Guitar Gear

Duke Ellington once said, “If it sounds good, it IS good.” I’ve used that saying when talking about gear for years. And it still rings true today. When my rig sounds good to me, I’m inspired to play. I become more creative and expressive. I do more to eek out more from what I’m playing. My response to a great sound is visceral. That great sound can come from super-expensive or super-cheap gear. As it stands, half of the pedals I own are in the $150+ range, with some in the $300 range.

But when I’m playing a gig with one of my bands, the audience doesn’t know the value of any of my gear. And frankly, they don’t give a shit, as long as they’re entertained.

And that’s the crux of this post. Over the years, I’ve heard lots of people scoff at others for buying incredibly expensive gear. Hell! A couple of my buddies gave me a little shit when I bought my R8, saying, “Dude, the audience doesn’t care about your guitar. You could get a similar tone with a PRS SE that costs a quarter of what you paid.” My reply to them was, “But I care.”

You’ll never hear me say something like that, and though it’s true that the audience can’t tell the difference between a $50 or $500 pedal or a $500 vs. a $2500 guitar, what counts is what inspires you. Whether you’re playing cheap gear or expensive gear, the important thing is that the sound that your gear produces inspires you.

And when you’re inspired, the audience can see it. They can feel the energy. That’s what they care about. They may not be able to hear if you’re playing a Bad Monkey or an original TS-808, but if you’re rocking what you’re playing, they will respond to that.