Dear Tim, all your videos are fantastic, but this is one is for me especially valuable, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and explaining and demonstrating so clearly thank you!
This guy is the really far and away the best person delivering guitar tuition videos on UA-cam. And this is actually one of his best videos. Because he's a real musician. Although it sounds obvious - someone who understands importance of making music as a first priority. Far above 'technique'. Here he's really illustrating the most important thing, how to achieve dynamics (loud and soft) and tone. And the importance of beautiful touch. And this it's sadly what's missing from 95% of guitarists out there, amateur or professional. I can only guess the reason he sometimes gets negative comments, purely from those who just don't have his talent, and know they'll never have it.
Tim, your “amp ears” are so in tune with mine! To me, every good guitar, amp, pedal or combination thereof has always had a certain sweet spot. Once you find it, it’s set it and forget it (or, if you just don’t hear it, you move on to something else). Thanks also for reminding us that obtaining a good guitar sound doesn’t require buying the latest or most expensive gear.
This video was tremendously helpful! Training myself to pick (and also fret) lightly has greatly improved my tone and also my playing! Fretting lightly has helped my fingers to move with much more ease which has in turn greatly improved my accuracy.
THANK YOU, Mr. Pierce ! ! ! That explanation provides the most detailed information on dynamics that I have heard or read for the electric guitar and amp tone....... I have been combining this with your lesson from a couple of weeks ago on rhythm.....and it has started turning around my frustration and progress with ..... tone and technique that I hadn't achieved until now.....Best Regards!
That light picking advise is hugely important, for me at least, in adding feeling to playing guitar. Dynamics and note velocity are a greatly overlooked form of expression. Thanks for the great lesson Tim!
I`m spoiled. I sit in here running wet dry wet. couple of heads in stereo and a small pa in here. great bottom end and clarity. it`s painful to play with two a little amp after this.I was warned.but I do run two amps live and a di. but thank you for all your Knowledge.it`s power. it`s help me make myself better in so many ways.to many to count.Thank you so much.You don`t know your reaches. Two years ago I did`nt know who you were. Today i`m a different person and alot better player than I ever hoped.Much love and respect.
Lovely Silvertone. The pickups are the first mini buckers by Gibson. I have this guitar, bough at Sears at the time. Its not the best guotar but is so cool looking. Chris Isaacs uses one.
Love the tone of the les Paul with both pick ups. As from my own experience, your fingers will naturally lift less (economy of motion) with diligent practice....not really thinking about it.
Hello Tim :) Can you do a basic effects set up? I have a small collection of the basics (a delay, reverb, fuzz, modulator and a whah peddle) and I would massively appreciate you're view on good basic ways to set them up! :) Also this channel is amazing and I feel very lucky that I found this invaluable awesomeness, thanks for all the knowledge thus far!
Great stuff Tim Blackmore is like that with the fingers close it's hard to tell what notes he is playing because his fingers on the left hand barely move.
When talking about picking lightly (around 9-11) I often get string buzzing, mostly only apparent when playing unplugged, and I've been trying to figure out if my action is too low because I have to pick SOOO softly that is almost (seems to me) unrealistic to play rock at that light of velocity. Or the alternative is to just ignore it because with distortion it won't really be noticeable anyway?
Tim talks about finger pressure - this comes with time. Part of it is having the surety to put your fingers in the right places at the right times, part of it is finger strength. It may seem like you're not working as hard to cleanly fret the notes, but that is likely due to muscle development in your hand, as well as confidence... just sayin'.
I am always amazed, watching Pete Thorn's demo videos, but am always struck by how far his fingers fly from the fretboard. I realize keeping the fingers close to the guitar is a more efficient use of energy and time, but have difficulty with hammer-ons, pull-offs, and mistakenly muting the string. Another exercise to add to the practice routine...
Interesting observation. I'm actually working on fingering chords or leads in the way that gets me to the next chord shape the best. I know that sounds all rudimentary but, working on a few songs I realized that the shortest path was always the best, even if it left out a voicing I might like. Of course if I really wanted that voice then my right hand has to create space to get there.
Tim @ 7.46 in this video , what you were playing sounded like a Skynyrd song, It sounded like the song THE LAST REBEL, can you do a little ditty on that song if you get some time, I would Love to hear You Play It, And explain how it is done, That Song Is A Guitar Players Song, Thanks, Cheers Man, Cousin Figel
Are you using 10's or 9's on the Les Paul. One of your comments was about the action and light touch. I run 10's on my ESP Eclipse which is similar to that LP.
