How I replaced my vintage Gibson with a $400 Guitar: kzread.info/dash/bejne/lH2Fy7mflbqycZc.html

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

@messenger ministries never tried one 🙂

@baabaabaa2293

Жыл бұрын

Artist (Aust Company, Chinese made) make a Gigmaster $369 AU & honestly blow the Squier away. I'm not saying it's gonna it's melt that lovely ES 175...but for the money, they're gd.

@botrax

Жыл бұрын

Sorry, I did not get it, how you play without an guitar amp? Because your whole video you constantly show your Fender guitar amp. You haven't shown where your cable goes instaed. So what do you use instead of an amp?

@baabaabaa2293

Жыл бұрын

@@botrax Plenty of ways to get sound recorded w/o an amp & miç mate. Oh btw, my money's on U lot to win the next war mate.

@jralanmorgan

Жыл бұрын

@@baabaabaa2293 That simply isn't a Jazzmaster. The body shape and scale length are the only things close.

In fact, you don't even need a guitar.

@ROCK-vl5yw

2 ай бұрын

How is anybody doing. This who can hear you

@ROCK-vl5yw

2 ай бұрын

You still need a amp

@ROCK-vl5yw

2 ай бұрын

So your playing thru mic get a accoustic

@aljuric5887

Ай бұрын

Haha pretty much!

@luckystryke68

Ай бұрын

Lol😂

I've got a fender reverb deluxe, added 4 little wheels to the bottom of it. And now the amp follows me everywhere like a good dog.

it's really refreshing to see your take on this Jens. Really a virtual amp, or a plugin makes things much easier, effects are so much more easier to tweak and it's more budget friendly for guitarists

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Glad you like the video 🙂

@mr.minister5018

Жыл бұрын

@@JensLarsen Always love your vids, and you replied aah 😍😭

@MasterMojo85

Жыл бұрын

Absolutly. And you can actually play, even when your kids are sleeping. I have two Marshalls in my basement, but I never use them. I use Amplitube 5 on my PC inside my DAW Ableton Live. For each setup I have an extra audio track (for example: Clean Fender, Crunch Marshall, Heavy Mesa Boogie or an Orange Amp with OD Pedal, Chorus, Reverb and Delay for some 80's vibes). I can easily switch between those setups just by clicking on the tracks. No cable unplugging, no fiddling with the knobs to find the right tone every time. It's just so easy. And the virtual sounds nowadays are so good.

@Killerkarotte1

9 ай бұрын

And it's just a replacement...not the real thing.

@Killerkarotte1

7 ай бұрын

Bla Bla Bla Bla....

I'll never give up my Mark IV. It not only sounds great but it feels great.

Honestly, I’ve come to the point where I don’t really believe in amps anymore. I don’t think they exist.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Seems like the only logical conclusion 😁

@piage84

Жыл бұрын

Heathen a-ampeist! You are of the devil! Lol

@Panic42000

Жыл бұрын

Awesome, more for me!!

@mubinhambira

Жыл бұрын

😄

@kunaikai

Жыл бұрын

What’s an amp? A measurement of electricity or something?

Truly one of the most intelligent, nuanced descriptions of the journey every good musician makes. What is particularly of interest is your willingness to think outside of the box. That is not an easy thing to do. Thanks so much!

Excellent video. I love how your pacing and clarity deliver the information in a way that is engaging, well supported, and never boring. The world would be a better place if all YT videos were this well done. Many thanks.

@JensLarsen

6 ай бұрын

Thank you Rob! I really appreciate that 🙂

Thank you for posting this. I completely understand. About ten years ago I started doing as many gigs as I could with my pedals and a DI. You're completely right - good sound engineers "got it" and basically gave me the sound I wanted, as loud as I needed it, and even the looping worked most of the time. Then, sadly, I'd get a bad sound person and they'd take liberties with the sound and it felt like two steps back. I also started using the Boss octave for bass sounds and I felt they "needed" a true bass amp on stage to really get the effect and help the house system "handle" the low end. I split the difference now - I now often bring out TWO amps though the bass amp has an XLR out and the guitar amps (Roland Cube 60s) have line outs that I run to a DI. To your point I make a point to make sure I'm giving the sound people DIs and not microphones. Especially on large stages and outdoor stages those crappy microphones pick up wind, noise, and other weird artifacts and while I realize so many musicians still use tube amps that don't have line out or DIs I still just can't fathom the idea of taking the very heavy yet beloved amp sound and making it sound far away and out of context several feet behind you on a weird stage. Anyway, I appreciate this - I'm still happy with my Roland Cubes and I assume they'll last for years. I'm also thinking about getting a Katana head of some sort for backline situations... though real talk one day I hope I get my hands on an AX FX ULTRA as so many of my favorite guitarists of all genres have used them. Anyway, thank you for your videos - always appreciate your perspective, Jens.

Thanks for sharing your experiences! I'm an acoustic player working on going electric and getting amps into the show is a hassle but I got an HXStomp and I'm enjoying the flexibility and convenience. Cheers Jens!

Great video Jens! I recently had to make some tough decisions about upgrading my setup, because I'm not getting any younger and am getting sick of hauling heavy amps around. I almost went with modeling, but was intimidated by the new ecosystem I'd have to learn (FRFR speakers, endless menus, etc). Plus, I live in a small area and was uncertain about the reliability of house sounds. Just yesterday I received a Blackstar St. James tube amp, which is only 24 lbs (11 kg)! I'm excited to try it out when I have time, but I will say that I still hear the siren's call of ampless rigs. At the end of the day, all options bubbled up to the same price point, and I just wanted to go with baby steps here :) Really enjoy your channel!

Thanks for your take on this sound issue. I've personally been thru numerous effects pedal boards and always come back to my 4 Roland Cube 80 XL system, daisy chained together, with different effects dialled into each. They have awesome effects built into them. This system sounds huge.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Great that you have something that works for you! :)

I'm just working up towards playing live again after many years' lay-off, so your video was very timely and useful. By way of preparation, I blocked out a track for a long-time friend on drums to work with, and he straight off commented on how good the guitar sound was. That was very encouraging, because I hadn't used any of my conventional amps and had instead tried the UAD Dream '65. I'll be delighted if it allows me to get reliably good results while travelling ultra-light!

