My New Pedal Board
OK so, long story short: For the greater part of the long time that I’ve been playing guitar, I have not used effects pedals. This had more to do with a didn’t want to mess with a bunch of gear mind set than a macho guy, tone purist attitude.
But, like almost all electric guitar players I have accumulated assorted gizmos. At some point I started carrying a couple with me and, depending on the amp and the gig, I would employ one or two.
After the better part of a year now playing with Kudzu, I have developed a penchant for using four effects, a pedal tuner and the reverb/channel switch pedal for the big, beastly, cumbersome, sweet sounding Vox.
Set up had become a reoccurring nightmare of a jigsaw puzzle.
So, I have finally assembled a primitive pedal board…not just my “new” pedal board, my first.
Hey Guitar Player, Can You Get By Without Wood?
Les MacPherson has a column at the Province called Fretting over the future of the wooden guitar in which he says…
For all their rebellious posturing, guitar players are an intensely conservative lot. Their instruments reveal them.
Unlike just about everything else in the world, the guitar somehow has resisted even the slightest changes…
…It’s as if today’s bestselling vehicle still was the 1952 Chevy Bel Air.
Given the choice, which would you take?
MacPherson discusses the Fed Gibson raids and the shortage of tone woods and the fact that there are alternatives to traditional sources.
In an attempt to not be flippant, I will say I’ve heard this kind of thing before. I would, however, point out that I’ve never heard of Segovia or Chet Atkins accused of rebellious posturing. I don’t know that either of those guys were against innovation but, I’m real sure that they would agree that wood affects the tone of the instrument.
Some guitar players do tend to lean towards “traditional” designs but, a lot of times it’s pretty superficial. I’m thinking about stuff like this; if you picked up a ’58 Tele and then a John 5, you would notice vast differences beyond the slight visual similarities.
That being said, a lot of those old designs hold a lot of tonal relevance. That being said…perhaps a lot of folks would rather get behind the wheel of the Bel-Air than the Camry but, you would have a tough time manufacturing the original with the present regulations.
So, innovation, regulations, environmental concerns and inevitable change…
Given the scarcity, cost and now the legal risks of exotic-tone woods, guitar players who long have rejected alternative materials might in future have no choice. Then they will sneer at wooden guitars.
…I tend to think that we guitar players are a reasonable lot (eh…well…somewhat) and we tend to play the instrument we choose because of how it sound, plays and/or looks.
But, if they take away our wood…
Guitar Face-Katy Perry
Stern? Disgruntled? Confused? ahhh…the perils of the elusive D chord.
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Pribek At Zazzle
The post to blame: Most Peculiar Mama (Don't Eat Your Cat)
