I have a hard time finding a good high gain rhythm/lead sound for live use. Can you give an example on the difference between studio and live sound, if possible? I dont really know what to listen for. Thanks a lot!

March 16, 2015

Liked by: Luciano Díaz Luca Moqi spike Anubhav Nigam

Hi Francesco, what is your favourite melodic death metal band?

March 13, 2015

Edge Of Sanity. This album is the pinnacle of melodic death, Dan Swano is god.

https://youtu.be/7Xdj1MTQetk

FrancescoFiligoi’s Video 125252921940 7Xdj1MTQetk

why are you use ableton over cubase or any other DAW?

March 10, 2015

Liked by: dal

Hey, thanks for being a great inspiration and I can't wait for new Abiogenesis! What are your thoughts on the quality of various music file formats (i.e. MP3 vs. FLAC)? Do you think it's very noticeable and how do you store the files in your personal music library for everyday listening?

Connor Sullivan

March 06, 2015

I do notice it for sure, but the random listener just doesn't care, and to a certain extent it's actually a good thing: music itself should be more important than its quality delivered to your ears. Good music gives me goosebumps even from iphone speakers, viceversa the best monitors can't save a boring song.

These days I just use Spotify on my laptop/iphone and have all the music I'll ever need, it's beautiful - if only artists were actually payed by Spotify, it would be a bit better -_-

To be honest, I shouldn't care so much about making our music as perfect as possible, because that's one of the reasons you haven't heard new Abio yet - but WE ARE SO CLOSE! :)

For the people that really care though, even if we're going to release free MP3 + TAB files, there will be a payable "advanced" download with .wav files, full-res video, stems for each instrument, bass+guitar DIs, and all that shizzle. So everyone should be happy, from people that just enjoy the music to the ones that really want to dissect every detail :)

Liked by: Myron Luca Moqi

Do you have any preference on scale length for tracking rhythm guitars vs lead guitars?

March 06, 2015

I do! You can't generalize like that though, as "rhythm guitar" doesn't only mean chugga chugga but also lots of higher notes, especially if you play modern music with extended chords or higher notes within your riffs.

That's exactly why I always tend to stick with 25.5" for lead AND rhythm, because 27" to me always sounds too "tinny" on the higher strings (the longer the scale, the more lows and highs and the less mids you have).

That doesn't mean 27" or 26.5" can't do it ofc, you just have to compensate with wood choice, pickup choice, gear etc. etc. That's actually why I have zebrawood+black limba+chambering in my 8 string, so with 27" the lower strings are tight, but the higher strings don't suffer much because of the warmer woods involved.

Although if you abuse lower strings for your riffs and play in G and lower, baritone is unbeatable for that, the low chords are so clear. I might actually get a DC7X (27" scale) just for recording purposes for the ultrachug parts.

Also keep in mind it totally depends from guitarist to guitarist - I tend to have a very sharp pick attack so that's why I compensate with warmer tonewoods and regular scales - viceversa a "pussy picker" might benefit from baritones or brighter guitars to add tightness.

Liked by: Eric g Dans Huang Yaresh-Bartholomeus Soekhlal

hey Fran I've a question about how to be a good songwriter and good composer. thanks :)

March 05, 2015

That's a million dollar question :) read this thing I answered a bit ago, it might help you a bit: http://ask.fm/FrancescoFiligoi/answer/120629756756

Liked by: Abdolhafeed AL-Bosife

beside from huge difference between clean tones, do you hear very significant difference between 5150 and5150iii?

March 05, 2015

Liked by: Luciano Díaz Luca Moqi Yaresh-Bartholomeus Soekhlal Aidan Pouncy

Do you prefer mesa or orange cabs when playing high gain stuff?

March 04, 2015

Liked by: Gabe Dans Huang Arya Akbara Luca Moqi

Any suggestion for 500/600 euros amp?

March 04, 2015

Used EVH 5150III and used Peavey 5150. Can't go wrong!

