The Player vs The Gear

[metropolis_4]

This thought came out of a conversation in the Al DiMeola thread.

Back in the day, when guitarists had fewer options for tone shaping gear, there was more of a focus on what the player could do to create sounds.

Today, with all of our tone shaping gear options, that has shifted to more of a focus on what the gear can do to create sounds.

There is a correlation between the two.

Watching that video of Return to Forever where Al just has a Les Paul plugged straight into a Plexi and nothing else, and listening to all the different tones he’s getting, I realized that kind of playing is becoming a lost art. Today most of us would use multiple pedals or amps or digital presets to get all of those sounds.

 

[Alex Kenivel]

I did a lot more self-searching when I downsized to a practice amp and Epiphone LP Jr. It helped that I was broke, too.

Now I have money for nice toys that make all kinds of sounds but barely have time to play enough for any self-searching.

 

[TJontheRoad]

You mean tone is in the fingers? Heaven forbid that !!!

 

[DrewJD82]

That’s why I put that Bukovac quote in my signature!

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

I sometimes think that I look for gear and start wanting to buy new stuff (digital or physical) if I am in a bit of a rut.

 

[la szum]

I think this is why I became so smitten with Al this year. The more I listened to his music
(mostly the Return To Forever stuff and his first 4 Albums---before he went all in on
Synth Guitar! Yes, even Al got lost in the gear for a bit! :lol ) the more I realized how
many subtleties there were in his playing. Use of pickups. Volume and tone controls.
Picking intensity and dynamics. He wasn't using no Boost or OD. Just the one built
into his right hand. Like @DrewJD82 and his Gas Pedal analogy.

The other thing is how dense and multi-faceted the music is with what are basically
4 tracks/instruments. Not a ton of overdubs. Not much layering. And yet I could
listen to those Albums/Songs over and over again because there is so much going
on that I can learn/take from.

I went in assuming that it would just be about working on my strict alternate picking.
Then I discovered so much more.

 

[la szum]

I also think that certain types and styles of music make this topic of the player versus
the gear more or less relevant. Some styles you can completely get away from playing
dynamically, and the music suffers nothing because of that. Other styles of music and
the dynamics and subtleties are essential.

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

The Black Keys come to mind. They seem to enjoying themselves a lot making sounds.

 

[la szum]

Ideally, we all end up finding the perfect symbiotic relationship between
ourselves and the gear we use. Where we use the gear to the best of its
ability, and the gear also pulls the best out of us.

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

Ideally, we all end up finding the perfect symbiotic relationship between
ourselves and the gear we use. Where we use the gear to the best of its
ability, and the gear also pulls the best out of us.

My ideal situation would be 1 favorite amp, 1 favorite guitar. Pedalboard, small one. Use them all the time.

 

[Alex Kenivel]

I think this is why I became so smitten with Al this year.

 

[Stone]

Maybe its evolution? For sure back in the day there was a lot less gear and of course when you get extremely talented players
For sure they will have great tones due to the intricate knowledge of the instrument, Al did not sound like Page or Blackmore or Steve Howe

 

[Diary Of An Axeman]

Tones stars with the strings, caps, pots, pickups, cable width/ length, buffer ( if used), pedals, rack gear, amp and the speakers.
Those are lots of variables.