Brent Mason's latetest pedalboard (with pics)

Just got the new Indyguitarist newsletter, and he had this link with a recent pedablboard made for Brent Mason:
http://www.indyguitarist.com/bsm/807/bsm-pb-807.htm

I wasn't sure if this counted as a Tele topic, or if it should be in the stompbox forum...

Just got the new Indyguitarist newsletter, and he had this link with a recent pedablboard made for Brent Mason:
http://www.indyguitarist.com/bsm/807/bsm-pb-807.htm

I wasn't sure if this counted as a Tele topic, or if it should be in the stompbox forum...

Makes me glad Cropper is my God. :razz: :lol: :mrgreen: :smile:

Makes me glad Cropper is my God.


thats the ultimate STUDIO board.he has it so big to fit everything that could possibly be used in studio.he plays on almost every major session.

hey what is a "sparkle drive" ?(top center)what does it do?

hey what is a "sparkle drive" ?(top center)what does it do?

its a ts808 style overdrive. used as a overdriven tube distortion.

So the big box with the switches is just a bunch of... switches? is there something complex in there with presets, etc? I think it'd be a lot cheaper just to make each of the effects true-bypass (most of them are already?)...

thats not a pedalboard thats a aircraft carrier wow
glad i dont have to carry it

thanks for sharing

Makes me glad Cropper is my God.

Amen...

I got enough trouble with just a guitar and an amp.

So the big box with the switches is just a bunch of... switches? is there something complex in there with presets, etc? I think it'd be a lot cheaper just to make each of the effects true-bypass (most of them are already?)...

There were a few reasons for that... Brent switches pedals in and out sometimes and wanted to be able to do that easily. He also just wanted all the switches in a row so tap dancing was minimized. Also, if you get a bad cord or something in the studio it can be a BEAR to find it. This way, he can bypass everything including cables to isolate the problem. There is still a few things I need to do to it, but it is 95% finished and as now in use as his main studio board. He still has a secondary board that will be at the smaller studios and live stuff. There is a visual sound j&h, route 66, one of my boss ds-1 mods, my sparkle drive mod, and I don't recall which chorus... sorry. :lol:

Makes me feel less guilty about my ideal pedal board.

thanks for clarifying... I wish I had so many pedals that I had to make a box with buttons to use them! :grin:

It's certainly grown since last time we saw it. I must admit that I shed a little tear when I saw the RC Boost on there, I sold mine today, and now it's gone I don't know why.

Just got the new Indyguitarist newsletter, and he had this link with a recent pedablboard made for Brent Mason:
http://www.indyguitarist.com/bsm/807/bsm-pb-807.htm

I wasn't sure if this counted as a Tele topic, or if it should be in the stompbox forum...


Got my newsletter also and man that board is huge. I would assume being a studio musician you need something like that. If I carried that on stage with me the band would run me off. I noticed some of the settings on some of his pedals like I have,probably have to try them tomorrow. I am interested in the bypass looper.

I got enough trouble with just a guitar and an amp.

WHAT!!! I thought I was the only one!:lol: :wink:

24x48?!?!?! i've played on stages that big!

glad i dont have to carry it


+1

Though I'm sure they're all necessary for him to work on his work.

How does the bypass looper work? Do you turn on all the pedals and leave them on then use the switches on the looper to engage effects?

thats the ultimate STUDIO board.he has it so big to fit everything that could possibly be used in studio.he plays on almost every major session.

Yeah, I know this... However, Cropper played on some pretty major sessions for a recording company somewhere in Memphis back in the 60s, without any of that stuff! :lol:

How does the bypass looper work? Do you turn on all the pedals and leave them on then use the switches on the looper to engage effects?

Thats what I do with mine. It eliminates the "stompbox two step" you need to do with a bunch of effects on a board. The biggest advantage to using a looper is you only have whatever effects you are using in your signal path and all the others are isolated. Cuts down on line loss and tone issues when you aren't using any effects.

Yeah, I know this... However, Cropper played on some pretty major sessions for a recording company somewhere in Memphis back in the 60s, without any of that stuff! :lol:

That would be Stax Records. Unfortunately session demands have changed considerably in the last 40+ years. Most of that stuff was recorded when fuzz tones where new (and wah wah's didn't even exist) on 2 and 4 track decks. Session players are expected to have multiple effects these days.

Makes me glad Cropper is my God.

Like Clint Eastwood says!:mrgreen:

That would be Stax Records. Unfortunately session demands have changed considerably in the last 40+ years. Most of that stuff was recorded when fuzz tones where new (and wah wah's didn't even exist) on 2 and 4 track decks. Session players are expected to have multiple effects these days.

It's a sad sad world we live in, pedal boards and reissue Stax on Mclemore and College.

Thats what I do with mine. It eliminates the "stompbox two step" you need to do with a bunch of effects on a board. The biggest advantage to using a looper is you only have whatever effects you are using in your signal path and all the others are isolated. Cuts down on line loss and tone issues when you aren't using any effects.


Is this different than having a pedal modified to be true bypass?

I see that straight 9-Volt plug sticking out of the front of the Boss tremolo and I think, "that's gonna get damaged". I know it has a strain relief but I was wondering if anybody makes pre-formed right-angle power supply cables with plugs attached. Anybody ever see them? It would make things a little easier to keep from getting stepped on and damaged.

Yeah, I know this... However, Cropper played on some pretty major sessions for a recording company somewhere in Memphis back in the 60s, without any of that stuff! :lol:


Steve Cropper actually just took a look at Brent's new board when he was in Sound Check and told Brent he loved it. Brent won't use it for anything live and some studios won't accomodate it. He is really happy that he can stop "riverdancing" :lol: so much as the guys in the studio call it when Brent has to hop around his pedalboard. (he also likes to joke that he is playing twister) It's also going to cut down on the damage to the pedals that sometimes occurs when he switches his them in and out all the time, it is hard on the pedals and this will solve that problem as well.

If all Brent was called on to record was Sitting on the Dock of the Bay type guitar he wouldnt need such a set up, but the Nike commercial he just recorded didn't want that sound for some reason..........nor does the latest movie soundtrack he just began working on.

