James Iha from the Smashing "Punkins" talks guitar

[russticles]

James gets asked about his guitar rig for APC, guy seems to pronounce Pumpkins as Punkins

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxoHvr2ICYA

The Les Paul he has on him was used with the Pumpkins

[East Rocket]

Cool.

I've always wondered if James still has his telecaster from the early days.

[he/she/it]

Sweet, thanks for the link.

So James is all digital with an Axe FX these days, at least on tour. I remember when the guy who started Axe FX was (briefly) posting on the Harmony Central forums before having released anything, looking for idea feedback from the Amp forum, and the tube amp heads there ridiculed the idea of the digital Axe FX.

I find the pic of the Mesa Boogie Bass 400+ amp in his rig interesting. I guess maybe he's using that instead of a power amp that's intended for guitar? Or, he just shares a rack with the bass player.

Generally, James makes it sound like he isn't obsessed with gear. But then, so did Billy C in his own Premier Guitar rig rundown: https://youtu.be/_eVH5vUR8u8

Maybe they just don't have to be anymore, having gone through everything and already knowing what sounds they like and having the equipment to produce them.

[Ram27]

That was the most James Iha interview ever

Love the MCIS silverburst Les Paul

I think the all digital stuff is kinda lame. At least, coming from 5 years of drumming and experiencing how crappy electric kits are trying to replicate acoustics. Probably better for guitar stuff though as that's already an electric signal that's just being processed a bit more

[FoolofaTook]

THAT'S RIGHT. YOU TELL HIM

SHUT THE FUCK UP RAM27!!!! SHUT. THE FUCK. UP.

[FoolofaTook]

(u don't know shit)

[AveryLoren]

This is just sad. He clearly is just cashing the check.

[Rider]

Originally Posted by he/she/it

Sweet, thanks for the link.

So James is all digital with an Axe FX these days, at least on tour. I remember when the guy who started Axe FX was (briefly) posting on the Harmony Central forums before having released anything, looking for idea feedback from the Amp forum, and the tube amp heads there ridiculed the idea of the digital Axe FX.

I find the pic of the Mesa Boogie Bass 400+ amp in his rig interesting. I guess maybe he's using that instead of a power amp that's intended for guitar? Or, he just shares a rack with the bass player.

Generally, James makes it sound like he isn't obsessed with gear. But then, so did Billy C in his own Premier Guitar rig rundown: https://youtu.be/_eVH5vUR8u8

Maybe they just don't have to be anymore, having gone through everything and already knowing what sounds they like and having the equipment to produce them.

They show a bass immediately after showing the bass amp.

[FoolofaTook]

Originally Posted by AveryLoren

This is just sad. He clearly is just cashing the check.

AND providing us with a fascinating topic of discussion.

open your mind.

[teh b0lly!!1]

watching this interview feels like getting punched in the balls

waiting for this dude to utter out a single sentence in response to the simplest questions is like eating gravel and he basically has no fucking idea what's even happening

he doesn't even know what gauge strings he's using, i mean what the fuck

[TuralyonW3]

And yet he's touring way bigger venues than corgan these days

[FoolofaTook]

The greatest men where always misunderstood in they're time. Christ, Baphomet, Tesla, and yes: bElli.

[strtj]

Originally Posted by teh b0lly!!1

watching this interview feels like getting punched in the balls

waiting for this dude to utter out a single sentence in response to the simplest questions is like eating gravel and he basically has no fucking idea what's even happening

he doesn't even know what gauge strings he's using, i mean what the fuck

Do you think he ever knew what gauge strings he was using? "It's on a note on my iphone" is the 2017 equivalent of "I'd have to ask my guitar tech." And his guitar tech used to be... ah well, you know. He's used to having someone else to do all of his technical thinking for him. All he's asked to do is to play the guitar, and he does that. Can you imagine the sort of passive person you would have to be to be in a band with BC for 12 years? And yet it still ground him down. He clearly doesn't know how to operate on tour without someone else taking care of all of the details, and I don't think it's his fault.

[toase]

Lol at you an teh bolleh

[FoolofaTook]

Can you imagine Takeshi not knowing what guage his double headed axe's strings are?

Takeshi >>>>>>>> James

[russticles]

I think James just isn't that much of a 'gear-head' and doesn't care that much. I mean, he has a guitar in a weird tuning just to make this repeating pattern easier to play in ONE song. He has ONE guitar tuned ONE way to play ONE song cause he doesn't want to repeatedly play the same pattern in their C# tuning.

The interview/gear-talk was pretty painful but it's just James being James, it's just the way he is.

[run2pee]

Anyone itt who didn't write mayo can fuck right off with the james hate

[Ram27]

Originally Posted by strtj

Can you imagine the sort of passive person you would have to be to be in a band with BC for 12 years? And yet it still ground him down.

That's a really good point

James' attitude here should be no surprise to anyone. He's the perfect foil to Billy

[toase]

some people don't like to give interviews

[The Omega Concern]

Originally Posted by russticles

I think James just isn't that much of a 'gear-head' and doesn't care that much. I mean, he has a guitar in a weird tuning just to make this repeating pattern easier to play in ONE song. He has ONE guitar tuned ONE way to play ONE song cause he doesn't want to repeatedly play the same pattern in their C# tuning.

The interview/gear-talk was pretty painful but it's just James being James, it's just the way he is.

Yah, he prolly doesn't care that much, but knows more than he leads on because he'd just as well get the interview over with.


On the other side of that there's a guy like Devin Townsend, consummate gearhead and the type that can make his own pedals.

[Funbags]

I guess James just doesn't want to be known as a "guitar dude". Billy H is definitely a guitar dude.

[Brisk]

7 mins 26... who really stands like that with their hands in their pocket