The pull of new gear will always be there, but it’s better to invest in yourself before anything else, here’s why…
Tone, as the old saying goes, is in the hands. And there’s a lot of truth in that: Give every facet of John Petrucci’s live rig to any other guitar player, and they won’t suddenly grow a giant beard and find their triceps bulging – they will still look and sound like themselves.
No matter the gear in your hands, the personality of your playing style will always shine brighter than the equipment used. So, it’s important to give the best representation of yourself when you play, and not worry about any statements your gear may or may not make.
To the same degree, your granny won’t automatically be able to bend it like Beckham just because she’s wearing his boots – getting good at a craft takes time, effort, and patience. Unfortunately, buying expensive gear doesn’t make you a better player or give you the cheat code to sound like your heroes.
If it did, we’d be worshipping some trust fund kid with a double-barrelled surname and a Gucci wardrobe instead of Tosin Abasi. We aren’t.
Money isn’t everything
Money may give you access to top-level equipment, but if you’ve not honed your skills, it’ll be for nothing. That’s why you hear stories of guitar greats making Hello Kitty Stratocasters sound like heaven. A good guitarist can make any guitar sing. A poor guitarist will always sound second-rate, regardless of how expensive their rig is.
Proving this, Scott Poley, the guitarist in Fleetwood Mac covers band, Rumours, recently took a $40 Harley Benton on the road for 113 arena shows across the UK, USA and Canada. By having a clear understanding of the mechanics of guitar playing meant he could identify how to get the best sounds out of his budget instrument; it didn’t hold him back.
The better gear paradox
On the flip side, if you have fancy equipment but aren’t getting the basics right, you’ll still sound terrible. Better gear can accentuate the weaknesses in your playing, as anyone who’s jumped from a cheap practice amp to a full tube amp and 4x12 will tell you.
Suddenly, your legato playing doesn’t sound as smooth and balanced as you thought. Now, your inability to dampen the strings you aren’t playing is exposed – and don’t think a fret wrap is a quick fix.
Yes, buying new gear is exciting, it can motivate you to keep playing and boost your creativity, but it doesn’t improve the core fundamentals of your guitar playing. New gear doesn’t mean you need to practice less often. Learn to play first, and then worry about your gear later.
Beyond the gear
There are many ways you can improve your playing without touching your instrument (oh, matron!). Listen back to recordings of your playing; speak to other guitarists on the Modern Metal Academy community forums for feedback and advice.
Invest in yourself before you invest in anything else. See that eventual upgrade as a well-deserved treat and not the solution to whatever your problem is.
Put in the hard yards, and the rest will follow.
Win a Schecter TAO guitar
Winning gear, though? Well, that’s different...
Modern Metal Academy and Schecter Guitars have joined forces to give away a John Browne signature Tao-8 in Azure Blue.
Made to Browne’s preferred specs, including a contoured swamp ash body and USA-made Colossus & Chaosbreaker Schecter humbuckers, the guitar is up for grabs in an MMA-exclusive competition, and you don’t have to be a member to enter.
Entries are open from 9th - 16th August at 11:45pm GMT. Head over to our competition page for details on how to enter.
Check out our blog page for more top tips, and visit the ever-supportive MMA community to start conversations that can help take your playing to the next level.
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