John Mayer & The Coming Simulacra

[DrewJD82]

the part I find a bit funny is how this seems to come as an actual surprise and a new thing to some people.

For sure. I try not to eye-roll and just be stoked that people are catching on. I’m a big fan of Josh and his channel, but reading the substack brought a few eye rolls to my face and maybe it wasn’t his intent, but that basically reads as “John Mayer says modeling is good so that’s it, it’s good now” as if this was the approval the world was waiting for, when Josh could have been a fan of anyone and likely would be saying the same things on the release day of his influence’s new plugin, whether it were Mayer, Devin Townsend or MGK.

I get a bit jaded with the “so and so’s ultra demanding ears that have spent years meticulously crafting guitar tones like an alchemist in medieval times trying to make gold from coal” when 99.9% of the time that just translates to “Dude doesn’t know how to dial in tones for his own songs nor can he communicate what he wants to a mix engineer”

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

What? You don't like cute little kisses to your butt cheeks? What?

I got geriatric ladies for that.

 

[paisleywookiee]

Get a better use case.

 

[paisleywookiee]

That’s what I used to think as well.
I used to hate small amps, they didn’t have the oomph, the bottom end etc…

Along the way I started to dislike the “mwah” sound of 4x12s. Actually even 2x12s.
Once I got into 1x12s for close miking I started messing with lower volumes and really got into El84 amps. High gainers though.

To me the MkV25 is far from a compromise, actually like it so much more than the big brother I had.

I've had the V:25 twice, and the V:35 once. It's an EL84 amp. It's not bad, but going from that to a Mark VII is like having vegan cheese that's actually not too bad, and then having some really great cheddar.

Yeah. A cheese comparison. It's better than car comparisons.

 

[Jarick]

That’s what I used to think as well.
I used to hate small amps, they didn’t have the oomph, the bottom end etc…

Along the way I started to dislike the “mwah” sound of 4x12s. Actually even 2x12s.
Once I got into 1x12s for close miking I started messing with lower volumes and really got into El84 amps. High gainers though.

To me the MkV25 is far from a compromise, actually like it so much more than the big brother I had.

Which 1x12 do you like? Open or closed back, and what kind of speaker?

I don't love my Orange 1x12 V30 and was looking at a Friedman 1x12 with a Creamback 65...maybe a bit fatter sound?

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

I've had the V:25 twice, and the V:35 once. It's an EL84 amp. It's not bad, but going from that to a Mark VII is like having vegan cheese that's actually not too bad, and then having some really great cheddar.

Yeah. A cheese comparison. It's better than car comparisons.

I haven’t played a mkvii but to me the big V was really meh compared to the 35 or 25.
But the VII and the JP are on my 5 amp, will will be gotten shortlist.

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

Which 1x12 do you like? Open or closed back, and what kind of speaker?

I don't love my Orange 1x12 V30 and was looking at a Friedman 1x12 with a Creamback 65...maybe a bit fatter sound?

I’ve done v30 for decades so with that one I literally don’t care. But last few years I started to tire of them.
So, for over sized open 1x12 H70, and for closed 1x12 GB.
Right now I’m actually curious about the Emmie Karnivore.

 

[riffy]

With what little I am actually able to play now, still recovering from the surgery. But I have really started liking a closed back 112 loaded with a green back. I just find the tone much more focused. For some reason, I also find it more responsive to the tone controls at volume.

That being said, if I am using a 100 W amp which I prefer to do, I really have to keep the volume down. I don’t have an attenuator or a load box.

 

[metropolis_4]

I had an interesting experience this weekend. I played 5 shows with my AC30 and this is the first time I’ve used an AC30 live in about 12 years.

Seeing that amp, turning the power on and letting it warm up, smelling the tubes cooking, and then hearing the familiar sounds from it, all brought back a rush of memories. I started listening to music on the way to the venue I hadn’t listened to in years - bands that used AC30s, bands I was listening to back when I used an AC30… I started thinking about my playing and approaching my sounds in ways I’d forgotten. And through it all it was like shedding a shell and remembering who I really am as a guitarist. It was deeply cathartic.

I’ve had access to Vox sounds in my modelers all these years, but they never gave me the same feeling of connection. Software and computers and loading packets of data into memory never gave me the same feeling of being connected to my instruments and the music in the way that amp did yesterday.

