guitarpatch

7 minutes ago, Subtle Signs said:

No. Where's the hook or melody? It's not a song that would do well on the radio. Doesn't matter who plays on it. 

Radio’s dead…This band being on a level that’s “popular” again is long gone. The hook was removed for whatever reason and never reworked

It’s a song that took the band a few go arounds to learn. Insert some Slash and Richard leads over a droning riff and it’s good to go. Much easier to pull off than something like Atlas 

It has it moments and certainly energy. It’s incredibly repetitive though 

The biggest thing that hasn’t been said? 
 

This seriously opens the door for us to hear Axl sing the line “Who’s your Mac Daddy” live at a show one day 

Sweet design. Would be cool if they did a pack of tour themed baseball cards for these type of shows 

Good concept. Stones did this their last tour. They even made lithos available. The difference being the ones sold at shows were hand numbered, while the ones sold online weren’t. 
 

Hard to wait in line and/or carry that stuff for the entire show 

Guess who won’t be touring a new record in the first half of 2022? 

2 minutes ago, guitarpatch said:

Yeah. Especially when they used Gibson pickups in the new Epi 1959. 

If anyone is really in the market for a Slash epiphone, I’d highly suggest the older models. Especially the 2010 Epiphone Appetite model. Great looking top and the color looks correct. Comes stock with the Duncans and the used market is still around and even under these new models for the time being 

48 minutes ago, Voodoochild said:

Yeah, it's indeed disappointing. But the Gibson 2020 line doesn't have SDs either, so it makes sense they wouldn't put that on Epiphones. But I see no reason on why they didn't at least use the same Slashbuckers as the GIbson line.

From what I heard on reviews, it sounds like regular Epiphone ProBuckers with some extra to sound less muddy and more crunchy. It does not sound as good as the Slashbuckers tho to justify the extra 200 in comparison to the regular Epiphone Standard. 

Still, it's a pretty good guitar. It's just that IMO it's overpriced. 

 

Yeah. Especially when they used Gibson pickups in the new Epi 1959. 

If anyone is really in the market for a Slash epiphone, I’d highly suggest the older models. Especially the 2010 Epiphone Appetite model. Great looking top and the color looks correct. Comes stock with the Duncans and the used market is still around these new models for the time being 

2 hours ago, MaskingApathy said:

No there's some good songs on Libertad, the production just sold them short so they didn't sound as good as they could've been.

 

These are out now. I don't know if Slash tells them what music to put in the videos but it's interesting that they're using SMKC song here instead of GnR. Did the same thing with the Gibson Slash collection video and some of the other older ones.

It takes the other 2 to sign off on the licensing to use GNR music. Slash/his team would have to approve SMKC being used here as well but it’s a much easier road Don’t think it’s anymore than that

On a side note, disappointing they aren’t using his new Gibson or Seymour Duncan pickups in these guitars at that price point. The older epiphones came stock with the Duncans. 

They probably didn’t want to pay anyone to mix them. Whether it’s because these vids won’t generate enough ad revenue to pay for it, or to keep things under the radar and not need to get approvals from the 3 of them  once $ is involved 

9 minutes ago, Tom2112 said:

I know Axl wouldn't listen to everything. A good idea, is a good idea though and Axl would have to respect the legacy a manager like Azoff has! so if they come with an idea it's worth listening too! If TB come with an idea, what does he have to go by? they have no experience outside of GNR and they seemingly don't even look to other artists of a similar size to get ideas. We all know the music industry is flipped on it's head, but the only way you continue to grow is with savvy thinking. I haven't seen one good decision from this band in a long, long time and IF that's Axl doing alone! then maybe he needs to be sat down and told "just sign the cheques, sing the songs and shut the fuck up"😄 I'd pay a lot of money to hear his response to that!

Maybe. I’m sure people have tried. Thing is Axl is pushing 60. What is GNR now realistically in the market? Artistically and what they stand for? The time for that was probably at least 20 years ago. 

35 minutes ago, Tom2112 said:

"In return he's on stage performing with Slash" you can't chalk that up to TB. Axl made that happen, they just sent the email asking for a phone number, after Axl requested they do it. The reason that tour came together was Live nation, Slash and Duffs individual managers and then lastly TB, unless there's some shadow players that helped (Steven tyler / Dee Snider / Dice😋). 

