Saw EJ in San Diego this past weekend and he was amazing!! I'm working on editing the set to put up on YouTube, but check out my channel for Cliffs of Dover live!!
Oh dear... this means that buying a vintage Marshall rig, an Eric Johnson siganture strat, a Tube Driver and and Echoplex WON'T make me sound like Eric Johnson???
@bluesmann8. Nobody said to ditch your stack for a GDEC. However, I can safely say that if Eric Johnson went on stage with just a miked GDEC to cut heads with you, and you were armed with a full backline of boutique stacks, he would still decapitate you most heinously, bluesboyy.
Tone is not just in the hands. It's being sensitive to the amp at hand. Being able to adjust the amount of dirt to the signal, putting a delay and adjusting the treble, mids, and low end. Couple that with the fingers and you can make any amp sound good. I truly think the player has to learn to listen and be tonaly sensitive. Also, having a real guitar helps. After all, that is what you are amplifying isn't it?
How many of us really need a backstage warm up amp like this though? Maybe when you play like EJ a good or bad warm up really makes a big difference. You can't very well play "the cliffs of Dover" without that delay/reverb combo even if you are hitting all the right notes. I kind of like this amp.
You can own the best home stereo on the planet but if your band was recorded cheaply it will probably sound just ok. You can buy a CD that was recorded very well and put it in an average quality stereo and it will probably sound a lot better than your cheap demo through the Uber-stereo. Really if you are playing well and are in-tune you will always sound nice. Tube isn't the end all, i have used a digital amp after being on a tube for a while and there are advantages especially to the cleans.
I've sat 5' feet from EJ listening to him jam on a Squier import and a tiny SS amp with zero fx. Tone obviously wasn't as good, but his impeccable phrasing and ridiculously melodic chops are there no matter what he's playing through. He obviously digs that "cello-in-a-concert hall" feel and that's his signature tone. I love it, but he definitely doesn't NEED it. One of the most instantly identifiable players in the history of the instrument.
One final point.. these are practice amps, tubes sound better at louder volumes where the flaws of lesser sounding amps can be exposed more. Never seen this amp before but it looks and sounds great for practicing at reasonable volumes.
what type of setup would you guys use to get that tone that he uses at 3:22-3:45... cause i have a g-dec 30 but i don't seem to get a clean tone outta it
Tone in the hands? wow.. So....his left hand presses the string down...and PINS it against a fret wire....(finger NOT touching string ....no tone control here) Next....his right hand is using a PLASTIC pick to get the string vibrating! Aside from palm muting, there is ..again..no Tone Control here....Plastic vs stainless steel which is anchored across fret up the neck. Ever used a stone pick vs penny vs fingernail vs fleshy finger ala Jeff Beck, that will bring 'hand tone' into the picture.
@Stratmahn Every aspect of how people fret notes is different. Differing pressure applied to a string changes the harmonic landscape of the note. Add to that the fact that no two people apply vibrato in the same way, and you've got a ton of tonal variation just in the left hand. Similarly, pick angle, not just pick material, will also contribute to tone, though people tend to pick alike.
whats this new "tone is in the hands" cliche that everyones picked up? Yeah no shit you won't sound like eric johnson plugged into a gdec, because of his STYLE, there is a difference. Tone is the guitar, pedals, and amp. Style is the melodies, rythms, and feel. Not to say that you can't change the tone of the guitar with your fingers slightly. for instance using a pick vs. using your fingers, but really people.
@ruffles272 Eric Johnson uses "technique" in his way of picking and string dampening that others haven't used, and it makes his tone better. He up-picks alot which opens up the tone, and he will dampen his none picked strings with his palm when he picks, and with his hand on the neck....that's what "tone is in the hands" means. Also he has perfected some pickup re-wire techniques that are his alone...and make great sound.
I had the privilege of doing a lesson with EJ at his studio a few years ago, and he let me play his prototype EJ Strat through one of his '65 Twins, and it was the sweetest clean tone I've ever personally produced in my life. But I sounded absolutely NOTHING like EJ did through the exact same guitar just moments before. We even used the same pick. One huge secret to his tone is that his articulation and synchronization between his left and right hands is impeccable. He's simply amazing.
This man has an absolute/complete mastery of the instrument. Give him a $200 P.O.S. guitar and plug it into my stereo system and he'll still have that monster tone and soul that few mortals will ever possess.
You a guys are absolutely right about tone being all in the hands, as shown by Eric Johnson in this video. That's what all the tube snob gear whores don't get. They would rather spend their time slamming solid state gear on message boards rather than making music.
@jimidom If that's true then why does EJ use old Marshall's and Fenders live and in the studio?
Tone is mostly in the hands but gear makes a difference. A guy like EJ could play a beat up Sears Strat through a Peavey Rage 158 and it would sound awesome but if he A/B that set up to his normal gear, which do you think would sound better?
Good gear is useless without good hands but if you CAN play it only enhances your sound.
@Jasn1111 Well according to Allan Holdsworth, who sounded almost exactly the same regardless of what guitars and amps he used over the years, the gear is simply the final stage in "fine-tuning" your overall tone. Of course boutique amps sound different than cheap amps, and most tubes sound different than most sold state amps. However, EJ would still sound like EJ whether he used Marshall, Fender, Mesa, Peavey, or Raven, EL34's, EL84's, 6L6's, or FET's.
@jimidom You had a good point and I thumbed it up. But your point got lost with the anti tube sentament. It would have been better if you talked about cork sniffers and tone snobs as a whole. There's alot of points to be made.. "more expensive is better" "vintage is better" "hand made is better" "made outside of USA sucks" etc etc. The it's all in the hands point is universal to all guitar. For Eric's style tubes are GENERALLY better suited, metal is better suited for solidstate.
@jonw82 Oh I'm not anti-tube at all. In fact, my all-time favorite amp is the Marshall JMP Mk II with EL34's, 50 watt version. My point is that if you're making music with whatever it is you're using for amplification, then more power to you. It's all about the music!
There are exceptions though, and you don't need to spend $6000 for a hand made tube amp blessed with alien urinine to get good tone. There are also some great solidstate amps out there for any style. For me, I find for "blues breakup" tubes are best, but for styles with higher gain the higher headroom the better. That means avoiding the tube breakup "sag" sound.
