Why are PODs only played by metal guitarists?

[tochiro]

Hi,

I searched on youtube to hear POD X3 sounds to discover that all the guitarists using it were playing very quickly, with a heavy drive, metal music or kind of. How is that?

[kirs]

In my experience, it does ultra high gain better than it does clean or crunch. A lot of brutz lean towards PODs for that reason.

[randombastage]

Also any amp can produce clean and slightly clean tones at a volume most people play at daily, not all of them sound great doing it but they can at least do it. When you try to get really tight heavy tones you need volume if you are using a real amp so anyone trying to get those brootal tones who can't crank the wattage up in their room will benefit and be drawn to modelers.

[OutterLimits]

Also any amp can produce clean and slightly clean tones at a volume most people play at daily, not all of them sound great doing it but they can at least do it. When you try to get really tight heavy tones you need volume if you are using a real amp so anyone trying to get those brootal tones who can't crank the wattage up in their room will benefit and be drawn to modelers.

+1 Yup

[Flyin' Brian]

News flash. I just found out that all of the electric guitars on The Doobie Brothers new record, due out September 28th are done on Pods. John Mc Fee uses one live as well. I've heard the record. Great guitar sounds all over it.

So this is all Pod guitar:

T3GBT1bGIV4

[dream_of_sky]

younger folks, who post on youtube alot, are also drawn to high gain music. they get to show off bravura skills.

i use the variac plexi & ac30 models mostly. latter is not great but gets the job done for what i need.

[pgissi]

News flash. I just found out that all of the electric guitars on The Doobie Brothers new record, due out September 28th are done on Pods. John Mc Fee uses one live as well. I've heard the record. Great guitar sounds all over it.

So this is all Pod guitar:

T3GBT1bGIV4


why do you think they're called the doobie bros

so all of the guitars are pod, allegedly

or is it no different than any other great recording ever made, its a mix of all the tools, amps, direct to console, outboard devices be they analog or digital

the fact is, different tools sum well together on a recording since they occupy a different sonic range and spatially that makes for a great recording, everything sits in its own space where if one tool is used, sure it can sound great but there is a sameness that permeates, the tracks recorded in the same manner with the same tools compete for that range and this is what live recordings sound like mostly

I will be disappointed if the doobs decided to paint with one color

[Marshall Stack]

Man, that is not true at all.

In fact Pod does high gain worse than anything IMO. Guys bring Pods into the studio playing Fender and vox sounds all the time. I tell them just play my Fender but just because you see a lot of metal guys only means more people play metal and hard rock than cleaner stuff. Im mean come on..there is hardly a market for jangly stuff. Who craves to be a blues star--its rock star as far as I know.

[Flyin' Brian]

so all of the guitars are pod, allegedly

or is it no different than any other great recording ever made, its a mix of all the tools, amps, direct to console, outboard devices be they analog or digital

the fact is, different tools sum well together on a recording since they occupy a different sonic range and spatially that makes for a great recording, everything sits in its own space where if one tool is used, sure it can sound great but there is a sameness that permeates, the tracks recorded in the same manner with the same tools compete for that range and this is what live recordings sound like mostly

I will be disappointed if the doobs decided to paint with one color

It's not allegedly, it's fact. And there are MANY sonic colors on the record.

[dspellman]

Hi,

I searched on youtube to hear POD X3 sounds to discover that all the guitarists using it were playing very quickly, with a heavy drive, metal music or kind of. How is that?

Actually, Pods aren't "only played by metal guitarists" -- but they may be the in the majority of people interested in showing off on YouTube (metal's pretty easy to play for beginner and moderate level guitar players, after all; not a LOT of technique required). There's also the fact that it's pretty easy to get metal tones and the fact that there have been quite a few metal albums recorded using the things. Dino Cazares (Divine Heresy, Fear Factory) is pretty well known for having used a Pod XT a LOT...

[dspellman]

I will be disappointed if the doobs decided to paint with one color

I've had the doobs in my studio (they did the original Dangerous video in my studio, in fact, in downtown LA) -- they don't paint with one color.

The point of a Pod is that it's NOT just one color. The guy who walks into a studio boasting that he plays guitar ->cable -> amp probably doesn't have a lot on his palette. Pods are very large boxes of crayons, given the various amps, cabs and effects models at its disposal.

