Rig Rundown - John Scofield & Avi Bortnick

Rig Rundown Article - www.premierguit...
Rig Rundown Playlist - www.premierguit...
(www.premierguit...) Premier Guitar's Jason Shadrick is on location in Iowa City, IA, with John Scofield and Avi Bortnick on their Überjam Deux tour. In this video, Scofield mentions his love for AC30s, dealing with travel issues on the road, and walks us through his entire pedalboard. Rhythm guitarist Avi Bortnick shows us how he combines the modern with the traditional in his rig by incorporating samples and drum machines along with his array of pedals.
For more Rig Rundowns or to watch one of our other 2,100 videos, visit www.premierguit...

[@MisterGabal]

Quite funny to hear Sco talking about his chorus pedal like he doesn't know how signature that sound is from him.

[@MisterGabal]

+David Cheon maybe he's also used it, but I'm sure that extreme chorus, with a very high depth and rate, is pretty much a thing Sco did all the time in his Uberjam days and such

[@catboyzee]

Indeed. Much as I love hearing Sco play, I really do miss the Still Warm/Loud Jazz/Time On My Hands, chorus-always-on sound.

[@jarrettherman3258]

I spent long wondering exactly what pedals he was using for that effect. I'd definitely tried just a chorus pedal, but I was like "it can't be that simple". Sure enough, it's a Boss chorus.

[@SeanRosati]

I mean he said he used to use it all the time. Lol he acknowledged it.

[@josephtravers777]

@@SeanRosati Used it in stereo for many years. Depth rate wasn't set as high then.

[@AtanasovPetar]

John's harmonic and rhythmic sense is out of this world.

[@ShiningEyeBrigade]

Thank you Avi for taking the time to detail that somewhat complicated system. (And of course thank you John. Your every note and word is bliss).

[@tiluriso]

Very nice episode. Sco is a Jazz Giant, Avi is great in his own right, and those two have complementary playing styles. Since Premier Guitar has now officially broken the 'Jazz barrier' w/ these guys, a great guest would be Jazz Guitar Giant Pat Metheny - his whole gear is somewhat shrouded in mystery, and if Pat would be willing to do it, I feel that it would be a great show. Peace and keep up the great work.

[@DannyStarr1976]

Avi Bortnik is one of the most original guitar players out there.. saw him with this band back in like 2006 and was blown away

[@Surfivorcamp]

Surprised to hear JS say he ends up using his amp sound mostly. Thanks John and Avi for taking the time to run down your gear for us. Inspirational!

[@vikramjitbanerjeetuki]

This was one of the most funnest rig rundown's, digging it🤘

[@michaelgottlieb9083]

Looking Avi's pedal board with brown cheapo extension cords... That's funny :-) I'm thinking..... hey I'm doing pretty good.

[@giac7baci]

Love the rig love the shoes ... John scofield what a legend

[@romanslegion7771]

I’m going to see Sco tonite!!! So excited to see him in Houston. He is holding a discussion before the concert. So cool!!

[@BoxcarBomber]

Oh snap, Avi Bortnick is sidechaining the clavinet with his guitar like Nile Rodgers did (with the horn section) on Bowie's "Let's Dance". Super cool!

[@Journeymanlive]

Love Sco ! I just to add that his MicroSynth IS true bypass. He can get it out of the loop and put it anywhere. Scofield is a giant!

[@lushkordz6643]

This Rig Rundown is the best i ever seen on YT If you really listen to the way JS is using pedals N effects you can learn so much in just one session coz he's the Real Boss IMO when it comes to Sound Tweaking

[@sidneyrichard5319]

Before I heard the album, I read an interview in Guitar Player in which Scofield said he had "the best rhythm guitarist in the world". When I heard the album I was astonished to find he was right.

[@shimonbenloulou1778]

i like the shows in particular where the artist is going through the setup while playing it.

[@LentilsOverkill]

Saw this guy live with Uberjam. It was amazing.

[@tiluriso]

Other Jazz-Fusion greats that deserve and episode IMHO: Scott Henderson, Allan Holdworth, Frank Gambale, Mike Stern, Bill Frisell, to name a handful.

