5 Pieces of Guitar Gear I Regret Buying
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- Опубліковано 14 чер 2024
- "Gear of Regret" comes into the life of all musicians. Here are 5 I wish I hadn't purchased. Buying from Sweetwater? Support me by using this affiliate link: sweetwater.sjv.io/KjXzQ7
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TC Electronic Ditto X4 Looper: sweetwater.sjv.io/m555oe
TC Electronic Flashback Triple Delay: sweetwater.sjv.io/Wqqq6e
Adam Audio AH8 Monitor: sweetwater.sjv.io/9gGP03
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Focusrite Clarett 8Pre USB: Sweetwater: sweetwater.sjv.io/anRm7M
iZotope Ozone 10 Advanced: Sweetwater: sweetwater.sjv.io/ZQb17k
Avantone MixCube: sweetwater.sjv.io/0ZQ74J
ART Pro MPA Mic Preamp: sweetwater.sjv.io/21kq4Q
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Bill Vencil - Guitars
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Video Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:52 Regret #1
03:24 Regret #2
06:13 Regret #3
08:33 Regret #4
10:16 Regret #5
14:53 You will never regret this
Great video,as usual. You should do the opposite video,"Pedals that changed my life (in a good way.)"
Excellent idea, I reckon that anyone that watches this regularly would already know his favourites but I don't, I am not new to the channel but I have only watched his videos sporadically. So yes, a list of his favourites would be great, and highly informative too I would imagine. I got out of a stay in hospital years ago and I went into my local guitar shop (John Palmer Music Centre in Waterford) and I was looking for a good wah pedal but I ended up buying a Zoom G2.1u.
I found myself suffering from choice blindness because of too many options, lol, so it was put away and it never got used. I am going to get that pedal out tmoro and give it another go, it cost me enough ffs! Sorry for the waffle, peace to you from Ireland mo chara x
I agree...as i am new to the channel this would be great! @@tomasotreasaigh111
He already did it... Little alligator pedal, ebow, ditto... if you know Bill, you already know this.
what I don't get is why you keep these pieces of gear on a shelf. okay, shame you missed the return window, but I would still sell it to fund other gear.
This is an important video because UA-camrs very rarely look back like this and, even if they do, a lot of the things that they might have regretted they either got free or got on a limited time basis. The fact is: having a huge number of complex pedals is great, but when it comes to actually hooking them up and using them, they are just going to be an inconvenience and probably stay on the shelf. Nearly always when I buy something that is really useful it is replacing or displacing something else that partly did the same thing: especially when I buy a new guitar! Being critical about our buying choices is a step towards making better decisions in the future.
Agreed 👍
My rig tends to “breathe” (GAS vs lack of funds = inhale vs exhale 😂) but I’ve been sticking to the latest iteration pretty consistently. I use an HX Stomp as the glue and brain of it all, so it’s a pretty capable setup even at just the one device!
Dear Bill, as a man probably of your age (I’m 61) I really appreciate not to say I love your contributions. They’re almost kinda sacred island in this loud’n’busy, more and more fragmented world. And the end of this video of regrets virtually turns into a (to say so) beautiful prayer. Thank you very much!🙏 Benno
You are so right on some of these. As I get older (I'm 52 now), I get easily lost with complex gear. I am gravitating towards simpler pedals that I can tweak on the fly.
I love your point at the end. Recently I’be been using this phrase… “Music is amplified emotion.” So, one of the best things we can do is invest in our emotional health. Whatever is inside of you is going to come out through your music… so focus on your inner life and health. Not quite as fun and thrilling as buying new gear, but recently I’ve found that conquering my fears and connecting with my emotions is making me a much better player than any new guitar, amp, or pedal ever will.
5 watt world quotes a synth UA-camr: "if you're not being productive then don't buy another gear hoping it will change it". I try to stand by that nowadays. The tipping point for me was when I bought a bigger pedalboard hoping to consolidate all my pedals and quickly realizing that I prefer smaller ones and that signal chains are never permanent.
I have one small regret buying my Empress Zoia, it does EVERYTHING and makes it difficult to find new pedals that do something new. I'm miles deep down a rabbit hole of sonic weirdness, and see no end to it.
Complexity doesn't always work for many people. All 5 of your choices in my opinion are complex. I remember seeing Lenny Breau and preferred him on 6 strings instead of 7. So glad you did this video. I appreciate your honesty.
2:25 I just wanted to mention that the Expanse + EXP pedal is actually meant to be loaded up to the computer so you can add multiple different effects to it. I have multiple WET reverbs loaded on mine.
