[donnyb373]

first i will say i have been a huge fan of the deftones since like 1995....but anyway thats besides the point.

am i the only one that absofuckinlutly love steph riffs and playing style? I think his style has been the #1 influence to me and the way i play...harsh riffs, deep tone, complete caos but having total control at the same time...


iono maybe its just me.....


elaborate....whats your thought about him...and please dont make this a damn bash fest

[josh821]

I've always been a Deftones fan but I think he's a pretty terrible guitarist. He was lucky enough to stumble into a unique style back in the day but that band is all about Chino. Sadly, I don't think even Chino has any good ideas left.

[playstopause]

I've been a Deftones fan from day 1.

I will not say that Carpenter influenced me or that he is a very great guitar player, 'cause i think he's not.
I really (still) enjoy their music but that's not what i like to play.

He's not bad either. IMO, is greatest strenght is to have developed his own signature within a succesfull band (he's a great ambassador to ESP too) that still keeps goin' while others have vanished from the surface of the earth.

I'll always remember that System of a Down interview when one of the band members said : "without the Deftones, we wouldn't be here today. They paved the way for Heavy-melodic metal".

[Kotex]

I think he's a rad dude. I think he's a great guitarist too. Technically? No, but as far as making music and writing songs,yeah. So I'm glad he's around otherwise I would have missed out on some cool ass songs.

[Twicelife]

While I love the Deftones, I wouldn't consider Stephen to be one of the better guitarists out there, although he certainly influenced the way I play. He uses some unique, discordant chords and obviously helped to make low tuned riffs popular. I've read interviews with Chi and Abe where they say that he is the driving force in the band. He gets the ideas on the table for new albums, and what not. But I also agree with Josh821, that Chino gave the band their identity.

[xwmucradiox]

I love his sig models because they are so pretty. I have an HSC7, an SC500, and an SRC6.

[playstopause]

Originally Posted by Kotex

Technically? No, but as far as making music and writing songs,yeah. So I'm glad he's around otherwise I would have missed out on some cool ass songs.

That also sums up what i think.
Good point

[jtm45]

He's not a shredder by any stretch of the imagination but he's got a great sound and he writes great riffs and AFAIK that's just as (if not more)important as being an amazing fretboard gymnast.

It's all aboot the choons!

I think the Deftones have got a real unique sound and are always instantly recognisable to the ear.
I love 'em!

[donnyb373]

i never said he was technical, jsut good imho. I just love the deep crunching tone he provides.

[fathead]

The Deftones are a killer live band, I've been a fan for a long time, and they can definitely throw it down.

[donnyb373]

Originally Posted by fathead

The Deftones are a killer live band, I've been a fan for a long time, and they can definitely throw it down.

yea...im goin to see them june 3rd

[Rick]

They'll be in San Antonio next month. I might try and go.

[JeremyJ]

Originally Posted by fathead

The Deftones are a killer live band, I've been a fan for a long time, and they can definitely throw it down.

I saw them play back in '97 and then just last year at the Taste of Chaos tour. Although they didn't suck back in the day, they have definitely become much better live musicians throughout the years. They were so much tighter last time I saw them. I guess this should be expected after nearly a decade.

The Deftones are one of my favorite bands (if not my number one) of all time. They manage to change a ton, yet remain recognizable with each album. Stephen is a very solid guitarist and he never disappoints me.

[eleven59]

Definitely a big Deftones fan (especially the new album, very cool).

His playing style has definitely influenced mine, that droning, wall-of-sound style of playing that's heavy on the distortion, but almost more hypnotic than aggressive.

[distressed_romeo]

What are his tunings, just out of interest, as I was reading an interview with them on the Guitar Player website where he said he has a high G# string, that he occasionally drops to F#, on his sevens. Can someone clarify?

[GH0STrider]

steph's best work was "around the fur" imo. the riffs were tight and catchy. Adrenaline and white pony were good to but I hate this space rock shit they do now. It really brings out the crappiness of his guitar playing. steph isn't that gifted technically anyhow so playing thats style of music really emphasizes how bad he can be.

