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

WP is You'd Prefer an Astronaut through a Instagram filter

 

[EOengineer]

WP is You'd Prefer an Astronaut through a Instagram filter

View attachment 52321

Such a great album.

 

[Whizzinby]

WP is You'd Prefer an Astronaut through a Instagram filter

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One of my favorite albums of all time. Can still remember getting home from buying it and cranking it up on my parents stereo setup and hearing the first wave of guitars drop on the opener.

Then promptly calling my best friend like “You gotta come over and hear this shit dude”

That album is like a time portal. I’m instantly transported back.

 

[Jarick]

WP is You'd Prefer an Astronaut through a Instagram filter

View attachment 52321

Loved the shit out of both those albums in high school. I don't hear them similarly at all though.

In the late 90's I got really into the emerging emo scene and I put Hum in the category at least at the time. I joined a band in 1999 that had some of those influences but they also were really into the modern heavy borderline nu metal stuff. I didn't like that stuff at all initially but they covered Be Quiet and Drive and that opened the door. And then White Pony came out and yeah it just all came together.

About a month ago I learned to play Feiticeira and that song is just weird as hell. That's something really cool about Stephen's playing he just doesn't seem to care about what might make sense to play and just what sounds really cool or interesting.

 

[Mikael Dez]

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

Those are damn near identical to the specs on my new ESP 7, 27” scale and fishmans. I love the shit out of this beast

 

[ejecta]

WP is You'd Prefer an Astronaut through a Instagram filter

View attachment 52321

Great album!

 

[Leperclown]

Not a fan of Deftones at all, but I really connected with Steph's modelling/amp journey. One of the best rig rundowns I have seen. After trying modelling for a long time, I went back to a JVM410 combo (sounded amazing, but got rid of it as it was too heavy) and recently bought a Revv Generator 120. Last night I took it to band practice for the first time (with a 4x12). Sounded incredible. (I was using the GT1000 for post effects and channel changing). It will be really hard to go back to the Kemper Power rack. As Steph said, there is something about the bottom end and I love the way a tube amp and cab moves air. Seriously thinking of running with just a volume/wah & tuner in front with the onboard reverb & noise gate (our music is punk). Modellers win for convenience, stereo & recording, but the organic and authoritive tone of a good, cranked tube amp can't be faked. BTW, I'll give the 4x12 a miss (too directional & heavy) and stick with stacked open back 2x12s.