Do rigs really matter?

[Zap]

Proof that tone is in the fingers! No need for 100 watts if I'm only playing in my living room.

Ya, he need's no amp at all! He could just use an acoustic, because tone's in the fingers.

My point was that Doug will shred with WHATEVER gear he has in front of him. That is indisputable. It's pointless to have 100 watts if you're only in your dressing room. Clearly, he will need a MUCH larger rig if he's playing a large venue. So to clarify my original answer to the OP, the bigger the venue, the more rigs matter.

You really don't need a bigger rig for bigger venues. Doug could easily put that vox on stage with a mic in front of it.....there is a reason he doesn't. I can assure you it isn't because "he is playing a large venue." Big rigs sound better IMO....bedroom, studio, stages etc.... I haven't seen anybody make the claim that big rigs help you "shred" better?? "Finger tone" is only part of the equation. The clip of Doug shredding on a little vox does not prove that tone is in the fingers.....it only proves that shredding is in the fingers. That tone sounds like crap IMO, but the shredding sounded cool. Smaller amps in the dressing room are for convenience to warm up. I don't think anybody is suggesting that you need a 100w amp in a dressing room.

What I meant is that he will shred and make it sound good with anything he has at his disposal. He could take a tree trunk with rubber bands and make it sing because fantastic playing will always help compensate for the tones of crappy gear. Does great gear improve tone? No doubt!

 

[Digital Jams]

Doug practiced, alot, before he went searching for tone.

Just saying.

Well SONOFABITCH!!! I thought that if you spend enough money you get instant talent,tone and friends??

Has not worked for me so I gave up.

 

[Digital Jams]

These threads...

Tools matter, but they will never cover up where you are as a player. If you're a hack, everyone knows it instantly, regardless of gear. I've *never* met a pro musician who *didn't* think its in the hands/fingers. I've come across a lot of people online who never post clips (well... until they finally do and then hilarity results in one particular case) who try to claim otherwise though Even for something as simple as a E power chord as mentioned above, there is a world of difference between someone like Doug playing one and a hack. If you think otherwise, you're probably in the latter category, sorry. There are a lot of things that come through on something as simple as that as far as pick technique and how you hold your pick and the angle and where you pick etc. It all adds up. As Vrad said, go ahead and flip gear for years/decades and spend all the $$$$$ you want, if you're not happy with your playing you'll never be happy with your "tone."

About sums it up.

 

[bonedarrell]

These threads...

Tools matter, but they will never cover up where you are as a player. If you're a hack, everyone knows it instantly, regardless of gear. I've *never* met a pro musician who *didn't* think its in the hands/fingers. I've come across a lot of people online who never post clips (well... until they finally do and then hilarity results in one particular case) who try to claim otherwise though Even for something as simple as a E power chord as mentioned above, there is a world of difference between someone like Doug playing one and a hack. If you think otherwise, you're probably in the latter category, sorry. There are a lot of things that come through on something as simple as that as far as pick technique and how you hold your pick and the angle and where you pick etc. It all adds up. As Vrad said, go ahead and flip gear for years/decades and spend all the $$$$$ you want, if you're not happy with your playing you'll never be happy with your "tone."

About sums it up.

How fortunate to be happy with your playing and your tone!! I don't think I will ever be happy with either. So as soon as I am happy with my playing, I will be happy with my tone?? Awesome!!! Is it possible to be happy with your playing and still not happy with your tone?? What is Vrad's take on that I wonder??

 

[Digital Jams]

These threads...

Tools matter, but they will never cover up where you are as a player. If you're a hack, everyone knows it instantly, regardless of gear. I've *never* met a pro musician who *didn't* think its in the hands/fingers. I've come across a lot of people online who never post clips (well... until they finally do and then hilarity results in one particular case) who try to claim otherwise though Even for something as simple as a E power chord as mentioned above, there is a world of difference between someone like Doug playing one and a hack. If you think otherwise, you're probably in the latter category, sorry. There are a lot of things that come through on something as simple as that as far as pick technique and how you hold your pick and the angle and where you pick etc. It all adds up. As Vrad said, go ahead and flip gear for years/decades and spend all the $$$$$ you want, if you're not happy with your playing you'll never be happy with your "tone."

