Confessions of a Rehabilitated Cork Sniffer

[Thumpalumpacus]

The poor craftsman blames his tools.

 

[Tim Fezziwig]

The poor craftsman blames his tools.

Love these guys-they play $222 gits.
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-Taae2zLfA[/ame]
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJcccgjiMiw[/ame]

 

[acstorfer]

I still am a bit of a tube snob, and not just with amps, but OD pedals too. For lack of a better term, they sound more velvety, especially set between grind and clean; tubes seem to navigate that transition smoother to my ears. I would still buy an SS amp, in fact almost did last week, but it's my preference and I own up to it.

I'm onboard 100%

The two on each end are my two latest acquisitions. Since getting them I've been using them (well one at a time) a lot. They both have two 12AX7 tubes in them. The blue one is an overdrive. I really do have some other excellent overdrive pedals that I've been ignoring. Since getting the Liquid Blues, well I've been loving it.

Oh, the green one is a Timeline Delay. I just got it a week or so ago. I've been blowing off my Neunaber since getting it. I don't really know if the tubes really make a difference, but dang these pedals sound good!

 

[TheX]

Im a bit of a cork sniffer for cables, its the easiest over locked part of your gear. And just coming from general audio quality the weakest lin is the cables, do they make a big difference? I dont know, but $200 in patch cords for my $2500 worth of gear seems fair to me.

I build my own from quality components.

 

[acstorfer]

I select guitars for the nice, low action I like. I select amps for the deep, rich tone I like. Not all like the action and tone I like, but if I'm going to play the gear, it needs to fit me. Don't have the time or desire to criticize any other player for what gear he has selected and owns. Might not fit me, but it fits him,And mine fits me, and that is all that matters here.

This thread really isn't about criticizing or even caring about other people's gear. Perhaps I could have worded the title better. What I meant by this thread is what part of your own rig are you a bit overly concerned with enough to make sure it's top of the line.

Some people require certain high end woods, or one piece bodies and such on their guitars.

Some people require their pedals, pickups, and amps to be boutique.

Some people require their guitars to be made in a certain location, or if they are handmade, brand name, or whatever.

Some people require their cables to be absolute top of the line.

I'm not asking about who looks down on other folks stuff, just what you demand what your own rigs are made of.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

I'm onboard 100%

The two on each end are my two latest acquisitions. Since getting them I've been using them (well one at a time) a lot. They both have two 12AX7 tubes in them. The blue one is an overdrive. I really do have some other excellent overdrive pedals that I've been ignoring. Since getting the Liquid Blues, well I've been loving it.

Oh, the green one is a Timeline Delay. I just got it a week or so ago. I've been blowing off my Neunaber since getting it. I don't really know if the tubes really make a difference, but dang these pedals sound good!

Yeah, as I'm putting together my first electric rig in five years together, I will be getting another BK Butler Tube Driver for a faux third dirt channel or good powerful boost.

 

[sicko]

I was a corksniffer of the highest order for several years and while I'm currently fixated on LP's in a bad way, I've gotten much better. I've owned amps, guitars... PEDALS even... that cost more than cars, but have since sold off the vast majority. Nothing worse than a hoarding corksniffer, which is what I was. It's just downright stupid, IMO, to collect things you don't use. Now I just keep what I actually use- if something sits for a few weeks without use it leaves. I was at over 100 pedals, but am down to about 15 now altogether.

I think it's important to be honest with yourself when it comes to gear (and obviously everything else in life). That $12k replica won't make you sound or play any better than the $1000 LP studio; playing/sounding better is entirely up to you. I buy/sell/trade constantly because it's fun, but, at the end of the day, I feel most at home on a Fender reissue amplifier (DRRI, Princeton, Twin, etc.) with a standard Mexican/USA Strat. A rig I could put together for $1200 sounds better to me than many $20k ones I've had. Seriously, that's what I make the best music on, yet I don't own either of those things- but I'm honest with myself about it.

