Tony MacAlpine switches to Ibanez!

[TheToneZone]

Originally Posted by kotornut

"Carvin or a Suhr." That's funny, either bang for the buck or all out and full on expensive and awesome.

As I noted, my NEXT axe will be either or, I didn't say my LAST axe. While it may have seemed so, I wasn't trying to compare the two. At the end of the day I'd probably be just as happy with a Carvin though, especially after the first chip in the finish.

[kotornut]

Originally Posted by TheToneZone

As I noted, my NEXT axe will be either or, I didn't say my LAST axe. While it may have seemed so, I wasn't trying to compare the two. At the end of the day I'd probably be just as happy with a Carvin though, especially after the first chip in the finish.

No you took me tha wrong way, I was just noting that it's either a good deal guitar or the guitar of your dreams type thing. That's how guitarists think, I do too. I always think "well I might get a another middle priced RG or a super expensive PRS," or something along those lines. It all depends on how much I'm willing to sacrifice for a guitar.

I just like the way you said it.

[ShredHead42]

I find it weird. His last Carvins were 7 strings and 24 fret (didn't see that on the S in his picture) and VERY customized. Petrucci left Ibanez because they wouldn't customize as much as he wanted.

So i find it odd that T Mac left Carvin (HIGHLY customizable) for Ibanez. It has to be marketing or cash. Not to say that marketing can't become cash, but what's he putting out right now? Nothing. His solo album has been scrapped; check the Vai forums. He's not really promoting anything. Then again, he's an endorsement whore and has changed brands SO many times over the years, who cares? I wonder if he or his endorsers realize that anyone who is a fan knows his history. Washburn, BC Rich, countless others anyone?

And it's not like everyone who plays Ibanez gets a big profile anyway.

Who cares? He lives in the late 1990s world where a web page could be updated every 2-3 years and be ok. But at least back then he released an album every few years.

Weak.

[Jim Antonio]

Anyone know if he's going to be in NAMM playing the Ibanez booth?

[bringer of torture]

Originally Posted by ShredHead42

I find it weird. His last Carvins were 7 strings and 24 fret (didn't see that on the S in his picture) and VERY customized. Petrucci left Ibanez because they wouldn't customize as much as he wanted.

So i find it odd that T Mac left Carvin (HIGHLY customizable) for Ibanez. It has to be marketing or cash. Not to say that marketing can't become cash, but what's he putting out right now? Nothing. His solo album has been scrapped; check the Vai forums. He's not really promoting anything. Then again, he's an endorsement whore and has changed brands SO many times over the years, who cares? I wonder if he or his endorsers realize that anyone who is a fan knows his history. Washburn, BC Rich, countless others anyone?

And it's not like everyone who plays Ibanez gets a big profile anyway.

Who cares? He lives in the late 1990s world where a web page could be updated every 2-3 years and be ok. But at least back then he released an album every few years.

Weak.

Actually, Tony is still working on his new solo album at the moment. I was told by a reliable source that he wasn't happy with the current recordings and is reworking it. Also, it's difficult to have time to work on your own music when you're touring with Steve Vai all the time. Everyone has to make a living. Don't forget about Tony's output in the last 23 years, either:

Solo:
Edge of Insanity
Maximum Security
Freedom To Fly
Madness
Premonition
Evolution
Violent Machine
Master Of Paradise
Chromaticity

With MARS:
Project Driver

With MacAlpine:
Eyes of the World

With CAB:
CAB
CAB2
CAB4
Theatre de Marionnettes

With Planet X:
Universe
Moonbabies

With Devil's Slingshot:
Clinophobia

With Ring of Fire:
Dreamtower
Lapse of Reality

Not to mention countless guest appearances, etc. That's a hell of alot more that many artists can manage. Posts like yours are the very reason that Tony shut down his forum: too many people complaining that he wasn't doing enough.

Anyway, for my part I am very interested to hear (and see) Tony's new Ibanez signature models in action. I also can't wait for the new Planet X!!!!!

Oh, and to call him an "endorsement whore" is insulting and in bad taste. Tony switches guitar brands when he can't get what he needs out of his current guitar anymore, or when he needs new inspiration; I would think that any serious musician would be able to relate to that.

[Dee]

Originally Posted by Ekim

I hope T-Mac gets a sig too. His playing is just sweet, even if his tone is usually too thin.

8 string, huh? Can't wait to hear that beast in his hands.

Tony's tone (!) hasn't been thin for a while since he switched to Hughes & Kettner amps. On the contrary, I heard some live recordings of Devil's Slingshot (and saw them live) -- his tone was anything but thin. Very thick tone.