My biggest gear regret, and it was almost 20 years ago now, was buying a Rickenbacker 4003 bass. A lot of my bass heroes played something similar, it looked so cool, it was an iconic piece of gear...and I just didn't like it. It was uncomfortable to play for me (I even injured myself on it during a gig more than once), it didn't feel right, and I honestly didn't really like the sound all that much. I had a Fender MIM Precision bass as a backup and ended up playing it a lot more and loved everything about it more. I had the same issue with a Gibson Les Paul Custom and in the end I think the issue for me was wanting something for the feelings I had about music made by bands I love with that instrument, vs my feelings and needs actually PLAYING it. My playing preferences ended up being very different from my "taste". At least it was educational, and both appreciated in value and I sold them years later for more than I bought them, so it's not a deep regret.
Love this comment and actually my own two main instruments are a 4003 and a Burny Les Paul, for the same reasons as you. But in my case, they’re both so familiar and comfortable to me that I can’t imagine playing anything else. Glad you found the gear that feels right for you!
Just discovered your channel over the last couple days and I just wanna say thanks! It's awesome to have a channel to go to that specifically focuses on ambient guitar work, which is a big part of what I do.
I sold my expensive valve amps and my entire pedalboard worth over £4000 and purchased a Fractal FM9. I have no regrets, its sounds amazing, the amps the effects are world class, and it gives me all the sounds I've been chasing in my head for years. Stick with it. The ambient sounds on it can do are the best I've heard. I use it in Church often for huge soundscapes between songs. So good. And light.
Just got mine a couple months ago and it’s the best investment I’ve ever made
I'm just starting and don't have the budget for such a pedalboard. But I just bought the NUX MG-30 and I'm super happy with it. For a beginner is great. I had my dream of buying pedals and build my pedalboard. But I changed my mind, with such a multieffects you have all the pedals and you can switch patches quickly to play different songs, styles. So you don't have to bend down and adjust all the pedals so you can start playing something, then do it again for something else. It's a great thing. Oh and I already have a computer interface to record, so I don't have to buy a separate one!
Yeah I love my FM9. It takes a little time to wrap your head around it but once you do it’s fantastic. So flexible. You can set it up the foot switches to do whatever works best for your style. I’m still playing around with mine trying to figure out the best way to set it up but the sounds of the presets alone are excellent.
Excellent video - totally appreciate the honesty! My regret is too often selling a piece of gear and then coming to the realization that “hey! I miss that!” - but I don’t regret selling my tube amps and transferring to Quilter solid state amps! Nor does my back!
It’s possible to fall back in love with a piece of gear you think you hated…
About a month ago I bought a Behringer Poly D on a whim, I’d always wanted a minimoog and it was a mere £450!
At first I thought I’d made a massive mistake - mostly as I didn’t have space for it! Didn’t know what to do with it.
Then, I had a jam with a guitarist friend with it and my Korg SV2 on a Rhodes sound, and I fell in love with it. Mostly because I’d learnt how to use it, through improvising and having some fun with a good mate!
Lesson? Spend some time experimenting with gear properly before getting rid of it, you might fall in love with it!
Excellent advice for all of us!!!!!
Great video of lessons-learned!! And thanks for the extra insightful and very true message at the end!!
I love the way you speak. You manage to convey a lot of passion.
This is a great video topic. Good Job!! I feel about the same with the learning getting into the instrument. It was a boom when I got started in 2019. So many bought and sold. The first one I bought black strat remains my favorite. I plan on focusing on 2 guitars and trading off the rest for upgrades etc.
Very clear and good lessons here, thank you
Much needed video, good stuff as always, Bill! I had the same experience with the 2 pitchforks. Your demo actually sealed the deal for me getting the + 😆. But that’s true of tons of gear I have because I enjoyed the demo. And I have many more pedals I LOVE because I saw your demo of them and because you showed me _how_ to use them to make the sounds and music I wanted.
I’ve learned sooooo much about using my gear and guitars to play the ambient music I love sinking into and healing myself through music. I think a lot of us owe you enormous thanks for that. You’re the best, Bill! ✌️😌🎸
I was lucky to get an FM3 quite early on, it was my first ‘multi-effect‘/amp modeller since a boss GT3 I borrowed many years ago.
After the honeymoon phase of a few weeks, I was overwhelmed by the options… it found a place in my drawer for over a year and I went back to my love for individual stomp boxes.
Recently I gave it another chance (like you are doing :)), watched some useful videos by Leon Todd and G66, now I am finding ways to use it that I didn’t think possible before and it’s expanding my creativity.
For me at least, it was well coming back to and investing more time in, no regrets here :)
Thank you for the video and good luck revisiting your FM9!
Holy crap. Going back to the 70's. That is awesome.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom and humility. You're a good egg, Bill Vencil!
Great video and a very tactful approach to the topic. There is an upside to regret on the musical gear journey - it's humbling and instructive and often makes you appreciate your foundational instrument even more. I can play around with the amp and pedals, but then I sit with the acoustic and just breathe it in. Yin and Yang.
Good video and another would be 'the gear I got rid of and wished I hadn't!' Have a good weekend Bill.
SEND IT BACK!!!
Good life lesson there 😄
Love the advice of "have a plan" when buying gear. I've definitely experienced regret for not thinking through a plan ahead of the purchase. . Great video!
