So, Rhett Shull Will Never Go Fully Digital - Does He Have a Point?

[@Sparksnorthern]

The whole thing is that it really just shouldn't be black and white. Its all just GEAR. These are just extensions of our own creativity; thus we call them "instruments". The digital vs analog argument kinda feels like playstation vs xbox. Its just dumb and at the end of the day, one will always consider multiple factors. Lastly - and theres nothing wrong with this - its only a talking point. The market is doing its own thing. People are still creating music and gigging one way or the other. Gah: one more edit. The listener doesnt give the slightest shit about your gear. Metallica is fully digital and theyre not losing fans at their shows because of it. Same thing at any small gig. No one in the audience cares about any idea around air being pushed. If never gone to a show so i can have a fan blowing on me.

[@johnnathancordy]

TOTALLY - no-one cares as much as you about what you're playing. BUT - I think people can tell the difference if your playing is inspired or not?

[@Sparksnorthern]

@@johnnathancordy you got it, Brother. John, I hope you and the fam have a great Christmas. Always enjoy your content.

[@stevenbatke2475]

Yes and no. At least in my experience, some digital gear sounds great at low volumes, but not as good at stage level. But, year by year, digital does improve.

[@bluecollarguitarist]

My issue is that all the KZbinrs seem to follow trends. It was all boutique for years, then modelers, then modelers with analog pedals, now getting away from digital back into the tube boutique realm and everyone is getting tired of it. People are getting wise to the marketing and clickbait.

[@keyvanparsan5027]

I think his opinion would change a bit if he was as budget constricted as your average musician

[@budgetguitarist]

I subscribe to Rhett's channel and I think some of his videos are pretty interesting. But I find that I often do not share his opinions on many things. And that's OK. I really can't imagine why I'd care if (insert KZbinr here) has an opinion different than mine. The world would be a boring place if we all agreed on everything. I also think it's totally fine to make videos about your opinions on your own channel. Whether someone's channel has a relatively big following (like Rhett) or a relatively small following (like mine,) we're all just dudes who love to talk about guitars.

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

My Fender FR-12 moves lots of air :)

[@AlexVonCrank]

Rhett is usually wrong.

[@dscataglini]

You'd be surprised how many digital pedal go through ad/da conversion and add latency even when off. I'm sensitive to latency and try to keep digital pedals to a minimum. If I use a modeler it might be the only digital thing in the chain. Personally I prefer the sound of amps, but want the portability and convenience of modelers. So often I go with the smallest modeler + some extra buttons and an 8" FRFR cabinet which moves plenty of air. I think there is stuff you can get out of a modeler that you can't (easily) get out of an amp and viceversa.

[@aaronc675]

Not sure if you will see this comment, John--but I think I can comment on this. I used to have a rather LARGE pedal board with tons of great pedals, but I got so tired of carrying it around. YOU actually had some influence on me to check out the HX-STOMP, and I bought one. I ended up doing a rather lengthy A-B (recreating ALL of the tones from my giant pedalboard), and I was quite successful recreating all the sounds successfully. The nice thing was discovering how I could configure everything to be SO EASILY CONTROLLED by 1 or 2 simple footswitch! So now I have completely changed to a much more simplified (and more creative) configuration. The main take-away: I sound great & my setup is WAY easier to control during a show. Also, I stopped buying pedals! I feel like I can create almost ANY sound with my HX-STOMP now. My latest rig is this: 2 Orange Pedal Baby amp heads (which I LOVE) connected to 2 2x12 speaker cabs (in Stereo!). The only pedals I use now (in addition to the HX-STOMP) is a Strymon Cloudburst (in stereo via the "effects loop" on the HX-STOMP) and a Vertex clean boost. In short: I feel that the audience doesn't care what pedals you use. They only care what the "vibe" is of the band. (i.e. how they feel). And for the guitar player's experience: (honestly) If you can make it simple - DO IT!!!! (Also: Hope to see you play live some day, John!)

[@JCleggy]

Rhett is knowledgeable on many topics, but he def licks the toad on gear. He likes the mystical, magical, ultra exclusive.