I went for years of pop cover gigs using either just an acoustic guitar through a PA, or my Godin Multiac Jazz SA with a handful of effects into a PA; so I am used to dialing in PA EQ on channels. In that time I have also gotten into multi-effects, specifically the TC Helicon line of products which give processing attention focus to vocals and also allow you some modicum of guitar/instrument treatment. The TCH stuff has never left my rig, but all kinds of guitar effects (including 13pin synth/MIDI gear) has come and gone and come back again. In the last 3-4 yrs I have added a Strymon Iridium and slowly learned to enjoy simulated amp tones again. I prefer mostly clean tones, but have also discovered that adding tweed amp overdrive effects pleases my ear as well. My trick on utilizing all the aforementioned tonal options is to run parallel signal paths. The Godin allows me to run separate outputs for its humbucker, bridge/piezo outputs and 13pin divided pickup synth output; so each of those has it's own channel on my mixer. I blend the piezo output the highest/hottest, and then the sometimes heavily effected humbucker tone path (which is where the Iridium comes in) and underneath all of that are the ethereal or sub-modulated synth tones. It makes for a huge soundscape for me to sing atop. My system will undoubtedly cycle back down at times to just a single guitar tone and vocal track. But for now I am enjoying my sonic death star. Love your tones and channel!

You're a great storyteller, Jens. My sound has nothing to do with jazz, but I really appreciate your content.

@gravitydrums1391

Жыл бұрын

Ditto

@geoffgurney88

Жыл бұрын

Spot on

@nickg2431

Жыл бұрын

agree

@AD-uw3rn

11 ай бұрын

​@@geoffgurney88l

@AD-uw3rn

11 ай бұрын

​@@gravitydrums1391😢😢😢k

Hello Jens - I'll try this again because it came across the wrong way... there is the right gear for every occasion and I get why a lot of people prefer modeling rigs. I use them for recording at night sometimes and have played tours with them, when an in-ear-situation was required. in fact, when using in ear monitoring, a modelled sound can be more pleasing and a miced amp is sometimes quite horrible. however, I never have felt comfortable with them playing my own music and I resent the fact that more and more of my students turn out never to have had any experience with a real tube amp rig. imho the tube amp is part of the instrument if we're talking electric guitar and should be at least the starting point. despite the advance in technology and the authentic sounds that can be had, I feel the response and interaction with the guitar is still not quite on par. like hearing back a perfectly recorded and mastered signal, but without the initial "elastic" response a tube amp gives You while playing. or like hugging Your lover wearing raincoats, haha! and that's cool, depending on the situation. I've settled on this comparison: it's like playing keyboard/synth versus a grand piano. both are different animals and have their advantages. if we're talking Jazz Guitar Greats, I totally can see Kurt Rosenwinkel using modellers with his expansive sound approach, whereas it's hard to imagine Julian Lage or Peter Bernstein doing it. but who knows? thanks for Your work, I love Your channel.

@marvinmitt4575

4 ай бұрын

Totally agree! Modellers are great for more advanced setups and in-ear monitoring. But playing a small club or rehearsal, I much prefer to have a personal point of audio source in the room. Where I place my amp is the 1st step of how I'm hearing myself vs the whole band. If I have to have all the band and myself coming from a single wedge or even only the PA, it's like playing mono in-ears, the whole band sits in a single plane and it's very difficult to distinguish different instruments.

Craziest part is that now the sound guys LOVE a direct out! I have the Line 6 Helix and it is an absolute freelance workhorse for almost any genre.

@kayakbandits9894

Жыл бұрын

Of course the sound guys love it! Faced with that or having to mic a dual rectifier Mesa Boogie on a stage the size of your living room. Thats the trade off. Full control verses trying to tame the asshole guitarist that keeps turning on some secret boost pedal that hes not told you about. LOL Cheers

@rlh289

Жыл бұрын

Hey Simon! 😂

@joehahn8817

Жыл бұрын

Sound guys love DIs because they do all the work for them...🤣🤣🤣 And the reason a lot of us so-called asshole guitar players turn our amps up is because the useless sound guys don't have enough volume in the stage monitors for us to hear what the fuck we're doing and they're too busy playing grab-ass with the waitresses to catch our cues from onstage to turn the fucking monitor up...😉

@psychoprosthetic

Жыл бұрын

@@kayakbandits9894 Trouble sounds guys usually can't play guitar, and don't care about what you're plaiyng.

@joeltunnah

2 ай бұрын

What do you do at gigs with no sound guy or PA?

Interesting approach, Jens. I'm a guitarist who is also an engineer that started making amps due to not being happy with the usual Fender, Marshall, etc offerings. I have a need for an amp a few feet behind me and monitors that don't close off my ears. I started using a 25 watt tube amp that seems to easily keep up with even overzealous drummers (No I don't do metal). I find that expecting the sound guy to give you what you want to hear from a floor monitor or occluding in-ears is asking too much. Stage volume is a big problem and using smaller amps like the Polytone Minibrute does help considerably. I also find most mass produced amps have insufficient bass and midrange and rely on my amp to give me that. Relying on in-ears or a single floor monitor mix while the drummer flails away makes the situation worse in my mind. (A more sensitive drummer is probably the answer LOL)

Hi Jens. Thank you for the video explaining your use of modelling units in recording and live work. It was informative and useful. Your relating issues that you experienced, both at live gigs and in the studio, was especially compelling. Regards.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

I haven't thought much about this amp issue at all (as I'm still focused on which notes to play), but you explain it so well and the historic perspective with JP and john Mc, is a pursuasive inclusion. Really appreciate the specific comments re pick sound. Stories of your personal journey are quite empowering for us students. Thank you, jens!