Hey Tim, Do you own any 13 pin guitars? If you do, you have to check out Antares ATG-1. (The same Antares that does pitch correction studio software.) It allows you to have a guitar that's perfectly intonated nut to bridge. *** It also lets you change your guitar tunings digitally/instantly, while remaining in standard pitch. (It does not have that digital computer harmonizer sound by doing it either.) I've been playing guitar since 1982, and it is something I've always wished was possible..... A single guitar that can be intonated throughout, with the ability to be in any tuning perfectly in tune at the touch of a button. I am a "if you like the sound of a Les Paul, Fender Strat, Marshall Plexi, etc ... then you save up for the real thing" .... BUT THIS THING IS AN AMAZING TOOL FOR ANY GUITARIST OR COMPOSER WHO DOES COVER TUNES OR STUDIO WORK. Please save your skepticism, and just try one out for one week. I think you will love it. Sorry, I know that sounds like a cheesy infomercial. It has become one piece of guitar gear I could not separate from ..... I will probably buy another because I'm afraid they will stop making them etc...
hi. i am having trouble playing the beginning lead solo on zeppelin's "b;ack dog". it seems that the strings r fighting the pick which makes my picking un-smooth. would angling the pick help or do i need to do more?
Tim, Do I just need to give up on my deluxe reverb? At gigs and at rehearsal, I can never crank up past 2, because of volume. Now I seem to have Too many pedals to compensate. Even your first amp in this vid is cranked up to 6. My deluxe sounds GrEAT at 6, I just never get to go there? Attenuators? Or new amp?
Here´s a cool idea for a vid... How to choose a guitar (used of new). You try 3 or 4 axes and make suggestions about what to hear for and which one would you choose and why... Would love to see your process on picking a guitar. Cheers!
Great topic! Tim, I noticed that when you (and a lot of guitars players) describe your tone as clean there's still hair around it. I know it probably reads clean in the mix, but wondering do you ever use super-clean clean tone?
Tim, I've been wondering for a while now, what speakers do you have in your studio? I saw the video where you went though your setup and showed your cabinet downstairs in a closet....just wondering what's doing the job for the awesome transfer of tones from closet to studio. Awesome video again man! Thanks for these!
OK thanks William, so it's a cine projector amp. I saw Tim using one before but it was in the projector case last time. I guess this is the same one out of the case? It looks pretty cool as a chassis with the transformer & tubes showing.
Austen Hooks converted a military projector for Tim. It is the same basic concept as the one shown, but don't think it is the same unit. As Tim said, there are similar conversions on ebay for $150. I saw one for $50. There are also conversion instructions for DIY. There's also a good article on amp maintenance written by Austen posted if you do a search.
That sounds interesting northof50now, I'll check out the conversion & Austen Hooks posts. I've checked eBay but I'm in the UK, don't seem to be so many bargains listed here.
Sorry, I'm not Tim :) . However I installed a set of these in my LP Traditional a couple of months ago and am blown away by the accurate PAF sound I was looking for! Very well made and perfect historic classic rock vibe from them.
What pedals have you tried already? Classic Marshall (800 series on) boosts are the SD1 and TS9, though both have a hi-pass filter in the circuit. More full range boosts like the Micro Amp will retain the low end. An Xotic AC/RC booster will allow you to boost the low with the Baxandall EQ in each pedal and boost the signal at the same time and both contain a version of the 'Tubescreamer' clipping circuit. The Nobels ODR-S in this video has a very similar circuit to the AC Booster but adds a mid control for more flexibility.
Keep the gain low, turn the volumes up to 10 add enough mids, make sure you have a nice chunch tone add a tubescreamer or a klon or a nice OD there ya go a classic fat marshall tone!
![He told me how to Find the Pocket with ANY Band [ft. Tim Pierce]](/img/n.gif)
That Mesa TA-15 sound absolutely floored me when you cleaned up with the volume pot. Had never heard of that amp before but it's sounds stellar!
Dear Tim, all your videos are fantastic, but this is one is for me especially valuable, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and explaining and demonstrating so clearly
thank you!
