Members bmast160 Posted May 19, 2008 Members Share Posted May 19, 2008 Went to see him play for the first time last night and it might have been one time too many. Amazing technicality but i think there is a huge difference between technicality and musicality and i dont think the latter was there.Heres the story. After the show they're all packing up their stuff and his amp was at the edge of the stage with the back plate off so i could see some of the tubes. Two TAD el34 and two 12ax7s but the writing on those was facing in so i couldnt see so i asked allen since he was onstage me: hey what kind of 12ax7s do you have in your amp him: huh? me: what kind of 12ax7s do you have in your amp him: me: tubes...the tubes him: there are no good tubes anymore me: maybe but you still use some in your amp...what kind do you like him: anything that i can find me: where do you get them from? watford valves? him: anyplace...anyplace that sells them me: so you dont have any preference between certain tubes...obviously some are gonna sound different that others. him: i dont know...(shakes his head)....groove tubes....there are some really bad tube amps out there me: ok. but there are some really great ones too...and there are some really bad solid state amps...and some decent ones... him: yeah. but there arent any more good tubes...they were gone long ago me: see ya im thinking come on man...you've been playing since the 70s and you dont even know what tubes are going in your amp...im not an idiot...you obviously know and have tried lots of different kinds...but then again maybe he really hasnt...either way it wasnt worth the money to see Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members AXEL276 Posted May 19, 2008 Members Share Posted May 19, 2008 It sounds to me like the guy was tired, he just finished his gig and was packing up and ready to go home. I'm sure if he had a dollar for every time some one has asked him about his equipment he'd have a million. Don't rag the guy because after 30+ years of road gigs he is tired of answering questions from the audience about tubes:confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members petejt Posted May 19, 2008 Members Share Posted May 19, 2008 Even if he's dead tired he should know it well enough that he can say it right off the top of his head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dman11 Posted May 19, 2008 Members Share Posted May 19, 2008 I think he just knows how to make anything sound good-tubes or SS, besides he's been using Solid State extensively over the past decade. I believe he's using H&K Switchblade amps live which essentially is a SS/tube hybrid pre with a tube poweramp so pre tube selection is not that important- he probably goes along with whatever H&K installs in them. Either that or he's really becoming an old geezer:idk: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarded_1 Posted May 19, 2008 Members Share Posted May 19, 2008 Maybe the guy just doesn't give a {censored} about tubes. I don't blame him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bmast160 Posted May 19, 2008 Author Members Share Posted May 19, 2008 It sounds to me like the guy was tired, he just finished his gig and was packing up and ready to go home. I'm sure if he had a dollar for every time some one has asked him about his equipment he'd have a million. Don't rag the guy because after 30+ years of road gigs he is tired of answering questions from the audience about tubes:confused: k. fine. then say it. sorry man im exhausted and cant really chat. dont get into a conversation by spouting off bull{censored}....it would have been quicker just to answer the question... not to mention the fact that he was chatting up a storm right after while signing autographs... just a weird story Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tesseract Posted May 19, 2008 Members Share Posted May 19, 2008 I've noticed the last thing touring muso's wanna hear is the usual "hows the tour going"..."what tuning are you in"...."what amp do you use" etc etc. Having said that im sure he could of spilled out the usual script of what he uses n stuff. You should have said his tone sucks to get his attention or something Where did you see him play? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JonathanD Posted May 19, 2008 Members Share Posted May 19, 2008 seriously, who cares about tubes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ENdtime Posted May 19, 2008 Members Share Posted May 19, 2008 Yeah FFS man. I could care less about talking about tubes in my amps as well, especially AFTER a gig while Im packing up. Maybe engage the dude in a conversation about something other than gear and see what happens.. Even though I went throught the "tube" phase too, I really couldnt tell you whats in there now besides I put a JJ in V1. Believe it or not there are guitar players who dont really care or know what tubes are in their amps.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tidalwaveGB Posted May 19, 2008 Members Share Posted May 19, 2008 Um, I'm not really surprised. I'll bet that he has his own guitar tech that decides what tubes go into his amps. I'm sure that he's too busy actually playing the guitar and writing music to actually have the time to walk into a music store (or go online) and purchase the tubes himself. I mean, its not like you asked him what string gauge he used..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Exocaster Posted May 19, 2008 Members Share Posted May 19, 2008 Probably would have had better luck asking him about beer. :poke: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bmast160 Posted May 19, 2008 Author Members Share Posted May 19, 2008 Um, I'm not really surprised.I'll bet that he has his own guitar tech that decides what tubes go into his amps. I'm sure that he's too busy actually playing the guitar and writing music to actually have the time to walk into a music store (or go online) and purchase the tubes himself.I mean, its not like you asked him what string gauge he used..... there are no good strings anymore Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bmast160 Posted May 19, 2008 Author Members Share Posted May 19, 2008 Probably would have had better luck asking him about beer. :poke: LOL! i did! right before i said see ya. i was over talking to him at that point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bmast160 Posted May 19, 2008 Author Members Share Posted May 19, 2008 Um, I'm not really surprised.I'll bet that he has his own guitar tech that decides what tubes go into his amps. I'm sure that he's too busy actually playing the guitar and writing music to actually have the time to walk into a music store (or go online) and purchase the tubes himself.I mean, its not like you asked him what string gauge he used..... you really think he has his own tech? he didnt even have anyone to break down his stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members glenecho Posted May 19, 2008 Members Share Posted May 19, 2008 why did you care? He had no musicality...right? I'm sure he doesn't give a {censored} about tubes and probably thought it was a wanker conversation. If you're the type that given the chance to talk to Holdsworth, wasted it by trying to talk tube shop, then I highly doubt that you have the ability to even comprehend Holdsworth's "musicality". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitar_face Posted May 19, 2008 Members Share Posted May 19, 2008 lol, yeah I guess he just doesn't care. Good on him, wish I could do that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members shredhead7 Posted May 19, 2008 Members Share Posted May 19, 2008 Two things: I spend a lot of money on tubes. I go to the boutique on-line dealers and read the reviews and determine what will work best in my application. Having said that, I couldn't tell you what tube is where in my amps. It doesn't make that much of a difference to me. I still sound like me and people in the crowd aren't going to hear the difference after it goes through the FOH. Second, you had a one on one with A. Holdsworth, and you asked him, pestered him, about his tubes? WTF? Seriously, you sat through an hour and that was the question you asked? Obviously, the guy doesn't care about tubes too much, as he has been using a Yamaha modeler for most of his sounds lately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tidalwaveGB Posted May 19, 2008 Members Share Posted May 19, 2008 you really think he has his own tech? he didnt even have anyone to break down his stuff. Oh, well I figured a guitar god would have his own techs. My bad.... I'm guessing he probably rarely changes the tubes out, and when he needs amp maintenance, he brings it to a tech in a repair shop (and probably really doesn't give a damn about what tubes are being installed). OR...he was just tired of these sort of questions, and wanted to go home. Whatever the case, he could have handled the situation better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bmast160 Posted May 19, 2008 Author Members Share Posted May 19, 2008 Two things: I spend a lot of money on tubes. I go to the boutique on-line dealers and read the reviews and determine what will work best in my application. Having said that, I couldn't tell you what tube is where in my amps. It doesn't make that much of a difference to me. I still sound like me and people in the crowd aren't going to hear the difference after it goes through the FOH. Second, you had a one on one with A. Holdsworth, and you asked him, pestered him, about his tubes? WTF? Seriously, you sat through an hour and that was the question you asked? Obviously, the guy doesn't care about tubes too much, as he has been using a Yamaha modeler for most of his sounds lately. thats what i wanted to ask Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bmast160 Posted May 19, 2008 Author Members Share Posted May 19, 2008 why did you care? He had no musicality...right?I'm sure he doesn't give a {censored} about tubes and probably thought it was a wanker conversation. If you're the type that given the chance to talk to Holdsworth, wasted it by trying to talk tube shop, then I highly doubt that you have the ability to even comprehend Holdsworth's "musicality". lol. followed by a wanker response. there are no good tubes anymore. come on man...you should know better than that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Oops-A-Paisley Posted May 19, 2008 Members Share Posted May 19, 2008 Went to see him play for the first time last night and it might have been one time too many. Amazing technicality but i think there is a huge difference between technicality and musicality and i dont think the latter was there.Heres the story. After the show they're all packing up their stuff and his amp was at the edge of the stage with the back plate off so i could see some of the tubes. Two TAD el34 and two 12ax7s but the writing on those was facing in so i couldnt see so i asked allen since he was onstage me: hey what kind of 12ax7s do you have in your amp him: huh? me: what kind of 12ax7s do you have in your amp him: me: tubes...the tubes him: there are no good tubes anymore me: maybe but you still use some in your amp...what kind do you like him: anything that i can find me: where do you get them from? watford valves? him: anyplace...anyplace that sells them me: so you dont have any preference between certain tubes...obviously some are gonna sound different that others. him: i dont know...(shakes his head)....groove tubes....there are some really bad tube amps out there me: ok. but there are some really great ones too...and there are some really bad solid state amps...and some decent ones... him: yeah. but there arent any more good tubes...they were gone long ago me: see ya im thinking come on man...you've been playing since the 70s and you dont even know what tubes are going in your amp...im not an idiot...you obviously know and have tried lots of different kinds...but then again maybe he really hasnt...either way it wasnt worth the money to see What is the point of speaking with the chap if you aren't prepared to have a proper conversation. He more or less said he doesn't bother with tubes any more ...so you disagree with him and badger him about it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bmast160 Posted May 19, 2008 Author Members Share Posted May 19, 2008 What is the point of speaking with the chap if you aren't prepared to have a proper conversation. He more or less said he doesn't bother with tubes any more ...so you disagree with him and badger him about it he was just bullshitting me. there are know good tubes anymore? wtf? what a lame response. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bmast160 Posted May 19, 2008 Author Members Share Posted May 19, 2008 this will be continued on the "there are no good tubes anymore" blog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members telephant Posted May 19, 2008 Members Share Posted May 19, 2008 His tone doesnt do anything for me, but neither does his playing, and his tone has a lot to do with the way he plays IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bmast160 Posted May 19, 2008 Author Members Share Posted May 19, 2008 His tone doesnt do anything for me, but neither does his playing, and his tone has a lot to do with the way he plays IMO. thankyou:wave: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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