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Glad you like the video :)

Love this! Much needed discussion in 2022. Find the solution that works for you.. and more importantly finding things that inspire you. Well said! 🙌

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Thank you 🙂

Blasphemy...Amps are amazing. I love to feel the air they push. The vibrations, the difference between one amp and another. The difference between different tubes. Using 2 or 3 amps at once.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Do you play mostly at home? 😁

@gravitydrums1391

Жыл бұрын

Well said..

@guitarthings8453

Жыл бұрын

@@JensLarsen When I play gigs or do recording sessions, I also use an amp. Only one though. Trying to lighten the load.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

@@guitarthings8453 Yeah, carrying stuff around 5 on gigs and rehearsals a few times a week gives it another perspective

Nice to see that this long journey has come to a good end 🙂 The former 2nd guitarist in our band also had an AxeFX which sounded good. However, I found it extremely complicated to use - especially compared to the Kemper, which I have been playing for a long time for the same reasons as the author. However, that was 5 years ago and probably Fractal Audio's current preamp is much more intuitive to use now.

@HenritheHorse

Жыл бұрын

I changed back to "real" amps, because I was just scrolling through presets and different options on Axe Fx. Sounded pretty good, but didn't feel like a real amp.

There's no better feeling than playing a large outdoor door venue using a twin reverb amp.

@arguescreamholler

Жыл бұрын

That's the issue entirely. *Your Choices Always Depends Upon The Venue.* Besides, *Other amps are not designed to operate in conjunction with guitar pickups!* You don't get the desired sounds and harmonics. *I hate to hear good music coming from bad amplifications.*

@keithclark486

Жыл бұрын

@@arguescreamholler Very few guitarist will have the opportunity to experience the feeling.

I very much agree with exploring new technology and using your ears as a guide. From a live recording point of view many in house PA systems and poor acoustics suck though mainly because of the speakers which are often the poor relation. Hi Fi's often have lots of speakers with separate frequency filtration to render the sound more accurately but PAs seem to lack much separation of the sounds being played and come out 'loud and muddy'.

Great video! Right now, I'm in a situation where I don't quite know what I want. The thing is, I've used a Music Man 112RP One Hundred for seven years, but I really prefer recording through my Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and a simple software. The Music Man amp never sounded right for me, no matter how hard I tried to turn the knobs. Going through the Focusrite, I have way more control over my sound. I haven't played in live situations in years, but when it comes to playing at home, this is what I do. When I record bass, I might even go through the Scarlett right into a recording software without any plugins and whatnot. The sound is pretty good!

Thanks Jens for a much needed Amp vs Modeler Perspective. Lately, at 73, I’m feeling like Joe Pass when it comes to moving amps around …. Even those under 30 lbs(ie. Boss Katana MkII). Back around 2010, I bought a Zoom G3 and tried it as a pedal(s) replacement going into the front of my Tech21 Trademark 60 on live gigs. It felt overly complicated at the time, so I put it in storage and started using a Boss BD-2, since all I really needed was a good Solo Boost for my basically clean rhythm tone. Modelers now seem to be the thing, so I pulled the Zoom G3 out and took it to a practice session and tried it through the PA via XLR. After playing around with some settings on the G3 and the PA, I was surprised to get a tone I liked and that blended well with the keyboards and singer. I guess that was just beginner's luck because on the next practice session we had trouble getting a decent sound … No changes on the G3 … so it must have been the PA … we don’t have a sound engineer. So, I’m back to my Boss Katana MkII, but not giving up on the Zoom G3 since I can get some good clean patches at home into my Audio Interface for recording & practicing. I also get to try some other Amp & Cabinet models(ie. Matchless, Two Rock) which I know are only approximations of the real thing, but even with the real thing, I’m sure it would take a while to nail down my “Working Tone” whatever that would be. The Zoom G3 is over 10 years old and discontinued, so I will be scouting out its replacement for when it dies. Since it’s all experimental I want to keep things affordable. A Fractal, for me, would be way Over-Budget. So, the potential candidates right now are the NUX MG-400 and Valeton GP-200LT.

Great article! I recently purchased a 'Brute Eq', handmade in Denmark! It's the preamp section of a Polytone, which has a particular way of tone-control that gives it its specific beautiful sound. Of course I still need reverb, and a DI if I'd want to get onto a stage, but for now I'm not using an amp because i'm only practicing!

This is a new territory for me. I had never paid too much attention to amps as I was mainly focused on playing good, because I've always believed when you play good you can make pretty much anything sound good. The rest comes later. Now more into choosing my tone a little bit. Recently I was faced with the dilema of having to gig without being able to carry my super humble Boss Katana (which I bought three years ago because I needed something affordable to gig alone). So I've been looking into cab simulators and pedal effects that are versatile because I'm playing different styles. After weeks of research and going crazy with the choices, the mixed reviews, the prices, etc., just bought a Line 6 Helix Stomp. Part of me still wants a proper Fender tube amp, but I'll see how I do with the new toy.

@georyd

Жыл бұрын

@lauracrimsonmusic Now a few months later, how has it been?

@nickdrey1200

Жыл бұрын

I think amp sims are fucking cool as hell, I encourage everyone I know to get one and play with it. If you put on your eye patch and play pirate, you can essentially have every amp and effect in your hands, for 100ish bucks, the price of a DI (like focusrite scarlet). Grab that, pirate an ampsim and get a free DAW' and boom broski, get some used or mid-level 150$ studio monitors and there ya go However, I also am a big big fan of tube amps. I believe everyone should pick the one they like the most and keep one forever. Some people like Fender tubes, some people prefer Vox ACs and there are a couple others but they can fuck off cause Fender and Vox are the only tube amps worth a shot that aren't boutique custom wallet emptiers. I honestly have a hard time choosing which of those two tubes I like better, so I have a Fender Blues Jr and a Vox ac15. Both dank, both have their own unique sound when the tubes get a cookin

Interesting to hear your thoughts. Glad you’ve found what works for you. Many people never get to that place. For Md I use the AX8 sometimes when it suits the situation (theatre shows, recording, some travelling gigs) and amps when I play live and also some recordings (more acoustic jazz). Both have uses to me.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Indeed, I think I could go back and forth. Now that we moved and the power is a bit cleaner here then I might try to record the twin sometimes. I really like that amp :)