This guy is the really far and away the best person delivering guitar tuition videos on UA-cam. And this is actually one of his best videos. Because he's a real musician. Although it sounds obvious - someone who understands importance of making music as a first priority. Far above 'technique'. Here he's really illustrating the most important thing, how to achieve dynamics (loud and soft) and tone. And the importance of beautiful touch. And this it's sadly what's missing from 95% of guitarists out there, amateur or professional. I can only guess the reason he sometimes gets negative comments, purely from those who just don't have his talent, and know they'll never have it.
You have the right amount of information for beginners as well as the more experienced players! Thanks for the lesson Tim.
Tim, your “amp ears” are so in tune with mine! To me, every good guitar, amp, pedal or combination thereof has always had a certain sweet spot. Once you find it, it’s set it and forget it (or, if you just don’t hear it, you move on to something else). Thanks also for reminding us that obtaining a good guitar sound doesn’t require buying the latest or most expensive gear.
Tim thanks. A couple of your suggestions really worked for me. You make things simple when they really aren't.
Rewatching this May 2023...such a good video/ lessons..greetz from the netherlands..
This video was tremendously helpful! Training myself to pick (and also fret) lightly has greatly improved my tone and also my playing! Fretting lightly has helped my fingers to move with much more ease which has in turn greatly improved my accuracy.
THANK YOU, Mr. Pierce ! ! !
That explanation provides the most detailed information on dynamics that I have heard or read for the electric guitar and amp tone....... I have been combining this with your lesson from a couple of weeks ago on rhythm.....and it has started turning around my frustration and progress with ..... tone and technique that I hadn't achieved until now.....Best Regards!
That light picking advise is hugely important, for me at least, in adding feeling to playing guitar. Dynamics and note velocity are a greatly overlooked form of expression. Thanks for the great lesson Tim!
There is something very Zen about his lessons. It's awesome.
THANKS TIM, IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SEE AND HEAR YOU PLAY, AND ALL OF THE ASSORTED THINGS THAT YOU HAVE GOING ON, CHEERS, COUSIN FIGEL
Thank you Tim. Such valuable knowledge.
I think this is now my favourite video on your channel. Just great!!!
Really useful demonstration, Tim. Thanks.
It is such a pleasure to listen to all that knowledge and experience!
The master speaks serious truth.
I`m spoiled. I sit in here running wet dry wet. couple of heads in stereo and a small pa in here. great bottom end and clarity. it`s painful to play with two a little amp after this.I was warned.but I do run two amps live and a di. but thank you for all your Knowledge.it`s power. it`s help me make myself better in so many ways.to many to count.Thank you so much.You don`t know your reaches. Two years ago I did`nt know who you were. Today i`m a different person and alot better player than I ever hoped.Much love and respect.
THANKS TIM. KEEP UP THE TONE SHARING.YOU ROCK!
brillant as always!
Wow. I learned a lot from this lesson. Thank you Tim!!
Nicely done, Tim.
What a master class this one! Gotta love it
Thanks Tim Knowledge sharing is appreciated.
Tim...thank you for sharing your wisdom. Good video!
Best instructor on youtube
Really huge show Tim.
Another great video Tim, wonderful insight, thanks.
Mr. Pierce you are the best!!!
Thank you
Good lesson. Practical. I like the thoughts on pick attack.
Dude that TA15 sounds amazing! I've been going back and forth between that and an ugly amps 18. But man that mesa is top notch!
Thank you Mr. Pierce.
Excellent video-- I rather preferred the Silvertone sound. Never would have imagined it!
Awesome as usual my friend . ....thank you.
Lovely Silvertone. The pickups are the first mini buckers by Gibson. I have this guitar, bough at Sears at the time.
Its not the best guotar but is so cool looking. Chris Isaacs uses one.
Still the best. Thanks Tim.
Very informative, thanks.
Excellent - thanks for sharing
this is a really great video. thanks, i found it really helpful!
Beautiful, thank you!
Love the tone of the les Paul with both pick ups. As from my own experience, your fingers will naturally lift less (economy of motion) with diligent practice....not really thinking about it.
Excellent
Hello Tim :) Can you do a basic effects set up? I have a small collection of the basics (a delay, reverb, fuzz, modulator and a whah peddle) and I would massively appreciate you're view on good basic ways to set them up! :) Also this channel is amazing and I feel very lucky that I found this invaluable awesomeness, thanks for all the knowledge thus far!