 

[meatball]

Gibson Snobbery to the max ,, not ashamed either ,,
I also love my Monster cables ,,, lifetime warranty and they don't fail easily .
I am partial to my Blackstar amp also

 

[guitar_randy]

I have some expensive Gibsons and have Epis and other brands. I recently got an epi iommi g400,the older model one, which I am really digging. I like the way it plays and sounds,and am gravitating to it more than my Gibson lately. I could go without pedals at all. A good amp and good guitar and I will be content. I find pedals get in the way of my sound and journey to that sound.

 

[Dolebludger]

I have a high end amp and some rather low or medium end guitars. But my least favorite guitar is a real, original 61-62 Gibson LP SG Standard I bought new in Nov. 1961. And it is my most valuable. My "go to" axe is a PRS SE bought about four years ago. And should you be stupid enough to hire me for a gig, that is what I'll bring. If it sounds good to me, it is a player. If not, you will not see me playing it.

 

[Jimmi]

I hate this topic. People get in a snit if people say they prefer a more expensive one to a cheaper one. Different tools for various purposes. Some will work well for many applicaions, for some they may fail miserably. For a lot of music, it may not mater.

I personally like vintage guitars and not just Gibsons. I also like some of the old Silvertones and Nationals that have a unqiue (somewhat narrow but unique) sound. I like the feel and the look of older Gibsons (since this is what this topics usually revolves around here), to my experience (have played about 30 or so bursts and many other vintage LPs and other guitars) they do sound different to newer ones if they have vintage electronics. I do believe the collective combination of wood used and manufacturing process resulted in slightly different guitar and that the pickups are also different compared to every clone I have tried. Better is in the ear of the player as is feel....I know several people who prefer newer guitars. They are used to their subtle attributes and that is what they like....which is great. Certainly cheaper.

I was lucky that I liked them when they were cheap in the late 80s and everyone wanted Jacksons and that I can afford them now even though they have gone up. I didn't have the money for bursts (still 4-6K back then) while in highschool but was able to buy a couple mid 50s conversions, a few 60s SGs, a strat, a tele, vintage Marshall and Fender amps etc. I liked them now and then because they are different...better depends on what you are playing. I also have a collection shredder guitars that I used to gig with during that time, I have a mid 90s USA std I replaced the pickups in that works well but really not the same as my 50s guitars. If you want a LP for the most part, the newer ones will do most of what you are looking for. If you want a 50s LP, that is harder to do. BUT, when I want to play Steve Vai stuff, I don't reach for a 50s LP....it is not magic but it is a particular flavor.

Bottom line is to not become orthodox about any of this and play what you like (if you can afford it...always an issue I admit) and let others do what inspires them. If that is a Chinese made copy or a $250K burst so be it.

 

[FUS44]

I have to laugh at amp sniffery. I played through a Trainwreck and was kinda meh. Haven't really played a lot of high gain boo-teeks cause I'm not a amp gain guy.
I've gotten some sideways looks with the 64 Showman or the 65 Twin. Um yeah, it is vintage. Got more compliments on the tone with the Roland JC.

 

[acstorfer]

I hate this topic. People get in a snit if people say they prefer a more expensive one to a cheaper one.

There are always going to be people looking for an excuse to be offended but I'm thinking most of the people who get into "snits" do so not because someone likes other stuff, but because people who may like something particular and different sometimes are insulting about other folks rigs.

I do want to say there are a**holes on both sides. The folk who knock folks because they like expensive things (especially reliced stuff) are just as big of diks as the folks who knock others for not owning more expensive stuff.

 

[edro]

There are always going to be people looking for an excuse to be offended

Ding Ding Ding... We have a winner...




It's funny at times... Folks take things too serious. They run across info contrary to their beliefs and the meltdown begins...

Pickguard on Pickguard off kinda stuff...

 

[LeftyF2003]

I'd say I pretty well ran the gambit. As a lefty I have less options so it's hard (and expensive) to go all high end guitars, but I have some exceptional ones none the less. All that said my main guitar for playing out is a 2011 MIM Tele that absolutely kills. My only gripe is it's very heavy (nearly 10 Lbs) so I'm having another one made that's lighter. Hmm, that sounds cork snifferish...