[@cnltaf4532]

John Scofield is truly a big inspiration, he has it all,.. ;)

[@owre]

John Scofield borrowed my Mesa Mark Iv for a gig in Burlington VT. He said, “maybe next time I come back I’ll borrow it again.” I was like...hmmm I don’t know about that.

[@wohltemper]

I can't believe he trusts an airline with his 1981 AS200...

[@scavadir5372]

*balikpapan* he doesn't really. He can't say he plays a tele because of his Ibanez deal

[@tysonrinker5958]

Airlines are very trustworthy and his guitar will be fine. Maybe even arrive in better condition.

[@fretbuzz59]

@@scavadir5372 Except that his "Teles" are old Ibanez copies.

[@xxxItchyxxx]

... this is the Empress Tremolo unit which is a vibrato... Which in fact is a tremolo...

[@bitspacemusic]

"Here is the Empress Tremolo unit, which is a vibrato."

[@charleshoernemann8661]

True dat!

[@QueenToKingOfSpades]

John is the coolest cat there is.

[@tysonrinker5958]

John bohlinger that is

[@dave1812]

He kinda sounds like The Dude / Jeff Bridges

[@kellyjackson7889]

ha ha I started vid then went to make coffee and in the background I swear I hear "Hey man thats just like your opinion"

[@kevgh3869]

'No man....dude...I'm The Dude'

[@tysonrinker5958]

Kinda

[@lilhoss1]

I remember when the big thing back then was "true bypass." I love how all of the buffers were turned into true bypass, and then a buffer is placed back on her board as a patch box. Lol.

[@thesneakygamer4343]

I don’t care if pedals are true bypass or not. I buy what sounds good and if it changes my tone then I mess around for a good sound.

[@AmagrasMUSIC]

This episode is part of universal history

[@MrLordHasta]

The Digitech h-whammy pedal looks nice

[@thromboid]

Cool Whip :)

[@habacabula]

"Just another vibrating device." - John Scofield

[@KHGuitarFreak1988]

Not sure if you can see, but there is already a big black box on his pedalboard labelled "Buffer Interface". That should be sufficient enough to buffer the signal chain down the line. Sometimes having too many buffered pedals all in one signal may also work against you...

[@gilibertopaparauchas5959]

5:50 the moment we all waited for

[@javiceres]

I loved that it’s a CE-3 instead of the ubicuos CE-2

[@JesseJB-1990]

i've always wondered how scofield's shoe would look like . . .

[@tysonrinker8089]

Jesse Baart i know me to. I know it's kind of weird but I have been really curious. he wears crocs!! lol

[@kosaponglusang4595]

😀😂😂😂

[@fcmonk]

So, are these pedals true bypass?

[@RastaSaiyaman]

There's footage of John Scofield playing with Miles Davis in the mid eighties at the North Sea Jazz festival and he's using Peavey amps for the hire company, makes no difference to his resulting sound.

[@ihazthots]

Just bought the MXR carbon copy today. It's just too perfect.

[@bmvkman]

never thought id get to see johns shoes so close up!

[@MrSlimbob1]

Rig rundown rocks.

[@johnvassos82]

Scofield! What a Dude!! Down to earth guy or what??!!

[@denverm4x]

you guys actually managed to make use of the microphone to pick up what they are saying with this one! kudos! it's almost 2014...

[@NintendoSinceBirth1]

love sco! one of my heros

[@railcar123]

Scofields pedal board has some cool stuff!

[@seanantley1965]

I'm glad I read everyone else's comments first lol! Yeah that Walmart looking extension cord is kaons noise for sure but all in all this Ida's been one of my favorite rig breakdowns. Would love to have the tremolo pedal he uses! A little out of my fundage.

[@miropribanic5581]

very useful video, finally I ve got sm idea how he gets his sound

[@elboloalimenticio]

Scofield is playing a strat in this video and he still sounds like himself. I've been playing a strat and an ibanez semihollow myself, wish I could play like these dudes though.