Yeah, I know this... However, Cropper played on some pretty major sessions for a recording company somewhere in Memphis back in the 60s, without any of that stuff! :lol:

:rolleyes:

Session players have to make it their #1 priority to give the producer what he wants, if not you are not hired again, period. If having a huge pedalboard helps get the job done I would not knock it. Honestly, I love Brent's playing, but some things he has played are not anything I would ever want to listen to again. Considering that he almost starved when he first came to Nashville, he can play anything and with as many pedals as he wants. Just my .02

It's a sad sad world we live in, pedal boards and reissue Stax on Mclemore and College.


And over at the gear page this board got a big yawn... :grin:

"Interesting....Sorta low tech, but the switcher might be what saves it"

"Just proves you don't need the best pedals"

"wonder how may of them are stock?"

"Nice handles"

Different worlds... :shock:

Brent Mason could play through a box of milkduds and make it sound like the greatest thing I've ever heard. I know Reggie Young uses pedals aplenty and between Reg & Brent... well that is some fine pickin' indeed.

I'd bet Crop would read this thread and say "Whoa, don't be puttin' my name in with that opinion!"

Thanks for the note Blue Water Girl and send our best to Brent. I just played two Alan Jackson songs today at a festival and dang if some of those licks will make your hand cramp. Brent is the real deal fo' sho'... anything he decides to do I will give a long listen, whistle under my breath and say... "that shore listens good."

I see that straight 9-Volt plug sticking out of the front of the Boss tremolo and I think, "that's gonna get damaged". I know it has a strain relief but I was wondering if anybody makes pre-formed right-angle power supply cables with plugs attached. Anybody ever see them? It would make things a little easier to keep from getting stepped on and damaged.

The Visual Sound One Spot comes with some right-angle 9v power plugs. They may sell them separately.

Steve Cropper actually just took a look at Brent's new board when he was in Sound Check and told Brent he loved it. Brent won't use it for anything live and some studios won't accomodate it. He is really happy that he can stop "riverdancing" :lol: so much as the guys in the studio call it when Brent has to hop around his pedalboard. (he also likes to joke that he is playing twister) It's also going to cut down on the damage to the pedals that sometimes occurs when he switches his them in and out all the time, it is hard on the pedals and this will solve that problem as well.

If all Brent was called on to record was Sitting on the Dock of the Bay type guitar he wouldnt need such a set up, but the Nike commercial he just recorded didn't want that sound for some reason..........nor does the latest movie soundtrack he just began working on.

God was just being nice when he said he liked that new board:lol:.

And, "if all Brent was called on to record was Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" we'd have lost one of the greatest recordings of all time! It's sometimes sad that all Otis Redding and Steve's work gets lumped into that song, which was really unlike anything they had both previously done, even if that song was a masterpiece. That's studio "art", playing something for a Nike commerical is nothing more than making a quick buck.

FredDairy - your comments are very enlightening and meaningful.

playing something for a Nike commerical is nothing more than making a quick buck.





Your talking to Brent Mason's wife (blue water girl) have a little respect... :smile:

That's studio "art", playing something for a Nike commerical is nothing more than making a quick buck.

being a professional musician is both art and craft both equally respectable and worthy. Being able to play on all the great songs that Crop played on was certainly a joy, but he didn't do it for free. He played because he loved it and got to do it because he got paid.

If you ever talk to the old session guys half the time they didn't even know when a song was a hit.. they were cutting songs right and left.... Talk to Bob Bain some time or when TT was alive... they did it because they loved it, but they got paid...

In your post there is air (maybe I'm misreading) of seeing working on a Nike ad as less noble than playing a session on a song that you co-wrote that become a classic. I would bet that guys like Cropper (who played with John Belushi in the Blues Bros) give it there all regardless of the song or the band or the situation... that is being a professional.

Work is work. Sometimes it turns into a classic song that has been used in movies and ads and becomes iconic. Sometimes its original intended purpose is to sell shoes or shirts or glasses or whatever...

Notes on a page... sometimes the notes make magic, sometimes not, but for a working musician, those notes need to make enough money to keep going.

being a professional musician is both art and craft both equally respectable and worthy. Being able to play on all the great songs that Crop played on was certainly a joy, but he didn't do it for free. He played because he loved it and got to do it because he got paid.

If you ever talk to the old session guys half the time they didn't even know when a song was a hit.. they were cutting songs right and left.... Talk to Bob Bain some time or when TT was alive... they did it because they loved it, but they got paid...

In your post there is air (maybe I'm misreading) of seeing working on a Nike ad as less noble than playing a session on a song that you co-wrote that become a classic. I would bet that guys like Cropper (who played with John Belushi in the Blues Bros) give it there all regardless of the song or the band or the situation... that is being a professional.

Work is work. Sometimes it turns into a classic song that has been used in movies and ads and becomes iconic. Sometimes its original intended purpose is to sell shoes or shirts or glasses or whatever...

Notes on a page... sometimes the notes make magic, sometimes not, but for a working musician, those notes need to make enough money to keep going.

Yes, there is a slight "air" in my post regarding playing on a Nike commercial as being less important than playing on an Otis Redding session. Brent Mason is a phenomenal guitarist, and I'm not taking anything away from him by saying that either. I'd love to be good enough on guitar to cut it as a studio musician. But I turn off commercials, and I get goosebumps when I put on an Otis Redding album.

A Stax session is a completly different situation than what you're explaining as studio work. I don't know how many "notes on page" sessions those guys did back in the 60s and I'd be willing to bet none! I don't think those guys just cut a song to cut it. Cropper had said they'd go to work like a butcher or a banker. Get in in the morning and hang their coats up and go to work 5 days a week. But he'd also pull an 18 hour day, because he loved what he was doing. I had read that all the players and Otis felt that after they recorded Sittin' that they had finally got him his #1. Then Otis dies and Steve does what he calls the hardest thing in his life, finishing up the "Sittin'" session, without Otis. That's meaningful!

Sorry to offend the Brent Mason fans.

Fred,
Your first post on this thread... and your last. What does Steve Cropper have to do with Brent Mason's pedalboard? Besides reading some stuff about Steve what do you actually know about his preferences regarding guitars, effects or doing session work? I see that you get 'goosebumps' listening to Otis Redding, did the Blues Brothers Albums have the same effect?

