimbilly]

I have gotten to play with both a regional champ drummer and guitar guy who've both gone to the national 'mageddons' in past years. They can both really-really play, both in their early 20s too. I was telling the guitar guy of the wonder of Hamers, he wasn't too resistant at all.

[Stike]

After judging a local Guitarmegeddon at the local Guitarget last my and a friend decided to go for a late dinner. We go to one of the local places and after about 15 minutes to guys hit the stage, one plays sax or congas depending on the track, the other is playing guitar. The guitar player was a monster. This guy had such a feel for blues and jazz I wanted to go home and sell my collection. Since there were only a few people in the place he came over to talk to us after the set. One thing led to another and he asked us about his gear since he didn't know too much about it.

It turns out he had a 25th anniverary Strat that someone spray painted to get a black burst effect, and it also had a Washburn Kahler thing on it as well. He bought it about 15 years ago for cheap and has played it almost exclusively. He was playing through an old tweed covered Peavey Classic 30.

Bottom line, the man had monster chops, great tone, no formal training, he can't even tell you some of the chords he uses, and knew next to nothing about his gear.

I think Tonejunkee has it right, we need to stop spending so much time on the board obsessing about gear and spend more time playing.

Did you post this over at The Gear Page?

[kurtsstuff]

Yep...it's true!..Ignorance is bliss!!....too much knowledge can ruin a person sometimes....what I mean is basically...If it sounds good but theoretically musically wrong...who gives a ratts ass?. I've gotten together with some guy's in the past that were "educated" and when playing alone they just killed but when put in an actual playing situation...they sucked because they were way too concerned with being "musically correct" and that sort of crap..I applaude them for having the knowledge but in the real world...it really has no place unless your just going to be a studio cat, which in itself is a good thing too!

[Brewmaster]

After judging a local Guitarmegeddon at the local Guitarget last my and a friend decided to go for a late dinner.  We go to one of the local places and after about 15 minutes to guys hit the stage, one plays sax or congas depending on the track, the other is playing guitar.  The guitar player was a monster.  This guy had such a feel for blues and jazz I wanted to go home and sell my collection.  Since there  were only a  few people in the place he came over to talk to us after the set.  One thing led to another and he asked us about his gear since he didn't know too much about it. 

It turns out he had a 25th anniverary Strat that someone spray painted to get a black burst effect, and it also had a Washburn Kahler thing on it as well. He bought it about 15 years ago for cheap and has played it almost exclusively.  He was playing through an old tweed covered Peavey Classic 30. 

Bottom line, the man had monster chops, great tone, no formal training, he can't even tell you some of the chords he uses, and knew next to nothing about his gear. 

I think Tonejunkee has it right, we need to stop spending so much time on the board obsessing about gear and spend more time playing.

Did you post this over at The Gear Page?

Gearpage link

DONE! :angry:

[SteveB]

Brew, there are LOTS of good guys like that out there. I see them come in the store and try out guitars and KILL without having ANY knowledge of what they are doing.

Not really true. They have total knowledge of what and why they do it learned from many many years of listening and learning and playing to figure out what sounds good when. So they know exactly what they are doing, but what they can't do is communicate it to any other musicians because they don't speak the language.

[BCR Greg]

Brew, there are LOTS of good guys like that out there.  I see them come in the store and try out guitars and KILL without having ANY knowledge of what they are doing.

Not really true. They have total knowledge of what and why they do it learned from many many years of listening and learning and playing to figure out what sounds good when. So they know exactly what they are doing, but what they can't do is communicate it to any other musicians because they don't speak the language.

Well, that's splittin' hairs, innit? LOL

Awright, they don't know the THEORY of how they do it, they just know the MECHANICS.

As a dyslexic, I have a real tough time with theory, but I know what sounds good to me.

[kurtsstuff]

It's basically "connect the dot" playing.....kinda like your first sexual experience...I don't know what the hell I'm doing but...DAMN THIS IS FUN!!!