[GuitarTone]

With a highly skilled guitarist, sound engineer, and producer, the Pods can sound great and totally convincing on a recording.

With a lousy guitarist, a guy who thinks he's a sound engineer but isn't, and a bad producer, the Axe-Fx will sound horrible on a recording.

I sat with a great guitarist today for 2 hours whilst he played through a Roland Cube 30, he sounded incredible.

[hippietim]

Actually, Pods aren't "only played by metal guitarists" -- but they may be the in the majority of people interested in showing off on YouTube (metal's pretty easy to play for beginner and moderate level guitar players, after all; not a LOT of technique required). There's also the fact that it's pretty easy to get metal tones and the fact that there have been quite a few metal albums recorded using the things. Dino Cazares (Divine Heresy, Fear Factory) is pretty well known for having used a Pod XT a LOT...

Not a lot of technique required to play metal? :rotflmao

Umm...sure...whatever you say...

I'd actually agree with the poster that said high gain is what the POD stuff is worst at.

[dspellman]

Not a lot of technique required to play metal? :rotflmao

Umm...sure...whatever you say...



Oh, did I leave the "some" out of that? Not a lot of technique required to play SOME metal. There. All better. I've gotta be careful or Cazares will have his eight string shoved up my rear and Tim Yeung will be doing some of his insanely fast footwork on my head.

[pgissi]

I've had the doobs in my studio (they did the original Dangerous video in my studio, in fact, in downtown LA) -- they don't paint with one color.

The point of a Pod is that it's NOT just one color. The guy who walks into a studio boasting that he plays guitar ->cable -> amp probably doesn't have a lot on his palette. Pods are very large boxes of crayons, given the various amps, cabs and effects models at its disposal.


remove a microphone or microphones is removing much color, sure you can create artificial spatiality all of the day and night but you can also date a rubber doll

dont get in a tizzy, its just my opinion, I like physical spaces and the tones found in them

[dspellman]

remove a microphone or microphones is removing much color, sure you can create artificial spatiality all of the day and night but you can also date a rubber doll



I wouldn't have thought of that. Is it cheaper because she doesn't eat much? Has she ever said no to you? How is she as a dancer? Does she let you lead?:rotflmao:rotflmao


No, seriously -- I'm glad you're waving the analog banner and all, but there's SO much music being created on digitally sourced or modified instruments these days and then being modified mostly in a computer for recording that it's increasingly difficult to worry over (or even identify) whether it's real or "artificial" spatiality.

[pgissi]

I wouldn't have thought of that. Is it cheaper because she doesn't eat much? Has she ever said no to you? How is she as a dancer? Does she let you lead?:rotflmao:rotflmao


No, seriously -- I'm glad you're waving the analog banner and all, but there's SO much music being created on digitally sourced or modified instruments these days and then being modified mostly in a computer for recording that it's increasingly difficult to worry over (or even identify) whether it's real or "artificial" spatiality.


I know there is and honestly, it (well some of it) sounds like the sound out of that rubber dolls arse

I am not anti digital insofar as recording or tone generation but at some point it just loses that ole black magic if the source is digital, the medium is digital and the playback is digital, ugh

I like the marriage of analog and digital and throw the doll in between

I cant say that I could identify what is what with 100% accuracy but I would probably get close and can identify when I am moved by something or not

nevertheless still excited by the doobs, love that band


oh and that doll, she can be

[germs]

they're not. you'll just have to trust me on that one.

and fwiw, i use one all over my gigging. way easier to manage (and replace) on stage than an amp or two with FX routing etc.

they're the standard of the industry for a reason.

i'm sure the snaxfx guys will be all over that, but it's true.

[Chris Beaver]

i totally agree with that statement. metal is very easy for beginning guitarists to play which is great. in fact i cant think of a style that's easier, maybe punk perhaps. ya for sure it can get complex as well and i certainly wouldn't say ALL metal is easy some metal guitarists are phenomenal musicians but most who play don't play at that advanced level. just like punk did, metal makes people play guitar very quickly with simple power chords and shows you don't have to be a great musician to make music which i think is a good thing as it encourages people to play

Oh, did I leave the "some" out of that? Not a lot of technique required to play SOME metal. There. All better. I've gotta be careful or Cazares will have his eight string shoved up my rear and Tim Yeung will be doing some of his insanely fast footwork on my head.

