Pedalboards

[DawgBone]

Around 10 to 12 years back I did a modern church gig with a younger guitarist. He showed up dressed like a member of say Coldplay or similar,and had the latest pedal board loaded with Strymon effects.
His pedal board alone must of cost several thousand $$$ He had the correct worship favorite Gretsch guitar with Fitertrons and definitely looked the L.A. cast part.

So when he played, he almost never went above the 3 to 5th fret,nor played without tons of delay ala the Edge.
It was eye opening to me how much technology had replaced the actual playing and ability needed to play a gig!

And with advent further from A.I. and Rap’s popularity. I would never venture into music. It’s become less actual music and mostly visual.
At least Jimi Hendrix,Jaco Pastorius,Jeff Beck, who were panned by the older Jazz guitarists actually raised the musical bar as well as the visual one,Lol!

Sounds like the average instagram guitar hero, lowering the bar like he was doing the limbo!

[Spook410]

Around 10 to 12 years back I did a modern church gig with a younger guitarist.!

How.. anecdotal. Meanwhile, back in the real world, pretty much all touring professionals use amp modeling and speaker IR's either exclusively or in addition to their combo. As the tech continues to get better, which one do you think will decline further? As far as I can tell, the combo amp is heading off into the sunset. It's being replaced by better tech. Better because it's more flexible, repeatable, reliable, economic, and portable. If you can't make a Valeton GP-5 and Alto PA speaker sound good enough for any public jazz gig, you're not trying.

[GuyBoden]

I've got a shelf full of old pedals, but for nearly 10 years I've mostly use modelling pedals, you can setup chains in the modelling software in one small pedal.

Setup of a Modelling software chain:

[alltunes]

Totally agree that a guitar straight into a tube amp is pure joy. The question is whether you need a coil cable. Supposedly they annenuate the highs a bit…maybe good for jazz? It was good enough for Muddy. Do you think the worship player mentioned above with all the gear would be this risky with a stretched cable on TV?

[jads57]

How.. anecdotal. Meanwhile, back in the real world, pretty much all touring professionals use amp modeling and speaker IR's either exclusively or in addition to their combo. As the tech continues to get better, which one do you think will decline further? As far as I can tell, the combo amp is heading off into the sunset. It's being replaced by better tech. Better because it's more flexible, repeatable, reliable, economic, and portable. If you can't make a Valeton GP-5 and Alto PA speaker sound good enough for any public jazz gig, you're not trying.

Keeping up and copying latest trends may get you work. But it doesn’t account for actually being an excellent musician.
In fact I’d go as far as saying it just makes your weaknesses more obvious.

Remember what Mr Ellington said “It don’t mean a thing, if it ain’t got that Swing!”

[Spook410]

Keeping up and copying latest trends may get you work. But it doesn’t account for actually being an excellent musician.
In fact I’d go as far as saying it just makes your weaknesses more obvious.

Remember what Mr Ellington said “It don’t mean a thing, if it ain’t got that Swing!”

'Trend' implies something that comes and goes. So the evolution of amp tech is not a trend. It is how things are.

And how would a model of a DeLuxe Rvb through a FRFR make a players weaknesses more obvious than a tube combo? I think you are confusing amps with FX.

You may not wish for the world to change, but it's going to change anyway. And in the case of amplifiers, my back is OK with that.

[jads57]

[DawgBone]

'Trend' implies something that comes and goes. So the evolution of amp tech is not a trend. It is how things are.

It's not an evolution though, it's a regression based on cost and convenience. Quitter just released an A.I pedal, it's also not an evolution, just more low production cost high profit junk. Apologies for my horrible attitude about digital gear. Or maybe, just my horrible attitude. LOL.

[jads57]

I guess getting to that age where what we cherished is no longer considered valuable,is maybe the hardest part.
I always appreciated the the actual musical talent itself no matter the genre of music. Jeff Beck,Wes Montgomery,Pat Martino,Hank Garland,etc.

And I can see guys from previous generations saw the evolution of technology as a distraction from actual musical abilities.
But as it is nowadays,it’s allowed anyone to label themselves as a musical creative.
And to compete with actual skilled professionals from musicians,arrangers,composers,producers,and basically make it a free pop machine to the masses.