Is your post really that there is less value in players who use pedalboards? or is it that there is less value in someone who didn't play for stax? or is it that the folks at stax only did soulful music and never sold out to the man? again, I'd ask what the heck does that have to do with a pedalboard or Brent Mason?

It is typically good form to at least announce when you are going to do a thread hijack. Even when for a higher moral purpose.

I see that straight 9-Volt plug sticking out of the front of the Boss tremolo and I think, "that's gonna get damaged". I know it has a strain relief but I was wondering if anybody makes pre-formed right-angle power supply cables with plugs attached. Anybody ever see them? It would make things a little easier to keep from getting stepped on and damaged.

Visual Sound does. I picked up one of their daisy chains just yesterday for that same reason--$9.99 at Guitar Center. They also include one with their "Combo Pack" (One Spot, daisy chain and a few adaptors for 9V only pedals and such).

Fred,
Your first post on this thread... and your last. What does Steve Cropper have to do with Brent Mason's pedalboard? Besides reading some stuff about Steve what do you actually know about his preferences regarding guitars, effects or doing session work? I see that you get 'goosebumps' listening to Otis Redding, did the Blues Brothers Albums have the same effect?

Is your post really that there is less value in players who use pedalboards? or is it that there is less value in someone who didn't play for stax? or is it that the folks at stax only did soulful music and never sold out to the man? again, I'd ask what the heck does that have to do with a pedalboard or Brent Mason?

It is typically good form to at least announce when you are going to do a thread hijack. Even when for a higher moral purpose.


Original post was a joke, sorry it must have gone over your head. I'll watch my hijacking form from here on out. Your long history of studio musicianship was the hijacking point. But I bit that, and I guess I'm as guilty of hijacking too. I don't put less value in players who use pedal boards, but I prefer to see someone play straight into an amp. All the questions your asking me have nothing to do with the pedal board of Brent Mason. But, my original post did, in a sarcastic joking way.

It's always a good idea to add one of these :lol: to indicate you're just joking around.

It's always a good idea to add one of these :lol: to indicate you're just joking around.

I know I know! I did on my 2nd post, but had forgotten it on the 1st. :oops:

Got my newsletter also and man that board is huge. I would assume being a studio musician you need something like that. If I carried that on stage with me the band would run me off. I noticed some of the settings on some of his pedals like I have,probably have to try them tomorrow. I am interested in the bypass looper.

don't do that! :arrow: those aren't actual settings, they are just that way from me moving the board up and down, back and forth, etc! It'll probably sound like crap if you set them that way! :lol:

bw

don't do that! :arrow: those aren't actual settings, they are just that way from me moving the board up and down, back and forth, etc! It'll probably sound like crap if you set them that way! :lol:

bw

Yea, I figured that out when I tried it. I think there was only a couple of pedals I had that were like his anyway.

Original post was a joke, sorry it must have gone over your head.

It's always a good idea to add one of these :lol: to indicate you're just joking around.


Caution, genius at work.... :grin:

i was watching the nashville chops and western swing guitar video this morning, is interesting comparing his gear setup back then to what it is now. I noticed he only had 4 stompboxes (proco RAT, boss tremolo, boss compressor and a delay) in a drawer at the bottom of his amp rack. I may be mistaken, but he said most of his chorus/delays etc all came from his huge digital effects rack.

is it the case now that stompboxes are 'where it's at' as far as studio guitar work goes? it would be interesting to know how often Brent is called to use his digital rack delays or eventide harmonizer compared to how much he is required to just kick on a sparkledrive pedal.


great pics by the way, thanks a lot for sharing.

I remember and interview with some A-list session guy who was asked about how often he used his huge setup that he took to sessions, and said a lot of is was psychological. Producers would ask for something "really special" or give a long explanation of what they were looking for, and so he'd say "Oh--okay, give me a minute...", then make a show of punching a lot of buttons and turning dials. Then he'd turn on a phaser and some amp reverb and say "How about...THIS!" and play something, and they'd love it.

He said if he pressed one button to turn on the phaser it wouldn't impress them as much, and since cartage was responsible for moving and setting everything up, it didn't bother him.

I remember and interview with some A-list session guy who was asked about how often he used his huge setup that he took to sessions, and said a lot of is was psychological. Producers would ask for something "really special" or give a long explanation of what they were looking for, and so he'd say "Oh--okay, give me a minute...", then make a show of punching a lot of buttons and turning dials. Then he'd turn on a phaser and some amp reverb and say "How about...THIS!" and play something, and they'd love it.

He said if he pressed one button to turn on the phaser it wouldn't impress them as much, and since cartage was responsible for moving and setting everything up, it didn't bother him.

In the studio he uses all of it. He has been talking for over two years about getting a custom board with all the things he needs arranged to his own specifications - he spent alot of time planning where each pedal and switch would be put on that board and it was made especially for him based on his requirements. It took several months to complete and even as recently as a week ago it was still being wired and the kinks being worked out. Brent took alot of time and expense to have this done for him - he wouldn't have gone to so much trouble if it was just for show. He had it done to simplify his life, not complicate it. He has made two other boards for live shows and for smaller studios and our rec room downstairs has been a complete wreck for two months while he has worked day and night in his spare time to finish the other two boards. We cant even let our cats go in there because they will choke on wires and plastic pieces all over the room. He cleaned most of up this past weekend, but it is still pretty bad down there!

i was watching the nashville chops and western swing guitar video this morning, is interesting comparing his gear setup back then to what it is now. I noticed he only had 4 stompboxes (proco RAT, boss tremolo, boss compressor and a delay) in a drawer at the bottom of his amp rack. I may be mistaken, but he said most of his chorus/delays etc all came from his huge digital effects rack.

is it the case now that stompboxes are 'where it's at' as far as studio guitar work goes? it would be interesting to know how often Brent is called to use his digital rack delays or eventide harmonizer compared to how much he is required to just kick on a sparkledrive pedal.


great pics by the way, thanks a lot for sharing.

Hi Sol - he sold all of those effects racks several years ago (3-4 yrs) to Clint Black for Clint's home studio. He doesn't have them anymore and uses the boards for all his effects now.