But yeah, maybe TB are best for Axl. I don't think so. I think Axl could have a competent manager again now that the reunion has happened. He has no reason now to be thinking the manager will have ulterior motives trying to sabotage him and his "creative vision". If Azoff was in charge now, he'd have them on tour, he'd have them doing very select press, but he wouldn't be overdoing it (he represents VH and The Eagles - VH were not a press band😄). End of the day the artist drives the ship, and the manager facilitates, but if your manager is inexperienced then the facilitating is going to be shoddy... and that's why you pay for experience. Learn on the job is not a management style that works with an artist 30 + years in.

Im sure there’s been a laundry list of promoters and people trying to make it happen since the late 90’s. You’re right, it was Axl. However I don’t believe he goes ahead if he felt or perceived to be manipulated or pressured into the situation. Whether it was valid to feel that way or not.

He probably feels comfortable with TB and doesn’t feel that tug. Managers aren’t miracle workers. If the artist doesn’t want to play ball, things won’t happen. Is Azoff a better manager and more respected or perhaps feared? You bet. That doesn’t mean Axl has to listen though. I think if you look back at the band’s history, their actions seem to be consistent no matter who’s managing them. It comes from the artist 

20 hours ago, allwaystired said:

Whatever people's thoughts on TB are.........it's Axl that has run the band into the poor position they are now in. 

There can't be much doubt on that one now, surely? The buck really stops with him, and he seems to have lost interest a long time ago. If he still cared about moving forwards there's no chance the band would be in this position. 

Really whatever management the band has had since Izzy/Steven left has been more or less similar. The artist directs management in how they want to operate. It’s obviously coming from Axl. This is how he wants things run. They’ve had professional managers and an industry giant with Azoff.  It didn’t matter. Axl went dark when they released the album. He’s had a handful of interviews since 1994. He doesn’t really interact with the fanbase outside of the stage and if it does happen, it’s often confrontational. Band members more or less shy away from any details with the ongoings. None of this stuff is new or is a product of TB. It’s the artist…
 

Is TB the best option? It probably is the best option for Axl. They will run things the way he wants. In return, he’s on stage performing with Slash. That’s better than what others have tried and failed to replicate. As far as new music, TB can get in line with the rest. We’ll see if it happens 

He felt that Azoff and the label “sabotaged” the album, forced its release with the ultimate goal of bringing on a reunion  

If that were his fears, then why sign with Azoff? The guy notoriously meddles with artists, labels, promoters etc to get his outcome and is the major power player in the industry. Of course he wanted to cash in on a reunion. Why else is he interested in representing you? 

I don’t think Axl ever truly intended on releasing anything. I think he was upset at the industry and the label for dictating his art and rejecting the first submission. So he took their $, ran up the budget and held onto the project as payback. It’s the name of the project after 2000 Intentions died. Chinese Democracy. Something that may sound good in theory but it’s existence will never be seen 

Get ready for the Skin n Bones Acoustic Electric Boogaloo 

14 minutes ago, Tom2112 said:

Metallica will definitely have a new album by the end of this year or mid next (already working on it), that's a rapid turn around for them (Nov 2016, so 5ish years). That'll mean since 2008 they released 3 full LPs, you would be pretty embarrassed if you were a similar vintage band😄

They also own their old masters and have their own label. They can pretty much do whatever they want with the material. 
 

Perhaps GNR would have more freedom if they had fulfilled their recording contract  

3 hours ago, Beto 22 said:

I believe if Axl would do a Biography today, he would probably blame Doug Gouldstein... Slash and Duff said the same thing about giving up the name and both said it was through Goldstein and never said that there were any pressurre by Axl personally to make them give up the name.

And Axl said sometimes he wanted to have some control of the name to protect himself from being fired the way it hapenned in the past with Niven attempt. So if Axl does a biography these days he would probably say that he wants some kind of protection and Doug handle it making the impression he wanted the name and this was never his intention.

When you’re relying on intermediaries for communication, you’re also beholden to their personal slants and even agendas 

They all have a version to what happened because they weren’t mentally and/or physically there to address it. They have no one to blame but themselves 

A band can function or not function in many different ways. Who’s to say what’s the official definition. I think we all know what the band’s focus has been these last few years. I think we all know the focus for a few periods of the band’s history. 

