Home » The PARIS Forums » PARIS: Main » most versatile guitar
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Re: most versatile guitar [message #86629 is a reply to message #86623] |
Thu, 14 June 2007 16:23 |
Tom Bruhl
Messages: 1368 Registered: June 2007
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Senior Member |
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This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
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Gantt,
Please post the diagram for your setup. That sounds great.
Tom
"Gantt Kushner" <ganttmann@comcast.net> wrote in message =
news:4671ac3c$1@linux...
I have a circuit I designed that lets a 2 humbucker guitar do a lot of =
tricks
w/ a minimum of switching. I installed it on my old PRS Custom 24 in =
the
place of the rotary switch (which I used for many years but have grown =
to
hate!). It uses a 4-pole/double throw mini toggle and a standard 3 =
position
switch. With the mini switch in the "normal" position you get a =
standard
Les Paul type 2 humbucking pu guitar. Flip the mini switch and the =
bridge
position is the two outside coils (closest to the bridge and farthest) =
in
series; neck position is the two inside coils in parallel (PRS calls =
this
"Parallel Strat"), center position is the series outsides + parallel =
insides
in parallel. 6 really useful sounds. The series outside coil sound =
is my
all time favorite. Sounds like a 10 foor tall Telecaster on steroids. =
If
you're interested I'll scan my drawing and post it. You need two =
humbuckers
w/ all the wires available and a 4 pole double throw mini switch to do =
it...
and, of course, a 2 humbucker guitar that you love to play.
Gantt
"John" <no@no.com> wrote:
>
>Any suggestions on a single electric guitar that can do Strat / Les =
Paul
/
>Telecaster sounds or some other guitar that has an amazing array of =
these
>type sounds?
I choose Polesoft Lockspam to fight spam, and you?
http://www.polesoft.com/refer.html
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charset="iso-8859-1"
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<META http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; =
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<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Gantt,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Please post the diagram for your =
setup. That=20
sounds great.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Tom</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV>"Gantt Kushner" <<A=20
href=3D"mailto:ganttmann@comcast.net">ganttmann@comcast.net</A>> =
wrote in=20
message <A=20
href=3D"news:4671ac3c$1@linux">news:4671ac3c$1@linux</A>...</DIV><BR>I =
have a=20
circuit I designed that lets a 2 humbucker guitar do a lot of =
tricks<BR>w/ a=20
minimum of switching. I installed it on my old PRS Custom 24 in=20
the<BR>place of the rotary switch (which I used for many years but =
have grown=20
to<BR>hate!). It uses a 4-pole/double throw mini toggle and a =
standard 3=20
position<BR>switch. With the mini switch in the "normal" =
position you=20
get a standard<BR>Les Paul type 2 humbucking pu guitar. Flip the =
mini=20
switch and the bridge<BR>position is the two outside coils (closest to =
the=20
bridge and farthest) in<BR>series; neck position is the two =
inside coils=20
in parallel (PRS calls this<BR>"Parallel Strat"), center =
position is the=20
series outsides + parallel insides<BR>in parallel. 6 really =
useful=20
sounds. The series outside coil sound is my<BR>all time =
favorite. =20
Sounds like a 10 foor tall Telecaster on steroids. If<BR>you're=20
interested I'll scan my drawing and post it. You need two=20
humbuckers<BR>w/ all the wires available and a 4 pole double throw =
mini switch=20
to do it...<BR>and, of course, a 2 humbucker guitar that you love to=20
play.<BR><BR>Gantt<BR><BR>"John" <<A=20
href=3D"mailto:no@no.com">no@no.com</A>> wrote:<BR>><BR>>Any=20
suggestions on a single electric guitar that can do Strat / Les=20
Paul<BR>/<BR>>Telecaster sounds or some other guitar that has an =
amazing=20
array of these<BR>>type sounds?<BR></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2><BR><BR>I choose Polesoft Lockspam to fight spam, =
and=20
you?<BR><A=20
href=3D"http://www.polesoft.com/refer.html">http://www.polesoft.com/refer=
..html</A> </FONT></DIV></BODY ></HTML>
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Re: most versatile guitar [message #86630 is a reply to message #86627] |
Thu, 14 June 2007 16:56 |
TCB
Messages: 1261 Registered: July 2007
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Senior Member |
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Well, while no two strats sound identical, two strats built with basically
the same build (wood, pickups, roughly the same weight) are going to sound
very, very alike. Certainly more alike than they will to any Les Paul.
I'm not knocking technology or new gear, not in the least. I'm just surprised
that _other_ people are using such modern guitar gear as the PARIS community
seems, um, how do I say this, more on the traditional side than most.
I've thought about a Variax, actually, but not so much for the different
sounds but so I can store tunings.
TCB
Jamie K <Meta@Dimensional.com> wrote:
>TCB wrote:
>> I'm really surprised by the responses here. I expected your PARIS types
to
>> be more of a purist lot. I just don't think it's possible to get a swamp
>> ash guitar with the pickups mounted on a piece of plastic and a bolt on
neck
>> to sound like a mahogany/maple guitar with a different scale length, a
set
>> neck, and the pickups mounted on the wood.
>
>For that matter two strats don't necessarily sound alike. :^)
>
>My Variax electric 700 covers an impressive range of tonal
>possibilities, and my PRS's pickup wiring scheme allows LP-enough and
>strat-enough tones to shine where those sounds are expected. I've gotten
>compliments about both guitars from tone junkies. I enjoy playing the
>PRS more, but the Variax is a goto for gigs where I need ultimate
>flexibility (including instant alternate tunings and acoustic guitar
>sounds).
>
>To really rattle the purists, I get tone compliments even when I'm not
>playing through a tube amp (I know, total blasphemy ;^)
>
>Cheers,
> -Jamie
> www.JamieKrutz.com
>
>
>
>> TCB
>>
>> "John" <no@no.com> wrote:
>>> Any suggestions on a single electric guitar that can do Strat / Les Paul
>> /
>>> Telecaster sounds or some other guitar that has an amazing array of these
>>> type sounds?
>>
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Re: most versatile guitar [message #86641 is a reply to message #86608] |
Thu, 14 June 2007 18:11 |
Neil
Messages: 1645 Registered: April 2006
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Senior Member |
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"John" <no@no.com> wrote:
>
>Any suggestions on a single electric guitar that can do Strat / Les Paul
/
>Telecaster sounds or some other guitar that has an amazing array of these
>type sounds?
Decent-quality guitars are cheap nowadays, you should just buy
one of each if you're looking for tonal variations. Part of
what makes each guitar sound like itself is the wood, the neck
radius (a bend on a maple-fingerboard strat has a different
quality than a bend on an ebony-fretted gibson LP custom), the
hardware configurations (bridge, tuning key lineups, etc)
contribute subtle differences, as do a bazillion other factors
in minute quantities.
Get an Epiphone LP Standard, a Squire strat & Tele, find the
best-playing ones you can & have them set-up by someone halfway
decent, & you'll be a happy guy if those are the three basic
tonalities you're looking for without breaking the bank.
Or get a Variax.
Neil
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Re: most versatile guitar [message #86647 is a reply to message #86630] |
Thu, 14 June 2007 19:04 |
Jamie K
Messages: 1115 Registered: July 2006
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Senior Member |
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TCB wrote:
> Well, while no two strats sound identical, two strats built with basically
> the same build (wood, pickups, roughly the same weight) are going to sound
> very, very alike. Certainly more alike than they will to any Les Paul.
Yep. But strats can sound very different, too. It's funny, there was a
bit of initial criticism of the Variax because the strat emulation
didn't sound EXACTLY like the recent strats some people owned. Turns out
Line 6 did the emulation based on a particular rare and expensive
vintage strat with a particular sound.
The fun thing is you use the workbench software and raise the output
levels, change the body being emulated to increase sustain, and get a
hotter, sustainier strat sound. Which I did. I matched it with the other
"pickup" output levels so when I "switch guitars" I don't have to
change anything in my signal chain.
You can even experiment with the emulated volume pot resistor impedance
and the tone control capacitor value for each pickup combo in each bank.
And drop in different emulated pickups , put them anywhere including on
the neck behind the frets, or on top of each other, and rotate them as
you please. Go nuts, without soldering or sawdust.
