I'd argue that the anomaly is a pretty large and freakish one, though I know how much the rest of the world likes to downplay the US

I don't think it's that much of an anomaly, or particularly hard to explain.

The US might be the richest country in the world, but it's probably one of the most difficult places to live in the first world, if you're not born into a reasonably wealthy family. Especially when you consider the healthcare system over there, and the fact that you have to pay your own way if you want to go to university.

I hope I don't offend any Americans with that statement, don't get me wrong, I love America, but coming from a working-class background I'm seriously glad that I was born in the UK.
I'd probably be flipping burgers if I'd been born in the US.

[Octillus]

I'd argue that the anomaly is a pretty large and freakish one, though I know how much the rest of the world likes to downplay the US

I don't think it's that much of an anomaly, or particularly hard to explain.

The US might be the richest country in the world, but it's probably one of the most difficult places to live in the first world, if you're not born into a reasonably wealthy family. Especially when you consider the healthcare system over there, and the fact that you have to pay your own way if you want to go to university.

I hope I don't offend any Americans with that statement, don't get me wrong, I love America, but coming from a working-class background I'm seriously glad that I was born in the UK.
I'd probably be flipping burgers if I'd been born in the US.

I'm sorry but I respectfully disagree on that class system. My parents are both working class, were way too young to have kids, and finished school in continuation school (my mom was pregnant with me during her graduation). While I'm going to be in a massive amount of debt, and I've had to work at it a bit, I'm going to be graduating university this summer.

Did I perhaps have an easier time due to the color of my skin? Probably, but tell me where race isn't an issue in a first world country (not countries that pretend like they're not). This country has opportunity, I think the problem therein is that it does also raise us to be lazy, and assume opportunity will just knock. You have to make it happen. Whether that means it's more difficult, I guess I can't make a judgement based on other nations. However, I will concede that I've made it through thanks to the quality public education I've received. If we keep cutting like we're doing now, we WILL end up how you say: flipping burgers for our Chinese and Indian industry overlords.

I agree with both of you. The problem with many working class and middle class families, where I am from-- is spending. No one can manage money. All they do is collect debt that looms for years and years, those families and their kids and the coming generations are going to the suffer the consequences later on.

What I think is difficult, isn't so much the living but catching up. I've spent several years after high school just messing around. Been in relationships between that time, worked at what felt like twenty different jobs. Just not really giving a damn about my future; being young and dumb, so to say. I decided to go back to school, which is good. But what sucks is that I'm working two jobs while a full time student and had to resort back to living with my mother. It's an uphill battle. But I guess that's the price a pay for just trying to have some fun.

this guy figured out his philosophy as he grew bald

http://www.ted.com/talks/daniel_kahnema ... d.com_8Ads

I'd probably be flipping burgers if I'd been born in the US.

Many Americans reading this are think "Hell, I'd probably be fishing Mars Bars out of a deepfat fryer if I'd been born in Scotland."

I'd probably be flipping burgers if I'd been born in the US.

Many Americans reading this are think "Hell, I'd probably be fishing Mars Bars out of a deepfat fryer if I'd been born in Scotland."

They can think that if they want, but my opinion is based on the fact (and it is a fact) that rates of social mobility are a hell of a lot higher in Europe than they are in the United States, whereas their opinions are based on the fact that someone said something negative about their home country.

I'm not saying this as some kind of "my country is better than yours" contest, I'm not particularly nationalistic, and I don't think that Scotland/The UK do everything better than the US (IMO the American position on freedom of speech is much better than we have in Europe, for example). However, when it comes to social mobility, and helping those from poorer backgrounds to succeed, Europe beats the US hands down.

It's not particularly surprising. It's a hell of a lot harder to succeed when you have to get into a massive amount of debt to go to university, or you have to worry about being bankrupted if you get ill and your insurance company decides not to pay for it (or you can't afford insurance in the first place).

I'm sorry but I respectfully disagree on that class system. My parents are both working class, were way too young to have kids, and finished school in continuation school (my mom was pregnant with me during her graduation). While I'm going to be in a massive amount of debt, and I've had to work at it a bit, I'm going to be graduating university this summer.

Saying that someone from a poorer background has less chance of succeeding in the US, is not the same thing as saying that no one from a poorer background ever succeeds in the US.

this guy figured out his philosophy as he grew bald

http://www.ted.com/talks/daniel_kahnema ... d.com_8Ads

i must say, that was a real interesting video. i like his perspective

This whole personal-space/bothering dev thing has a pretty simple way of being dealt with.

- I'd say if the guy looks tired and/or his body language says "I want to be left alone" - respect that. If you must, be quick, curteous and kind.
- If his body language seems as though hes up for a chat, go for it, ask what you've always wanted as long as its reasonable and not personal.

I'm sure he accepted long ago that answering bizarre and also repetitive questions is all just swings and roundabouts and part of the job. Just as he has his bad days I'm sure he has some good ones too. Thread's starting to make the old boiler sound like hes having his menopause. Dev and others in the know have made it pretty clear whats okay to ask and whats not okay to ask - Most of its common sense to most people.

So what backline was used? Fractal -> Power Amp -> Mic'ed Cabs/DI -> PA? Did it work well? What did you enjoy and what didn't you enjoy? What autoerotic asphyxiation tips would you offer?

[The Dev]

The Axe just keeps getting better...every time I feel like giving up on it (it can be daunting) I have some cool breakthrough and the sound leaps ahead.

