RUSTY COOLEY 08 Betcha Can't Play This

[toneboy]

Is it just me or does "Rusty Cooley" sound the name of the mixed drink?

"Yeah, I'd like a Jack and Coke and she'll have a Rusty Cooley, hold the ice."

[Ibateur]

This thread needs to be locked.

[michblanch]

Originally Posted by toneboy

Is it just me or does "Rusty Cooley" sound the name of the mixed drink?

"Yeah, I'd like a Jack and Coke and she'll have a Rusty Cooley, hold the ice."

LOL That sounds like a good drink.

[jim777]

Originally Posted by BigShred

Thanks, Mich. I'm a friend of Rusty's and I have to just ignore these comments or else I'll get banned.

I was wondering when you'd chime in. I don't see a problem with Rusty either, he doesn't come off as overly full of himself to me. I'd probably be insufferable if I could play like that

[toneboy]

Personally, I don't see what the big deal. If you don't like how he plays, don't listen to him. If you don't like to hear him talk about his signature guitars, don't watch his videos.

Did you every think that he might get be excited about having a guitar custom made for him that had precisely the features he wanted? I can't speak for others but I know I would be excited and probably babble on about it.

I've never been an endorsee so I don't know how that whole arrangement works but I do know this - it's a business deal so it's not as simple as we might all think. That alone could be the reason why he's switched between manufacturers.

In the end, a guitar is just a guitar. Any company can make a guitar any way they want, barring trademark restrictions of course. If you like Rusty's music, it should not matter what brand guitar he plays. If you don't like his music then it still shouldn't matter what brand he plays.

BTW, Rusty should have a mixed drink named after him.

[shogun]

Originally Posted by BigShred

8 ) The company has the innovation of Microsoft. Each "new" regurgitated line of guitars is worse than the last.

microsoft > you

[shogun]

Originally Posted by toneboy

Personally, I don't see what the big deal. If you don't like how he plays, don't listen to him. If you don't like to hear him talk about his signature guitars, don't watch his videos.

thats a very effective technique, and it applies to so many aspects of life; however, this is an internet forum and this specific thread is focusing on a debate about rusty's playing. so basically I'm saying that you fail.

[Lefty Robb]

Originally Posted by BigShred

They were bought over the course of a year and a half that I wanted to get really acquainted with Ibanez' lineup of guitars. Got acquainted with them, as well as other guitars at the same time such as Caparison, PRS, Fender, Gibson, etc.

Some observations with Ibanez that led me to sell them off...

1) Great tremolo and probably one of the best FR inspired trems ever, but a victim of Ibanez' cheapness: Pop-in trem arm instead of a screw on like the original Jems. Ended up dinging the top on one of my very expensive guitars when the bar decided to pop out during a very normal vibrato.

2) Prestiges made in Korea? The entire S Series? Give me a break.

3) Replacing the ebony fretboard with rosewood on the best of the Jem line, the 7VWH. Why? You improve the neck joint, you improve the scarf joint, etc, then decide to make an extra couple of bucks at the expense of the consumer by scrapping the ebony boards?

4) Ever own an Ibanez with black paint? Enjoy it while it lasts. It'll chip off the edges if you breathe too hard.

5) Ever own an Ibanez with gold hardware? Enjoy it while it lasts. It'll fade off if you sneeze.

6) Ever see an RG style Ibanez older than a couple of years without a neck pocket crack? Probably not.

7) If you aren't an 11 year old girl, your hands will probably bruise up on the lower horn of an RG style Ibanez when doing stretches in the upper registers of the fretboard.

8 ) The company has the innovation of Microsoft. Each "new" regurgitated line of guitars is worse than the last. You'll have an exception here and there like the E-Gen. Whether it's one's cup of tea or not, you have to admit it's at least SOME innovation from Ibanez amongst a whole line of duds.

etc..etc..etc...

They're fun guitars to noodle on once in a while. I decided to go with other brands.

1: Ibanez never made a Jem with a screw-on arm, eccept the 555, but we won't talk about that.

2: Yeah, that sucks.

3: Yeah, that sucks too, but Ibanez did have a good argument with "Its a sig guitar and Vai never plays one with ebony"

4: Yes, I have, and no, it never chipped on me, black paint isn't "non-chip-resistant" any more than any other color. It has to do with the clear coat and the wood under it.

5: This is inevitable with anything thats been plated and constantly gets rubbed.

6: Yes, plenty of them.

7: I've never warn down the horn from my hand, in fact this is just silly, the guitar will always be stronger than your hand.

8: Yes, for the most part true, although the 550 reissue was cool.

[Drew]

Originally Posted by newbieguitarmaker

ya I see that I definitely was over analyzing, but think Betcha Can't Play This should have some class. I mean isn't the point in having it for showing off licks that are insane but also used in songs so that the people watching the videos can learn the licks and apply them?

Um, going out on a limb, I think the point of "Betcha Can't Play This" is not to give viewers a bunch of licks that they CAN play and use in songs, but rather just to present them with a sheer technical challange to attempt. You know, if the name of the column can be believed...

