Digital amps have a new convert in Paul Gilbert…
Paul Gilbert has become the latest high-profile guitar player to signal a shift away from tubes and towards digital amplifiers.
The shred maestro recently took to Instagram to share a photo of his current rig, which finds a Fender Tone Master Twin Reverb digital modelling combo amp front and centre, alongside his decked out stage-ready pedalboard.
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In the post, Gilbert explains that the Tone Master Twin Reverb we see in the shot is just one of two: one serves as a monitoring amp while he’s on stage, while the other sits behind him to “rock the house”. “Classic tone that gets my pedals across loud, clear and full of WROC,” he writes, in reference to his latest album.
The rig marks a notable shift in gear choices for the guitarist as of late. As Guitar World notes, his new album was recorded using tube amps: a ‘90s Fender Custom Vibrolux Reverb run through a Randall Isolation Cabinet, plus a Victoria Club Deluxe as a volume boost during solos.
Of course, we in the guitar community love to put guitarists into one of two camps: tube or digital. But the reality is nothing’s stopping a guitarist from employing both, harnessing the responsiveness of more traditional tube amps while also leaning on the reliability and consistency of a digital model.
That said, most guitarists do, gun to the head, have a preference. And therefore Gilbert’s post does beg the question, is he beginning to lean more towards the digital side of the equation?
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For the pedalboard nerds amongst you, we’re sure you’ve been able to identify a number of units on the virtuoso’s ‘board. We spot an MXR Stereo Chorus, Jam Pedals RetroVibe and a JHS Moonshine V2 overdrive. What else can you see?
The digital vs analogue debate continues to rage in the guitar community, with no signs of a clear winner being found anytime soon. Earlier this year, Lenny Kravitz asserted that digital gear doesn’t sound as good as their vintage counterparts, saying: “It ain’t the same, man.”
But many of the industry’s biggest players have begun to see the benefits of digital amplification.
Last year, Metallica guitar tech Chad Zaemisch reflected on the band’s decision to veer away from heavy physical amps towards digital amp modellers for their live shows, and how it has led to improvements to their stage design and, therefore, fan experience.
“Everybody’s all about content these days, and not a lot of people want to watch a band stand in front of their amp line with nothing else going on,” he said. “Now we can use large video screens. It opens up a lot more opportunities to do different things.”
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