[@Sparksnorthern]

Yeah, I'm a fan but his pedal board is really ridiculous. He also has a shit ton of top tier gear and I think he's trying to market for sponsorship. Like, "Look at the viewers I'm bringing in! You should sponsor me."

[@johnnathancordy]

I've seen WAY more complex boards on forums and facebook all the time? Or like on TPS some of those builds are getting into the £6-7k range easily?

[@EliasThury]

​@@SparksnorthernI think that particular board was to help him replicate his ep when doing his own shows, he seems really willing to do Americana gigs with a dirt pedal or 2 and a multi-fx with an amp so the more complicated board seems more for a specific thing.

[@jimbrown9477]

he doesnt actually know what he wants lol. i love when he demoed out a bunch of les pauls took one home because it was "magic" and then spent a ton to mod the shit out of it because apparently it wasnt magic.

[@EliasThury]

@@jimbrown9477 peoples opinions change, and playing a guitar in the store is always a different experience compared to playing at home and on gigs.

[@J.D....]

Some people just want the "analogue" feel. Ive gone 100% digital and i dont see myself every going back, other than maybe a cool amp for the studio/bedroom. Its like car guys who will never drive an electric car (or even a new one). I can definitely understand that since i like older cars for their "soul" or w/e intangible thing it is.

[@jazzzfer]

some of the nicest playing/tone I've heard from you! you are awesome dude!

[@garrysimmons111]

I really don't give a flying F about what Rhett Shill thinks about anything. Or most anybody else either. I use what works for me and my needs.

[@itmofo]

100% agree. No one needs some barely capable guitar player telling them ANYTHING!!!

[@peterjessop1878]

Since using a mainly digital rig, the only thing I ever have to change live is the end of chain EQ purely to take account of the venue we are playing. Everything else is done before the gig and already rehearsed. This makes performing so much easier and enjoyable.

[@darwinsaye]

I have tried the digital amps route about four times in last few years. My main takeaway was that when I was using the digital models my time spent tone-tweaking to playing ratio shifted to about 9:1. Every time. But the good thing that came out of having access to all these different amp models, was realizing that I gradually was leaning towards just using a Fender Brownface model most of the time. So, the last time around, I switched back to analog amps/preamps, dialled in a nice general Brownface tone with my analog gear, and now I don’t waste *any* time futzing around with tweaking amp tones and switching amps constantly. Digital for certain effects is a godsend though. Realistically, I’d never be able have real Leslie speaker cabs, real tape echos, real 60s spring reverb units, so digital is brilliant in that respect.

[@10sassafras]

Analogue for clipping, tremolo, chorus, various others. Digital reverb and delay enter the mix out of the way of the original sounds with analogue dry-through.

[@thierry18]

I play bass and guitar, so i stead of separate boards and pedals, I now just use a boss gt core and a separate octaver and overdrive. All of that goes into a fender rumble, which is set as close to flat as possible. It's sooo much cheaper than having two separate rigs, it's much smaller, and I honestly love the sound.

[@pedroleal7118]

I get it, everything I use with the guitar, I'll use with the bass, mostly, I just change amps! And yes, I have both at hands reach.

[@michielhugo7437]

After years of playing tube amps and using pre and post effects, I bought a Quad Cortex. It sounded amazing from the first moment through FOH but I needed some time to get a nice on stage sound. Since I bought 2 Fender FR10’s that has also been solved. I love them, like them better than FR12’s, and I have the amp in the room feel. I do think there is a lot of selective perception going on with tube amp lovers. I am convinced that a lot of people could be fooled with placebo tubes :) The only downside for me was that it took me quite a lot of time to program the sounds and get the EQ right. Most modelers have a far too big frequency range and filtering some frequencies is key to make them not sound artificial. Once you have this work done and have enough sounds for your gigs setting up takes less time than with my tube amp and effects. Very happy now, sounding better than ever!

[@1man1guitarletsgo]

Thankfuly, we're all free to decide for ourselves. I'm happy to use a PA mixer with digital effects for both vocals and acoustic guitar, but when it comes to electric guitars, I will only use analogue equipment and proper amps. If someone else wants to use nothing but digital modellers, they're welcome to do so.