Sorry for the rant,but it really is no longer a professional endeavor nor a valued skill. Other than that there have been great improvements in tools,Lol!

[DawgBone]

I guess getting to that age where what we cherished is no longer considered valuable,is maybe the hardest part.
I always appreciated the the actual musical talent itself no matter the genre of music. Jeff Beck,Wes Montgomery,Pat Martino,Hank Garland,etc.

And I can see guys from previous generations saw the evolution of technology as a distraction from actual musical abilities.
But as it is nowadays,it’s allowed anyone to label themselves as a musical creative.
And to compete with actual skilled professionals from musicians,arrangers,composers,producers,and basically make it a free pop machine to the masses.

Sorry for the rant,but it really is no longer a professional endeavor nor a valued skill. Other than that there have been great improvements in tools,Lol!

I haven't seen any real improvements in tools since the 1960's, just cost cutting and convenience i.e "it's light". It's still a valued skill, just like everything else wages haven't kept pace with living costs. The instagram types can play pretend but cannot hang in the real world, and live performance is still a skill that can only be built brick by brick, through experience. Don't lose heart. Or maybe live music is just more valued in Texas than in most other states now and my views are skewed by that. It's def true here vs my experience in Florida where being background noise seemed to be more of the norm.

[jads57]

Well the model for almost all businesses is keeping the workers cheap as possible. And the very few keep the profit at the top.
Always been this way.
Technology especially A.I. will soon replace most workers. Only the very ones who are still needed will have a job,especially true of manual labor.

Im sure even in Texas most musicians are resorting to tip jars, to go along with the low gig pay.
I can’t even imagine anyone in any major city surviving as a musician who gigs locally any longer. That along with teaching is free on YouTube as well,Lol!
Most all of the professionals I knew and worked with are finished as well. That’s from theatres,jingles,studio,Amd just playing weddings,churches and bars.

It never was a comfortable living wage,sans the few lucrative gigs.
But I can’t imagine why anyone would still do it? And playing Jazz gigs never ever paid great money.
Sure was fun at certain times, and could be rewarding for your soul.

[Spook410]

An amp modeler (nothing fancy) and an Alto TS410 (nice upgrade from base model) would be maybe $500. And if I were just starting into jazz a smart choice might be an older used Eastman (when they had finish chipping problems) for say $1200. Probably a lot less with any sort of patience. So for the price of a nice Fender tube amp you could be set up for awhile. Could even take it on the bus or subway. Hard to see that as a bad thing. Really won't be as good as a classic amp and an ES175. Not in tone or feel. But young musicians can't nearly afford those. In that sense, the tech should help build young musicians. They won't all get distracted by layered delays.

I'm old. There are things to miss. V8's and Brazilian rosewood and whole lot more. But I'm sort of a jazz player and gig a couple of times a month playing standards. The newer tech lets me bring in a singer to perform through the same gear I use for my guitar. And it's light enough for me to carry. Can't even get my Fender tube amp out of the garage anymore.

Finally, the market is probably as good as it's ever been for flat top guitar players. Not because of tech but because the music they play is more popular. Coffee shops and restaurants around here show little interest in jazz because their clientele isn't interested. Flat top players doing country or new age pop cover those gigs. It's not the amp tech.. it's Spotify and soon it will be AI. Way things have gone.

[MarkL]

I also play clean for jazz, mostly. I occasionally bring this board to jazz gigs. Mild compression and boost add sustain, which can be nice for soloing over Latin tunes (Sanata Europa/Moonflower feel). The Zendrive comes in handy if things start heading in a fusion direction.

[AKA]

I play jazz, blues/rock and gospel. I use this board to help dial in my voice. As others have noted, a little spice can highlight the flavor, a heavy dose can ruin it.

[StormyMonday]

Hey Stormy where are you located? I double on mandolin too and have been playing Dead tunes for ever.

I'm in Southern Maine! I use the mando for Dead, Goose, Traffic etc. Where er there's a keyboard solo I usually do it on mando, gives us a different kind of sound. Where you at?

