King Crimson's Robert Fripp Rig Rundown Gear Tour

[@premierguitar]

Photos and more: bit.ly/RobertFrippRR Don't Miss a Rundown: bit.ly/RIgRundownENL Subscribe to PG's Channel: bit.ly/SubscribePGKZbin

[@danopticon]

@Premier Guitar - The people who make Mr. Fripp’s Mellotron app that Biff demoed but couldn’t remember the name of, the folks who sampled the original Mellotron and Orchestron and so forth - could they be G-Force Software, perhaps?

[@Haroun-El-Poussah]

@@danopticon : Omenie's Mellotronics M3000 G-Force's is named M-Tron and is awesome, there are even some instrument loops you've surely heard somewhere (KC? Beatles?)

[@iqbalfeluzzi]

My favorit guitarist

[@MerkinMuffly]

Robert Fripp once made a deal with the devil. No one knows what Fripp got, but the devil got guitar lessons.

[@freestateofeasterislands5099]

Devil? You mean Diavolo?

[@SSRT_JubyDuby8742]

Merkin, never a truer word. 👹

[@freestateofeasterislands5099]

*BONK* Go to horny jail

[@beemerboomer6313]

The devil probably needed them after he came back from Georgia

[@lcbryant78]

You say this a lot.

[@EmissionSpectrumBand]

Yeah, but what chair does he use?

[@Rhythmicons]

What are the button stitching patterns of his favorite sweater?

[@crisepuyao7722]

I don't know, but the guitar tech's towel I think it's a limited series masterpiece from Strymon.

[@ottovonmaybach]

new standard stool

[@leploko]

Federico Zarauz a stool by tool

[@wiziek]

@@Rhythmicons This is a serious question, fripp doesn't standing during live performances ::\.

[@matthewhood3897]

Fripp is just off-camera antagonistically staring at Biff the entire time, muttering to himself and writing a 5 page blog post about rags and the artist.

[@WarrenPostma]

I tole him once I tole him a thawsend times not to get his oily mess on ma geetar

[@moyajanko6642]

Matthew Hood has no insight, none.

[@matthewhood3897]

@@moyajanko6642 I like how it took you two tries to get that comment down, good job.

[@MrJbt2112]

Moya Hood & Mathew Janko i presume?

[@psychedeliccarrie5921]

So you're saying Fripp had a good time.

[@Pulse2AM]

I saw Fripp in a small club with the tape machines in the 80's. He asked someone in the audience to pick a key and then he started playing, looping, playing etc. until there was this tremendous wall of sound. It was amazing. I always loved Crimson and saw them a few times back when Larks Tongues was out and Red.

[@mononoaware1960]

Great story thanks for sharing. I have to ask, what key did they pick? Fripp is one of my main influences.

[@Pulse2AM]

@@mononoaware1960 I think it was G. Do you use the alternate tuning he used/uses? I love Fripp, I fell in love with his playing when I heard Eno's Baby's on Fire - that solo is insane! The club was Madame Wongs in China town Downtown Los Angeles. They used to have cool bands back then. Growing up in LA in the 80's was great, my girlfriend at the time was a rock photographer so we went to lots of shows.

[@mononoaware1960]

@@Pulse2AM Thanks! I’ve messed around with it but don’t keep any guitar tuned to it. I did manage to steal a few ideas he does with the Whole Tone scale though. He really opened my ears and mind up to unconventional sounds and avant garde stuff. Taught me that there’s many different sound possibilities and perspectives within music, same with John McLaughlin. I love how he came from a jazz and classical background rather than blues like almost guitarists of that era, a true original. Oh man his playing on that record is great! One of my all time favorites is No Pussyfooting as well. Really influenced by a lot of the stuff he did with looping/soundscapes too.

[@Pulse2AM]

@@mononoaware1960 We like a lot of the same music, we used sit around at my friends house he had big bose speakers in every corner of the room and play Crimson, Yes, Mahavishnu Orchestra, ELP and the Bong! Haha I'm more of a song writer than guitar player though I do play some, Fripp's playing is too advanced for me to take on so I've never tried his tunings.

[@dkinsc6090]

@@Pulse2AM I saw him at Madame Wongs - I understand he played 2 nights there. You must have got the 'pick a key' night. i got the 'Who's recording out there' followed by literal mic drop over neck of guitar and then the death stare!

[@boggo3848]

I really love that this older guitarist that started off in late 60s is using so much advanced 2019 tech. Fripp will never stop being ahead of the curve, and he uses all of this tech to great effect as well without sounding cheesy or over the top.

[@charlesduckettjr.800]

Why do you love that? He would sound better using any guitar/amp ever made, that anyone could buy, and focusing on playing music. All this stuff is a cancer.

[@boggo3848]

@@charlesduckettjr.800 Why is it cancer? Totally disagree with what you've just said, there is a lot of power in the tools he's using and it clearly frees him up to achieve the sound HE wants.

[@charlesduckettjr.800]

If you can't pack up you axe & gear & put it in the car in a few minutes, you don't use a viable instrument. All those gizmos achieve zero sound, only the player & the instrument makes the sounds. Being imprisoned by mandatory gizmo hell is awful & unmusical. IMO.

[@boggo3848]

@@charlesduckettjr.800 That's very opinionated my dude, but whatever.

[@maxhult830]

@@charlesduckettjr.800 I wonder where the original Mellotrons fit in? Were they "viable" instruments? The iPad is clearly better in that regard, gizmo or not. Also, generally, the more sound control you have on stage, the less you have to rely on the mixer guy to do his job (well). The less he has to do, the lesser the chance of him screwing up stuff.

[@Emlizardo]

Those who've seen/read interviews with Fripp know that while he's happy to discuss a wide range of topics, he just really doesn't enjoy talking about gear. So interviewing his tech was best for this rundown.

[@FrenchToasted1995]

so you can ask him whats his favourite teletubby, but not his gear ok

[@Emlizardo]

@@FrenchToasted1995 Refer to the October 2022 issue of Guitar Player magazine.

[@monsirto]

@@FrenchToasted1995 Pretty much. Yep. He likes to chat about actual guitar technique, romance, his wife, their rabbits and nice gardens.

