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Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Dec 18 2012, 01:41 AM

Nowadays - I find myself practicing by going directly to the sound card interface and through the monitor speakers. I usually don't even take time to dial some great tone rather just go as direct as possible. I find this tone to be really cool sounding but when I recently played on my bass amp for a change - I was so surprised! THE TONE - what a huge difference. Especially in dynamics and all the percussive dead notes/scratches.

I really like that contrast when I go to a studio band practice and hear how my playing "really sounds"!
Always puts a smile on my face.

I still prefer to practice on through the interface just as its so handy - the less stuff I need to do in order to get setup for practice, the better for me!

Posted by: Qenzoz Dec 18 2012, 02:18 AM

I just use my amp and have the backing track or what it might be run out through my computer speakers. Before I used my line 6 ux2 and guitar rig 5, but apparently I can't even get any sound out of it now, not sure what happened, suddenly one day there just wasn't any sound at all. But I actually prefer to use my amp!

Posted by: steve-rec-freak Dec 18 2012, 03:48 AM

I have two setups - it depends on where I am at The Time...

At home I use :

My Guitar plugged into a tascam us, which is conected to a MacBook Pro. All Sounds are created within Logic Pro,
Which is my Playback mashine at the same time.

In the rehearsal room I use my amp setup. The cabinet is miked by a sm57 routed into a rme fireface800 , which is
Conected to a pc System. As Daw I use in this case samplitude pro x suite. Because The amp is cranked up on Volume, I use closed headphones for recording.

I like using both systems, with a little advantage for the real amp. It is much more direct, And so I need to play more accurate, than I would have to with a digital amp. Hmmmm.... Or wait.... This might be a disadvantage as well
Ok honestly, I just love The way a real amp feels to me...

Cheers,

S.

Posted by: PosterBoy Dec 18 2012, 09:42 AM

Axe Fx through computer speakers

Posted by: Dieterle Dec 18 2012, 10:23 AM

OK here are my ways .

1. Guitar on zoom G3 to iMac-Garageband from there via usb to Teufel concept = externe amp with soundcard to Teufel speakers .

Simulations i use only from Zoom G3

Headphone i could use over Teufel concept



2. Guitar on Zoom G3 to Amp Fender hot rod tube or my little amp Vox Ad5 - depending on daytime -

Simulations i use for Fender HDR only foot pedals from Zoom G3

for Vox Ad5 i use all possibilities from Zoom G3 mainly Mesa simulation

3. Guitar just on Zoom G3 direct to Headphone ( summer in the garden ) Simulations from Zoom of course works fine with
Electric and Electro acustic Guitars .

Posted by: ConnorGilks Dec 18 2012, 11:21 PM

I have a few setups in my bedroom/studio/practice room. I've got the AxeFX II for going direct, which is how I usually practice, and it works great. I do however also have an amp and cab setup if I want to try something more "real", and sometimes it's less/more of a crutch to use modeling or a real amp. Having the AxeFX II allows me to plug it into my computer/DAW and then I can easily play along to backing tracks, drum loops or a metronome, or record ideas I come up with while playing without having to run around hooking things up or putting a poor-quality recording of it on my iPhone.



I also have a Vox AC4TV combo that I love to death. I keep it downstairs and use it with my Strat when I'm practicing. I keep it on the clean channel (as clean as you can get) for practicing legato, sweeping, etc. and doing so has helped my technique a lot in the past few months.

EDIT: Also, when I'm practicing, the TV screen and laptop are CLOSED. NO SCREENS WHEN YOU ARE PRACTICING. It makes your practice time much more productive. I should also add that lamp in the corner is essential to my practicing. It sound weird, but I always turn on that light when I'm playing guitar/practicing/working/recording/etc. and turn off the main light in my room and that not only relaxes me with the dimmer lighting, but it also trains me mentally to go "Oh hey, now it's time to work because this light is on."

Posted by: Patrik Berg Dec 19 2012, 04:18 AM

Mesa boogie mark IV through my home build 1x12 cabs. I like to feel the sound but I don't think my neighbors do.

Posted by: JamesT Dec 19 2012, 04:29 AM

My setup isn't too complicated, but probably a little more so than absolutely necessary.
The center of my rig is a TC Electronics Studio Konnekt 48. It' serves as a digital mixer and the audio interface to my PC. I have some Alesis M1 Active monitors connected to the mixer as well as a subwoofer. The Konnekt has a remote control for the master volume, and some other functions as well as two headphone outputs. I normally turn the speakers off and use them for mixing only. The Konnekt has a bunch of channels. I use it to set the mix between my Pod HD500 and a Yamaha Motif ES7 syhthesizer as well as an old Korg M1 rack mount synth. I hardly every use the keyboard, but it's there and always hooked up in case I get some inspiration. For recording I almost always record the unprocessed guitar that's sent via SPDIF out of the HD500. But I monitor the HD500 with a nice preset. After recording then I re-amp the guitar with Guitar Rig 5 right inside of Sonar. This gives me really good control over the final tone while giving me efforless tone selection from the HD500 for monitoring and practicing. All in all, a very flexible and easy to use setup. I have all the outboard stuff hooked to one surge protector so all I have to do is hit one switch when I get home from work and I am ready to go. I don't have a live rig right now, but if I did. I'd probably get a clean power amp and speakers (almost like a PA) and hook the HD500 to them. Not sure if you can get away with using the HD500 by itself in a gig situation, but I hear that some people do exactly that.