About sums it up.

How fortunate to be happy with your playing and your tone!! I don't think I will ever be happy with either. So as soon as I am happy with my playing, I will be happy with my tone?? Awesome!!! Is it possible to be happy with your playing and still not happy with your tone?? What is Vrad's take on that I wonder??

Relax, many men here are happy to be with each other here in the roman bathhouse we call rigtalk.

We are all friends here.

 

[Motorpud]

Aaahhh, the age old debate

One minute there's a whole thread talking about how "my fx loop sucks" or "this pedal sucks" it "colors my tone". Then the next thread over you have guys saying the tone is in the hands, makes me laugh really.

Why is Jerry Cantrell's tone better on Facelift than any other album? Did he have a finger transplant?

Everybody must hate Dimebag's tone because he's just a hack with no ability.

If rigs didn't matter there would just be a line of spider3 halfstacks in every stadium/venue and no "pro" musicians would bother lugging their rig half way across the world for no reason.

 

[jcj]

These threads...

Tools matter, but they will never cover up where you are as a player. If you're a hack, everyone knows it instantly, regardless of gear. I've *never* met a pro musician who *didn't* think its in the hands/fingers. I've come across a lot of people online who never post clips (well... until they finally do and then hilarity results in one particular case) who try to claim otherwise though Even for something as simple as a E power chord as mentioned above, there is a world of difference between someone like Doug playing one and a hack. If you think otherwise, you're probably in the latter category, sorry. There are a lot of things that come through on something as simple as that as far as pick technique and how you hold your pick and the angle and where you pick etc. It all adds up. As Vrad said, go ahead and flip gear for years/decades and spend all the $$$$$ you want, if you're not happy with your playing you'll never be happy with your "tone."

You're absolutely right, gear will never cover lack of ability, but playing a comfortable, familiar rig will generally provide a level of confidence that can result in a much better performance.

People (not directed at you) seem to be reading expensive into the OP's question...not sure if that was his intent, or not...

Familiar/comfortable gear doesn't need to be expensive at all, just needs to feel good to the player.

I'm looking at the question a bit more literally, I suppose.

 

[sandman]

i sound like me no matter what i play through...but different amps have different feel and yes slightly different tones...but i find i can dial most amps very similar...and once again...i sound like me...according to the description this guy is playing a zoom unit plugged into a computer..sounds good to me..wish i could play sound like that

 

['63-Strat]

These threads...

Tools matter, but they will never cover up where you are as a player. If you're a hack, everyone knows it instantly, regardless of gear. I've *never* met a pro musician who *didn't* think its in the hands/fingers. I've come across a lot of people online who never post clips (well... until they finally do and then hilarity results in one particular case) who try to claim otherwise though Even for something as simple as a E power chord as mentioned above, there is a world of difference between someone like Doug playing one and a hack. If you think otherwise, you're probably in the latter category, sorry. There are a lot of things that come through on something as simple as that as far as pick technique and how you hold your pick and the angle and where you pick etc. It all adds up. As Vrad said, go ahead and flip gear for years/decades and spend all the $$$$$ you want, if you're not happy with your playing you'll never be happy with your "
Wow! Guitar player ranking still exists in adulthood?! I haven't experienced this since junior high? If one never posts a clip or thinks differently than you then they are likely to be a "Hack??" I have posted a clip in the past purely to show what a particular amp sounded like recorded....not to display my shredness ability. But, since we are going with generalizations, I will proudly proclaim myself a hack by your definition.

Reading comprehension fail.

What I said is if you don't think there is a difference between a pro like Doug playing something as simple an "E power chord" and someone who is a hack doing the same, then you're probably likely to be a hack too, yes. It has nothing to do with "shredness ability." But like I said, the ONLY people I ever see trying to argue that it's not in the fingers are guys on forums that generally never post clips. You can draw your own conclusions on that one but I'm not "ranking" anyone, certainly not you as I don't know you or your playing. But I didn't say "if you don't post a clip you're a hack," either. There is no way to separate your "playing" and how an amp sounds recorded, they are inexorably linked.