[@NickGranville]

I love it when people say they’ll never use digital this or that - then they have a line 6 M5 or HX stomp etc etc on their board which is literally modelling pedals! Frankly people can use whatever they like to get sounds that inspire them. Ruling anything out is silly imo but hey, that’s me.

[@adamsapple7851]

Rhett is a great blogger, top-tier KZbinr, but the case is that he is not that good at guitar, the rhythm sense, intonation, synchronization are sometimes missing, but who cares. I think Rhett knows himself that he is more blogger, than musician, still very inspiring and really, really nice! By the way, your tone is amazing and overall technique is really good, despite not playing crazy passagios! Take care, thanks for the content!

[@itmofo]

Rhett Shull plays guitar like he picked the thing up 3 months ago.

[@adamsapple7851]

@@itmofo to my mind you are right, but why should he care?)

[@itmofo]

Rhett Shull has never had a point about ANYTHING in his entire life!

[@jimmcdougall9973]

I’m still trying to figure out if Rhett actually plays guitar, or if his channel is just his way of releasing negativity, and hyping up sponsors products.

[@matejfele9971]

He's mainly a youtuber, second a guitarist.

[@RobHarrisGuitar]

I'm kind of into smaller boards these days myself. Either digital or pedals into an amp. I've been to gigs in the last few years where the guitarists have had larger boards and are constantly stomping / tweaking knobs etc. lots of effort and not much changing out the front. I've found that sometimes the players seems distracted by the sounds rather than just playing the music. Digital , analogue or hybrid , it's whatever works for the gig. The production costs are dictating smaller rigs these days.

[@matejfele9971]

@@RobHarrisGuitar I feel being a gear hoe is just compensating for the lack of musicianship. Give everyone an acoustic guitar and you'll quickly see who's a musician.

[@itmofo]

Dude, spot on. Too funny!!!!

[@bryanh3057]

Exactly this! Nailed it.

[@jaltsch1]

I limit myself to what i can fit on a pedaltrain nano with an HX Stomp at the end for misc reverb/delay/mods into an amp. Tried to get on with a bigger board I personally found it to be distracting.

[@Brett-v6t]

Meat and potatoes. Me too. I like my Stomp at home but I take an amp/pedals to work.

[@Shekius]

Rhett will play anything that give him views in his channel

[@JCleggy]

John Cordy plays a child’s instrument into helix native, Jim Lill plays a car guitar, and Rhett Shull swears he can taste the difference between Indian and Brazilian rosewood.

[@johnnathancordy]

My Dad actually kinda decided he didn't want to give my niece that guitar after watching my video ha! Whoops.

[@bobrg1459]

"Different rigs for different gigs." Yep. Helix for silent stage and IEMs. But, I'm not selling my amps and pedals.

[@jerrylim6722]

currently still just a bedroom guy, but due to frequent moves because of my parents work, I preemptively set a soft limit of having a single board no larger than 30 inches max. managed to cram everything I'd want for now onto a 25 inch board specifically because I didn't care for it all being digital or not... it's not like my broke bedroom playing ass would notice much. the only "analogues" on it is just an overdrive, distortion and comp pedals... because modulations, are almost all pretty much digital anyway apart from the vintage designs. so only really need the "analogue feel" from the dirt. perk of setting a soft size limit is that it's small enough to pretty much fit anywhere and should we have to move somewhere new again, I have the means to take it myself along with one of my guitars, so I got something to screw around with while all the rest of our stuff arrives at the new place and gets unpacked... threw in a Cioks PSU for good measure, so I don't have to buy another PSU again/can just use it as is if I ever end up taking it with me when I go meet a friend living elsewhere... that and it was the only one that would fit under the board.

[@johnnathancordy]

Jerry! The bedroom is often the most fun place to play guitar, I find.... Agreed for me, if I'm going analogue it'll be for the drives, the rest of the pedals can be digital for sure!

[@pedroleal7118]

I have a certain type of gear at home, but if I'm out 'touring', half the gear stays home and only the minimum necessary travels(2 Boss pedals and a volume pedal). when working for a production /high profile band, and I don't have to carry around my gear (roadies do it), it's a totally different situation. But, as someone commented, then it's all rehearsed and pre-programmed .