[@axeljespersen8307]

6.23 its just another vibrating device

[@georgelesiw7380]

Sco is one of my favorites :)

[@iam0103]

Really great insight into tasteful effects usage!

[@thejamnasium6447]

man I still dig that reverse sound and am still surprised that never really caught on. that's a cool effect. Sco was all about that when I saw him around this time

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

John always seems to have a chorus on?

[@karlsalocks]

Scofield is always such a cool dude

[@zadraluca]

saw these guys live two days ago :D

[@vent676]

I wonder where to get more coverage on bump cases

[@rovikab6561]

What a voice !!!!!!

[@joegoliver3]

What are his amps tilted back on? Looks like a nice stand but with something going on under it.

[@egyptianminor]

Happy birthday John Scofield. Today is December 26th 2014.

[@PJyrstinkangas]

"Thank you, Premier Guitar, for running down my rig!"

[@AluminumBird]

Geat vid. Thanks! Scofield did NOT sound like himself @ this show. There were FOH issues, but even before that Scofield didn't sound bright/clear. Don't emulate this vid if you are after his sound, which comes from 1)Sco, 2)His Ibanez guitar, 3) thick strings, and 4) the Rat with gain and filter both set to about 9:00. The amp doesn't matter as much as that stuff, but the signature Sco sound in the last 15 years or so is from the AC30. I went to this show w high expectations. It was just okay.

[@kermheat]

Thanks a lot!!!!!!! Great video with great information!!!!!!! Thanks P.G!!!!!!!

[@josheee127]

Just putting your guitar through a whole bunch of different patch cables and leads will degrade your signal slightly even if the pedals aren't, a minor thing but some people are complete perfectionists

[@quikkon66]

thanks a lot for the video, but where is the phase pedal??? i hear a lot of phase where is it?????

[@guyfidelity]

Man never mind the pedal board set up let's have a look at that gorgeous Gretsch kit tucked away in the back.

[@JaviyPilar]

Excuse me for this absurd question but, what snickers are those? please, does anybody know? thanks

[@PaulMcCaffreyfmac]

I'm with Avi. I had a Carbon Copy that broke and nobody could fix so I treated myself to an El Capistan. The Strymons are great pedals but for me the Carbon Copy did all that I needed, better

[@MrJam1001]

I misunderstand i was told that a buffer boosts the signal to compensate for long cable runs and the signal path thru the effects pedals, that is why the battery will go dead if you leave the cable plugged in and the pedal turned off. Anyway it seems to me that one buffered pedal at the front of a modest pedal board could replace the custom buffer box, those things gotta cost a fortune but hey if you got the money it's all good.

[@ferguardado9790]

Is it ok to microphone an amp with a condenser mic on a live performance?

[@johnstitt2615]

Cool dude....cool rundown

[@TheSonsofHorusx]

man the first rig rundown ive seen where the people only have one guitar a piece lol

[@Cablespelaonica]

How did this guy play in the 70"s? No pedal was true bypass.

[@SohamBhattacharya3105]

+CABLESPELAOnica he played jazz. no pedals. :P

[@midlifemotox]

Very nice pedalboard for a jazz guy. Nice pedalboard for any guy.

[@alejandroadams3535]

'I use this if I want super treble'...'Haven't been using that so much lately'...... haha!

[@MrAWMangum]

I hear auto wah is big in Canada.

[@beeastman1235]

Jason is the best interviewer for Premier Guitar imo

[@iambriannewkirk]

What about johns tele's? I saw his daphne blue one in the background.

[@wackenthaljef]

If you can go and see John Scofield ,he is a really cool man,you can talk with him after the gig,he is the most nice musician i know!!!

[@verbotenco]

Really? How am I supposed to get passed the security?

[@wackenthaljef]

verbotenco After gigs in France he came to sell cds,give posters and talk with us!!!

[@tiluriso]

verbotenco He often - if not always - walks into the audience after the gig and chats w/ fans, gives autographs,etc...Peace.

[@wackenthaljef]

tiluriso ohh yes? ok!