[@joesosa41]

Fripp is the best. Many people have endless debates and quarells about technicality Vs gear... Meanwhile Fripp demolishes both aspects and sides of the "debate" by just existing. Lol

[@JohnHorneGuitar]

A towel, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy says, is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have.

[@BeauregardHall]

Did he EVER say why he was playing with a towel? Was it because of all the turds Fripp lays on his guitar?

[@deane1968]

Whoa

[@dezionlion]

Beauregard Hall he probably just cleaned it for the millionth time and doesn’t want to have to do it again!

[@Ramshackled17]

Robert was already aware of corona virus

[@bobgreen623]

Sass that hoopy Robert Fripp, there's a frood who really knows where his towel is.

[@srwaite7]

One of the best and nicest guitar techs in the business 🎸✌🏻

[@KeeperOfPoops]

shame it wasn't robert doing the video, it detracts when a techie does these videos

[@ThePaulv12]

@@KeeperOfPoops Clickbait vid if you ask me.

[@saxoscoo]

I wholeheartedly agree, Biff is a stellar human. For 1 week he trotted back and forth between my workshop (where I was repairing Mel's various woodwinds) and the rehearsal studio. So I had much hangout time and interaction with Biff, which was great. Greetings from Seattle, Mr. Biff!

[@corbinmccasland7869]

And sexiest too

[@ag48d]

0:27 Robert Fripp: "Were you playing my guitar?" Guitar Tech: "No, definitely not" Robert Fripp: "I'm going to check if your fingerprints are on the fretboard". Guitar Tech: "OK, go ahead"

[@jonbongjovi1869]

Fripp must worry about the grease and oils. I'm the opposite: I can't STAND new strings or clean strings! I WANT THE GRIME!!! #GIMMEthatGRIME

[@uncleambient]

@@jonbongjovi1869 Fripp must be a bit precious

[@davemish4163]

I think he likes to show everyone how eccentric he is. I can't argue with the results though.

[@grouchomagic]

I have seen hundreds of bands, however, Robert is the only guitarist who sat like a jazz guitarist. I saw K.C. at a friggin roller skating rink around 75 in Alexandria, VA. Amazing!

[@bingefeller]

he started off a jazz guitarist playing in dance bands.

[@Ofinfinitejest]

The level of details and insights makes for an interesting comparison with the drum tech guy Neil Peart had. Here's a salute to the years of dedication of the very smart, very important people who help our greatest artists do what they do.

[@thomasraven]

Bobby Wilcox will always be one of my all-time favorite musicians. I really appreciate his dedication to the discovery and performance of music.

[@youpeopl_music3220]

Fripp would be the dude with the Hattori Hanzo of guitar picks.

[@rektyrektingson4668]

lmaooo I laughed way to hard to this

[@Th3Downz]

This is such a great comment. I actually screenshotted it instinctively

[@Haroun-El-Poussah]

I think these are true turtle shell picks. I had prototypes made on Réunion island a few years ago but was too busy to get along, now my prototypes are close to their end, I think I'll go further. These reused the Fender 346 shape. Definitive models will keep the same shape but will be bigger and thicker than the prototypes : you NEED to go thicker than your usual plastic ones... Be aware that you need a licenced artisan : you may eat the turtles BUT their shell is under UN's CITES regulation, how funny, the endangered turtles have no shell... It seems that some plastic industrial lobbied to drive the use of turtle shell out of market, and not just for picks... Dunlop? Dupont? Another? Go figure!

[@raytracy299]

@@Haroun-El-Poussah No, they are actually a re-make of a German pick that was made of a kind of vulcanized rubber. The comany that made them went out of business. I had a bunch of them when I lived there in the early '70's and thought they were stupid. Turns out, it was ME that was stupid, because I'd kill to have the half-dozen or so that I just threw away for Tortex.

[@bkern123456]

He doesnt touch the guitar because Robert will Fripp out

[@PerryCodes]

My opinion of Robert Fripp got knocked down a few pegs after watching this. The opposite is true for his road bitch... I mean guitar tech.

[@ThemFuzzyMonsters]

Robert is a bit of a Fripp ... not a news flash though.

[@qdaveq6597]

@@PerryCodes Why? He has requirements, he pays someone to carry them out. They do what he says, or he employs someone who will.

[@GearGasms]

I agree - I was like WTF is up with the towel? Geez. That guy can't touch your guitar. What a dick.

[@GearGasms]

@@PerryCodes I'd rub the neck along my sack when he wasn't looking, but that's just me, lol.

[@danopticon]

This is excellent, thank you for securing Mr. Fripp’s agreement to this, thanks to Mr. Fripp for the look at his performance setup, thanks to Biff for the walkthrough, and thanks to John for the great questions!! Best one of the series yet, love the mix of old and new gear. Especially nice to see Mr. Fripp’s fondness for a particular whammy pedal, I think it justifies for all of us that one piece of gear everyone says we’re crazy for loving but that we just can’t part with… because nothing else sounds quite like it! It’s not just me!! 🙂🎸❤️

[@forensix78]

My favorite thing about Fripp is that he’s just so down-to-earth and relatable. Gotta be one of the most agreeable, laid back guys in prog!

[@danboid]

Don't let Robert hear you say that! He has a reputation to maintain.

[@stephenbaldassarre2289]

"Dont touch my guitar!" "Fine, I won't."

[@nahowington]

Tony Levin's gear please

[@evankeal]

I love everything about this rig and guitar. Glad you guys made this happen!

[@hschoville]

Biff, you are the best! No one better to talk about Frippertronics - Love you, man.

[@widowmaker5544]

Robert should've done it it's lame when techies do all the gear

[@noelmajers6369]

Gotta love a guitarist who can think most other guitarists under the table. I've been in awe of Robert Fripp since I first heard of him and that awe has not diminished. Not so long ago I finally became the proud owner of a Les Paul Standard, a valve amp and a few pedals. Fripp's rig makes that setup seem like a fossilised whalebone strung with catgut (but I'm still happy although I can just imagine him saying 'how quaint !'...)

[@peterresetz1960]

Electronic effects does not make a guitars great. It's practice a clean tone, and keep practicing for perfection, so when you play with the gain set dirty, or with effects you're killing it, because the underlying playing is honed skills.

[@peterresetz1960]

Electronic effects does not make a guitars great. It's practice a clean tone, and keep practicing for perfection, so when you play with the gain set dirty, or with effects you're killing it, because the underlying playing is honed skills.