I’m actually not super surprised about your thoughts on the FM-9. Helix stuff is amazing and can do so much! Interestingly enough Devin townsend uses exclusively fractal stuff for his heavy music but for his ambient guitar project “dreampeace” he uses a helix. Check it out!!
The Fractal stuff is great if you are going to set up a tone and effects chain to use all the time. Or, if I want to have a particular sound to cover a song, I can have a preset just for that song. The Fractal can sound like anything. Tweaking things in real time though is tough unless you do it on the computer. The helix user interface is so much better for tweaking things on the fly on the unit itself. When I just want to play around, try out different things, its just easy on the Helix. I've had a axefx 3 since they came out and still find the interface annoying to deal with.
Great video. I can relate as I’ve had many pieces I don’t end up using. Currently, I am almost exclusively using a Helix floor unit. I too love the HX edit software. I also have a Line 6 variax standard that I use for live performance, but I still use my various guitars when recording for the difference in feel, as well as tone. Always look forward to your videos!
Lots of sage wisdom here!!! So so so many good points!!!
The trick for learning 7-string is to remember that you can retune that bottom string! If I’m playing something it D major/B minor or E, B works great on the bottom. Occasionally I tune it down to A if I bop between the 7-6-5 strings or want access to single finger chords. But most of the time I tune it to C, and that offers some great chord options without stretching my fingers more than a 7-string already does. (And I have big hands.) Watch some Yamandu Costa, Lachie Robertson, or George Van Eps, and give it a shot! Otherwise I’ll take that PRS off your hands 😉
Tuning the lowest string to A also makes it significantly easier to play 7 note chords. Especially when playing "A shape" chords that span 3 octaves.
Another cool simple trick on 7 strings is to tune the G string to F#. this way it's like playing a 6 string tuned one 4th below with an additional high E string ;)
Stephen Carpenter of the Deftones tunes high 7 strings like 6 strings guitars but with double 6th high string.
Some great insights into some good kit.
I’ve often been surprised by what works really well apt someone else just drag not scratch the itch for me, and visa versa.
You’re spot on though with the most important bit of kit being ourselves and the inspiration.
👍
Wow two things I absolutely can’t play without a 7 string and the SY300
I switched from 6 string guitar to 7 string with no plan or knowledge of how to use them at age 13 now 15 years later i exclusively play 7,8 & 9 string guitars with multiple synthesizer pedals. The lower pitch of the extra strings makes the synth pedals really pop.
I love your channel btw super inspiring videos. Your video on the SY300 was the reason why I got it and now I can’t imagine playing without it. If I didn’t watch your review on it i probably wouldn’t have got it. Keep up the great content 🤘👽🤘
Thanks for sharing this with us Bill. I think most of guitar players don't have the ability to try equipment and take the chance of either purchasing Guitars to Effects Pedals etc.. So in the UK there isn't many local music shops you can pop down to and try the latest Guitar or Pedal etc , however there are a few channels which really give honest reviews on the latest and greatest "Guitar and Pedal Must have". Thanks again for sharing this with us Bill. All my best wishes from the Lake District (UK). 😎😎😎😎🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶
Like your conclusion. Very emotional as always
How true is your last sentence. Thank you for that!
Love this... we all need it. Thanks Bill :^)
I feel that way about my Quad Cortex. I got it for my 62nd Birthday about 8 months ago. Long story short is I like it but don't love it. I ended up using it as the center of my new pedalboard which includes a Keeley AT Halo, Strymon Cloudburst, and just last week added the Brig. So I run all my time based effects into the Effects loops. I play at church and like the slightly ambient sounds. Recently added a Tone King Imperial MKII from Amalgam Captures and it sounds amazing as my amp from the QC. So yes, I do slightly regret the QC, but I am learning new ways to use it.
I am LOVING the combination of the Halo, Cloudburst, and Brig. Have you ever tried some or all of these in combo? Love your channel and your music. God bless.
I actually love 7-strings for everything from metal to ambient, and I can really recommend giving it another try - ESPECIALLY for ambient! A few suggestions I would give:
1. I think ambient is a great way to get used to the extra string and just start slow. Play with a long, slow delay (or even go "Frippertronics"), keep in mind what notes you need, and it will just become natural over time. It's probably the most relaxing way to learn, when the tone itself requires you to play slower and give yourself time to think.
2. I tend to prefer drop A (or lower, if you will) as I think it's both more intuitive and arguably more useful overall - it's actually hard to incorporate the low B into bigger chords, whereas you can always just hold the extra two low strings to get an octave/power chord. Or just hit an open A power chord when in doubt, because why not.
3. Tuning even lower can be surprisingly great for ambient, as long as you keep the low end in check. You get a lot of frequency range to play with, and the low notes can sound really dramatic with ambient effects. I've made an ambient piece as low as drop F and those reverberating near-bass notes combined with playing up high can really be *something*.
