Renowned guitarist who don't use effects

[Breeder]

I heard Segovia secretly used delay when practicing in his basement hidden from the rest of the world (some say he even used stratobanjo)

[Big Bad Bill]

I don't quite get your point. I saw Thin Lizzy last year and John Sykes went straight into a Boss TU-2 and then directly into one Marshall JCM 800. That's it and this information comes not from his tech or a guitar magazine.

Does a JCM800 have an effects loop, hidden away around the back? Is it just slightly possible that effects could have been incorporated into the signal path via this hidden loop, away from the prying eyes of the public? As for the journalistic integrity of guitar magazines, do you think they check out each and every rig or do they just ask the tech/artist how their signal path is treated?

I've yet to hear an amp that doesn't sound better with a hint of reverb or even delay and sometimes chorus/detune effects so I find it hard to believe that leading guitarists wouldn't use these perfectly honest and professional tools to benefit their sound-after all the sound is the important thing not how you achieve it. Perhaps some venues have their own natural ambient reverb and so this effect isn't required at that gig, but most venues have awful acoustics and these have to be compensated for. Think about it, the great Steve Vai uses a whole load of effects to get his sound, don't you think he'd abandon them if he could and design an amp that didn't need them? Quad erat demonstrandum.

[Igneousiceman]

Rory Gallagher is well known for preferring the simple Strat and AC30 combination....never hear any effects on his songs. (Watch as someone proves me wrong )

[metalus]

i saw a video of Mattias Eklundh playing his arse off in a music shop, he showed his rig, and was the most basic ive ever seen. was playing through a practice amp, and apart from his funny little toys such as kids talking mobile phone, and a vibrator lol thats all he had, and could still do all his crazy harmonics etc.

[lester]

ahmm steve vai i guess???

[Jemfever]

I don't quite get your point. I saw Thin Lizzy last year and John Sykes went straight into a Boss TU-2 and then directly into one Marshall JCM 800. That's it and this information comes not from his tech or a guitar magazine.

Does a JCM800 have an effects loop, hidden away around the back? Is it just slightly possible that effects could have been incorporated into the signal path via this hidden loop, away from the prying eyes of the public? As for the journalistic integrity of guitar magazines, do you think they check out each and every rig or do they just ask the tech/artist how their signal path is treated?

I've yet to hear an amp that doesn't sound better with a hint of reverb or even delay and sometimes chorus/detune effects so I find it hard to believe that leading guitarists wouldn't use these perfectly honest and professional tools to benefit their sound-after all the sound is the important thing not how you achieve it. Perhaps some venues have their own natural ambient reverb and so this effect isn't required at that gig, but most venues have awful acoustics and these have to be compensated for. Think about it, the great Steve Vai uses a whole load of effects to get his sound, don't you think he'd abandon them if he could and design an amp that didn't need them? Quad erat demonstrandum.

Imagine, there are people that have not been wasting their time with searching for the holy grail of tone. Instead they have been simply practicing and playing their guitar.
I don't get, why people always think that the reason for guitarist x or y must be a modded amp (hidden backstage, of course), a pickup wound by angels or a certain custom made effects unit. There's nothing wrong with effects, don't get me wrong. I personally love
delays, but some guys simply like the dry and pure tone of guitar plus amp. If you can play, you will sound good with only your guitar and an amp. If you can't, none of the above mentioned gadgets will help you sound better.

[Igneousiceman]

If you can play, you will sound good with only your guitar and an amp. If you can't, none of the above mentioned gadgets will help you sound better.

Very very true

[Breeder]

If you can play, you will sound good with only your guitar and an amp. If you can't, none of the above mentioned gadgets will help you sound better.

Very very true

+1

I learned that only because I don`t have bunch of money to spare on effects...now I am tankful...all you need is decent guitar, amp (my is not even decent but we are working on that too ) will and a little imagination

just give me a bit of reverb and I am <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

[Igneousiceman]

just give me a bit of reverb and I am <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Not too much though I hope

[Seraphim]

Me!!! I don't play with effects, well, I don't have any, eheh ohhhh, I'm not renowned

Anyway, I guess Carlos Santana. I asked about it once when I went to Paris and he said that "just mark the floor, no pedals on there". So, I believed!!!

Peter Frampton? Hummm... I guess not

Seraphim

[prman]

If you can play, you will sound good with only your guitar and an amp. If you can't, none of the above mentioned gadgets will help you sound better.

Amen!

PS: I`ve personally witnessed Scott Henderson playing cheapo strat through a solidstate practice amp and he sounded still amazing.

[Fanch]

How many times do I have to read interviews were the guitarist says "I'm not really into effects" then proceeds to mention the overdrive/distortion pedal, delay, reverb, wah, flanger and phaser they use!

Can you mention any of the above interviews were(sp?) the guitarits says "I'm not really into effects"?

[Big Bad Bill]

Can you mention any of the above interviews were(sp?) the guitarits says "I'm not really into effects"?

Some genres of music have guitarists that are always saying this usually after saying that they don't know any scales and that music theory stifles creativity! I'll keep an eye out for it in the coming months and let you know.

[Fanch]

Can you mention any of the above interviews were(sp?) the guitarits says "I'm not really into effects"?

Some genres of music have guitarists that are always saying this usually after saying that they don't know any scales and that music theory stifles creativity! I'll keep an eye out for it in the coming months and let you know.

Although your response has Nothing to do with the treads STRANGE title/ then ludicrous opening statement, then my reply, I will hold my breath and wait.

[boswell]

Can you mention any of the above interviews were(sp?) the guitarits says "I'm not really into effects"?

Some genres of music have guitarists that are always saying this usually after saying that they don't know any scales and that music theory stifles creativity! I'll keep an eye out for it in the coming months and let you know.

Although your response has Nothing to do with the treads STRANGE title/ then ludicrous opening statement, then my reply, I will hold my breath and wait.

Well it seems others understood my "STRANGE title" and the "ludicrous" statement, BBB's has everything to do with the title and statement.

Time after time in magazines, or the internet I read interviews were the "renowned" guitarist claims he's not into effects yet goes on to describe his rig which includes a pedal board and rack full of effects! In addition to which a causal listen to the guys latest album shows it to be awash with flanger, phaser, delay, reverb etc.

Then as Bill says they also have a tendency to deny any knowledge of scales or music theory, somehow promoting the notion they are some how a "natural" genius who miraculously plucks a great melody from the sky!