[@peterresetz1960]

Electronic effects does not make a guitars great. It's practice a clean tone, and keep practicing for perfection, so when you play with the gain set dirty, or with effects you're killing it, because the underlying playing is honed skills.

[@peterresetz1960]

Electronic effects does not make a guitars great. It's practice a clean tone, and keep practicing for perfection, so when you play with the gain set dirty, or with effects you're killing it, because the underlying playing is honed skills.

[@peterresetz1960]

Electronic effects does not make a guitars great. It's practice a clean tone, and keep practicing for perfection, so when you play with the gain set dirty, or with effects you're killing it, because the underlying playing is honed skills.

[@avjake]

So this made me wonder: What is the most intimidating guitar tech gig? Fripp has to be up near the top.

[@ponchred]

Joe Perry from Aerosmith or Edge from U2 have extremely complicated and varied backstage setups. On one hand you'd have a candyland of gear to play with, but then again it's your job to maintain it all. Pretty intimidating nonetheless. Fripp, in comparison, has 2 guitars and all of his digital gear is basically a rack with a bunch of gear on the floor so as long as you're ok with outs and ins, you could figure it out. Depends if you're used to that kind of gear I suppose. Interesting subject though and I expect it's probably subjective as to what you actually would find intimidating. It would be different for different people.

[@lightaces]

Vernon Reid. It's insane. Brilliant, but insane.

[@gmrios]

Holy crap! never thought of that. I can only imagine. Good point!

[@detlevtimm3019]

I know the easiest gig: pretty much the guitar tech for today's music.

[@savvas773]

@@detlevtimm3019 green day guitar gig

[@omarerosas]

Great Rig Rundown, hope to see Jakko´s and Tony's as well

[@KeeperOfPoops]

nah, it would've been better if robert did the video, it's lame when a techie does it

[@daemonspudguy]

Jakko's rig is simple: PRS Custom 24 Schizoid, Kemper.

[@markchristopher2373]

Mind boggling. Thanks so much Biff. I need to watch this at least 214 times...

[@NicotheFreemason]

Man, I've been waiting for this one forever.

[@szikrabab]

What a perfect Dr Brule-ian 'name drop' at the start. Great rundown!

[@juanvaldez5422]

“For your health”

[@benjels2421]

I didn't know they allowed erotic content content like this on KZbin

[@hubertvancalenbergh9022]

Thanks! I've been waiting for this a long time. A pity the man himself wasn't there to demonstrate the soundscaping part of his rig, but I suspect for that he'd refer you right back to Biff. Btw, the signal flow chart mentions a Roland GP 100, but I don't see the unit anywhere in his rack.

[@martinvanier249]

he switch for the fractal audio

[@bertpraxenthaler5394]

About the black triangular picks: Til mid 80ies Robert Fripp did use those original triangular picks of German Company Herdim, made from a material called 'Indian rubber' (kind of an early natural made plastic, like Bakelite). After Herdim had stopped the production, a guy from Japan manufactured new triangular picks out of the remains of the Indian rubber. Nowadays it is very hard to get Indian rubber, so for the new triangular black picks delrin material is in use (the Guitar Craft Courses did use them, too). so you see, why Robert is pretty 'picky' regarding his picks. - the sound is indeed very well, if you have the right picking technique, too! ;-) -And, btw, Django Reinhard was said to have used a pick from Indian rubber, made from a jacket button...

[@jonbongjovi1869]

I had to train myself to play with all types of COINS, cuz i lived where I couldn't get any guitar picks! (Pennies are the only ones that suck.) The other day i was desperate so I just took a PLASTIC SANDWICH tie-thang rectangle and cut the corners off it!

[@rivereuphrates8103]

That's really interesting to read. For years I thought he used metal picks especially on the Lark's Tongues in Aspic and Red era. I have to try these though.

[@zigzagrz]

Now that Robert Fripp has had his Rig Rundown, now its Adam Jones's turn!

[@decarnby]

this

[@effel651997]

I agree but Adam is very secretive when it comes to his gear especially his pedal board

[@athirdeyeDG]

Dunlop TV has one with both Justin and Adams Rig.

[@zigzagrz]

@@athirdeyeDG ive seen that one but an updated one would be nice. That guitar tech, cant remember his name right now, passed away a few years ago.

[@TheSecondNature]

Adam: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fna5pmqNicqEftk Justin: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXzEpWmNg7qGY80 Thank me later

[@RocknJazzer]

I thought that was Fripp at first, thinking he looked pretty good for his age. Also thought the towel must be some kind of crazy new fripp sound dampening effect

[@KeeperOfPoops]

i wish it was fripp, it's boring when a techie does it

[@davidbee8793]

Me too

[@tonymctony4551]

I thought Fripp gone really mad with the pajamas.

[@martydibergi5228]

@@KeeperOfPoops yo give this guy his due credit. Few of us wanna be players could do his job while under touring pressures

[@agnostic47]

I also thought it was Fripp at first and he was using the towel because he knows his left hand intimidates me. Whenever I see Fripp play I look at my left hand and ask it "why can't you do that?".

[@hughsnyder891]

I saw King Crimson in the early 70’s . Probably 72 . It was phenomenal 😊😎

[@Stoner075C]

I saw them last October and they still are. ( :

[@jonbongjovi1869]

@@Stoner075C do the 3 drummers ever REALLY LET LOOSE, or do they have to politiely dance around each other?

[@earlbrackett6508]

saw Crimson at DPAC a few years ago, omg what a show...I'd love to see the entire band's gear.

[@umphreak6979]

I went to see them on this tour and the quad sound system was insane.

[@jonbongjovi1869]

thhis was a fun trick I used to do: many guitarists will SPLIT their signal so they are coming out of TWO AMPS, for a much richer sound (etc etc)...but I would put one amp BEHIND THE AUDIENCE at the back of the room..... that would be AMP "B", and AMP "A" would be onstage with me..... so I could SLAM A POWER CHORD..... and hit the crowd from the FRONT.....but then my SILENT "Line B" going to AMP B.... would have more sick distortion and other effects on it..... so i'd slam a power chord....and then using the volume pedal going to AMP B.... I'd SWOOP IN the much bigger / crazier sound of LINE B......BEHIND THEM, startling them every time!! I guess I should call that trick "SIDEWAYS STEREO", ha ha. (only 2 channels but we usually go left / right for our ears, where I went front / back ha!) THERE'S A CRAZY VIDEO ON KZbin of TOM SCHOLZ of BOSTON...showing off his space pedal he built himself! (Only 2 on earth!) Instead of moving like a wah-wah pedal, it moves in ALL 4-directions (!!) and so he has massive control over his tone / fx like nothing you've ever seen SINCE!