[@Paul-D]

Just a point for people to remember, true bypass is not the same as analog dry through.

[@davidkerslake267]

Different rigs for different gigs..... and that’s it, if your doing a show then it’s all rehearsed. If your rehearsing then an amp pushing air can inspire . Rock on John 🎄😎

[@nicholasaragon4126]

Sure. In a perfect world we wouldn't have to compromise and go digital. But we're not in Rhett's perfect world. Some musicians can't afford to ship gear around. Some have to play venues where it's not possible to play through a full stack. Some have deadlines to meet and don't have infinite studio time like him to spend hours moving mics around and swapping out speakers. Some don't have access to the network of musicians with decent gear for you to borrow when you go to another state. Some of us play genres other than Boomer Blues. Nope we're in the real world where we have to make compromises just to eat Ramen. Rhett's just out of touch is all. Do I like my real gear? Hell yes! Am I willing to risk losing that gear? Hell no. Therefore digital is what comes with me when I leave my house.

[@johnnathancordy]

Rhett has toured with modeling gear too, I think it's more that he's decided to chase what inspires right?

[@R3dbudd]

I’m never not running a hybrid rig. It’s either Helix into tube power or 4 cable method with a head. Always a real cab. Just not fun otherwise.

[@johnnathancordy]

SAME!

[@JosephSokolowski]

I love the idea and totally believe someone would pay to fly a guitarist out for studio work (which I assume is compensated) but not pay for them to check a bag/shipping for their pedal board.

[@michaelschneider7590]

You make very good points about practicality and logistics. In terms of pure sound quality, I think most modeling is still a bit incomplete, compared to more ideal modeling - such as specific interactions Origin Effects embedded in its recent tweed pedal. You, Pete Thorn, and others have highlighted this nicely, some including A/B comparisons with a real tweed. Lee Anderton’s “best gear of 2024”. Over the next few years, the gap will continue narrow. But for now, I much prefer my Mesa Boogie Cali Tweed to the Line 6 Catalyst it replaced.

[@jimmcdougall9973]

Yes, and anything that Lee says is true. Not like he has to boost sales of any products. Play it and listen to it with your own ears, through the gear you use.

[@michaelschneider7590]

@ always good advice

[@LIGHTintheHALLS]

I have had a favorite Gretsch guitar for over 20 years now. I just need to like what’s coming out of the speakers and nobody in the audience cares if it’s digital or analog. We guitarists can be so whiny and need to move forward past the 50s and 60s. It’s like a chain to progress.

[@whiteroom2773]

I don't watch Shull's channel, he talks too much in his videos for me. An old teacher of mine said to me once, if you can't be original, be succinct, he probably stole the quote, but I think it's good advice. I'm most interested in things that hadn't occurred to me. The seemingly never ending debate about digital versus analogue just goes round in circles, bearing in mind that digital modelers and gear almost always model analogue gear, so there's an inherent implication about the order of things there. That doesn't mean however that analogue gear can always be available or practical to use. That's about as much as anyone really needs to know or say isn't it??

[@ZaneQuebec]

Shull's board has so many digital effects and so many points of failure that makes me ask myself : WHY ? For live stuff, i'd rather have something a HX Effects with a drive, distortion, fuzz pedal in front of it connected to an amp. I could probably get any sounds I need with easy foot switching. in a studio environment, I guess I could have 10 different effect pedals on a table that i can chain and tweek tweek as needed during a session.

[@Songtitles4u]

You can also play with a modeller into an power amp + cab. It gives you the digital flexibility with the feel of an real cab.

[@DaveMacara89]

I think this is the main thing that gets lost when you go digital and rely on monitors/in-ears or FRFR cab - the sound/feel/response/ of a speaker voiced for guitar moving the air. I don't think it will ever be as satisfying, funnily enough I have placed an order for a cab. today for this exact reason. Sure when I'm out gigging I will go the D.I. and emulated route for ease but I miss having a proper cab when I'm just at home playing.