[germs]

i totally agree with that statement. metal is very easy for beginning guitarists to play which is great. in fact i cant think of a style that's easier, maybe punk perhaps. ya for sure it can get complex as well and i certainly wouldn't say ALL metal is easy some metal guitarists are phenomenal musicians but most who play don't play at that advanced level. just like punk did, metal makes people play guitar very quickly with simple power chords and shows you don't have to be a great musician to make music which i think is a good thing as it encourages people to play

i would think that age/demographic/culture has a LOT more to do with guitar players choosing to play metal in the initial stages of learning.

you guys are acting like only WHITE guys are players. i'd think that "minority" players are vastly under-represented on this board, and absolutely DO NOT choose to play metal, instead focusing on more culture-centric stuff.

to say that metal appeals to beginning guitar players because it's "easier" to learn speaks more about the breakdown of the institution of learning guitar than it does about who chooses to play or for what reasons.

remember, "Freefalling" is only 3 chords...

[Chris Beaver]

i would think that age/demographic/culture has a LOT more to do with guitar players choosing to play metal in the initial stages of learning.

you guys are acting like only WHITE guys are players. i'd think that "minority" players are vastly under-represented on this board, and absolutely DO NOT choose to play metal, instead focusing on more culture-centric stuff.

to say that metal appeals to beginning guitar players because it's "easier" to learn speaks more about the breakdown of the institution of learning guitar than it does about who chooses to play or for what reasons.

remember, "Freefalling" is only 3 chords...

what on earth has this to do with colour? i have good friends of all different cultures who play all kinds of different styles. why bring colour/race into this?

[OutterLimits]

Vernon Reed certainly plays metal. And Jazz. And whatever he feels like.

Kids love the excitement of distorted amps, who doesn't? I never had a kid ask how to play Freefalling. My wife loves that tune, so I can't say anything about it ... :hide2

[Ed DeGenaro]

i totally agree with that statement. metal is very easy for beginning guitarists to play which is great. in fact i cant think of a style that's easier, maybe punk perhaps. ya for sure it can get complex as well and i certainly wouldn't say ALL metal is easy some metal guitarists are phenomenal musicians but most who play don't play at that advanced level. just like punk did, metal makes people play guitar very quickly with simple power chords and shows you don't have to be a great musician to make music which i think is a good thing as it encourages people to play
Well...guitar as a whole is extremely easy to make quick advances...until you really want to get good. And then it's just about as deep as anything else...

[Luke]

Rippingtons use XT live

[Bobby D]

The point of a Pod is that it's NOT just one color. The guy who walks into a studio boasting that he plays guitar ->cable -> amp probably doesn't have a lot on his palette. Pods are very large boxes of crayons, given the various amps, cabs and effects models at its disposal.


well put. i like having the BIG BOX of 64 crayons.....not just the little one with 8 :rotflmao

[Rena Rune]

A lot of metal guitarists tend to be younger, and thus less experienced with gear(which means less prejudices too, so not always a bad thing), and in possession of less money. They don't want to pay a bunch of money for an expensive amp, or an amp that sucks if they try to play anything but metal on it. Modelers give them decent high gain tones on a budget, and the "screwing around" headroom bedroom guitarists tend to love with all the other vintage amps they model.

[chunkomatic]

i totally agree with that statement. metal is very easy for beginning guitarists to play which is great. in fact i cant think of a style that's easier, maybe punk perhaps. ya for sure it can get complex as well and i certainly wouldn't say ALL metal is easy some metal guitarists are phenomenal musicians but most who play don't play at that advanced level. just like punk did, metal makes people play guitar very quickly with simple power chords and shows you don't have to be a great musician to make music which i think is a good thing as it encourages people to play

don't confuse METAL with ROCK. metal is not "easy". holy wars by megadeth is not "easy". learning to properly play the triplets in the opening of reign in blood cleanly is not easy. metal guys can play passable blues. how many blues guys can play passable metal?

ac/dc, the stones, nickleback, that's easy. the shit that cover bands play in bars is easy. that's ROCK.

[Rena Rune]

Metal is actually a lot harder to play than most rock, yeah. I can play rock but I'm not really good enough to play metal.

Of course a lot of the younger kids with their pods/spiders playing metal are just learning off riffs...

