Gear Wire Reviews?

studio1087 · June 8th, 2008, 01:22 PM

Does anyone know who the Gear Wire people are or how they make money or if they are connected to a video production company?

There seems to be a Gear Wire review of every product in the music world on youtube and none of the reviewers seems like diehard guitar players. The videos always strike me as being a bit odd.

They start by introducing a product and they show you what you get in the box....they always fiddle with box. The box fiddling is usually 1/3 of the presentation.

They explain the obvious like "this dyna comp has two knobs and it's reddsih orange"

They often read the booklets to the viewer rather than just speak to the viewer.

They rarely play anything that you can really listen to.

I always wonder if these are students following a presentation formula for a teacher.

John

Telarkaster · June 8th, 2008, 08:10 PM

Hey John, I hear you. I checked out their videos on Youtube and you wouldn't believe how nasty the comments are about the guy in the video you posted.

In all fairness, he really is lifeless and wastes way too much time on useless details like warranty cards and plastic bags. He could use a good night's sleep, a haircut (or shampoo of some sort) and a cup of coffee to wake him up.

The guitars and amps used are also mismatched for a lot of the products they review. And the guy's playing is, ahem, uninspired to say the least. I hesitated to write that last line because I don't like putting other people down, especially their playing, but come on! At least find a guy who knows what to do with the product and likes what they do. I really wonder who he is, and if he will ever find happiness in life...

It's really weird because the website seems pretty good and the videos start off well (better than usual Youtube graphics and production), but quickly turn into amateur hour. In the end the review is sometimes somewhat useful, but could have been done in 30 seconds without the box opening stuff...

Daddydex · June 8th, 2008, 08:55 PM

I have talked smack on this guy before but his playing is actually getting better. Not great, but better. I guess he does so many of these reviews he can't help but get some practice time.

Dan

djinn1973 · June 8th, 2008, 09:32 PM

Solid production values, they do some how manage to get a good sound (the demos don't sound like they were done with a camcorder) but like most online demos I rarely see some one play through an amp or pedal the way that I would.

kingnimrod · June 8th, 2008, 10:58 PM

my theory is that it's Videodrome-style torture where they just picked some random stoner off the street and are forcing him to do 5,000 product reviews for his freedom.

In that video his playing is way better than in some others I've seen.

I'm not really sure what the point is to have an unskilled, non-knowledgeable person give a review. You need to have experience to provide any sort of critical evaluation.

That said, this guy is more on the ball than 99% of the slugs at Guitar Center.

SMPTE · June 8th, 2008, 11:23 PM

Or he's just some schlub from the regular staff that never had to take a public speaking course?

I've seen tons of well-spoken, literate people that turn into highway deer when their in front of the camera.

studio1087 · June 8th, 2008, 11:39 PM

I really didn't post this to slam the people in the videos (and there are many people in the various Gearwire YouTube Videos).

It looks like students putting together videos for the sake of making a video. The lighting and backdrops always look like something that I used at a community college when I was 19. They always sit and open the box and describe the pieces of paper and the plastic bags. There is rarely emotion or humor. The commentary never seems like commentary that you would get from a working musician yet they always have nice guitars and amps.

The videos strike me as being very odd. I expect the spokesperson to be devoid of feeling and I expect them to not play anything that I would want to hear with a popular pedal. It's just weird.

I will search any guitar or pedal on youtube when I am considering buying it just because I can find some really good guitar players working the gear if I look around.

I always find the Gearwire videos and they always puzzle me.

When the Epi Valve Junior first came out I watched this video and almost abandoned the idea of buying the small tube amp....

I bet that they are video production students or something.