4. Very subjective, but imo: try lighter strings than you think you need. The neck is bigger so everything takes a bit more effort, and tight strings can really feel like you have to fight against them, whereas lighter strings are a lot more dynamic, which is imo especially fun to play with in an ambient context, when you can do everything from very subtle to TWANNNNNNG easily. (And imo, most 7-string sets except the most typical ones are often very dumb and absurdly bottom-heavy - if you want something beyond the usual 10-56, imo it's better to refer to what you use on 6-string and buy a separate 7th than buy a 11-74 set or whatever they came up with in their mad scientist lab.)
I bought a heavy pick a while back. I didn’t like it, I prefer medium. That’s 60 cents I’ll never get back…
That fractal fm9 is really cool with that said, you never know when something will come to you in ideas when writing and laying down tracks and that peace of gear is the ticket at that time i hope it will work out for you, i really do.
Hello! Only yesterday did a come across your channel and immediately subs. Amazing content and inspiration really. And if may say so, in this particular video a found some sort of Arvo Part resemblance, like, in the way you use space in between sounds... don't really know how to explain it :) thanks for your music, will be here for the content to come!
Thank you chords of Orion!
Great video, Bill! It's nice to see a video like this that doesn't lean into the "gear acquisition syndrome" concept. Sometimes you make a considered purchase and it just doesn't work out. I play lead in a psychedelic rock outfit, and I often end up stacking 5 to 10 pedals at once between boost, overdrive, modulation, delay, and reverb. One of the biggest variables for me is always, "how well does this play with my other pedals?" I love EQD reverbs, but they do not like my boost at all - it brings out a digital artefact distortion in the EQD stuff that kills my tone. I strongly agree with your point about taking advantage of returns, too - this is a relatively small community, and many manufacturers and retailers still care about word of mouth. They don't want to stick a buyer with gear the buyer isn't happy with, and they recognize the value of players saying "that pedal wasn't for me, but that company was great to deal with about it."
EXCELENT VIDEO, THANK YOU SO MUCH
4:30 “Boss has a very characteristic sound”
… it’s tearing paper sound. Once you notice it can’t be unnoticed
The Boss SY-300 is my regret, fun for the first hour. But it is very confusing to create custom sounds and the stock sounds are a little too cheesy. I agree 100%
You have to look at how Pat Metheny did it to really understand the tone it can get. Also need to mix it with your guitar tone.
@@shitmandood ok, I'll check it out, thank you.
Be sure and use an expression pedal with the Boss, you’ll have more usable options. Same with their Slicer pedal - the ability to slow it down with an expression pedal? Crucial.
When I got my first 7 string guitar, I intentional did not just start playing it like a 6 string. Instead, what I did was learn how to play "Paranoid" one octave down, then I learned to play songs that go up from an open E chord to a D chord but going down to the D that the 7 string affords me.
Taking that approach helped me learn the instrument as an extension pf a 6 string and not just playing a 4th down.
When I went to an 8 string, my approach was to learn 3 octave scales using all 8 strings, and I did the same with a 9 string guitar. On a 9 string, I can cover the entire range of a 6 string spanning 9 frets.
Good concept. Looking back on gear and sharing the experience when en why you hardly use it anymore.
The Multitap delay block on the Fractal Is f🎉ing awesome
I had an AX-8 and was on the FM-3 waiting list, but then I switched to a Boss GT-1000 core. With fractal audio, first I was more tweaking than playing, then I ended up using one amp and didn't use all the other options I paid for. So I thought I can significantly reduce in size. Plus, as you said; Boss had a distinctive sound. I always loved their delay algorithm. Now the AIRD amp simulation sounds amazing too - imho way better than the AX-8. I guess Fractal Audio just isn't for everyone.
I didn't regret buying the AX-8 though. Back then most amp modellers sound pretty pour.
Thank you, another great video.
What is it with guitar synth pedals? The Boss SY-1 was one of my regrets. It was fun at first but after about a week of fairly intense playing around with it, I found it's limitations. It just didn't fit into my current workflow. On the other hand, I've now started to re-use an old digitech pedal that I purchased in the Jurassic period😂 because it has programmable levels of volume swells that are ideal for my ambient tracks.
Hi Bill
Your sound with the FM9 seems to have a pristine quality that I havent heard on your previous recordings.
I just got an FM3 and sold my Helix LT. I will say that I was on the edge of sending it back right from the start because it was so expensive and I was having a hard time selling my Helix LT. But #1 I think it sounds better hands down. I mean not to the degree you would hear it in a mix, but at home in isolation for sure. And #2 it's soooo deep, I'm a programmer and one of the main reasons I wanted the FM3 was because of assignable LFO's, envelopes etc. Little did I know just how customizable every sound is. That's both a curse and a blessing I think - it's way less user friendly than the Helix. The Helix is a killer user experience and sounds awesome too. I would also argue that it's build quality seems better than the fm3. Both are amazing I think it really comes down to how much of a power user you are - the Fractal is like a semi-modular system basically... I'm saying that in the modular synthesizer sense for the uninitiated.
