Ron Thal plays Vigier

[superdanlewis]

why does he have such long thumb nails???

[hughjarrse]

@superdanlewis "why does he have such long thumb nails???" I think it was just a "kookie" style thing, I've never seen him use them for anything, and they're not long now

[TrixtersCovers]

@superdanlewis for his cocaine addiction

[Guitareben]

I heard that he has perfect pitch (able to recognise any pitch without any other given note), which may help explain part of his immensity at the fretless (just a bit ^^ )

[kratanuva725]

HOLY COW!!!

How the hell does he play that quickly on a fretless

[kReEaYtEr]

God that looks so hard to play!

[AlexJCThompson1992]

Can someone explain why his nails are THAT long? im a guitarist too and longer nails can help with finger picking and all but...that like an inch and a half of nail...

btw im not a long nailed person i chew ;)

[SteveBrownOfficial]

Slide guitar without a slide.

[dayuhanspace]

why is he fat here?

[Dethkill14]

He gained weight before he started with GNR. It was when he was starting to be looked at for guns n roses that he lost the weight.

[AchillesStandsOn]

@dayuhanspace He's fat because it was 9 years ago. People change ya know :P

[kalapoka666]

@dayuhanspace why is that important or relevant?

[ericgenocidex2]

king of the fretless!

[pollin]

He was playing the solo of Hangup!!

[bleedtheman]

Great song & one of the best solos of Hermit. Rarararrrarara call you up!!!!!!!

[Radwalls]

I played this guitar!

It was so good!

[almostsk8er01]

nice! is fretless hard to plaY?

[Radwalls]

Not hard, it was just interesting

[adworz]

Obviously this video isn't a performance video. It's like a candid video of him playing for himself, figuring out riffs someone asked about, having a conversation, it's cool to see that. He seems like a regular guy that just likes to play, without limits, from Axl to Guthrie. But all this talk about his playing being avante-garde, people should do more homework, I hear a lot of tasteful playing in his songs. Listen to Breaking, Day After and the Barefoot clips at his myspace page. **Tasteful**

[YokuPixieO]

que extravagante jajajaja

es de los mejores guitarristas con un estilo muy peculiar que eh escuchado xD me encanta su banda!

=D

[Kubolski]

Wow, fretless guitar. Love the sound!

[ryanharrisonisagimp]

do some parts remind anyone of chris poland? this has made me want to buy a fretless....

[antipunx]

Buy a guitar that has been made that way, don't get the frets taken out of a regular one. It makes the neck terrible and sticky. I'm going to have to buy another fretless now, but at least I only paid 80 for the one I have haha.

[ryanharrisonisagimp]

hahaha

[Sozos9038]

thats one killer player

[Finalkfka]

It looks like the guitar doesn't have any frets! O.o

[kblavie]

Because it doesn't.

[hughjarrse]

correct, it has no frets

[Blitzkrie8]

43 Seconds in, the part from crossroads guitarduel?

[Samthemuffinman]

lol yup. Wish the whole thing was on here

[sheddingskin420]

ive never seen a fretless up close but i gotta get one of these or try to duplicate it.

[serazac25]

LOL CHROME FINGERBOARD

so awesome

[Meteotrance]

wow excellent and i can easily this Vigier guitar in france, my seller know Patrice Vigier, and it could make any custom like ESP japan ^^ very interesting price.

[bhfam]

is that neck stainless steel or....

[hughjarrse]

It's called "delta-metal" I think it has brass in it, some sort of alloy I guess

[Pharmabass]

Ha ha stainless I'm sure it is...

But maybe did you mean "fretless"?

Lol

[hughjarrse]

"Ha ha stainless I'm sure it is...

But maybe did you mean "fretless"?"

I have held the guitar in this video, I can assure you it's NOT stainless!

[diggit427]

They said it was stainless steel in an article I read lately and obviously bhfam knows its fretless.

[brandon5pennies]

42 seconds in = sex :)

[WanderingMendosa]

Huh???

[Joelovesmattias777]

love what you said at the end....so true.

damn.

