Board To Death Ep. 18 - Nels Cline (Wilco, the Nels Cline Quartet) | EarthQuaker Devices
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- čas přidán 9. 10. 2018
- In the new Board to Death, we met up with guitarist, bandleader, and composer Nels Cline (Wilco, the Nels Cline Quartet) to explore the stunning pallette of sounds at his feet (and hands), and we learned why you should never let anyone borrow your Arpanoid.
Nels has multiple pedalboards, but today we’re looking at “the big one,” which is actually two small pedalboards stacked neatly inside a Pelican case to save space, because this is New York City, folks. The hardcase also functions as a tabletop to keep Nels’ Electro-Harmonix 16-Second Digital Delay, Montreal Assembly Count To Five, and Korg Kaoss Pad within arms’ reach for easy tweaking.
On the floor, Nels’ signal chain begins with the Arpanoid arpeggiator which is used as an improvisational tool on his collaboration with prolific free-jazz and modern classical composer Anthony Braxton. During these sessions, the Arpaniod was used in a patch alongside the ZVex Fuzz Factory, Digitech Whammy I which is then reversed and time-stretched by the 16-Second Delay and Kaoss Pad.
Rounding out the rig is a mix of standard and spacey stompboxes: Boss CS-3, Boss FV-500, Seymour Duncan 805, Boss VB-2, Red Panda Context, Devi Ever Soda Meiser, Crazy Tube Circuits Vyagra Boost, custom JamPedal Waterfall with the “Nels Cline switch,” Electro-Harmonix Stereo Pulsar, Montreal Assembly Count To Five, and Boss DD-3.
More info: eqd.rocks/NelsClineB2D
www.nelscline.com/
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Nels is the best! Every video he's in makes us want to play (and retire) from guitar - mind blown!
I know the feeling. Y'all want to buy some guitars? Thanks for watching!
We love Board to Death - thanks for the killer vids!
Thank you! 🙌🙌 EQD ❤'s PG!
Really!? Why?
Play what a junk yard sym-phoney?
9:33 As the graphic designer for the Red Panda Context pedal, I am so proud right now! Thanks Nels!
What a big compliment - congrats!
Have you designed any other pedals? Great work.
i have never heard anyone calling any pedal good looking or handsome ever :) good for u man now i have to check it for sounds
I have a Context pedal. it looks great, it sound great.
The prettiest pedal on my boards! Well done, eti313!
I mean, the deadly combination of usable working musician chops, met with jazz and true psychedelic experimentation. Bow to the master.
🙌🙌
"Total genius Nels" Cline
I love how pedals have transformed a generation of guitars players into modular synth guys. (I’m one of them)
"Everywhere I go, I have fun." Hats off Mr. Cline
I was going to take a nap, but I stayed for the dry humor and the wet signals.
lol
Nels still has that childlike enthusiasm for playing the guitar, combined with a lifetime of knowledge and expertise. Throw his unique style into the mix and it really makes for wonderful viewing. A special player.
When the aliens come, we need Nels to communicate with them.
Does the NASA Voyager support streaming audio?
I can see a sequel to "Arrival". Starring Nels Cline and Amy Adams.
and the Academy Award goes to...
His pedalboard!
"best supporting Pelican case"
In a time in my life when I can barely breath from depression. This video is much needed therapy. Thanks guys!
Thanks for watching, Jose! I hope we're able to help in some small way, even if only for 23 minutes.
hang in there Jose. I've been there too. It can get better.
EarthQuakerDevices Its more then enough. Thank you guys!
michael aryn Thanks man! I really appreciate it.
These are rough times for sensible people, Jose. But remember you are not alone. It is really good to be able to connect to people who also enjoy that type of music! Take care, brother and keep up with that warrior attitude!
Lee Ronaldo, Thurston Moore and Nels Cline = Sonic Truth
I have no patience for The Edge but I have all day for Nels Cline.
That was awesome that right after he shouted out My Bloody Valentine he went into an interpretation of the riff from the MBV song "I Only Said"
The man is a mad scientist. Also a hell of a nice guy, very generous with his time and knowledge.
Totally. He should teach an online class! Thanks for watching!
Indeed! I was lucky enough to sit down with him and a couple guitars for an afternoon this summer, and it is amazing how much it opened up my playing.
Wow, that rules! I'm insanely jealous. I had the good fortune of receiving a few bass lessons from Tony Levin last year and I can relate. The thing that stuck with me the most is how important it is to listen, think about what you want to play, then play it.
EarthQuakerDevices that was the same lesson Nels had for me!