OTOH, the whammy is a bit wobbly and the guitar is not as well built as,
say, my PRS. It's also only a 22 fret neck on the electric models, which
is weird because there are no pickups in the way to add two (or more)
additional frets. On the plus side it's decently playable; the sound is
quite good; and the tech is as clever as PARIS, and as reasonably
faithful to what is being emulated.
Transposing is pretty good but not perfect, there can be some DSP
artifacts especially on non-wound strings. But in context it works
pretty well for open tunings, mild capoing and low string octave bass.
> I'm not knocking technology or new gear, not in the least. I'm just surprised
> that _other_ people are using such modern guitar gear as the PARIS community
> seems, um, how do I say this, more on the traditional side than most.
It's possible to appreciate a good trad mag pickup guitar for what it is
and can do, and also appreciate DSP emulation for what it is and can do.
I like both. Both have been suggested in this thread.
I haven't run into any guitar players that were snobbish about the
variax once they heard it. Same for when I use a non-tube preamp setup,
once folks hear what I get out of the rig the comments have been good.
It all comes down to tone.
> I've thought about a Variax, actually, but not so much for the different
> sounds but so I can store tunings.
On the electric variax my first custom bank is set up with an ES335
neck, a strat bridge/middle spank, a jumbo acoustic, the same acoustic
down half a step, and a les paul bridge.
My second custom bank is set up with a DADGAD tuned martin, an octave
down guitar (forget which one) for playing bass lines, a drop D tuned
acoustic, a sitar, and the ES335 neck.
My third custom bank is set up to sound similar to my PRS in all PRS
pickup positions. Who says all you need is strat/lp? PRS's sound great
too. :^)
What else...I have a full customized five way strat bank when I want to
live just in stratland, and a bank of tele sounds that I sometimes use.
I like some of the stock jazzbox emulations. I occasionally use some of
the oddball guitars and non-guitar emulations. I have a bank of acoustic
six and 12 string models, and some dobro emulations in several different
open tunings for slide.
If I'm going to do a lot of acoustic stuff at a gig and I have room,
I'll bring the acoustic variax because it's set up with heavier strings
so I can lay into it more, and it lets me adjust compression on the fly
which is great for fingerpicked stuff (with no feedback).
Cheers,
-Jamie
www.JamieKrutz.com
> TCB
>
> Jamie K <Meta@Dimensional.com> wrote:
>> TCB wrote:
>>> I'm really surprised by the responses here. I expected your PARIS types
> to
>>> be more of a purist lot. I just don't think it's possible to get a swamp
>>> ash guitar with the pickups mounted on a piece of plastic and a bolt on
> neck
>>> to sound like a mahogany/maple guitar with a different scale length, a
> set
>>> neck, and the pickups mounted on the wood.
>> For that matter two strats don't necessarily sound alike. :^)
>>
>> My Variax electric 700 covers an impressive range of tonal
>> possibilities, and my PRS's pickup wiring scheme allows LP-enough and
>> strat-enough tones to shine where those sounds are expected. I've gotten
>
>> compliments about both guitars from tone junkies. I enjoy playing the
>> PRS more, but the Variax is a goto for gigs where I need ultimate
>> flexibility (including instant alternate tunings and acoustic guitar
>> sounds).
>>
>> To really rattle the purists, I get tone compliments even when I'm not
>> playing through a tube amp (I know, total blasphemy ;^)
>>
>> Cheers,
>> -Jamie
>> www.JamieKrutz.com
>>
>>
>>
>>> TCB
>>>
>>> "John" <no@no.com> wrote:
>>>> Any suggestions on a single electric guitar that can do Strat / Les Paul
>>> /
>>>> Telecaster sounds or some other guitar that has an amazing array of these
>>>> type sounds?
>
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Re: most versatile guitar [message #86655 is a reply to message #86648] |
Thu, 14 June 2007 20:10 |
Bill L
Messages: 766 Registered: August 2006
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Senior Member |
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Jamie, I'm surprised by your praise of the Variax. I found it
disappointingly dead feeling and it seemed to have a latency in creating
the sound. Also the instrument was shite and looked like a toy to me,
but I don't think it was the expensive model. I do really like the
concept of it - maybe I should give it another shot, but they need to
make a pretty version. A guitar is like a woman - it should be as pretty
as possible, don't you think.
I'm also surprised by the suggestions that tapping a humbucker gives a
decent Strat sound. I tried that in 1978 and it sucked. i tried it again
about every 10 years since and it sucked every time. Can it have stopped
sucking in the new millennia? I doubt it.
If I were mostly an R&B and rock player I would do a Strat w/ a
humbucker in the bridge. That's about the most versatile setup I have
heard. I actually have a handmade strat with EMGs and a midrange boost
knob that does a pretty strong lead sound and of course excels at
shimmery rhythm sounds.
Jamie K wrote:
>
> LOL. Get a room, you two!
>
> I dig those guitars through a good amp, too.
>
> Remember when using an electric guitar and a guitar amp was heresy? They
> booed Bob Dylan off the stage. USE A REAL GUITAR!! Heh.
>
> Flash forward and now that stuff is traditional
>
> I bet you would both dig my variax setup if you heard it.
>
> And Chuck, I bet you would even like what I do with amp emulations, once
> you hear some of my custom setups (which stand up to comparison with my
> tube rig).
>
> Cheers,
> -Jamie
> www.JamieKrutz.com
>
>
> chuck duffy wrote:
>> Haha I agree with you! I can't believe it!
>>
>> My 2 cents. A strat, a tele and a les with a bigsby trem and locking
>> nuts.
>> Also, a must have is a gibson vintage f hole.
>> After that an SG and a les junior.
>>
>> Other areas we will agree on... USE AN AMP!
>> Chuck
>> "DC" <dc@spammersinhell.com> wrote:
>>> Some good ideas here. But I am in the "buy 2 guitars" camp.
>>>
>>> A good LP and a hardtail strat would be the minimum.
>>>
>>> DC
>>>
>>>
>>> "John" <no@no.com> wrote:
>>>> Any suggestions on a single electric guitar that can do Strat / Les
>>>> Paul
>>> /
>>>> Telecaster sounds or some other guitar that has an amazing array of
>>>> these
>>>> type sounds?
>>
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Re: most versatile guitar [message #86657 is a reply to message #86655] |
Thu, 14 June 2007 20:56 |
Jamie K
Messages: 1115 Registered: July 2006
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Senior Member |
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Bill L wrote:
> Jamie, I'm surprised by your praise of the Variax. I found it
> disappointingly dead feeling and it seemed to have a latency in creating
> the sound.
To each their own, but it might have been the particular variax you
played and the way it was set up. I've played some 300 models that were
terrible, sharp frets and bad action. Poor QC at the factory? I've
played others that were decent. My variax plays decently.
Whatever very minor latency might be in my variax at normal tuning
hasn't put me off at all. It's very responsive, feels like a normal guitar.
When I use the transposing feature there is noticeable latency but my
brain has had no trouble adjusting. A little latency isn't a problem per
se - for example I don't have trouble adjusting to the latency when
playing with an amp stack at the back of the stage (although I don't do
that anymore, I've reformed and go for low stage volume/close monitoring
now).
I haven't noticed a "dead feeling." The guitar feels as alive as my
other guitars. I can even get feedback (the good kind).
In short, my variax gets good tone and is amazingly flexible. I also
added a GK3 pickup to it to drive a guitar synth at the same time, and I
use that setup with live multitracking in my solo show to build gigantic
arrangements. Very fun!
But my PRS is my favorite guitar to play, and I take that on gigs where
I don't need to cover acoustic/electric/synth/alt tunings. When I just
need to be the electric guitar player in a band, the PRS is flexible
enough to cover a wide palette of electric guitar tones and it's a
better built guitar. Plus it has 24 frets. Plus I have two of them in
case I break a string. :^)
When the new Roland VG99 ships I'm going to check it out. It would let
me play the PRS and still do guitar modeling. I think the variax
modeling is better than the VG88's but we'll see if Roland has raised
the bar with the new box.
