Just listening to you talk about acoustics and finding the right pickup for live performances etc., if you haven't, go see Bill Warmoth at Artisan Guitars there in Nashville and try some Maton guitars... You'll be glad you did :-)

Nothing sounds as ballsy and powerful in a band situation to cut through solidly like a tube amp.

Agree 💯

That was pretty badass. Watched several times.

Tube amps through a cab are a much better experience. Not as convenient as modelers though.

tried the helix ,tried tonex had the bean pod way back and even had valvetronix first amps (which were the best ) but im always back with my valve amps ..I like to feel the notes ..modelers lack that ..there seems a disconnect.Plus an amp tech can repair them..Awesome intro by the way and hi from uk

Yes les Paul is the best

Some real hillbilly deluxe picking going on in that intro, nice! Best of luck with those home studio sessions- and going after the R9!

Michael here Looking forward to that 1st lesson Sept 9/3. Are you looking to do studio / hired gun work only that your established? You seem to stay pretty busy, would you consider a perm spot in a band, or say a studio? The R9 is nice, I'm a LP player, but have a pretty cool Hummingbird I picked up this summer, and also bought a Fender P-Bass just learning having fun, my Gf started taking drum lessons, so thought it be cool to jam w her on her drums. I've heard alot of really positive feedback from a couple guys who bought that R9 Re-issue, they like the little weight relief the R9 has vs. The Standard with the same great tone. It's way out of my current means lol... Can you mark down Chicken Pickin as one thing I need allot of help with. I've been trying to learn songs like, a fav, GnR Paradise City, but I cannot get the intro down at all, so haven't got any further on it.

kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ibahoZRls57dfqs.htmlsi=_ry_ynC7uYHfHNh4

Amazing playing and tone as always. I always look forward to your videos and insight

Yeah man, that southern fade finish is pretty.

Don't apologize brother: Tubes for Life!

good stuff 🎸🎸🎸

I’ve been using a Helix for years. Depending on the amp model you’re using, when rolling back the volume knob, it cleans up well and behaves very much like an amp. You can’t beat the convenience.

Speakers Not Tubes I have to use real guitar speakers. Thats what youre talking about, not tubes! 10-15 speakers with its room filling "3d" air moving. Noone can ever tell between a recorded tube tone or todays amp modelers. I dont think frfr technology has good cheap options. I love amp modeling but I use the preamps infront of a great pedal platform amp. The combos are the future I think. I carry two 1x12s for a stereo rig with plenty of preamps, overdrives, fuzz, delay, mods without the weight of a huge pedalboards.

You're right, amp modeling is not there, yet...

That natural tube saturation sure compresses nicely. Almost as nicely as a Neve St.Ives transformer. 😎edit: loops, I meant Marinair transformers. I agree with your description as being 3D. While talking tube amps, whats your favorite tune mic pre or compressor for vocals?

Tubes compress, sag, breathe, and have a 3D sound to them; they also respond better to pick attack. Therefore they play better. The digital modelers may "sound" like the real thing (and are more mobile, cheaper in some cases, more versatile, etc.) but they don't play like a real tube amp in a live situation. Digital may be desirable for clean ambience and recording purposes, possibly even single note ultra high gain with effects, they just don't push the air like a tube amp.

I agree...but... I'm not 18 years old anymore, I'm 61. Big cabs and heavy ass heads make no sense to me. However, I am VERY stoked about the new generation of "tube-based pre amp pedals" My recently overhauled board consists of three main components (all sync'd/controlled by MIDI): TC Electronic (analog) Nova Drive HX Effects Friedman IR-D analog pre amp with digital power amp and cabs (IRs). Everything is on my board, plugs straight into FOH, and I could not possibly care less about "moving air on stage". Real amp sound, total weight about 20 pounds. Works for me. 🙂

Regular monitors…cool..

All Digital units are trying to sound like a tube amp. Why?? Because tube amps sound amazing. Playing a tube amp is also an amazing experience. You can’t beat the real deal. I’m 100% with you on this 😎👍

Great tone in the intro, Justin. Was that the "lead" channel on the super champ or a pedal? I've never played one, but that sure sounded sweet. Do you find they have a nice "break-up" at a conversational level?

I agree and disagree. If I'm playing through a tube/valve amp I agree it sounds better. BUT once you put that on tape (or digital) and play it back through the average stereo system or your iphone the digital stuff sounds the same. Most recording studios will have you play through what ever you want but in mixing they will take the clean guitar signal they also recorded and ad vst amp and effects. So in the end if listenting to modern day music it's all digital.

They both have positives and negatives... I love both, but i find modellers give a superior sound at low volumes. If i can't crank my tube amps, it's nice to get a tone that's 98% as good without my ears bleeding. They're both very useful and i doubt I'll ever be without either.

I have three that I like to use. But when it comes to the sound of the guitar, a tube amp has a definite edge over the others. An old GK 112LC guitar amp is my solid state rig and have a couple of amp sims. Something about a tube amp that brings out a chime that the others cannot do. I do not know if it is the linear analog signal that makes it better for me. Maybe the digital bits do not carry over the full tonality of a tube amp. Love hearing the raw clean tones of an electric guitar heard in 1950s and 1960s songs that are not heard now. Well that's my two cents.

