A year ahead: Ed Sheeran's Guitar

Yrksman · #1 12-31-2014, 06:41 PM

Hello to my friends in the USA and Canada. How's life in 2014?

First experience of 2015 over here, apart from fireworks going off, is watching Jools Holland's Hootenanny. Ed Sheeran has just been on and without looking closely I was unimpressed by the sound of his guitar. Internet search revealed his signature model Martin LX1E. An interesting choice.....thoughts anyone?

futboljim · #2 12-31-2014, 06:46 PM

Happy New Year, Chris!

You will find that a good percentage here don't know or care about Ed Sheeran.

I am not a fan of the little martin, but am a fan of Ed Sheeran. Since he generally plays it using a pickup to get to an amp/PA, I am guessing his sound is shaped greatly outside the guitar - although it sounds like maybe not so well in the show you saw tonight.

Yrksman · #3 12-31-2014, 06:55 PM

Happy New Year to you and everyone too! Where did that year go?

His guitar seemed to lack effects from what I heard. The show is going out live and it's a song for each artist so maybe they don't have time to get set up properly?

Yrksman · #4 12-31-2014, 07:07 PM

Second song and it's with a Stratocaster, sounds much better.

Captain Jim · #5 12-31-2014, 07:22 PM

How was Ed Sheeran's performance accepted by the crowd? Just asked because our daughter saw him in concert a few months ago and absolutely gushed about his performance (no, she is not a starry-eyed youngster). She was impressed by his use of a looper in the performance. She didn't say anything about "the sound of his guitar."

As guitar players, we tend to obsess about subtle nuances in tone... where the average person at a concert just wants to be entertained.

Captain Jim

Yrksman · #6 12-31-2014, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Jim

How was Ed Sheeran's performance accepted by the crowd? Just asked because our daughter saw him in concert a few months ago and absolutely gushed about his performance (no, she is not a starry-eyed youngster). She was impressed by his use of a looper in the performance. She didn't say anything about "the sound of his guitar."

As guitar players, we tend to obsess about subtle nuances in tone... where the average person at a concert just wants to be entertained.

Captain Jim

Well received, I take your point but the second song sounded so much better.....far more depth.

8TrackJoe · #7 12-31-2014, 08:13 PM

I've heard some of Ed Sheeran's songs, some I like some I don't. I get a kick out of watching him with that Little Martin and his looper, Chummy Monster (?) I think it's called. I'm not crazy about the "tone" from the guitar, but then again I don't like the sound of the Little Martin unplugged at the guitar store either. I do enjoy watching what he does with it and it goes to show that you don't have to have the biggest or best to make music and have fun. Just my perspective.

Rmz76 · #8 12-31-2014, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yrksman

Hello to my friends in the USA and Canada. How's life in 2014?

First experience of 2015 over here, apart from fireworks going off, is watching Jools Holland's Hootenanny. Ed Sheeran has just been on and without looking closely I was unimpressed by the sound of his guitar. Internet search revealed his signature model Martin LX1E. An interesting choice.....thoughts anyone?

He doesn't even play with that model anymore. C.F. Martin built him a custom Parlor to replace it which you can see in the video he put out earlier this year for the first single off his new album "One".

Since Ed abandoned his own signature model I don't think it's worth much consideration. Martin jumped on the opportunity to get an artist to endorce a budget guitar made with HPL back and sides, but when the artist abandons the guitar for something much nicer that tells you what you need go know. I do love the sound of his custom Parlor and would like to know more about it.

Yrksman · #9 12-31-2014, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rmz76

I do love the sound of his custom Parlor and would like to know more about it.

p

Didn't impress me at all.

Von Beerhofen · #10 12-31-2014, 09:17 PM

Personaly I wouldn't buy a Sheeran signature because I can afford better but unless Ed's guitar has significantly deteriorated or was badly amped I can only say it sounded nice when watching a solo performance of him.
The public really seemed to like it too but then again he's a good looking guy.
I wouldn't compare Ed Sheeran's guitar with something used by a classically schooled guitarist, after all the guy is still at the start of his carreer.
I like how he uses the instrument and inspite of a rough touch he's getting things across. The guitar may not really last long according to what I've seen but that's not unusual. There's just a difference in miking when it comes to miking a solo guitarist who's playing classical stuff or a pop artist.
I haven't seen the show but can imagine that in a Jools Holland show the weight isn't entirely on Ed Sheeran. It's not an overly expensive guitar and I think that's a bit of a statement, Ed could by now easily afford any guitar in the world but is sticking to what he has. Many of us aren't different in this, I'm still holding on to my beloved Ibanez Artist which I bought over 35 years ago because I've grown to love it, inspite of it's quircks.
Ed may someday acquire another instrument, find other endorsements and play guitars for free, possibly this one is.
I've seen many gifted performers in less desirable circumstances but it never told me anything about a guitar's sound in such a performance, sometimes the sound is even intentionally changed to capture a certain feel of the song.

Ludwig

Rockguy475 · #11 01-01-2015, 12:19 AM

http://youtu.be/F2K_7-MHt3k

Pretty cool. Iv been a fan for a bit. I actually learned one of his songs "I see fire" which was the theme song from the second hobbit movie.

pjroberts · #12 01-01-2015, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockguy475

http://youtu.be/F2K_7-MHt3k

Pretty cool. Iv been a fan for a bit. I actually learned one of his songs "I see fire" which was the theme song from the second hobbit movie.

Yeah, I think the statement about few knowing him or caring was wildly ignorant. The guys is innovative and writing his own rules, and would probably be just as wildly popular and successful with a second hand Esteban reject.

Guitar1083 · #13 01-01-2015, 12:53 AM

his signature tone is a cheap guitar.
lets compare to a jazz player using a toy piano.
its his sound and no one else has it so thats on the plus side.

Birdo · #14 01-01-2015, 03:46 AM

As far as I know , his signature guitar is the little Martin with a few different logos on it. A x and some other bits. The money from the guitar sales however goes to a local childrens charity close to where he comes from . Which is a nice touch and something he didn't have to do.

steveh · #15 01-01-2015, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rmz76

He doesn't even play with that model anymore. C.F. Martin built him a custom Parlor to replace it which you can see in the video he put out earlier this year for the first single off his new album "One".

Since Ed abandoned his own signature model I don't think it's worth much consideration.

Ed wasn't playing the parlour in the show last night, nor the custom job with the lizard on the fretboard he's been using recently; it was a bog-standard little Martin, well-bashed up.

Here's the clip from a few hours ago:

I've seen him live in pretty small venues (i.e. well before he got to O2 arena/Wembley stadium status). He's all about the song and communicating his performance/message live. He's one of the most energetic and compelling guitarists I've seen. He doesn't need or want a "high-end" guitar; it would be completely the wrong tool for what he does. What he does, he does superbly well, hence his astonishing success.

Cheers,
Steve