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A Master playing a Master Built Instrument
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Author:  Stuart Gort [ Wed Jul 24, 2013 11:39 am ]
Post subject:  A Master playing a Master Built Instrument
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wpn6LVxX0s

Keaggy coaxes everything that can be coaxed from an instrument. It isn't simply playing...it's making tone.

That's a James Olson guitar.
Author:  JSDenvir [ Wed Jul 24, 2013 2:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A Master playing a Master Built Instrument
An honest question, not meant to troll. I know next to nothing about guitar electronics. But given how processed that signal is, could he not be just as easily playing a Takamine?

Thanks in advance.

Steve
Author:  Stuart Gort [ Wed Jul 24, 2013 3:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A Master playing a Master Built Instrument
Filippo Morelli wrote:
He's a great musician. Curious what rig he's running that through, especially given your tone observation.

Filippo


It's hard to pin down his rig. It all over the map on the internet. I can hear compression, chorus, reverb, and then, of course, the phrase sampler...which was a Digitech Jamman initially for a long while and now I hear it's a Boss of some sort (this clip only reveals a portion of his prowess on that thing).

...but I was more referring to his fluid playing style of slides, bends, and voicing that brings life into the instrument. It's a short list of players that have that delicate, accurate touch let's them play the minute subtleties like Keaggy can. Marvelous stuff imo.
Author:  Stuart Gort [ Wed Jul 24, 2013 3:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A Master playing a Master Built Instrument
JSDenvir wrote:
An honest question, not meant to troll. I know next to nothing about guitar electronics. But given how processed that signal is, could he not be just as easily playing a Takamine?

Thanks in advance.

Steve


Sure...the electronics produce part of the tone. Keaggy's been onstage playing for many decades now. That sound has evolved to convey his delicate style in large rooms...and impart a fullness to the music. Many tracks of his acoustic music contain far less processing.

I'll just say that tonal balance and clarity isn't something gear can really "create" from a bad instrument (no particular jab at Takamine meant here). Sound processing adds and alters the basic input...but it doesn't create it. I wouldn't pretend to be a fine judge of acoustic instruments but Olson's reputation as a builder is impeccable. Even if Olson's talent is inscrutable to me, I nevertheless perceive a tonal clarity popping out of that guitar. :)
Author:  mqbernardo [ Wed Jul 24, 2013 3:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A Master playing a Master Built Instrument
he´s good.
Author:  mqbernardo [ Wed Jul 24, 2013 3:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A Master playing a Master Built Instrument
that was obviously an understatement...
Author:  Josh H [ Wed Jul 24, 2013 5:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A Master playing a Master Built Instrument
Phil is one of my all time favourite guitar players. I've had the privilege to see him live on a few times. I'm also a huge Olson fan as he was one of my inspiration that got me interested in building.

Last time I saw him (which was several years ago) he was using a Jamman rig for the looping, which I believe even at that time was out of production. He may have switched since then, but I remember that the older Jamman rig was a lot more extensive than a lot of the later looping station released by other manufactures.

Josh
Author:  James W B [ Wed Jul 24, 2013 5:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A Master playing a Master Built Instrument
It would be interesting to hear the guitar un-plugged.
Author:  Bob Garrish [ Thu Jul 25, 2013 2:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A Master playing a Master Built Instrument
JSDenvir wrote:
An honest question, not meant to troll. I know next to nothing about guitar electronics. But given how processed that signal is, could he not be just as easily playing a Takamine?

Thanks in advance.

Steve


From listening to it, I'd say the answer is 'no' for the whole of this particular recording...but I'd say that possibly the majority of it is such that he could be playing anything that 'rings pretty good'. So it's getting close. He's still taking advantage of the ring and sustain of the instrument, and there's not quite enough processing on top of a lot of it to hide it.

I would say that the difference in sound you'll get from fresh strings VS week old strings, or a master-level player VS a pro, is on par with the difference between a master-grade guitar and a 'top of the bell curve' instrument from a good factory. If you're willing to try 50 mid-range production guitars that are the same model you can probably get something really special for <$1K. The two best guitars I've ever heard were luthier-built, but one of the contenders for 3rd was a $1000 Blueridge (Chinese Martin knock-off).
Author:  Terence Kennedy [ Thu Jul 25, 2013 10:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A Master playing a Master Built Instrument
It's always amazed me how a great player can milk a surprisingly good sound out of a mediocre instrument.
I would not have wanted to be the one that had to cut the holes in that guitar for the electronics. I wonder if it left Jim's shop that way.
Author:  phil [ Fri Jul 26, 2013 3:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A Master playing a Master Built Instrument
Steve, to follow your rabbit trail for a moment, a great pickup is meant to amplify a great source. The guitar definitely makes a difference.
Along with Keaggy's brilliant playing, the internet is full of awesome players doing this kind of thing - making their instruments sound larger than life. But almost none of those players are playing Takamine's (or similar guitars).
Author:  Bryan Bear [ Fri Jul 26, 2013 4:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A Master playing a Master Built Instrument
Phil's point is well made. It is just like any elite practitioner of any given activity, (insert superstar's name here) can beat most people in a game of (insert sport name here) with any generic (insert sports equipment name here). S/he would do impressive things with less than impressive equipment, but when it comes time to buy gear, s/he is going to buy the best possible gear to compliment and facilitate the talent S/he brings to the game. Now if I borrowed that gear, I may play a tiny bit better but will not come anywhere near realizing the potential of the equipment.
Author:  Dave Fifield [ Fri Jul 26, 2013 11:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A Master playing a Master Built Instrument
Excellent! Thanks for the link Stuart.

I'm amazed that even without a middle finger on his right hand he has mastered the instrument completely!
BTW, what happened to his finger, anyone know?

Dave F.
Author:  SteveSmith [ Sat Jul 27, 2013 3:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A Master playing a Master Built Instrument
The way he uses the loops and weaves the sounds together, well the guy is just crazy good. I love to listen to him play.
Author:  Jim Watts [ Sat Jul 27, 2013 4:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A Master playing a Master Built Instrument
He's been one of my all time favorite guitars for quite a long time.
I was thrilled that he stopped by my table and played one of my instruments at a guitar show.
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