Surprised that pros don't have pedal switching systems

[Gooseman]

I was just browsing Premier Guitars pictures of professional touring guitarists' pedalboards, and I was a bit surprised that so many of them aren't utilizing switching systems to keep the audio path more pure. Take Joe Bonamassa for instance -- his board is HUGE! Same with Chris Shiflett of the Foos. Perhaps, we novices spend a little TOO much time reading up on gear, and worrying over the small details.

 

[steve_k]

then, when they get really rich and famous, they have a tech switching for them backstage......the virtual pedalboard!

steve

 

[Ventura]

I was just browsing Premier Guitars pictures of professional touring guitarists' pedalboards, and I was a bit surprised that so many of them aren't utilizing switching systems to keep the audio path more pure. Take Joe Bonamassa for instance -- his board is HUGE! Same with Chris Shiflett of the Foos. Perhaps, we novices spend a little TOO much time reading up on gear, and worrying over the small details.

 

[Badronald]

Most pros use little to.no effects. A little delay. Reveb at the board. Maybe a wah.

It's those players in wacky Christian bands that have huge boards. Tone is usually processed and bland as well.

 

[glassjaw7]

A lot of guys that use many pedals don't worry about switching them in/out of the signal path because they have a buffered or "conditioned" signal.

 

[steve_k]

Most pros use little to.no effects. A little delay. Reveb at the board. Maybe a wah.

It's those players in wacky Christian bands that have huge boards. Tone is usually processed and bland as well.

 

[chumbucket]

Steve's had more amps than about a dozen pros put together!

 

[bigdaddyd]

I know, really. WTH was Jimi Hendrix, EVH, Clapton, RR, Page and the rest of the dudes thinking (back when it mattered?) lol.

 

[glpg80]

but they run multiple $5000 wireless systems and have guitar techs on duty

 

[Random Hero]

Your last line gets it bang on. It's not exactly as if Bonamassa's tone suffers from the signal running through that huge board, eh?

 

[steve_k]

Steve's had more amps than about a dozen pros put together!

pffffft.......i am still trying to catch up to Kurt and Josh

 

[steve_k]

I know, really. WTH was Jimi Hendrix, EVH, Clapton, RR, Page and the rest of the dudes thinking (back when it mattered?) lol.

dude......you know if the RJM Amp Gizmo, RG-16 looper and Y-Not existed back in the day, Hendrix would have had a rack with about 50 pedals in it

there's a few pics floating around of Hendrix's splitter.......an instrument cable into a Y and split to the front of both amps. i guess a little hum didn't matter at Woodstock with two Plexi's hard right and a Big Muff.

 

[Shask]

The more you play, the less you care

 

[nevusofota]

I was just browsing Premier Guitars pictures of professional touring guitarists' pedalboards, and I was a bit surprised that so many of them aren't utilizing switching systems to keep the audio path more pure. Take Joe Bonamassa for instance -- his board is HUGE! Same with Chris Shiflett of the Foos. Perhaps, we novices spend a little TOO much time reading up on gear, and worrying over the small details.

Could it be because most of the artist that use pedal switching systems have boring looking pedal boards (since most pedals would be in the rack)? How interesting is seeing a GCP or Axxess footswitch over and over. I mean, if they have 100 pics of pedalboards on the editors table they are going to use the 10 pics of boards that have tons of pedals on them.

 

[bigdaddyd]

I know, really. WTH was Jimi Hendrix, EVH, Clapton, RR, Page and the rest of the dudes thinking (back when it mattered?) lol.

dude......you know if the RJM Amp Gizmo, RG-16 looper and Y-Not existed back in the day, Hendrix would have had a rack with about 50 pedals in it

there's a few pics floating around of Hendrix's splitter.......an instrument cable into a Y and split to the front of both amps. i guess a little hum didn't matter at Woodstock with two Plexi's hard right and a Big Muff.

That's the point. They didn't exist back then and they made due and created the greatest music and tones ever. Yeah, there was some extra hum, but sometimes it is part of the tone. Would they use this stuff now? Sure. Would they sound the same? No. What rock star sounds the same now then they did back then? Think EVH for one. He sounded better with his shitty pedalboard and plexis than with his brand new rigs. I mean, his new stuff is great and is well done, but he just doesn't sound the same. Some times it's that funk that sounds right. That shitty curly cord sometimes sounds better than that $200 cord....if you know what I mean. It's kind of why I get a kick out of when guys say, "I can't get buy without 4 cable method " I mean these dudes recorded some of the best albums of all time before that even existed. Hell, before effects loops existed...lol

 

[Gooseman]

I do like effects loops, but I totally agree with your post, bigdaddyd.

I am an effects junky and have been contemplating getting some complex switching system to get things out of the signal path of my preamp. I'm starting to think it doesn't matter. I don't really have any complaints, that's for sure.

 

[Gooseman]

I don't care what the pros use, I use what I like and it works for me. But feel free to look at the edges board, david gilmour , steve Stevens or any of the other pros that have switching going on..

True ...

Your rig is pretty tight too.

 

[D-Nastee1]

The more you play, the less you care

This is funny, but true. I have built myself 2 or 3 rigs with multiple amp heads and huge racks full of gear with the works. Now I have a few pedals and combo amps. No Switchers or anything. Just great guitars, amps, pedals, and cables. Can't say I'm honestly not just as happy.

 

[bigdaddyd]

I don't care what the pros use, I use what I like and it works for me. But feel free to look at the edges board, david gilmour , steve Stevens or any of the other pros that have switching going on..

No doubt, but they still sounded good with a few pedals. I am all for gear and technology and switching systems. I am just saying that they aren't necessary. I have a looper myself...it just isn't on my board anymore. Most of my pedals are true bypass. I used to care that they all are, but I just don't hear any tone difference or signal degradation in my ears and that's all I care about. I remember the Edge playing with a memory man and an ac30 and sounding every bit as good if not better than with his space station sized racks. Both ways are good...it's just good to remember that you don't need the latest and greatest to be creative or sound awesome.

 

[BeZo]

A little buffer goes a long way (pun intended). Having a big board doesn't matter as much when you work a buffer into the equasion. Putting things in loops and true bypass switching is just one solution to a problem. A buffer is the other. I use a big pedalboard and I don't have any loops or switchers. I just tap dance, and use a buffer.