It seems to be something all my favorite players have in common. When I spoke with Anthony Pirog from the Messthetics, he talked about the idea of developing a vocabulary for improvisation and it's completely changed the way I approach playing an instrument. Here's the interview, if you're interested: www.earthquakerdevices.com/blog-posts/the-messthetics-anthony-pirog-on-influence-improvisation
I don't get the hype... take away all those pedals and all you have left is a phenomenal musician.
exactly.
Had us in the first half, not gonna lie
This clearly shows how pedals can help translate the emotions, feelings, and ideas not create playing. Nels Cline is a highly underrated guy
Take away his guitar from him, or any other instrument for that matter, and he’d STILL be a phenomenal musician.
Pedals are a means to and end for me.
They allow me to explore Sonic territory that would otherwise be unachievable. It essentially multiplies the number of instruments In holding in my hand at all times, and I think that’s freaking awesome!
Nels Cline is Nels Cline straight to the amp. But if pedals give Nels inspiration in more directions, we get more Nels Cline. More Nels Cline > Not More Nels Cline. Also, Nels Cline.
Can we get a shirt that says "I deem this loopworthy"?
coming back a year later to check for shirt. sad its not here.
Look at how dark and beautiful that rosewood board is.
“Watch Nels Cline make alien noises for 20 minutes”
how better to spend time?
Being in the studio with Nels has to be the best thing ever.
I deem this loopworthy.
Riff status: loopworthy
@@EarthQuakerDevices I know you guys like to surprise people with what you are working on, but... you guys should look into a modern always recording looper like the 80s sixteen second delay Nels is using here. The key was in it being buffered bypass as I have a digitech multiplay from the 80s that also always records. There is a real gap in the modern pedal market for an always recording looper. Especially with how great it works with your guys pedals.
Someone tag Joe Bonamassa to watch this vid...
Hey @Jbonamass check this out
I think he only uses like two pedals. overrated special and I don't know the other one.
I think Joe is the 1 dislike on the video.
EarthQuakerDevices this is exactly why I love you guys omg
lol
This was a masterclass on noise-making.
Get this man a wizard hat! He is a magician.
What I love about Nels,he’s not scared or insecure nor intimidated to try anything,and 99.9% of the time it’s fantastic.Thanks Nels.
Nels is undercelebrated. If his body of work were only the solos on “Sky Blue Sky” it’d still ring true.
Nels is fantastic. He’s thinking and playing on a completely different level than most. The word genius gets over-used. But Nels is such an innovative genius musician.
All the favorite melodies from my childhood!
If you watch this skipping 10 seconds all the time it sounds like a mental breakdown
This is my fourth time watching this. I like treat this like listening to a full album of great riffs.
really happy that you like it! thanks for watching over and over!
my gawd, that jazzmaster had aged into pure beauty. I need to hear that thing in person in a small room
czcams.com/video/PEfK0ZfbLRA/video.html a small room that doesnt exist anymore
@@DonMount your videos were a massive gateway into Nels' playing for me Don! Thank you for all the footage and documentation
Your comments are on like every jazzmaster video, and I respect that.
For all offsets freaks: I think that Jazzmaster is not vintage, Fender did a celebration show of 50 years of the model, in Knitting Factory, some decades ago, with Thurston, Lee and Tom Verlaine, jamming, and each of them get a free JM like that.
@@fkorekore265 it's a 59
Boutique pedal people have a healthy respect for BOSS.
Absolutely! They can be easy to overlook since they're almost standard-issue at this point, but they perfected the compact pedal format and they get the job done every time. I'd be lost without my LS-2 Line Selector and TU-2 tuner. I've used and abused them for years and they've never let me down.
BTW, I love the Dispatch Master.
thanks!
@@EarthQuakerDevices My Boss DD-6 is one of the most useful pedals I own. I sure do miss my Dan Echo though. (I've had like 3 die on me. Best little echo ever. But damn are those Danelectro pedals fragile!)
Bass players keep coming back to the OC2 for that wubby synth tone.
Haven't even watched it, but already know this is the best video on the internet
you're so right
Spot on. This dude is the man. When I saw 23 minutes I was so stoked
thanks for watching, Ben!
Holy poopoo! He just has a large spring in his back pocket!? This man is a tone MONSTER! I love it.
I'm not a Wilco fan, but I could watch Nels do this all day. Love the Boss VB-2 Vibrato unit.
Nicholas Greenwood #metoo
Check out nels stellar down to earth work on mike watt's 'contemplating the engine room' album ...
"Everywhere I go I have fun"
I love Nels' playing and innovative approach. Some of the sounds here are the soundtrack to a nervous breakdown. 😂😂
so did you guys give him a rainbow machine?