I referenced my old 'real' rig to it this week, and the axe is currently much better in quite a few ways...and I'm just scratching the surface.

...another 6 months or a year, and that baby should be dialed.

The Axe just keeps getting better...every time I feel like giving up on it (it can be daunting) I have some cool breakthrough and the sound leaps ahead.

I referenced my old 'real' rig to it this week, and the axe is currently much better in quite a few ways...and I'm just scratching the surface.

...another 6 months or a year, and that baby should be dialed.

Are you still using Revalver? And...have you ever messed with Guitar Rig? I'm kind of liking it....One more thing, have you tinkered with the Waves GTR yet?

Hi folks (sorry, this post is going to be fairly out of whack with the previousreligious ra ra....although must say I agree with most, if not all of what was previously stated..religious institutions of fun and buddhist 'holier than thou's' - even though we are ALL lovely people - i think ur "surrender" comment was as a beauty dev, in that regard i think SAT CHIT ANANDA says enough, any more debate is...well.....on mass?)

Dear Dev,

Tried emailing some of the hevydevy emails, but no reply; I'll keep it short and simple; I've designed a new guitar pickup (and it kicks ass, although my prototype at this point has only been used in acoustics, because I have not had the guts to butcher my electric yet to accommodate the donut shaped (toroidal) pickup.

Anyway, I will keep this short and simple as not to piss you off instantly ; My name is Nick am an 27 yr old ex-neuroscientist dutch boy now in Australia (indeed, nerdoscientist....) and designed/modified this new toroid based guitar pickup. I am in Brisbane and coming to the show on the 12th! Thanks for comin to aus btw.

I would really like for u to see it, as in the future I would like to work with the right people (e.g. urself and or peavey) to get something like this going, very different from the humbucker single coil thats been goin on for the last 70 odd years (BORING) If you like it offcourse. Its RADically (gotto love that word, whatever happened to RAD people, come on!) different visually and its properties are unique.

Would love to meet you either before or after the show for a quick 5-10 minutes - this is not a cheap attempt to get in your pants - if you have a moment to show you this little donut beast. 2 of them in an electric would be cool - an infinity guitar right? heheheheh, aaahhh, the cheese is flowing freely....

sent you a PM with my email, hope to hear from you, even if we can't meet at the brisbane show, or even an email saying 'f@ck off u lunatic' will suffice... I have already bought tickets to your finland show for ziltoid (f@ck yes!) . Like I said, willing to meet anywhere anytime whenever it suits.

Hope I will hear back from you sometime. And in regards to DTP - IT ALL CRANKS! You've been (and continue to be) huge inspiration and musical shoulder to lean on since I heard you on Vai's sex and religion, and all your material has been beautiful, so regardless of a meeting or not - THANK YOU!

Can't wait to see you in Brisbane and in HellStinki Finlaaaannnddd!!!

OM TAT SAT

and one other thing, the performance videos of DTP so far on youtube have been awesome, you guys really are rockin and look like your having a lot of fun.

The new Axe (pxd vicious) is AWESOME (generally not really into metal guitars, but it looks fantastic, especially in the By Your Command performances, crankin.....)

How do you find the PXD twenty three goes? Are playing a I or a II? obviously not the whammy model.... I first saw you play it on the Addicted track in some Nashville show video, it looks awesome also, saw it on the peavey site and the price for it isnt very expensive at all ; how do you feel about that one?

cheers again for your time mate, really looking forward to Deconstruction and Ghost particularly, that eventide on that acoustic sounds supremely lush

nick

Hi guys,

the brisbane show was farkin fantastic, cant wait for finland (2 days...lordy...)

Dev, first of all, thanks for takin the time with the supreme nerd and the little guitar with weird circular shit in there

Secondly, it was really great to see you are a total dude, thanks for takin the time for all those other peeps too, knowing that you cruising round like a madman, that guy with the City comment and the headphones was also supreme, the doob monster hahahaha

To Brian and Ryan and Mark, dudes, absolutely incredible stuff, all of it, couldnt believe how much of ziltoid emerged, crazy stuff..............Mark, what other stuff have u played for, cause those chops were seriously rippin, hope to get you (and the Dev) one of them donut pickups in the near future......... Might be able to make a bass one? But not yet, head spinning enough after tonight.

Hope you guys have a great tour / trip of Aus, thanks again for makin it down here

Nick, donut, mini flying v pickup dweebo ;D

...another 6 months or a year, and that baby should be dialed.

it's like unlimited possibilitys to shape the sound
don't give an Axe Fx to Eric Johnson or he would take the rest of live to find THE perfect setting

by the way, there is a new firmware: 9.03

I was at the NZ show (amazing btw) and I kinda felt bad for Devin, and the rest of the lads......................

Everyone was super gracious, and answered all questions/signed all booklets etc, but to me fan interactions always come across as a bit needy/sad?

Of course I could just be an elitist ass-hole, but there seems to be an element of obsessive idol-worship, like somehow if you meet someone talented it will rub off?

That, if just by osmosis............ they 'get' you and you 'get' them.

Sometimes it seems like a big exercise in transference.

I've hung out with some other international acts before (meshuggah etc) and what I enjoyed was talking as people about everyday shit, I think if you get on with someone it's valid
regardless of a supposed station in life.

Also anything to do with the axe-fx is totally valid

Didn't even talk to devin, but he said goodbye anyway.

thanks for a great show