What the F**K? Slash...are you OK man?

[itasoulas]

I don't know if any of you Slash's fans noticed....but... SLASH IS PLAYING WITH A PICKGUARD ON NOWADAYS!!!! I've seen lots of recent videos on YouTube that confirms that. The funny thing is that i can't see the Alnico II Pros anymore, at least not the exposed-coils that he used all the past years till recent... maybe now prefers same type but with a nickel cover....or he just dumped them to use different type of pups? They don't sound like Alnicos though. His sound in some vids is crap. Maybe Adam Day quit ???

Is our guitar idol took a wrong turn? Did he decide to hit a different direction? What the F**K is going on? Not that is wrong using a pickguard or change pups, but guys, that was his trademark!!! Slash, give us back your tone man... i think that dealing with lots of different styles of music and special guest star appearances have got into you and take away your precious tone. Sorry if i am being the bad guy on this... i love Slash... but something feels wrong now!

[jerryo]

Rumor has it he hurt his pinky...he needs the PG for hand support,

Dont worry he will take it back off once the finger heals

[paulygates]

How can the pickguard make his tone worse? Everyone knows pickguards improve tone.

[stoof]

1/ ADam day already quit more than 1 year ago
2/ what about this pickguard thing ? it doesn t change anything to the tone
3/ The guitars you now see live is always the same, it's a 2001 Andy Braurer R9 Custom Shop LP. There's a story here too.. Andy Braurer is a tech/musician/producer and so on (go on his site).. he worked with ALL (!!) the greatest artists in LA from Van Halen to Steve Lukather and lots of other brilliant artists..
That R9 belonged to him, it's a 2001 Custom Shop Les Paul and he removed all the original parts to put all VINTAGE parts just to change the sound of it.. the truth is that Slash met him 'cause his LP Chris Derrig Replica had some fret problems (Slash wrote it on fb too).. Andy re-fretted the guitar and made a BRILLIANT job, Slash when had his guitar back was happy like a child.. 'cause his favourite (recording) Replica guitar sounded exactly like he had it in the '80s when he was recording AFD... meanwhile, he was playing Andy's guitar and LOVED it so damn much and asked him how was possible that that guitar sounded so great.. Andy didn't want sell it but Slash insisted and bought it for lots of money.. that LP's now his MAIN live guitar... he loves that guitar much more of his signature LPs and loves the way it sounds..

Note that the neck pickup in inverted, out of phase

And don t worry about slash's tone. the solo album was lamost fully recorded with hi s derrig pluged into a JCM800.

[carydad]

There was a vid floating around with him using sheptones, though I didnt care for his tone or playing in the vid--and I love sheptone pups.

[JM Vasek]

Originally Posted by stoof

...Note that the bridge pickup in inverted, out of phase...

Just because the pickup is flipped around does not mean it was out of phase, unless you heard those specific sounds.

I watched the video of that performance and didn't hear any out-of-phase tones - I could be wrong though. I wasn't impressed with his tone at all that night, but I'd believe that to not be entirely his fault.

[stoof]

I agree. on lots of the lastest videos, his sound is not so good....
but when a played at the mirage, I found his sound awesome, specially on the Led Zep songs

[xguitardevilx]

And the plot thickens on Slash tone.

[-=[Shifty]=-]

Originally Posted by stoof

...Note that the bridge pickup in inverted, out of phase...

Sorry, can't see the bridge pickup...it's covered by his hand.

[itchybro]

Originally Posted by carydad

There was a vid floating around with him using sheptones, though I didnt care for his tone or playing in the vid--and I love sheptone pups.

Would that be the one with ZZ Top in which John Mayer hands him his ass? (He did recover a bit on his second trip through, I'll grant you that. But the first one, his time was FRIED)

[lazz]

just because the pup cover is round the other way doesn't mean its out of phase.

[AXE]

[stoof]

I agree.

I had read it somewhere. and it was neck pickup, sorry.