Great stuff Tim Blackmore is like that with the fingers close it's hard to tell what notes he is playing because his fingers on the left hand barely move.
Nice stuff. Thanks!
Where is the free sewing lessons? Awesome tone and playing. Thanks for the lessons.
Love your LP! Would you share your pickup heights to get that bright yet natural tone?
Thanks always awesome
When talking about picking lightly (around 9-11) I often get string buzzing, mostly only apparent when playing unplugged, and I've been trying to figure out if my action is too low because I have to pick SOOO softly that is almost (seems to me) unrealistic to play rock at that light of velocity. Or the alternative is to just ignore it because with distortion it won't really be noticeable anyway?
your brilliant man
Tim talks about finger pressure - this comes with time. Part of it is having the surety to put your fingers in the right places at the right times, part of it is finger strength. It may seem like you're not working as hard to cleanly fret the notes, but that is likely due to muscle development in your hand, as well as confidence... just sayin'.
Which year model is your lespaul sir tim??thanks in advance☺️
I am always amazed, watching Pete Thorn's demo videos, but am always struck by how far his fingers fly from the fretboard. I realize keeping the fingers close to the guitar is a more efficient use of energy and time, but have difficulty with hammer-ons, pull-offs, and mistakenly muting the string. Another exercise to add to the practice routine...
northof50now we don't play for economy or efficiency,we play for sound, we play as a form of personal expression.
You're kidding...right?
Interesting observation. I'm actually working on fingering chords or leads in the way that gets me to the next chord shape the best. I know that sounds all rudimentary but, working on a few songs I realized that the shortest path was always the best, even if it left out a voicing I might like. Of course if I really wanted that voice then my right hand has to create space to get there.
This stuff is what its all about
Tim sorry for far-question, what are the pickups in this LP? That's one of best sounds in the world for me
Tim, thanks for the video. What delay are you using and what settings on it?
Tim @ 7.46 in this video , what you were playing sounded like a Skynyrd song, It sounded like the song THE LAST REBEL, can you do a little ditty on that song if you get some time, I would Love to hear You Play It, And explain how it is done, That Song Is A Guitar Players Song, Thanks, Cheers Man, Cousin Figel
Are you using 10's or 9's on the Les Paul. One of your comments was about the action and light touch. I run 10's on my ESP Eclipse which is similar to that LP.
He has mentioned using 10's in a few videos
Tim, you set the amp tone to the sweet spot but where do you have the guitar tone pot set when you do this?
Hey Tim,
Do you own any 13 pin guitars?
If you do, you have to check out Antares ATG-1. (The same Antares that does pitch correction studio software.)
It allows you to have a guitar that's perfectly intonated nut to bridge.
*** It also lets you change your guitar tunings digitally/instantly, while remaining in standard pitch. (It does not have that digital computer harmonizer sound by doing it either.)
I've been playing guitar since 1982, and it is something I've always wished was possible.....
A single guitar that can be intonated throughout, with the ability to be in any tuning perfectly in tune at the touch of a button.
I am a "if you like the sound of a Les Paul, Fender Strat, Marshall Plexi, etc ... then you save up for the real thing" .... BUT THIS THING IS AN AMAZING TOOL FOR ANY GUITARIST OR COMPOSER WHO DOES COVER TUNES OR STUDIO WORK.
Please save your skepticism, and just try one out for one week. I think you will love it. Sorry, I know that sounds like a cheesy infomercial. It has become one piece of guitar gear I could not separate from ..... I will probably buy another because I'm afraid they will stop making them etc...
hi. i am having trouble playing the beginning lead solo on zeppelin's "b;ack dog". it seems that the strings r fighting the pick which makes my picking un-smooth. would angling the pick help or do i need to do more?
Tim, Do I just need to give up on my deluxe reverb? At gigs and at rehearsal, I can never crank up past 2, because of volume. Now I seem to have Too many pedals to compensate. Even your first amp in this vid is cranked up to 6. My deluxe sounds GrEAT at 6, I just never get to go there? Attenuators? Or new amp?
Here´s a cool idea for a vid... How to choose a guitar (used of new). You try 3 or 4 axes and make suggestions about what to hear for and which one would you choose and why... Would love to see your process on picking a guitar. Cheers!
+JulianFernandez will do :)
Tim, any chance of getting Austen Hooks in on a video interview to talk about amps, tubes, maintenance, etc?
thank u for this video!