@jimidom i agree with you totally, but lets not forget who really is the biggest tube/gear head in the world!! Mr Eric Johnson!! There are two sides to the gear coin!
@jimidom . . . . . . and yet the wold's pickiest tube-amp gearhead is Eric Johnson himself, that is what you obviously "don't get". You don't think John Mayer spends $50,000 for one Dumble amp because he doesn't have tone in his fingers do you? Quite the opposite, he has so much tone in his fingers that other amps don't let you appreciate every nuance of what his fingers are doing the same way a Dumble does, do you have better fingers than John Mayer? THEN SHUT UP!. EJ owns a Dumble too.
@JamesNiskyMusic LMAO! Au contraire, mon frere, I get it just fine. Mayer sounds just like Mayer with his Two Rock amp too. He bought a $50,000 Dumble BECAUSE HE COULD. EJ may own a Dumble too, but it's not his main rig. Carlos Santana owns one as well but sticks to his Boogie Mk I. What YOU don't get is that these guitarists may be able to afford the world's most expensive amplification, but it doesn't change the fact that their playing nuances and tone come from their fucking hands.
@jimidom You are totally wrong imo. If tone came from the hands of players none of them would have a bunch of pedals and effects. If you look at the specs of the EJ strat you'll see that he doesn't put the backplate on because it changes the tone! So you can see that tone doesn't come from hands. Another example is the fact that he changed the tube inside his tube driver because the tone is affected! So I have to agree with the fact that technique is in the hands and not tone. Peace
@jimidom Hello MORON, did you read the part of my comment where i said "he has so much tone in his fingers . . . ?" Why would you tell me that i don't understand that the tone is in his fingers after i literally stated it clearly? The short answer is: You aren't very smart. I find it pathetic that you needed to curse to attempt to add authority to your point which was moot to begin with. Furthermore, Carlos owns 3 Dumble amps and uses them onstage with the boogie, check his website.
@JamesNiskyMusic Moron? Tsk tsk, now you start with the name calling. So... you asked for it, Assface. ;-) Neither my intellect nor my reading comprehension have suffered in any way, shape, or form. Reading back at your "so much tone in his hands" comment, I mistook that for sarcasm, albeit a poor attempt at it. What is obvious is that your post was a vain attempt to "slam me" somehow, but it lacked an articulate thesis or discernible point. Big deal, EJ, JM, and CS use Dumble.THEY MAKE MUSIC!
@jimidom EJ actually attempted to order a new Dumble and Mr. Dumble told him no because he sold his old amp to a friend who was begging to buy it and he also let a non-Dumble approved transformer be put in by a tech Dumble didn't want working on the amp and that is the reason why EJ stopped using Dumble amps. I'd tell you to do your research but you aren't even smart enough to read a whole comment before responding to what you "thought" you read. Work on your reading comprehension buddy.
@JamesNiskyMusic. Jeepers! You sure got me good with that one! BTW, that was sarcasm, Assface. ;-) So what if EJ wanted more Dumbles. He's the best of the best and has earned the right to use whatever overpriced gear he wabts. Why? It's because he MAKES MUSIC with whatever gear he chooses. The same goes for Carlos Santana. All the internet research in the world won't change that. Yes, they are corksniffers, but suffice it to say that their music means more than their gear.
@jimidom Have you ever heard the phrase "It is better to stay silent and be thought the fool than to speak out and remove all doubt . . ." - Abraham Lincoln. Thanks for removing all doubt. Try reading the whole comment (i know it probably takes you a long time to read 3 sentences but you can do it!) before responding in anger and showing everybody else how dumb you are. Gee are you a moron or did you just tell me i don't understand something after i previously stated it as fact? Both . .
@JamesNiskyMusic I'm not angry, just thoroughly amused at the number of failed posts to slam me. BTW, quoting Lincoln doesn't make you any smarter, Assface. Any monkey can exert the same amount of energy to research the thoughts and ideas of others rather than think for himself. Besides, you opened the door in your initial post by telling me SHUT UP. Talk about angry! Yet I'm dumb and a moron? Hey Assface! Kindergarten called and wants its witty insults back! Now STFU and go make me a sandwich!
@jimidom lol don't lose perspective though. It's all in the hands. But in the same hands, tubes will sound better (for most situations) especially as you ramp up the volume. This is why Eric will use his tube gear on stage. For you bedroom it really doesn't matter much.. and any gear will sound good with good hands. I think you arguement means more, if you talk about more "cork sniffier" topics like the type of paint used on a guitar, or only that made in USA gear sounds good.
@jimidom True it is all in the fingers, but the reason people slam solid state gear is because of the fullness of the sound in comparison. I went through probably 4 different solid state amps, and 2 tube amps till I settled on a blues deluxe. I love the tone as it's great for blues. Solid state amps definitely have better crisper cleans though, and for metal the fullness tube amps give isn't necessary. All depends on what you play, and how you play. For me it's tubes from here on out.
@JamesNiskyMusic Sorry, I would have responded to this post sooner, but I was too busy making music with my no name Chinese guitar and no name Chinese all digital modeling amp. The only one I've ever slammed is you, Assface. In case I need to spell it out for you, EJ, CS, and JM are not the tubesnob gear whores about whom I originally spoke. Their record and ticket sales bespeak of artists with neither the time nor the inclination to go on the web and slam gear not up to their standards.
@jimidom Well ss state stuff has come a long way from the gk amps of the 80's have a vox with ss tech in it, but that being said still prefer a good tube amp, and it's response over any ss amp i've ever used. But for bedroom level playing or if you live somewhere will you can't turn you amp up into overdrive ss really rule.
I want one as an easy practice and learning tool, looks real useful. Haw Haw why don't they get a beginner to demo it? Eric can make any amp sound good I figure lol
Funny, because I noticed the wear on his fretboard. You can tell the majority of the notes he uses. For example, 2nd fret has wear all across the board where the 11th fret has no wear. The wear is predominately on the upper three strings down to the 12th fret. I find that kinda stuff interesting.
@MrBatch73 I think what Eric says about "Sweet Spots" really is true, there are certain places you can play on the guitar that just sound true, like violin.. its in the way your hands hit the frets/ notes, not just, that his hands are more tonefull than yours =)
From reading on the interviews of him and how he can tell the difference between copper and silver wires... This must sound like Garbage.. and no one where near like his rig ... although at 2:45 ... what?