This was something very personal, I wouldn’t expect everyone to feel the same way. Most of the reason for me was because of my pre-existing connection to the gear before digital. But for me this was very real, and not something I could deny if I wanted to.

That emotional connection to a real physical object that is a companion on the journey with me is something I never felt in all my years with digital gear, and something I never realized was so important to me until it came back after being gone for so long.

I’m 100% sure I’ll use digital gear again in the future, but I doubt it will ever again be my primary rig or replace my amp and pedals.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

I love it when companies use the term 'carefully curated'. It implies they agonised over decisions, when in reality they figured out just how they could cover some bases and get away with charging a fortune.

"We believe we have better taste than you, that we can convince you of that too, and that in doing so, we will also convince you to overpay us."

 

[Sascha Franck]

Was just reading the entire Josh Scott article and found myself in some kinda sentimental mood at the point when he mentioned paper maps. I have a very soft spot for them kinda traditionally. I went on countless trips and still have some of the old maps - and it's especially some that we used to have when touring with my former band ("Aral Auto Atlas" for the germans around...) that have several marks in them (and obviously coffee stains and what not). Having used those maps and now having memories of the process (add to this asking locals in case the map wasn't helpful, which adds a strong social component) is a great thing.

Yet, when it comes to amps, I'm pretty much without any emotions. I loved the things when I was using them, I even liked looking at my rigs, but practicability won over big time.

Not sure whether I mentioned it here or in another thread, but just last wednesday I had a fun gig (as in zero commercial interest) and my stage sound has possibly been the best in maybe even the last - well - decade or so. Sure, still some analog pedals involved, but the core tone was all digital and I was using my wedge for monitoring my guitar (plus a house wedge for anything else). No real amp setup I ever owned that I could think of would've been able to provide me with that kinda sound quality on what was a pretty small stage. I possibly can't express how much I enjoyed playing. every single sound was just right there, right in place, operating things was just as great, too.

So, f*** alll the glowing tubes, the half ripped off tolex of my cabs and what not. Yes, there's a certain sentimental value to them, but unlike paper maps, which actually forced you to deal with things in a very different way one might've liked (*check*, at least partially), they just don't bring any actual value to the table for me anymore.

As far as old worn (or somewhat wearing) in things are concerned, I rather focus on guitars.

 

[2dor]

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

Was just reading the entire Josh Scott article and found myself in some kinda sentimental mood at the point when he mentioned paper maps. I have a very soft spot for them kinda traditionally. I went on countless trips and still have some of the old maps - and it's especially some that we used to have when touring with my former band ("Aral Auto Atlas" for the germans around...) that have several marks in them (and obviously coffee stains and what not). Having used those maps and now having memories of the process (add to this asking locals in case the map wasn't helpful, which adds a strong social component) is a great thing.

Yet, when it comes to amps, I'm pretty much without any emotions. I loved the things when I was using them, I even liked looking at my rigs, but practicability won over big time.

Not sure whether I mentioned it here or in another thread, but just last wednesday I had a fun gig (as in zero commercial interest) and my stage sound has possibly been the best in maybe even the last - well - decade or so. Sure, still some analog pedals involved, but the core tone was all digital and I was using my wedge for monitoring my guitar (plus a house wedge for anything else). No real amp setup I ever owned that I could think of would've been able to provide me with that kinda sound quality on what was a pretty small stage. I possibly can't express how much I enjoyed playing. every single sound was just right there, right in place, operating things was just as great, too.

So, f*** alll the glowing tubes, the half ripped off tolex of my cabs and what not. Yes, there's a certain sentimental value to them, but unlike paper maps, which actually forced you to deal with things in a very different way one might've liked (*check*, at least partially), they just don't bring any actual value to the table for me anymore.

As far as old worn (or somewhat wearing) in things are concerned, I rather focus on guitars.

I friggin hate maps. Paper ones. I even prefer books in my tablet.

But you said one thing a few times I find puzzling. The look of amps and looking at amps?
Personally I find the aestethic of amps that if a fridge.
Last time I cared about how a Backline looked when hairspray added another half a foot to my height.
And unlike many of my acquaintances who never got out of their “village” I left the 80s were they belong. In the past.