BigShred, I'm sorry you haven't had a good experience with Ibanez guitars - I'm not going to try to defend them across the board, but if you get a good one they're pretty damned nice instruments. My only comments are, as a prior poster has commented, Ibanez has never used a screw-in arm (I just replaced the LoPro on my UV7PWH with an OFR7, and I'm gradually coming around, but the OFR is the first screw-on arm that's actually better than Ibanez's design, IMO), the switch from ebony to rosewood was dictated by Vai, who'd switched on his guitars, and not Ibanez, and that ALL Ibby finishes, not just black, are prone to chipping.

Out of curiosity, what'd you eventually wind up playing? My problem is that while basswood isn't my favorite tonewood (not my least favorite eiither - I like it, but I'd prefer swamp ash or alder), there's not much else of a similar quality in the seven string world, but I'm always open for suggestions.

Also, I effing love Rusty's playing. I sound nothing like him nor would I ever want to, but the man's a total inspiration for me just because half of what he does I'd have never believed possible until I saw it for myself. Just because I may never drive anything faster than a Camry doesn't mean I don't appreciate a Lamborghini when I see one, you know?

[BigShred]

Originally Posted by Lefty Robb

1: Ibanez never made a Jem with a screw-on arm, eccept the 555, but we won't talk about that.

The early 777's had Edge trems with screw on arms. I still have a very early 777DY and it has the screw on arm.

On a related note, the ZR Trem which I think is fantastic also has a screw on arm. Why the inconsistency on such an obviously positive feature? They could at least make the pop-in arm going in deeper. Also, I have noticed that I can't interchange these arms between trems. One will fit snug in one Edge and the other will be loose in the exact same model trem.

Originally Posted by Lefty Robb

4: Yes, I have, and no, it never chipped on me, black paint isn't "non-chip-resistant" any more than any other color. It has to do with the clear coat and the wood under it.

I owned a black RG570 from 1987 that didn't chip even once in the 10 years that I owned it. I loaned it out to someone to use when recording their album and the douche gave it severe buckle rash. Still, as bad as it was, it didn't go through the paint.

Now, you'd be hard pressed to find a 77BRMR for example without wear and/or chipping on the back edges. The finishes are definitely not what they used to be.

Originally Posted by Lefty Robb

5: This is inevitable with anything thats been plated and constantly gets rubbed.

I have a 14 year old PRS Custom 24 with gold hardware and it is in brand new condition still and I play it regularly. You get what you pay for in most cases.

Originally Posted by Lefty Robb

7: I've never warn down the horn from my hand, in fact this is just silly, the guitar will always be stronger than your hand.

Sir, I did not say the horn gets worn. Your hand gets worn

Originally Posted by Lefty Robb

8: Yes, for the most part true, although the 550 reissue was cool.

But that was a great guitar innovated 20 years ago.

I'm not saying Ibanez sucks. They are definitely fun guitars to play. I miss my 77BRMR. As "gimmicky" as it may seem that was one of the better playing/sounding Jems I owned. I still have a 7VWH and I love that thing and don't want to give it up.

Still, like Fender and other companies that got too comfortable with their stellar reputations, Ibanez has been going downhill in my opinion. PRS' aren't what they were in the mid-90's but they are still exceptional instruments and I don't have any serious gripes with them. Same goes for Gibson Les Pauls with the exception of the Studios (which should be called Epiphones in my opinion).

Anyways, point being, Rusty deciding to not stick with Ibanez had some valid reasons behind it that are not isolated to him only.

[kotornut]

Originally Posted by BigShred

They were bought over the course of a year and a half that I wanted to get really acquainted with Ibanez' lineup of guitars. Got acquainted with them, as well as other guitars at the same time such as Caparison, PRS, Fender, Gibson, etc.


8 ) The company has the innovation of Microsoft. Each "new" regurgitated line of guitars is worse than the last. You'll have an exception here and there like the E-Gen. Whether it's one's cup of tea or not, you have to admit it's at least SOME innovation from Ibanez amongst a whole line of duds.

etc..etc..etc...

They're fun guitars to noodle on once in a while. I decided to go with other brands.

I've been thinking about what shred has said about the innovation thing.

I've only owned a few guitars but nice enough ones here's the deal:

Gibson SG Standard: good paint quality the guitar was as good as it had to be, but that isn't a suprise because they've had almost 50 years to perfect that design.

G&L Legacy: This guitar was awesome I regret selling it. Great everything. But again it was a 50 year old design. I reccomend these, by the way, for strat enthusists.

Ibanez RG560: It plays better and sounds great, even with stock pickups. Better feel than either of the others. The astetic qualities are a little less, but not enough to gripe about. The trem is great (although I'm not a big user) and the neck feels so amazing.

In effect I really couldn't complain about my RG. It is more inovative than a Gibson or a Fender (despite the wierd stuff like a robot guitar). I have played a lot of PRS' too. I have a few PRS freak friends and I think those guitars are great, but I don't see real innovation there either. Paul himself says that the old way of doing things was and is the best way. 10'' radius fingerboards, traditional hardwoods (mahogany/maple/rosewood), vintage voiced pickups etc.