[memrews]

regalame tus uñas

[THYEERIEGAZE]

sweeeeeeeeeeep on fretless 0:44 with tapping! Bumbelfoot!!

[EmailEunuch]

I think that bit is Eugenes trick bag from Vai

[drmoshie]

yeah, sounds like it. the arpeggios in tapping form, played at megaspeed

[dh0licious]

fretless?

[memrews]

tiene las uñas bien largas

[SaintJimmy36]

why are his thumbnails so long?

[HyperCubed4]

Probably so he doesn't need a pick?

[SaintJimmy36]

if im not mistaken he is using a pick

[HyperCubed4]

Oh yeah, I know. But I mean for when he doesn't use a pick, he uses his thumbnail. My friend plays guitar, he doesn't clip his thumbnails.

[rfgedgdf]

for classical guitar a lot of people grow out their fingernails so it's easier to finger pick. Randy Rhoads did it too.

[TheUltimateSin]

Randy growing his out had nothing to do with his playing. He told best friend Kelly Garni he was growing his just to see how long they could get.

[rfgedgdf]

he grew his thumbnail out at first for the reason you said, but when he did grow out all of his nails when he was older to play classical guitar properly.

[TheUltimateSin]

I'm not sure where you are getting your information from. Kelly said this was the only reason he was doing it, and he would know being that he was Randy's best friend.

[digitalldeath]

randy once said he didnt play with his fingernail when it came to a steel string guitar...so that loosely confirms he used his thumbnail for playing on a nylon...plus he was learning classical guitar..im sure his teachers would make him use his nails..plus why wouldnt ya? it feels/sounds, and looks cooler!

[brunopoeys]

Hah, i made a mistake. My comment was supposed to appear in another video (Axl's walkoff n' ron's solo at download), but well... its ok i guess :P

[5ptCALVIN]

np funny

[brunopoeys]

Please stop that shit already. He was just playing some random notes...this is not a song, this is a fucking solo. He joined Gn'R only ONE week before the warm up shows and he had a few days to learn everything. He improvised this whole thing. You shouldn't judge anyone by some totally improvised solo. By the way i love it! :)

[itsChristonabike]

Hey all, I'll be hangin' out at Chiller Theatre at the Hilton Hotel in Parsippany NJ, first weekend in May '08. Will be doing a little jamming that Saturday night.

Gonna have a table set up with some merch - anything ya pay over the price for each item will all be donated to Multiple Sclerosis research.

Come say hello and show your support - thanks.

Ron

[5ptCALVIN]

good point nor do I , like I said GnR sucks and Thal could master that stuff as he did quickly . Remember I am a Thal fan , however when Vai was a young one he took over for Malmsteen in Steeler and learned the whole show in one night ! Per his words and I think he is genuine . Thats very impressive to me . One solo makes not a good or bad player I agree . This I like , its all that alienesque sounding stuff I hate , where he just goes to town playing bizarre notes . I LOVE BIZARRE NOTES TOO !

[5ptCALVIN]

Thal being a lightning rod as he is proves he is great, I just guess I don't think he is the best or top 3, but again it is subjective isn't it. Most points I agree on just overall think his main playing is different to the point it hurts him. Maybe it is because he is ahead, I just don't think it is for some reason. Maybe I don't see it. But I know this, when Thal hits it on blues and more standard stuff he roars. Just think some stuff is too bizarre even for me,it might just be me. good debate

[5ptCALVIN]

again , I dig Thal just not as much as those others. As far as the fretless I would say he smokes everyone as I haven't seen anyone even play them much less nearly have them mastered as Thal . I think this is one part of Thal's playing I dig the most , as you see me in this thread because I was enjoying this vid. Fretless are like Helicopters as everything is backwards on your vibrato to sliding so I admire Thal for his seemingly mastery of it . Just think he's a little out there . ;)

[5ptCALVIN]

all due respect I simply do not think Thal is in most of their leagues ... Think he could be considered to be more so if he had more commercial success which may be the GnR move . The simple suggestion from Satch was simply pointing out that he would probably take it , trust me none of the heavyweights would , how insulting . Vai playing for Snake or Roth is different . GnR just sucks man , cmon . That said I still like Thal but he just isn't in the other boys realms IMO . Time will show you .

