Dude,
I am still very much in the topic of feel and vibe. You had mentioned very correctly that no matter how technically proficient one is, he or she, can never play as good as the masters: even with perfect note-by-note execution. Reason is simple - We are not them and we are not with our own instrument...
So, I finally proved that point to myself. Once during our meeting on 29th January 2012 and another, during our very recent visit to the BIG shop on 11th February 2012.
The trip was a guitar test fest. We did the new Ibanez Fireman, PRS Custom 24 (still doubt it as the 25th Anniversary edition), Fender Eric Clapton Blackie, Sterling John Petrucci Signature Model, Jackson Indian RR and removing many other guitars from its shelf. I remember we also inspected some cases and bags as well as seeing some new stuff, such as the Planet Wave Guitar Rest….
You found a good axe with the Fireman, while I found mine in the form of Custom 24. Had make and signature been a factor, I would have been really impressed with the Blackie, but it was disappointing.
There you go. A good guitar is the guitar that bonds with you, despite its make or model. It is the guitar that made you sound good and confident. You were doing everything on the Fireman – funk, metal, pop and of course, some real serious shredding. So, you know the guitar is good for you.
I was pretty excited with the Blackie. You were there. You saw the whole thing. I was turned off. Real off.
So dude, it really doesn’t matter what guitar one uses. I had such close connection with my S-65 and despite it being an entry level axe (with high action), I thought I did quite a good job in Dev’s Boogie. All on the S-65.
To be good, one has to bond with the instrument. I had a EC signature with me, but we weren’t talking to each other. I always look to people like Eric Johnson, David Gilmour, Eric Clapton, Gary Moore and recently, Zakk Wylde on how they are so at ease on stage. They bond well with the guitar and that helps to convey all the emotion and vibe they have at that moment.
My axe, my partner in crime.
So…how does that Guitar Rest work?!!!!
Dude, finally after a long absence I am glad to see a post, and I am glad to respond to it.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, you are right, it's all about the bond between the guitarist and the guitar. As you know, recently I acquired a Cort guitar in Indonesia. It wasn't so much just the price and design that captivated me, but it was the playability, the ease and feel. It felt a lot tastier and better than an Ibanez RG, and it was meaty where it had to be meaty, and thin where I had to do fast runs. I did not make many mistakes on it and it helped me play fluidly. So honestly? It was the one and only guitar I tried and I decided to take it cos the price was right for that type of bond.
I am not sure if you read one post I had, but I always said the true measure of whether you feel the guitar is to absolutely close your eyes and just play and see where it takes you. I have done that with a good few of my guitars and that's when you realise the bond actually forges - for me, you can literally feel it forge. Once that is done, you can actually pick it up anytime in your life and just play with such ease. To be honest, I feel I have that slightly with your Tele......and I had that same feeling with my Tele, when I shut my eyes and we just infused. I think you know the feeling, and it's once of the greatest feelings in the world.