Stephen Carpenter Rig Rundown

[JiveTurkey]

I wasn’t sure how I’d get along with it. I played a Ibanez Universe back in my old band and I didn’t play like others were so I was familiar with 7 strings but it’s been awhile. It’s a blast today and sounds good.

Good to hear. 7 strings are so weird. You never know how one is going to hit you and if you don't like it; it's always an absolute PAIN to return it most of the time as it's never something bought locally. Ugh. I had a Schecter for about 5 minutes in 2000 iirc and it was ridiculous in every terrible way. Ugh again.

 

[DrewJD82]

Yeah but there's so much more you can do with the Helix when switching a preset or a snapshot. If you consider SC's rack rig, and all of the gizmo's .... I mean, bringing a ton of that in and out from a midi PC or CC... while at the same time turning on a particular effect on the Helix, with each of its controls changing from snapshot to snapshot, while also adjusting the threshold of a noise-gate from snapshot to snapshot, whilst also... I dunno, adjusting IEM levels and shit like that.....

It is just really damn configurable.

Fractal can do CC's and PC's from scene changes, sure. You've also got all of the modulators and the scene controllers too. But it is just a bit more finnicky, and you get less bang for your buck IMO.

I’d have to sit down with a Helix and learn it to understand it better I guess. The whole programming side of Fractal is an area I generally feel alone in as I’ve never had a problem getting it to do what I needed.

 

[DrewJD82]

Good to hear. 7 strings are so weird. You never know how one is going to hit you and if you don't like it; it's always an absolute PAIN to return it most of the time as it's never something bought locally. Ugh. I had a Schecter for about 5 minutes in 2000 iirc and it was ridiculous in every terrible way. Ugh again.

Back in the late 90’s ESP/LTD and Schecter were trying to play catch-up to Ibanez they put out the dumbest 7-strings I’ve ever played that left a bad taste in my mouth that didn’t go away until 2 years ago when I played some of their current 7-strings. I remember that hideous Schecters with the trans-red “quilt” top and ridiculous abalone inlay and the LTD’s with the doofy abalone shark tooth inlays both had ridiculously round necks on their 7’s. It was like they put those out to deter people from 7-strings more than selling them.

I played a Keith Merrow 7 and some LTD 7 a couple years back and found they came to their senses, I was actually really impressed with the Merrow.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Back in the late 90’s ESP/LTD and Schecter were trying to play catch-up to Ibanez they put out the dumbest 7-strings I’ve ever played that left a bad taste in my mouth that didn’t go away until 2 years ago when I played some of their current 7-strings. I remember that hideous Schecters with the trans-red “quilt” top and ridiculous abalone inlay and the LTD’s with the doofy abalone shark tooth inlays both had ridiculously round necks on their 7’s. It was like they put those out to deter people from 7-strings more than selling them.

I played a Keith Merrow 7 and some LTD 7 a couple years back and found they came to their senses, I was actually really impressed with the Merrow.

THAT was the 7 string I had! It was TERRIBLE! The neck was the dumbest neck I've ever played and absolutely the reason why "I can't play because the neck is too big" was invented! What a TURD!

 

[DrewJD82]

THAT was the 7 string I had! It was TERRIBLE! The neck was the dumbest neck I've ever played and absolutely the reason why "I can't play because the neck is too big" was invented! What a TURD!

Man, that was all they had out for what seemed like years, too. ESP had a Horizon and an M 7, but both were lower tiered guitars and it seemed like both companies just wanted to cautiously dip their toes in the water in case the 7-string craze did an about face, but those models kept me away from even looking in their direction for 20 years after.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Man, that was all they had out for what seemed like years, too. ESP had a Horizon and an M 7, but both were lower tiered guitars and it seemed like both companies just wanted to cautiously dip their toes in the water in case the 7-string craze did an about face, but those models kept me away from even looking in their direction for 20 years after.

Our "funk metal" band wanted to add some nu-metal stuff to the repertoire. I got that 7 string and came up with actually a cool section with drone-y open strings on the high B and E. It was TORTURE to play on that guitar. Trying to string skip from the low B and E to the high E and B was insta-handcramp. Good lord!

 

[Jarick]

Everyone is always lining up to take shots at the guy but it looks like he's really starting to come through a lot of shit. He looks healthy and happy and that's just about all that matters.

I thought his use of Helix for both effects and switching is actually brilliant. I've really grown to hate using screens for guitar and programming shit and it has me thinking about getting rid of some stuff and grabbing a Helix to use with my JJ Junior.

 

[ejecta]

Good to hear. 7 strings are so weird. You never know how one is going to hit you and if you don't like it; it's always an absolute PAIN to return it most of the time as it's never something bought locally. Ugh. I had a Schecter for about 5 minutes in 2000 iirc and it was ridiculous in every terrible way. Ugh again.

Once you play one for a bit you get used to it faster than you’d think. Or at least that’s been my experience

 

[CorrosiveMatter]

Who gives a shit what he believes about that stupid nonsense? I’m more interested in his band, his playing style and gear of choice and this has nothing to do with it.

It won't make me not listen and enjoy his music, he put it out there, I can think it's funny.

Learned a long time ago I can't care what beleifs othes have to decide if I like their art or product.

 

[SeeD]

The II is peak "thank baby jesus for an editor" because you are doing NOTHING from that front panel

The last year I had my Axe Fx II, I HAD to use the front panel..as Axe Edit crashed like every 3 minutes, I could not make music with Edit open, It made me soo mad.

 

[LCW]

Yeah but there's so much more you can do with the Helix when switching a preset or a snapshot. If you consider SC's rack rig, and all of the gizmo's .... I mean, bringing a ton of that in and out from a midi PC or CC... while at the same time turning on a particular effect on the Helix, with each of its controls changing from snapshot to snapshot, while also adjusting the threshold of a noise-gate from snapshot to snapshot, whilst also... I dunno, adjusting IEM levels and shit like that.....

It is just really damn configurable.

Fractal can do CC's and PC's from scene changes, sure. You've also got all of the modulators and the scene controllers too. But it is just a bit more finnicky, and you get less bang for your buck IMO.

Making me want a Helix lol

 

[CorrosiveMatter]

Making me want a Helix lol

Hold out for the Stadium for either a cheaper Helix or the Stadium for sure.

 

[EOengineer]

Making me want a Helix lol

 

[0XI0]

WP was when the pie came out of the oven

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