@mojoefly - Eric Johnson got the "Eric Johnson" tone by being him. If you plug into it you'll get the "mojoefly" tone. No pedals in the world will get any other result. It's all in the fingers.
I was once told when i first started playing that the best way to sound like any given guitar player was to unplug and try to sound like that player... i figured it out later that by doing that, i was concentrating more on phrasing, dynamics, and all the other things that really make a players tone. Once you've nailed all that getting a tone that is close or right on isn't even necessary. obviously crappy tone is crappy tone but you get the jist :D
I realize that it's not about the equipment so much - he just makes everything sound like HIM. I give up! I own nearly all his stuff and sound like crap still! It's all about the skill.
I just bought a used G-DEC 30 with the optional footswitch controller from Craigslist for $175. The original owner didnt even use it that much because he said it was too complicated. Its in brand new condition and plays and sounds great for what it is designed to do. Its not too complicated if you have some patience and intelligence. Its great for practicing and jamming solo. Perfect for me!! Glad I got one before there all gone.
I see that this amp (G-DEC 30) is discontinued. Does anyone know if it's been discontinued because a newer model is going to take its place? Or was it just not selling, so adios machacho?
Adios, or so I've been told.I bought the G-DEC 30 a few weeks ago, and the guy in the store told me it was being discontinued because not enough people were buying it; they found it too technical/annoying to fiddle with- too many unnecessary bells & whistles. I do find it kind of confusing, hard to understand/use- you have to mess with it a bit and basically teach yourself how to use it. Overall good practice/small venue amp. It is fun to play with. Hope Fender makes similar new one soon.
Johnson make me so proud to be from da same neck of da woods. Definitely one of the most underrated, underappreciated treasures of our time. Johnson is one bad guitar meister, right up there with; Eddie,Satch,PG,Vai,GMoore,Yngwie and Nuno in my book. There's only 1 EJ.
They probably got EJ to demo it because if you go to the music store all you will hear is drop c chuggin. It really is in the hands!! It also helps that he has played for 50 years.
That G-DEC sure is a piece of junk tonally. I feel sorry for one of the worlds greatest guitarists, EJ, having to endorse it. I doubt very much that he uses it in real life. He can't even keep a straight face.
Ya, if i wasnt watching the video and saw that it was EJ himself, id think this was sum other guitarist, cuz the tone just isnt his. It doesnt sound right hearing him play with this crappy tone, ya no?
When I seen him in 2006, I was lucky enough to get to go on stage, before the show, and he was using a line 6 delay unit. He did not have the echoplex on the stage, and for the next 3 nights, he didn't. But, I seen him a year later at a small club, and he did have it.
Are you sure he was using a Line6 Delay unit? Do you remember the model or anything? The only delay's I've seen him use are EHX Memory Mans, MXR rack unit he has, a MXR Carbon Copy and his Echoplex. He once used a digital delay, but he's always been known to use quite the high quality of pedals.
Delay and chorus are effects, not a "style of playing." It's pretty obvious Mr. Johnson can play the hell out of that guitar...so why doesn't he lay off the cheesy effects? Just a simple question.
This just goes to show...IT'S IN THE HANDS!!! One of us mere mortal players could have plugged in that same amp right after him and it would not have sounded anything like what he just played... Just like SRV and other of this caliber... it's the attack, the vibrato, the picking... It is just in the hands! not in the amp... he could plug into your rig and sound more like him without making any changes than you ever did
I have the G-DEC 30 right now, and I am satsified with it, but my main question is could the G-DEC work for gigs? I've been playing for about 2 years and I am thinking of getting a marshall half stack. Would this be a good purchase? or is the G-DEC enough?
Ive been playing this amp for 3 years and am happy with it. I'm not a pro so I play for fun and its a great practice amp. Before this I had a 200 dollar Marshall and the G-DEC beats the pants off that! I'd like to start a channel where G-DEC owners can put their songs up, would be fun.
well what can you expect for a solid state modeling amp i don't think you quite understand what the GDEC is for, its for building your chops and practicing to different drumbeats, if you thought that this amp was gonna be the end all be all of amps or your main gigging amp your a moron its a teaching tool it even says that in the description read before you buy damn
I bought this amp because of this video and i couldn't have been more disappointed with it's tone. I wasn't expecting it to be anything amazing or anything near the tone quality of a good tube amp. But this amp, in my opinion, flat out sucks. The menus were unusual to work through. The tones were way too distorted. The amp seriously lacks bass but i guess that's what you get for having an 8 inch speaker. The drum/bass tracks were 90% useless and boring. I'd give this amp a 3/10.
I have a G-Dec 15 and a G-Dec Jr. The G-Dec 15 is basically a $200 piece of fuck. The G-Dec Jr however I do recommend because of the price and the simplicity. It's really easy to change the tones and adjust the drum and bass settings.
You had the tone one, didn't you? You're NOT supposed to use the tone knob, and all the presets have really high noise gates on them, so you have to go through them and take off the noise gates for a decent. Besides the awkward menus and noise, it's a good amp if you take the time to learn about it.
i dont know much about fender amps but i own a spider 3 line 6. Descent amp i guess good or getting strated cuz of the 400+ presets BUT all those effects compromise the tone and infact sounds a bit "electrical" ( i dont know any other way to put it ". Im aiming to get a tube amp soon xD
Yea right, Fender amps are all shit. The Beatles only used them because they are shit right? Line 6 is all digital fake bullshit. Fender amps with tubes like the deluxe reverb are some of the best amps out there. You obviously haven't been playing that long if you don't understand this.
Go back to playing mindless garbage on your line 6 piece of junk.
the beatles who gives a shit what kind of amps they used ????.what about real guitar legends.hendrix vai satriani evh malmsteen ect ect none of which used fender amps.enough said.good night :)
they didn't use Line 6 either. What are you trying to prove here? You cannot be a successful guitar player if you don't respect blues guitar playing, which is what all the people you mentioned get their chops from.
Plus it takes way more talent than just hiding behind your effects on a Line 6 amp.
Saw EJ in San Diego this past weekend and he was amazing!! I'm working on editing the set to put up on YouTube, but check out my channel for Cliffs of Dover live!!