[@andriealinsangao613]

@@jonbongjovi1869 Sick!!!

[@ocdplaylistmaker7032]

”That certain feeling happened to me in a big way quite often with the first King Crimson. Amazing things would happen-I mean, telepathy, qualities of energy, things that I had never experienced before with music - you can’t tell whether the music is playing the musician or the musician is playing the music” (Robert Fripp, guitarist for KING CRIMSON, Down Beat, June 1985, p. 61).

[@Beantbeantbeant]

Phil Collins playing Fripps guitar... I would never have imagined

[@IAmInfinitus208]

😂

[@nickdryad]

Congratulations to the interviewer for asking good questions and knowing background stuff.

[@musikman43204]

You must be new here.

[@jonbongjovi1869]

PLUS Fripp's type of music is VERY MUCH not what the interviewer is into! He's more rockabilly etc to RF's prog / avant classical!

[@svenjansen2134]

He's doing his job right that's all.

[@nickdryad]

Very rare in the music industry

[@vondumozze738]

Beyond my ken. At least I got to shake Robert's hand at a gig in a loft in Manhattan many years ago when he was using the tape loops. He gave me a diagram of how to set up the recorder. I still have an Akai 1710 that I bought in Japan in 1969.

[@pg123ab]

Von duMozze did you have to wear a glove when shaking his hand?

[@beaudeeley]

@@pg123abcame here for this comment and was not disappointed 😂

[@axnyslie]

Great video I'm a big fan of Fripp's work with Brian Eno on No Pussyfooting, Evening Star, and The Equatorial Stars.

[@alanboro]

I love the interviewer´s vibe. He always seems so into it, really enjoying, like he is not working at all, just nerding it out with amazing guitar techs

[@jonbongjovi1869]

THERE'S an interesting question! DO ANY OF THEM GET PAID to do this interviews! (I would guess no.)

[@abradfordajb]

Hendrix once commented that King Krimson was his favorite band, and Fripp his favorite guitarist. This is interesting to contemplate ..... a major clue as to where Jimi's musical muse may have lead him.

[@BeauregardHall]

Ehh. Jimi said the same about ZZ Top and Chicago, so... you know. There's that.

[@pg123ab]

Hopefully nowhere near this compulsive crap.

[@bobgreen623]

Hendrix said the same about Rory Gallagher, apparently.

[@amazon4529]

@@bobgreen623 whaddya mean "apparently"????

[@bobgreen623]

@@amazon4529 whaddya mean, whaddya mean? ;)

[@dr.franciscotorresmarquezc7352]

Thats an amazing one. Tnx from Chile 🇨🇱

[@troypeterson6057]

Biff! Righteous stalwart of the Madison, WI music scene. I have a bunch of weird gear in my collection that I bought from him through the years. Sometimes I think - "I got this pedal from Robert Fripp's guitar tech", and my mind still can't really wrap around that.

[@neaituppi7306]

Robert Fripp? I clicked on this so fast. One of the few musicians that influenced me, I met in person.

[@seamanjive]

Did you have to put a rag round yer fingers when you shook hands?

[@neaituppi7306]

@@seamanjive He didn't shake my hand. I put my backpack at the edge of the little club stage, and was talking to the guy next to me. Then turned to see Robert leaning over to me, and asked me to please remove it from the stage. lol That was my suddenly meeting him.

[@wiziek]

@@neaituppi7306 Then you didn't meet him :|.

[@justinrulesass]

No one cares

[@danopticon]

@Neai Tuppi - After a Robert Fripp and the League of Crafty Guitarists show in Chicago in (or around) 1989/1990, after the show, as my friend Andy and I dawdled in the lobby of (I’m pretty sure it was) the Park West, Mr. Fripp suddenly appeared at the merch table from behind a black curtain, RIGHT as I was buying a few of their knot-stamped triangular picks - which apparently are now kinda rare, the “India rubber” plectrums they used… I recall buying two gauges, and they’re packed away somewhere today, I’m hoping to find them and gift one back to Mr. Fripp, but that’s another story - so anywho, he appears and he’s fussing around with a box of LPs… and I’m TOO SHY to say a g##-d### thing! not even a “Great show!” or “Thanks for all the music!” or “Neat picks, I look forward to playing with these!” or anything. ☺️ He looks up at me, we make eye contact: he nods, I nod. Then he disappears behind the curtain again. So that’s my big meeting Robert Fripp story, I think I like yours better! 😁

[@priyas.8141]

Things I can't do- Playing the opening riff of frame by frame. Playing suite no. 1 by Giles, Giles and Fripp. Saying Biff blumflumgagnge three times.

[@lamecasuelas2]

Frame by frame is not that hard, the key Is to playe very relaxed, like you may feel the need to really squeeze the strings and hold the pick super tight. But you really don't need to.

[@GearGasms]

I did NOT expect this! Nice!!!

[@KeeperOfPoops]

it would've been better if Robert did this, it's so boring when a stupid techie does the video

[@GearGasms]

@@KeeperOfPoops I generally agree, except when the artist doesn't even know what gauge of strings they use and have to keep asking the tech. But I can see why Robert wouldn't be the type to do this - that's why I was so initially surprised!

[@KeeperOfPoops]

also robert is super secretive about the gear too, much like the bassist from royal blood, they only talked about amps and basses, not the pedals

[@AndyNyle]

I’ll say that the “roadie” is a quite accomplished musician in his own right. He is a local legend of the balkan folk rock scene in Madison but also a versatile player and producer. Master at violin and plays electric mandolin as well.