Posted by: Todd Simpson Dec 20 2012, 02:35 AM

My setup has gotten a bit crazy to be honest I'm going to start selling off a bit of gear to see if I can consolidate my studio.

Posted by: MonkeyDAthos Dec 20 2012, 07:58 AM

i sit down on the sofa with the guitar and..that's it

Posted by: Patrik Berg Dec 23 2012, 09:53 AM

Like

Posted by: Opetholic Dec 23 2012, 10:49 AM

I like this set-up: simple, elegant, tidy and looks like you have everything you need. Great stuff.

Posted by: ConnorGilks Dec 25 2012, 05:26 AM

Thanks man, it's fantastic. Lot of work put into it but a lot of good things came from it as well, well worth it.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 26 2012, 10:20 PM

Here's a little vid I've done with my practicing setup Hope you guys like it!

Posted by: Opetholic Dec 26 2012, 10:39 PM

Wow C-Man, thanks a lot for posting this!! I really enjoyed watching your setup.. I really am very attracted to simple setups like that, great talent in music makes up for everything that is not there Awesome !

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Dec 26 2012, 11:21 PM

Awesome video Cosmin - very interesting setup and pedalboard!
Looks like a very cosy place to practice and record guitar

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 27 2012, 07:56 AM

Glad you like it guys! I was amazed by the sound quality that my phone could provide, so I will make more of these in the future Stay tuned

Posted by: klasaine Jan 4 2013, 08:20 AM

Pretty 'old school'. Not to complicated I'm afraid.

[attachment=30055:DSC00198.JPG]

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jan 4 2013, 08:49 AM

Heey brother, what sort of a pickup is the one on the neck of your Tele?

Posted by: ConnorGilks Jan 4 2013, 09:56 AM

Yeah, that looks killer!

Posted by: klasaine Jan 4 2013, 06:55 PM

That is a Charlie Christian 'style' pickup by a company in Hawaii called 'Vintage Vibes' (Pete Biltoft). Lollar also makes a CC pkup.
It's a repro of one of Gibsons first production electric guitar pickups used on the ES-150 - the axe played by Charlie Christian, hence the nickname CC pkup. It's a fairly hot output, single coil pkup and kinda noisy like a P-90. Great for jazz, blues, soul, anything swampy or needing be 'old' sounding...
I love it. I get a ton of inquiries as well as compliments on it.

* You can hear it here (solo xmas song) with some grit, verb, delay and trem ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsc1ATzR4g0

* Bad cell phone vid, both pkups, solo starts at 1:00 ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq2lTbyy9hA

* Another bad cell phone vid. CC pkup only. Single notes and chords. Skip to 2:38 to really 'hear' it ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiPb5Cjz9q4

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Jan 4 2013, 07:57 PM

My practice setup is just Guitar < Kemper < Presonus < Reaper, with headphones. If doing lessons with the need of a metronome. I kick on Superior Drummer, tap in a 4/4 click, set tempo, click play, and turn away from my computer so I can fully concentrate on my practices.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jan 4 2013, 08:08 PM

Wow.. I love the sound, so warm and close to me It's like you are playing here in the room with me... Very nice!

Posted by: klasaine Jan 4 2013, 08:13 PM

Thank you sir! I also have to say that it is an 'exceptional' (MIM) Telecaster.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jan 4 2013, 08:17 PM

I would love a Tele! If things don't work out with the PRS endorsement, I will get a Tele - first thing

Posted by: Andre Nieri Jan 4 2013, 09:23 PM

Great topic, Bogdan.

My setup is very simple - just my guitar and a solid-state amp. I agree that it's good to practice with a nice gear so that you can feel and hear a lot more things than with a crap setup. But it always worked for me, so nevermind.

Also I like to mention that sometimes it's just me and my nylon acoustic guitar. A different world here - it's a lot more difficult to play, so when I switch to the electric guitar, it feels smoother and easier to play.

Posted by: klasaine Jan 4 2013, 09:39 PM

^^^ I like that attitude! ^^^

I agree that it's nice to practice on good gear and in a nice environment ... now.
But I partially attribute my alleged skill and ability to actually make a living at this to my formative years of playing on terrible instruments ... if you want to make it sound good, [b]YOU[/b] have to make it sound good. Like many I learned on a $35 department store steel string and my first electric was a $60 SG copy. Both had their strings almost an inch off the neck and rusted frets. Playing music well is mostly about 'wanting' to play music well - no matter the obstacles. Definitely something to be said for making the instrument work for you. As the old saying goes, "only a poor carpenter blames his tools". Food for thought - ?