AndySan 1 month ago
go Eric ..horses for courses..g-dec looks like a good practice amp
egotripband 3 months ago
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i use a G-DEC 30 into an old bassman cab >not bad ,not bad at tall
TheIverson6 3 months ago
good playing
SanjeevGeorgeV 3 months ago
Oh dear... this means that buying a vintage Marshall rig, an Eric Johnson siganture strat, a Tube Driver and and Echoplex WON'T make me sound like Eric Johnson???
Life is merciless!!!!!
toomanygittars 4 months ago
@bluesmann8. Nobody said to ditch your stack for a GDEC. However, I can safely say that if Eric Johnson went on stage with just a miked GDEC to cut heads with you, and you were armed with a full backline of boutique stacks, he would still decapitate you most heinously, bluesboyy.
jimidom 5 months ago 4
Lets not forget the guitar he is playing on here hehehe
Bflatest 5 months ago
Tone is not just in the hands. It's being sensitive to the amp at hand. Being able to adjust the amount of dirt to the signal, putting a delay and adjusting the treble, mids, and low end. Couple that with the fingers and you can make any amp sound good. I truly think the player has to learn to listen and be tonaly sensitive. Also, having a real guitar helps. After all, that is what you are amplifying isn't it?
studiomonster2012 5 months ago
C'mon people, if this doesn't verify him as the king of tone, then what would???
boobtuber06 6 months ago
He makes the guitar sound liquid.
Amazing.
THEonlyZACKGORT 7 months ago 2
lol I unconsciously turned my volume up when he was waiting for the guitar to feedback
andythrash 7 months ago
How many of us really need a backstage warm up amp like this though? Maybe when you play like EJ a good or bad warm up really makes a big difference. You can't very well play "the cliffs of Dover" without that delay/reverb combo even if you are hitting all the right notes. I kind of like this amp.
JamesNiskyMusic 7 months ago
You can own the best home stereo on the planet but if your band was recorded cheaply it will probably sound just ok. You can buy a CD that was recorded very well and put it in an average quality stereo and it will probably sound a lot better than your cheap demo through the Uber-stereo. Really if you are playing well and are in-tune you will always sound nice. Tube isn't the end all, i have used a digital amp after being on a tube for a while and there are advantages especially to the cleans.
JamesNiskyMusic 7 months ago
I sound just like that, with the exception that I don't sound anywhere near as good :)
M3NTA7 7 months ago
the thing i love about eric is he has such a distinct sound in his playing my god incredible
crisDAwog 8 months ago
Tone is in the hands, the wood, the amp...tubes will always sound better.
21313334 8 months ago
Foxy Lady @ 0:30
GuitarHeroMaster1125 9 months ago
this fully electronic amp probably sounds crap for him,
but the has to keep the name... ;)
Compared to his ancient amps g-dec is probably a pain....
janithemani 9 months ago
i love that riff from 0:46 - 1:03
tvtuber12 9 months ago
@tvtuber12 those are improvised licks
xSnoweyexp 8 months ago
They need to put a mike in front of the amp so l dont hear him picking all the notes.
joe1969812 10 months ago
it doesn't have mic input
4321micro 11 months ago
Just Once Id Like To Hear Eric Play Without Shitloads Of Echo Delay or Reverb ! :(
emmetwhitey 1 year ago
at 00:31 he's become a FOXYYYYYY gentleman !!!!!! lol
RickInRock84 1 year ago
distortion's a bit digital sounding, but this things awesome
macintirekyler 1 year ago
TECHNIQUE is in the hands, tone is in the amp and guitar
Nauticus89 1 year ago
@Nauticus89 Actually.. only 70% of the tone is in the 'amp and guitar'.. the rest of it lays in the fingers of people like Eric!
Blustercastr 1 year ago
Tone is all in the hands. A good player can make anything sound good.
dirtjumpbandit 1 year ago 26
@dirtjumpbandit don't forget the multi-thousand dollar guitar he's playing... lol
PwnYouAtSoccer 1 month ago
I've sat 5' feet from EJ listening to him jam on a Squier import and a tiny SS amp with zero fx. Tone obviously wasn't as good, but his impeccable phrasing and ridiculously melodic chops are there no matter what he's playing through. He obviously digs that "cello-in-a-concert hall" feel and that's his signature tone. I love it, but he definitely doesn't NEED it. One of the most instantly identifiable players in the history of the instrument.
buddaman1971 1 year ago
@buddaman1971 Brilliant comment!!
jembrannan 1 year ago
can someone tell me what are the major differences between "fender g-dec 3 15" and "fender g-dec b-stock 15"?
mag0024 1 year ago
@mag0024 The 3 uses midi and wav files with real musicians playing to jam with instead of the synth crap.
Also the tuner works way better. lol
1971SuperLead 1 year ago
@1971SuperLead
thx but abit late.. however ive bought the gdec 3 and i am :) with it..
mag0024 1 year ago
I run the line out straight into a mixer and then the EQ. Sounds great.
TheDistortionist 1 year ago
Why does a great player use so much delay and reverb? It's just a glob of echoes. I'd love to hear EJ bypass it all and play.
chaosIsTheOnlyPower 1 year ago
@chaosIsTheOnlyPower Do you mean you dont think he can play good without those effects or do you mean it would be cool to hear him play without it?
6stringedninja 1 year ago
One final point.. these are practice amps, tubes sound better at louder volumes where the flaws of lesser sounding amps can be exposed more. Never seen this amp before but it looks and sounds great for practicing at reasonable volumes.
jonw82 1 year ago
I'm not convinced.
wungabunga 1 year ago
what type of setup would you guys use to get that tone that he uses at 3:22-3:45... cause i have a g-dec 30 but i don't seem to get a clean tone outta it
babyjesus323 1 year ago
I love using the g dec 30. It works well on many different levels. I even gig with it.
pantoum 1 year ago
I think the line6 spiderjam is a better amp..
scott22v 1 year ago
Tone in the hands? wow.. So....his left hand presses the string down...and PINS it against a fret wire....(finger NOT touching string ....no tone control here) Next....his right hand is using a PLASTIC pick to get the string vibrating! Aside from palm muting, there is ..again..no Tone Control here....Plastic vs stainless steel which is anchored across fret up the neck. Ever used a stone pick vs penny vs fingernail vs fleshy finger ala Jeff Beck, that will bring 'hand tone' into the picture.
