Too Much Tech - Edited

[ProfessorGAC]

Backstory: a couple guys I played in a band with 40 years ago got back together for a new band. They played together in the 80s & 90s, but only 3 of the 4 are in this new plan.
Sidebar: That band, all friends of ours, openly admitted to stealing our concept & look. They felt they'd be playing smaller rooms & wouldn't really be competing with us using our shtick.
Anyway, they invited me to yesterday's practice. I got there at noon, and their sound system, auxiliary track computer, monitors & one of the guitar player's setup is so tech heavy it took them 105 minutes to get ready for their first song! Too much tech.
I sat there for an hour & 45 minutes waiting to hear something!!! Too much tech
Also, they set up a full PA for a rehearsal in a room that can't be more than 300 square feet. But, because of the click track for the backing tracks, 2 of them were wearing headphones. They didn't even really need the PA. Too much tech.
They asked me to join, but I'm thinking no. Maybe only as a lead vocalist, but the one guy seems to relish being the lead singer. (Age has really taken it's toll on his power & range, though.) But, that's a maybe, leaning no.
I don't know what their an is. They only rehearse once a month and they admit there's not enough polish on their stuff. Not sure how they're going to get sharp playing once a month.
And, if it's just to get together and bash away, waiting around almost 2 hours to get going seems unappealing.
I really like all those guys, & was looking forward to this visit, but underwhelmed by what I heard. I guess I expect3d a good deal more.
BTW, for the guitar player's here: the one guy had a pedal board with 28(!) stomp boxes. Yep, twenty-eight. He had a router to create combinations with one click, but he'd hit them & I really couldn't tell. So, all those boxes but same tone. Too much tech.
But, he bad an Ibanez 12 string electric that was really nice. Great action, good neck shape. Played great. Couldn't find an image of it online, so I can't post a picture. You'll have to trust me on this.
Edit: I found an image of it. Same color & everything.
https://images.app.goo.gl/eqRREFUNodSpxr9RA

[Otto_Harper]

1. I think it was Glenn Fricker (from SpectreSound) that told the story of a group

that had a studio session booked to lay down a bunch of tracks. And, they had set their entire DAW and mixing array in a laptop. Came the day of the session, they flipped the laptop on, and it came up with "Windows is Updating. Do not interrupt or power down during this operation". For the next hour and a half.

[yonder]

2. Too Much Tech - agreed, and not just for music performance either.

That focus is all around us, so much so that we often lose sight of the goal.

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

3. Agreed.

I'm more into organic music. I can understand some of this for big shows that rely on light, pyrotechnic synchronization or accompaniment tracks but for a small club band it just seems too much.

[Ferrets are Cool]

4. Hey, it if makes them happy.

It's kinda like in my field. Too many photogs become gear heads and forget that you can get fantastic images from a small manual camera that costs $300. It's the person behind the camera that makes it special.
I'm sure there are similarities in the musical realm.

[ProfessorGAC]

8. I Suppose

But when we were gigging the band had a 10,800 watt sound system, a 4,200 watt monitor system & 90 something lights, a spotlight, smoke machine & pyro.
We weren't afraid of hardware.
Geez, I had a MIDI networked keyboard rig with 45-50 cables.
But, not for rehearsals. 1 keyboard & a small PA we bought for rehearsals. I plugged into the PA. The drummer used an old 5 piece kit, and 3 amps for guitars & bass.
We would never have thought to set up a practice like a show. For one thing, we'd have blown the windows 9ut of the drummer's house. LOL! And 90 lights would have turned the room into an oven!
I wish these guys well, because we've been pals for decades. But, if they spent more time on getting sharp & less on hardware, I think it would serve them better.

[highplainsdem]

5. Sounds rather pathetic. They'd be lucky if you joined them, but they should

listen to you, let you sing lead, and get more serious about practice if they do intend to perform.

[highplainsdem]

6. You mentioned an Ibanez 12-string electric. There's one that's inexpensive but has rave reviews

on Amazon and Sweetwater.

https://www.amazon.com/Ibanez-12-String-Semi-Hollow-Electric-Transparent/dp/B06XNSD642?th=1

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AS7312TCD--ibanez-artcore-as7312-semi-hollow-12-string-transparent-cherry-red

[ProfessorGAC]

7. Nope

Those are semi-hollow like a Gibson ES-335. This was a full solid body.
However, I found it! I searched looking for their GR & RG series.
https://images.app.goo.gl/eqRREFUNodSpxr9RA
In fact, this is the exact guitar he has.

[highplainsdem]

9. Are you thinking of getting one like it?

[ProfessorGAC]

10. More Than Likely, No

I've got 2 twelve string acoustics. Not sure there's really a reason to get one, unless I stumble on a great deal.
Over $500 goes beyond my "cuz I want one" range.