The one point everyone is missing is the fact Brent is a studio musician and has to be prepared for any and all situations. The last thing a studio guitar player wants to have happen is for a producer to say "give me something that sounds like this..." and he has to reply "I don't have a pedal that does that".

Studio musicians are being paid to play whatever the artist, producer, record company, etc. has hired them to play. I am sure they are called upon to get tones or play riffs and fills that may not even be their first choice or personal preference, but hey.......that is what they are paid to do.

Just because a guy has a huge pedalboard doesn't mean he uses every effect on every song. It means he has all his bases covered and is prepared to do a good job for the people who are paying him.

Would you rather have a mechanic work on your car who had a few hand tools or one that had $10,000 in Snap On tools and a computer to diagnose your problem? :wink:

take care,
Robbie Wallace
RGW Electronics

My point was that most of the gear a studio musician brings with them won't be used on a given session, but that a not-insignificant part of it was the wow factor of having all that stuff on display. You think "Wow! That guy's got all the bases covered! We're in good hands!" I'd do the same thing if I was a session player.

I remember reading that the Allman Brothers were holding auditions for a new bassist, and the guy who won had already scored major points by bringing a pickup truck worth of his gear for the audition, whereas most of the other candidates just wanted to use some backline rental. They figured "This guy REALLY wants this gig..." when he showed up with three SVT's or whatever.

The one point everyone is missing is the fact Brent is a studio musician and has to be prepared for any and all situations.

take care,
Robbie Wallace
RGW Electronics

My sentiments exactly. This post started out with a nice link to a nice setup and somehow it has began to take a turn.I think the effect pedals are a must in studio sessions and live performances.
I would like to say thanks to the one who posted the link, I was just a few hours short of posting the link myself.

My point was that most of the gear a studio musician brings with them won't be used on a given session, but that a not-insignificant part of it was the wow factor of having all that stuff on display. You think "Wow! That guy's got all the bases covered! We're in good hands!" I'd do the same thing if I was a session player.

I remember reading that the Allman Brothers were holding auditions for a new bassist, and the guy who won had already scored major points by bringing a pickup truck worth of his gear for the audition, whereas most of the other candidates just wanted to use some backline rental. They figured "This guy REALLY wants this gig..." when he showed up with three SVT's or whatever.
And this one:
When Eric Clapton was called for the Concert for Bangala desh and was M.I A. for a while, George Harrison put out a call for an "Extra" Guitar player. Jesse Ed Davis showed up with a Telecaster and a Deluxe Reverb STRAPPED TO HIS BACK!. He got the job!

I have long been a no pedals guy, only in the last few years putting a Bad Bob in my chain and that's simply a booster with 1 knob. I don't even use a compressor. 90% of the time, or more, it's Tele to Bad Bob to Vibrolux. And I've had some very nice things said about the tone(s) and music I can make with such a minimal rig. But I sometimes question this myself.

I see someone like Inertian come to my jams with a board full of pedals and create some very different tones and textures that really work, for the song and for setting Ian apart in a room full of Teles. I could certainly say the same of others. I plug into Ian's board and the pedals are no longer tools, but toys for Mikey to play with. I don't get it either, but I'm pedal challenged. I could say "I don't need no steenking pedals", but I sometimes wonder what aspects of my playing might be enhanced if I learned how to use pedals more advantagously.

You can use pedals as toys or even as a crutch, and we all know plenty of folks that do that. But bop on over to the Main Discussion forum and check out the clip of Brent playing Spidercaster's '52 Tele straight into his famous Deluxe Reverb. There's no doubt left that this is someone that uses a pedal as a tool to enhance their tone and the song when it's appropriate. That's what any good guitarist or musician will do with pedals in the long run.

BTW; I think perhaps one reason Steve Cropper didn't use a pedalboard on Dock of the Bay is the same reason President Lincoln didn't fly on Air Force One.

If you were a carpenter, would you only bring a hand saw?

I myself don't get the calls I used to cuz I don't have a big bag of tricks (and was told so by the commercial studio I worked at). That's going to change (see my new thread on this forum). There's personal taste, which is fine. Then there's reality, especially if you want to work.

Another thought:
Could anyone just be a wee bit jealous of Mr. Mason's talent and career?.
Many years ago I remember a lot of musicians dissed other players for "going commercial" or "selling out". Funny thing, I seem to remember that the "purists" could not play 1/4 as well as the "hacks" that played on jingles, club dates and such and actually made a living playing their instruments.
Just my .02, worthless as it may be. :mrgreen:

Like I said in another thread, I used to be a no pedals kinda guy too, but I finally decided that there were flavors missing in my cooking that I wanted sometimes. I can imagine that a studio musician needs to be able to cook up whatever a producer wants on the spot without saying "hang on, let me run to the store to get more spices."

My pedal board is growing bigger than I want it to, really, but I'm enjoying some more spices on occasion these days. But when it comes down to it, though, I'm really a meat and potatoes kinda guy and could live on the same diet every day for a month without thinking once that I needed to change something. Every once in a while I'll add a new spice for a different flavor.

One of the cool things about Brent's playing is that when he does use effects it still sounds very natural. He uses them to spice up the sound where necessary, without overpowering the natural flavor of the guitar and amp.

I'm all for simplicity of sound and effects, but one of the best live acoustic sounds I ever heard was highly processed to make it sound natural.

Holy Crap everyone just play your damn guitar....

Hi Sol - he sold all of those effects racks several years ago (3-4 yrs) to Clint Black for Clint's home studio. He doesn't have them anymore and uses the boards for all his effects now.

hi Julie,

that is great to know at least when I turn up in town I won't have to buy loads of expensive rack gear :lol: glad to hear it all went to a good home though, I hope Brent got a good price for it!

just out of interest, is Brent really required to use a huge amount of all that stuff on his nashville country/rock/pop sessions, or is it more for the adverts/tv soundtracks etc? because his sound is pretty much the same in most of the charting country artists' recordings (alan jackson, joe nichols, clint black etc etc). presumably that signature sound is just his tele into compressor into deluxe reverb?? he mentioned on the video that for most of the time when he uses his tele he just 'honks through the deluxe reverb'.


thanks for the reply anyway

BTW; I think perhaps one reason Steve Cropper didn't use a pedalboard on Dock of the Bay is the same reason President Lincoln didn't fly on Air Force One.