[@modestoney1577]

there´s quite some irony in stretching the importance of true bypass pedals and then use a big buffer box

[@fuz1284]

Why are the saddles different on Avi's guitar?

[@quantametric]

Does anyone have any info on the pickups that John uses in his Telecaster?

[@justingarcia7722]

Likely stock fender. Aside from recently branching out with vertex for his pedalboard, John mostly plays it straight and doesn't use anything too custom

[@mattiv1]

I like Avi's strap for the guitar. Does anyone know the company name or model? thx

[@Dan-tp3py]

mattiv1 looks like a Souldier.

[@Iggytommy]

well he has a good buffer at the start of his signal path, so they are avoiding any buffered pedals that have poorer buffered bypass, or any pedals that have no bypass.

[@javiceres]

Anybody knows What kind of Telecaster does Scofield play? It sounds gorgeous.

[@jgodin312]

He has some kind of old Ibanez tele-style guitar, it looks like a lawsuit guitar Ibanez may have made in the 70's.

[@javiceres]

Thanks!

[@frednance3988]

I work in IT and i play but not sure about linking my ax with my pc

[@AluminumBird]

btw he played a tele for the whole show, but on the record the Ibanez pops up here and there. I presume that his plan was to use the guitar that matches the guitar on the album...

[@Tone2town]

Totally agree that the pricy buffer box ain't need if u got a decent buffer pedal.

[@danielleary9533]

Nason Mangella is the coolest name ever. Wonder if it's a secret alias :D

[@MrHeliosoul]

I think it's Mason marangella actually.

[@TommyWolf2123]

22:48 "I'm getting a vibe." Haha. awesome.

[@fredthompson6176]

I dont understand why someone would take all the buffers off the petals to make them "true bypass", then make and add a buffer because you need one?

[@RyCooder-ri7fz]

Bloody cool

[@gusa72]

Anyone knows which guitar Sco uses on the famous Live At Montreux Jazz Festival (1976) with Duke/Cobham band?It seems and old Ibanez(les paul model)with paf-pro pick up.Thanks to everyone

[@deeznutz7365]

It’s actually a Gibson “Les Paul” junior.

[@gusa72]

@@deeznutz7365 thanks man

[@deeznutz7365]

@@gusa72 Yessir, glad I could help.

[@LandonBalk]

Korg Electribe love :)

[@Hermannposch]

Where is the RAT? gonna miss it! ;-)

[@djangobrecker8434]

yeah man, these cats have some ooooober impressive pedal fx know how!!

[@iam0103]

I'm guessing it'll be Vintage P bass Ampeg with 8x10 Tuner haha I'm a bass player so I can empathise but unless there's some specific sound or effect used, bass player don't really need a rig rundown.

[@SuperLynn1965]

I met him in Lafayette Indiana one time. The coolest jazz guitarist you'll ever meet.

[@gkathmandu]

I think musicians always say this polytune can tune all strings at once but I never do that

[@germanRael]

Thanks !!

[@bdwitt66]

I wish my XP-100 still worked. Fun pedal.

[@AlejandroPusineri]

does anyone knows the name of the software to convert audio to midi??

[@PaulDriessenFX]

Jam Origin MIDI Guitar

[@SixStringHarmonies]

He doesn't seem overly obsessed with effects. Everyone's ears are their own. I'm curious if they have a tech? The guy most likely created a ground loop from daisy-chaining his power supply. A simple isolated power unit (VLPP), or even batteries would cure that in an instant. Any tech worth his salt would know that.....

[@BenFletcherGuitar]

The w 'hhhhh' ammy pedal, why so much emphasis on the 'h'?!

[@Erkki_Mela]

Ben Fletcher I'm guessing he's a fan of ron burgundy...

[@djw8133]

Can someone please please send John some new shoes???!

[@catboyzee]

Sure, now he can afford a tricked-out boutique rig with all those bells, whistles, and tricks. But I still prefer the sound that John got from his run-of-the-mill, 'true bypass-less' setup from the late 80s/early 90s. I know I'm not the only one who feels the same...

[@Guitareben]

Master!