Used to see Nels play in Bloc, in the 80s, all around LA. Freaking unreal band. Still have their CD, and a tape made before they were on A&M with "King Crab".
I just love this guy.. i could never do this kinda stuff but just listening to him do it makes me feel weirdly satisfied
you don't expect that kind of genius weirdness when you see a dad like this.
I expect genius weirdness everywhere I go, but I smell what you're steppin' in. Thanks for watching!
Indeed, he's the greatest dad to us all.
All us jazzmaster playing indie rawk dads know what’s up. Thurston is my dad and Nels is my stoner uncle.
He's more avuncular, in my opinion
Can you imagine the countless hours it must have taken to learn all those gadgets and tweak all that stuff constantly like that?! Like a mad genius
Damn, I've been a fan of Nels Cline since I didn't even know his name. Just really enjoyed his guitar sound on the Geraldine Fibbers _Butch_ album. Never dreamed one day he'd become an integral part of a favorite band.
Such a classy fella who knows when it's best to just "lay back" during a song, or go Full Tilt Boogie. Dude can bloody shred, for real
Definitely! I think Nels is one of the most tasteful players in the game. One of my favorite Nels Cline moments is in the live version Wilco's "Muzzle of Bees" in the film "Burn to Shine: Chicago." And every note he plays on Mike Watt's "Contemplating the Engine Room" is golden. Thanks for watching!
I sincerely thank you guys for posting such interesting videos.
Peace & Jah Bless
I'll second that. His playing on "Engine Room" is just unreal. Also, his duet album with Julian Lage - which contains none of Nels' ingenious and inspired effect use - is gorgeous. The guy has amazing taste and unbelievable command of effects and sounds and is an endless font of improv ideas. I've seen him in an improv trio setting and in the course of one hour-long piece he must played over 200 distinct melodic ideas that all fit together. He's the rarest of the rare and I hope he can continue on forever.
Thanks for watching, Micheal! Adding his duet album with Julian Lage to my Spotify queue now...
No one has even mentioned the cute little dog! He was so peaceful and relaxed meanwhile chaos erupted from a nearby speaker.
I loved the nightmare circus at the end.
i didn't want this to end
me neither
God damn this man is an absolute ripper, everything about this is so clean. Thanks EQD!
It's our pleasure to deliver ripping hot-rock guitar action to your ear-holes. Thanks for watching, Adam!
Even without any pedals, he's such a precise player. Great technique.
This video is about 3 hours too short.
i know what this is. it's Nels' sly way of saying "hey earthquaker, can you build an always-on-looper device like the 16 second delay because there is nothing like it out there! (cause me old wares are getting rusty round the joints)."...heh heh...heh, heh,....ha!!
They really should. When EHX remade that pedal they made it true bypass instead of buffered. Buffered bypass is the key because my 80s digitech multiplay also always records.
Someone correct me if I’m wrong but can’t the Tensor do a bit of that?
@@Jeremy-ob4gm Sort of, but it's not really useful or intuitive. You have to be in the NXT mode with the blend knob 100% dry while looping, then to grab and play back you have to quickly change modes and adjust the blend, which you pretty much have to do with your hands. Wouldn't be so bad, except the max loop length in NXT mode is maybe 2.5 seconds.
I love Nels Cline, for his gear, his wisdom, generosity of spiri, his tiny feet and his awesome hair. WILCO ROCKS esp. with Nels!!!!
Simply put, the master of modern guitar.
this is just an amazing video to see how you can take expand your sound, thanks Nels!
Well this is incredible! Love the soundscapes and 'out there' sounds he gets so quickly. Great video!
Thanks, Ted!
I am sooooo inspired now... Nels started playing and my jaw dropped... Floored... Instant Fan.
Nels thanks I like the way your commentating and teaching by thinking out loud about what and why your doing.. very insightful.. you do some things I wouldn’t have thought of.. also you use pedals because they do what you want them to do, it’s not about using only boutique or true bypass or the most expensive pedals.. your a true artist.. rare treat
My daughter said. "DAD that freaks me out, sound like monsters are coming" had to Share thanks Nels and EQer
Well, it does sound like monsters are coming. I should make a pedal called that, if I learn how to make pedals.
Sonic irritations .
i could listen to him all day
I really can’t stand Wilco, but Nels is easily one of my favorite guitarists. The guy does some crazy innovative stuff, he knows what he’s talking about, and he seems so genuine.
Great creative sounds, nice to know about this guy.
10:00
I´m in love with this guy! How can you not like him? His talking, his playing... god why did I just found him know??