[itsChristonabike]

"there are some great guitarists out there.pretty crazy. Really amazing...Ron Thal from New Jersey, who plays fretless as if it was no hindrance whatsoever" :Satriani

Wrong on the "he would take it" part of your reply, Ron turned down Limp Bizkit when Wes left so your presumption that he was chasing the "$" is wide of the mark, but we're not going to agree, try listening to some Timmons or Eklundh (two of Vai's favourites) the 80's were a golden time for guitar music, but it didn't stop there!

[itsChristonabike]

You can't just decree that G'n'R suck and Whitesnake are great, I personally don't like either band that much, they both had great success, although snake never reached the hights of G'n'R,

But back to the original point what do you think of "Rhode Island Shred"?

[5ptCALVIN]

I agree with alot your saying bro , I didn't presume it was all about money . Just thought maybe he wanted some money dunno , figured he would probably need money to put up with those guys , lol . As far as Vais influences , I hear ya there too .. Awesome . As far as WSnake being better than GnR , I think they were but not by much as I agree on that too . Just think its different than the GnR gig as it is more like what they play than GnR thats all . But not a huge fan of either . Saw them both.

[itsChristonabike]

There is I suppose a sort of irony here, you're expounding the virtues of an "Essex boy" while I'm standing by a geezer from "Nu Joy-sea"

You resisted my carefully laid question on "Rhode Island Shred" Ron guests on that track on erotic cakes, and I was hoping you hadn't noticed, I was gonna fire it back if you said the playing on that track was good ..... :o) take it easy!

[5ptCALVIN]

sorry about the glitched post there

[5ptCALVIN]

I have much respect for Thal but I think he wastes too much time trying to break ground Stick with what is pleasing to the ear , Vai and Govan and the like make him look retarded . Trust me , those boys can play this stuff too guys , don't fool yourselves .

[itsChristonabike]

"I have much respect for Thal but I think he wastes too much time trying to break ground"

That's quite funny, have you heard "Erotic Cakes" Govan is doing his best in places to sound like Thal! I very slightly know Guthrie and have spoken to him a few times, he loves Thal's playing, but maybe I'm being a bit harsh, Picasso and Pollock were way above the heads of most people in their own time, and still remain above the heads of many, if you can't see it, it's hardly a crime!

[5ptCALVIN]

point taken but I think any beginner can hear Vai and Satch all over Guthrie's playing but not as much as you say TRYING to sound like Thal . Man there is a video of Guthrie an Thal playing together on youtube and Thal is clearly playing second fiddle rythym for him , maybe planned but he isn't Govan . Again I respect Thal very much . Just think when he is playing that alien sounding crap he is wasting my time and worse his . Got to have melody or your worthless .

[5ptCALVIN]

That said , when Thal plays melodic stuff he is amazing . Go listen to his samples on the Dimarzio website , INCREDIBLE . Some of the stuff I pull down here is crap . Total and complete nonsense . Go buy that stuff if you like it but trust me he won't be around long if he keeps that stuff up . I think his playing with GnR is a perfect example of how he doesn't use the greatest judgement with his talent , I think thats my point perhaps . But maybe he needs money but reducing himself to Slash ?

[5ptCALVIN]

and of coarse I have heard Erotic Cakes , renowned by the likes of Satch , Vai , Govan , Thal and all for that matter . Satch himself said a recording that needed to be made . Where is Thals' magnus opus . Guthrie will be listened to much more widely that Thal and I think thats a shame since I like you and Guthrie think he is great too . But I can't listen to Malmsteen or Thal for more than 10 minutes , Govan I can all day . Govan is hardly immitating Thal , thats a stretch and he is no Picasso.