Ok Ok......I just have a problem your generalizations. What is in a person fingers is only a part of the equation...I have never said otherwise. I don't buy that tone is ALL or ONLY in the fingers. For example, EVH is a self proclaimed chaser of tone. Why doesn't he just look at the appendages on his hands and stop chasing?? There seems to be a chip on some shoulders about guys buying a lot of gear to improve their tone. I just don't get why that irritates some. No use kicking a dead horse. I just don't agree with your position.

No one is saying that's it's ALL or ONLY in the fingers, but the part that isn't in the fingers is easily changed, because those are only tools, anyone can buy the tools. The part that IS in the fingers is very difficult to change and most aren't willing to put in the time/effort and so they flip gear. I've got lots of nice gear too, of course gear matters. And of course you don't have to agree with my opinion, it really doesn't matter to me if you do or don't, honestly. EVH has the important part covered so him chasing gear isn't nearly the tail chasing it is for others though.

My bad....I apparently misinterpreted everything you said.

No worries, I do that all the time

 

[crwnedblasphemy]

I didn't mean to start a war on this thread....shoulda titled it different....Shoulda just titled it "Doug Rippin on a small cheap little vox." Rigs matter. TO THE INDIVIDUAL. It they are happy with whatever, then it matters, otherwise we would all have the same rig.

 

[stephen sawall]

If you ever heard 20 players play on the same rig without changing anything / the same riffs you would understand fingers effect tone much more than the gear... Most of the 20 are going to sound different than the rest / very different...
It is more than apparent to me after years of working with other guitar players / people trying out for my bands / teaching...

 

['63-Strat]

If you ever heard 20 players play on the same rig without changing anything / the same riffs you would understand fingers effect tone much more than the gear... Most of the 20 are going to sound different than the rest / very different...
It is more than apparent to me after years of working with other guitar players / people trying out for my bands / teaching...

Yep, exactly. I deal with that kinda scenario 6 days/week

 

[rsm]

No. It's all about looks, what you are wearing, and your choreography. Talent, ability and gear are not in the first tier equation...and music is simply the backdrop, lip-synched and autotuned...with thumping subs.

j/k...or am I?

 

[nevusofota]

I believe most hear are reading way too deep into the OP. I think it's being misconstrued into yet another "tone is in the fingers" thread.

Yes everyone sounds unique when they play......yes fingers add to tone.....yes if you suck you will sound crappy no matter what you play through.

But the OP simply states..............Do rigs matter? PERIOD

THE ANSWER IS YES THEY DO.

 

[Digital Jams]

But the OP simply states..............Do rigs matter? PERIOD

THE ANSWER IS YES THEY DO.

IF you have the chops.

 

[nevusofota]

But the OP simply states..............Do rigs matter? PERIOD

THE ANSWER IS YES THEY DO.

IF you have the chops.

Chops aside, if all that is played is an open E string, the Diezel is going to sound better than a Pignose.

 

[Digital Jams]

But the OP simply states..............Do rigs matter? PERIOD

THE ANSWER IS YES THEY DO.

IF you have the chops.

Chops aside, if all that is played is an open E string, the Diezel is going to sound better than a Pignose.

Agreed!

 

[stephen sawall]

No. It's all about looks, what you are wearing, and your choreography. Talent, ability and gear are not in the first tier equation...and music is simply the backdrop, lip-synched and autotuned...with thumping subs.

j/k...or am I?

This stuff is obviously more important than gear or tone.... maybe more today than before ? Sound is pretty secondary to visuals for most people.

 

[bonedarrell]

So that's why George Lynch wears those gloves all of the time!!!! He's keeping his tone warm!!!! Now I feel like an idiot for thinking that was goofy!

 

[JohnSykes]

Nothing else matters...



(seewhatididthere?)