I am a tube-amp purist, but I have to say that I'm pretty stoked on CAB modeling. I have 4 tube amps. I mainly play through a pair of Princetons in stereo. For the last couple years though I have been recording using a pair of TwoNotes CaptorX, set to the same speaker I use in the amps. I have to say I can't hear the difference. When recording it feels the same as a miced cab, but I can have the amp right next to me, being silent. Nothing compares to real tubes! It's also great live. I can just send an XLR to the board direct.

Well two weeks ago I would have agreed with you, but now that we can use plugins in the quad cortex, I think it is even better than the amps I had. Really, it is a game changer. Sold my amps.

Are we still having this tired, old argument? Play what you like, what sounds good. Make music. There is no Universal Better. There is no best guitar, best amp, best pedal, just opinions. Modeling has its uses, as do tube amps. Pick the right tool for the job at hand.

I agree 100% as I am a tube-guy (however) recently it's gotten better. I purchased a Yamaha THR30II and it's very impressive for a NYC apartment. I also like the Quilter-stuff and a Jazz Chorus, but nothing like Real Tubes. oNe LovE from NYC

Nothing beats a real deal amp. Digital stuff requires so much info and time to make it sound good that it’s basically learning a second instrument just to make your first instrument sound good. I’m not going to lie and say digital is complete garbage. It has it uses and CAN in expert hands sound ok in a mix. I don’t want to crap on digital cuz I don’t want to discourage kids from playing, but a tube amp is the ultimate way to play. Nothing beats the feel of a real amp.

To me modeling sounds like a D.I. Guitar with a plugin. Which is all it is. Not even close to the real thing.

Tubes rule, digital is sterile to me.

I prefer modelers, way easier

It's not superior, it serves a different purpose. Two completely different tools. I lived in an apartment for a while and good luck to turn that amp up, or if I like to jam at 11PM, good luck to add that headphones without using another tool. I agree with the dynamics, I use it all the time but no problem with my digital amps to use the volume knob either (HW/SW). My biggest joy when using my tube amps/speaker is the sound in the room and the interaction with the guitar.

With a group now. bunch of older guys. All but one of us played out in bars, churches or fairs for many years. Now, once a week for 4 hours with no pressure AND we have a blast. Occasionally play a party or small fair for kicks and giggles. The other guitar player has a Two Roc and traditional pedalboard. I have given modeling a real chance over the last few years. His real amp ALWAYS sounded much better in rehearsal and stage. A few months ago, I sold my modeler and went back to a tube amp. The sound difference is amazing. "Life" is correct. The sound seams to wrap around you rather than fall in line through the PA.

I remember back when tone was important. Now its weight and gizmos... I'll stick with tone , thanks.

A video on that rig is needed! Guitar, amp & recording chain!!! What’s the amp???

Hi Justin, I keep missing your 'live' streams but usually watch them the day after. About modelling amps/systems, they're great for convienience, (recording, transport, ease of use, maintenance etc, etc,which is great) and they are almost 80% there, but when you play guitar, it's that 20% left (where the 'mojo' is) that makes me prefer the old amp thing+ some subtilities... Also, for someone who never tried (or can't afford) a good tube amp, modelers it's all he knows, until, he tries the 'real' thing, and you can see his jaw drop and his eyes lit! + There a reason why in most big studios you'll always have some classic tube amps, and there will always be guitarists who won't play with out their old amp. And last, there's less and less technicians who understand how a tube amp functions and that can repair it, so that also might get in line, for choosing 'modelers'. Not even talking about the importance of having good quality tubes (expensive!). An all generation have only played 'non-tubes' amps, but when they try a tube amp, they're like lost, due to it's dynamics (part of it's magic). Sorry for the long comment, take care there!

Once again, I couldn’t agree more! I control my dynamics, mostly with my pick attack modellers have a very difficult time translating this.

This is has been on my mind, and for now the modler I'm using works for me to play tones on my little Marshall 50 until I can get a really good Marshall plexi and a cab, or I'm even interested to see if the EVH 5150 Tube amps are all about. Have you tried any of the EVH Heads at all?

I say go on strike. Let these places us AI and see how they all like it.

Your intro.tone with that special was sent from Heaven. As a guy who’s dragged tube amps around for years, no argument from me. As a kid it was a 50 watt Marshall, a cord and a guitar. These days it’s tube combos, but to show up like a gentleman with something like your fly rig is tempting

What a great opening ! What tube amp were you using ? The drive was awesome! Those p90s scream!

Word up. Modeling fun to experiment, but baseline for good sound is tubes and real audio! 🤘🏼

I believe Alexander Dumble said that a guitar signal has a better time traveling through a vacuum as in a tube versus the crystal structure of a transistor. Maybe it’s really just a fidelity thing, tubes may just have a technically clearer signal.

Good heavens, man that intro playing!!! Right on brother, as much as I find modelers great sounding, useful and convenient, the touch sensitivity and what happens in a room going through a good tube amp, is a whole different experience, especially for those who feel what they play...

Tubes = ❤

Damn I love that sound, good job as always man.

Awesome board!!!👍🏽