[jads57]

So the Folk Singer flat top is really popular along with some Blue Grass around the Midwest as well.
We used to have Prairie Home Companion and Red House records along with a lot of outdoor spring,summer and fall gigs.

Seems like the Beerhouse gigs like that music mostly as well. I find it incredibly boring musically and harmonically uninteresting from the Paul Simon,James Taylor,Joni Mitchell,Joan Baez era.
But I guess every generation needs to vent and find a way to commune together.
Being 69 years old I was too young to be a Hippie the first time round at Woodstock. And I was too Old the next few times it came around as well Lol!

[pauln]

I use the same pedal board as Charlie, Django, and Wes! And one of my Twins, Supers, or the Deluxe if space is really small. Absolute clear clean - haven't owned a pedal for ten years, even quit using reverb a while back. I'm a young man in my 70s and haul the monsters all over the county and surrounding region.

Why? The most practical of reasons; maximum nuance of musical expression, beauty of tone, and something emergent - the contemporary novelty of pure true clean guitar playing. Around here (TX) I'm told more and more how much they appreciate that. I may be a tube radical and a Mr. Clean reactionary, but Euterpe "giver of delight" (the muse presiding over music)... I think she digs me!.

[jads57]

So just watched Rick Beato video of interviewing Tom Scott Sax,Arranger,etc. Wow! What a great understanding of older and modern ways of producing. And legendary records!

[garybaldy]

I use the same pedal board as Charlie, Django, and Wes! And one of my Twins, Supers, or the Deluxe if space is really small. Absolute clear clean - haven't owned a pedal for ten years, even quit using reverb a while back. I'm a young man in my 70s and haul the monsters all over the county and surrounding region.

Why? The most practical of reasons; maximum nuance of musical expression, beauty of tone, and something emergent - the contemporary novelty of pure true clean guitar playing. Around here (TX) I'm told more and more how much they appreciate that. I may be a tube radical and a Mr. Clean reactionary, but Euterpe "giver of delight" (the muse presiding over music)... I think she digs me!.

I've just turned 70 and for gigs I'm lugging around either a Musicman 65RP combo, a pedal board and Les Paul or a Minibrute 3 and a Double bass (or archie). I haven't used my Twin or JCM 800 4104 for years.

[frabarmus]

I'm in Southern Maine! I use the mando for Dead, Goose, Traffic etc. Where er there's a keyboard solo I usually do it on mando, gives us a different kind of sound. Where you at?

I have a Fender Strat-mando, lovely little instrument.

[grahambop]

I have a Fender Strat-mando, lovely little instrument.

John Abercrombie used to play one of those (or something very similar), it’s featured on some of his early ECM albums.

[Bob_Ross]

John Abercrombie used to play one of those (or something very similar)

That was the original Fender Electric Mandolin ...not sure why Fender couldn't come up with a more imaginative name, but I give them props for having the imagination -- and the gumption -- to bring such an instrument to market. Four strings only; no double courses. Abercrombie is the only person I've ever seen who used one!

[frabarmus]

[TF]

I like pedal boards a lot. Especially when somebody else is using them. Heck, I have trouble deciding what shirt to wear, let alone what button to push.

Would my rendition of Blue Bossa sound better if I turn on the chorus, or not? Would the audience like me better? Would women smile at me more if I have a pedal board, or instead, if I start wearing nicer shoes?

I play music to express my personality, my reality, my musical concept. If I needed pedals to do this, I'd use them.

[DawgBone]

I use the same pedal board as Charlie, Django, and Wes! And one of my Twins, Supers, or the Deluxe if space is really small. Absolute clear clean - haven't owned a pedal for ten years, even quit using reverb a while back. I'm a young man in my 70s and haul the monsters all over the county and surrounding region.

Why? The most practical of reasons; maximum nuance of musical expression, beauty of tone, and something emergent - the contemporary novelty of pure true clean guitar playing. Around here (TX) I'm told more and more how much they appreciate that. I may be a tube radical and a Mr. Clean reactionary, but Euterpe "giver of delight" (the muse presiding over music)... I think she digs me!.

Didn't realize you were in TX also. There is more space to fill in Texas so you can still play loud!