So it's been a few weeks now and the new RG is still in tune. I haven't checked it in a while, so yesterday I plugged in the tuner to check it out, and it was still in perfect tune.
Awesome.
I've been playing a lot and I have about half of "Always With Me, Always With You" learned already. I've been using a new iPod app called Slow Down Music Player which has helped a lot. I'll be doing a comprehensive review on it in the next few days.
I also have an Amplitube iRig coming from Santa, so look out for that review as well.
Until then, keep playing!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Saturday, December 4, 2010
John's guitar rig wish list
Now that my guitar situation is under control, it's time to dream about my ideal guitar rig. What I have is great for what I do and what I plan to do - record - but sometimes it's nice to imagine what I'd have if I played with other people in a band setting, whether it's full-on gigging or just garage jamming.
Disclaimer: This is only a "what-if" scenario. It is no way indicative of me wanting to spend money on anything. What I have works great for me now. This list is what I'd get if I had to play a gig tomorrow.
Now that that's out of the way, here's John's dream rig.
Amplifier: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III. Sure, I'd love a 100 watt Marshall stack, but I'm being realistic here. I'm not going to play Madison Square Garden. This is a perfect amp for practice or small gigs. What I love about it is the clean channel. There's no better clean than a Fender clean, and the Hot Rod Deluxe has it in spades. The best thing about a good clean channel is that it takes pedals well, which is important because the distortion on the Fender is very much a bluesy overdrive. To get a good hard rock/metal tone you need to put pedals in front of it. This is why the Hot Rod Deluxe gets the nod in my dream rig - I can get all the metal distortion I need with pedals plus I can get bluesy overdrive with the amp itself. Best of both worlds. Now it's time for the pedals.
Distortion: Boss DS-1 and ST-2 Power Stack. With these two pedals, I can get pretty much any distortion I want. The DS-1 is a classic pedal and should suit most of my needs, but in those times when I need a little more, the Power Stack will do just fine.
Tuner: Boss TU-2. The gold standard of tuners, in my opinion. Nothing else to say here.
Delay: Boss DD-3. Simple, straightforward delay. There are more advanced ones on the market, but this is all I need.
Chorus: Boss CE-2. Seeing a pattern here? Every time I research pedals, Boss is at or near the top, especially a few, the CE-2 chorus being one of them (the DS-1 and DD-3 are the others).
Flanger: Boss BF-2. See above.
Compression: Boss CS-2. See above, again.
Wah: Already have it - my Dunlop Wah/Volume. Great pedal, just never had the right rig for it. I like that it's a combo so I don't need a separate volume pedal. Keeps the board nice and simple.
So there you have it. I don't see me needing anything else. I've learned a few things fiddling around with my DigiTech RP90, mostly what effects I like and what effects I don't like. Whenever I build my own preset, I end up with the same effects every time. I don't need a whammy or tremolo, and unless the amp reverb isn't good enough I don't need one of those, either. I could get any sound I want with what's in this list. If I were a gigging musician, this is what I'd have.
But for now, it's time to get back to the RP to create some more presets.
Disclaimer: This is only a "what-if" scenario. It is no way indicative of me wanting to spend money on anything. What I have works great for me now. This list is what I'd get if I had to play a gig tomorrow.
Now that that's out of the way, here's John's dream rig.
Amplifier: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III. Sure, I'd love a 100 watt Marshall stack, but I'm being realistic here. I'm not going to play Madison Square Garden. This is a perfect amp for practice or small gigs. What I love about it is the clean channel. There's no better clean than a Fender clean, and the Hot Rod Deluxe has it in spades. The best thing about a good clean channel is that it takes pedals well, which is important because the distortion on the Fender is very much a bluesy overdrive. To get a good hard rock/metal tone you need to put pedals in front of it. This is why the Hot Rod Deluxe gets the nod in my dream rig - I can get all the metal distortion I need with pedals plus I can get bluesy overdrive with the amp itself. Best of both worlds. Now it's time for the pedals.
Distortion: Boss DS-1 and ST-2 Power Stack. With these two pedals, I can get pretty much any distortion I want. The DS-1 is a classic pedal and should suit most of my needs, but in those times when I need a little more, the Power Stack will do just fine.
Tuner: Boss TU-2. The gold standard of tuners, in my opinion. Nothing else to say here.
Delay: Boss DD-3. Simple, straightforward delay. There are more advanced ones on the market, but this is all I need.
Chorus: Boss CE-2. Seeing a pattern here? Every time I research pedals, Boss is at or near the top, especially a few, the CE-2 chorus being one of them (the DS-1 and DD-3 are the others).
Flanger: Boss BF-2. See above.
Compression: Boss CS-2. See above, again.
Wah: Already have it - my Dunlop Wah/Volume. Great pedal, just never had the right rig for it. I like that it's a combo so I don't need a separate volume pedal. Keeps the board nice and simple.
So there you have it. I don't see me needing anything else. I've learned a few things fiddling around with my DigiTech RP90, mostly what effects I like and what effects I don't like. Whenever I build my own preset, I end up with the same effects every time. I don't need a whammy or tremolo, and unless the amp reverb isn't good enough I don't need one of those, either. I could get any sound I want with what's in this list. If I were a gigging musician, this is what I'd have.
But for now, it's time to get back to the RP to create some more presets.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
No more excuses
I used to say I didn't have a guitar that could handle stuff by Satch and Petrucci. Now I have my RG.
I used to say I didn't have a computer I could use to find tabs, watch video lessons, etc. Now I have my Dad's old PC.
I used to say I didn't have time, but that's crap. I can make time.
I have run out of excuses. It's time for me to get serious.
First up - learning one of my favorite songs, "Always With Me, Always With You." The song I never thought I was good enough to play.
Then I'm on to some Dream Theater, probably "Pull Me Under."
I feel a sense that big things will be happening for me in the new year.
I used to say I didn't have a computer I could use to find tabs, watch video lessons, etc. Now I have my Dad's old PC.
I used to say I didn't have time, but that's crap. I can make time.
I have run out of excuses. It's time for me to get serious.
First up - learning one of my favorite songs, "Always With Me, Always With You." The song I never thought I was good enough to play.
Then I'm on to some Dream Theater, probably "Pull Me Under."
I feel a sense that big things will be happening for me in the new year.
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