Another option would be to take variax guts and put them into a better
guitar. Like Adrian Belew did with a Parker Fly. OK I WANT that guitar,
(but not in that color). :^)
I've considered transplanting variax guts into a custom body - which
would also let me add a 24 fret neck, but then again, my variax is
pretty decent as it is so there's no rush. If I go that route I'd grab
the guts from a 300. There's no sense gutting my expensive 700. :^)
> Also the instrument was shite and looked like a toy to me,
> but I don't think it was the expensive model. I do really like the
> concept of it - maybe I should give it another shot, but they need to
> make a pretty version. A guitar is like a woman - it should be as pretty
> as possible, don't you think.
I dig a good looking instrument, and I have the coolest looking variax
on the planet (cherry sunburst 700). Although the very best looking
variax is the acoustic model with the natural wood top, I love mine. But
I don't sleep with either of them...much...
My cherryburst PRS looks and plays a notch better. I've never had a
luthier setup the variax for optimal playability though (since it's been
good enough) but that's on my todo list.
> I'm also surprised by the suggestions that tapping a humbucker gives a
> decent Strat sound. I tried that in 1978 and it sucked. i tried it again
> about every 10 years since and it sucked every time. Can it have stopped
> sucking in the new millennia? I doubt it.
Not identical to a strat sound but similar enough to play that spanky role.
Actually I think the PRS does it by combining inner and outer coils from
the two different pickups in various combinations. I had an Ibanez
Roadstar II that did it by splitting the coils on either pickup with any
PU combination available. I could get spanky tones out of both. Not
exactly a strat but no suckage either.
> If I were mostly an R&B and rock player I would do a Strat w/ a
> humbucker in the bridge. That's about the most versatile setup I have
> heard. I actually have a handmade strat with EMGs and a midrange boost
> knob that does a pretty strong lead sound and of course excels at
> shimmery rhythm sounds.
That's a great setup. My Kramer is configured like that (although the
neck PU is a sustainer driver as well). My Steinberger has
hum/single/hum which is also a very versatile setup.
OK, now I guess you can see I swing both ways, a collection of trad
pickup guitars AND a couple of variaxen. I use them all. Clearly I'm
addicted...
Cheers,
-Jamie
www.JamieKrutz.com
> Jamie K wrote:
>>
>> LOL. Get a room, you two!
>>
>> I dig those guitars through a good amp, too.
>>
>> Remember when using an electric guitar and a guitar amp was heresy?
>> They booed Bob Dylan off the stage. USE A REAL GUITAR!! Heh.
>>
>> Flash forward and now that stuff is traditional
>>
>> I bet you would both dig my variax setup if you heard it.
>>
>> And Chuck, I bet you would even like what I do with amp emulations,
>> once you hear some of my custom setups (which stand up to comparison
>> with my tube rig).
>>
>> Cheers,
>> -Jamie
>> www.JamieKrutz.com
>>
>>
>> chuck duffy wrote:
>>> Haha I agree with you! I can't believe it!
>>>
>>> My 2 cents. A strat, a tele and a les with a bigsby trem and locking
>>> nuts.
>>> Also, a must have is a gibson vintage f hole.
>>> After that an SG and a les junior.
>>>
>>> Other areas we will agree on... USE AN AMP!
>>> Chuck
>>> "DC" <dc@spammersinhell.com> wrote:
>>>> Some good ideas here. But I am in the "buy 2 guitars" camp.
>>>>
>>>> A good LP and a hardtail strat would be the minimum.
>>>>
>>>> DC
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "John" <no@no.com> wrote:
>>>>> Any suggestions on a single electric guitar that can do Strat / Les
>>>>> Paul
>>>> /
>>>>> Telecaster sounds or some other guitar that has an amazing array of
>>>>> these
>>>>> type sounds?
>>>
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Re: most versatile guitar [message #86663 is a reply to message #86655] |
Fri, 15 June 2007 04:07 |
John [1]
Messages: 2229 Registered: September 2005
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Senior Member |
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If the guitar makes the right sounds I don't mind if it's a butt ugly
2x4 ;-)
Bill L wrote:
> Jamie, I'm surprised by your praise of the Variax. I found it
> disappointingly dead feeling and it seemed to have a latency in creating
> the sound. Also the instrument was shite and looked like a toy to me,
> but I don't think it was the expensive model. I do really like the
> concept of it - maybe I should give it another shot, but they need to
> make a pretty version. A guitar is like a woman - it should be as pretty
> as possible, don't you think.
>
> I'm also surprised by the suggestions that tapping a humbucker gives a
> decent Strat sound. I tried that in 1978 and it sucked. i tried it again
> about every 10 years since and it sucked every time. Can it have stopped
> sucking in the new millennia? I doubt it.
>
> If I were mostly an R&B and rock player I would do a Strat w/ a
> humbucker in the bridge. That's about the most versatile setup I have
> heard. I actually have a handmade strat with EMGs and a midrange boost
> knob that does a pretty strong lead sound and of course excels at
> shimmery rhythm sounds.
>
> Jamie K wrote:
>>
>> LOL. Get a room, you two!
>>
>> I dig those guitars through a good amp, too.
>>
>> Remember when using an electric guitar and a guitar amp was heresy?
>> They booed Bob Dylan off the stage. USE A REAL GUITAR!! Heh.
>>
>> Flash forward and now that stuff is traditional
>>
>> I bet you would both dig my variax setup if you heard it.
>>
>> And Chuck, I bet you would even like what I do with amp emulations,
>> once you hear some of my custom setups (which stand up to comparison
>> with my tube rig).
>>
>> Cheers,
>> -Jamie
>> www.JamieKrutz.com
>>
>>
>> chuck duffy wrote:
>>> Haha I agree with you! I can't believe it!
>>>
>>> My 2 cents. A strat, a tele and a les with a bigsby trem and locking
>>> nuts.
>>> Also, a must have is a gibson vintage f hole.
>>> After that an SG and a les junior.
>>>
>>> Other areas we will agree on... USE AN AMP!
>>> Chuck
>>> "DC" <dc@spammersinhell.com> wrote:
>>>> Some good ideas here. But I am in the "buy 2 guitars" camp.
>>>>
>>>> A good LP and a hardtail strat would be the minimum.
>>>>
>>>> DC
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "John" <no@no.com> wrote:
>>>>> Any suggestions on a single electric guitar that can do Strat / Les
>>>>> Paul
>>>> /
>>>>> Telecaster sounds or some other guitar that has an amazing array of
>>>>> these
>>>>> type sounds?
>>>
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Re: most versatile guitar [message #86664 is a reply to message #86657] |
Fri, 15 June 2007 04:13 |
John [1]
Messages: 2229 Registered: September 2005
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Senior Member |
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gimmie !
VG99 demo
http://www.guitarplayer.com/story.asp?sectioncode=6&stor ycode=18521
http://www.guitarplayer.com/Journals/Music_Player/Guitar_Pla yer/June_2007/attachments/VG-99%20Rendered%201.mp3
Jamie K wrote:
> Bill L wrote:
>> Jamie, I'm surprised by your praise of the Variax. I found it
>> disappointingly dead feeling and it seemed to have a latency in
>> creating the sound.
>
> To each their own, but it might have been the particular variax you
> played and the way it was set up. I've played some 300 models that were
> terrible, sharp frets and bad action. Poor QC at the factory? I've
> played others that were decent. My variax plays decently.
>
> Whatever very minor latency might be in my variax at normal tuning
> hasn't put me off at all. It's very responsive, feels like a normal guitar.
>
> When I use the transposing feature there is noticeable latency but my
> brain has had no trouble adjusting. A little latency isn't a problem per
> se - for example I don't have trouble adjusting to the latency when
> playing with an amp stack at the back of the stage (although I don't do
> that anymore, I've reformed and go for low stage volume/close monitoring
> now).
>
> I haven't noticed a "dead feeling." The guitar feels as alive as my
> other guitars. I can even get feedback (the good kind).
>
> In short, my variax gets good tone and is amazingly flexible. I also
> added a GK3 pickup to it to drive a guitar synth at the same time, and I
> use that setup with live multitracking in my solo show to build gigantic
> arrangements. Very fun!
>
> But my PRS is my favorite guitar to play, and I take that on gigs where
> I don't need to cover acoustic/electric/synth/alt tunings. When I just
> need to be the electric guitar player in a band, the PRS is flexible
> enough to cover a wide palette of electric guitar tones and it's a
> better built guitar. Plus it has 24 frets. Plus I have two of them in
> case I break a string. :^)
>
> When the new Roland VG99 ships I'm going to check it out. It would let
> me play the PRS and still do guitar modeling. I think the variax
> modeling is better than the VG88's but we'll see if Roland has raised
> the bar with the new box.