And you deffinately couldn't call their coil tap innovatve. Many companies have done that before. Maybe their system is unique but it doesn't change a lot.

So what do you want Bigshred? What else can you really do to a six string? If trem innovations aren't enough for you is coil tapping really more innovative? Caparisons aren't that innovative either, they are super strats. Good ones, but what is truly innovative?


I just don't see how you can accuse Ibanez of lack of innovation after stating 2 guitar companies that have been building the same instruments for 50 years. 1 that copies their old way of doing things and one that copies the Jackson/Ibanez superstrat style. These guitars are all quality and I would like to own any of them, but I don't see where they are more innnovative.

It doesn't add up.

[BigShred]

Originally Posted by Drew

BigShred, I'm sorry you haven't had a good experience with Ibanez guitars - I'm not going to try to defend them across the board, but if you get a good one they're pretty damned nice instruments.

I absolutely agree. Though, J Customs in my opinion look great, but often play and sound very average. My Jems played and sounded a lot better and those are Basswood and Alder.

Originally Posted by Drew

My only comments are, as a prior poster has commented, Ibanez has never used a screw-in arm (I just replaced the LoPro on my UV7PWH with an OFR7, and I'm gradually coming around, but the OFR is the first screw-on arm that's actually better than Ibanez's design, IMO)

That is actually not true. I own a 777DY with screw in trem arm.

Originally Posted by Drew

the switch from ebony to rosewood was dictated by Vai, who'd switched on his guitars, and not Ibanez

Is that because when Evo's original neck broke, his replacement from Ibanez was rosewood or was it his particular specification?

Originally Posted by Drew

Out of curiosity, what'd you eventually wind up playing?

I've been playing PRS' and I'm pretty happy with the Custom 24's. I feel I can get the 24 fret access of an Ibanez or Jackson "shredder", the warmth of a Les Paul, and the twang of a Strat when I want it.

Originally Posted by Drew

My problem is that while basswood isn't my favorite tonewood (not my least favorite eiither - I like it, but I'd prefer swamp ash or alder), there's not much else of a similar quality in the seven string world, but I'm always open for suggestions.

They're expensive as heck, but you can find a PRS 7-string from time to time. I seen them go for like $8,000. Ouch, I know.

Originally Posted by Drew

Also, I effing love Rusty's playing. I sound nothing like him nor would I ever want to, but the man's a total inspiration for me just because half of what he does I'd have never believed possible until I saw it for myself. Just because I may never drive anything faster than a Camry doesn't mean I don't appreciate a Lamborghini when I see one, you know?

Even if you thought Rusty was a horrible player, you have every right. I just don't understand why someone who has never met the man in his life would say that Rusty's "narcissistic" or an ego-maniac. I know him very well and that couldn't be further from the truth. If I defend him, then I'm seen as over-reacting. It's different when you know someone personally, and when you're just a fan, so I understand people not understanding my reaction. C'est la vie...

[newbieguitarmaker]

Originally Posted by michblanch

LOL That sounds like a good drink.

lol yeah it actually does, and Rusty could get like 10% of the profits made off the drink

Originally Posted by jim777

I was wondering when you'd chime in. I don't see a problem with Rusty either, he doesn't come off as overly full of himself to me. I'd probably be insufferable if I could play like that

Yeah I didn't at first then my friend kept tryin to show me he was a "buttmunch" so after awhile I accepted it but I see that I was wrong and I renounce everything () and apologize to rusty for my comment bout him. But if I had his skills on guitar I'd probably think I was like God or something

[BozTheK]

Could someone please explain to me how a screw in trem arm is superior to the pop in ones? No sarcasm, I'm open minded to the concept I just don't understand. The way I see it, a screw in arm not only has only one tight angle of play on the arm, but you'd also not be able to push it out of the way without it coming loose, worry about it coming so loose it might fall right out, worrying about tightening it every time it comes loose? Being someone who likes to have their whammy bar as tight as possible, I don't really see how this could be an advantage.

[BigShred]

Originally Posted by BozTheK

Could someone please explain to me how a screw in trem arm is superior to the pop in ones? No sarcasm, I'm open minded to the concept I just don't understand. The way I see it, a screw in arm not only has only one tight angle of play on the arm, but you'd also not be able to push it out of the way without it coming loose, worry about it coming so loose it might fall right out, worrying about tightening it every time it comes loose? Being someone who likes to have their whammy bar as tight as possible, I don't really see how this could be an advantage.

That all makes sense on paper until you're playing using the trem arm for moderate vibrato and the arm pops out and dents the quilt top of your $1800 guitar.

That'll never happen with a screw on trem arm. Also, I can't tell you how many times I've experienced "wobble" because the trem arm isn't snug enough in the hole. Like I said before, I haven't seen consistency in this. If I took the trem arm out of the Lo-Pro Edge on my VWH and popped it into the same model Lo-Pro Edge on my Bad Horsie, it didn't fit the same.