There have been multiple off ramps and reasons for fans to abandon over the years. Personally new music is at the end of that list for myself. There’s been one album in 30 years. Why is this tour the last straw? It is what’s its always been with this band. If something gets released, then that’s great. If not, it’s what exactly what GNR has been for the majority of its existence 

You really want re-recorded CD II songs with vocals that were done 20 yrs ago? If anything happens, it will most likely be that 
 

Any release would be used simply to help sell concert tickets to keep getting that guaranteed fee. That’s simply where they are in their careers.  New music isn’t the focus. The focus is to play large venues for big checks. New music is simply some gasoline for the touring engine. They won’t release anything until the tank starts to look empty 

They’re a nostalgia act who’s cashing in on the reunion. That’s whether they release new music or not. People come out to hear songs that were written 30yrs ago 

You can count on one hand the amount of in depth interviews he’s given since Slash quit  

So really anything of substance that he doesn’t want to be asked publicly since then 

1 hour ago, ZoSoRose said:

I thought of that SL5, would have been cool but I already have an amp that does the same thing and it is still a lot for a Chinese made 5 watter imo

Yeah, I get that. I usually play with a Rocker 15 through a 1x12 at home. Having something like that would be more of a novelty as Marshalls aren’t generally my preference 

They normally go for 7-800 on the used market and figured there would be a premium on that one, but it did make me think for a second when I saw it 

1 hour ago, axlslash said:

He's a session musician whose primary gig is a band that never records and exclusively tours, and he hasn't worked in over a year. He isn't Axl, Slash, or Duff who has mountains of money to live off of. He's a working musician who hasn't been working. Probably just needs to clear some stuff out to pay bills while he waits for the GNR paychecks to pick back up.

1 hour ago, cineater said:

I can't believe he's selling his shit.  Is he dying, quitting touring?

He’s probably still doing just fine. Didn’t he recently sell his nyc apt? Everyone thins out the herd once in a while. It takes up a ton of space if you’re not using it. Hilarious that he had a Marshall SL5. If it was under 900, I would have thought about it. A Richard Fortus owned Slash signature AFD amp?  

My guess is he’s looking for something like a burst. That or he can simply put the $ elsewhere and invest it in something better than guitars/gear. 

He’s cashing out at a good time. The market is great for used gear right now 

Chicago Music Exchange is also selling a huge amount of Fortus gear right now. Some really cool stuff 
 

On 4/12/2021 at 1:07 PM, MaskingApathy said:

I think he's just trying to sell off a bunch of gear that he doesn't use anymore.

Yeah, and some of it he will probably make something good off his initial investment. It’s a good time to sell. Stuff like 70’s Gibsons, Silverbursts, etc...have done well over the last 20 yrs

He still has a huge collection after this. You can’t keep it forever and it takes up a ton of space. Gotta thin out the herd at times. I’m sure he has new stuff that comes in constantly. Maybe he’s eyeing something big or he can invest it elsewhere. Life happens 

33 minutes ago, 19AT5 said:

Are we listening/talking about the same band here?! The typical GNR set list has been pretty much static bar the odd surprise here and there for the past few years! (NOTE: I did however welcome with open arms the addition of Locomotive back in the set!) 

Seems like the set list is static from tour to tour or each era of the band. They do usually add a song or two each time out. Otherwise it’s the same order. That’s being said, people come out to hear Jungle and the hits and there’s only a handful of albums to choose from. The majority of people don’t want to hear Locomotive let alone stuff from CD. It’s a good thing that stuff gets played and it does cater to core fans 

I think fans here in this community would enjoy it more if the order of songs were just more spontaneous. Just opening with different songs makes you think you’re witnessing a different show. Even if the set is still 80/90 percent the same each night. 

As far as anything new? I think it’s obvious they have stuff that’s completed. That’s always been the case though since the late 90’s. Having a reason to let it go is historically something different 

This is a touring/legacy act now. Releasing something maybe potentially gets them to continue playing large shows, stadiums and more importantly the same payday. As a result the possibility of new songs will always viewed as potential fuel for the mechanism so that they can go out and play Jungle to PC 
 

The previous incarnation didn’t release anything and as a result of their disfunction, label disputes and over saturation, the act dwindled to Vegas and club level shows. That’s opposed to releasing something that gets a tepid response and the act dwindled to Vegas and club level shows due to just over saturation 
 

Which scenario is more reassuring to the ego? Which scenario spreads out blame and protects from rejection? Chinese Democracy...something that may sound good in theory but in reality will never see in our lifetime 

Ashba was coming off hot from Sixx AM and the Crue record. The issue was that GNR couldn’t release an album. You were left with Ashba only showcasing himself as live player in that band. When comparing him to Fortus and Bumble in that setting, it’s easy to come up short there