Like I said though, he has some creative tight riffs and I still get down to the earlier stuff. As for live shows.... I've seen them 4 times and only once was even listenable. The deftones have ruined it for me with their horrible live shows. I blame it mostly on steph too. Every time I see them there is no mids in his tone. I can't even tell what they are playing unless I listen to chino's vocals. And NO it is not the venue as i've seen them at a different venue everytime. just my thoughts.

[eleven59]

Originally Posted by distressed_romeo

What are his tunings, just out of interest, as I was reading an interview with them on the Guitar Player website where he said he has a high G# string, that he occasionally drops to F#, on his sevens. Can someone clarify?

It's a low-G# string actually. Something like G#-C#-G#-C#-F#-A#-D# with a few variations.

[distressed_romeo]

http://www.guitarplayer.com/story.as...torycode=17093
Here's the interview in question.

Could it be that he goes G#C#F#BD#G#G#, with the top two strings in unison?

[DDDorian]

^^I think he was referring to the seventh string as the "highest", I know plenty of people who do the same.

I kinda like Stephen Carpenter's approach to the seven string; unlike other nu-metal players he doesn't just bludgeon the low string, but kinda drops it in periodically to really smack your face in. I wouldn't really consider myself a fan, but his playing is somewhat refreshing at least.

[distressed_romeo]

Originally Posted by DDDorian

^^I think he was referring to the seventh string as the "highest", I know plenty of people who do the same.

I kinda like Stephen Carpenter's approach to the seven string; unlike other nu-metal players he doesn't just bludgeon the low string, but kinda drops it in periodically to really smack your face in. I wouldn't really consider myself a fan, but his playing is somewhat refreshing at least.

That would make sense.

Oh, and I'm not a big Deftones fan, but he definitely has a unique style. I can listen to them whenever I hear them, but nothing's ever inspired me to buy an album.

[philkilla]

I've been listening to the deftones for years. I think it first started around 94'?....

Anyway, steph definitely is not much of a tech. guitarist. It's like groove, but not even now.

I still love his style and song writing prowess. Hell, he alone has inspired thousands.

[Rick]

Very creative guitar player.

[Volsung]

Deftones are cool. I love there new record.

His riffs in Kush are pretty damn cool. It's rap-metal, but it's still pretty cool. Hear em' at www.brealonline.com/mp3

Plus, I've wanted to try one of his sig ESP models for a long time now (especially this years models).

[zimbloth]

I actually think he's a wasted talent in some respects. I like his style, and he does some tasteful stuff, but the thing that always bothers me about Deftones songs, is how good they could have been. I always notice he starts to go in a really cool direction and then will abruptly stop and go off in a less catchy/memorable direction and the song just dies. I loved "Around the Fur", and I have other albums, I respect him, but I always felt like he just could have been much better.

For example on their new album (which I loathe), theres one song that has about 1 measure of one of the heaviest things ever, and then it just never returns, never is built upon, it just fades away into the usual laid-back/spacey kind of thing, which is fine, but I just think these guys could be so much heavier than they are if they arranged their songs better.

That said I love his guitars, and I'm happy to have a couple of them.

[Korbain]

Originally Posted by zimbloth

For example on their new album (which I loathe), theres one song that has about 1 measure of one of the heaviest things ever, and then it just never returns, never is built upon, it just fades away into the usual laid-back/spacey kind of thing, which is fine, but I just think these guys could be so much heavier than they are if they arranged their songs better

Are you talking about the ending of the song beware? because if you are i totally agree! Even the song combat it starts of with a bad ass drum beat and the guitars kick in and its heavy as shit then it just goes into a trippy chorus. i really love the new album, but i wish it had more heavy music in it because they do alot of teasing with it. Anyways...
I think carpenter is great, i agree he's not a technical guitarist, but his song writing is amazing, he just makes every guitar riff just work so well with the song. Its hard to describe, but if you really listen in and ignore his untechnical playing. You hear this amazing composition he has in making songs work with his guitar riffs.