[DISTORT6]

don't confuse METAL with ROCK. metal is not "easy". holy wars by megadeth is not "easy". learning to properly play the triplets in the opening of reign in blood cleanly is not easy. metal guys can play passable blues. how many blues guys can play passable metal?

ac/dc, the stones, nickleback, that's easy. the shit that cover bands play in bars is easy. that's ROCK.

Amen.:aok

[Rock Johnson]

metal guys can play passable blues. how many blues guys can play passable metal?

That's AWESOME.

Thank you for my new tag line.

[Ed DeGenaro]

don't confuse METAL with ROCK. metal is not "easy". holy wars by megadeth is not "easy". learning to properly play the triplets in the opening of reign in blood cleanly is not easy. metal guys can play passable blues. how many blues guys can play passable metal?

ac/dc, the stones, nickleback, that's easy. the shit that cover bands play in bars is easy. that's ROCK.
All a matter of vantage point...IMnotsoHO I can do without Blues guys playing Metal and/or vice versa. SInce what you may find passable in terms of Blues I'm fairly certain Blues guys will find atrocius and vice versa.

I'm not a fan fan of genre specific pissing contests, but I gotta tell ya...from my experience...the higher the gain, the shittier the chops.

But heck what do I know...

[chunkomatic]

All a matter of vantage point...IMnotsoHO I can do without Blues guys playing Metal and/or vice versa. SInce what you may find passable in terms of Blues I'm fairly certain Blues guys will find atrocius and vice versa.

I'm not a fan fan of genre specific pissing contests, but I gotta tell ya...from my experience...the higher the gain, the shittier the chops.

But heck what do I know...

and as a pro/semi-pro you also know that when one really listens to a metal album, the gain is nowhere near what some wanker dials up in the bedroom or GC. less gain = tighter riffs.

[Ed DeGenaro]

and as a pro/semi-pro you also know that when one really listens to a metal album, the gain is nowhere near what some wanker dials up in the bedroom or GC. less gain = tighter riffs.
I thought we're talking about youtube kids using a Pod...are we not?
I have no issue with Metal done well, heck one of my fave drumemrs I played with did "time" in Necrophagist. What I'm not fond of is old man crying about kids with their screechy bees in a jar gain and kids moaning about boring old farts. :)

[Scott L]

Eric Johnson on lead, through a POD on a great tune by Lance Keltner

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=9266815
(http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=9266815&q=hi&newref=1)

[tochiro]

So, why is that there's no videos with X3 and a crunch sound?

[Rena Rune]

A lot of the reason metal guys can play passable blues but not vice versa is because the bluzak crowd are generally more closed minded.

Though of course, metal has blues like techniques in the solos.

[Flyin' Brian]

All a matter of vantage point...IMnotsoHO I can do without Blues guys playing Metal and/or vice versa. SInce what you may find passable in terms of Blues I'm fairly certain Blues guys will find atrocius and vice versa.

I'm not a fan fan of genre specific pissing contests, but I gotta tell ya...from my experience...the higher the gain, the shittier the chops.

But heck what do I know...


More than most of us my friend....more than most of us.

[Rupe]

I seem to recall Pete Anderson using the POD extensively in the 00's on an album with great results...anybody remember the details?

And Ed hit the nail on the head...not too many metal guys play passable blues if you ask someone who is clearly invested in that style of music whether it be musician or fan/listener.

[drgonzoguitar]

Here are some PODx3 samples that are not "metal" from me....

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=814183

And a video for ya this morning....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiBbHm2ibJg

[hippietim]

What I'm not fond of is old man crying about kids with their screechy bees in a jar gain and kids moaning about boring old farts. :)

I'm with you there. But it's no different than some old man playing his 52 RI Tele into a Twin with ghastly amounts of reverb playing not-quite-in-tune classic/country rock.

The "Suck" is not genre, guitar, amp, or modeler specific - it comes out with all of them.

[hippietim]

Oh, did I leave the "some" out of that? Not a lot of technique required to play SOME metal. There. All better. I've gotta be careful or Cazares will have his eight string shoved up my rear and Tim Yeung will be doing some of his insanely fast footwork on my head.

The same can be said for ALL forms of music. There are trivial pieces of music for guitar in any genre - particularly folk/rock/country.

[tochiro]

Here are some PODx3 samples that are not "metal" from me....

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=814183

And a video for ya this morning....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiBbHm2ibJg

Thanks a lot drgonzoguitar. I like the sound and the way you play.

Cheers