Just a quick comment on the Delay pedal being a gateway effect. You are 110% correct! I’ve been playing guitar since I was about 7-8 years of age. So since 1997, 1998. And I spent all of that time, composing music, recording records, playing gigs without ANY effect pedals. Until, my 21st birthday. I was gifted a Flashback Delay. And now, I’ll rarely record or gig, even compose without a pedal. I have quite a few. Too many to name. I find them to be great tools for inspiration. And they’re fun! But man. That rabbit hole is deep! I used to play shows with 15-16 pedals or more on my board (3-4+ being different delays). I’ve since scaled back to 6-7. Pedals can bankrupt you if you’re not careful 😂! And it almost always starts, with a delay. Almost always. Great video! Very informative and entertaining. I appreciate your content! Take care 🙌🏼

to have never felt the vibration and air move of a cranked up amp is to miss the visceral joy.

The thing I liked the most about your video was the fact that you spoke of things that inspire us, not even a 10K amp will work for you if it doesn’t inspire you to pick up your instrument and play. Nothing is wrong or right in music amplification, just do what suits you best. Great video!

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Exactly! Thank you 🙂

@tomasvanecek8626

Жыл бұрын

Your guitar must inspire you even unplugged.. if that doesnt work, you only get an amplified turd.

I’m good with the Strymon Iridium for recording, because of simplicity. I also use their Timeline and Big Sky. Works fine for me. Live I still perfer a Suhr Badger. But that may change, who knows? Thanks for your video. I enjoy them🎸

I'm also had a long way from different amps to different modeler and back. My problem with tube amps are, that they often sound beautiful in their own range, but I play different styles of music and for me the variety for sounds are very inspiring for getting in the mood of new songs I write. The Kemper was the first modeler, that really fits and satisfying me soundwise, I use it for many years and like it a lot. Since about one year I've changed to the Quad Cortex, because of it's size and way to operate, so much more intuitive than any other device I use before. Unfortunately I never had the chance to try an AxeFX, but I'm happy with my gear so what, and other parents also have nice children ;-)

@234cheech

Жыл бұрын

digital music in rock music it dont work its bland no atmoshere cold tinny crap crap crap

I believe every guitar needs to go through an amp and you find the best mic for the tone you seek. There is a interaction between the guitar and amp which is lost going direct in.

@zlonewolf

Жыл бұрын

Its already discussed in the video which you didn't watch or try to watch. The amp put out noise and is degraded with equipment such as a mic in a live setting. This doesnt happen with modular sims. He doesnt care about amps like most amp simps. He cares about tone. Which an amp is for noob guitarists isnt about tone but how much money you got in your wallet to spend on things that dont matter to a "real" professional artists.

Nothing can replace the sound of a real tube amp!

For me, playing through a real tube amp is about my personal enjoyment. I use a modeller for recording and quiet practicing.

@gravitydrums1391

Жыл бұрын

Exactly. however, I.m just a drummer wanting to play with a real kit with real guitar production.

Great video Jens. The part with the deliverance banjo was hysterical.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Thanks! 😁

I got a Helix and realized I loved that clear rich "studio quality" tone as much as fat cranked amp tone. I like all the new HD modelers I've tried. Got a Headrush MX-5 and it is stellar!

Hi Jens! Your story remembers me to mine. I found the following solution. My first jazz guitar was a Godin 5th av with a P90 that was to noisy. I replaced it with an A Zoller neck-pickup. Amp is an AER Compact 60 W used when I am playing together with the bigband; at home I like the Yamaha thr10 amp. Last gigs I used the xlr from the AER and it was a great sound. My second jazz-guitar is an Isana blue pearl also with an A Zoller pickup and the sound is very good. Greetings from Münster!

You explained your quest very well. When I'm not mistaken Guthrie Govan went the same route, mainly because a floor unit like the AX8 is easy to transport by plane. Nevertheless, I am impressed with his current stage sound. I still take my Orange RV to stage, but went for a ported 1x12 cab, which is more friendly for my back. I would like to try the AX8 but one has to dive deep into programming and the universe of options. I might be a little too lazy for that. )

Thank you, your video is fun and brings out the emotional journey of getting a good tone to the stage, front of house, and recording engineers.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Adam! 🙂

Thanks for making this video telling your true experience with the tone. I cannot tell you how frustrating has been to pursue your type of sound through "normal" means (pickups, guitar, amp, etc.) and try to be consistent. I thought it was just me ( some it is 🙂) but most is how it is "done" by pro's. Appreciate your candor.

@JensLarsen

9 ай бұрын

Glad you found it useful 🙂

I used a Boss ME 70 as a back up guitar rig for years and now it's my go to because it's portable and consistent thru different PA's

Interesting knowledge. I do use A software modeler for recording at times, but I also love using my polytone and my Marshall JVM 50 watt combo with 2 12" speakers (though it is quite heavy). I do most of my playing in a rehearsal studio (for jazz). There is a wealth of experience and knowledge in your video (all of em!) so thanks for what you share with us.

I will keep my tube amps. Been playing them for almost 60 years. I use a Shure 57 to mic it live and an AKG C3000 to record. If you can't get your sound with a 57 you need a different sound man. I used a Carvin 3 pickup tele through a Carvin Nomad for years and got many compliments on my sound. I went to a hand wired Allen Accomplice that sounded even better. I played a highly modded Blues Jr with the Carvin tele and a couple of Strats with Fender Noisless pickups(one with Vintage Noiseless and one with Hot Noiseless(my favorite)) and still got lots of compliments. I played the Blues Jr last week at Church and am taking the Allen back to play. The Blues Jr sounds great but the handwired Allen it the cream of the crop. Best amp I ever plugged into. Modeling amps just sound dead to me.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Great that you have something that works for you 🙂

@repetitivemotion

Жыл бұрын

I agree crunch

@zagatoalfa

3 ай бұрын

Sounds like you’ve had some really crappy engineers.