Hey Tim,
What are the parameters/settings you use when you refer to 'adding a little delay'? and on what delay unit?
Thanks. :)
J.
How would you compare the odr s with the odr1
Does your Paul have Mony's PAF pickups? I believe I saw that on another video.
Great topic! Tim, I noticed that when you (and a lot of guitars players) describe your tone as clean there's still hair around it. I know it probably reads clean in the mix, but wondering do you ever use super-clean clean tone?
This should be required viewing
Tim, I've been wondering for a while now, what speakers do you have in your studio? I saw the video where you went though your setup and showed your cabinet downstairs in a closet....just wondering what's doing the job for the awesome transfer of tones from closet to studio. Awesome video again man! Thanks for these!
Hah! My question exactly, nicely phrased. Thanks Tim!
He uses V30s in his cabs.
Pretty certain they are Adams Professional Audio A77X. Not certain if he has the subwoofer or not.
Thanks for the Ear- and Eye-Candy ;)
Were you using a pedal with the Mesa or just the amp?
Hey Tim, what are you using to record your voice on these videos? Is the amp mic completely separate from your voice mic?
what was the amp?
What kind of amp is that? I missed the name I guess... Great lesson, Tim!
What did you say that first little amp that you can get on eBay is called? I've rewound several times, but I can't catch it.
Bell and Howell Filmosound 385
OK thanks William, so it's a cine projector amp. I saw Tim using one before but it was in the projector case last time. I guess this is the same one out of the case? It looks pretty cool as a chassis with the transformer & tubes showing.
Austen Hooks converted a military projector for Tim. It is the same basic concept as the one shown, but don't think it is the same unit. As Tim said, there are similar conversions on ebay for $150. I saw one for $50. There are also conversion instructions for DIY. There's also a good article on amp maintenance written by Austen posted if you do a search.
That sounds interesting northof50now, I'll check out the conversion & Austen Hooks posts. I've checked eBay but I'm in the UK, don't seem to be so many bargains listed here.
Hi Tim wots your thoughts on the montys guitars PAF's?
Sorry, I'm not Tim :) . However I installed a set of these in my LP Traditional a couple of months ago and am blown away by the accurate PAF sound I was looking for! Very well made and perfect historic classic rock vibe from them.
Kossofffan cool I've just ordered a set!! Really looking forward to seeing what there like!!
can u get a jimmy page tone out of them for certain led zep songs?
OH YES indeed ! :)
thanx!
You are missing only one thing. Lava Lamp.
David Evans Fog machine!Lazer light show!Yeah,that's how I'm gonna do my bedroom vid!Nobody do that ,ok?!?
..and the longest intro to" seasons of wither" ever covered!
My dsl sounds thin any suggestions to boost the distortion ?
Mine too
What pedals have you tried already? Classic Marshall (800 series on) boosts are the SD1 and TS9, though both have a hi-pass filter in the circuit. More full range boosts like the Micro Amp will retain the low end. An Xotic AC/RC booster will allow you to boost the low with the Baxandall EQ in each pedal and boost the signal at the same time and both contain a version of the 'Tubescreamer' clipping circuit. The Nobels ODR-S in this video has a very similar circuit to the AC Booster but adds a mid control for more flexibility.
Did you watch the video ?
more Distortion will not make your sound fatter because of the compression
roll off some treble on the amp
Keep the gain low, turn the volumes up to 10 add enough mids, make sure you have a nice chunch tone add a tubescreamer or a klon or a nice OD there ya go a classic fat marshall tone!
Peter Bodzak Wich dsl?
Great video as always Tim! ... But man... you gotta watch where you go to lunch. You got stripper dust all over your shirt! Heh ...
Tim what is the name of the amp??
I believe it is a Bell and Howell Filmosound, but could be wrong.
4:38 is a Michael Landauism philosophy. Disengage the master volume for wide open tone.
How about a video on how Tim will set up the ubiquitous Fender Hot Rod Deluxe 3?! guy help me... please vote this comment up!
I've got a Filmosound and guys nearly SHIT their pants when they hear it.
All the Filmosound amps just disappeared off Reverb!
I owned a silver tone in 1964
"specially not 11"
;)
But mine goes to 11😁
Is just me, or is Tim talking much faster than usual in this vid?
Tim is your lair getting bigger? Either your shrinking or your gear is growing.
JamCave Studio Looks like a wider camera angle to me.