[5ptCALVIN]

I will say this , he makes that fretless sound great and I haven't seen anyone that has become good much less great at fretless. But such a limited guitar. At least it sounds great where his bumblefoot guitar has garbage for tone , sorry. Can't hear that your tone deaf. Trust me the stuff on the Dimarzio site isn't played with that guitar and is MUCH more mainstream. When he wants to put his best foot forward he knows which one it is. Reducing yourself to playing Slash is hardly Picassoesque.

[itsChristonabike]

"Guthrie will be listened to much more widely that Thal and I think thats a shame since I like you and Guthrie think he is great too"

I'm late for work, I'll reply tomorrow, but just to say since Ron joined G'n'R i Doubt Guthrie is being heard by more people

[5ptCALVIN]

Your losing cred at a horrible rate here man , I am trying to help you out . Thal won't be with GnR hopefully for long . They aren't pulling like they did in the 80s man . Plus I mean longevity . Guthrie will last like Vai , Satch and similar talents I would think . I could be wrong but I just think listening to Guthrie is more rewarding in MOST cases than listening to Thal . Not all , but most for sure . Only my opinion , remember this is subjective as its music . Or at least when melodic . ;)

[5ptCALVIN]

remember I think Thal is so good it is sick , I just think he is too far out there to be taken seriously when he plays what I would guess is fun for him . I say let him do his thing and see where he goes . I just think its not as far as his influences took them , thats all . PEACE !

[itsChristonabike]

Holdsworth is the daddy, ask Guthrie, Satch, Vai, Thal (in fact everyone) he has had very little commercial success, very few people outside of guitar players even know who he is (he did get a mention in the mighty boosh) I am a bit protective of Ron, he's a great guy I actually videoed the footage here, he let me play the guitar in the vid and was very generous with his time and advice, give Carl Verheyen a try, FD's tall blond helecopter is a nice album too

[itsChristonabike]

Now I'm really confused! I lose cred by pointing out that your statement that Guthrie will be listened to by more people than Thal was wrong? I'm not in any way a G'n'R fan but to say Rons exposure will be less than Guthries is quite obviously wrong, when Axl asked Satch who is the most exiting contemporary guitarist to join the new G'n'R he suggested Thal, and the fact you can see into the future and see Guthries success is astounding,I bet Nick Drake wished he could have had your insight!

[5ptCALVIN]

I have to say I think much of what Thal does is a waste , he is too talented to play much of the junk he does . I notice when he gets around true players like Govan he amps up and plays well , this mindless alien crap is just that . I have much respect for Thal but I think he wastes too much time trying to break ground that is in a flood zone , my 2 cents .

[kakkavaras]

Someone please go into every music academy there is, and tell everyone to cease all violin activities. Afterall, ab529235 in youtube knows that a stringed instrument without frets is useless, and it's just too damn hard to play.

[kakkavaras]

Have you also ever noticed, that while their objects of affection are often the most soft spoken musicians there are, places like youtube are infested with idiots who have listened to the following people too much: petrucci, vai, MAB.

you people sound like A7X fans, jesus christ get a grip ladies

[MutantCyborgClone]

I didnt even know there were fretless guitars till now. I'd figure trying to do any chords would sound sloppy. I can understand fretless bass. Ah well pretty neat anyway

[voodoo778]

Absolutely mindblowing.

[cobyup10]

Wow that's amazing. If you close your eyes, you'd think it was slide.

[thepatient03]

Man, incredible, anyone who disses this is retarted. To have this much accuracy on something fretless is ridiculous. I don't know anyone that is that accurate even with frets (in real life)

[botman1]

Michael Angelo Batio is :->

[thepatient03]

Good thing I don't know Batio in real life. I have to add though, I don't really like Thal, or Batio - they're incredible musicians, and all that but they lack taste i think.

[jbdude111]

Meh,

thats down to opinion in the end

i think batio has great tecnique,

but i do agree with you in that he lacks in taste.

but if you listen to ron thal's other stuff too you learn just how many aspects of guitar he's mastered,

and his taste is 'aquired' haha

but fair comment mate

[thepatient03]

Agreed - do you have any other suggestions of what else to listen to by Thal? All the stuff on YouTube seems to be solos.

