Author Topic: Musical Instruments (Read 1485 times)

sluggish · « **Reply #45 on:** February 10, 2008, 07:33:10 PM »

These three are my babies. I've had the Hagstrom for twenty-three years. The Line 6 is unbelievably versitile, and you just can't beat the spank of a Tele...

I've put a lot hours on each of these and beat the hell out of them equally.

Thruster · « **Reply #46 on:** February 10, 2008, 08:54:25 PM »

A good friend of mine rep'd Hagstrom's in Texas a coupla years ago before they got bought and changed wholesale distributors or some such. Really nice guitars. I offered to buy one of his demos but he wouldn't let it go.

alskahawk · « **Reply #47 on:** February 10, 2008, 08:58:43 PM »

I have around 10 Guitars. Stratocasters, Jackson etc. Been playing off and on most of my life.
My room looks like Thrusters. I currently have 7 sitting on stands and 4 or 5 more I'm working on. Going to sell off some this year so I can have some room to add a couple of Gibsons. Like a custom built Explorer, Les Paul, and a SG.

sluggish · « **Reply #48 on:** February 10, 2008, 08:59:47 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Thruster
A good friend of mine rep'd Hagstrom's in Texas a coupla years ago before they got bought and changed wholesale distributors or some such. Really nice guitars. I offered to buy one of his demos but he wouldn't let it go.

Mine's a '73 Swede. Bloody heavy. Makes a Les Paul feel like a Rik.

REP0MAN · « **Reply #49 on:** February 10, 2008, 10:06:04 PM »

Started on Symphonic percussion in 7th grade. Played snare then Bass. Played ever since but switched to kit and drum corps styling in high school. Play mostly Christian Rock and Worship music now. Love jazz, blues, rock and folk. Played this morning.

Also started rhythm guitar in high school. Have tinkered ever since. Own a few mid-range brand acoustics. Played bass for a few years in a Christian Rock band back in Phoenix. Nothing too awful complicated.

Raptor · « **Reply #50 on:** February 11, 2008, 01:07:58 AM »

I think the guitar is harder to learn than the saxophone. I started teaching myself the guitar but didn't progress far before I quit.
However the saxophone does become difficult to play once you get into more Jazz/Rock types of music where you start bending notes and "growling." This I find more difficult than the guitar, but that's like comparing apples to oranges.

Thruster · « **Reply #51 on:** February 11, 2008, 08:35:36 AM »

For me, the sax was the most difficult instrument I ever studied. Maybe it was just a matter of my background but over the years I took guitar, flute, piano, violin/viola/cello and sax and the only one that made me feel stupid was the sax. Never could get my mind around it.

By the way, Sluggish and Jenks, good stuff. I've contemplated a myspace, thing for a while but never took the time. I know it's lazy but too many decisions to make with web sites, I'm never happy with the final design or content. I used to do it for clients and it was easier when I was supplied with raw media and just had to write some text and assemble the page.

As for writing original stuff, Sluggish. Of all the challenges I've undertaken that's one that to this day remains beyond my reach. Not to mention playing all the parts is pretty impressive. I've never known a singer that can play a decent Persian rug.

VonMessa · « **Reply #52 on:** February 12, 2008, 03:41:25 AM »

Gotta love da drums!

Jenks · « **Reply #53 on:** February 12, 2008, 11:47:39 AM »

Thanks Thruster, and Sluggish I agree with Thruster... nice stuff, especially considering you play all the parts.

VonMessa,
I assume you're behind the glass for isolaton for recording, but believe it or not I played in a band where we put our drummer behind glass because he was just so dang LOUD! I remember he had a cymbal by woohan, I swear to gawd, the loudest, cheesiest crash I ever heard. Funny thing about this guy was he played percs. for a new age piano guy and he was all sweetnest and light! He just didn't have any control when it came to playing rock and blues.

Jenks

Thruster · « **Reply #54 on:** February 12, 2008, 12:44:18 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Jenks
He just didn't have any control when it came to playing rock and blues.

Why the hell should he?

I've used iso-panels and gobo's in a few live situations. You need the P.A. for it but if I had a choice I'd have 'em up at every gig.

Jenks · « **Reply #55 on:** February 12, 2008, 01:54:45 PM »

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Why the hell should he?

Lol, Because that was what the job called for, we were a club band, not a touring concert. I've played with drummers who had that control and it is like night and day, its called finesse and dynamics. If you play at full bore all the time there's no place to go but down. You can't impart emotion and feel. Your instrument can't speak it can only yell. Just a wall of noise. Don't get me wrong I'm not tryin to rag on drummers or hard rockers or anyone. Play the way you feel on your own dime, but when you are hired to play cover you gotta do it right or your audience will leave.

Getting down from soap box and hangin up preacher robes.

Jenks

Thruster · « **Reply #56 on:** February 12, 2008, 03:42:57 PM »

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its called finesse and dynamics.