Stratmahn 1 year ago
@Stratmahn Every aspect of how people fret notes is different. Differing pressure applied to a string changes the harmonic landscape of the note. Add to that the fact that no two people apply vibrato in the same way, and you've got a ton of tonal variation just in the left hand. Similarly, pick angle, not just pick material, will also contribute to tone, though people tend to pick alike.
ShredmastaZ 1 year ago
Why does Eric remind me of Paul Gilbert?
WoWintosh 1 year ago
check out my vids! i use a g dec in all of them!!!
guitarshred32 1 year ago
He could play a squire strat through a squire amp and still sound great.
helpdonate1 1 year ago
whats this new "tone is in the hands" cliche that everyones picked up? Yeah no shit you won't sound like eric johnson plugged into a gdec, because of his STYLE, there is a difference. Tone is the guitar, pedals, and amp. Style is the melodies, rythms, and feel. Not to say that you can't change the tone of the guitar with your fingers slightly. for instance using a pick vs. using your fingers, but really people.
ruffles272 1 year ago
@ruffles272 Eric Johnson uses "technique" in his way of picking and string dampening that others haven't used, and it makes his tone better. He up-picks alot which opens up the tone, and he will dampen his none picked strings with his palm when he picks, and with his hand on the neck....that's what "tone is in the hands" means. Also he has perfected some pickup re-wire techniques that are his alone...and make great sound.
Fenstrat62 1 year ago
pickup rewire techniques fall into the equipment category.
ruffles272 1 year ago
@ruffles272 Ok, but my main point was his picking and hand dampening....I just got carried away with my limited verbage on equipment....LOL....sorry!
Fenstrat62 1 year ago
just pratice 7 hours a day and you sound like him xD lol
AWC3117 1 year ago
I have an Eric Johnson Strat and the G-Dec and I sound like crap!!!
SNK038 1 year ago
I had the privilege of doing a lesson with EJ at his studio a few years ago, and he let me play his prototype EJ Strat through one of his '65 Twins, and it was the sweetest clean tone I've ever personally produced in my life. But I sounded absolutely NOTHING like EJ did through the exact same guitar just moments before. We even used the same pick. One huge secret to his tone is that his articulation and synchronization between his left and right hands is impeccable. He's simply amazing.
Chaoticsmelt 1 year ago
This man has an absolute/complete mastery of the instrument. Give him a $200 P.O.S. guitar and plug it into my stereo system and he'll still have that monster tone and soul that few mortals will ever possess.
wyldesites 1 year ago
yah in even van halen said it was in the hands when you play, but good sounding guitars can help though as apposed to poor quality guitars
EvilerPython 1 year ago
I just looked forced Eric say those things that no such guitar amp for rehearsals and behind the scenes ...
tamirbs222 1 year ago
You a guys are absolutely right about tone being all in the hands, as shown by Eric Johnson in this video. That's what all the tube snob gear whores don't get. They would rather spend their time slamming solid state gear on message boards rather than making music.
jimidom 1 year ago 54
@jimidom Very well said!!! Music is to bring people together! It's not a race to see who Wins!!
FWDORA9 1 year ago
@jimidom If that's true then why does EJ use old Marshall's and Fenders live and in the studio?
Tone is mostly in the hands but gear makes a difference. A guy like EJ could play a beat up Sears Strat through a Peavey Rage 158 and it would sound awesome but if he A/B that set up to his normal gear, which do you think would sound better?
Good gear is useless without good hands but if you CAN play it only enhances your sound.
Jasn1111 1 year ago 15
@Jasn1111 Well according to Allan Holdsworth, who sounded almost exactly the same regardless of what guitars and amps he used over the years, the gear is simply the final stage in "fine-tuning" your overall tone. Of course boutique amps sound different than cheap amps, and most tubes sound different than most sold state amps. However, EJ would still sound like EJ whether he used Marshall, Fender, Mesa, Peavey, or Raven, EL34's, EL84's, 6L6's, or FET's.
jimidom 1 year ago 2
@jimidom tube snob gear whores? LOL
Stringprodigy 1 year ago
@jimidom You had a good point and I thumbed it up. But your point got lost with the anti tube sentament. It would have been better if you talked about cork sniffers and tone snobs as a whole. There's alot of points to be made.. "more expensive is better" "vintage is better" "hand made is better" "made outside of USA sucks" etc etc. The it's all in the hands point is universal to all guitar. For Eric's style tubes are GENERALLY better suited, metal is better suited for solidstate.
jonw82 1 year ago
@jonw82 Oh I'm not anti-tube at all. In fact, my all-time favorite amp is the Marshall JMP Mk II with EL34's, 50 watt version. My point is that if you're making music with whatever it is you're using for amplification, then more power to you. It's all about the music!
jimidom 1 year ago
There are exceptions though, and you don't need to spend $6000 for a hand made tube amp blessed with alien urinine to get good tone. There are also some great solidstate amps out there for any style. For me, I find for "blues breakup" tubes are best, but for styles with higher gain the higher headroom the better. That means avoiding the tube breakup "sag" sound.
jonw82 1 year ago
@jimidom i agree with you totally, but lets not forget who really is the biggest tube/gear head in the world!! Mr Eric Johnson!! There are two sides to the gear coin!
lanlanbinks 1 year ago
@lanlanbinks Thank you for saying that so i didn't have to.
JamesNiskyMusic 10 months ago
@jimidom . . . . . . and yet the wold's pickiest tube-amp gearhead is Eric Johnson himself, that is what you obviously "don't get". You don't think John Mayer spends $50,000 for one Dumble amp because he doesn't have tone in his fingers do you? Quite the opposite, he has so much tone in his fingers that other amps don't let you appreciate every nuance of what his fingers are doing the same way a Dumble does, do you have better fingers than John Mayer? THEN SHUT UP!. EJ owns a Dumble too.