Liked by: Myron Luca Moqi

What do you recomend me to start playing polyrhythmic music? any exercise or something. I'm a great fan of your music, cheers from Chile :)

March 04, 2015

Listen to Meshuggah all day. Seriously, that's the best thing you can do - you'll internalize grooves in a more "subliminal way" and start feeling polyrhythms/polymeters instead of counting them. It should be natural, not forced.

Of course covering their songs helps as well!

Is metronome and patient to key to become a great player or does it happen by passion and never giving up only ?

March 03, 2015

People always think there is one magic element, or key, in achieving their goals. It's never like that! It's always a sum of things coupled together.

That being said, all the stuff you mentioned matters, but imo the most important factor is having a personal voice on the instrument, something that makes you "stand out" compared to other players.

I have no idea what you mean by "great" player, but take two completely different guitarists you know - let's say Brian May and Tosin Abasi. Regardless of totally opposite techniques, feeling, etc. etc. they're still recognizable after two seconds of hearing them, and equally enjoyable.

So in the end "great player" is just personal preference, what really matters is that you play stuff that inspires you and makes you happy, without comparing yourself to others. This will make your music more genuine and honest!

Liked by: Jonas Wilkinson Dio Henda Puspita Myron Arya Akbara Luciano Díaz Nito Niwatori Yaresh-Bartholomeus Soekhlal Luca Moqi Dude Dans Huang

What is your favorite magazine?

February 25, 2015

The only magazine still worth buying

Liked by: Yaresh-Bartholomeus Soekhlal Aidan Pouncy Myron

I was learning the pink noise technique for microphone placement at school the other day and was astounded at how great it works and how vastly different the sound was compared to conventional close mic'ing techniques! Do you/can it use it with impulse responses?

February 13, 2015

As of late I've been using it more and more to capture impulses, it's super consistent and just a great all-around technique to find the sweet spot :)

What are the best cab emulation plugins in your opinion? And the best free ones? Quality/pricewise too.

February 13, 2015

The most complete cab emulation plugin I know is Two Notes WoS III: http://www.two-notes.com/en/software/torpedo-wall-of-sound-3/ - it's free with two included cabs but there are more purchasable ones on their website.

Another cool free alternative is Ignite NadIR: http://www.igniteamps.com/en/audio-plug-ins - it's much more simple but works effortlessly, and it's made in Italy as well!

Liked by: Dude

What's your favorite video game?

February 11, 2015

Diablo II might be my favourite ever. What's yours?

can you make a vibrato technique tutorial ?

February 09, 2015

YES! I'm planning to upload some lengthy and detailed lessons on various subjects as soon as possible - as you've probably noticed I'm quite busy with the band as of now, but vibrato/bending and posture are the first subjects I'm going to address.

Liked by: TheInsurgent

Hey Francesco, you seem to have a whole lot of amplifiers, custom guitars, cabinets, pedals, studio gear; you also travel a lot from what I can see. How do you manage to afford all that, what you do for a living may I ask? :)

February 05, 2015

Every time someone asks "how do you afford this & that?" I earn 1$. That's what I do for a living, it's going great lately!

Jokes aside - nothing wrong with this question really :) It's just that everyone seems to get this specific one LOTS of times, and no matter how many times we answer, still happens.

I'll try to clarify it once again: we live off music, for the music. This means that displaying products, gear, guitars, is part of our promotion. And everything we earn from our job (music) gets spent in music-related stuff: website/merch/production and of course guitars/gear. We don't do it "just because" :)

There's mutual support with brands and this means free or discounted products in exchange of our promotion and advertisement. Apart from that, stuff might just be borrowed from a private or a company for the sole purpose of demoing it, see Ola's early amp demos for example. Or sometimes incredible bargains pop up!

Apart from that, I live off teaching guitar and occasionally recording/producing bands at my studio. You CAN live off that and it's not that bad either!
But generally speaking, your question can be answered in: work your ass off and spend wisely in what really matters - no booze, no drugs, no fancy clothes, no unneeded shit - MUSIC.

Liked by: Dio Henda Puspita Luciano Díaz Mike Morgenroth Andrea Cattaldo Torje Amundsen Ryan Johnson dal Mitch Baker Yaresh-Bartholomeus Soekhlal Dans Huang

Hi francesco, have you had the chance to try Carvins new Headless Vader model? If so what are your thoughts on it?