[@Eventual420]

Eventide put samplers in the 3500, 4500, 7500, Orville, H8000, and 9000. Samplers are digital recordings, accurate and lossless. A sampler will record once, and cannot record while playing so building a multi layered loop requires two. Triggering playback and record for the samplers is done with MIDI and involves a bit of tap dancing. They aren’t ideal loopers for this reason, there are better alternatives. However, using an Eventide sampler is a great way to capture ideas before they fade. Without needing to turn to a computer, one button starts the recording. Ideal for the initial capture and then a tempo can be determined from there. Start and End points can be fine tuned, the overlap can be blended for continuous loops that fit perfectly. They can be timed precisely and sync’d to drums using the trims. Building upon that with a 2nd sampler does require perfect timing, and with a specific tempo can prove difficult, as the sample will wander out of sync. A live drummer, however, could easily keep time with it and stay sync’d. The benefit of a sampler is in pitch detuning, because the sample will retain the original signal. Pitch shifters are synth sounds themselves, and that’s why shimmers are always ear piercing. Eventide’s are best positioned after a speaker, because an amp will thrive on analog, respond to pick attack. Putting an Eventide before the amp will square off and digitize the signal being amplified which changes the amps performance. A mic preamp is best suited to provide the source signal for a Harmonizer, it will add reverbs and delays based on that sound. An AxeFX is equally suited to provide the source audio, as they somewhat accurately simulate a full amp chain and provide line level signal that Eventides process. AxeFX units can do the entire process within, the only aspect missing is Eventide’s legendary algorithms. Someone who prefers Eventide, such as myself, does so due to the algorithms prebuilt into each Harmonizer, over 1000 useful patches that can be heard on hundreds if not thousands of recordings since the 70s. Eventides are post processors. They’re great in studios but can be implemented live if the signal is kept traditional. Plug a guitar into an amp. Sometimes Wah is up front, otherwise everything else can be done post process. There is extra control with mix blending, wet signals kept separate from dry, as in a parallel mix. This will offer some of the best tone available. Nothing to snooze about here. This guy understands signal flow.

[@ericpiazzi3444]

I would love to be this guy setting up Roberts rig , what an awesome job to have!

[@BluesLicks101]

I've got a Roland GR1 that has been in storage for about 15 years... looks like I'm going to have to take it out of storage.

[@glenech0]

I also have one. Still works perfect too. Hooked it up about 15 mins after I watched this. Thing about the GR1 is that you can sculpt your patches using knobs. So much easier to modify sounds to your liking. Great unit and considering I've had it over 20 years obviously made well.

[@svenjansen2134]

Send it to me now. Do it. DO IT!

[@_Yep_Yep_]

I had no idea Robert Fripp was a rock legend. Ive been watching his short format videos for years and just thought he was a guitar enthusiast and mostly crazy retiree just enjoying life. Woops.

[@wiziek]

poor attempt at trolling, yea guy who beside being prog rock piooner played on david bowie records

[@_Yep_Yep_]

@@wiziek neither trolling nor intended to offend, friend

[@alicec1533]

have you checked out King Crimson since this discovery?

[@_Yep_Yep_]

@@alicec1533 Yes! ITCOTCK is an *masterpiece* with so many moving parts that it would make Jimmy Page and JPJ both blush. I talk to the Wind is like guitar ASMR. Came out...4 years before I was born.

[@alicec1533]

@@_Yep_Yep_ Awesome! happy that you've had the experience of being introduced to KC. They're definitely an favourite band of mine.

[@thefilemakerpromakingprofi6427]

The one that I want to see more than any other.

[@trusstee1]

him at the guitar shop: I'll take one of everything please

[@MrJDNJ]

The GDAE is violin-mandolin. The low C is viola/mandola/tenor guitar (cgda) or even 5-string violin with the E. I guess the high G is just starting (the violin) all over again. The overall tuning isn't weird, but "barr type" chords with this tuning aren't very finger friendly especially in the lower frets. It must be fun having guitar style access to all of those instrument tunings, especially 12 frets and up! (Editorial note: it was hard to hear the names of the notes when he ran through them).

[@lightaces]

Why are all y'all so baffled by this rig? The synth side is an a/b/y box and two synths, and the guitar side goes guitar-Whammy II-Ax Fx. The Ax FX gets split out to the two pairs of Eventides, and that's it. A few expression pedals is hardly enough to make a system confusing. The software is usually not doing anything all that odd either - mostly some delays, reverbs, and some chorus. All the really odd stuff is happening in Robert Fripp's head.

[@zeppelinfan82]

Cool to see all his retro stomps

[@troypeterson6057]

John Bohlinger rules and if you can't dig that then you are a strait up SQUARE

[@davecarsley8773]

It's not 1968 anymore, dude. Nobody is a SQUARE.

[@Traumm9]

Great upload, many thanks for sharing :-)

[@shakesquire84]

Biff Blumfumgagnge! What a name!

[@ritchtaylor3831]

Baby's On Fire is the all-time best solo EVER!!! (I ranked the top 10 an it won hands down) :)

[@danopticon]

@Ritch Taylor - Check out “The Sheltering Sky” (named after a Paul Bowles novel) from King Crimson’s _Discipline_ album sometime, I think you‘ll like the guitar on it also. There’s a live version of it up on the DGMLive/King Crimson channel, taken from a performance in France in… 1982, I think? kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWrLmoJmpLyrn5I (The music is preceded by about 2 mins. of David Singleton introducing the piece over a background of “Neal and Jack and Me” from King Crimson’s album _Beat,_ also performed live.)

[@coreyzimmerman9782]

sailors tale.....imho

[@jonbongjovi1869]

MY FAVE FRIPP SOLO....is near the end of the LIZARD lp (their best and weirdest IMO)......with the lonnnnnng sustain..... and it sounds so....lonely yet gorgeous.....

[@johnd.4536]

Robert Fripp is the reason Zappa wrote The Torture Never Stops

[@jesemery2069]

Got a source for that?

[@cybertronian2005]

Never heard that before. Zappa said in an 80s interview he'd never heard a Robert Fripp record

[@cmath8577]

This rig is beyond and this rundown of it is a bath and I'm going to bed

[@GigaGrandpaYT]

Tabby cat

[@AkosKovacs.Author.Musician]

Can you imagine the time you need to set up all this stuff for every gig?