JamesNiskyMusic 10 months ago
@JamesNiskyMusic LMAO! Au contraire, mon frere, I get it just fine. Mayer sounds just like Mayer with his Two Rock amp too. He bought a $50,000 Dumble BECAUSE HE COULD. EJ may own a Dumble too, but it's not his main rig. Carlos Santana owns one as well but sticks to his Boogie Mk I. What YOU don't get is that these guitarists may be able to afford the world's most expensive amplification, but it doesn't change the fact that their playing nuances and tone come from their fucking hands.
jimidom 10 months ago
@jimidom You are totally wrong imo. If tone came from the hands of players none of them would have a bunch of pedals and effects. If you look at the specs of the EJ strat you'll see that he doesn't put the backplate on because it changes the tone! So you can see that tone doesn't come from hands. Another example is the fact that he changed the tube inside his tube driver because the tone is affected! So I have to agree with the fact that technique is in the hands and not tone. Peace
ejSignStrat 10 months ago
@ejSignStrat ha ur funny. go play the same guitar with the same amp and i promise you that you wont sound anything like him.
garbear2321 9 months ago
@jimidom Hello MORON, did you read the part of my comment where i said "he has so much tone in his fingers . . . ?" Why would you tell me that i don't understand that the tone is in his fingers after i literally stated it clearly? The short answer is: You aren't very smart. I find it pathetic that you needed to curse to attempt to add authority to your point which was moot to begin with. Furthermore, Carlos owns 3 Dumble amps and uses them onstage with the boogie, check his website.
JamesNiskyMusic 7 months ago
@JamesNiskyMusic Moron? Tsk tsk, now you start with the name calling. So... you asked for it, Assface. ;-) Neither my intellect nor my reading comprehension have suffered in any way, shape, or form. Reading back at your "so much tone in his hands" comment, I mistook that for sarcasm, albeit a poor attempt at it. What is obvious is that your post was a vain attempt to "slam me" somehow, but it lacked an articulate thesis or discernible point. Big deal, EJ, JM, and CS use Dumble.THEY MAKE MUSIC!
jimidom 7 months ago
@jimidom EJ actually attempted to order a new Dumble and Mr. Dumble told him no because he sold his old amp to a friend who was begging to buy it and he also let a non-Dumble approved transformer be put in by a tech Dumble didn't want working on the amp and that is the reason why EJ stopped using Dumble amps. I'd tell you to do your research but you aren't even smart enough to read a whole comment before responding to what you "thought" you read. Work on your reading comprehension buddy.
JamesNiskyMusic 7 months ago
@JamesNiskyMusic. Jeepers! You sure got me good with that one! BTW, that was sarcasm, Assface. ;-) So what if EJ wanted more Dumbles. He's the best of the best and has earned the right to use whatever overpriced gear he wabts. Why? It's because he MAKES MUSIC with whatever gear he chooses. The same goes for Carlos Santana. All the internet research in the world won't change that. Yes, they are corksniffers, but suffice it to say that their music means more than their gear.
jimidom 7 months ago
@jimidom Have you ever heard the phrase "It is better to stay silent and be thought the fool than to speak out and remove all doubt . . ." - Abraham Lincoln. Thanks for removing all doubt. Try reading the whole comment (i know it probably takes you a long time to read 3 sentences but you can do it!) before responding in anger and showing everybody else how dumb you are. Gee are you a moron or did you just tell me i don't understand something after i previously stated it as fact? Both . .
JamesNiskyMusic 7 months ago
@JamesNiskyMusic I'm not angry, just thoroughly amused at the number of failed posts to slam me. BTW, quoting Lincoln doesn't make you any smarter, Assface. Any monkey can exert the same amount of energy to research the thoughts and ideas of others rather than think for himself. Besides, you opened the door in your initial post by telling me SHUT UP. Talk about angry! Yet I'm dumb and a moron? Hey Assface! Kindergarten called and wants its witty insults back! Now STFU and go make me a sandwich!
jimidom 7 months ago 2
@jimidom lol don't lose perspective though. It's all in the hands. But in the same hands, tubes will sound better (for most situations) especially as you ramp up the volume. This is why Eric will use his tube gear on stage. For you bedroom it really doesn't matter much.. and any gear will sound good with good hands. I think you arguement means more, if you talk about more "cork sniffier" topics like the type of paint used on a guitar, or only that made in USA gear sounds good.
jonw82 10 months ago
@jimidom True it is all in the fingers, but the reason people slam solid state gear is because of the fullness of the sound in comparison. I went through probably 4 different solid state amps, and 2 tube amps till I settled on a blues deluxe. I love the tone as it's great for blues. Solid state amps definitely have better crisper cleans though, and for metal the fullness tube amps give isn't necessary. All depends on what you play, and how you play. For me it's tubes from here on out.
Igamikun 8 months ago
@jimidom As you slam them in a youtube blog instead of "making music"? You are a walking contradiction.
JamesNiskyMusic 7 months ago
@JamesNiskyMusic Sorry, I would have responded to this post sooner, but I was too busy making music with my no name Chinese guitar and no name Chinese all digital modeling amp. The only one I've ever slammed is you, Assface. In case I need to spell it out for you, EJ, CS, and JM are not the tubesnob gear whores about whom I originally spoke. Their record and ticket sales bespeak of artists with neither the time nor the inclination to go on the web and slam gear not up to their standards.
jimidom 7 months ago
@jimidom i agree. i have and old Marshall Head (Valvestate) and its great. i haven't played it n yrs.
believin13 5 months ago
@jimidom Well ss state stuff has come a long way from the gk amps of the 80's have a vox with ss tech in it, but that being said still prefer a good tube amp, and it's response over any ss amp i've ever used. But for bedroom level playing or if you live somewhere will you can't turn you amp up into overdrive ss really rule.
shinybald36 5 months ago
looks like his high e string has a different saddle on the bridge...how strange
Savatage420 1 year ago
Eric's tone sounds like a violin, amazing, its all in his hands.
rjst09 1 year ago
is he playing one of his signiture models in this vid?
acdcmasterman 1 year ago
I want one as an easy practice and learning tool, looks real useful. Haw Haw why don't they get a beginner to demo it? Eric can make any amp sound good I figure lol
MrROTD 1 year ago
haha it wouldn't feedback! I play a fender amp it's just funny the look on his face, he cranks the gain and nothing! pod's are the same way~lol
1buzywuzy1 1 year ago
E.J. is a living guitar legend!
tubecat72072 1 year ago
I think I like the licks better then the amp!
