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What do you think???

los100malditos

los100malditos

Jul 9, 2009
291
47
50
Venezuela, Caracas
www.reverbnation.com
#1
Excuse my english ... it is not my first language ...

We often talk about how new gear or equipment /guitars, basses amps, pedalboards, cymbals etc affects the whole band sound! ... compliments and critics is always made!

The guitar player changes his guitar almost monthly, and when the guitar is not replaced, pickups, stomp pedal or pedalboards are ... (i'm not kidding) I Have seen and played more than 30 differents guitars in two years ... due to his constant gear changing (money seems not to be an issue).

Opinions are always welcome, or at least they were ... Yesterday ...after the announcement and presentation of the new guitar and pedalboard and some songs played ... i told abut the lack of body of the tone, and made compliments to the previous pedalbord (BTW previous pedalboard is also right there on his feet)

He lost control and accused me of bad attitude and being disrespectful of his sound. ... rehersal ended.

I told him that he was crazy and that there weren´t laughs about his stuff , and of course that this will be the last time they will hear my opinion about his gear!

Maybe he was SUCEPTIBLE yesterday???? ... OK NO PROBLEM !!!

We all are long time friends and i think this will pass and be forgiven but not forgotten, cause i don't think i want to tell what i think anymore ....

It is offensive what i have done? tell him abut the lack of body of the tone?

What do you think???
 
#2
Welp, since this is in the band management section, there really is only one response. you need to tell him

fired-300x224_zpsdb6cf87b.jpg
 
#5
Joe Louvar said:
I’m not sure I really understand the question - are you saying the guitards tone sucked, or he needs to stop noodle doodling with his effects, so you told him and now you want to know if we think it was a good idea that you told him?

If that is the question - heck yeah, I'd tell him!!!
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Yeah ... that's it ... ... he guitards tone sucked, so i told him about ... he pissed off ... now it also will be kinda ackward beeing there in the future ... and listen something not going on well, and better keep quiet for the praise of free musical expression!!!
 
#6
los100malditos said:
Yeah ... that's it ... ... he guitards tone sucked, so i told him about ... he pissed off ... now it also will be kinda ackward beeing there in the future ... and listen something not going on well, and better keep quiet for the praise of free musical expression!!!
Click to expand...

I’d take a little handheld digital stereo recorder with me to the next rehearsal - record it and play it back to him while pointing out he needs to learn how to use his petal board and dial in his tone at home alone by himself so it doesn’t sound like bullspit and waste everyone’s (my) time at rehearsals - in or words, I'd tell him to go home and practice and next time come to rehearsal prepared with his tone nailed.
 
#7
I have the exact same problem - guitarist keeps changing stuff and usually not for the better. If anyone says anything he gets defensive. Try to not let it weigh on your mind too much - time will let it pass. I am sure you are not the first person to tell him something like that....soon as someone else DOES, your comment will be totally forgotten.:D

In answer to your question - the truth is the truth. IF the truth is it sounded bad to you, you were honest.
 
#8
edpal said:
I have the exact same problem - guitarist keeps changing stuff and usually not for the better. If anyone says anything he gets defensive. Try to not let it weigh on your mind too much - time will let it pass. I am sure you are not the first person to tell him something like that....soon as someone else DOES, your comment will be totally forgotten.:D

In answer to your question - the truth is the truth. IF the truth is it sounded bad to you, you were honest.
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+1
 
#11
Before bringing it up again, try to talk to your other band members and find out what they think. Maybe one of them can try with the guitarist - some guitarists think the bass players are playing bass because they are stupid.

The one in our band - he has 14 pedals, one cabled to the next (what we call "daisy-chain"), then it goes through a wireless unit to his first amp. Then, for reasons I don't understand, he has a SECOND wireless unit wired in there. It looks like a home-made robot. LAst rehearsal he comes in late and decides he has to put on new strings - all 6, so he sounded like manure all night. On a good night he plays with the best not enough good nights.

We both may be wasting time with these guys. Nice guys, good players - terrible bandmates.
 
#12
I usually say things like, I liked the other one better. It gets the point across without actually sounding too critical. Usually that's the cue for someone else in the band to agree or disagree and settle the issue. If everyone else disagrees with me, I may have to rethink my stance on the subject. I think it's good to openly express ideas and opinions in a band environment. That's probably why I've never been a hired gun.

However, it sounds like that's kind of what you did, with less favorable results.
 
#14
This is a trap that many wealthier guitarists fall into.

It takes alot of work to learn new chord shapes, new scales and new styles of music to apply it to. As a result many players stick to the same chord progressions, same chord shapes same style of playing then really on the gear to change their sound.

What you may try is asking the guitar to play cover songs from different styles. Example if ur a rock band ask him to learn a bosa nova song, or a blues song. That will open his mind and stimulate his creativity after awhile he will start cutting back on gear as his skills improve.
 
#16
3star2nr said:
It takes alot of work to learn new chord shapes, new scales and new styles of music to apply it to. As a result many players stick to the same chord progressions, same chord shapes same style of playing then really on the gear to change their sound.
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This. Thinking that money can buy chops (it can, but only at the butcher shop). The best advice I ever got, from an pro, was that any time I was bored and thought a new guitar (bass, whatever) would do it for me I should take one of my old guitars and go practice. Learn some new licks, investigate a new genre or style of playing. It's worked for me quite well over the years.
 
#17
3star2nr said:
This is a trap that many wealthier guitarists fall into.
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This +100. I could afford to change all the time but I (with the wife's backing) force myself to keep every instrument for at least a year. Haven't bought a new effects pedal in 4+. Doubt we can change those guys, they're convinced that the right combination will be the secret sauce. The gear equivalent of channel surfing.:hmm:

I like what Rusty said above about working on some new licks and such to curb the boredom. Sometimes getting out an instrument that hasn't been getting the love does it for me - I don't get to play fretless live hardly at all these days.:crying:
 

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