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jan 5 2013, 03:20 PM

Darn it! I can't find it right now, but someone posted a little movie with Satriani playing on a very, very cheap guitar and sounding JUST THE WAY HE USUALLY DOES The tone is in the hands and I agree with you 100% but, you must admit that the pleasure of playing on a great instrument is unmatched

Posted by: klasaine Jan 5 2013, 06:25 PM

Absolutely. And as I said - now I practice on a good instrument with a nice amp etc.

I think what I was trying to say is that when I (as well as many other musicians throughout history) was learning as a little kid I didn't know any better in regard to a good instrument. I also didn't realize that there was such a thing as 'distortion', a wah pedal, a slide, a phaser, etc. I remember trying desperately to get all those sounds off of a Jeff Beck record (Blow by Blow) with just a cheap SG copy that I had to plug it into my dad's stereo. Though of course I couldn't do it, trying to make it sound like JB forced me to really work with my two hands. Especially my picking hand to coax tones out of that thing. Pick by the bridge, pick a little sideways, pick over the end of the fretboard, use my fingers, use all the pickups, use the tone control (a very underused component of an elec guit IMO), etc. When I finally did get a good instrument (and a wah pedal ) it was like ... "man, now this is easy!" OK, so I still don't sound like Jeff Beck but you get the idea. I am SO thankful that I was actually ignorant to the option of a 'good' instrument - for those early, formative years.

But yes, now I play on that bad*ss Tele you see

Posted by: Andre Nieri Jan 5 2013, 06:43 PM

That's a thing I always tell my novice students - focus on your playing instead of worrying about amps, cabinets, strings, guitars, woods etc. Sometimes they tend to be so much focused on that and for me it's not a good thing.
I started playing (9 years old) with a crappy cheap acoustic guitar and the only thing that matters to me at that time was to be able to reproduce my idols' songs. I only got interested in tone many years later, when I was 20!

Posted by: klasaine Jan 5 2013, 06:58 PM

Yeah, it's really easy to fetishize guitar, especially electric guitar.
I am as guilty as the next guy.

Posted by: ConnorGilks Jan 6 2013, 02:30 AM

Everyone needs a Tele. You don't have to play it live or in videos.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jan 6 2013, 08:04 AM

Yeah indeed, but unfortunately I can't afford to buy that many guitars and if I have to stick with PRS (which I intend to) the Tele must wait

Posted by: ConnorGilks Jan 6 2013, 10:19 PM

Fair enough!

(But there's always Xmas )

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jan 6 2013, 10:39 PM

Bought a sword that hasn't yet reached my home ...YET

Posted by: klasaine Jan 22 2013, 06:33 AM

A wider view than before ...

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jan 22 2013, 09:24 AM

Hey Ken, cozy looking setup

Looks like an intimate atmosphere, which in my opinion, is vital to allow the right state of mind when working!

Posted by: Todd Simpson Jan 24 2013, 02:19 AM

INSTRUCTORS: Pix Please!!!!!!!

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jan 24 2013, 08:45 AM

I got something more than just pics -> http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?s=&showtopic=47163&view=findpost&p=624088

Posted by: VikingBlues Jan 24 2013, 09:09 PM

Guess my practice area would be more cosy if there was somewhere to sit!



The amps are up off the floor for the benefit of the neighbours in the downstairs flat. That's also why the (don't laugh!) low power 15W and 5W Fender XDs - SuerChamp and VbroChamp. The G-Dec3 30 is mainly used to play backing tracks (it's extra tweeter speaker does that job well) - I prefer the sound of the XDs for guitar. Hmmph ... a tad Fender theme of course, but a year ago it was Vox theme for amps. My tastes keep changing and fuelling GAS.

I've taken to sometimes practicing using both XD amps at the same time with an A/B Y splitter - gives a nice full sound, particularly if the SuperChamp is on the clean channel. Had been intending to sell the VibroChamp when I got the SuperChamp - but plans shelved - the two fit very nicely into a small cupboard in a window alcove too which keeps things tidier.

In the gloom of the far corner (should have done the photo in the daylight) you might just make out the laptop and microphone. Just in case a recording seems a good idea. There's a Vox Tonelab LE just next to the laptop too.

My wife is very tolerant - allowing me to use the living room as a music room. 4 electric guitars, 1 bass, 2 mics on stands, 3 amps. Not the usual living room furniture right enough.

Posted by: Mattfig Jan 25 2013, 02:54 AM

I use a Randall Iso cab with a Vintage 30...It can be roaring inside and you barely hear it outside...Crazy...I couple that with an ADA Microcab II and mix the signals...That way I can use whatever amp I want and just run it through that setup...

I really tried with modeling and will again...But right now I'm a strict tube guy...It's a silly flaw as I know some of you have ridiculously good sounding digirigs...

Posted by: Spock Apr 20 2013, 03:42 AM

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Apr 20 2013, 10:56 AM

Hey mate! Definitely looks like a perfect spot for practicing and creating

I think you got everything, so, keep up the good work here!