I had the same experience with the Fractal ecosystem (AXE 3 with FC12). It’s an incredibly remarkable piece of gear.
However you have to fully commit to learning it to get the most out of it, and from my standpoint, I already had sounds I loved, and getting the Fractal to do the same thing or better would have taken a monumental amount of time. If you are willing to learn an entire new way of approaching your set up, the Fractal offers the current peak of this technology. If you are trying to supplement what you already have, a smaller, simpler modeler is the way to go. That way you aren’t entirely reliant on one methodology and/or the dealing with the frustration of making multiple methods work together.
Like you, Bill, I've used Roland guitar synths back to the GR300, GR700, GR20, GR33, GR55....and now I use a GI20 into Korg synths. When I saw the previews for the new Boss GM800, I got right on board and preordered it. During the wait time, I studied the demos and looked deep at the ZEN core deal....and I cancelled my order. I'm positive this is a great piece of gear, but I couldn't justify the purchase based upon my own needs for what synths can do for me anymore. I've got that avenue covered and I know that I could do some great sounds with a GM800....but I can do that right now with what I already have. I've got a lot of gear I regret buying, and kudos for making a vid about this subject. Thank you!
Completely agree on the 7 string. I bought one during the years i played professionally 6 nights a week and like you i had no plan to incorporate it into our show/set list. Sounded cool for about a week then sat in the equipment van until i sold it. After playing for sixty five years my regret list is long and somewhat esoteric but right now it is the Meris Hedra and UA Starlight. The Starlight is powerful and sounds great but it’s just not the “right” sound for me. The new Strymon Brig is seriously calling me because it just sounds “right” if you know what i mean. The Hedra is a total mind screw and I’m having a hard time making it sound like the amazing demo vids. I’m holding on to it for now because I’ve discovered that if you ignore what it’s supposed to sound like and make is sound just the opposite . .cacophony, it’s awesome LMAO!! Love your channel Bill and your music too.
I agree on the pitchfork+ sometimes I set the knobs and wet and dry where I want and it’s still doing something else.
It's refreshing to see a respectful, thoughtful "gear that didn't work for me" video. /// I feel similar sentiment about both the Strymon pedals I have (Volante & Sunset). Both are amazing; neither of them inspire me to actually "play". Not bad gear. Maybe "too good" in some way.
Great video!!! Thanks a lot to the author~😘
Being an insane gear hoarder, this could be the single most important vid I've seen. Thank you!
I could listen to your voice and your playing for the rest of my life
Happy to report your video on the PRS 7 helped me make the decision to buy one and I've been really pleased with it. I'm primarily a bass player now, but the PRS is my go-to for when I need to play or record guitar parts. My only regret with it was I should never have attempted to adjust the pickups and action, because it arrived perfectly setup. Credit to PRS to putting that extra bit of work in.
Great video! I think, at least for me, it's fun to experiment with new effects, etc., but I have to admit you are 100% correct that it comes down to the player. Changing your gear won't change your playing style or even your sound. That comes from within, and the desire to grow...
Great and fair video! I actually own a Boss SY-300 and love it dearly since years. It's the centre of my setup and does a lot (without the usual GK pickup system! ) but you need to really "learn" the thing and find out about it.
Great to hear the SY-300 is working so well for you!!
A thought provoking video, Bill. I think, in the context of what you are exploring here, my regret is fairly broad-based, and that is the equipment I bought was trying to cover all possible bases rather than being focused on a musical goal. So, like you, I ended up with pedals and other gear that I never use and, in recent years, I came to realise that actually a more designed and refined set up is all I need to achieve my musical goal.
You really nailed it with your closing comments. Guitar players, especially electric guitarists are constantly chasing rainbows in terms of the "holy grail" that will send us to the "next level" of musicianship. Unfortunately, as you suggested in your final comments, that rainbow or holy grail doesn't really exist, as much as gear manufacturers and music retailers want you to believe otherwise. There is, at last, no substitute for spending more time with the instrument in your hands, and maybe a little serious soul-searching about what are our most serious shortcomings as musicians. Especially for those of us who mostly "hole up" at home and play our instruments alone, we probably ought to "get out" more often, see live music. When we're playing with other musicians, we should try to play with musicians who are better than we are. Most of us could benefit from keeping our guitars properly set up and tuned, and playing with a metronome and working on our rhythm chops, and maybe playing fewer notes, but "better" notes when we're playing lead.
Dude.... I feel your pain on the 7 string front. Wanted that baritone range, then I found your channel and got a Eastwood sidejack baritone 6 string and have been into it ever since.
Hey Bill, late the party on this one, but one strategy for learning 7 string is to tune the extra string to low A instead of B. This way all your chords “rooted” on A can just shift over a few strings to the even lower A. The other side benefit is that the low two strings are now tuned to a 5th like drop d so free 1 finger power chords! Your last point is 100% on point. I really enjoy your content, so please keep it coming. God bless.