>
> Another option would be to take variax guts and put them into a better
> guitar. Like Adrian Belew did with a Parker Fly. OK I WANT that guitar,
> (but not in that color). :^)
>
> I've considered transplanting variax guts into a custom body - which
> would also let me add a 24 fret neck, but then again, my variax is
> pretty decent as it is so there's no rush. If I go that route I'd grab
> the guts from a 300. There's no sense gutting my expensive 700. :^)
>
>
>> Also the instrument was shite and looked like a toy to me, but I don't
>> think it was the expensive model. I do really like the concept of it -
>> maybe I should give it another shot, but they need to make a pretty
>> version. A guitar is like a woman - it should be as pretty as
>> possible, don't you think.
>
> I dig a good looking instrument, and I have the coolest looking variax
> on the planet (cherry sunburst 700). Although the very best looking
> variax is the acoustic model with the natural wood top, I love mine. But
> I don't sleep with either of them...much...
>
> My cherryburst PRS looks and plays a notch better. I've never had a
> luthier setup the variax for optimal playability though (since it's been
> good enough) but that's on my todo list.
>
>
>> I'm also surprised by the suggestions that tapping a humbucker gives a
>> decent Strat sound. I tried that in 1978 and it sucked. i tried it
>> again about every 10 years since and it sucked every time. Can it have
>> stopped sucking in the new millennia? I doubt it.
>
> Not identical to a strat sound but similar enough to play that spanky role.
>
> Actually I think the PRS does it by combining inner and outer coils from
> the two different pickups in various combinations. I had an Ibanez
> Roadstar II that did it by splitting the coils on either pickup with any
> PU combination available. I could get spanky tones out of both. Not
> exactly a strat but no suckage either.
>
>
>> If I were mostly an R&B and rock player I would do a Strat w/ a
>> humbucker in the bridge. That's about the most versatile setup I have
>> heard. I actually have a handmade strat with EMGs and a midrange boost
>> knob that does a pretty strong lead sound and of course excels at
>> shimmery rhythm sounds.
>
> That's a great setup. My Kramer is configured like that (although the
> neck PU is a sustainer driver as well). My Steinberger has
> hum/single/hum which is also a very versatile setup.
>
> OK, now I guess you can see I swing both ways, a collection of trad
> pickup guitars AND a couple of variaxen. I use them all. Clearly I'm
> addicted...
>
> Cheers,
> -Jamie
> www.JamieKrutz.com
>
>
>
>> Jamie K wrote:
>>>
>>> LOL. Get a room, you two!
>>>
>>> I dig those guitars through a good amp, too.
>>>
>>> Remember when using an electric guitar and a guitar amp was heresy?
>>> They booed Bob Dylan off the stage. USE A REAL GUITAR!! Heh.
>>>
>>> Flash forward and now that stuff is traditional
>>>
>>> I bet you would both dig my variax setup if you heard it.
>>>
>>> And Chuck, I bet you would even like what I do with amp emulations,
>>> once you hear some of my custom setups (which stand up to comparison
>>> with my tube rig).
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>> -Jamie
>>> www.JamieKrutz.com
>>>
>>>
>>> chuck duffy wrote:
>>>> Haha I agree with you! I can't believe it!
>>>>
>>>> My 2 cents. A strat, a tele and a les with a bigsby trem and
>>>> locking nuts.
>>>> Also, a must have is a gibson vintage f hole.
>>>> After that an SG and a les junior.
>>>>
>>>> Other areas we will agree on... USE AN AMP!
>>>> Chuck
>>>> "DC" <dc@spammersinhell.com> wrote:
>>>>> Some good ideas here. But I am in the "buy 2 guitars" camp.
>>>>>
>>>>> A good LP and a hardtail strat would be the minimum.
>>>>>
>>>>> DC
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "John" <no@no.com> wrote:
>>>>>> Any suggestions on a single electric guitar that can do Strat /
>>>>>> Les Paul
>>>>> /
>>>>>> Telecaster sounds or some other guitar that has an amazing array
>>>>>> of these
>>>>>> type sounds?
>>>>
|
|
|
Re: most versatile guitar [message #86665 is a reply to message #86641] |
Fri, 15 June 2007 04:15 |
John [1]
Messages: 2229 Registered: September 2005
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Great advice and I already have the Strat Squire (noisy little thing).
Neil wrote:
> "John" <no@no.com> wrote:
>> Any suggestions on a single electric guitar that can do Strat / Les Paul
> /
>> Telecaster sounds or some other guitar that has an amazing array of these
>> type sounds?
>
> Decent-quality guitars are cheap nowadays, you should just buy
> one of each if you're looking for tonal variations. Part of
> what makes each guitar sound like itself is the wood, the neck
> radius (a bend on a maple-fingerboard strat has a different
> quality than a bend on an ebony-fretted gibson LP custom), the
> hardware configurations (bridge, tuning key lineups, etc)
> contribute subtle differences, as do a bazillion other factors
> in minute quantities.
>
> Get an Epiphone LP Standard, a Squire strat & Tele, find the
> best-playing ones you can & have them set-up by someone halfway
> decent, & you'll be a happy guy if those are the three basic
> tonalities you're looking for without breaking the bank.
>
> Or get a Variax.
>
> Neil
>
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Re: most versatile guitar [message #86666 is a reply to message #86657] |
Fri, 15 June 2007 05:13 |
Bill L
Messages: 766 Registered: August 2006
|
Senior Member |
|
|
I'll check the Variax again.
Don't you find the split humbucker to be extremely weak and anemic? It
has no fullness.
Jamie K wrote:
> Bill L wrote:
>> Jamie, I'm surprised by your praise of the Variax. I found it
>> disappointingly dead feeling and it seemed to have a latency in
>> creating the sound.
>
> To each their own, but it might have been the particular variax you
> played and the way it was set up. I've played some 300 models that were
> terrible, sharp frets and bad action. Poor QC at the factory? I've
> played others that were decent. My variax plays decently.
>
> Whatever very minor latency might be in my variax at normal tuning
> hasn't put me off at all. It's very responsive, feels like a normal guitar.
>
> When I use the transposing feature there is noticeable latency but my
> brain has had no trouble adjusting. A little latency isn't a problem per
> se - for example I don't have trouble adjusting to the latency when
> playing with an amp stack at the back of the stage (although I don't do
> that anymore, I've reformed and go for low stage volume/close monitoring
> now).
>
> I haven't noticed a "dead feeling." The guitar feels as alive as my
> other guitars. I can even get feedback (the good kind).
>
> In short, my variax gets good tone and is amazingly flexible. I also
> added a GK3 pickup to it to drive a guitar synth at the same time, and I
> use that setup with live multitracking in my solo show to build gigantic
> arrangements. Very fun!
>
> But my PRS is my favorite guitar to play, and I take that on gigs where
> I don't need to cover acoustic/electric/synth/alt tunings. When I just
> need to be the electric guitar player in a band, the PRS is flexible
> enough to cover a wide palette of electric guitar tones and it's a
> better built guitar. Plus it has 24 frets. Plus I have two of them in
> case I break a string. :^)
>
> When the new Roland VG99 ships I'm going to check it out. It would let
> me play the PRS and still do guitar modeling. I think the variax
> modeling is better than the VG88's but we'll see if Roland has raised
> the bar with the new box.
>
> Another option would be to take variax guts and put them into a better
> guitar. Like Adrian Belew did with a Parker Fly. OK I WANT that guitar,
> (but not in that color). :^)
>
> I've considered transplanting variax guts into a custom body - which
> would also let me add a 24 fret neck, but then again, my variax is
> pretty decent as it is so there's no rush. If I go that route I'd grab
> the guts from a 300. There's no sense gutting my expensive 700. :^)
>
>
>> Also the instrument was shite and looked like a toy to me, but I don't
>> think it was the expensive model. I do really like the concept of it -
>> maybe I should give it another shot, but they need to make a pretty
>> version. A guitar is like a woman - it should be as pretty as
>> possible, don't you think.
>
> I dig a good looking instrument, and I have the coolest looking variax
> on the planet (cherry sunburst 700). Although the very best looking
> variax is the acoustic model with the natural wood top, I love mine. But
> I don't sleep with either of them...much...