[@jonbongjovi1869]

I KNOW!! To me it's nearly offensive, like giving kids coca-cola (!) or packaging waste that's drowning the planet! HOW MUCH is their FREIGHT BILL on airlines...for the 3 drumkits!! You could eliminate 99% of this gear with no difference to the shows! EASY SOLUTION: you record / film for 3 weeks at UK rehearsal studio....cuz you only need to set all this junk up ONCE and break it down ONCE.... ....THEN...when you tour, you go out with the EFFICIENT power trio with almost no gear! LOGIC MATTERS. Humans love waste and inefficiency with a passion!

[@strings2wood]

Guitar tech comes across as a really nice person on this impression- engaging and positive personality. Amazing set up for an innovator still pushing the envelope.

[@KeeperOfPoops]

it would've been better if Robert did the video tho

[@gareebee]

illuminOz ...you should see Fripp's cooking show over in Europe. He and his wife are so sweet and charming. Strange man.

[@nickp440]

this is absolutely insane

[@lessthanpinochet]

Steve Hackett also plays Fernandes guitars. One of his guitars was a LP copy with mini humbuckers when he was with Genesis.

[@stringlocker]

It was because of Fernandes in the early eighties that I got to play great guitars. Thanks to Japan

[@EmptyDomoKanti99]

i did talk smack about Fripp not doing the interview, however this entire video has been super entertaining anyway so i’m less mad about Fripp not doing it. On the tech!

[@Emlizardo]

Anybody who's seen/read interviews with Fripp knows that he's happy to talk about a wide variety of topics, but he just really doesn't enjoy talking about gear. So getting his tech to do this rundown was the best move.

[@jupiterlegrand4817]

He didn't put in any "crazy bits like that third pickup", it was one of two LP Customs that Fripp had and one was factory fitted w/the third pickup (a feature they offer now and then). I'm not aware of any other mods done to it, save the removal of the pickup cover, as recommended to him by Greg Lake.

[@danopticon]

@Jupiter Le Grand - Yeah, I thought it was a ‘50s Black Beauty like the kind Page owned, valuable now but basically factory-fitted with three pickups at the time - I didn’t know Fripp had removed the covers at Lake’s suggestion, though, that’s interesting to know. Greg Lake’s career, too… now that’s another who’s-who!!

[@BrunodeSouzaLino]

Wasn't his main LP a Tokai and not a Gibson?

[@danopticon]

@BrunoDSL - Huh! I’d never heard this, so I looked around, and I do find a 1981 interview where Fripp talks about triggering his Roland synth-effects with a Tokai LP copy… which I did not know, so thank you for that! That’s the earliest reference I found to a Tokai, however, and I think what’s being talked about here is the 3-pickup black Les Paul Fripp used with 1970s King Crimson. Like I wrote, I always assumed it was an original ‘50s “Black Beauty,” but I could‘ve been wrong. Others think he took an LP and gouged out a cavity for a third pickup. Do you have any info regarding that, regarding his ‘70s gear?

[@BrunodeSouzaLino]

@@danopticon Your best bet would be the Elephant Talk wiki and checking all the interviews with Robert that are there. I remember seeing pictures of said Tokai, which had a Kahler bridge and a sustainer, just like his current Fernades models.

[@valhallacoldwind3362]

@@BrunodeSouzaLino Thanks for mentioning the wonderful Tokai guitars. I think Fripp used one during the 80's & he still has it to this day apparently. I remember seeing a photo of it in his online diary a few years ago. I also remember Joe Walsh talking about Tokai back then. I knew 2 different guitarists during the 80's who owned a Statocaster copy & Les Paul copy, both superb instruments. They still own them & swear by them to this day.

[@justaguy2365]

At the Ryman? I was at the Crimson show at the Ryman back in Sept. Great show

[@mikeriesco6174]

The towel-rule is so Fripp-like -- strange, but you just go with it. And they both seemed somewhat in awe of the otherwordly setup -- like stumbling upon an alien artifact, not quite sure what to make of it. it's all just so completely Fripp.

[@danopticon]

@Mike Riesco - It makes sense, too: certainly my strings dull quickly, so leave it to Mr. Fripp to dedicate effort to keeping his bright for performance! Plus with his bottom strings tuned that high, any corrosion is probably going to snap them all the quicker. I know when I tried NST on my six-string electric, what would normally be the B and high E, now tuned to E and G, both broke within 48 hours. It makes me want to re-examine every step of how I approach music, and the instruments themselves. Like, how much am I overlooking? 🤔

[@davecarsley8773]

@@danopticon Either your guitar or your technique is shit. You shouldn't have strings breaking like that. That tuning is not outlandish.

[@danopticon]

@Michael Miller - Do you play guitar? String breakage at that tuning (and other alternate “high” tunings) is a well-documented issue. lmgtfy.com/?q=%22new+standard+tuning%22+strings+breaking It can be worked around with different string gauges, outside of the usual ranges. Mr. Fripp has written that, at the time he was first toying with an all-fifths tuning, such gauges were a little harder to come by, which is why he finally opted to instead tune only his second through sixth strings in fifths while his first string is tuned a minor third apart from his second string: to reduce breakage. To new players out there, thinking of toying with NST: you may have to shop around, and buy strings separately in the individual, optimal gauges for best tension, intonation, etc., although at different times various companies have sprung up offering 6-packs of acoustic or electric strings best-suited to NST. Writing in 2019, these people may still sell you a full set of acoustics: www.guitarcraftguitars.com/vgstrings.html If you plan on toying with NST for any length of time, you’ll also want to adjust your truss rod to avoid any eventual damage. If you’re thinking of adopting NST permanently, or of dedicating one of your guitars to it, you’ll also want to file your nut to accommodate the heavier-gauged C and lower G strings, or of having your luthier carve you a new nut entirely. This musician’s 2004 blog post outlines some of the intricacies of adopting NST and of suiting your instrument to it: www.brianrobison.org/index.htm?performance/nst.htm Good luck to all! 🙂❤️🎸

[@BrunodeSouzaLino]

@Michael Miller The problem is that NST doesn't have uniform tension across the neck. So that's not the same thing as using a heavier string set which will pull the neck evenly. If you use the recommended 11 gauge for NST, you'll find that you have to tune the highest string to G. That's not something a 11 string can do comfortably without risking breaking. That's too much tension for that string. On the other hand, the lower strings are somewhat floppy. This tuning can warp your guitar neck as well if not done properly. Ideally, you might consider investing on a fanned fret guitar, which will have a more stable platform for the higher strings and will prevent the lower strings from being floppy. Using the tuning one step lower (A#-F-C-G-D-F) is another solution. Tuning a 11 string to F is still a bit risky, but doable, though you're introducing a problem by having the lowest string at A#. A tuning that's more resonable would be the one Frank Gambale invented (ADGCEA where the top two strings are an octave lower. Essentially, the tuning is equivalent to taking standard tuning, putting the low E and A strings where B and E should be, shifting the other 4 strings up, then capoing them at the 5th fret). Having a wound B and E is more manageable than a 11 string tuned up to G.