I'm late on this but I find it interesting that Tony has teamed up with Ibanez. Great player, he's been a fav of mine since '86. I look forward to hearing how he sounds with an Ibanez on the next Planet X record.

[Dee]

Originally Posted by ShredHead42

I find it weird. His last Carvins were 7 strings and 24 fret (didn't see that on the S in his picture) and VERY customized. Petrucci left Ibanez because they wouldn't customize as much as he wanted.

So i find it odd that T Mac left Carvin (HIGHLY customizable) for Ibanez. It has to be marketing or cash. Not to say that marketing can't become cash, but what's he putting out right now? Nothing. His solo album has been scrapped; check the Vai forums. He's not really promoting anything. Then again, he's an endorsement whore and has changed brands SO many times over the years, who cares? I wonder if he or his endorsers realize that anyone who is a fan knows his history. Washburn, BC Rich, countless others anyone?

And it's not like everyone who plays Ibanez gets a big profile anyway.

Who cares? He lives in the late 1990s world where a web page could be updated every 2-3 years and be ok. But at least back then he released an album every few years.

Weak.

Tony's output is actually quite immense. I work for Planet X and he's about to start work on a new album with them. Check: http://www.myspace.com/planetxsite

He works often with Virgil Donati (also of Planet X), they did Devil's Slingshot (album and tour) together with Billy Sheehan, he toured with Michel Polnareff (again featuring Virgil), made 5 albums with CAB, Ring Of Fire (with Virgil), and of course the work he did with Steve Vai.

Tony has done loads, it's no wonder he rarely gets time to work on solo material.

[jaxadam]

Originally Posted by bringer of torture

With MacAlpine:
Eyes of the World

Great album, probably one of my favorites with him. The solo on "Wild Ride" kills.

[Ekim]

Originally Posted by Dee

Tony's tone (!) hasn't been thin for a while since he switched to Hughes & Kettner amps. On the contrary, I heard some live recordings of Devil's Slingshot (and saw them live) -- his tone was anything but thin. Very thick tone.

I'm late on this but I find it interesting that Tony has teamed up with Ibanez. Great player, he's been a fav of mine since '86. I look forward to hearing how he sounds with an Ibanez on the next Planet X record.

I don't remember when he switched to H&K, but I thought his tone was thin with Vai and Planet X, both live and on various boots and official live releases.

But I haven't seen T-Mac live since the Real Illusions tour so I hope it's improved. I REALLY hope PX tours soon and often, but I won't hold my breath.

[kmanick]

I'm late on this (I didn't know this had happened until just now)
Interesting...... My Carvin 7 is an amazing guitar (once I upgraded the Pickups to a set of BareKnuckles and replaced the tem with an OFR). Just incredibly easy to play.
mine
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...k/DSCN1944.jpg

it easily rivals my J-custom 8527.
Good luck to him, I love his playing and would be vey interested to see a sig model (but please no more freaking basswood 7's)
enough already.

[OLIE_ROCKS_THE_80'S]

Originally Posted by Dee

I'm late on this but I find it interesting that Tony has teamed up with Ibanez. Great player, he's been a fav of mine since '86. I look forward to hearing how he sounds with an Ibanez on the next Planet X record.

Ditto!

[marijuana_kills]

Originally Posted by shreddersymphony

If Rich says that he's probably right, but I spoke with Andy Timmons and he told me the reason he cut his contract with Ibanez short is because they wanted to force him to play only their guitars. Sure sounds like an endorser kinda thing to me. He wanted to also use his fenders live and in the studio. But they did reissue his older signature model recently, so who knows.

well wtf? how do you expect ibanez to react? i would of done the same....

[kelmaur]

"I wonder if he or his endorsers realize that anyone who is a fan knows his history. Washburn, BC Rich, countless others anyone?




.....didnt he play Hamer guitars at one time also?

i think i remember seeing him with a Hamer in a guitar mag once

[Tank]

Originally Posted by kmanick

I'm late on this (I didn't know this had happened until just now)
Interesting...... My Carvin 7 is an amazing guitar (once I upgraded the Pickups to a set of BareKnuckles and replaced the tem with an OFR). Just incredibly easy to play.
mine
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...k/DSCN1944.jpg

it easily rivals my J-custom 8527.
Good luck to him, I love his playing and would be vey interested to see a sig model (but please no more freaking basswood 7's)
enough already.

wow that carvin is a beauty. I wish I could get Carvins reasonably priced in Europe...

[marijuana_kills]

his album should be coming out soon!