>
> My cherryburst PRS looks and plays a notch better. I've never had a
> luthier setup the variax for optimal playability though (since it's been
> good enough) but that's on my todo list.
>
>
>> I'm also surprised by the suggestions that tapping a humbucker gives a
>> decent Strat sound. I tried that in 1978 and it sucked. i tried it
>> again about every 10 years since and it sucked every time. Can it have
>> stopped sucking in the new millennia? I doubt it.
>
> Not identical to a strat sound but similar enough to play that spanky role.
>
> Actually I think the PRS does it by combining inner and outer coils from
> the two different pickups in various combinations. I had an Ibanez
> Roadstar II that did it by splitting the coils on either pickup with any
> PU combination available. I could get spanky tones out of both. Not
> exactly a strat but no suckage either.
>
>
>> If I were mostly an R&B and rock player I would do a Strat w/ a
>> humbucker in the bridge. That's about the most versatile setup I have
>> heard. I actually have a handmade strat with EMGs and a midrange boost
>> knob that does a pretty strong lead sound and of course excels at
>> shimmery rhythm sounds.
>
> That's a great setup. My Kramer is configured like that (although the
> neck PU is a sustainer driver as well). My Steinberger has
> hum/single/hum which is also a very versatile setup.
>
> OK, now I guess you can see I swing both ways, a collection of trad
> pickup guitars AND a couple of variaxen. I use them all. Clearly I'm
> addicted...
>
> Cheers,
> -Jamie
> www.JamieKrutz.com
>
>
>
>> Jamie K wrote:
>>>
>>> LOL. Get a room, you two!
>>>
>>> I dig those guitars through a good amp, too.
>>>
>>> Remember when using an electric guitar and a guitar amp was heresy?
>>> They booed Bob Dylan off the stage. USE A REAL GUITAR!! Heh.
>>>
>>> Flash forward and now that stuff is traditional
>>>
>>> I bet you would both dig my variax setup if you heard it.
>>>
>>> And Chuck, I bet you would even like what I do with amp emulations,
>>> once you hear some of my custom setups (which stand up to comparison
>>> with my tube rig).
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>> -Jamie
>>> www.JamieKrutz.com
>>>
>>>
>>> chuck duffy wrote:
>>>> Haha I agree with you! I can't believe it!
>>>>
>>>> My 2 cents. A strat, a tele and a les with a bigsby trem and
>>>> locking nuts.
>>>> Also, a must have is a gibson vintage f hole.
>>>> After that an SG and a les junior.
>>>>
>>>> Other areas we will agree on... USE AN AMP!
>>>> Chuck
>>>> "DC" <dc@spammersinhell.com> wrote:
>>>>> Some good ideas here. But I am in the "buy 2 guitars" camp.
>>>>>
>>>>> A good LP and a hardtail strat would be the minimum.
>>>>>
>>>>> DC
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "John" <no@no.com> wrote:
>>>>>> Any suggestions on a single electric guitar that can do Strat /
>>>>>> Les Paul
>>>>> /
>>>>>> Telecaster sounds or some other guitar that has an amazing array
>>>>>> of these
>>>>>> type sounds?
>>>>
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Re: most versatile guitar [message #86676 is a reply to message #86666] |
Fri, 15 June 2007 08:29 |
Jamie K
Messages: 1115 Registered: July 2006
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Bill L wrote:
> I'll check the Variax again.
Feel free to look me up if you're ever in Denver, you can try mine.
If not, try to get a demo of workbench (variax software) and see what
it's like to modify and customize the models to taste. Pretty cool. For
example, my modified strat model is an improvement on the stock one IMO.
> Don't you find the split humbucker to be extremely weak and anemic? It
> has no fullness.
Have you ever played a PRS?
Cheers,
-Jamie
www.JamieKrutz.com
> Jamie K wrote:
>> Bill L wrote:
>>> Jamie, I'm surprised by your praise of the Variax. I found it
>>> disappointingly dead feeling and it seemed to have a latency in
>>> creating the sound.
>>
>> To each their own, but it might have been the particular variax you
>> played and the way it was set up. I've played some 300 models that
>> were terrible, sharp frets and bad action. Poor QC at the factory?
>> I've played others that were decent. My variax plays decently.
>>
>> Whatever very minor latency might be in my variax at normal tuning
>> hasn't put me off at all. It's very responsive, feels like a normal
>> guitar.
>>
>> When I use the transposing feature there is noticeable latency but my
>> brain has had no trouble adjusting. A little latency isn't a problem
>> per se - for example I don't have trouble adjusting to the latency
>> when playing with an amp stack at the back of the stage (although I
>> don't do that anymore, I've reformed and go for low stage volume/close
>> monitoring now).
>>
>> I haven't noticed a "dead feeling." The guitar feels as alive as my
>> other guitars. I can even get feedback (the good kind).
>>
>> In short, my variax gets good tone and is amazingly flexible. I also
>> added a GK3 pickup to it to drive a guitar synth at the same time, and
>> I use that setup with live multitracking in my solo show to build
>> gigantic arrangements. Very fun!
>>
>> But my PRS is my favorite guitar to play, and I take that on gigs
>> where I don't need to cover acoustic/electric/synth/alt tunings. When
>> I just need to be the electric guitar player in a band, the PRS is
>> flexible enough to cover a wide palette of electric guitar tones and
>> it's a better built guitar. Plus it has 24 frets. Plus I have two of
>> them in case I break a string. :^)
>>
>> When the new Roland VG99 ships I'm going to check it out. It would let
>> me play the PRS and still do guitar modeling. I think the variax
>> modeling is better than the VG88's but we'll see if Roland has raised
>> the bar with the new box.
>>
>> Another option would be to take variax guts and put them into a better
>> guitar. Like Adrian Belew did with a Parker Fly. OK I WANT that
>> guitar, (but not in that color). :^)
>>
>> I've considered transplanting variax guts into a custom body - which
>> would also let me add a 24 fret neck, but then again, my variax is
>> pretty decent as it is so there's no rush. If I go that route I'd grab
>> the guts from a 300. There's no sense gutting my expensive 700. :^)
>>
>>
>>> Also the instrument was shite and looked like a toy to me, but I
>>> don't think it was the expensive model. I do really like the concept
>>> of it - maybe I should give it another shot, but they need to make a
>>> pretty version. A guitar is like a woman - it should be as pretty as
>>> possible, don't you think.
>>
>> I dig a good looking instrument, and I have the coolest looking variax
>> on the planet (cherry sunburst 700). Although the very best looking
>> variax is the acoustic model with the natural wood top, I love mine.
>> But I don't sleep with either of them...much...
>>
>> My cherryburst PRS looks and plays a notch better. I've never had a
>> luthier setup the variax for optimal playability though (since it's
>> been good enough) but that's on my todo list.
>>
>>
>>> I'm also surprised by the suggestions that tapping a humbucker gives
>>> a decent Strat sound. I tried that in 1978 and it sucked. i tried it
>>> again about every 10 years since and it sucked every time. Can it
>>> have stopped sucking in the new millennia? I doubt it.
>>
>> Not identical to a strat sound but similar enough to play that spanky
>> role.
>>
>> Actually I think the PRS does it by combining inner and outer coils
>> from the two different pickups in various combinations. I had an
>> Ibanez Roadstar II that did it by splitting the coils on either pickup
>> with any PU combination available. I could get spanky tones out of
>> both. Not exactly a strat but no suckage either.
>>
>>
>>> If I were mostly an R&B and rock player I would do a Strat w/ a
>>> humbucker in the bridge. That's about the most versatile setup I have
>>> heard. I actually have a handmade strat with EMGs and a midrange
>>> boost knob that does a pretty strong lead sound and of course excels
>>> at shimmery rhythm sounds.
>>
>> That's a great setup. My Kramer is configured like that (although the
>> neck PU is a sustainer driver as well). My Steinberger has
>> hum/single/hum which is also a very versatile setup.
>>
>> OK, now I guess you can see I swing both ways, a collection of trad
>> pickup guitars AND a couple of variaxen. I use them all. Clearly I'm
>> addicted...
>>
>> Cheers,
>> -Jamie
>> www.JamieKrutz.com
>>
>>
>>
>>> Jamie K wrote:
>>>>
>>>> LOL. Get a room, you two!