But to actually bring it back to amps or more importantly digital and analog.
I’ve been doing both full on for two decades.
And until there’s zero latency (literally) analog will stay relevant for me.
Not because latency bothers me as a player. Actually the opposite I don’t mind a bit of lag.

But as I said prior I hate dealing with getting multiples in phase.
It’s enough of a pain.

Side note I love the phase thing in the AM4 Edit for keeping IRs phase relationship where I want it.

 

[Sascha Franck]

I friggin hate maps. Paper ones. I even prefer books in my tablet.

Well, I'd likely never wanted to return to them ever again, either. I still loved operating with them for whatever ancient reasons.
But the real deal was finding things without maps, especially in unknown cities when you just walked around. Gets you into contact with locals. Heck, it even generated friends for me. A family in Athens invited me to stay at their place for 3 days when I was just strolling around and asking their son for a certain shopping location. Still in contact with the dude after decades. Nothing Google Maps will ever be able to compete with.

But as I said prior I hate dealing with getting multiples in phase.

Hm, doesn't that only apply when you actually play multiple amps simultaneously? I never do that.

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

Well, I'd likely never wanted to return to them ever again, either. I still loved operating with them for whatever ancient reasons.
But the real deal was finding things without maps, especially in unknown cities when you just walked around. Gets you into contact with locals. Heck, it even generated friends for me. A family in Athens invited me to stay at their place for 3 days when I was just strolling around and asking their son for a certain shopping location. Still in contact with the dude after decades. Nothing Google Maps will ever be able to compete with.



Hm, doesn't that only apply when you actually play multiple amps simultaneously? I never do that.

I have said in my prior post. yes when having one source go to multiple destinations.

Which is the norm for me.

 

[Jarick]

The one amp that I'm sentimental about was the first tube amp I ever saw/heard. In middle school I played drums in a band with a couple friends. Our bass player used his dad's old bass amp which was an early 60's black panel Fender Bassman through some kind of cab. The amp smelled really interesting when it was on and the tubes glowed with this super cool blue and orange light. A few years later I borrowed the head for a while as I played guitar in a punk band, running it through a Marshall 4x12 using my Gibson LP Studio. I remember the amp sounded alright but I was annoyed it wouldn't stay clean at band volumes.

So at some point back when my ears still worked, I used to play so loud that a vintage Bassman through a 4x12 was too quiet!

 

[ChordInversion]

I'm sure some would think there is something wrong with me. I've owned and played plenty of tube amps over the course of a long time, from a very old Deluxe Reverb to a Mesa Blue Angel 4x10 combo. I've had boutique one offs and Egnaters. I've owned them at the same time that I've had modelers. I do not miss the tube amps at all.

But I don't think anyone is wrong if they simply can't get from a modeler what they like out of a big amp turned up loud. Even setting Fletcher-Munson aside, loud is just different. It's an experience in and of itself. I don't begrudge anyone the joy they may get from it.

 

[ian_dissonance]

I'm sure some would think there is something wrong with me. I've owned and played plenty of tube amps over the course of a long time, from a very old Deluxe Reverb to a Mesa Blue Angel 4x10 combo. I've had boutique one offs and Egnaters. I've owned them at the same time that I've had modelers. I do not miss the tube amps at all.

But I don't think anyone is wrong if they simply can't get from a modeler what they like out of a big amp turned up loud. Even setting Fletcher-Munson aside, loud is just different. It's an experience in and of itself. I don't begrudge anyone the joy they may get from it.

The only time I do is when they’re in a 80 cap room with an appropriately-sized PA and I still can’t hear anything but static and fizz because the guitar player is an idiot that thinks volume = tone even though it literally sounds like someone rubbing bricks together at 120dB.

 

[paisleywookiee]

But I don't think anyone is wrong if they simply can't get from a modeler what they like out of a big amp turned up loud. Even setting Fletcher-Munson aside, loud is just different. It's an experience in and of itself. I don't begrudge anyone the joy they may get from it.

I don’t think anyone is wrong, and I love a loud tube amp. I just don’t place the same level of importance to it anymore. That might change, but right now I’m enjoying the high tech side of things.