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Archive for the ‘featured’ Category
Aug
0
Mastering Music and Guitar
One of the things that I find truly amazing about music is there is enough to learn and work on for several lifetimes. The pursuit of mastering my instrument keeps me coming back to my guitar as much as what I am practicing and playing. There are so many great examples of players that are masters of music and their instrument… So emotionally connected to the music as if to forget the technical, mental and physical discipline that brought them there. One of these people is my favorite drummer and I might say favorite musician, Vinnie Calaiuta.
Continue Reading…
Aug
8
Single Coil Pickups
Pickups are confusing. There are so many and they sound different with different woods and through different amps. I have a G&L Legacy Special with a bridge humbucker and 2 stacked humbuckers for middle and neck positions. They are Tom Anderson replacement pickups. Continue Reading…
Aug
0
Sheryl Crow – 100 Miles From Memphis
100 Miles From Memphis
I was just on a road trip and I picked up Sheryl Crows new Cd, 100 Miles From Memphis. I’ve always liked Sheryl and I have all of her stuff. She hadn’t released anything in a while so I didn’t know what to expect. I was not disappointed. She is a true artist, great singer and song writer. If you are not familiar with her stuff all of it is worth a listen, and her latest is no exception.
Track 3 and track 12 where quite a surprise. They are two of the best remakes I have ever heard. Track 3 is the song “Sign Your Name” by Terence Trent D’Arby. This song really grooves, I love it. The second song, track 12, is Sheryl’s tribute to Michael Jackson “I Want You Back” This track really show’s how off her vocal ability. There are many parts in the song I can’t tell that it’s not Michael Jackson in the Jackson 5.
The production is really great with a 70′s vibe woven throughout the whole project with with dry, tight, focused modern sound making it really groove. The ideas and how they were captured is a complete thought from track 1 to track 12. This is very rare in cd these days. I love how much time, energy and passion was put into this, from the writing to the recording to the order of the songs. It will be in my cd player for a long time.
Check it out @ sherylcrow.com or iTunes
Jul
1
A wah dilemma.
I have learned a little bit about wah pedals over the years. The most notable being, the Morley ‘Bad Horsie’ Wah pedal is the most un-funky wah pedal every made. That was my first wah. Then I discovered Dunlop wah pedals. In the early years I was not very in the know on vintage gear so whoever had the advertising budget in Guitar Player Magazine had my hard earned cash. I bought the 535Q and have been using that for live and studio for the last 15 years or so. I liked it but I always thought it sounded a bit harsh. If was funky… but … was there a funkier wah out there that I was missing out on? What if there was a wah that was funky and warm???
At this point those of you who found this blog by mistake will be really intrigued I’m sure. But I will continue for those very few who like great pedals and the search for them. I have it down to 3 wah pedals that I’m going to try out.
- Area51 Italian Wah
This is my first choice based on reviews I’ve read and because they have a drop in version for $100 that I could use my 535Q chassis with.
- RMC4 – Picture Wah
This has been seen in John Mayers Pedal board and is also copied from the old Italian circuit.
- Fulltone Deluxe Clyde Wah
A lot of people like this one but it’s 3rd for me because it doesn’t have a fuzz friendly circuit like the previous two.
I’ll keep you posted as to which one I go with. If there are any opinions out there either way I would love to hear them.
Jul
1
My Evolving Pedalboard Pics
It needs a little organizing but here’s what it looked like last week for the week of playing.
Jul
3
Amps …. So many to choose from. So little $.
Well I finally am giving up on my mesa boogie Mark IV. It’s a great amp and very versatile. The problem is I have become a custom to my Dr Z Carmen Ghia which has two knobs, Volume and Tone. The Mark IV, well, let’s just say it has a few more. I find that the Mark IV is a great amp for studio when you have time to tweak. I’m looking at getting an amp that is a simple plug and play for live use. I’d love to keep the Mark IV and buy a new one, but unless someone reading this blog will sponsor me (at the moment I think just my wife and I read it) I am forced to sell it.
So of course I’ve been planning on what to replace the Mark IV with before I sell it. I’ve narrowed it down to the Dr. Z Prescription ES as the top pick and making a not to distant 2nd place the Suhr Badger 30.
Jul
0
My Evolving Pedalboard
In the past I have been heard saying things like, “This is the last piece of gear that I’ll need. My pedalboard is complete”. Well lately I’ve come to understand that those were words said without a lot of foresight or reality attached to them. I will always be in search of a different tone to add to my arsenal of tones. So now that I’ve accepted that I will keep all who care, which is very few I know, up to date as to what I’m using in my pedalboard and what my favorites are. Continue Reading…
Jul
0
Raul Midon
I was asking the drummer I have been playing with lately if he had a favorite guitarist. He thought for a minute and said “you gotta here this guy, he’s sick!”. So he had me very intrigued as his musical background is very different than mine coming Venezuela. He pulled up a few YouTube spots of Raul Midon and he was right, he’s sick!. Check Raul out, it is inspiring how effortless he does what he does and of course what I like about him most is he grooves!!!!
Jul
0
Stampede 2010
Every so often I stop and think about the great musicians I’ve had the privilege to play with. This stampede is one of those times. We started Thurs July 8th and our last day was last Friday. The band was Hank Insell (Bass), Ruben Bocaranda (Drums), Sheldon Zandboer (Keys), and Debbie Forsyth, Al Ah and Jessiah Ah (vocals). Each person brought their expertise to the table. Continue Reading…