[@bottomkitchen250]

That stuff you were doing at the end was pretty interesting.

[@LodvarDude]

I don't understand why anyone pays any heed to Shell. This obvious trust-fund kid and KZbinr posing as a guitar-player brings nothing interesting to the table. He's just flaunting expensive gear and plays the KZbin games with silly thumbnails and sometimes obvious rage-bait. Musically, there is nothing interesting there. Why Beato has him in his circle is beyond me. Maybe his parents payed Beato well to tutor him a bit and help him launch his channel. Well, seems to have been a decent investment.

[@TLMuse]

Rhett was an intern in Beato's studio, learning recording, back when Rick was a full-time producer. Rhett had a serious hobby interest in videography, and he's the one who encouraged Rick to start a YT channel. Rhett gave him pointers on videography in the early days of the channel. So there is a long-term mentor-peer-mentor relationship there.

[@geraldochi7945]

If it doesn't look like its been left out in the sun for a few years, or in a moldy basement for a decade or dragged behind a car, rhett thinks it lacks soul.

[@adamwilcox6405]

What's the difference between having an amp or something like a power cab or fender FR. I can feel air shifting behind me. Cue a load of cork sniffers saying there's a difference between digital air and analog air!

[@nobodyimportant76467]

Everything is a compromise. Digital gear trades some (sometimes a minute amount, sometimes more depending on choice of gear) of sound quality for convenience. Analog rigs can be more complex which means more failure points. There are no perfect choices. I may not agree with Rhett but he’s free to choose which problem set he wants to work with and I respect that

[@solitro]

Have you ever reviewed a Boss ME 90? That would seem to be a all in one that is a little easier to tweak on the fly with so many knobs.

[@MartinCraneRockbeast]

The choice is clear. Multiple pedals at multiple settings or singular pedals at maybe 1,2,3 or 4 settings for the whole night at a gig. I know what I like. I know what my back likes. Do we really think that the public notices?

[@iresentdoingthis1550]

Nice to hear ya breakin out the HX FX! A terrific piece of kit - I used to have 25 pedals with Shedloads of cables / routing = nightmare :-) I think Helix with the 200w Catalyst held it's own with a Live Drummer who hits like Grohl, Bonham playing Death Metal A LOT of Air was moved and the Catalyst was actually Too Loud After Waaaaaaay too much headaches with routing - I LOOOOVE The Helix Floor, Stomp, HX FX and Helix Native - It sounds THE Same...if you're clever with Impedence / Sag / Bias / Bias X is Can FEEL THE same. You just gotta Dive under the hood, May Not be Sexy as Boutique Pedals Made from Angel's Tears But My Creativity and The Sonic Exploration AND Neighbour Annoyance Making them Thing Angels , Demons, Aliens and Monsters are at War Next door is WAAAAAAAY Worth DIGITAL with a 200w Catalyst. Give it a Go John Nathan

[@denniscoverband4369]

The challenge these days is to be able to hit quiet gigs and loud ones for maximum guitar playing satisfaction. I run a board with a Quad Cortex and some pedals I like. JNC maybe you could highlight the hybrid boards vs those all or nothing cats?

[@nickrouse8426]

I still have my Peavey Vypyr analog tube amp modeler from 2011. Makes it so I have crazy versatility of rich sounds and never feel the need to buy a $400+ digital modeler or own 4 different tube amps :) I usually just run my pedalboard into the clean Twin Reverb setting and it sounds glorious.

[@TeleTonemonkey]

Playing gigs, “in the moment” I rarely tweak, I look for the OD or boost on/off to get me to my tone ….. got to stay in the song!

[@johnnathancordy]

Same - I think there'd be some gigs though (not that I do them anymore) like solo bar gigs where actually some amount of tweaking in the moment mightn't be a bad thing?

[@raiviste4187]

Some 10+ there where the hype the digital modelers are the future, and that analog pedals are obsolete. Then die-hard pedal fans and OEMs fought back, saying that digital will never sound as good as analog, digital is artificial and sounds bad. Last time I hear and see more and more guitars are using the multi effects within the pedal boards, in different chains and loops. And as you mentioned, the real amplifier also it's still important and widely use it together with with the digital multi FX. So for now that is forming some kind of new trend - in the nearest future it will be the mixed or hybrid setups of digital multi-effects and analog pedals and amplifiers. I think in general this give much more options for the any player in any situation.