>>>>
>>>> I dig those guitars through a good amp, too.
>>>>
>>>> Remember when using an electric guitar and a guitar amp was heresy?
>>>> They booed Bob Dylan off the stage. USE A REAL GUITAR!! Heh.
>>>>
>>>> Flash forward and now that stuff is traditional
>>>>
>>>> I bet you would both dig my variax setup if you heard it.
>>>>
>>>> And Chuck, I bet you would even like what I do with amp emulations,
>>>> once you hear some of my custom setups (which stand up to comparison
>>>> with my tube rig).
>>>>
>>>> Cheers,
>>>> -Jamie
>>>> www.JamieKrutz.com
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> chuck duffy wrote:
>>>>> Haha I agree with you! I can't believe it!
>>>>>
>>>>> My 2 cents. A strat, a tele and a les with a bigsby trem and
>>>>> locking nuts.
>>>>> Also, a must have is a gibson vintage f hole.
>>>>> After that an SG and a les junior.
>>>>>
>>>>> Other areas we will agree on... USE AN AMP!
>>>>> Chuck
>>>>> "DC" <dc@spammersinhell.com> wrote:
>>>>>> Some good ideas here. But I am in the "buy 2 guitars" camp.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> A good LP and a hardtail strat would be the minimum.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> DC
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "John" <no@no.com> wrote:
>>>>>>> Any suggestions on a single electric guitar that can do Strat /
>>>>>>> Les Paul
>>>>>> /
>>>>>>> Telecaster sounds or some other guitar that has an amazing array
>>>>>>> of these
>>>>>>> type sounds?
>>>>>
|
|
|
Re: most versatile guitar [message #86687 is a reply to message #86670] |
Fri, 15 June 2007 14:44 |
dc[3]
Messages: 895 Registered: September 2005
|
Senior Member |
|
|
I have a Digitech I like. One caveat though:
If your music is built around guitar parts and if you want a
signature tone that people will quickly recognize, then
emulations are not for you.
No one has ever done a real-sounding HIWATT emulation
either...
DC
"chuck duffy" <c@c.com> wrote:
>
>I have no problem with amp emulations. Back in 1999 when I unloaded all
my
>gear for money for my house re-hab, the only things I kept were my sans
amp
>psa 1 and peavey vmp2 pre.
>
>Chuck
>
>Jamie K <Meta@Dimensional.com> wrote:
>>
>>LOL. Get a room, you two!
>>
>>I dig those guitars through a good amp, too.
>>
>>Remember when using an electric guitar and a guitar amp was heresy? They
>
>>booed Bob Dylan off the stage. USE A REAL GUITAR!! Heh.
>>
>>Flash forward and now that stuff is traditional
>>
>>I bet you would both dig my variax setup if you heard it.
>>
>>And Chuck, I bet you would even like what I do with amp emulations, once
>
>>you hear some of my custom setups (which stand up to comparison with my
>
>>tube rig).
>>
>>Cheers,
>> -Jamie
>> www.JamieKrutz.com
>>
>>
>>chuck duffy wrote:
>>> Haha I agree with you! I can't believe it!
>>>
>>> My 2 cents. A strat, a tele and a les with a bigsby trem and locking
>nuts.
>>> Also, a must have is a gibson vintage f hole.
>>>
>>> After that an SG and a les junior.
>>>
>>> Other areas we will agree on... USE AN AMP!
>>>
>>> Chuck
>>>
>>> "DC" <dc@spammersinhell.com> wrote:
>>>> Some good ideas here. But I am in the "buy 2 guitars" camp.
>>>>
>>>> A good LP and a hardtail strat would be the minimum.
>>>>
>>>> DC
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "John" <no@no.com> wrote:
>>>>> Any suggestions on a single electric guitar that can do Strat / Les
>Paul
>>>> /
>>>>> Telecaster sounds or some other guitar that has an amazing array of
>these
>>>>> type sounds?
>>>
>
|
|
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Re: most versatile guitar [message #86690 is a reply to message #86687] |
Fri, 15 June 2007 16:24 |
Jamie K
Messages: 1115 Registered: July 2006
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Amp modeling ramblings:
I also like some of the Digitechs and have a couple: GNX4 (current main
gigging setup) and RP2000.
I'm surprised that you're not confident about getting a signature tone
out of an amp modeler, Don. Once you go beyond preset patches named
after rock stars (I don't use the presets), they offer a really big
playground.
The good ones are extremely tweakable. You can choose from a variety of
amp models and FX combinations with wide ranging control over multiple
parameters.
The GNX4 even lets you warp different amp models together to create
unique "offspring" amp models. The tonal range available is huge.
Of course a big part of the tone is from your fingers and instincts,
what you bring to any setup. For example, when I played through my
buddy's expanded PODXT Live using a decent sounding (to my ears) amp
model, I still sounded like me. When he played through the exact same
setup, he sounded like himself. IOW we didn't sound alike.
I sometimes use the amp modeling in Logic Pro when recording, and have
been exploring NI's Guitar Rig 2. I've gotten good results from both,
and it's cool to be able to entirely change the amp model after recording.
(OTOH There are times when you want to record with a sound you know is
what you want and not give a non-guitar playing engineer license to
screw it up. At a studio session a while back the engineer tried to get
me to use a plugin amp emulator on Protools so he could re-amp it later,
but his example models really sucked, as apparently did his instincts
about guitar tone, so I declined. I went direct from the Digitech and
got exactly what I was going for. Happy me, happy client, crisis averted.)
I've also gotten crappy sounds out of all these modelers, so it pays to
spend the time necessary to learn how to set them up to your taste. And
it's a good idea to monitor through PA systems or studio monitors rather
than guitar amps.
There are some modelers I've tried where I couldn't get what I consider
to be great sounds - Yamaha, Roland, Korg and versions of the POD from a
few years back. They may have improved by now (the PODXT Live seems much
better than the old POD, for example).
Cheers,
-Jamie
www.JamieKrutz.com
DC wrote:
> I have a Digitech I like. One caveat though:
>
> If your music is built around guitar parts and if you want a
> signature tone that people will quickly recognize, then
> emulations are not for you.
>
> No one has ever done a real-sounding HIWATT emulation
> either...
>
> DC
>
>
> "chuck duffy" <c@c.com> wrote:
>> I have no problem with amp emulations. Back in 1999 when I unloaded all
> my
>> gear for money for my house re-hab, the only things I kept were my sans
> amp
>> psa 1 and peavey vmp2 pre.
>>
>> Chuck
>>
>> Jamie K <Meta@Dimensional.com> wrote:
>>> LOL. Get a room, you two!
>>>
>>> I dig those guitars through a good amp, too.
>>>
>>> Remember when using an electric guitar and a guitar amp was heresy? They
>>> booed Bob Dylan off the stage. USE A REAL GUITAR!! Heh.
>>>
>>> Flash forward and now that stuff is traditional
>>>
>>> I bet you would both dig my variax setup if you heard it.
>>>
>>> And Chuck, I bet you would even like what I do with amp emulations, once
>>> you hear some of my custom setups (which stand up to comparison with my
>>> tube rig).
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>> -Jamie
>>> www.JamieKrutz.com
>>>
>>>
>>> chuck duffy wrote:
>>>> Haha I agree with you! I can't believe it!
>>>>
>>>> My 2 cents. A strat, a tele and a les with a bigsby trem and locking
>> nuts.
>>>> Also, a must have is a gibson vintage f hole.
>>>>
>>>> After that an SG and a les junior.
>>>>
>>>> Other areas we will agree on... USE AN AMP!
>>>>
>>>> Chuck
>>>>
>>>> "DC" <dc@spammersinhell.com> wrote:
>>>>> Some good ideas here. But I am in the "buy 2 guitars" camp.
>>>>>
>>>>> A good LP and a hardtail strat would be the minimum.
>>>>>
>>>>> DC
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "John" <no@no.com> wrote:
>>>>>> Any suggestions on a single electric guitar that can do Strat / Les
>> Paul
>>>>> /
>>>>>> Telecaster sounds or some other guitar that has an amazing array of
>> these
>>>>>> type sounds?