I, too, bought a 7-string guitar "to do heavy ambient" with. And rather than play metal, I mostly use it for clean ambient pieces, which fills a lot more sonic space than a 6-string.
Try tuning the 7-string to Drop A, and use open string chords... you might be surprised!
Drop A on the 7 is a great way to go about it.
Great video, yet again. I agree with almost everything you said Bill, except for the "there's no piece of equipment that can radically change what you're doing as a musician." It's rare, but it does excist! I bought a groovebox/sampler/drum machine 2 years ago in order to incorporate drum patterns with my guitar playing. Well, it changed my whole approach to making music: I went more into the electronic music production (a whole different rabbit hole) and started to create ambient music that way.
Which one? (At the risk of falling down the same rabbit hole) 😀
@@gregmetzler6828 I started out with the Elektron Model:Samples but about a year later upgraded to its bigger and more powerful sibling; the Elektron Digitakt!
I originally got a 7 string for heavier styles of music, but it was such a huge boon to my ambient playing as well. I also did not have a plan, but I ended up just doing what made sense to me, and that caused me to use it a little different than the average 7 player.
Instead of having a normal 6 string with a lower B string, I play the guitar in either B standard or Drop A tuning and my reference swap from a standard 6 string with a lower string to a standard 6 detuned 6 string with an extra high string. I stay in Drop A most often, so the tuning is AEADF#BE. This really opens up melodic playing as you have a whole upper register that was not previously available, especially if you start to experiment with the tuning of that extra high string. It really allows you to come up with some unique shapes and chords.
I did the exact same thing! Really like clean 7-string ambient.
Not a regret as I found out that it didn't meet my requirements by playing a friends one for a couple of days. I had been lusting after an immerse for my live board for a while but found that it did no more (for my sound, in a live setting) than my old EHX Oceans eleven. Money put towards a BluGuitar Amp 1 and definitely no regrets about that! Cheers Bill.
You have some sick tones my friend
I've never used a pitchfork, but Ive had a whammy 5 for about 6 or 7 years and I love it. I have my own unique way of using it and I haven't taken it off my board since getting it, except for changing effect orders or boards. I see it being with me forever. I like the whammy 5 more than previous ones because of the "chords" more that gets rid of the glitchy artifacts the whammy is known for, giving it the "whammy" sound. To this day it's the smoothest pitchshifter and the best tracking one I've ever used.
I‘m in the same boat! My whammy (first 4 then 5) has been an essential part of my setup since around 2005. I love that pedal, the offerings from other companies are great, I’ve tried a few, but the trusty original sounds best to me and always stays on my board!
Actually so unusual to see a gear video where someone didn't trying to sell the featured product. Pure enjoyment just because of this
I got an Axe FX III, and it took a good four or five months before I could get it to bring me a smile. I was LUSTING after something from Fractal for 6 years, and had dreams about owning something. I opted for the Rackmount, because I was sick and tired of having my cables and tone creating gear getting stepped on. I have always wanted a rack anyway, and this is something that I absolutely love now. Not only does it look amazing, it stays as pretty as the day I got it.
Anyway, I went the Reverb route and got a spotless mark 1 Axe III with an equally pristine EV-2 for $1650, and I also bought an FC-12 for $500 and an EV-1 for $90. When I turned the Axe on, I was quite delighted to see that it was on FW11, and I immediately got it all updated to FW19 I think it was…my Fractal was clearly a closet queen, and it looked like it. I immediately got my Music Man plugged in, and was super excited. I even bought some Kali Audio LP6 v2 studio monitors to go with it, which I got on a ridiculous sale from GC for under $300, I think they were $275. Anyway, I got it all plugged in with a brand new set of XLR cables, and fired the whole thing up….and meh.
First, I couldn’t get any of the presets to sound good. I was very surprised. But nope. It was like there was a broken cable. The clean sounds would be okay, but anything with gain sounded like I had a Dunlop Wah pedal between me and my amp….that weird impedance mismatched load feeling that takes everything away…sustain, gain, dynamics…weak. Then i remember fucking with something on the global page and now I can’t even get sound out.
I distinctly remember saying to my girl, I don’t think I’m ever gonna like this thing. She was oddly surprised, but also saw my frustration, and said I should ask someone. Who? What do I ask? I don’t ask for help, especially about guitar gear. So she asked, and got a response from Axe legend, Matt Picone. Well, that did squat besides get me frustrated because I KNEW that the Axe III running FW19+ is a freaking magic box. So I watched some videos, joined some FB groups, and learned how to navigate the thing a little bit, and learn a bunch about properly setting up the I/O…including the input gain, input trim, the noise gate on the Inputs, the ADC & DACs, the input impedance, level setting, gain staging, and how to make a simple chain sound good.