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you can't impart emotion and feel.

Who are you? Barry fluff'n Mainlow?

I've got something you can finesse and impart emotion on. RIGHT HERE

Rock Music=Seismic wall of sound.

If the club won't sign our medical liability waiver, We Don't Play. The audience leaves who cares? It just helps the acoustics. Nobody wants to jam for a bunch of pansies anyhow.

J/k of course, I hear you, that's why I like to isolate the kit, cleans everything up and in small clubs I can actually reinforce the drums. Otherwise it's all faders down and no cool snare verb.

VonMessa · « **Reply #57 on:** February 12, 2008, 04:57:54 PM »

I've also run sound for years as well as playing the drums.

EVERYBODY goes in the cage. That way when I am running FOH (front of house)
I can get a perfect level on every mic in the cage. There is no substitute, and I haven't looked back since. In fact, you can't see it in this pic, but all the amps are isolated, also. This cuts down on stage noise. Using this in tandem with noise gates and compressors, I have complete control of ALL sound coming from the FOH speakers. For anything less than a full blown rock venue this is the way to go. Also, this approach used in conjunction with the Aviom (TM) in-ear monitors, you cant go wrong. It gets rid of all the stage monitor clutter. You want more of a particular instrument? Pick it on the remote box next to you and dial it up or down. No more need for "Can I get more of my crappy guitar tone out of the monitor?" Also cuts down on an extra person to run the monitor mix. A quality stereo mic hanging midway from stage to back wall gets piped into the Aviom, also. That way if the (usually fussy guitar player, no offense to anyone) wants some "room" sound, that is there as well.

As for the snare, Thruster my favorite thing is to use 2 mics. One on top, in phase, and one on the bottom, 180 degrees out of phase. That way you get a good level for the attack AND the nice sharp clean smack of the snares on the bottom head.

As for a full blown rock show? I still say tear down the walls and let it rip, baby!

As long as I'm not responsible for the mix.

sluggish · « **Reply #58 on:** February 12, 2008, 04:59:53 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Thruster
Who are you? Barry fluff'n Mainlow?

I've got something you can finesse and impart emotion on. RIGHT HERE

Rock Music=Seismic wall of sound.

If the club won't sign our medical liability waiver, We Don't Play. The audience leaves who cares? It just helps the acoustics. Nobody wants to jam for a bunch of pansies anyhow.

J/k of course, I hear you, that's why I like to isolate the kit, cleans everything up and in small clubs I can actually reinforce the drums. Otherwise it's all faders down and no cool snare verb.

Put the reverb on an aux send channel with a pre-fader option. Now you can put snare verb in the mix without amplifying the drum. Having played in cover bands for a good chunk of my youth and adult life, I understand how a drummer without finesse can get you canned.. It's usually a volume war between the drummer and the lead guitarist. These are usually the two guys in the band who constantly get after the sound tech to somehow make everything louder than everything else.

Playing in a cover band reminds me of being a cross between a circus performer and a carnival worker. If I never did it again it would be too soon.

Thanx guys for your compliments. I am always reluctant to post any music here since I hold the opinion of most of those on this board in high regard. Since we moved into the new house the boss (read wife) says I can't have the living room double as a recording studio any more. I told her I was cool with that as long as I could build one in the back yard. I got it roughed in before the money ran out...

Jenks · « **Reply #59 on:** February 12, 2008, 06:33:31 PM »

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Who are you? Barry fluff'n Mainlow?

I did sound a little like him didn't I? You're right! Pizz on the pansies, and when they're all lined up at the back of club sayin"Great band" "What?" "Great band!" " What?" "Great band!!!" "What?!!, I can't fargin hear you!!!!" "Dude is that blood comin outta yur ears!?!" I'll be thinkin' "I bet Barry Mainlow never had to play a crappy hole like this place"

An Aviom system? VonMessa I'm jealous, its on my wish list but prolly not anytime soon. I would be happy if I could afford to pay someone else to do the sound besides me., But here in Mudflat, OR. the venues are few and the owners are CHEAP! You guys have heard the the saying, "we pay to play" apparently that is some sort of unwritten law around here, sheesh.

I used to bring subs, amps, effects, lights, strobes, back drops, band banners. Mic the drums, my leslie, three separate monitor mixes. But nobody gave a crap. So now, its a basic PA, couple monitors and maybe a 300wt colored flood, if I'm feeling good and have time I'll throw a mic on the kick...sad ain't it? And the thing is I want to bring all that stuff and give a great show, but at the end the night the club owner doles out a few hundred bucks and wants my SSN so he can 1099 me at the end of the year. But I'm prolly not tellin you guys anything you don't already know,am I? I still do it because I just get a thrill when the band is clickin and the crowd is into it and standin and dancin right up front, doesn't happen as often anymore but when it does...