[@henryd98]

Oh Sees next please!

[@johnfarmer4099]

Nice Flip on the Fripp video title. I thought he was going to be in it as I'm sure the title was planned.

[@jamanjeval]

Why the cloth? Does he use some kind of spray on the strings?

[@IETCHX69]

ONE time , I saw John Bolinger SMILE !!! I shit you not .

[@marciocunha2639]

Robert doesn't like roadie sweat on his Fernandes.

[@lcrecel]

fuckin strange

[@PerryCodes]

fuckin pathetic.

[@robotspongebath4480]

Maybe Biff doesn't like Fripp sweat.

[@marciocunha2639]

@@robotspongebath4480 - It can be. Bold statement, though: "I don't like my boss' sweat so I'm using a cloth to wipe it on a youtube video to be seen by all Frippettes around the world.". That guy has balls.

[@pinkio2]

@@PerryCodes You clearly are not a guitarist or at least a knowledgeable one. Some people have natural oils in their skin that reacts with the metal of guitar strings and leaves them feeling tarnished, even after a quick play. If you are striving for perfection you don't accept second best. That is what differentiates Robert Fripp and other true innovators from most of us!

[@circycle]

So does he have leprosy? What’s up with the rag?

[@JoelWetzel]

It's deja vu all over again. I saw this days ago and yet it came out today?!

[@jemen1709]

I hope you all know it was Robert Fripp who played guitar on Bowies iconic song "Heroes".

[@mikelmart]

I believe that made the whole song.

[@rsa4834]

New Standard Tuning \m/ .54 for the low C though, on a Les Paul? The man's got a light touch!

[@dylanwillis1473]

Bill Kelliher of mastodon used a .52 for a low A on his guitars for a while.

[@rsa4834]

@@AzathothsAlarmClock I used to do that too. I guess what really bothered me with a .56 and even .58 low B was the intonation and how easy it was to make the open string go sharp.

[@rsa4834]

@@dylanwillis1473 Yeah and the guys from Sikth also used a rather light string like that when tuning the lowest string to Ab. Always impresses me somehow.

[@rsa4834]

@@AzathothsAlarmClock Well I've been using a .60 for the low B for a while now, on Fender scale guitars. Feels right. Not too heavy either.

[@jarnohokkanen5621]

Id like to see bass interviews too , Tony Levin just came to my mind..

[@ThemFuzzyMonsters]

14:32 - The Whammy II ... the one everyone hated. The cheaper, lesser quality version that Digitech created after their license with the creators of the Whammy expired. Fragile plastic casing, thin sounding algorithm. It is only rare because it was a commercial flop. It was quickly replaced by the X-100 which was also a flop. The Whammy IV was a return to the metal casing and that lasted years until the current Whammy V. It took Digitech three more versions and 20 years to best the Whammy 1. LOL Robert likes the Whammy II, go Robert!

[@buffalobrown3000]

I'm grateful I still have mine and the tracking on it is pretty unique. There really is something about the give and the sweep and the way it feels. It it also has a preamp boost quality to it.

[@sebastianroacontreras3422]

I have a 94’ whammy and has te same chip that the whammy I! The IVL.

[@ThemFuzzyMonsters]

Seba Fuzz The chip might be the same but the Algorithms weren’t.

[@rosettag7292]

I had one 10 years ago, bought 100 euros and sold the same price in France, I wanted to buy another one on reverb last month the average price is $350 !! Should have kept mine...

[@jonbongjovi1869]

@@rosettag7292 I paid $120 for my Whammy eons ago, then saw used ones selling for $600 and my jaw dropped. Police stole all my musical gear. Because they can do whatever they want, and the press and ACLU will cover it up.

[@gpatles]

ALUCINANTEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! Thanks so much!!

[@sophielam]

Isn't it amazing to see guitar rig full of gear in 2019 instead of only an AXE FX or Kemper?

[@davecarsley8773]

No. Not at all. Go to a local bar once in a while.

[@BrunodeSouzaLino]

Then you're not gonna like Mattias IA Eklundh's rig, which is his 8 string signature into a volume pedal that goes to the front of a Laney Ironheart and a Carbon Copy delay on the FX loop. Nothing else. The delay is also used sparingly and no reverb as well.

[@jonbongjovi1869]

@@BrunodeSouzaLino Doesn't Yngwie just go DIRECT into his Marshalls, basically? MY ARGUMENT is that LIFE IS TOO COMPLICATED no matter who you are...so simplicity is best whenever possible. No wonder Fripp was so miserable on so many tours!

[@BrunodeSouzaLino]

@@jonbongjovi1869 His sound is a Marhsall JMP50 being pushed by a DOD 250 with all knobs on max. The only difference is that this effect is part of the amp in his signature model. Yngwie also uses delays ond other stuff. Mattias doesn't use any of that. It's just guitar and amp.

[@idiosyncraticmushroom3030]

"actually they stay in tune really well" it has locking tuners & a locking nut. Of course its gonna stay in tune really well.

[@jonbongjovi1869]

yet it's all so INEFFICIENT. ex: I have a $150 korean headless flying V from the 1980s (!)....and it's got some shitty whammy bar....yet NEVER EVER GOES OUT OF TUNE!! No dumb locking nut! Cuz headless guitars ELIMINATED THE PROBLEM of that friggin' nut etc, which CAUSES the going-out-of-tune. (Plus no tuning pegs means you NEVER bump the guitar out of tune!)

[@tarkenton3895]

​@@jonbongjovi1869 does your guitar go on tour in various climates or does it stay in one consistent climate at your home any given time of year? There's the difference

[@youpeopl_music3220]

Great video! I love this series and Fripp is one of the best! I'm curious. Is PG allowed to add the show info (date, bill, etc), or a link to some video content, from the actual shows you cover? I like to try and follow up on your RR's by watching the gear in action.!