I remember the first time I was excited about it was after I got the Circular Delay preset to sound good using a Mark IV amp model. I all but completely removed the input gate which was the thing choking my signal, it was huge….along with properly setting the thing up and setting the levels properly. I am now absolutely loving the Axe III, and it can easily do any sound ever…ya gotta put some time in though. It’s not a magic piece of gear right off the bat, ya gotta pay the piper first. Take the time, it’s SO worth doing, it sounds absolutely PHENOMENAL once you get a handle on things. It’s so deep it hurts, but you don’t need to go deep to have amazing tone. Ya do gotta make sure that every one of the I/O and Global settings is correct though.
The great thing about pedals and musical gear in general is that you can try it and if it works for you, keep it, and if it doesn't, return it or sell it. Most gear we'll eventually sell or trade. And sometimes gear that doesn't work for us now, might work in the future when we're ready for it.
The Immerse mk2 is my absolute favorite reverb..It is my "always on board" reverb.
I had the FM9 for a while… I ran into the same frustration. Then I got a Quad Cortex. It sounds every bit as good as the FM9, but has a fantastic interface and can capture my drive pedals as well. Sold the FM9 and couldn’t be happier with the QC.
Great video !
Hey I own the expanse pedal from neunaber the beauty of that pedal is you can change it to what ever you want. I bought the shimmer pedal Version and have it set with a wet reverb a shimmer a chorus and a tremolo. All you gotta do is plug it into the computer and change it to what ever you want.
I love my expanse set. It nearly got bumped off my board, but I love the wet setting so much that it's basically part of my "clean tone."
I did learn the same kind of lesson with the C4 I do not enjoy synth pedals.
Yeah - the C4 was a big disappointment to me. Normally I love Source Audio, but that one - did not connect with it.
I had a pout on with Line 6 for a long time after buying a Firehawk and then they dropped support for it.
But I eventually gave in and bought a Helix Floor.
I'm glad I did because it does all the things I need for my Guitars and Basses.
And it is capable of even more with it's Mic input and multiple inputs, if I needed it to.
The convenience of the Helix Native software version is great for someone who does most things into a DAW; like I do these days.
So I guess my regret piece would be the old Firehawk.
Sounds good enough, but is awkward to program and presets can only save to the cloud.
Great vid cheers! 🤘😎😃👍
Using the seven string to play most of the same things you play on your six string guitars, and then, adding a lower extension on chords with the lowest string tends to be the easiest way to start incorporating the instrument into your comfort zone. It’s really nice being able to play some open natural chords, like you would on a six, but having the ability to add some sort of extra harmonic structure or texture with that additional low note can be very gratifying!
Hey Bill, try tuning the low B string down to an A, and use it to supplement your playing with low end chords underneath your melodies.
I enjoyed this perspective! The thing we don't think of we gear many times, is exactly what you explained you didn't enjoy with gear, is "workflow". It's cool, but does it work for what you do and how you play music? Options are only amazing, if they're usable for your application.
From a personal experience though, I can't say there's really gear I regret buying. Yes, we spend a lot more money then we should, but an education can cost money as well. You can look up gear all you want, and try it, but in many cases, until you have it in your hands, to use the way you do, you won't know how it fits. But you gain knowledge from using it, of what you like, and dislike, to add a general of what you want in a piece of gear, and what may not work for you. Many of us remember a time, when you couldn't get someone elses perspective on a piece of gear, unless they tried it, or just having to read internet forum posts... Or just spending hours trying something in a guitar shop, which even then, isn't always how you'd use it.
Keep playing amazing ambient music!
I’m my opinion, a 7 string guitar can be approached as a 6 string with a little extra. (As opposed to an entirely different instrument.) It’s still EADGbe at the end of the day, but now there’s an added low B in there. The thicker neck takes a little bit of getting used to, but I was able to adjust without too much issue. I do agree that you should have a plan when buying one. Mine was the fact that I listened to a lot of metal that used 7’s and had fun learning their songs. I wager this is what got me comfortable with the instrument at the rate I did. 7 string ambient drones are pretty fun.
8:03 - The flip side to this issue is that we *can't* always know exactly how we plan to approach a new thing (instrument/gear/etc) if we haven't had a chance to sit with it yet. Or, we can formulate a plan based on what we *think* the new item is going to be... but that can lead to a huge cognitive dissonance if/when the reality of this unknown thing ends up being at least somewhat different from our preconceived notions (which it almost inevitably will be, to some degree).
All this is to (*very* respectfully and humbly) say that, while having a clear and accurate plan of attack for every new thing we obtain would certainly make things easier, it's also unlikely that we're going to know exactly what the new thing entails until we start working with it, hands on.
Lovely video as usual, Mr. Vencil. :)
Bill - the thing I've heard people do with the FM9 and other fractal gear that the other great modelers can't do nearly as well is cello and string section sounds. I'm not sure those sounds are built in, but there are some guys online that sell their Fractal packs for cello and string patches that sound fantastic. You might want to explore that. Your ebow stuff is great, but as you know the ebow limits you to certain techniques and having a great cello/string sim would be quite liberating to explore more textures.