[SteveB]

Awright, they don't know the THEORY of how they do it, they just know the MECHANICS.

As a dyslexic, I have a real tough time with theory, but I know what sounds good to me.

heh. I doubt that many of the great early jazz players sat down for formal Theory lessons; but they definately knew what worked and what didn't over particular chords, and how to navigate between them successfully. Fact is they probably are playing from scales, or arrpegios, even if they couldn't tell you what they were, because they worked out their own versions of them by ear. Whether you learn what sounds good from books or ear doesn't matter so much as long as you know how to apply what you figure out.

[MARKVECTOR82]

I agree w/Brewmaster but somtimes the gear is anice diversion. paticularly

when your playing is in Nuetral and you're pushing through the talent blockage

waiting for the next level to come. you can concentrate on tone while you wait.

Long winded I know but It works for me.

[HAMERMAN]

>I think Tonejunkee has it right, we need to stop spending so much time on the board obsessing about gear and spend more time playing.

I read a statement (On Harmony Central I think) that summed it up pretty well:

"Less Ebay, more Mel Bay".

[SteveB]

I agree w/Brewmaster but somtimes the gear is anice diversion. paticularly

when your playing is in Nuetral and you're pushing through the talent blockage

waiting for the next level to come. you can concentrate on tone while you wait.

Long winded I know but It works for me.

I think most of us keep hoping that if we somehow improve our tone that our playing will magically get better.

[kizanski]

I think Tonejunkee has it right, we need to stop spending so much time on the board obsessing about gear and spend more time playing.

If I've said it once, i've said it a thousand times.

"Tone is in the fingers."

I can prove this by making a $100,000 Les Paul sound like Poe's ass.

[Guest JackButler]

Preach on..preach on my brothers!!!!!

I have so many guys come through here that are all looking for the magic bullet...this stomp box, pickup, cable, string, scale or chord that will make them a star....well it ain't out there.

So many guys obsess over gear, that they forget its not how long you've owned an ax, but how many minutes a day you've spent humped over that slab or wire and wood.

[BCR Greg]

I think Tonejunkee has it right, we need to stop spending so much time on the board obsessing about gear and spend more time playing.

If I've said it once, i've said it a thousand times.

"Tone is in the fingers."

I can prove this by making a $100,000 Les Paul sound like Poe's ass.

As long as you keep your fingers away from Poe's ass.....

[Craig]

I hate to break it to most people, but if you asked the average guy/gal off the street if guitars sound different and just plug in different guitars through a solid state amp, most people can't tell the freaking difference. Both my Hamers kill, I don't play particularly well anymore but I sound good doing what I know. Oh, and it sounds pretty much the same on any brand, my Hamers are just consistent and comfy.

[Buzzy Fretts]

But this thread is missing something that MANY of us feel in our gut...

When WE (the guitarist; the musician) feel better about the feel or the tone, we are inspired to play better. We are led to new places. Our uneducated audience doesn't give a rat's ass about out tone. Bt they do notice when we deliver the goods. Jack yourself up on a good rig and don't look back.

[formula73]

I'm a gear whore. I know it. I've made peace with it, accepted it, if you will. I also know that I'm probably the sloppiest player on this board, and my playing is probably as good as it will ever be. I've developed too many bad habits to really try to overcome. I know I'll never be a rockstar. No amount of tone is going to help me with that (BTW: I have MY perfect tone...how many people can say that? :angry: )

So why do I hit this site mulitiple times in a day? I just like guitars! Is that so wrong? Pretty soon I'll be learning to build guitars working for Bill, the guy who made my V, for probably less than minimum wage if not completely under the table. I'll work probably every night and weekend just to be around his guitars and hopefully make a few Kaufmans myself.

So if poring over Hamer catalogs and this board entertains you, have at it.

My name is Brandon, and I'm a guitar addict.

Edited to add: I'm done with my soapbox. Anybody else need it?