[@markinthemix6055]

The VP4 is such a goal piece of gear for me 😊

[@wallofrock6725]

Rhett is a farce. Someone else is paying him to do what he does.

[@seanandben]

Rhett's opinion is just that - his opinion - and whether you agree or not with him is going to be based on your own opinion and experiences of using certain pieces of gear. Rhett is extremely fortunate to be able to get equipment from a variety of companies that a lot of very good players simply can't afford, but like every single piece of gear you use it's how you use it and whether or not it makes you sound better. Rhett is an average guitarist with a lot of expensive gear, but he still sounds like an average guitarist.

[@nikolaki]

I think my first pedal was a Zoom G2 followed by a Behringer GDI21. For many years I plugged straight into an amp and used whatever was on the amp. My first guitar amp was actually a Fender Bassman Export Amp head hooked up to the speaker in a non functioning Fender Pro Reverb combo (damaged output transformer). So to get ovedriven tones I annoyed everyone on the Lancaster West Estate since it doesnt have a master volume.

[@micktheman6]

Personally, it depends on the gig and what I’m doing I use like half digital half analog rig. I definitely prefer my drives to be analog which are the thing I use most of the time I would prefer to use a real amp but if I can’t, I’m OK with modeling. I do have the DSM, which is pretty great but guitarist can do whatever they want. I just know personally from a field perspective, I love the feel of having everything there in front of me and no menu diving.

[@stratmagic6893]

Word of advice don't refer to Rhett in any way. He is a grifter and irrelevant.

[@mr.bluenotedoobop]

if it sounds good, I play it. I sold all my pedals and got a QC, I'll never look back.

[@johnnathancordy]

That's awesome - how are you monitoring the QC?

[@jlgilstrap]

The BE-5 was my first multi effect pedal too! I wish I still had that thing

[@chesneytube1]

I have two digital pedals on my whole board, a dunlop echoplex and a reverb. To me having three multieffects is way overkill, kind of rediculous IMHO but that's just how I feel. I even feel rediculous with what I've got.

[@hartlee1160]

A/d/a always seems to have a feel difference. But not that bad at all.

[@chrisgmurray3622]

A gig where they don't want you to use an amp may be important for money, but where is the enjoyment? If you can't have the sound you want, you have to be a pretty cold hearted robot to carry out that soulless function. The reason to play for people is so you can share your passion for music and sound with others, not to get a paycheck. If you are so technically adept you can have something to fall back on to get you through the gig, but it would be a chore. My work ethic is fully developed but if I'm not inspired, I literally can't come up with much out of a bunch of notes put together that sound like anything alive. I channel stuff most of the time, so I must have somewhere in my memory some patterns or feels, but at the time I'm playing , only pedantic barely over the minimum requirement, type lines come out of my fingers and the instrument. So I must be not professional enough to make it seem real... when it isn't. Not a prima donna, but I'd prefer not to do those sort of gigs. Why not do some labouring on a building site instead? It would pay as much, but you can do it in your sleep, and it doesn't require inspiration, imagination, or concentration, and you get some exercise. The reason you play music is not for money, so why do these sort of gigs? The more musicians that pretend to play rock music at cocktail lounge levels without objection, the more people will demand that others do it. I wouldn't presume to disrespect any musician's choices... that's their own business, but I know for sure, it's not a trend worth supporting in general... thin end if the wedge... slippery slope.... frog in a slow-heated pot of water.... give them an inch, and they'll take a mile... a stitch in time saves nine.... look ahead down the road and see what's coming, so we can all avoid it before it builds up a head of steam and plows indiscriminately over us all. Good management will select live gigs that enable you to do what you do best, and if you are used to playing through your computer to the point that you can still get excited to play, well I suppose you should do it, but with me I can't get a feeling of playing TO the audience instead of AT the audience, or it seems that in the contrived scenario of a silent stage, you have to be cut off from the audience , but still maybe able to play off others in the group and sort of hang the music in the air for the audience to digest as they dance as if to a series of exhibits in a gallery tour. Guys on John's level are probably able to come up with something in those situations that seem artificial to me, and that's pretty cool, but only to other musicians, or public that have never heard a good live band at close quarters . For me, I'd rather play for free or busk, if no real live work were availabie,... maybe because I've tried the other way, and could keep it up for only two years ( that's what she said) before I froze musically. Life is too short to let money prevent you from playing in a real band ( not just subbing, or playing a familiar combo in a situation when Jazz sound levels are required but audience taste is rock music.) It's sort of blind man's bluff leading the blind. I've got kids too , and do what I can to earn for them ( though they're grown now ), it's like magic or making love, you can't fake it for money,( well you can but both you and whoever you're doing it with knows it's not real.) Just my opinionated opinion, of course, but the older you get, the more you realise not to waste your time, so when you look back you don't have to regret spending too much time having your energies sold to those who don't appreciate them... do it for free, but make it wonderfull, and by changing yourself you can change one little part of the world.🎶

