Your opinion on digital guitars

[kentuckyklira]

Originally posted by MERRYKISSMASS2U
That's my favorite Megadeth song.

Happy birthday, dude!

[MERRYKISSMASS2U]

Originally posted by kentuckyklira
Happy birthday, dude!

Thanks, señor!

I like that song, but it's kind of depressing, so people sometimes ask me why I listen to it so much.

[ELVIS]

Originally posted by kentuckyklira
OK, just listened to the clip. Good guitar sound, no doubt. But, are you gonna tell me that live recording didn´t get some "cosmetics" in a studio none of us could afford before getting released??

No...

[Wallyg]

Originally posted by kentuckyklira
I have yet to play a gig where a hard rock or heavy metal guitarist sounded great live with Line6 gear. Sure, they´ll always sound decent, but not more. At living room levels, or maybe even in the studio, they might deliver the goods, but live, they lack the punch and pressure I´m looking for.

I want my setup to react to how hard I hit my strings, how I play with the volume pot, etc. etc. etc.. Line6 just doesn´t do it!

I agree with you. I see many players using Line6 gear that sound pretty bad actually. I see many players playing Marshalls, Dumbles, Soldano's, (fill in the blank boutique amp), Bogners, Boogies, etc. that sound bad also. An amp is only as good as who is dialing it in. Line6 gear takes time and knowledge to tweak the right sounds especially because of the many variables-models/cabs/mics/stomps/postFX/routings/- involved. It takes someone with experience with rack systems, pedalboards, and many different types of amps to really get the most out of a Vetta. Most players have neither the experience nor the patience to accomplish this. I've owned mine for almost 6 years now and I'm still finding new cool sounding stuff in it (Plus they upgrade and add new amp models for free from time to time).
I've played many shows small and large with many different name brand acts who used every kind of amp. I get nothing but compliments and questions from most musicians because they haven't heard a Line 6 rig sound great. I'd put it onstage next to anyone. But in the music and art world the saying, "to each his own pal," is the bottom line. If what you or I use works for us and gets the best music out of us, it is the right tool for the job.

[DeadOrAlive]

Originally posted by Coyote
Got no use for a digital guitar...

I'm still trying to figure out the analog one.

Nobody will ever master the analog one... Too much you can do on it. Never going digital either.

[BrownSound1]

Originally posted by ELVIS
I know Brownsound, you frown on going digital, but in this day and age you can't avoid it if you want to record...

So, I figure why not take charge of my own digital aspect of my sound before some bonehead engineer thinks he has a better idea...:D

Well, it isn't so much the idea of digital that bothers me, it is just that they haven't gotten it to the point where there is some life in the tones. I think they will eventually get it, but for me it isn't quite there. For dinking around the house though I have no problem with someone using a POD or something like that. I certainly don't expect anyone to be cranking a 100 watt Plexi into the wee hours of the morning. However.....there isn't a one of these models out there that captures that vibe to a tee. Same goes for Fender or Vox models too. The Messy Booger ones, well they sound like ass anyway so who cares. :D

Now as far as recording, well I'm all about using some type of DAW, just for the editing capabilities if nothing else. Sure a good old analog tape sounds awesome, but who wants to edit with a razor blade. :D

[Steve Savicki]

Looks interesting:

[jhale667]

Originally posted by BrownSound1
The Messy Booger ones, well they sound like ass anyway so who cares. :D

Them's fightin' words!! Nah, we've been over that in another thread...I hate everything after the MK III series. The MK IV's and Rectifiers do not do it for me. Though I do think they're getting better with the Stiletto....

[BrownSound1]

Originally posted by jhale667
Them's fightin' words!! Nah, we've been over that in another thread...I hate everything after the MK III series. The MK IV's and Rectifiers do not do it for me. Though I do think they're getting better with the Stiletto....

Exactly bro. The old Boogies are great, but that new shit....buzzy as fuck. I feel the same about new Marshalls too.

[Panamark]

I have to enter the debate ! :D

I think Elvis's approach is probably the best way
to remove the hassles of getting a good analog
tube tone without having to frig around with
mic placements (and mic's in general)

Really you are only removing the power amp
and microphones from the equation...
Theres a good argument that the pre-amp
would be delivering a much better, stronger
signal tone than than a microphone in front of a cab..


Also agree with BS1 about modelling too, its cool
to muck around with, but theres still something
missing. Kinda like listening to an old LP record
on a stereo tube amp versus a low bitrate MP3
through a digital system... You can hear the
music, but theres a lot of life sucked out of it..

I love that feeling of a Marshall on the verge of
feedback and the way you can use that in your
playing. Using the Line6 stuff just doesnt give
you that same "alive" feeling..

I too have had every POD since they came out..
Great toy, but I fucking hate it for recording.
Im going to try pluggin in one of those ADA MP(1 or 2)
tube pre-amps into the sucker (like Elvis has done)
and see if that injects some life into the chain..

Seems to me that the two placement mic method
(one in front of CAB, one to take the room) with
SM57's is the best way to go.. But Crikey !!!
what a lot of dicking around.. So many variables too..
The tube-preamp into a digital modeller
approach seems like a great way of getting the job done...

Im curious too as to using the tube pre-amp with
something like the Amplitude 2 software
and a M-Audio digital input.....
(Totally cutting the POD out of the equation)

http://www.audiocourses.com/article1875.html

I know old PlexiHead here does something like
this with good results..

[jhale667]

Originally posted by Panamark
eral)

Really you are only removing the power amp
and microphones from the equation...
Theres a good argument that the pre-amp
would be delivering a much better, stronger
signal tone than than a microphone in front of a cab..

Actually, those two elements are an integral part of the equation, and what all of our ears are "used to" hearing...
and power-amp distortion cannot be beat.

[Panamark]

Originally posted by jhale667
Actually, those two elements are an integral part of the equation, and what all of our ears are "used to" hearing...
and power-amp distortion cannot be beat.

True... Except (maybe its just me) microphones are a
pain in the butt..
Agree about the Poweramp ..
Im just slack, looking for an easy way to get that
same big sound without the hassles..

[ELVIS]

It can be done...

[Nitro Express]

Who would have thought people would still be buying Telecasters, Stratocasters, Jaguars, Jazzmasters, Les Pauls in the 2000's. Most of these guitar designs are a half century old. Want a PAF? Seymour Duncan makes the Seth Lover designed and named after the guy who developed the original in the 1950's for Gibson. Want a V neck 50's style Strat. They make them. Want a tube amplifier? Many good ones to choose from.

Sure there's the digital stuff but compare what you can buy today to the 1980's as far as classic styled gear goes. Fender was hit and miss in those days. It's a much better company now. Will there be tube amps and Fender Stratocasters in 2050? Kids still love em as much as we and our parents did. I can see it being so.

[Nitro Express]

Both my dad and brother were audiofiles who loved high end stereo gear. Both have passed away and I inherited some very nice equiipment from both and yes, the amps are tube mostly of McIntosh make.

My dad had a diverse collection of music on vynle and he was a total Rat Pack freak so I have a ton of Sinatra, Dean, and Sammy Davis on vynle. I'm blown away how full and dynamic old records are and how lifeless and thin digital recorded CD's or MP3's are in comparison.

I have found running digital processed music through a tube based amplifier does add some character and color back into the sound. The reason is tubes are inefficient. The electrons flow from the cathode to the plate through an air space. This creates a natural delay and character. If it works with my stereo it should work with digital processed guitar signals.