Well that was the best thing I saw all week.
thanks for watching, Kevin!
Nels Cline and EarthQuaker Devices ARE PERFECTION!!!!
I love this. ALL OF THIS! Nels Cline seems like such an awesome human. Anything goes man, just commit to it and give it everything - cool things will happen. Love it. Thanks EQD for bringing this to the internet!
Nels totally gets it. Thanks for watching, Justin!
What a great sense of rhythm.
Nice amplifier EQD! Nice playing Nels! Tone,chaos,melodicism,and noise. It is a good day indeed!
thanks!
Nels is the man! So much food for thought here
That end of the world Noise sounded like re-entry
Absolutely loved it.
This guy Rube Goldbergs ridiculous sounds, and it's the greatest 20 minutes of "guitartube" you'll see today!
This is so much fun !! I love these kind of videos, and Nels is like a mad scientist with all his pedals !!
Thanks for watching!
I could watch this all day
Wow, best video in this series so far. The man is a perfect blend of playing and sound experimentation
Thank you so much for viewing
I feel like my ears just took acid.
The best Board To Death ever. This vids are great, thanks for the nice time!
Thanks for joining us!
Fun for the entire family! Genius...
It’s like he’s a lost warlock making a potion for a psychedelic time machine. It’s crunchy, I’m completely lost as to what’s really going on in this video. Really
inspiring.
Thx Nels!
Nels-you crack me up man. Sick playing too haha
this is my favorite guitar video on the internet
Best thing I have seen in ages. Great job all round thanks
thanks for watching, James!
Nels could teach a master class just on natural harmonics
Great to watch someone who has become so symbiotic with his gear!
he's so good he can make the random settings on his pedals do things on purpose
He's a guy that fully understands the potential of FX pedals.
fo sho
11:48 The little known secret to Nels's sound is he actually runs everything through this limited edition Earthquaker Doge before his amp...
Nels is a massive inspiration.
His collaborations with Medeski, Martin, and Wood are quite literally out of this world.
I gotta check those out! Thanks for watching!
I've watched this a few times - for both inspiration and therapy alike! At one point I was hoping he could get the dog to paw the guitar for extra chaos! Joking aside, Nels is a great guitar player who can play tastefully (if he wants to) while seeking out new frontiers of guitar sound. It seems that he has a great knowledge of music and he uses both his influences along with innovation/ experimentation to inform his style. Go check out his work with Wilco, his own music with Julian Lage and live collaborations with Jim Campilongo (another fantastic player) - you'll realize that he can probably play any style he wants. He is also both completely cool and nerdy uncool at the same time! I like how he shows some blatant disregard for form and convention and isn't afarid to break things down to then re-assemble the peices into something unique and more interesting. His pedal board and his use of effects are refreshing - he can appreciate the tasteful tones a Klon can bring to the table but is not snobbish about what he uses. In Nels, Earthquaker pedals have found a great fit for showing and possibly developing further what they can bring to the already saturated pedal market. Videos like this can only get them further noticed and respected more by having their pedals endorsed by someone like Nels.
Nels is a fucking god, but I think it's cute that he uses a major 2nd setting on a whammy pedal to play "my bloody valentine type stuff" when Kevin and Bilinda just used the tremolo bars on their guitars-- using the same exact style of trems.
I love rig rundowns and love board to death so much. I’ve always wanted to one day become an earthquaker artist with the dope boards they all get with the all the pedals. Hopefully one day my band will get there but until then I’ll keep looking to nels for creative inspiration wow that man plays each pedal like an instrument unto itself
Thank you for watching our videos!
I can’t think of another guitarist I’d like to have a few beers with more than Nels.
I imagine he'd be a pinot drinker
Best. Board. To. Death. Ever.
That Earthquaker amp sounded really good!
Great stuff.
So many cool ideas in this.
thanks, Bruce!
Brilliant musician!
one of the best videos on your channel and on YT of this kind
thank you!
This is fun for the entire family. Gracias Nels.
Our pleasure!
Great Clean Tone from that Jazzmaster!
Love love love the context reverb. Red Panda Panda Panda Panda!!!!!!
This guy seriously knows his gear, really amazing sounds. That fuzz was ridiculous lol but he works with it!
A master at his work! =O
I can watch him all day.
Nels, you were amazing with Wilco at Halfway Festival (Bialystok, PL) few years back!
Best video on pedals i have ever seen, episode from Dr. Who called ' Happenings Ten Years Time Ago!
Completely, wholly, utterly enthralling.
thanks for watching, Andreas!
Truly my pleasure. Now I guess I'm gonna have to dust-off my looper...