[@kimblez]

I remember unplugging my friend's pedalboard with 9 efx bypassed ....I plugged his guitar straight in to the amp ...it instantly sounded louder and better....he heard it too .... I said dude just use a couple overdrives infront of the amp and nothing else infront ....stay analog

[@tperry5839]

DIGITAL IS WHERE ITS AT …..BE YOU ! IF YOU WANT A AMP GET ONE ! Be YOU FRIENDS …..YOUR PLAYING IS AT ITS BEST WHEN YOU DO YOU !

[@neilfordan]

i woudn't take any advice from rhett shill

[@aviator_bryan]

They're all just tools... use what works. I've seen guitarists absolutely crush it with an HX stomp into a cheap combo amp. I've also seen guitarists with elaborate pedal boards and boutique tube rigs sound like sound like hot garbage. Use what inspires you to create and sound your best. The rest is just confirmation bias and flexing amongst other guitar players. Sorry, I just feel like as a community, guitar players overthink it.

[@alexdenton6586]

Because he never tried yet the amp X from Bluguitar

[@dscataglini]

Pretty much nobody has, and nobody definitely has tried the amp x at a gig ;)

[@johnnathancordy]

Is that fully digital? Isn't it like the digital brain analog heart thing going on with that?

[@dscataglini]

@@johnnathancordy Yes, the amp x is supposed to be fully analog with the exception of the presets/controlling (brain) part, and some fx like the chorus, phaser, flanger, univibe, delay, reverb, IR loader. The drive section (fuzz/od/distortion) are analog, based on the analog amp circuitry. Compression and tremolo should also be analog. I wonder how he's going to do the ad/da conversion since you can interleave analog and digital component. Not sure if this a possible fx chain but comp (a), chorus (d), amp (a), delay (d), tremolo (a), reverb (d) could lead to a lot of latency

[@BOSSenjoyer]

That hoodie is cool ngl

[@MotownGuitarJoe]

Well, good for Rhett.... but I can make my own decisions. I'm Fractal all the way.

[@sordel5866]

I'm not even going to watch this video. Rhett Schull is 34 years old. How can he know what gear he is going to use in 10, 20, 30, 40 years?

[@itmofo]

He behaves like he's 12; plays like he's 7.

[@DanielCrouch]

I think he might be getting paid/sponsored by tube amp manufacturers. He made a whole video introducing people on 'how to use your first tube amp', clearly aimed at digital players considering the transition.

[@johnnathancordy]

I imagine it's more just what inspires him more - like That Pedal Show chaps too, they'll never touch a modeler - Rhett has been much more open minded?

