mystixboi
Well-known member
Have you found that one piece of gear that just became “it” for you? If so, what was it and why?
For me… there are two pieces of gear that I’ve gotten that have completely blown me away and changed my attitude towards playing. Ironically, both have been in the tail end of 2016, but it’s like a complete rebirth for my playing. It’s pretty refreshing.
First up… Ibanez AT10P…
I thought I was done with Ibanez guitars… for the past few years, I’ve been playing Suhr, Music Man and PRS. I’ve tried other brands and I own other brands, but these 3 were the models I played most. I was convinced I was a dual humbucker guy with the volume and tone control maxed out.
However, rediscovering Andy Timmons in the past year or so has opened up my eyes and ears to a completely different approach to the sound that I hear in my head. I decided to give his AT10P a shot since most of the reviews I’ve read about it claim that it’s almost dead on like the AT100 but a fraction of the cost.
I got my AT10P from IbanezRules.com. After setting up the guitar to my liking, I found myself loving this guitar and bonding with it immediately. I haven’t touched my Suhr or PRS since. In fact, I’ve sold my Music Man Albert Lee and PRS Vela since I found that I didn’t care to even play them anymore. The Suhr and CU22 have sentimental value so I won’t be moving them.
Why is the AT10P a total game changer for me? Prior to getting the guitar, I would play maybe 10 or 15 min a day… if that. I also found myself playing to the same backing tracks over and over and not developing much as a player. I would just shred and shred… not much dynamic range.
But the AT10P has inspired me to roll the tone and volume knobs back a bit and play with more melody and finesse. My playing breathes more. I still add the shred aspect to things, but more for color… rather than being “one note” as a player.
The 2nd piece of gear that is a game changer is the Boss Katana amp. I have the 100 watt 1 x 12 and I live on the clean and crunch channels. I have a boost engaged, but really just to add a little more body and fatness… not dirt. Boss nailed it out of the park with these amps. I even put my 5150 iii 50 watt for sale today. I touched it for about 3 min yesterday for the first time in a while and I just didn’t like what I heard.
These two pieces of gear have been total game changers. Instead of playing my guitar a few times a week, I find that I play my guitar a few times a day. I love love love the tones I’m getting and I’ve never been this happy as a player. I find that I’m growing more by playing with less gain and speed and incorporating more feel and vibe.
How about you?
For me… there are two pieces of gear that I’ve gotten that have completely blown me away and changed my attitude towards playing. Ironically, both have been in the tail end of 2016, but it’s like a complete rebirth for my playing. It’s pretty refreshing.
First up… Ibanez AT10P…
I thought I was done with Ibanez guitars… for the past few years, I’ve been playing Suhr, Music Man and PRS. I’ve tried other brands and I own other brands, but these 3 were the models I played most. I was convinced I was a dual humbucker guy with the volume and tone control maxed out.
However, rediscovering Andy Timmons in the past year or so has opened up my eyes and ears to a completely different approach to the sound that I hear in my head. I decided to give his AT10P a shot since most of the reviews I’ve read about it claim that it’s almost dead on like the AT100 but a fraction of the cost.
I got my AT10P from IbanezRules.com. After setting up the guitar to my liking, I found myself loving this guitar and bonding with it immediately. I haven’t touched my Suhr or PRS since. In fact, I’ve sold my Music Man Albert Lee and PRS Vela since I found that I didn’t care to even play them anymore. The Suhr and CU22 have sentimental value so I won’t be moving them.
Why is the AT10P a total game changer for me? Prior to getting the guitar, I would play maybe 10 or 15 min a day… if that. I also found myself playing to the same backing tracks over and over and not developing much as a player. I would just shred and shred… not much dynamic range.
But the AT10P has inspired me to roll the tone and volume knobs back a bit and play with more melody and finesse. My playing breathes more. I still add the shred aspect to things, but more for color… rather than being “one note” as a player.
The 2nd piece of gear that is a game changer is the Boss Katana amp. I have the 100 watt 1 x 12 and I live on the clean and crunch channels. I have a boost engaged, but really just to add a little more body and fatness… not dirt. Boss nailed it out of the park with these amps. I even put my 5150 iii 50 watt for sale today. I touched it for about 3 min yesterday for the first time in a while and I just didn’t like what I heard.
These two pieces of gear have been total game changers. Instead of playing my guitar a few times a week, I find that I play my guitar a few times a day. I love love love the tones I’m getting and I’ve never been this happy as a player. I find that I’m growing more by playing with less gain and speed and incorporating more feel and vibe.
How about you?
