During my exile from Prince.org by individuals that see fit to use double standards when flagging members, I had a chance to peruse the msg boards. One thing that I find odd is no mention of Prince's use of the whammy bar as of late. Mind you, he can still put out on the 6 string like no one else, but when he plays the intricate solo's...The Question Of U and Joy In Repetition come to mind, he prefers to get the pitch changes and vibrato with a whammy bar. I for one think it cheapens the sound....takes some of the feeling out of the playing, so to speak. Anyone else find his use of the whammy bar an oddity? In LA and on Musicology, he uses it alot. I definitely don't like it on Musicology. For instance...the little solo at the end of "The Man In Your Life" sounds very, very organic, compared to say, the solos in "A Million Days" where he is using the whammy bar. Check it out and see if you agree. This being my first post after being bounced, I thought I'd ask a civil politically correct question as opposed to the tough ones.

BlackandRising said:

this thread definitely needs to be blocked

Are you fucking serious?

Someone PLEASE kill this thread....

[Thread appears to be fine... different opinions welcome... be civil to one another, if you cannot, don't post on the thread. It's really that simple. - June7]

BlackandRising said:

I wholeheartedly agree with you about his whammy use. I've posted this repeatedly since he started using them on his symbol guitars. I don't think he uses it well. I've heard it's a nod to Steve Vai's technique, but there's no comparison. Prince can rip and shred with the best of them, no doubt. But, his whammy use is annoying as all get-out.

He's sound pretty cool on The Ride on the vegas video.

As a guitar player, I would like to believe he's stretching out and trying to achieve some new sounds. Maybe he's been listening to more Jimi Hendrix or Steve Vai. Who knows? Having seen him use the whammy live lately, I noticed he seems to be inflecting strong emotions/anger in certain passages.

It's really not that unusual. In the early 90s, Prince started uses the Digitech Whammy pedal in order to create similar sounds. Using an actual whammy bar might just be the next logical step.

Maybe he's just bored with his guitar sound...it happens. At least he's not using it for just dive bombs and other sound effects.

Yeah, don't like it. Though, I love his playing in the Vegas "Ride" intro. Ohmygosh. very nuanced.

I think, for me, I hate seeing him use the whammy because he historically has had such a powerful, natural, lefthand vibrato. His whammy playing cheapens a fine tone.

With people here wishing this 2 B blocked (or locked), U can see how few people here are musicians and/or guitar players.

This is a very important topic.

As a guitar player who doesn't use a whammy bar, it was interesting 2 hear N.E.W.S. and watch ONA Vegas.

In Prince's guitar playing, two things I absolutely love are the way he bends and his vibrato, so I feel U.

HOWEVER, I kinda like the wway he uses the whammy, and from what I've seen, he's not leaning on it 4 everything... he still bends plenty, and his vibrato is still there, Bro. What gets me is the way he bends and shakes the %@$# outta his 'tele'. I'm a Fender Tele player, and I funk the #%@$ out of it, but 4 leads and such, I generally switch 2 a couple of guitars, which will remain nameless... 4 now.

"PS": Funkydoo: Good point about the Digitech Whammy... I much rather see him use a real one.

Peace.

G.
[This message was edited Wed Apr 7 13:47:40 2004 by Giovanni777]
[This message was edited Wed Apr 7 13:49:13 2004 by Giovanni777]

Prince will always play like Prince whether he uses a whammy or not. It's just adding another element to his playing...it gives him options.

Giovanni777 is right. Prince still bends and has his wonderful vibrato. However, using the whammy can add a bit of wildness to his sound. After he bends up on a high note, he can let go of the strings, push down or the bar, and achieve some great dynamics.

Give it time to grow on you. Knowing Prince, he'll do some spectacular things with the whammy!

Note: listen to Steve Vai albums for jaw-dropping whammy use.

Giovanni777 said:

I am a musician / guitar player. I just think this is just petty. Anything to bitch about, that's all this is.

I agree with Funkydoo that P is just trying to experiment with new sounds. One of the things I love about the lil man as a musician is that he periodically changes things up. He's not content to keep using the same techniques and sounds over and over. If you dislike the whammy, I wouldn't worry too much. He'll probably move on to something new soon enough.

I'm not sophisticated enough as a guitar player to pick up on this hugely, and so consequently i don't have that much of a problem. I've noticed it visually more - perhaps it's another aspect he wants to incorporate from a showman's perspective? To someone who has no idea about playing a guitar, maybe it just looks like another "trick" / ability. I don't know.

edit.
[This message was edited Wed Apr 7 13:58:27 2004 by 3bogs]

I dont really think it makes all that much difference if whammys are used or not its just an extra option ,some players just use them better than others no big deal really.I play guitar and aint that fussed over whammys one way or another.

I don't like the way Prince wipes his ass with his left hand, he should use his
right

JAMIESTARR said:

HA HA exactly

JAMIESTARR said:

It should be the hand he picks his nose with...
[This message was edited Wed Apr 7 14:15:52 2004 by funkydoo]

winterman said:

And locked too.

I agree with many -- whammy overkill. For years I wondered why he never seemed to bother with it, then he finally adds a Floyd Rose to Habibi and goes apeshit. His vibrato and bending technique is flawless and plenty expressive... he should leave Steve Vai alone.

some of you people should listen t0
his whammy bar on shhh live from hong kong or bambi from 2002 celebration and
you will see how briliant his use of whammy bar is.
he is the master at his own .

Mmmm... Wham Bar...

richierich said:

There's nothing Prince is going to do that some of these fools will find something to complain about. Unreal!!!

chookalana said:

[Flame Snipped - June7]

If you don't like the question in the title of the thread, don't read it. Save yourself the aggravation. And, have a nice day.
To the people that gave their honest opinions without the childlike jibberish, I thank you.

TedW said:

Yep...I noticed it first at one of his shows at the Fillmore in SF when he played Joy In Repetition on the blue Habibi. It sounded great, but I missed the way he does it with his left hand on the strings. I just never liked the way that anyone used a whammy bar, aside from Jimi. Don't get me wrong, Prince still sounds great with it, but there is a marked difference when he uses it.

gman1966 said:

Jesus, you child. it's not a complaint. It's a question. You people are fucking unreal. Again, if you don't like the thread title, skipt it. If you read it and don't like it, then kindly bend over and kiss my black ass.

BlackandRising said:

Gee, now why on earth could you have been banned?

gman1966 said:

I don't think it's a complaint so much as it's a preference, considering BnR doesn't have a history of complaining about anything and everything.

gemini13 said:

what, cause I cussed? Are you a JW now or something? We are, for the most part, adults here, aren't we?

BlackandRising said:

Well.....

This being your very first thread after such a long time, one would think that you wouldn't become so easily irritated. That's all. Dude, knock that chip off your shoulder, it's weighing you down.

gemini13 said:

You actually think I'm serious? Please u ass! Most of what I write is total sarcasm, meant to goat those that are gullible into saying something ridiculous. Which you did, by the way.