Ben Kenney: His Board

ripman3 · #1 11-02-2010, 01:28 PM

I've really been getting back into Incubus lately, particularly Ben Kenney and his rig. I really like his taste of when to use pedals and how they sound. He makes me want to get that Ibanez chorus, does anyone use one and recommend it? Also, he has two differend Aguilar pedals and I have never tried one but I've been hearing great things. Any thoughts or comments?

Jazz Ad · #2 11-02-2010, 03:56 PM

This guy knows what he's doing.
All these pedals are top quality in their own style, many of them not really famous.
Actually it looks a lot like a TBer pedalboard.
Does he lurk around here sometimes?

Swimming Bird · #3 11-02-2010, 04:56 PM

Can you post a link to a song where he uses the chorus? I loved Incubus back in the day, but they lost me with 'Morning View.' Perhaps I should look into them again?

S.C.I.E.N.C.E is a fantastic album.

morganmcd · #4 11-02-2010, 05:06 PM

I really think the band went down hill since Dirk Lance left.

Timi · #5 11-02-2010, 06:45 PM

I thought they went up hill.

J. Crawford · #6 11-02-2010, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morganmcd

I really think the band went down hill since Dirk Lance left.

Sorry to hear that, as its only gotten better.

That board is killer! Ben is the man, hes the reason I started playing bass many moons ago. Im definitely studying that layout!

cybersnyder · #7 11-02-2010, 07:00 PM

I have an Ibanez CS-9 and I like it. To me it has an 80's vibe.

sonic assassin · #8 11-02-2010, 10:27 PM

dirk's playing > ben's.

ben's tone > dirk's.

unfortunately, dirk had an incredible influence on the writing, and it completely changed without him. there are 2 eras of incubus, and i prefer the former. everything since then has been extraordinarily dull.

morganmcd · #9 11-02-2010, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonic assassin

unfortunately, dirk had an incredible influence on the writing, and it completely changed without him. there are 2 eras of incubus, and i prefer the former. everything since then has been extraordinarily dull.

Quoted for truth

MooseLumps · #10 11-02-2010, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonic assassin

dirk's playing > ben's.

ben's tone > dirk's.

unfortunately, dirk had an incredible influence on the writing, and it completely changed without him. there are 2 eras of incubus, and i prefer the former. everything since then has been extraordinarily dull.

I agree with the first two points, and I used to be a big first era fan exclusively. However, my new(er) band wants to cover "Sick, Sad Little World". Although I prefer the former direction and style of Incubus, the latter era has chops and a much more... outlined sound. Not to be conflated with uniform or dull, but a more solid lock on a cohesive musical vision.

Also, Looks like I'm under the gun to learn AND sing this beast. Give that a shot if you don't think this is dynamic, interesting music

Dub56 · #11 11-02-2010, 11:27 PM

I personally like Incubus the most after Make Yourself.

While Dirk played on some good tracks, I much prefer Ben's style and tone. He knows how to lay a groove down. I mean come on, the guy played with the Roots.

Not to mention he I love his playing live, it sounds great.

I'm curious to try one of those Ibanez choruses, although I have a feeling it won't sound nearly as good for me

sonic assassin · #12 11-02-2010, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dub56

I mean come on, the guy played with the Roots.

he played GUITAR for the roots.

iamdenialNJ · #13 11-02-2010, 11:37 PM

I wonder what amp, cab and bass he's using.

nataku · #14 11-02-2010, 11:39 PM

I really dig all of the Incubus albums, but the band is definitely better with Ben. Dirk is a great player, but he started to feel out of place after the first two albums, IMO. The band was going a different direction, and Ben is a perfect fit for that.

sonic assassin · #15 11-02-2010, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MooseLumps

However, my new(er) band wants to cover "Sick, Sad Little World".

i dont mind that song. there are select tracks on the last few albums that i like. but whole albums? forget it. i can listen to the first few end to end. fungus amongus wears on me after a while, but after that its smooth sailing.

i feel like they went soft in their old age. a little aggression never hurt. anna molly was a cool song if you like to sleep. as was dig. but even on a commercially PERFECT album like morning view, you had songs like "have you ever?". they arent a rock band anymore.

i honestly think its the lack of balance between mike E and dirk. too much pot, too much soft jazz. distortion please.

maybe thats what happens when bands get old. any sort of aggression would just seem fake (ahem metallica).

sonic assassin · #16 11-02-2010, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamdenialNJ

I wonder what amp, cab and bass he's using.

mesa, probably mesa, and last i heard lakland.

Shakin-Slim · #17 11-02-2010, 11:54 PM

I personally like everything they have ever released. I have been a fan since Morning View came out when I was quite young, so the newer stuff isn't too radical a change for me. Pre-Morning View took me longer to get into but now I like it very much. I prefer Ben's work with the band. Alive At Red Rocks is a stunning display of his ability. I also really like Dirk though, only more so on Morning View than anything else, because slapping ain't my thing and he does that a bit on the earlier albums. His grooves are incredible on Morning View, like when the bass first comes in on Just A Phase. Ben does a fantastic rendition of that groove though.

Anyway, long story short, they both serve their purpose and both have a different purpose. It is completely silly to try find out who is better than the other.

Sorry that this no longer has anything to do with the effects board.

Shakin-Slim · #18 11-02-2010, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonic assassin

i dont mind that song. there are select tracks on the last few albums that i like. but whole albums? forget it. i can listen to the first few end to end. fungus amongus wears on me after a while, but after that its smooth sailing.

i feel like they went soft in their old age. a little aggression never hurt. anna molly was a cool song if you like to sleep. as was dig. but even on a commercially PERFECT album like morning view, you had songs like "have you ever?". they arent a rock band anymore.

i honestly think its the lack of balance between mike E and dirk. too much pot, too much soft jazz. distortion please.

maybe thats what happens when bands get old. any sort of aggression would just seem fake (ahem metallica).

I put that down to growing out of teenage angst, and rightly so.

sonic assassin · #19 11-02-2010, 11:57 PM

ahem.. this must be the chorus everyone loves from alive at red rocks. i think on drive is when he used it most. he was having serious tone issues that night, so i cant tell if the pedal was cutting lows or that was just him.

someone more familiar with the ibanez chorus care to chime in? he isnt bi-amping, so how bad can it be?

sonic assassin · #20 11-03-2010, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shakin-Slim

I put that down to growing out of teenage angst, and rightly so.

bleh, im 21 and making the most aggressive music ive ever made. as wel as keeping a side project for the softest, most intimate music ive ever made.

i have sides, and i can pick one to put forward. they stepped in a direction i didnt love. dick put them over that particular edge upon leaving. sometimes a power struggle is eventually creatively productive. metallica is a good example.