[@DanielCrouch]

@@johnnathancordy Certainly could be. I find that tube advocates use colourful language to describe what's good about tubes but often nothing specific - and if you really preferred tubes, wouldn't you be able to say why? (and not to pick on RS, a lot of youtube channels do this). 'Moving air' is obviously something you hear all the time, but it doesn't really make sense. All speakers move air

[@EliasThury]

@DanielCrouch trying to describe with words on a page how something reacts and sounds and "feels". personally I always feel like I'm fighting digital modeling to get it to act the way I want. And sometimes I get it there and other times I don't. When I've tested tube amps I'm always like "oh, that's it, that was easy." And maybe that's just cause I haven't kept up with tech mucj since I left schooling over a decade ago. I also have an aversion to digital gear that will likely be outdated and worthless in 10-20 years time, but to each they're own.

[@johnnylayton1672]

Since 99.9% of the KZbin guitar community is only ever going to see him perform on a fully digital social media platform, I find the argument somewhat difficult to endorse. I don't mean that guitar pickups or an acoustic guitar sound isn't analog. I mean that amplified and/or recorded sounds today typically get converted to full digital. So to demand analog processing beyond the user interface -- i.e., the instrument being played such as a stringed instrument, a keyboard, a wind instrument, et al -- seems more an artistic than practical demand especially thanks to digital modelling tech. Whole thing reminds me of JHS' having fun setting up a tube amp for people to see but using a Kemper on the sly instead for months before confessing it. Again live is live not even KZbin on headphones but with only the 0.1% bothering to experience the difference if any it seems the safer bet is to exploit the digital side as much as possible & leave the analog boomer gear to the boomers & doomers most of who ironically also fall in the 99.9%...

[@johnnylayton1672]

Same goes for 3D printed versions of the paintings held at Le Louvre. SOMEBODY'S gonna exploit that if it hasn't already happened & less than ,,0.1% of us will have any clue...

[@JasonT-xp3kh]

Or, is it just that digital clashes with Rhett's skinny jeans?

[@muaddib667]

Its not fully digital, we're playing a bloody guitar.

[@revtimewest]

Does anyone care?

[@MrBlank0907]

I don’t think I would go full digital either, but the tube amp days are over. I have a tonex with a bunch of pedals. I love being able to bend down and adjust the knobs. I like the concept of having everything that I need and nothing that I don’t.

[@ironblast5]

Not over for me I just bought a 100 watt plexi clone and can't wait to let it roar

[@jed1mindtricks857]

They will never be over.

[@nickmarbot]

Tube amps for life!

[@angrybuzzy]

Does Rhett even gig anymore? I had stopped watching him and RJ Ronquillo when it was clear they really weren't gigging. Gear demos by people who don't gig really aren't that interesting. No offense intended and just my feeling about it.

[@zThisPlay]

aw man you watch rhett? well i guess no one is perfect

[@JosePineda-jn8jk]

When people say “the sound of an amplifier in a room” does that imply my modeling pedal into an fx return of a tube amp isn’t included? Or do I get a pass because I’m technically using an amp?

[@johnzuker]

I like Rhett and his channel. I find him to be one of the better presenters on KZbin. Just as I do, John Cordy, who’s playing is outstanding and mixes well with his dry humor and easy going conversational style. Not sure why all the hate. But then again, it’s the internet. Play the guitar well, and you’ll likely sound good on most of the gear available these days, be it digital or analog or a combo thereof.

[@AlexVonCrank]

Criticism is NOT hate.

[@Krisunio]

No.

[@mynickisnick4302]

everybody knows you never go full digital!

[@m4ssi86]

He mostly reviews pedals…so he has to use them 🤣

[@pedroleal7118]

What? Rhett toured with Knower ???!!! Didn't knew that, will look into it ! Not all contexts are good for "tweeking live"... Remember "Shoegazing" (litterally) ? Always thought it was odd, a guitarist looking and tweeking his pedal board the entire time . I have a very personal opinion about the lack of interaction with the 'public'... We once made a concert, of 'improvised/experimental ' music as a trio , at the end, the guitarist was so deep into his sea of pedals, that we got of stage and he don't even noticed it for 20mn's...!

[@mixodorians12]

This topic is just pathetic, repetitive and boring... Honestly, do something else. Self serving contempt for all things digital, from hipsters is a thing.

[@johnnathancordy]

I'm not sure contempt is the word, there was a ton of digital pedals on the board? Isn't that the reasonable way to go, having a mix of both new and old?