Great video Jens. It's such a great journey find that perfect and how to amplify that sound in a professional setting! Fighting that for years lol. Best journey of my life 🎸

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Yes! Thank you!

Loved to hear about that. I just love to hear how someone got their sound. I’m a drummer mainly, and sound is such a thing.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Thank you, Timothy 🙂

@user-qn3yq6sn5b

Жыл бұрын

sound it is, indeed!

How about...bringing your own mic to the gig? That’s what I do at least 😅 Knowing how to position your favourite microphone in front of your amp is definitely worth it! 👍

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Certainly, but also not the cheapest solution at the time :)

Spot on Jens! I can relate to your great history of the live/studio guitarists eternal "search for tone." I have many of the same shark bite (SM-57) scars!

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Haha! Thank you Katherine! Ironically, the tone that I show I liked with Kurt Rosenwinkel is with an SM57 in front of his amp (I think 😁)

@renzocalcagno536

Жыл бұрын

@@JensLarsen Which proves that t's not the tool, it's the person who's using it.

I got to see Joe Pass in Cincinnat in the 90s at the old Emory Theater. They tried for several minutes to get the front of the house pa to work and no luck. He simply plugged into his amp and grooved. Great memory of a great show!

Jens a great video and more so because of your humorous approach with video to get your past experiences across to fellow guitarists ... loved it.

@JensLarsen

4 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

I love the dynamics that you get on a real tube amp. I have a hx stomp and a Kemper, they sound both very nice, and I’m very happy to go on stage with them cause it’s flexible and more affordable than a complete pedalboard with a good amp. I keep my good amp at home, and for the studio (with a choice of good mics for tracking and D.I’s

@gravitydrums1391

Жыл бұрын

Ditto!

@tomasvanecek8626

Жыл бұрын

Dynamics and touch feel is it. In case of best amps - it is unforgiving 😊 ... like an acoustic guitar.. Exactly that is what I like most about them... other than they can get LOUD 😅

I enjoy playing through amps and cabs... But I'm also my own recording engineer for my own projects so that adds to it lol. But I can totally see the appeal of going ampless. I've considered it a few times but I just love my tube amp so much.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Well, you don't have to, but you can 🙂

@kennethc2466

Жыл бұрын

@@JensLarsen No one cares less about their sound than relying on the house PA and sound guy, ALONE. No bassist and drummer laughs harder than when they hear a guitar player cry, 'my amp is heavy and hard to carry'.

@MrZootalores

Жыл бұрын

i do too. i dick around at "ampless" home recording but when i play a local party i don't carry much baggage, it's usually the Blues jr & a Fender "M80"(backup amp),a Bugera 4 X 12 cabinet, a cooler of brewskis,a Tele & the PRS. opps! & my pedalboard,power cables,mics,stands & few local housewives who need a ride to the party....*i travel light* ha ha

@MrZootalores

Жыл бұрын

@@kennethc2466 you'd have to know who you were working with to trust their sound.it's probably why so many musicians use the physical equipment that works for them. I'm not a professional but i'f i was...*I'd never take a chance on anyone until they proved themselves, hence the "usual setup"...

@kennethc2466

Жыл бұрын

@@MrZootalores Really? Who doesn't know the sound guy at a paid gig? You are FORCED to work with them, rehearsal, and show. Who ALL SAY the vocals get the most bandwidth. Do you have ANY idea of the size of the club who lets a GUITAR PLAYERS amp through the PA? Do you think all venues have an adequate, or even feasible PA, for EVERYONE? Do you play arenas, or just listen to youtube BULL? My 5150II and 1987x, via a 412, has NEVER needed a mike to play an crowd indoor crowd of 150-190 people.

i dont know how your video ended up in my feed but i am grateful, i do enjoy you humor and knowledge

I have a tube amplifier that I've been using for 10 years and I love it. However, I have turned 52 and carrying is becoming an increasingly important consideration. The sound quality on the stages is getting better and better. That's why I also switched to multi-effects. I rarely take my amp with me. I currently use a Line 6 HX Stomp and love it. I bought an additional pedal with two switches and a mini wah pedal. I not only use a jazz guitar but also a stratocaster. My main band is a jazz orchestra, but I also appear in many other places where I have to play in a completely different line-up. The quality of multi-effects has improved a lot in recent years and has made the work of guitarists much easier.

Wow, I heard John Mc with Mahavishnu in 1972 on my birthday (thank you, Karen). That was one of the loudest, amplified concert I've ever attended. It was, by the way, one of the greatest, mind blowing concerts, ever. Jens, you are a very funny fellow. It was a pleasure, as always.

I get very pleased with a Tech21 Flyrig RK5. I use it like a modeler to plug both on backline amps and/or DI's. It always amazes me on how good it sounds. And it's an analog modeler (not that I find this VERY important).

This is one of the reasons I got the specific Jazzmaster model I did, 4 way switch and tone knob gives me all the dynamics. The amp I do play through is 9 watts, 1 knob (volume) 6L6 and 2 12ax7s. It’s not as plain as a DI box but it essentially is!

Great video. I did the same thing for many years i used vst plugins and line 6 pod . Lately i bought an amp back for the pleasure of jamming at home and realise it actually sound better playing on my old jc120 of the 80s. I do more recording these days then play live . I enjoy your video! 🤙

@JensLarsen

2 ай бұрын

Glad you like the video. It is indeed about finding the solution that works for you 🙂

I personally use a Fender Tonemaster Deluxe Reverb, which gives me a sort of hybrid. I'm a blues player and I think being able to practice with a live amp (opposed to the sound of a miked cab), allows me to react and play more dynamically. But the tonemaster is lightweight and offers a direct out and attenuation, so that solves my problem as far as volume and recording.

@soulfonic23

Жыл бұрын

Just picked up a Tonemaster Deluxe myself after years of using tube amps onstage. I had made the move to modeling plugins for recording since 2016 but until now not for stage. Fender has a great product with the Tonemaster series. Gets you the interaction onstage with amp,but has XLR out with cab and mic IR to house sound when needed. Works great in the studio as well. And being really lightweight is the icing on the cake

I just love the feeling and sound from a real loud tube amp, there’s a warmth and feeling that plugins can’t do.