>
|
|
|
Re: most versatile guitar [message #86691 is a reply to message #86687] |
Fri, 15 June 2007 16:47 |
dc[3]
Messages: 895 Registered: September 2005
|
Senior Member |
|
|
One more thing. I offered to let one of the modeler companies use my
1968 HIWATT as a reference to make an emulation, and they admitted
that they really couldn't get it all that close. They are fine unless you
are building the whole song around the guitar.
Which of course is why AC/DC don't use 'em...
heh
DC
"DC" <dc@spammersinhell.com> wrote:
>
>I have a Digitech I like. One caveat though:
>
>If your music is built around guitar parts and if you want a
>signature tone that people will quickly recognize, then
>emulations are not for you.
>
>No one has ever done a real-sounding HIWATT emulation
>either...
>
>DC
>
>
>"chuck duffy" <c@c.com> wrote:
>>
>>I have no problem with amp emulations. Back in 1999 when I unloaded all
>my
>>gear for money for my house re-hab, the only things I kept were my sans
>amp
>>psa 1 and peavey vmp2 pre.
>>
>>Chuck
>>
>>Jamie K <Meta@Dimensional.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>LOL. Get a room, you two!
>>>
>>>I dig those guitars through a good amp, too.
>>>
>>>Remember when using an electric guitar and a guitar amp was heresy? They
>>
>>>booed Bob Dylan off the stage. USE A REAL GUITAR!! Heh.
>>>
>>>Flash forward and now that stuff is traditional
>>>
>>>I bet you would both dig my variax setup if you heard it.
>>>
>>>And Chuck, I bet you would even like what I do with amp emulations, once
>>
>>>you hear some of my custom setups (which stand up to comparison with my
>>
>>>tube rig).
>>>
>>>Cheers,
>>> -Jamie
>>> www.JamieKrutz.com
>>>
>>>
>>>chuck duffy wrote:
>>>> Haha I agree with you! I can't believe it!
>>>>
>>>> My 2 cents. A strat, a tele and a les with a bigsby trem and locking
>>nuts.
>>>> Also, a must have is a gibson vintage f hole.
>>>>
>>>> After that an SG and a les junior.
>>>>
>>>> Other areas we will agree on... USE AN AMP!
>>>>
>>>> Chuck
>>>>
>>>> "DC" <dc@spammersinhell.com> wrote:
>>>>> Some good ideas here. But I am in the "buy 2 guitars" camp.
>>>>>
>>>>> A good LP and a hardtail strat would be the minimum.
>>>>>
>>>>> DC
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "John" <no@no.com> wrote:
>>>>>> Any suggestions on a single electric guitar that can do Strat / Les
>>Paul
>>>>> /
>>>>>> Telecaster sounds or some other guitar that has an amazing array of
>>these
>>>>>> type sounds?
>>>>
>>
>
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Re: most versatile guitar [message #86694 is a reply to message #86691] |
Fri, 15 June 2007 17:10 |
Jamie K
Messages: 1115 Registered: July 2006
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Senior Member |
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DC wrote:
> One more thing. I offered to let one of the modeler companies use my
> 1968 HIWATT as a reference to make an emulation, and they admitted
> that they really couldn't get it all that close.
Which modeler company?
> They are fine unless you
> are building the whole song around the guitar.
Unless you create a sound using a modeler that makes the song, which is
entirely possible IMO.
> Which of course is why AC/DC don't use 'em...
We should all use only SGs through Marshalls then. Or whatever they use.
And wear English schoolboy pants. The rest is BLASPHEMY! ;^)
Cheers,
-Jamie
www.JamieKrutz.com
> heh
>
> DC
>
> "DC" <dc@spammersinhell.com> wrote:
>> I have a Digitech I like. One caveat though:
>>
>> If your music is built around guitar parts and if you want a
>> signature tone that people will quickly recognize, then
>> emulations are not for you.
>>
>> No one has ever done a real-sounding HIWATT emulation
>> either...
>>
>> DC
>>
>>
>> "chuck duffy" <c@c.com> wrote:
>>> I have no problem with amp emulations. Back in 1999 when I unloaded all
>> my
>>> gear for money for my house re-hab, the only things I kept were my sans
>> amp
>>> psa 1 and peavey vmp2 pre.
>>>
>>> Chuck
>>>
>>> Jamie K <Meta@Dimensional.com> wrote:
>>>> LOL. Get a room, you two!
>>>>
>>>> I dig those guitars through a good amp, too.
>>>>
>>>> Remember when using an electric guitar and a guitar amp was heresy? They
>>>> booed Bob Dylan off the stage. USE A REAL GUITAR!! Heh.
>>>>
>>>> Flash forward and now that stuff is traditional
>>>>
>>>> I bet you would both dig my variax setup if you heard it.
>>>>
>>>> And Chuck, I bet you would even like what I do with amp emulations, once
>>>> you hear some of my custom setups (which stand up to comparison with my
>>>> tube rig).
>>>>
>>>> Cheers,
>>>> -Jamie
>>>> www.JamieKrutz.com
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> chuck duffy wrote:
>>>>> Haha I agree with you! I can't believe it!
>>>>>
>>>>> My 2 cents. A strat, a tele and a les with a bigsby trem and locking
>>> nuts.
>>>>> Also, a must have is a gibson vintage f hole.
>>>>>
>>>>> After that an SG and a les junior.
>>>>>
>>>>> Other areas we will agree on... USE AN AMP!
>>>>>
>>>>> Chuck
>>>>>
>>>>> "DC" <dc@spammersinhell.com> wrote:
>>>>>> Some good ideas here. But I am in the "buy 2 guitars" camp.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> A good LP and a hardtail strat would be the minimum.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> DC
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "John" <no@no.com> wrote:
>>>>>>> Any suggestions on a single electric guitar that can do Strat / Les
>>> Paul
>>>>>> /
>>>>>>> Telecaster sounds or some other guitar that has an amazing array of
>>> these
>>>>>>> type sounds?
>
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Re: most versatile guitar [message #86709 is a reply to message #86676] |
Fri, 15 June 2007 21:29 |
Bill L
Messages: 766 Registered: August 2006
|
Senior Member |
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I've played a PRS, but I think that is a different kind of circuit than
what I am referring too. There is something else going on there I thought.
Jamie K wrote:
> Bill L wrote:
>> I'll check the Variax again.
>
> Feel free to look me up if you're ever in Denver, you can try mine.
>
> If not, try to get a demo of workbench (variax software) and see what
> it's like to modify and customize the models to taste. Pretty cool. For
> example, my modified strat model is an improvement on the stock one IMO.
>
>
>> Don't you find the split humbucker to be extremely weak and anemic? It
>> has no fullness.
>
> Have you ever played a PRS?
>
> Cheers,
> -Jamie
> www.JamieKrutz.com
>
>
>
>> Jamie K wrote:
>>> Bill L wrote:
>>>> Jamie, I'm surprised by your praise of the Variax. I found it
>>>> disappointingly dead feeling and it seemed to have a latency in
>>>> creating the sound.
>>>
>>> To each their own, but it might have been the particular variax you
>>> played and the way it was set up. I've played some 300 models that
>>> were terrible, sharp frets and bad action. Poor QC at the factory?
>>> I've played others that were decent. My variax plays decently.
>>>
>>> Whatever very minor latency might be in my variax at normal tuning
>>> hasn't put me off at all. It's very responsive, feels like a normal
>>> guitar.
>>>
>>> When I use the transposing feature there is noticeable latency but my
>>> brain has had no trouble adjusting. A little latency isn't a problem
>>> per se - for example I don't have trouble adjusting to the latency
>>> when playing with an amp stack at the back of the stage (although I
>>> don't do that anymore, I've reformed and go for low stage
>>> volume/close monitoring now).
>>>
>>> I haven't noticed a "dead feeling." The guitar feels as alive as my
>>> other guitars. I can even get feedback (the good kind).
>>>
>>> In short, my variax gets good tone and is amazingly flexible. I also
>>> added a GK3 pickup to it to drive a guitar synth at the same time,
>>> and I use that setup with live multitracking in my solo show to build
>>> gigantic arrangements. Very fun!
