Author Topic: Steve Vai goes rackless (Read 6961 times)

Eric · « **on:** August 04, 2006, 12:38:35 AM »

Is this a sign of the end of civilization?

He's down to a G-System, a few foot pedals and his amps. God I remember seeing those huge racks and thinking how cool they looked. Then I started stomping on a few pedals and well, I headed towards simplicity. But that G-System does seem like a very cool piece of gear. If only I had the the cash to get one.

OD-Black_Fire · « **Reply #1 on:** August 04, 2006, 04:32:31 AM »

The G-system is exactly what I need. EXACTLY. Plus, you can also control it with MIDI, or use it to control MIDI shite..just incase you go back...amazing...

Eric · « **Reply #2 on:** August 04, 2006, 05:31:32 AM »

The G-System is an amazingly well thought out piece of gear. I'd be amazed if more touring guitarists don't start using it.

downrodeo · « **Reply #3 on:** August 04, 2006, 11:33:15 PM »

It looks phenomenal, and seems to be everything you could ask for on stage. It seems like the perfect compromise between floor unit multi-effects and higher quality rackmount effects. I WANT ONE! :P :P

Afghan Dave · « **Reply #4 on:** August 05, 2006, 11:45:02 AM »

Fantastic bit of kit...

I think I'd be a little indulgent if I got one and only used it in the bedroom to butcher Yankee Rose though!

Shame.

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #5 on:** August 05, 2006, 11:52:13 AM »

I always thought Vai sounded bettter with LESS effects on his guitar signal

On Eat Em and Smile his sound was fairly raw - a bit of reverb and echo whilst he had everything but the kitchen sink on Skyscr@per and i felt his guitar lacked something due to all the processing.

Anyone who hasn't heard Eat Em and Smile needs to get a copy NOW
Still holds up after all these years to my ears

To be fair I have the TC Electronic G Force and love it, though I often just use a head and ignore the rack

Eric · « **Reply #6 on:** August 05, 2006, 06:35:55 PM »

I like players that use effects to really alter their sound as opposed to a constantly processed sound. Tom Morello and Larry Lalonde come to mind. Vernon Reid is a genius when it comes to using effects. His playing on Time's Up and Stain are genius use of processing to really do something interesting as opposed to just having a delay and a chorus on the time.

LiamH · « **Reply #7 on:** August 05, 2006, 09:38:17 PM »

I can't agree more that Steve Vai sounds better with less effects. If anyone gets the chance listen to him burn on Public Image's PiL album, particularly the track Home. Also SV was fantastic when he gigged with Alcatrazz. I lost my copy of "Breaking the Peace" but that is a great bit of his work. If you can get hold of a copy do it. After Passion and Warfare I lost a bit of interest as SV began to sound a bit Satriani like. JS is great but to my ears his sound is a bit artificial.

I wonder if TC will mod Vai's box? One thing I like about BKP is that I am geting something that does not need modding as it has been made by a craftsman with pride in each thing he makes.

gingataff · « **Reply #8 on:** August 07, 2006, 02:42:19 AM »

I've loved Eat 'Em And Smile since the 80s, and I remember the day I bought Skyscr@per (on lp of course!) and went home and played it for the first time. I prefer his tone on EEAS and but I can't seem to get close with my own set up (or playing!):(
As for skyscr@per, it does have one of my favourite Vai tones, the intro to Two fools A Minute is awesome, so chunky but almost clean. That said I like his later tones too, There's A Fire In The House is fantastic!

Bainzy · « **Reply #9 on:** August 08, 2006, 10:34:22 PM »

Guitar > Marshall Amp > Cab

That's tonal nirvana, the secret is simplicity and thus purity of tone. Even though he's "only down to" one of these G-unit thingys

, it's still probably tonally just like a rack but in a smaller box. I guess some guys need more effects and things to develop their signature sound or get what tone they hear in their head, but it's always better to try and find that sound from using less and less in your signal path.

LiamH · « **Reply #10 on:** August 09, 2006, 10:04:53 AM »

Brainzy's comment seems to make sense to me. I have always loved Angus Young's tone, and that's SG straight into marshall head.

blue · « **Reply #11 on:** August 09, 2006, 01:04:19 PM »

i love Angus Young's tone and i love (most of) Steve Vai's tones. they're simply opposite ends of the rock guitar sound spectrum! i think there's certainly room for both approaches. and while i love plugging straight into an amp, it's always fun experimenting with mad effects. what's the point in never changing?

oh, i've seen both ac/dc and vai live, and both were outstanding!

gingataff · « **Reply #12 on:** August 14, 2006, 05:40:08 PM »

Not sure if its rackless or not, but check out this solo from the (very!) recent Carvin birthday party!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QYU7SIDoR0

blue · « **Reply #13 on:** August 14, 2006, 06:08:38 PM »

does anyone know is it possible to save any of the videos off youtube?

Kilby · « **Reply #14 on:** August 14, 2006, 06:20:10 PM »

Quote from: blue

does anyone know is it possible to save any of the videos off youtube?

Theres a plugin for Firefox that lets you save them, also if toy want to play them on anything other than a PC or Mac you will need to convert them too.

Edit:

It's the extension is grease monkey which can do the job (just google for it)

For newer videos that dosn't always work so try http://www.tian.cc/2005/11/how-to-save-flash-videos-from-youtube.html for a more manual method.

There are other methods but if you want the Vai one click on this and rename the file to vai.flv
http://video_id=5QYU7SIDoR0&l=217&t=OEgsToPDskIMFTsLxwyRbhHpNOQ8j1JU&nc=16763904&s=7FA778A093E80DB9:8A51374783A7BCE6