[@danopticon]

@YOUPEOPL stl - While I don’t think King Crimson have released any video of this current tour, Fripp’s gear would probably be very much unchanged from just four years ago, and KC have uploaded some concert footage from 2015: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYjQdnaCo7J-fc0

[@widowmaker5544]

it's not that great because it's not robert doing the video it's so BORING when a techie does it

[@youpeopl_music3220]

@@widowmaker5544 it would be cool if the artist and tech did episodes together.

[@widowmaker5544]

@YOUPEOPL stl there are episodes where that has happened, in all time low one of the guitarists did the gear with his tech and then the other tech filled in for the other guitarist and bassist who was ill and for some rundowns like Toto we have the guitarist talk a bit about some stuff and then the tech do everything else

[@TylerEaves]

It's not really a secret. They're all filmed in Nashville.

[@osmarkeiroz7304]

Looking at all the equipment paraphernalia it seems to be easier to learn how to handle the controls and panels of an F-22 Fighter...

[@Haroun-El-Poussah]

Rafale is better

[@jpkaneshida1977]

Fripp: The Scientist Artist

[@kramkalisthenics]

13:14 it took may years of dedicated research for Robert to discover the connection between sex, drugs and rock and roll.

[@JohnDoe-ym5ly]

This is the one time no one shoudl bitch about the player not doing the rundown themselves. It's Robert Fripp. He's a mystical master and genius, and him doing something like this would somehow detract from that.

[@andalltheangelssay212]

Of course and Robert Fripp far too busy these days entertaining us all from his kitchen with Toyah kzbin.info/www/bejne/oaW8h5qBd9ebf9E

[@LeeBarry]

His NST is simply a cello tuning with a minor third on top. There aren't many options for the top string and G is the highest you can go. Any other options (E, F, F#) are too awkward. You could do a reverse Keith Richards and leave the top string off entirely.

[@jonbongjovi1869]

i recently started leaving off the top E to do recordings with huge jangle that did NOT have that high note that all other jangling guitars have.... ....and I love it! I really want an electric guitar that is just 4 strings, that eliminates the massive redundancy of 6 strings! i love my ukes and basses!

[@Emlizardo]

The high G is nice to have. Try major chord voicings with the root on the fourth string, like Gmaj frets xx5577 or xx5534. Or Gmin xx5567 or xx5533.

[@tarkenton3895]

I know that Robert goes with what he originally set on with CGDAeg, but I always thought it would be better to take the tuning down to a point where the high string isn't so delicate, like AEBF#c#e

[@LeeBarry]

That's an option. It then becomes a transposing instrument sounding down a minor third from his "standard". He'd then have to play everything up a minor third. @@tarkenton3895

[@odyssey99999]

What is that bell sound at 8:46 ? Sounds like one of those standing bells or singing bowls. Does anybody know which app has that sound? Or the name of that instrument that was sampled??

[@RockHardRiffs]

Too cool

[@davel.9467]

Fripp = genius.

[@hchoe741]

Is no one gonna talk about the dudes name? Blumfumgagnge

[@peteytwofinger]

i met Biff him at the elbow room in chicago , i think... at a psychodots show , but also he was techin/ playing violin on adrian belews (inner rev or here?) tour. Anyway somewhere in there i stalked him post show - i asked him if he minded if i pick his brain about gear he told me fine as long as i bought him a drink. i forget what he had but it wasnt cheap. i asked him about belews reverse guitar, he let me know it was a boss half rack rps-10 , or you could also use an eventide . not to long after that i obtained a used rps-10 thanks to Boss guitar division president Scott Summers , whom i cold called . i still play 100 percent wet reverse delayed guitar , i still treasure my rps-10 , i have a few devices that let me do that DRAWKCAB trick but man the rps-10 , with its 12 bit tonality , maximum 1 second delay time is really the funest treat. Thanks so much Mr Blumfumgagne ! P.S we saw robert frp play with king crimson on halloween and that is another wonderful story i will record and upload to my youtube right now - if you are a fan you dont want to to miss it . Thanks again Biff !!

[@twodollarbroom]

btw, Biff's middle name is "Uranus"

[@jg932]

Yeah, it's a mouthful, I honest thought it was Fripp himself!

[@MrSimondaniel3]

i'd guess he wasnt named this by his parents. never know tho ! haha

[@danopticon]

@Brad Graham - For real?

[@Oilid]

I'm just here for the comments trying to understand why the OCD towel?

[@jerbear1601]

That is the weirdest thing I've seen in a while. Too bad John didn't ask, maybe he was weirded out like the rest of us?

[@Oilid]

@@jerbear1601 😉

[@thedddemon]

He's not allowed to touch the guitar with his own oily flesh.

[@MisterNiles]

It could be Fripp being strange, but it could have a very practical reason behind it. Back in the 80s there was this guy named Phil who jammed with us sometimes. He was pretty good. He could crank out some DiMeola style licks and was careful and respectful of gear. My friends and I stopped letting him touch our guitars though. Even with clean hands, his body chemistry was hell on strings. Me and my friends could all trade off guitars with no problem, so we deduced that it was Phil who had the strange body chemistry. If he played your guitar for even 30 seconds, a couple hours later your strings would be rusted. Seriously. Like a set of strings that had been on a guitar for 20 years in a basement with no air conditioning. It was weird. We felt bad not letting Phil play our guitars, but we couldn't afford new strings after every brief encounter with him. I will concede that in this case, there is a high likelihood that Fripp is very particular. Or maybe the tech is just captive to professional dogma. Now, I will explore my new guitar technique: Dish towel style. I imagine it will sound a lot like a low pass filter and bad playing.

[@ForcingLaughterFakingSmiles]

Because Fripp

[@pjaylett]

What going on at the headstock? Is that some fancy tuner or some other gadget?

[@donkanboy]

What is surprising to me is he doesn't have the redundancy on his old GR-1.

[@hearmetravel]

Ryman! Sweet! I was at that show. :)

[@daveeichenberger7473]

Which Duncan pickup is it?

[@KamilKisiel]

I've read a lot of descriptions of RF's gear over the years and never seen the specific pickup mentioned. It might just be a custom-wound SD.

[@carvinblack]

The Balls McGee 1000.