@elliotromero6213

Жыл бұрын

ok

@redicoyote

Жыл бұрын

YES. I need that warm tone that only tubes can give me!

@tomasvanecek8626

Жыл бұрын

There is NOTHING like that 🤩 diming any of my amps be it tweed 5E3, JTM45 BB hw, or old 1987 or DR103s - it is a religious experience... because only THEN you know how your guitars really sound.. how it was meant to be. And you can always tame them by rolling off the Volume pot on your guitar .. and they still sound great

@rangerdoc1029

Жыл бұрын

A modeller into a great set of monoblocks has the best of both worlds. Tube warmth at any volume

@gravitydrums1391

Жыл бұрын

Good call

Great stuff man, we need more videos like this!

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

More to come! 😁

Great video! Thanks for great insight as usual. I used to own a Fender Twin reissue (tube) with celestion speakers. I lived in NYC at the time, in an apartment with no elevator. The closest subway stop also had no elevator. I think I used that beautiful amp about 4 times in 10 years.

Great vid Jens! I never use amps either. For recording videos it's just so impractical and the convenience and quality of plug-ins and/or floor units like Kemper, Axe-Fx, Quad Cortex these days make those options a no-brainer.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Ross! Flattered you checked it out! Keep up the good work 🙂

@RossCampbellGuitarist

Жыл бұрын

@@JensLarsen You too my man

I played gigs both with and without an amp, and you've made some great points in this video. It is easier (A LOT easier in some venues) on the sound engineer, but from my personal experience, I found that playing without an amp always works out best when I'm in an acoustic duo or strictly clean tone/jazz big band situation. Given that my "regular sound" when I play with my regular band is a hybrid of Pat Metheny clean to Allen Hinds "somewhat overdriven" sound, I personally prefer the full, warm tone of my Fender DeLuxe ToneMaster amp, which has the very useful mic input in the back panel, eliminating any front-speaker feedback or other accidents. Hope this helps the conversation, keep up the great work, Jens! 🙂

@drewg3087

Жыл бұрын

Tonemaster is solid state, similar if not same technology as the Kemper/axeFX.

@vampiroangelico

Жыл бұрын

@@drewg3087 The Fender Tone Master series uses massive digital processing power to achieve a single remarkable sonic feat: faithfully modeling the circuitry, warm tone and power output of an original Deluxe tube amp. I've been using it for years in both live and studio performances and I honestly can't tell the difference from my older Fender DeLuxe tube amps (I have 3 of those too). I'm also thinking of upgrading to the 100W Fender Twin ToneMaster amp, to play in bigger venues with bigger stages.

@drewg3087

Жыл бұрын

@@vampiroangelico tone is subjective but a 12w-50w tube amp is THE sound. Digital processors can't come close to that sound no matter how good it gets. 100w solid state maxes powers and compresses too much as it gets louder. The tube starts low and then stays that level while development of the pushed tubes and db increases. To each their tone.

@vampiroangelico

Жыл бұрын

I have to say I was skeptical. I've used nothing but tube amps since the '80s, including Marshall and Peavey 5150 stacks, then I switched to Fender DeLuxe combo tube amps, and I was hostile to the idea of "digital modeling" of tube sound, as my performance style is very dynamic, anywhere in between jazz-fusion and classic rock. My ears were trained in tube sound, but after playing the Fender ToneMaster DeLuxe I was shocked at how warm and dynamic the tone was, perfectly adapting to versatility. I have been using it for 4 years now, and I haven't regretted it once. Also the light weight factor didn't hurt. 😉

Great presentation!!! My sound is a small Polytone type, Roland Jazz Chorus 22. I do not use distortion and only put a pedal with it if I need an effect for songwriting. I don’t like most amps, but this one I do…plus it is small.

Great video, Jens. I moved to the Fractal products 7 years ago at the recommendation of Derryl Gabel. I was very skeptical at first since I was an old-school tube amp guy but over time I've been thrilled with the decision. My friends ask a lot of times what it's like to play through one and I basically say "It's what a guitar sounds like after it's come out of a studio mix, you have total control what the end product sounds like and it's agnostic of what type of venue you play at". The diverse range of sounds I can get from the Fractal products and I can play at bedroom levels without annoying my wife or neighbors is another huge plus!

The no-amp scenario of course depends greatly on the quality of the PA, the quality of the monitors and how well everything is set up and run. When I do perform it's always solo or duo with an acoustic or archtop and then I like to use two small amps - a bass amp and an acoustic or electric fed by a split signal from my guitar. I run the bass clean and put any effects on the mids/treble going to the other amp. I've used a crossover on the signal before the amps with good success but sometimes I just turn up and down the individual EQ's to remove unwanted components from each amp. I'm talking small amps, but this way I can get a fat clear bass and have control over feedback in the room. With any reverb delay etc effects on just the treble side, I avoid a lot of mud. Mostly I just use this scenario for enjoying playing at home but like I say, it's great for small coffee shop gigs.

@chrischaf

Жыл бұрын

I really like having a bass amp via crossover paired with a guitar amp. Although my personal preference is to tri-amp. Stereo left/right guitar amps, with the bass amp via crossover. That's what I used to do back in the day, till my crossover got stolen. I stupidly never wrote down what it was or anything, it was just a lucky find at a pawn shop, and worked perfectly for what i wanted. (pre-internet days, pre-smart phones so no pics) I picked up another crossover, assuming one would be as good as another... Nope ~~;.;

@Garflips

Жыл бұрын

@@chrischaf actually I'm stereo as well because I like to use a smidge of stereo delay/reverb and a half smidge of chorus on the upper split. I use the Rolls SX21 Tiny Crossover.