[johnaiton]

yes, listen to "Time" from the 9.11 album

others are

Shadow,

Breaking,

shell,

Raygun

[gsoe]

Batio is a really nice dude, hes cool to talk guitars with.

But he is a lottt of technique. I prefer the Gilbert style of things. Kick ass player and song writer. Thal is the shit though

[nightmarecinema33]

no.

[botman1]

So why am I getting negative ratings if Batio is VERY accurate on his fretted gutiars? You youtube noobs should better leave those negatives to somebody else who deserves them.

[binginpirate]

you've just earned yourself a negative, faggot.

[ab529235]

why is he getting negatives? so what if you can play fretless, it still sounds the same as a fretted guitar, just makes it look like you're doing something amazing, which you're not. isn't playing fretless pretty much the same as playing fretted but not looking at the neck. sure, you'll still be able to feel the frets, but going up and down the neck, your brain won't be able to register how many frets you're moving over. besides, michael angelo can play upside down and with both hands > fretless

[ElCodyo]

I've played a fretless guitar, and trust me, if you're going to do anything worthwhile on one it's almost like learning another instrument.

[expl0dingpsych0l0gy]

Exactly. Props go to ElCodyo, who actually knows what he's talking about..

[o0Slipdisc0o]

Exactly, kudos to you....

[expl0dingpsych0l0gy]

you clearly don't understand the mechanics, or overall objective of fretless instruments; at least you explained your reasoning. fretless=frets because it doesn't fucking matter, it's about the music it creates you idiot.

[ab529235]

and music made with fretted guitars is usually better. and that's the point, according to you.

[o0Slipdisc0o]

THat's just as clueless as somebody in 1950 looking at an electric guitar and saying: well, music made on acoustics is usually better... You're reasoning is assbackwards dude, it amounts to nothing. Please get some perspective on the subject and come back in a few years....

[ab529235]

that's not backwards, it's logical. if you can see and know where you are, the music sounds better. you're 1000x more likely to mess up on a fretless guitar. your reasoning is "assbackwards", not mine.

[o0Slipdisc0o]

1/3 Lol, that comment is the pinnacle of ignorance. Just the kind of reasoning you would expect coming from a guy who uses Batio as an argument in a discussion on music. Batio's approach to making music is similar to a person who aspires to be a writer and decides to do so by learning the dictionary by hard, without ever knowing about proper grammar (analogy for structure, phrasing, dynamics, rhythm and sense of melody).

[o0Slipdisc0o]

2/3 Sure, he knows all the words (chops) and he's proud to use as many of them as possible. But without the deeper understanding of the classes of words, their inflections, and their functions and relations in the sentence... it holds no water.Fretless playing opens doors to endless possibilities:micro-tones, sliding harmonics, unconventional chord shapes and bending notes in opposite directions, to name a few.

[o0Slipdisc0o]

3/3 Playing fretless is very difficult because the instrument requires much more training of the fretting hand (for exact positioning and shifts) and more ear training to be able to differentiate the minimal differences in intonation that fretless instruments can express. Ron has "perfect pitch" and therefore a huge advantage on the instrument. He's simply eons ahead of Batio (and most others) both technically and compositionally.

[ab529235]

once he can play upside, or two guitars at one time, while still maintaining an extremely harmonious sound, then come talk to me and say Ron is better than Batio. and i'm sure Batio can play fretless. it's just pointless.

[o0Slipdisc0o]

1/3 You must be the single most clueless person I ever saw reasoning on any aspect concerning music. Getting sense out of you is like squeezing apple juice out of orange, it's simply astonishing. You completely ignore the fact that a fretless guitar permits unique musical possibilities, totally new creative avenues which can benefit the music in terms of originality. And then you turn around and express deep admiration for the noble "art" of making (for cryin'out loud)harmonious SOUNDS???????

[o0Slipdisc0o]

2/3 harmonious SOUND???, while playing up side down and on multiple guitars? Music is art ... and THAT hasn't got one freakin' iota to do with it, my ignorant friend. That's only going to benefit your sorry ass while auditioning for a circus. AGAIN, Thal has "perfect pitch" (do yourself a favor and research this unique ability) which Batio hasn't. Thal plays cleaner, more articulate and with better intonation than Batio on a fretted one.