Hahaha!

Really great thread. Thanks all for sharing and Blue Water Girl for the at home view.

I am building a similar pedalboard using the loopmaster 8 way bypass box http://www.loop-master.com/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=147&osCsid=62395b31991eb9ce09c1f4de5b160ef5

This puts every pedal into the chain or bypassed which, as stated, saves wear and tear on the pedals themselves. Not nearly as sophisticated but gets the job done. It has similar light indicators as to whether the pedal is active or not.

The expensive part, besides the pedals of course, is the wiring and jacks. Whew! I had the boards, I had the pedals but had to put the kids to work to pay for the wire. I also added a DI coming out of the board so I can run long distance using XLR cables then then use a short cable to take the line into my amp. Good for live and studio work.

Sorry for the sig below Brent is my hero too...

Holy Crap everyone just play your damn guitar....

With pedals or without?

Seriously though, there's a point I've made here several times so please excuse me while I do it again. I am never going to play like Brent Mason, Steve Cropper, Reggie Young, Bill Hullett, and the list goes on. And it's not a matter of practice, at least not purely. There are people who have wood-shedded as much as Brent, but that boy was just born knowing what to play. He just had to figurue out how to play it. For me playing guitar will never be a profession, just my most beloved hobby.

As a hobbiest I'm going to play with the new toys and gadgets just like a cyclist or downhill skier would do in their hobby. I'll try hard not to use technology as a crutch, but all of these goodies are an integral part of just playing my damn guitar. Sometimes buying a new pedal, even one I KNOW I'm going to sell, get's me down in the rec room playing a bit more. And it's tough to be sad about that.

Enjoy it all, or at least all of it that interests you as an individual musician.

Fred,
Your first post on this thread... and your last. What does Steve Cropper have to do with Brent Mason's pedalboard?
that is a very good question!
1960´s nikkormat vs. digital canon camera: you had to use what was available in it´s time to get the job done.
i bet that a superguitarhero like steve cropper has all the stuff you can imagine flying around, just for the heck of it!

If you're a professional, you roll up your sleeves and do the best job you can with the circumstances you have, no matter what your occupation. I read that Brent Mason's real love is jazz, so I'd have to assume he wouldn't be using all those effects if he didn't need them.

I plug straight into my amp too, but who wouldn't have fun playing with all those toys in a recording studio?

Another thought:
Could anyone just be a wee bit jealous of Mr. Mason's talent and career

DING! DING! DING! The nail is hit square on the head! :mrgreen:

If all Brent was called on to record was Sitting on the Dock of the Bay type guitar he wouldnt need such a set up, but the Nike commercial he just recorded didn't want that sound for some reason..........nor does the latest movie soundtrack he just began working on.

That's along the lines of what I was thinking.

It never surprises me anymore to see the obligatory "I only use a guitar straght into an amp" post when someone posts about a pedalboard or some other setup. I congratulate all such players on their simplicity, but this forum is titled THE STOMP BOX! Why would someone who doesn't even use pedals not only hang out in a forum called THE STOMP BOX, let lone take the time to post that they don't use pedals?!? Am I the only one that notices this?

Seriously, the next time someone starts a thread about this pedal or that one and someone doesn't come along and post "I don't use pedals", could you let me know? 'Cause I haven't seen such a thread yet.

That's along the lines of what I was thinking.

It never surprises me anymore to see the obligatory "I only use a guitar straght into an amp" post when someone posts about a pedalboard or some other setup. I congratulate all such players on their simplicity, but this forum is titled THE STOMP BOX! Why would someone who doesn't even use pedals not only hang out in a forum called THE STOMP BOX, let lone take the time to post that they don't use pedals?!? Am I the only one that notices this?

Seriously, the next time someone starts a thread about this pedal or that one and someone doesn't come along and post "I don't use pedals", could you let me know? 'Cause I haven't seen such a thread yet.

:lol: Again, hit sqaure on the head. This was a very good point.

24x48?!?!?! i've played on stages that big!

If I put that in my trunk, can't fit anything else :razz:

Cool but not for me.

Joe

BTW; I think perhaps one reason Steve Cropper didn't use a pedalboard on Dock of the Bay is the same reason President Lincoln didn't fly on Air Force One.

No crap!? You mean there weren't pedal boards back in the 60s? Wow, thanks for enlightening me. :lol:
Look, I was kidding in the original post... I thought I made that clear.



"Originally Posted by dibber124 View Post
Another thought:
Could anyone just be a wee bit jealous of Mr. Mason's talent and career
DING! DING! DING! The nail is hit square on the head!"

Is this directed towards me? If it is, for a third time it was a joke...a joke. You shouldn't assume anyone is jealous of anyone's talent. Yeah, Brent is a killer guitarist, but I'm not jealous of him. That would be pretty sad.

That's along the lines of what I was thinking.

It never surprises me anymore to see the obligatory "I only use a guitar straght into an amp" post when someone posts about a pedalboard or some other setup. I congratulate all such players on their simplicity, but this forum is titled THE STOMP BOX! Why would someone who doesn't even use pedals not only hang out in a forum called THE STOMP BOX, let lone take the time to post that they don't use pedals?!? Am I the only one that notices this?

Seriously, the next time someone starts a thread about this pedal or that one and someone doesn't come along and post "I don't use pedals", could you let me know? 'Cause I haven't seen such a thread yet.


You're point is well taken. I'm outta here!

And over at the gear page this board got a big yawn...

Quote:
"Interesting....Sorta low tech, but the switcher might be what saves it"

"Just proves you don't need the best pedals"

"wonder how may of them are stock?"

"Nice handles"
Different worlds...

I got a huge chuckle from this post. I've been on that forum a time or two and the internet "tone experts" there crack me up. It's made up of a lot of guys who spend $50,000 on guitar stuff for their living room, to noodle out stupid licks and then have the cajones to criticize others who can actually play.