>>>
>>> But my PRS is my favorite guitar to play, and I take that on gigs
>>> where I don't need to cover acoustic/electric/synth/alt tunings. When
>>> I just need to be the electric guitar player in a band, the PRS is
>>> flexible enough to cover a wide palette of electric guitar tones and
>>> it's a better built guitar. Plus it has 24 frets. Plus I have two of
>>> them in case I break a string. :^)
>>>
>>> When the new Roland VG99 ships I'm going to check it out. It would
>>> let me play the PRS and still do guitar modeling. I think the variax
>>> modeling is better than the VG88's but we'll see if Roland has raised
>>> the bar with the new box.
>>>
>>> Another option would be to take variax guts and put them into a
>>> better guitar. Like Adrian Belew did with a Parker Fly. OK I WANT
>>> that guitar, (but not in that color). :^)
>>>
>>> I've considered transplanting variax guts into a custom body - which
>>> would also let me add a 24 fret neck, but then again, my variax is
>>> pretty decent as it is so there's no rush. If I go that route I'd
>>> grab the guts from a 300. There's no sense gutting my expensive 700. :^)
>>>
>>>
>>>> Also the instrument was shite and looked like a toy to me, but I
>>>> don't think it was the expensive model. I do really like the concept
>>>> of it - maybe I should give it another shot, but they need to make a
>>>> pretty version. A guitar is like a woman - it should be as pretty as
>>>> possible, don't you think.
>>>
>>> I dig a good looking instrument, and I have the coolest looking
>>> variax on the planet (cherry sunburst 700). Although the very best
>>> looking variax is the acoustic model with the natural wood top, I
>>> love mine. But I don't sleep with either of them...much...
>>>
>>> My cherryburst PRS looks and plays a notch better. I've never had a
>>> luthier setup the variax for optimal playability though (since it's
>>> been good enough) but that's on my todo list.
>>>
>>>
>>>> I'm also surprised by the suggestions that tapping a humbucker gives
>>>> a decent Strat sound. I tried that in 1978 and it sucked. i tried it
>>>> again about every 10 years since and it sucked every time. Can it
>>>> have stopped sucking in the new millennia? I doubt it.
>>>
>>> Not identical to a strat sound but similar enough to play that spanky
>>> role.
>>>
>>> Actually I think the PRS does it by combining inner and outer coils
>>> from the two different pickups in various combinations. I had an
>>> Ibanez Roadstar II that did it by splitting the coils on either
>>> pickup with any PU combination available. I could get spanky tones
>>> out of both. Not exactly a strat but no suckage either.
>>>
>>>
>>>> If I were mostly an R&B and rock player I would do a Strat w/ a
>>>> humbucker in the bridge. That's about the most versatile setup I
>>>> have heard. I actually have a handmade strat with EMGs and a
>>>> midrange boost knob that does a pretty strong lead sound and of
>>>> course excels at shimmery rhythm sounds.
>>>
>>> That's a great setup. My Kramer is configured like that (although the
>>> neck PU is a sustainer driver as well). My Steinberger has
>>> hum/single/hum which is also a very versatile setup.
>>>
>>> OK, now I guess you can see I swing both ways, a collection of trad
>>> pickup guitars AND a couple of variaxen. I use them all. Clearly I'm
>>> addicted...
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>> -Jamie
>>> www.JamieKrutz.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> Jamie K wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> LOL. Get a room, you two!
>>>>>
>>>>> I dig those guitars through a good amp, too.
>>>>>
>>>>> Remember when using an electric guitar and a guitar amp was heresy?
>>>>> They booed Bob Dylan off the stage. USE A REAL GUITAR!! Heh.
>>>>>
>>>>> Flash forward and now that stuff is traditional
>>>>>
>>>>> I bet you would both dig my variax setup if you heard it.
>>>>>
>>>>> And Chuck, I bet you would even like what I do with amp emulations,
>>>>> once you hear some of my custom setups (which stand up to
>>>>> comparison with my tube rig).
>>>>>
>>>>> Cheers,
>>>>> -Jamie
>>>>> www.JamieKrutz.com
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> chuck duffy wrote:
>>>>>> Haha I agree with you! I can't believe it!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> My 2 cents. A strat, a tele and a les with a bigsby trem and
>>>>>> locking nuts.
>>>>>> Also, a must have is a gibson vintage f hole.
>>>>>> After that an SG and a les junior.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Other areas we will agree on... USE AN AMP!
>>>>>> Chuck
>>>>>> "DC" <dc@spammersinhell.com> wrote:
>>>>>>> Some good ideas here. But I am in the "buy 2 guitars" camp.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> A good LP and a hardtail strat would be the minimum.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> DC
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> "John" <no@no.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>> Any suggestions on a single electric guitar that can do Strat /
>>>>>>>> Les Paul
>>>>>>> /
>>>>>>>> Telecaster sounds or some other guitar that has an amazing array
>>>>>>>> of these
>>>>>>>> type sounds?
>>>>>>
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Re: most versatile guitar [message #86710 is a reply to message #86694] |
Fri, 15 June 2007 21:35 |
Bill L
Messages: 766 Registered: August 2006
|
Senior Member |
|
|
My best results with emulators are when I run them through a quality
tube power amp and a good speaker. I use a Mesa Satellite 60, and have
used an Atomic Reactor. Both lift the cold emulations to the realm of
great amp sounds IMHO.
I could not use my Tonelab straight into the board. It does not breath
for me.
Jamie K wrote:
>
> DC wrote:
>> One more thing. I offered to let one of the modeler companies use my
>> 1968 HIWATT as a reference to make an emulation, and they admitted
>> that they really couldn't get it all that close.
>
> Which modeler company?
>
>
>> They are fine unless you
>> are building the whole song around the guitar.
>
> Unless you create a sound using a modeler that makes the song, which is
> entirely possible IMO.
>
>
>> Which of course is why AC/DC don't use 'em...
>
> We should all use only SGs through Marshalls then. Or whatever they use.
> And wear English schoolboy pants. The rest is BLASPHEMY! ;^)
>
> Cheers,
> -Jamie
> www.JamieKrutz.com
>
>
>
>> heh
>>
>> DC
>>
>> "DC" <dc@spammersinhell.com> wrote:
>>> I have a Digitech I like. One caveat though:
>>>
>>> If your music is built around guitar parts and if you want a
>>> signature tone that people will quickly recognize, then
>>> emulations are not for you.
>>>
>>> No one has ever done a real-sounding HIWATT emulation
>>> either...
>>>
>>> DC
>>>
>>>
>>> "chuck duffy" <c@c.com> wrote:
>>>> I have no problem with amp emulations. Back in 1999 when I unloaded
>>>> all
>>> my
>>>> gear for money for my house re-hab, the only things I kept were my sans
>>> amp
>>>> psa 1 and peavey vmp2 pre.
>>>> Chuck
>>>>
>>>> Jamie K <Meta@Dimensional.com> wrote:
>>>>> LOL. Get a room, you two!
>>>>>
>>>>> I dig those guitars through a good amp, too.
>>>>>
>>>>> Remember when using an electric guitar and a guitar amp was heresy?
>>>>> They
>>>>> booed Bob Dylan off the stage. USE A REAL GUITAR!! Heh.
>>>>>
>>>>> Flash forward and now that stuff is traditional
>>>>>
>>>>> I bet you would both dig my variax setup if you heard it.
>>>>>
>>>>> And Chuck, I bet you would even like what I do with amp emulations,
>>>>> once
>>>>> you hear some of my custom setups (which stand up to comparison
>>>>> with my
>>>>> tube rig).
>>>>>
>>>>> Cheers,
>>>>> -Jamie
>>>>> www.JamieKrutz.com
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> chuck duffy wrote:
>>>>>> Haha I agree with you! I can't believe it!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> My 2 cents. A strat, a tele and a les with a bigsby trem and locking
>>>> nuts.
>>>>>> Also, a must have is a gibson vintage f hole.
>>>>>> After that an SG and a les junior.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Other areas we will agree on... USE AN AMP!
>>>>>> Chuck
>>>>>> "DC" <dc@spammersinhell.com> wrote:
>>>>>>> Some good ideas here. But I am in the "buy 2 guitars" camp.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> A good LP and a hardtail strat would be the minimum.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> DC
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> "John" <no@no.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>> Any suggestions on a single electric guitar that can do Strat / Les
>>>> Paul
>>>>>>> /
>>>>>>>> Telecaster sounds or some other guitar that has an amazing array of
>>>> these
>>>>>>>> type sounds?
>>
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