Day 96

Well, one of my guitars sold so I'm that much closer to picking up a Mesa Roadster before we're out of here.

I decided to post my other effects unit for sale as well. Here's the thing: ever single effects unit I've ever bought has gone obsolete within about 2 years. They're a lot like computers in that sense. A new one comes out with a bigger and better processor; it can do way more than the last version could and you just have to replace your old one.

Well, that's all fine and dandy, but ultimately it's like taking out a refi loan on gear. You're never done paying for it.

Now, understand that us guitarists tend to continue to buy gear as if it's going out of style anyway, but when you're trying to cultivate YOUR sound it's a whole lot better if it's not entirely dependent on technological trends and advancements.

You need a core sound consisting of components that do not go obsolete.

Obviously the first element is the guitar. It has to be the one that best delivers your message. If it is a quality guitar that ages gracefully you should not have to worry too much about replacing it. After all Brian May still uses his Red Special and it is older than I am.

Secondly, you have to find the amp(s) that deliver YOUR tone. They are the soul of your sound, hands down. You can buy all the pedals in the world but they can never match or replace tried and true tube tone.

Third, you need a core complement of effects. The average setup includes one of each of the following: Overdrive, Chorus, and Delay. Usually the amp handles the reverb. If not, a pedal can substitute for it.

For high gain setting like mine a noise gate is also a must; typically placed after the "pre" effects in your chain to kill the noise before it gets to your amp. A compressor is also a trusty standby for cleans and solos - it usually goes first in the chain.

Some players (ahem Kirk Hammett) *need* a wah in their pedal chain as well. I've had the best results with it first in the chain before everything else.

Now, unless you're the kind of guitar player who intends on tweaking the settings of those few effects before, during, and after every song, you can set those pedals to the setting you like and kick them in and out of the chain at will. A little tap dancing never hurt anyone.

All of the effects I mentioned, except maybe reverb pedals, can be found in entirely analog versions. I guess a decent comparison between analog and digital sounds in the guitar world would be the difference between a CD and an LP.

For some sounds analog is where it's at; pardon the dangling participle. Think raw rock and roll like the sound of Zakk Wylde of Ozzy and Black Label Society fame. I'm sure there's plenty of digital post processing in the sounds we hear on the CDs but the only thing in his signal path that is digital at all, pardon the pun, are his fingers.

Analog sounds allow for a decent amount of sonic experimentation, but when you really want to go nuts and come up with entirely new sounds, digital effects will do the trick.

Historically I've relied entirely too much on the digital realm to deliver my core tone. Hence my sound goes obsolete every two years on average and I never fully get used to whatever new setup replaces the old version.

It's been very similar to the way I grew up: living in a country long enough to get used to the language and culture and just about the time I feel I've finally gotten to the point of being comfortable there I move. I start the process all over again. By the third or fourth time I knew I'd never have a home so I just did enough to get by until the next move.

The analogy works.

Soundwise, guitar players need a home; that core I mentioned earlier. Beyond that every sonic foray becomes like a vacation to an exotic location. One of the best things about a vacation is the part where you come back home and sleep in your own bed again.

It's time for me to find my home.

Mesa Boogie makes the amps that deliver my voice. So far MXR (Dunlop) pedals provide the best platform for the core analog effects that round out my tone. My Steinberger and Carvin guitars are the ones that I've felt most comfortable playing. That's my home.

My Roland VG-99 is my vacation home in the Caribbean.

All this talk makes me really want to play.

Bye!

Day 96: 6+ miles in 100 minutes.