I don't know how many "notes on page" sessions those guys did back in the 60s and I'd be willing to bet none! I don't think those guys just cut a song to cut it. Cropper had said they'd go to work like a butcher or a banker. Get in in the morning and hang their coats up and go to work 5 days a week. But he'd also pull an 18 hour day, because he loved what he was doing.


Brent was at Ocean Way Studio a few days ago and ran into Steve Cropper again. I had shown him this thread about his pedalboard. Normally he wants nothing to do with anything said about him good or bad on this forum and even though I sometimes respond to them I never tell him about it - he just isn't interested on day to day basis with this sort of stuff. He did think the comments about the board were funny because he is still in shock over it's size himself!:grin: Anyway - he and Steve Cropper were talking and Brent told him how he had gotten negative comments from some 26 year old guy somewhere who knew Steve's innermost thoughts and feelings and he told him about this above quote - and Steve wanted me to tell FredDairy that in addition to all that hard work he put in at Stax he also licked the street clean outside - he said you left that part out.


Okay, on a funny note - Brent used the big new pedalboard at the studio for the first time two days ago - after he got back from lunch there was a piece of paper laying on top of the pedalboard where someone wrote this--



BIG PEDALBOARD

LITTLE D#CK

:lol: :lol: :lol:

RE: to pedal or not

It is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

mmmmm :shock:
A lot of meaningless discussion in this thread .
Lots of presumptions too about what happens in the studio .
At the end of the day , it's just a great way to store equipment whether that equipment is used daily or not , and it sure beats tripping over a cable and breaking a wrist or a finger :wink:
Brent's just a guy like anyone else , and will do what he feels is best for him and the job he does . Noone here can explain why he needs a certain tool , as we aren't him , but if he is happy with that set up , then surely that is the most important thing .
For me , it is just a further insight into things I find interesting , so thankyou to the original poster for the pics :grin:

Blue Water Girl Wote :

Okay, on a funny note - Brent used the big new pedalboard at the studio for the first time two days ago - after he got back from lunch there was a piece of paper laying on top of the pedalboard where someone wrote this--



BIG PEDALBOARD

LITTLE D#CK

So is it true Julie ? :lol:

Maybe you can ask Brent a question for me that i'm curious about .

Does he do most of his work sitting down ?

Thanks

Brent was at Ocean Way Studio a few days ago and ran into Steve Cropper again. I had shown him this thread about his pedalboard. Normally he wants nothing to do with anything said about him good or bad on this forum and even though I sometimes respond to them I never tell him about it - he just isn't interested on day to day basis with this sort of stuff. He did think the comments about the board were funny because he is still in shock over it's size himself!:grin: Anyway - he and Steve Cropper were talking and Brent told him how he had gotten negative comments from some 26 year old guy somewhere who knew Steve's innermost thoughts and feelings and he told him about this above quote - and Steve wanted me to tell FredDairy that in addition to all that hard work he put in at Stax he also licked the street clean outside - he said you left that part out.


Okay, on a funny note - Brent used the big new pedalboard at the studio for the first time two days ago - after he got back from lunch there was a piece of paper laying on top of the pedalboard where someone wrote this--



BIG PEDALBOARD

LITTLE D#CK



Cool, I knew Cropper really poured his heart into that Stax stuff! He left the bit out about cleaning the street on the Stax Museum tour videos. :razz:

Oh and hey... I didn't claim to know Steve's inner most thoughts and feelings. Just repeating things I had read and seen on some documentories.

mmmmm :shock:
A lot of meaningless discussion in this thread .
Lots of presumptions too about what happens in the studio .
At the end of the day , it's just a great way to store equipment whether that equipment is used daily or not , and it sure beats tripping over a cable and breaking a wrist or a finger :wink:
Brent's just a guy like anyone else , and will do what he feels is best for him and the job he does . Noone here can explain why he needs a certain tool , as we aren't him , but if he is happy with that set up , then surely that is the most important thing .
For me , it is just a further insight into things I find interesting , so thankyou to the original poster for the pics :grin:

Blue Water Girl Wote :



So is it true Julie ? :lol:

Maybe you can ask Brent a question for me that i'm curious about .

Does he do most of his work sitting down ?

Thanks


In the studio he is always sitting - everyone sits in the studio except the vocalists - who stand in isolation booths. Usually Brent sits in the larger room in the studio where about five people are set up - steel, bass, acoustic, electric and drums. One of the isolation rooms is almost without exception for the keyboards and usually fiddles are also in isolation rooms. Occasionally Brent is put in an isolation room. Every studio is set up a bit differently usually based on how much space they have and again - all the musicians sit - as do all the guys working on the board. The only time he ever stands is during a live performance or rehearsal.

Okay, on a funny note - Brent used the big new pedalboard at the studio for the first time two days ago - after he got back from lunch there was a piece of paper laying on top of the pedalboard where someone wrote this--



BIG PEDALBOARD

LITTLE D#CK

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Yeah.
I wish he still came on because he was infectious with his enthusiasm.
I understand why he's stopped almost altogether.
He did me a real solid turning me onto my SparkleDrive which is a heckuva lot more than just a TS-808 - I never even use that function; for me it's all about the boost.
Anyways if The Twin's "on" the SparkleDrive's on too.
Hope You're having a good Summer.
-s

...Brent's just a guy like anyone else, and will do what he feels is best for him and the job he does. No one here can explain why he needs a certain tool, as we aren't him, but if he is happy with that set up, then surely that is the most important thing. For me, it is just a further insight into things I find interesting...

Nicely stated.

In the studio he is always sitting - everyone sits in the studio except the vocalists - who stand in isolation booths. Usually Brent sits in the larger room in the studio where about five people are set up - steel, bass, acoustic, electric and drums. One of the isolation rooms is almost without exception for the keyboards and usually fiddles are also in isolation rooms. Occasionally Brent is put in an isolation room. Every studio is set up a bit differently usually based on how much space they have and again - all the musicians sit - as do all the guys working on the board. The only time he ever stands is during a live performance or rehearsal.

Thanks Julie .
I guess the cold room isn't so cold by the time they've finished :wink:
Hope we hear from him soon .