@chrischaf

Жыл бұрын

@GarFlips Ooooh, okay. I think I understand better now :) I had the impression that you were essentially using a splitter, then running effects just on one amp. I bet it sounds nice :) Do you have any videos of you playing on it? I took a peak at that crossover you mentioned. looked nice :D compact. I took 1 step into the world of downsizing. I went from using the 5150 I'd been playing on as my main amp for almost 30 years, to a 6505mh (mini head), and have been pretty happy with that. But so far I've just been playing it dry, no effects at all except for a little of the built in reverb. Not that I wouldn't *like* effects lol but I suffered some brain damage about 20 years ago, and since then I haven't been able to re-learn how to program effects processors. So i'm limited to messing with factory presets, which never seem to work with my amp. doh! And since I cant set up an effects processor, I haven't been using the 2nd or 3rd amp (except for the occasional experiment), so I haven't looked into downsizing those. If I could figure out how to get virtual amps to play on my pc *in real-time* (without lag), then I could attempt to build the other 2 amps virtually or something... i dunno I attempted to describe my old amp setup in detail, but youtube said it was too long lol I guess I'll take that as a signal that it was too much info ;P I might try to write a shortened version later, but I already spent, like, an hour or more writing the first version, so I'm kinda typed out for now lol

@chrischaf

Жыл бұрын

@@Garflips After looking at some old crossovers, I'm beginning to think the one I had was a loft. The Loft 403-M Crossover pics I looked at, are the closest thing I've seen to my ancient memory of it. Although I could swear it had a black face with a baby blue case (instead of the usual silver/alluminum color). But the power button looks right, and seems to be distinctive. the slot style adjusments (instead of knobs) seems right, and the little white push-button next to the adjustments seems right, although I thought there were more than one of those push buttons. maybe one for each channel? I dunno, but this looks the closest I've seen in all the times I've tried to figure out what it was. I know nothing about the loft brand, but I guess I'll look it up now and find out :) **Edit** Okay, after a lot of searching, I'm not sure it was that particular model, but I'm about 95% certain that it was a Loft. AKA "loft modular devices" AKA "LMT" AKA "LOFT professional audio products" AKA "Phoenix Audio Laboratory" I didn't find a lot of direct info about their crossovers, but from what I did see, they were apparently professional/studio (possibly boutique-grade) Audio Equipment. Which might explain why there seemed to be some sort of "magic" in it, that didn't seem to be in the yamaha crossover I got to replace it after it was stolen. Oh well, at least now I know what I'm looking for. I saved some searches on ebay and reverb. maybe some day somebody will let one go cheap. There sure didn't seem to be any *cheap* ones around now, even though they are 80's gear

Great video! Thanks for your insights!!

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

One of my favourite sounds now is my Audient with its built in DI. Sometimes I don't even use amp modelling and just shape the sound with a little eq, compression, reverb etc

I love amps, cables and a pure, big, great clean tone, i love action and reaction fast:)

@JensLarsen

8 ай бұрын

Same here!

There's no denying the quality of tone you're getting with your current setup, even though folks will harp on about tube amp sound, warmth, responsiveness, etc. Your logic seems perfectly reasonable to me. It's a wonderful feeling to nail that sound that's in your head; to be able to reliably get it in live situations is a huge bonus. I just settled on a nice-sounding setup for myself, and it makes practice such a pleasure. BTW, I enjoyed the picture of the mic'd head, lol!

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Thanks! Yes, there have been one or two Tube-amp "enthusiasts" in the comment section 😁

@martinrusso409

Жыл бұрын

There's nothing wrong with "harping on about tube amps" as long as you keep it respectful. They are awesome. And as Lars said, do what works for you.

Super fun and instructive video 😄!

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Thank you 🤗

Great, thanks for sharing all that! I had a lot of devices over time, now just using a pretty fabulous Ampero II Stomp. Only thing I miss some times is my H9. But that could only do one thing at a time.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Good stuff!

As long as it sounds good out front, whatever works, works. That said... I saw a wedding band recently that had no amps, and the sound was poor. Everything going through two 12" speakers, so there was no bass. Also, the overall balance was bad, but the musicians didn't know because their in-ear mix was fine for them. Another factor to consider is the guitar's physical response to the sound waves that hit it. With a silent stage, you lose that aspect. For quiet jazz gigs that's perhaps not an issue, but even with a slightly louder pub band, the amp interacts with the guitar, making the overall experience better. So, although it may mean carrying more gear, I'm inclined to stick with real amps.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Yes, I also often bring a monitor if there isn't one. It is nice to be able to hear yourself and get the details in phrasing right 🙂

I switched to using a Kemper profiler many years ago. I initially purchased the Kemper for recording, although I soon found it to be far superior to any amp I have owned due to the reasons you have mentioned. I do use an AER when playing acoustic gigs, but for function band, my jazz trio and quartet, shows, studio work and everything else... Kemper is awesome. 😀

@jamesrmorris1952

8 ай бұрын

Aren't they expensive? I suppose it does model at least £100,000+ with of gear if you had it in hardware

@PaulHillGuitarist

8 ай бұрын

@@jamesrmorris1952 For what the Kemper does, not at all! The Profiler Stage with bag is now £1,106.01 in the Kemper store. One decent tube amp will be more than this and the Kemper covers pretty much any amp and effect you will ever need. If you use IEM when playing live, it will have gigs and recording totally covered.

The sound man at the board can and does decide what a musician should sound like according to HIS needs and not the musicians needs. The Sure SM57 is just a convenient way to change what is good for you to what is good for the sound man.

I love this video. Nicely made. Good ingormations. Thanks.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Glad you like it 🙂

Good to hear your opinions, as always Jens. Modelers: no thanks-I'll stick with my Princeton Reverbs. When I need to mic, I bring my own Sennheiser 906 and have no problems. 😎 However, unfortunately sound men are usually a problem; most of them should be working in construction, not in music.😖 Jackhammers, chainsaws are usually their true domain.

Great explanation. I’m primarily a bass player so I’m used to go direct. On guitar gigs (or when recording guitar) I use a Two-Notes CAB-M, I find that cab simulation works well in most situations but in a traditional Jazz context, especially with flatwounds I prefer to bypass it all together. The cab sim gets more needed with increased gain and saturation and to tame the harshness of round wound strings.