VLombardi01 1 year ago
eric is awesome..u can see where j bonamassa got some of his licks
djteleboy 2 years ago 9
@djteleboy Yeah Its so obvious, lol. Love em both tho :)
ScageyGuitarist 2 years ago
Funny, because I noticed the wear on his fretboard. You can tell the majority of the notes he uses. For example, 2nd fret has wear all across the board where the 11th fret has no wear. The wear is predominately on the upper three strings down to the 12th fret. I find that kinda stuff interesting.
lividmonky 2 years ago 4
It is in the fingers. I have an EJ strat and I also have a G-Dec 30 and I can tell you I sound nothing like Eric! lol
MrBatch73 2 years ago 76
@MrBatch73 yeah 90% of your tone is in your fingers..i agree
jasonism123 1 year ago
@MrBatch73 I think what Eric says about "Sweet Spots" really is true, there are certain places you can play on the guitar that just sound true, like violin.. its in the way your hands hit the frets/ notes, not just, that his hands are more tonefull than yours =)
MrJimmyguitar 1 year ago
@MrBatch73 You sound like you and that rocks. Keep rocking brother.
MegaTronn 1 year ago
@MrBatch73 I could have saved you about 1500 dollars and told you that, knowbody will sound like him or any other guitar player haha.
bianchiniman 11 months ago
@MrBatch73
try to change strings to EJ strings.
4321micro 11 months ago
From reading on the interviews of him and how he can tell the difference between copper and silver wires... This must sound like Garbage.. and no one where near like his rig ... although at 2:45 ... what?
ummtone 2 years ago
so true, its all about the skill, if you have great ability you'll be half way there, but you will never get close to him. the man just has a gift.
jembrannan 2 years ago
@mojoefly - Eric Johnson got the "Eric Johnson" tone by being him. If you plug into it you'll get the "mojoefly" tone. No pedals in the world will get any other result. It's all in the fingers.
TheDougmccombs 2 years ago 3
hahaha thats funny but kinda true
BakerBum12 2 years ago
I was once told when i first started playing that the best way to sound like any given guitar player was to unplug and try to sound like that player... i figured it out later that by doing that, i was concentrating more on phrasing, dynamics, and all the other things that really make a players tone. Once you've nailed all that getting a tone that is close or right on isn't even necessary. obviously crappy tone is crappy tone but you get the jist :D
feet2oofast 2 years ago 4
you are so right cause i bet Eric sound exactly the same unplugged lol
joeyzeeguitar 2 years ago 3
This comment has received too many negative votes show
how did eric johnson get the "eric johnson" sound out of that amp. he must have some pedals on the floor...can some one tell me what his pedals are?
mojoefly 2 years ago
Wow. Hope that's a joke.
p4illip 2 years ago 4
I realize that it's not about the equipment so much - he just makes everything sound like HIM. I give up! I own nearly all his stuff and sound like crap still! It's all about the skill.
rickogest 2 years ago
I just bought a used G-DEC 30 with the optional footswitch controller from Craigslist for $175. The original owner didnt even use it that much because he said it was too complicated. Its in brand new condition and plays and sounds great for what it is designed to do. Its not too complicated if you have some patience and intelligence. Its great for practicing and jamming solo. Perfect for me!! Glad I got one before there all gone.
cyclist4now 2 years ago
I see that this amp (G-DEC 30) is discontinued. Does anyone know if it's been discontinued because a newer model is going to take its place? Or was it just not selling, so adios machacho?
boredtodelusionFan 2 years ago
Adios, or so I've been told.I bought the G-DEC 30 a few weeks ago, and the guy in the store told me it was being discontinued because not enough people were buying it; they found it too technical/annoying to fiddle with- too many unnecessary bells & whistles. I do find it kind of confusing, hard to understand/use- you have to mess with it a bit and basically teach yourself how to use it. Overall good practice/small venue amp. It is fun to play with. Hope Fender makes similar new one soon.
buffy6029 2 years ago
ERIC RULES!!!
phallystorm 2 years ago
Eric could play a Harmony guitar with three missing strings through a transistor radio and still sound great.
governorgilf 2 years ago 6
True that, he is the king of tone!
boobtuber06 2 years ago
living legend.
bluekiss2 2 years ago
A living legend and under rated. Long live E.J.!
tubecat72072 2 years ago
Johnson make me so proud to be from da same neck of da woods. Definitely one of the most underrated, underappreciated treasures of our time. Johnson is one bad guitar meister, right up there with; Eddie,Satch,PG,Vai,GMoore,Yngwie and Nuno in my book. There's only 1 EJ.
GraceRud1 2 years ago
theres only one Eddie, satch etc you retard
LtotheULZ 2 years ago
They probably got EJ to demo it because if you go to the music store all you will hear is drop c chuggin. It really is in the hands!! It also helps that he has played for 50 years.
guitarcrazy019 2 years ago
That G-DEC sure is a piece of junk tonally. I feel sorry for one of the worlds greatest guitarists, EJ, having to endorse it. I doubt very much that he uses it in real life. He can't even keep a straight face.
sealion234 2 years ago 4
His drummer has stated that Eric uses it when they're on the road and staying in hotels. So he does in fact use it.
Lockstep290 2 years ago
Ya, if i wasnt watching the video and saw that it was EJ himself, id think this was sum other guitarist, cuz the tone just isnt his. It doesnt sound right hearing him play with this crappy tone, ya no?
JohnnyRockerman 2 years ago
I don't know how the G-DEC could sounds.I know just one thing....0:47 - 1:03...Eric is definitely the Beethoven of the electric guitar !
Let me say another point: it's great that he,in this vid,got his same sound even using another gear.This means:the sound is in your HANDS!!!!
RickInRock84 2 years ago 2
When I seen him in 2006, I was lucky enough to get to go on stage, before the show, and he was using a line 6 delay unit. He did not have the echoplex on the stage, and for the next 3 nights, he didn't. But, I seen him a year later at a small club, and he did have it.
hogwild6161 2 years ago
Are you sure he was using a Line6 Delay unit? Do you remember the model or anything? The only delay's I've seen him use are EHX Memory Mans, MXR rack unit he has, a MXR Carbon Copy and his Echoplex. He once used a digital delay, but he's always been known to use quite the high quality of pedals.
Lockstep290 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Eric Johnson needs to lay off the EXTREME delay and chorus. The 80's are over.
nolan83 2 years ago
are you sure it's over?
standardkeyboard 2 years ago
shut up man thats his style of playing
12345678ix 2 years ago
Delay and chorus are effects, not a "style of playing." It's pretty obvious Mr. Johnson can play the hell out of that guitar...so why doesn't he lay off the cheesy effects? Just a simple question.
nolan83 2 years ago
because hes always played like that delay and chorus is his tyle , the way he likes to play
12345678ix 2 years ago
You're an absolute newb, you don't know what tone is.
nezmaster1 2 years ago
hummmmis this amp worth the 300 bones? lol i am getting tired of lugginf mny pedal board around to sounds like this....
igknightus 2 years ago
Eric Johnson's rig includes a line 6 delay unit. Also, he usually has 2 to 3 Fender twins on stage with him.