At my age and with my knees I play play sitting down too. Now if I played as good as....:lol:

Okay, on a funny note - Brent used the big new pedalboard at the studio for the first time two days ago - after he got back from lunch there was a piece of paper laying on top of the pedalboard where someone wrote this--



BIG PEDALBOARD

LITTLE D#CK

:lol: :lol: :lol:

And just think, Julie is the only TDPRI'er who knows if it's true!

And just think, Julie is the only TDPRI'er who knows if it's true!

Unless he has been working so hard lately , that she has forgotten lol :lol:
Tie him up before he signs the next contract Julie :grin:

Brent was at Ocean Way Studio a few days ago and ran into Steve Cropper again. I had shown him this thread about his pedalboard. Normally he wants nothing to do with anything said about him good or bad on this forum and even though I sometimes respond to them I never tell him about it - he just isn't interested on day to day basis with this sort of stuff. He did think the comments about the board were funny because he is still in shock over it's size himself!:grin: Anyway - he and Steve Cropper were talking and Brent told him how he had gotten negative comments from some 26 year old guy somewhere who knew Steve's innermost thoughts and feelings and he told him about this above quote - and Steve wanted me to tell FredDairy that in addition to all that hard work he put in at Stax he also licked the street clean outside - he said you left that part out.


Okay, on a funny note - Brent used the big new pedalboard at the studio for the first time two days ago - after he got back from lunch there was a piece of paper laying on top of the pedalboard where someone wrote this--



BIG PEDALBOARD

LITTLE D#CK

:lol: :lol: :lol:

FredDairy is just an admirer of Cropper....feels like what Cropper did back in the good 'ol days with minimal effects is more pleasing to him than what's being made today with all of the effect boxes and digital rack systems.

Listening to some old Cropper,he felt what he believed to be Cropper putting his heart and soul into the music....now he gets to read this.

I'm not FredDairy but my feelings for Cropper have gone done a little after reading what you posted.

Steve Cropper is one of the players I have the utmost respect and admiration for, really the major influence and inspiration of my own playing. He is also a very funny and personable guy, with a good sense of humor which I discovered when I met and had a chance to speak with him a while quite a few years ago. If you want to get an idea of what the music at Stax really meant to him, check out the PBS Stax DVD when it is released in October. Nothing could lower my opinion of SC, ever.
I also dig the hell out of Brent Mason and his playing even if I really do not care for ALL the tracks he ever played on.
Why not admire one without putting down another?
Why compare two very talented players just to make a judgement based on personal taste and prejudice?
There seems to be a bit more than just a pedalboard involved in this thread. :roll:

FredDairy is just an admirer of Cropper....feels like what Cropper did back in the good 'ol days with minimal effects is more pleasing to him than what's being made today with all of the effect boxes and digital rack systems.

Listening to some old Cropper,he felt what he believed to be Cropper putting his heart and soul into the music....now he gets to read this.

I'm not FredDairy but my feelings for Cropper have gone done a little after reading what you posted.


Look how agitated people get about various posts - someone is now not sure if they like Steve Cropper anymore, someone wants to put down Brent Mason's pedalboard because Steve Cropper didnt need such a device, people want to quote what Steve Cropper says in interviews for the purpose of taking someone else down a peg because their work is not viewed by them as worthy. Now none of these people is actually Steve Cropper or Brent Mason - nor do they have any sort of personal or business association with either one of them.

I FIND IT SO IRONIC TO READ THE ABOVE POST THAT IS QUOTED WRITTEN BY 6ALIENS. He says FredDairy "felt what he believed to be Steve Cropper putting his heart and soul into the music ...now he gets to read this" Such an odd statement and I do hope FredDairy and you too 6alien will be able to heal and move on from this. WHAT IF YOU WERE BRENT MASON WHO IN CASE YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN IS WHO THIS THREAD IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT. IMAGINE WHAT HE MAY HAVE FELT WHEN FREDDAIRY SAID HIS CAREER COULD BE SUMMED UP AS NOTHING MORE THAN MAKING A FAST BUCK. Do you know what it is like - have you any idea - what it is like to find yourself discussed on this and hundreds of other discussion forums by people who do not know you or can read your mind - some people worshipping you, some people putting you down- some people quoting you incorrectly, hearing from someone that they read somewhere horrible negative things about you or that you said something you never ever said or would say. With the attitudes many people on the tdpri seem to have those folks would be in a fist fight every day.

This is why Steve Cropper and Brent Mason just laugh all of this off. They can't take it seriously - they can't read it - they can't allow themselves to be bothered by it. It is just a joke to them. If they cared as much as you people cared or seem to care - they would be too depressed to get out of bed in the morning or too pissed off. They take it with a grain of salt. You have to completely detach from it. It is meaningless to them and it has to be. I am not saying this because I read it somewhere or it is what I "feel." I am saying it because both of those two men said it and it is fact because I have access to those people.

There is something new being written about people in the public eye every single day by someone and whether it is good or bad it is weird and invasive and strange to those people that it is said about. They must be like actors who never read their own reviews or tabloid stories about them because it is negative energy and does nothing to help them in their work or their lives. They just focus on what they have to do in a day and do the best they can. There is no way to please everybody. Even though Steve Cropper is talked about with reverence on this thread he is slammed by others maybe right now at this very moment. Brent is idolized by people and slammed by others. A simple thread about his pedalboard has come to this and why? It is so weird if you really give it some thought.

So Steve C. made a little joke about licking the street clean. Total strangers can talk about him but he can't make a little joke about it? The only way to deal with fame is with humor. Someone who really really likes Steve Cropper has for some reason chosen to take this thread about a cool new pedalboard Brent Mason had custom made to share his love for Steve Cropper. And of course Steve Cropper appreciates his fans. But he is a person with many sides and one is a very funny kind of sardonic guy who likes to joke around and not for one minute takes himself too seriously. By the way Brent works with a few folks who do take themselves very seriously, much too seriously, and I promise you that they are no fun to work with or be around for very long. :grin:

This is what burns me up. This thread started out as a look at Brents new pedal board,that alot of us were very interested in seeing. Then as usuall the negative comments start then the know it alls start,and all they really know is what they read in some magazine so that makes them experts about something or somebody that they dont even know and of course here come all the opinions and this is all fine,this is a discussion forum,but, this is not a debate forum. I've seen other users here post proudly about a Tele that they put together and built and they come here and post pics and details then the good job,looks good comments begin. Then the idiots start with the opinions about how you should have done this and that, thats not the correct way of doing it,and then it esculates into something totally different from what the actuall content began with which turns out to be jealousy which IN MY OPINION is childish and before its over with,they have beat the tele and the proud owner down,to the lowest level, and try to make him believe that if his heart and soul is in the right place he should take that tele and trash it cause its all wrong and fender is going to there house and take it and sue them for producing a trademark copyrighted guitar, its pathetic!!