@the mirage

YouTube - Slash & Nicole Sherzinger When I Grow Up Mirage Hotel 2009

YouTube - Slash & Nicole Sherzinger When I Grow Up Mirage Hotel 2009

+ more

with Jason Bonham band

YouTube - Painted Turtle benefit @ the Roxy 10-11-09 Black Dog Slash Bonham Catania Pilson

YouTube - Painted Turtle benefit @ the Roxy 10-11-09 Black Dog Slash Bonham Catania Pilson

+ more

with ZZtop

YouTube - ZZ Top at the House of Blues with Slash & John Mayer

YouTube - ZZ Top at the House of Blues with Slash & John Mayer

[baiff]

I thought and still believe Slash had great tone on Appetite, Illusions I and II. I just heard on YouTube Slash at some GC clinic with a guy asking him questions and having him play memorable riffs and such. I can honestly say that it sounded like some random kid at GC trying to play GNR songs rather than the man himself. Horrible tone and sloppy playing. I did meet Slash years ago after a Snakepit show in Chicago and he was more than happy to sign autographs and take pictures. It seems that after Dimebag was shot he and others are a little more cautious as to where they are and how long they sign stuff anymore.

[Boleskinehouse]

Originally Posted by AXE

Indeed.

[Jack Twiller]

Originally Posted by stoof

he loves that guitar much more of his signature LPs and loves the way it sounds..

Well, then it's time for a new Signature!


This sounds very bad.

YouTube - Black Eyed Peas sweet child o mine w/slash. AMC15 satellite feed

YouTube - Black Eyed Peas sweet child o mine w/slash. AMC15 satellite feed

YouTube - Slash - God Bless America

YouTube - Slash - God Bless America

[yllsacky]

Originally Posted by Jack Twiller

YouTube - Slash - God Bless America

puke it sound like hes trying to crank a Ms-2 for f sake

[SlyStrat]

I really needs a NEW look.

[MXR]

Originally Posted by stoof

1/ ADam day already quit more than 1 year ago
2/ what about this pickguard thing ? it doesn t change anything to the tone
3/ The guitars you now see live is always the same, it's a 2001 Andy Braurer R9 Custom Shop LP. There's a story here too.. Andy Braurer is a tech/musician/producer and so on (go on his site).. he worked with ALL (!!) the greatest artists in LA from Van Halen to Steve Lukather and lots of other brilliant artists..
That R9 belonged to him, it's a 2001 Custom Shop Les Paul and he removed all the original parts to put all VINTAGE parts just to change the sound of it.. the truth is that Slash met him 'cause his LP Chris Derrig Replica had some fret problems (Slash wrote it on fb too).. Andy re-fretted the guitar and made a BRILLIANT job, Slash when had his guitar back was happy like a child.. 'cause his favourite (recording) Replica guitar sounded exactly like he had it in the '80s when he was recording AFD... meanwhile, he was playing Andy's guitar and LOVED it so damn much and asked him how was possible that that guitar sounded so great.. Andy didn't want sell it but Slash insisted and bought it for lots of money.. that LP's now his MAIN live guitar... he loves that guitar much more of his signature LPs and loves the way it sounds..

Note that the neck pickup in inverted, out of phase

And don t worry about slash's tone. the solo album was lamost fully recorded with hi s derrig pluged into a JCM800.

According to Andy Brauer this is a 2007 R9 not 2001

[Jon Rambo]

On all these guest appearances it doesn't seem as if Slash cares to be there. Seems like maybe he said ok bc he wanted to play, but playing Sweet Child O'Mine for the billionth time with the Black Eyed Peas isn't really inspiring him.

[Ralph Fenix]

mhm, if i was Slash i think i would rape everyone that even mentioned Sweet Child of Mine in their left eye socket, and then sell their organs.
If they where to suggest that i should play it one more time.... God help them...

[WoodyTone]

Cool info on this LP, guys! This post inspired me to look into it, documented my findings on WoodyTone.com. Here's the link:

WoodyTone! - Slash’s ‘New’ Favorite Les Paul

[thornie]

Wow that "God Bless America" cover was all sorts of awful. I don't know if he was stoned, or just didn't give a crap. That tone is the music equivalent of nails on a chalkboard.