@_on_nicegram_DougHelvering

Жыл бұрын

𝙃𝙚𝙮 ☝️𝙔𝙤𝙪'𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙣 𝙖 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙯𝙚 🎉......

Great video! I love my Koch Studio 20.

Superb video and very relevant for me. After years of saving money to get a Friedman amplifier and a few decent analogue guitar pedals, I realised that it became a glorified home practice amplifier as I rarely gigged it! The real hero was the Line 6 Helix LT that was actually getting me through my gigs and recording sessions ; the Friedman was just too impractical to transport (especially living in a flat) and setup with the amount of additional outboard gear it needs to work effectively live. Now I am at the stage where I just dont need the expensive tube amplifier in my home anymore ; keep it practical and make music :)

Well explained with context and a logical approach. As a jazz bassist (upright and electric) I enjoy your videos and appreciate the parallels in studying jazz. Much respect!

Clear explanation and.. good editing 😀👍

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Glad you think so!

Extremely helpful-thanks!

@JensLarsen

4 ай бұрын

Glad to hear it!

Love all your videos Jens. So much great information based on years of experience and a bit of humor. I hate brittle e.q. and I hate loud pick attack ugh. Thank you.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Glad you like them!

A nice tip also is to have a DI box so you could record both the AxFx and your dry signal. I always do that with my recordings

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Yes! You can actually route it like that with a jack cable I think :)

Best teacher on the Internet! Thank you for all the content

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Glad you like it 🙂

The soundman memes really made me laugh. Like you, I've worked with some great audio engineers, and some who I wouldn't hire to hold the door open. Like drummers, a good one is worth their weight in gold.

@JensLarsen

23 күн бұрын

Thanks 😁

I've been playing for decades, have recorded my own material, did a few stints as a "sound guy", and was the sugar daddy for a metal band in the late 90's. Everything you say is spot on! But since I'm not a pro, I still use amps. Nowadays I build experimental guitars as a hobby, and typically use a 20 watt practice amp or a pedal amp and 10" cab into a smartphone for recording sound demos on the build videos.

Thanks. Good story of your journey. I have two solutions: a Fender Blues Junior for live smallish gigs, and for larger ones, a small AER 40W that has XLR out that goes into the P/A. In the 2nd I use the AER as a monitor for myself and I trust the sound guy to get whatever he/she wants for the P/A. All I care about is what I hear :). Thanks. P.S. I had a POD, but for jazz just want clean sound with some reverb.

It’s difficult for me as a guitarist to admit but I do think modelers and some VST plugins are starting to get into territory where it just makes more sense to use them. I’m speaking mostly for home use or home recording, but something like the Nembrini Audio Faceman is a surprisingly inspiring choice. Especially when still using pedals for added gain or fuzz

@sws7961

Жыл бұрын

@@_on_nicegram_DougHelvering shut up you black monkey

@tacomadc

9 ай бұрын

I really love an old effects pedal the Line 6 M13. Ever heard of it? My guitarist used one in Holland (into a Koch combo amp) and it sounded amazing.

I've had quite the adventure with amps. I've been playing since the mid 80s and I began playing Peavey and Fender combos like a lot of players. When I was fifteen I got a Marshall plexi stack. Great sounding amp for the sort of heavy rock I was playing at the time, but man, moving it to band rehearsal or to gigs was like moving a grand piano, or a house full of furniture. No fun. So I then started using combos and went through a number of them from a Boogie to a Randall to several Peavey, Gallien Krueger, Marshall JCMs and Laneys. These were either amps I owned or borrowed from friends. I came to the fast realization that stack amps were not necessary. I was playing in the Hollywood metal scene in the 80s on the Sunset Strip and the soundmen loved me because I wasn't imposing myself with a wall of Marshalls. So they always did their best to get me the best sound possible. I aimed for minimal stage volume to make it easier for the soundman to mix a good sound and I often got compliments for how good and clear my tone was for a heavy rock guitar shredder. In more recent years I've used a combination of 10 to 30 watt combos, tube and solid state, and a Boss GT pedal through the soundboard. This works fine for me. I haven't sworn off amps but it's nice to know there are other ways to get your sound out loud and clear without breaking your back, or breaking the bank. More players should look into these new approaches. Good video.

It's nice to play with a variety of tools, and not just software and multieffect modellers. I used to always record with a mic on a combo amp speaker, but now usually use the Two Notes Cab M+ direct in, with a bunch of effect pedals running into it.

Great video as always Jens. I actually do use a tube amp, but I have a really old Behringer modeler which I've created a number of presets on that I'm very happy with. I laughed at thanks Rhett 😂

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Sounds great! (I can't really show putting together a pedalboard if I don't have one 😁)

@versnellingspookie

Жыл бұрын

What is the type of behringer modeler that you're talking about? Your comment has got me intrigued 😇

@therealcarlmarti

Жыл бұрын

Behringer VAmp perhaps? I used to have one, until it got stolen at a gig.

@frankvaleron

Жыл бұрын

@@versnellingspookie V Amp3. Bought it 12 years ago. Still has its uses!

I can definitely see Amp Simulations and alternatives to be coming for us in the future! I still use real, brick-and-mortar amps, but I am open to anything really! Cheers!

@BluesCat1980

Жыл бұрын

I disagree. There are way too many people that still love amps. I hate playing guitar through the PA. It ends up sounding thin and weak. I use a Blues Deluxe and it sounds fantastic. I like having the control over my tone. Running into a PA which I have done, sounds horrible running from my pedal board into a direct box and then into the PA just didn't sound right.

I've been using the Strymon Big Sky HW with speaker simulate and then post processing as needed with various amp sims in my DAW, seems to work well most of the time - but sometimes only an amp has the secret sauce (at least for now). REALLY looking forward to Strymon coming out with a more sophisticated Amp sim than the Iridium, maybe with larger Big Sky enclosure - the Iridium has many good settings but I do think there is still room for realism improvement.

Wow, I didn't know what to expect when I clicked on this, but I'm sure glad I did! This was the most unpretentious, authoritative look at this topic I've seen yet. Thank you.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! That's really great to hear!