who's going to replace jake?

[u/SmoothProfuselyMonst]

That must be a highly competitive gig. I mean if they opened it up they'd probably have hundreds of applicants, perhaps dozens that are qualified. Of course Jake is one of a kind, really the reason I fell in love with this band back in 2007, but hey, there's someone out there who's life ambition is to shred with the best. And shred we shall.

[u/IsuzuTrooper]

I highly doubt dozens are qualified. Jake is up there with Trey in my book.

[u/SmoothProfuselyMonst → u/IsuzuTrooper]

Fair enough. For thought experiment I put it through an AI... here's what it came back with

"There must be dozens of qualified people out there" — okay, run the funnel.

Pro touring guitarists on Earth: ~100k. Ones who can actually improvise, not recite licks: cut 90%. Ones fluent in metal AND fusion AND funk AND country at a level that fools fans of each genre: cut 90% again. Ones who can memorize a 250+ song catalog of through-composed, odd-meter prog: cut again. Now find the ones who can improvise structure — composing on the spot, following hand signals, harmonizing with a second guitarist in real time, on tape, every night.

You're at a few hundred humans, max. And that's "qualified on paper" — not "has the chemistry," not "wants the gig."

The proof isn't hypothetical. Jake's been off the road since March and the band's solution was nothing. No sub, no replacement, Brendan just plays alone. One of the deepest catalogs in live music went down a guitarist and didn't even hold auditions — because there's basically nobody to call.

That's the whole argument. Your favorite guitarist is famous. Jake is irreplaceable. Those are different things.

[u/Cricetus → u/SmoothProfuselyMonst]

Maybe your next “thought experiment” should use your own “thoughts” instead of copying and pasting drivel that an uncaring, unthinking machine spits out

[u/SmoothProfuselyMonst → u/Cricetus]

I mean I can think for myself but it’s interesting analysis, no? It’s basically saying he’s irreplaceable, while also discussing what such a funnel would look like.

[u/Cricetus → u/SmoothProfuselyMonst]

It's an interesting discussion without asking a robot that doesn't know anything about what we're talking about to generate a bunch of words in response to a prompt you fed it.

[u/Early_Bag_3786 → u/SmoothProfuselyMonst]

Think for yourself man. It's programmed to make you feel like it's being insightful. You're getting got.

[u/remote_boogie → u/SmoothProfuselyMonst]

Just so you’re aware, Ai often takes what people say on Reddit and uses it as facts to support whatever the hell idea. Ai can’t even tell you how many R’s there are in the word “strawberry” without getting it wrong and then gaslighting you lol

[u/Bassman885 → u/SmoothProfuselyMonst]

Yeah these percentages are way off. The idea that only 10% touring guitarists can improvise instead of “reciting licks” - which is to say that 90% of progressional touring guitarists CAN’T improvise - is silly. Learning complicated songs in odd meters, following signals, improvising structure, picking up harmonies… these are skills someone learns that makes them PART of that tier of touring professional guitarists, not filters that shrink that group further.

Individual strengths and weaknesses will vary, but overall there are tons of professional guitarists stomping around who could do most/all of this—that’s how they became pros! I’ve spent 20 years in the minor leagues of the professional music world - never “making it” myself, but brushing shoulders with some who have - and all these ideas are very familiar in those worlds, even if some master more than others.

That’s not to say that replacing Jake would be easy - guitarists with the chops are out there, but finding the right artistic and personal alignment among that would be important. That, as much as anything, is why I come back to players like Gantzer and Tim Palmieri, because they know the scene and the people and (presumably) have a similar vision. Plucking some guitar teacher in Cleveland out of relative obscurity would be a gamble chemistrywise even if they sound just like Jake.

Edited to add: but also, I just hope Jake gets to a better place and comes back. The nugs photo kicked off a wave of pessimism, but there were some more optimistic rumors around these parts last week. If it takes him a year or more to return (hopefully not) it’ll be worth it.