RE: Slash's pickguard on/off (I can't believe I'm even talking about this...) Doesn't he own like 3 '59 bursts? Maybe he's been playing those at home a lot more and decided he wants to go with that look/feel in his live shows? Just a thought.

[Mr Insane]

I wondered about it the La Grange video. Thought it was just a one time thing.

[itasoulas]

so many replies already...that's cool.

basically i always liked the fact that Slash is really into a different kinds of music. But nowadays, Slash jammed with a hell lot of a variety of different people/bands... i see that his rumour has grown so much that every band in LA has him as a guest in one or two songs on their set.... what i mean is that Slash behaves kinda the glam personna-Jon Bon Jovish Style or something like that and all that has "infected" his playing/tone/performance.

I don't know if you are following what am i saying... but my personal belief is that he has exposed/promoted himself so much the last few years which sort of took away his dirty-rock star reputation. Maybe this is the downfall, not only for him but for all the Guns n' Roses members. What they didn't realise is they were what they were when they were all together. They worked well as a band and not individually. Izzy made some good songs, Duff too, Slash too, even Axl with his new band, even Steven has made pretty cool gigs... but until there...take a look how many bands Slash changed, Izzy too, Duff the same... is like everybody trying to achieve something really cool but just can't get there. For fuck sake... who listens to Snakepit albums anymore? But i bet you still listening to Appetite and Illusions, right ?

To end this...and talking again for Slash... Velvet Revolver should immediately replace Scot when he left and not spend to much time apart with a new record from Slash and Duff's Loaded. What if they get a new singer in a year or so from now? Who will care anymore, they will be old news. If you start something then finish it damn it.

All the above makes Slash tone worse if you think carefully... It's like you and me playing great rock/blues guitar and suddenly start jamming with him and her and some other guys and some other bands... my playing and tone will change eventually.

Sorry for the long lines but this is how i feel!!!

PS.: By the way, i bought a brand new Gibson Les Paul Studio Fireburst a couple of days before. I finally got my first Gibson!!! Chrome hardware but i changed all black parts with cream ones and put amber bell knobs allong with knob indicators. I will post pictures sometime soon! I also removed the truss rod cover with the Studio written on it and placed a blank one.

[bigdaddy]

or, maybe he just sucked from the beginning...

[thornie]

Wait.. I was always under the impression that jamming with other people just makes you better. Especially if you are jamming with guys better than you. Getting smoked by John Mayer would light a fire under my ass to get better, not infuse me with more crappyness.

That being said, if you were serious in your post I wholeheartedly disagree. Maybe he just doesn't give a hoot anymore. He doesn't need the money, he's already proved himself as musician (in many peoples eyes), so why bother anymore? That seems more plausible to me than jamming with other people is making him worse.

[itasoulas]

Originally Posted by bigdaddy

or, maybe he just sucked from the beginning...

slash my friend never sucked, actually the beginning was way better. For example, listen to Nightrain's outro solo at very slow speed. So many notes, bendings and hammer-ons that at normal speed is just impossible for your ear to follow. I dare you do that and try sitting a couple of years play it exactly like him. You wont!!! Nobody can, even professional tutors and guys with plenty of experience cannot play exactly what Slash played (when he was just a bit over 20) even after listening to it at slow speeds. And don't come up with the guy from Lick Library which is very good... he's close but there's a long road till the bright light!!!

[Jack Twiller]

Originally Posted by itasoulas

But nowadays, Slash jammed with a hell lot of a variety of different people/bands... i see that his rumour has grown so much that every band in LA has him as a guest in one or two songs on their set.... what i mean is that Slash behaves kinda the glam personna-Jon Bon Jovish Style

I think that's the point why Axl Rose called him a "limelight whore".

[bigdaddy]

So many notes, bendings and hammer-ons that at normal speed is just impossible for your ear to follow.

Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.