June 8th, 2008, 01:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
studio1087 Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Near Milwaukee Age: 44 Posts: 3,961 36 Photos	Gear Wire Reviews? Does anyone know who the Gear Wire people are or how they make money or if they are connected to a video production company? There seems to be a Gear Wire review of every product in the music world on youtube and none of the reviewers seems like diehard guitar players. The videos always strike me as being a bit odd. They start by introducing a product and they show you what you get in the box....they always fiddle with box. The box fiddling is usually 1/3 of the presentation. They explain the obvious like "this dyna comp has two knobs and it's reddsih orange" They often read the booklets to the viewer rather than just speak to the viewer. They rarely play anything that you can really listen to. I always wonder if these are students following a presentation formula for a teacher. John __________________ JLG Carry On

June 8th, 2008, 08:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
Daddydex Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,715	I have talked smack on this guy before but his playing is actually getting better. Not great, but better. I guess he does so many of these reviews he can't help but get some practice time. Dan __________________ Teles are like Mr. Potato head

June 8th, 2008, 09:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
djinn1973 Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Dixon, California Age: 35 Posts: 385	Solid production values, they do some how manage to get a good sound (the demos don't sound like they were done with a camcorder) but like most online demos I rarely see some one play through an amp or pedal the way that I would. __________________ I wonder if there will be cake?

June 8th, 2008, 11:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
SMPTE Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Minneeeesoooottta Posts: 1,164	Or he's just some schlub from the regular staff that never had to take a public speaking course? I've seen tons of well-spoken, literate people that turn into highway deer when their in front of the camera. __________________ '52RI, HW1 Texas Tele, EJ Strat, MIJ JM, Epi Casino (AlnicoV), Gibson '61 RI SG, Steinberger, Squier PBass (heavily modded)

June 8th, 2008, 11:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
studio1087 Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Near Milwaukee Age: 44 Posts: 3,961 36 Photos	I really didn't post this to slam the people in the videos (and there are many people in the various Gearwire YouTube Videos). It looks like students putting together videos for the sake of making a video. The lighting and backdrops always look like something that I used at a community college when I was 19. They always sit and open the box and describe the pieces of paper and the plastic bags. There is rarely emotion or humor. The commentary never seems like commentary that you would get from a working musician yet they always have nice guitars and amps. The videos strike me as being very odd. I expect the spokesperson to be devoid of feeling and I expect them to not play anything that I would want to hear with a popular pedal. It's just weird. I will search any guitar or pedal on youtube when I am considering buying it just because I can find some really good guitar players working the gear if I look around. I always find the Gearwire videos and they always puzzle me. When the Epi Valve Junior first came out I watched this video and almost abandoned the idea of buying the small tube amp.... I bet that they are video production students or something. __________________ JLG Carry On

June 8th, 2008, 08:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
Telarkaster Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montreal Quebec Canada Posts: 1,753	Hey John, I hear you. I checked out their videos on Youtube and you wouldn't believe how nasty the comments are about the guy in the video you posted. In all fairness, he really is lifeless and wastes way too much time on useless details like warranty cards and plastic bags. He could use a good night's sleep, a haircut (or shampoo of some sort) and a cup of coffee to wake him up. The guitars and amps used are also mismatched for a lot of the products they review. And the guy's playing is, ahem, uninspired to say the least. I hesitated to write that last line because I don't like putting other people down, especially their playing, but come on! At least find a guy who knows what to do with the product and likes what they do. I really wonder who he is, and if he will ever find happiness in life... It's really weird because the website seems pretty good and the videos start off well (better than usual Youtube graphics and production), but quickly turn into amateur hour. In the end the review is sometimes somewhat useful, but could have been done in 30 seconds without the box opening stuff...

June 8th, 2008, 10:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
kingnimrod Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Montana Sacra Posts: 467 55 Photos	my theory is that it's Videodrome-style torture where they just picked some random stoner off the street and are forcing him to do 5,000 product reviews for his freedom. In that video his playing is way better than in some others I've seen. I'm not really sure what the point is to have an unskilled, non-knowledgeable person give a review. You need to have experience to provide any sort of critical evaluation. That said, this guy is more on the ball than 99% of the slugs at Guitar Center.