[o0Slipdisc0o]

3/3 Next to this Ron has written some of the most critically acclaimed material coming forth out of the virtuoso scene in the last decade (and is credited for it). Incorporating some the unique possibilities of the fretless, elevating songwriting in general to new levels.. All of this while Batio was doing gymnastics and writing generic cheesy one dimensional egodriven wankery of the highest order. I'm sorry but the more I think about this the more shallow and irrelevant your reasoning seems.

[ab529235]

sounds more like you're just one of Thal's wannabe buttbuddies. angelo plays perfectly clean, just as good as Thal if not better. and if by "elevating songwriting" and "incorporating new musical ideas" you mean hitting a wrong note on a fretless and saying that you meant to, then i agree, playing fretless is bold and original. too bad it never sounds as good. and music is meant to be harmonious and sound good, NOT to be atonal. notes=sounds, so harmonious sounds=good music.

[o0Slipdisc0o]

1/3 Seems to me that you are holding on to Batio's cock so tight, people must confuse you on a daily base for his nut sack. Why are you entering a discussion when it's clear you come in unarmed? Your whole contribution to this discussion evolves around ignorance towards music in general and fretless guitar in particular. People like Thal (again with Perfect Pitch) and immense control and accuracy, don't hit sour notes.

[o0Slipdisc0o]

2/3 And if you would be interested in having a normal discussion you would have seen me mention microtones, sliding harmonics as some of the original ideas that can be explored. Fretless music hasn't got one freakin' iota to do with playing atonal. And even if it would have, atonality describes music that does not conform to the system of tonal hierarchies that characterized classical European music, it's music nonetheless. It separates the men (Thal, Holdsworth, Gambale, Lane)...

[o0Slipdisc0o]

3/3 from the boys (Batio, Fareri and the other wankers) in terms of songwriting, to be able to incorporate these non diatonic concepts in such an accessible way into their songs. You completely disqualified yourself in this discussion by expressing deep admiration for Batio's tricks and gymnastics: playing multiple guitars in whatever position (even if he played them with his cock), it has nothing to with art. You have shown to have absolutely no idea about even the most basic musical concepts.

[ab529235]

you keep saying that i come in unarmed, and knowing nothing about music, even when i tell you something completely credible, that any musician would say (i.e. atonal=doesn't sound good, or good notes=good music.) music is meant to sound good, to please the ear. that's your basic musical concept. clearly you don't understand. there is more than one type of musical art. there's YOUR art, meaning hitting wrong notes and calling it music.

[dandan321]

There are no wrong notes in music, you dumbass.

[Gamermax555]

there are if you are playing for tonality, or in a scale, or a mode, or a song, or pretty much anything. the only way there are no wrong notes, is if you don't care about how you sound.

[Inkawgneegrow]

why can't the man just fuck around? it's his business... when u get that good u play full songs every time u touch a guitar...

[RONDOC68]

What the fuck was that shit?

[hughjarrse]

"What the fuck was that shit?"

The next time you see Guthrie Govan, ask him what HE thinks of Ron?

[RONDOC68]

Guthrie is just being nice........you don't think he's gonna say anything bad do ya...........Thal is on the bottom of the guitarist food chain.

[hughjarrse]

"......Thal is on the bottom of the guitarist food chain"

Try listening to Erotic cakes, it's got Bumblefoot all over it!

Also Guthrie isn't afraid to speak his mind

[RONDOC68]

I'm just fuck'in with ya.........Thal is not one of my favorites, but he does have some good chops.......peace brother.

[hughjarrse]

"I'm just fuck'in with ya........."

Hands up, ya got me! Ron's not everyone's cup of tea, but he's a real nice guy so I felt the need to defend him (not to mention I think he's a monster..... lol)

[RONDOC68]

Hmmmm...monster..?...sounds familiar.

[agunner34]

yup gotta love thal, got his normal album and 9,11 the other day one hell of a player

[hughjarrse]

The solo o turn around (normal) is remarkable, not since mean streets has something sounded so fresh!