February 05, 2015

It's probably the most comfortable 8 string around, as I've previously mentioned it doesn't even feel like an 8 string or 27" scale. Also I'm BIG into the chambering option, you really feel each note vibrating against your gut :) Should receive mine pretty soon!

Liked by: Ryan Johnson Yaresh-Bartholomeus Soekhlal Dans Huang Dude

You've mentioned your go-to woods in a previous post. That in mind, have you had any experiences with some less ubiquitous woods for electrics? (ie-but not limited to- Tasmanian blackwood, snakewood, bubinga, redwood, mango, walnut, etc etc)

February 05, 2015

There's a reason why mahogany/alder/maple/rosewood etc. etc. are so popular, they just work! I'm usually not a fan of more exotic tonewoods sound-wise, but some of them can sound pretty badass as well. My favourite exotic tonewoods are:

- cocobolo: very punchy and tight, lots of sparkle but firm low end and lots of resonance. kinda in the middle between rosewood and ebony

- black limba: in between ash and mahogany, resonant and airy but thick as well, probably the most "versatile" out of every body wood

- zebrawood: very similar to indian rosewood, very "musical" but punchy

- snakewood: like ebony on steroids

- bubinga: like maple on steroids, probably a tad brighter and spanks even more

- wenge: just sounds brutal, massive low mids

- ziricote: similar to ebony, but a tad more musical and open

- redwood: veeery good coupled with ash body, excellent mids without being harsh as maple sometimes

- padouk: punchyyyyyyyyy, although super heavy and on the brighter side of things

Hope that helps :)

Liked by: Dans Huang

Axe Fx II or Axe Fx II XL? There's about a $300-$400 difference (can't remember) but in your opinion is it really worth the extra money?

February 05, 2015

Sound-wise they're exactly the same and I generally recommend sticking with the II. Although I'm soon selling my Axe-Fx II to get an XL - a bit more space for presets and impulses, and more dsp power, is a good thing for my specific needs.

Liked by: Bugra Sisman

When it comes to chambering, weight relief, or non-weight relief for solidbody guitars, do you have any opinion on which one you'd prefer the most, or is there too much cork-sniffing in this regard about guitar bodies?

February 01, 2015

I like chambering, I feel the guitar vibrating more, feels more "alive" and it removes a bit of weight.

Liked by: Ryan Johnson Cory Phillips

What is on your favorite graphic tee?

February 01, 2015

Something that's coming out tomorrow HINT HINT WINK WINK

Liked by: Dio Henda Puspita Luca Moqi Cory Phillips TheInsurgent Zach M

What was the last movie you watched?

January 31, 2015

On my flight back from NAMM I watched this movie called "Men, Women & Children" not expecting much, but was actually truly blown away - almost a life-changing movie for me.

What do you think of the different types of frets? E.g. Jumbo/not Jumbo, Stainless Steel/Nickel...what are your favorites and how do you think they impact your playing and your tone?

January 19, 2015

I prefer mid-jumbo. Jumbos are awesome for big bends, but if you press a bit too much during chords, it's actually easier to go out of pitch so I prefer mid-jumbo since they don't have that little side effect :)

And stainless for life! Once you go stainless you can't go back, it's soooooo much better!

Liked by: Dans Huang

Do you have different ideal guitar specs for rhythmic and lead? For instance, do you like some woods better for rhythm than for soloing, and vice versa? If so, what are these specs?

January 19, 2015

I do! For rhythm, I'm a big fan of mahogany body, maple neck, ebony fretboard. I also like rosewood and mahogany necks, it really depends but for sure mahogany body/ebony fretboard. Punchy, musical and has that attack and growl I love.

For leads I adore basswood body and maple neck/fretboard, has that juicy upfront spank on the mids that cuts through like butter!

For cleans I'm a huge fan of limba/korina body with rosewood fretboard and maple neck. Superb strat tone!

Liked by: Dans Huang Abdolhafeed AL-Bosife

Francesco Filigoi

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