And I do agree with some of the Fender comments made here. There is no hiding how you truly sound when playing a TUBED Fender amp.
There's a reason why Eric sounds so good on this video, because he IS that good....
hogwild6161 2 years ago
He doesn't use line 6 delay... He uses an old echoplex and an m1500
nezmaster1 2 years ago
how many watts is this amp?
guitarbrain45 2 years ago
sounds FLAT,,,
DANTHETUBEMAN 2 years ago
he sounds like joe bonamassa
GibsonSGlenn 2 years ago
joe sounds like him
firstgearlead 2 years ago 5
other way around
jazzgtrplayer 2 years ago
This just goes to show...IT'S IN THE HANDS!!! One of us mere mortal players could have plugged in that same amp right after him and it would not have sounded anything like what he just played... Just like SRV and other of this caliber... it's the attack, the vibrato, the picking... It is just in the hands! not in the amp... he could plug into your rig and sound more like him without making any changes than you ever did
... or, so says I...
mojoplasma 2 years ago 16
theirs probly like a marshall plex and stack with fender twins and a big pedal board in front of him HAHAHA...or it would be is magic touch
JoelGGuitar 2 years ago
eew good god, I hope thats not the case
this amp sounds like ASS
electricbumblebee 2 years ago
I have the G-DEC 30 right now, and I am satsified with it, but my main question is could the G-DEC work for gigs? I've been playing for about 2 years and I am thinking of getting a marshall half stack. Would this be a good purchase? or is the G-DEC enough?
stavi500 2 years ago
i have the smaller version of it and the distortion sucks i even have to have a boss metal zone to get a full effect
jmthurow94 2 years ago
Ive been playing this amp for 3 years and am happy with it. I'm not a pro so I play for fun and its a great practice amp. Before this I had a 200 dollar Marshall and the G-DEC beats the pants off that! I'd like to start a channel where G-DEC owners can put their songs up, would be fun.
boogiechillen123 2 years ago
wow, it truly is in the fingers!
stiffupperlip4 2 years ago 3
thats sounds pretty good for a solid practice amp..if its good enough for Eric Johnson..
wisesatyr72 2 years ago 3
Fender amps are Boss
ROCKSGGLP 2 years ago
well what can you expect for a solid state modeling amp i don't think you quite understand what the GDEC is for, its for building your chops and practicing to different drumbeats, if you thought that this amp was gonna be the end all be all of amps or your main gigging amp your a moron its a teaching tool it even says that in the description read before you buy damn
MetalNineteen1984 2 years ago 7
i would agree the amp sucks but sounds better with an american strat with single coils and it obviously helps the a pro is playing it
jp0pz 2 years ago
holy crap people, it's a practice amp! it's not supposed to be a Dumble and for a practice amp, it's damned good.
jhachey222 2 years ago
I bought this amp because of this video and i couldn't have been more disappointed with it's tone. I wasn't expecting it to be anything amazing or anything near the tone quality of a good tube amp. But this amp, in my opinion, flat out sucks. The menus were unusual to work through. The tones were way too distorted. The amp seriously lacks bass but i guess that's what you get for having an 8 inch speaker. The drum/bass tracks were 90% useless and boring. I'd give this amp a 3/10.
hyrulesurfer1 2 years ago
did you get the G-Dec or the G-Dec Jr?
jhachey222 2 years ago
I have a G-Dec 15 and a G-Dec Jr. The G-Dec 15 is basically a $200 piece of fuck. The G-Dec Jr however I do recommend because of the price and the simplicity. It's really easy to change the tones and adjust the drum and bass settings.
hyrulesurfer1 2 years ago
90% chance it's your playing that's making it sound bad, no offense. Good players can play the worst P.O.S. and make it sound good...
baseballnolie34 2 years ago 2
You had the tone one, didn't you? You're NOT supposed to use the tone knob, and all the presets have really high noise gates on them, so you have to go through them and take off the noise gates for a decent. Besides the awkward menus and noise, it's a good amp if you take the time to learn about it.
TheDistortionist 2 years ago
Listen to how much humm and noise the amp puts out when he stops playing! Come on fender WTF?
PARAPSYCHOLOGY1 2 years ago
It's a single coil pickup. Give him a break.
ksmithdc 2 years ago 2
EJ sounds great with any kind of gear! but the g-dec is a good practise amp altough, if you spend some time and create your own presets...
cheers
benjorino7 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
fender guitars are way overated.there amps are crap.if you want a great amp with built in effects check out line 6 amps.fender amps are shite
ibanez777vbk 2 years ago
i dont know much about fender amps but i own a spider 3 line 6. Descent amp i guess good or getting strated cuz of the 400+ presets BUT all those effects compromise the tone and infact sounds a bit "electrical" ( i dont know any other way to put it ". Im aiming to get a tube amp soon xD
alp292 2 years ago
right... line 6 is garbage...
earthlydescent 2 years ago
you talk garbage line 6 are decent amps,now fuck off back to sleep daft cunt
ibanez777vbk 2 years ago
you may want to consider a shrink, i'm sure your a huge tool in person...
earthlydescent 2 years ago
how did you guess.yes im a total BASTARD in the flesh :)
ibanez777vbk 2 years ago
Yea right, Fender amps are all shit. The Beatles only used them because they are shit right? Line 6 is all digital fake bullshit. Fender amps with tubes like the deluxe reverb are some of the best amps out there. You obviously haven't been playing that long if you don't understand this.
Go back to playing mindless garbage on your line 6 piece of junk.
James0543 2 years ago 2
the beatles who gives a shit what kind of amps they used ????.what about real guitar legends.hendrix vai satriani evh malmsteen ect ect none of which used fender amps.enough said.good night :)
ibanez777vbk 2 years ago
they didn't use Line 6 either. What are you trying to prove here? You cannot be a successful guitar player if you don't respect blues guitar playing, which is what all the people you mentioned get their chops from.
Plus it takes way more talent than just hiding behind your effects on a Line 6 amp.
James0543 2 years ago