[duffeknol]

no body pays attention because it's mainly wankery, screw this

[zaken6]

ese jipi toca horrible...

[hughjarrse]

"ese jipi toca horrible..."

I disagree, Ron has a deft touch!

[wemyssnails]

Great thumbnails!

[s2p3r]

finally, another guitarist with a sense of humor 

(like zappa). anyone here know some site where I

could get don pardo pimpwagon for free? thanks

[Blitzkrie8]

At 00:43 he plays the three first arpeggios from eugene´s trickbag really dam fast :O I want the tabs ^^

[fraserpaterson]

The fretboard is made of metal? Fuck I want a fretless! Play metal on a metal guitar! That's gnarly! Don Pardo Pimpwagon was inspired by a 70s sitcom? Interesting. I wonder where he gets the inspiration for his lyrics, because he writes some funny stuff. They match his obscure sound so well too. It's amazing that someone can make something so odd sounding sound so amazing.

[Paragons7]

he makes it look so easy.

[hughjarrse]

I guess it is for him!

[brunopoeys]

do you have some other videos to show us? I'll agree with doomtress, the guy is by far the best musician out there and i'm glad he joined Gn'R.

I've got 6 of his albums and i love it. Right now, i'm addicted to 'shadow'. Love that song...

[doomtress]

by far, the most amazing musician out there, with talent all on levels, with a guitar, and sound board as a recording engineer, OR low monk like chants....i should know..lol

[hughjarrse]

I have some of Ron's solos from the original multitracks, and when you hear them in isolation they sound totally abstract and tangential, but then you hear them in the full mix and they become truly beautiful! fave lyric "what about all the things we've been through?... like my money" class, I would have loved to hear him play with Zappa, and I'm convinced he would have played with him

[FenderCatchingFace]

he still uses the foot guitar though, ther fretless is really cool

[slappytheslug]

I hail 'im. A giant with no affectation. Makes the mind-boggling look apparently effortless...

[hughjarrse]

When Normal first came out I listened to Turn around on my MP3 player for about a week! I couldn't for the life of me work out how he was getting the "iron snake falling down a fire escape" sound! I'm chuffed he's getting the recognition he deserves, his "New Joysey" accent through me a bit, but he's a genuine geezer

[tommyk77]

Ron rules! i love his style and they way he makes cliched pentatonic licks fresh! his best tracks in my opinion are "real", "Turn around" and "mafalda"

[VigierGuitars]

This was in UK, if I remember.

Ron is a master...

[0303456]

Wtf with his nail?

[jonathansopko]

is he playing with a sustain petal or something to get that sustain out of a fretless or is it just the metal fretboard?

[hughjarrse]

There is no sustain circuit on the guitar like the Fernandez system, all the sustain is inherent in the deltametal fingerboard

[slappytheslug]

That metal fingerboard is genius. Makes a lot possible that simply isn't attainable with a wooden fretless fingerboard, even with ebony or something equally dense...

[hughjarrse]

The Delta metal fingerboard is the best I've ever played, ned Evett's glass boards are quite good, if you think about it, it's analogous to using brass or glass slides, you wouldn't get much out of a wooden slide.

Ron is a truly great guitar player, some see him as a shedder (which he can be) but if you heard the little wing inspired don't cry arrangement he did on the last G'n'R tour or the 70's sitcom inspired Don Pardo's Pimp Wagon there's no doubting his quality

[slappytheslug]

Calling him a "shredder" is selling his talent short.Ron's one of the most diverse and musical players I've ever heard. He seems to have the uncanny ability to translate whatever's in his head to his fingers. I'd love to talk to him about fretboard visualization some time, because he's the diametric opposite of a "position" player - the fretboard is all one to him, rather than being a bunch of zones. That's a level of depth that most of us can only aspire to...

[jawadahmad77]

So true. I am getting started on building my own fretless nylon string. Gotta start thinking outside the box(shape).

[guitarfred]

Fretless guitars rock!!

[latenightfan]

Cool!