Why couldnt this thread just stayed on the issue as it was started.
This went from Brents pedal board to the likes and dislikes then Steve Cropper got dragged into it and he had notthing to do with this,and he probably could care less what any of us think. He is making a living just like anybody else and if some of you Cropper fans dislike him now because you found out he used some extra effects in his music, you are pitiful. Go burn you another one and chill out.

Blue Water Girl, let Brent know we think he does an awesome job with the pedal board with or without it and they did a fine job putting it together. Glad you posted about it,no one should doubt your knowledge about Brent,but there will be someone that thinks they know more about him than you do. Isnt it just amazing, and Funny. Take Care.

This is what burns me up. This thread started out as a look at Brents new pedal board,that alot of us were very interested in seeing. Then as usuall the negative comments start then the know it alls start,and all they really know is what they read in some magazine so that makes them experts about something or somebody that they dont even know and of course here come all the opinions and this is all fine,this is a discussion forum,but, this is not a debate forum.
This thread has taken a ridiculous turn...

Blue Water Girl, let Brent know we think he does an awesome job with the pedal board with or without it and they did a fine job putting it together. Glad you posted about it,no one should doubt your knowledge about Brent,but there will be someone that thinks they know more about him than you do. Isnt it just amazing, and Funny. Take Care.

+1 and thank you. It was a real treat to see this pedalboard.

(sudancat - very well put)

on topic: I love the pedalboard!! Now build a trapeze in the studio and hover above it to make adjustments. That should quiet down the tapdance jokes :lol:

hum the Mission Impossible theme while you do it too :wink:

What would the world be without humor, huh?

All I know is that pedalboard is kickass.

All I know is that pedalboard is kickass.

I agree

Now if someone finds out what capacitors Mr. Mason & Mr.Cropper use in there respective guitars this thread should last another two months :mrgreen:.
Think it is time to pull this out of the bag:
http://www.theclarkfiles.com/beating-a-dead-horse.gif

Now if someone finds out what capacitors Mr. Mason & Mr.Cropper use in there respective guitars this thread should last another two months :mrgreen:.
Think it is time to pull this out of the bag:
http://www.theclarkfiles.com/beating-a-dead-horse.gif

I prefer beating dead horses with a bat, shovel, or 2x4, only using my hands as a last result. I wonder how Mr. Mason and Mr. Cropper would beat a dead horse. :lol:

I FIND IT SO IRONIC TO READ THE ABOVE POST THAT IS QUOTED WRITTEN BY 6ALIENS.

Say that out loud.

















































I bet you giggled. http://hippietim.com/emoticons/happy001.gif

hey what is a "sparkle drive" ?(top center)what does it do?

Hey, you asked this awhile ago, but in case you're still curious, the Sparkle Drive is sort of like a TS808, except it splits the signal, overdriving half of it, and putting the other half through a little EQ to give it a clean, acoustic sound. Then you can blend them to suit your needs. They're really pretty nice.

And Cropper and Mason both rule.

edit...

i just want to say how disgusted and embarrassed on behalf of the tdpri community i am of the behaviour of some members in this forum.
if a plumber came to your house with the wrong tools you would not hire him and laugh at his unprofessionalism, and last of all it would not enable him to do his job . I jumped in on this thread as i wanted to hear about brents pedalboard not listen to every thing else but that. this forums a disgrace i feel sorry for people like blue water girl who willingly keeps us informed of what brent does and puts up with everyone elses crap.the last thing i want anyone to do is ruin it for all of us and scare her away.........

I think the pedal board is awesome. It makes perfectly good sense to have everything you need just a foot tap away, especially if you are a studio musician playing various styles all while trying to reinvent yourself on every song, every album, for every artist.

Sure for my own songs I don't need much in the way of effects because every artist has a signature sound and mine is a pretty basic sound. I personally don't have much use for a chorus or phase shifter pedal even a flanger or delay, but when I play covers in my band I have those pedals because in a sense I am doing the same as Brent, trying to do justice to someone else's signature sound, the sound in which we recognize certain songs or artists by.

If it was feasible for me I would own one of every pedal made just cuz...

well said Julie...

On another note, I'll try to get some more pictures this week (or video if I can talk brent into it!) and post it on brent's site & youtube.

bw

Yeah, I know this... However, Cropper played on some pretty major sessions for a recording company somewhere in Memphis back in the 60s, without any of that stuff! :lol:

Cropper was - and still is - one of the best at what he does... which takes nothing from the talent of Brent Mason. it doesn't have to be or the other. We're lucky to have two such incredible guitarists to listen to!

Wow this post is still goin on! 6aliens I was never really upset about what bluewatergirl told me about what Steve Cropper originally said. I still love all of Cropper's original work. I serioulsly may not buy any of his newer stuff now (joke):razz: But I do see your point.

I was just kind of upset about what was relayed to Steve Cropper was that I knew his "innermost thoughts" which I never claimed to know. That was twisting of my words. Bluewatergirl has all the right to get emmotional about this and her emotions show in her all CAPS response "WHAT IF YOU WERE BRENT MASON WHO IN CASE YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN IS WHO THIS THREAD IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT. IMAGINE WHAT HE MAY HAVE FELT WHEN FREDDAIRY SAID HIS CAREER COULD BE SUMMED UP AS NOTHING MORE THAN MAKING A FAST BUCK."

But to clarify one other thing and that is I'm being miss quoted on once more. I never said Brent Mason's career could be summed up into making a quick buck.

Now I'm going to go back and edit my original post with a smiley face because it was, for the 4th time, originally intended as a JOKE!