I heavily research anything before I purchase it, especially and including guitar gear and guitars. I give myself at least a week or two of demos, reviews, etc. and then mull it over for at least a week and then slowly begin a yay or nay process in my head. It took me 7 years just to decide on a Roland JC40 amp, which I truly and absolutely love. Took me about a month to figure out whether I wanted or needed a TC Electronics Hall Of Fame 2 pedal, again love it! I have a Helix Floor AND 2 different pedalboards as well. Everything included, I use it all for different things. I rarely make trigger purchases because I don't want a build up of music hoarder mentality.
I hear you... I have too many pedals that sound alike. And then there's my Quad Cortex: love the idea. Fantastic piece of gear... incredible diversity. I just haven't found that I use it... I suppose Im just hooked on my old-school tube amps and pedals.
Thanks for sharing and reminding us that it's okay to regret buying awesome gear! (Like that Nashville Telecaster on my guitar rack...) 😉
It's NOT just me then... I so want to like the Nashville Telecaster hanging on the wall in my studio, but I have Strats and Teles with better character and a better feel ( I don't like to sell guitars, so I guess this is one of my regrets )
I'm not even going to start on the number of so, so pedals I have lying around because I thought they would be the final solution in my search for "That Sound"
You have my respect, sir. My regret video would be longer than Avatar. Most of my regrets are pedal related or of the "think I'll learn banjo" category. Right now, my biggest regret is all the money I spent on stuff that I didn't need to rarely used. Good video. Thanks.
Can't you just resell them???
Oh yes! However, it's usually at a loss. Looking at it as a rental helps.@@joeking433
Love the channel
I am not an ambient type player but I do enjoy seeing what you and others can get out if the gear and the thought process that goes into that type of playing. I have used some in my straight forward gigging type playing.
In terms of gear I have accumulated so many pieces that have sat in boxes, cases and in closets before I came to this conclusion.
Don’t buy a piece of gear if you aren’t finding the need for it. If my signal chain is lacking something or I am wanting to add to my tone I will research equipment to get that but if I just see something in a demo or in a store and I think “wow that’s cool” it doesn’t mean that it will be cool in my rig or will add something that is missing. If I hear it and think “I could use that to do this” then it’s worth it to me to try it out.
Particularly today with modelers and DSP the need for gear isn’t what it used to be.
Anyway just my opinion on things and just to say I enjoy your content.
I'm not sure how old you are, but I'm 57, so we can't be toooo far off in age... I have a Fractal Audio AX8, and it took me 3-4 months before I could get anything usable to come out of it. Everything from the basic setups, to just hooking it up so I could hear it. Now, I run it through either my Marshall JCM 2000 head into the cleanest tone I can get, or my Engl Ironball 20w head. The fractal settings all sound different through both heads, one is more classic Marshall, that would be the Engl head strangely with the Fractal running straight into the front. The Marshall sounds like a high gain Bogner or even the Range when it's being run in its intended way. But the fractal unit is pretty cool, it definitely gives me sounds and tones my gear doesn't with all the traditional gear I've got. Keep it!! You'll get there and you will hopefully anyway, be glad you hung onto it. It is a bit of a learning curve though...
I owned the Sy300 a couple times and had a similar problem. Just didn't have the versatility I hoped. Luckily at the time I'd bought it used (both times I tried it) and the resale was relatively same as what I'd spent.
The Immerse mk2 is my absolute favorite reverb!
Hi Bill, I can only comment on one and that is the guitar synth SY300 ... I have the SY1000 and it's great. But really the problem is always going to be the tracking, especially if you're a bit sloppy like me. I do however use it a lot, but probably not in the intended way. I almost never use the really synthetic type of synth sounds and stick to strings/pads and modeling. That way I don't suffer too much from the mis-triggers. I see there is a new Roland / Boss guitar synth out now, but holding off. Another thing I do is have the SY1000 and the GR synth used together using the special roland 13 pin split lead, that allows me to use them in tandem. Now we are talking. Very lush and wide... but again I never try for anything percussive (piano for example) as it just sounds pants. In a way, I feel it was a purchase I should have skipped, since much easier to just use a keys synth, but it is at the end of the day fun. Expensive fun.
I had same "problems" with the EHX Superegos! I used to have the standard Superego for few years, then I upscaled to the Superego Plus and sold the old one. The additional features and FXs on the SE+ are super cool, but after 1 year I asked a friend to lend me his Standard SE to compare both unit (when I did the switch I've sold my older SE that I hadn't time to compare it to the plus), and I found out the I felt better using the SE Standard for few reason: compact format, simple to use, better sounding (SE standard has a nice slight mid range boost and more output volume available on tap). So I sold the SE+ and got again the SE standard!
As far as the Neunaber Expanse: can't you swap the firmware for the reverb or the delay on these?