HOC Talent on Parade 1 equipment etc

[FredZepp]

The original thread is locked... so....

Some had asked what equipment was used on the tracks. So here's a space if any wish to tell all.

 

Mine was , I am sure, the most basic equipment used and yes, you could tell that by the sound.

When I heard the first track , I realized that there was going to be some nice sounds and really creative versions.

Mine had no overdubs, just played it a couple of times to warm up , and burned one.

I was looking to change the guitar sound for each verse if possible, but done live.

I used my '89 H-140CM w dimarzio PAF & Super Distortion through an 80's ptp tube,Dean Markley amp. No effects, just plugged in .

You can see that this amp has a nice amount of gain just plugging in to it.

My second version of this, which you didn't hear , went even farther than the first . It rocked pretty good...but the end was flubbed...

 

[Dick Seacup]

Nice playing on your track, Fred! Does your H-140 have LEDs in the neck?

[FredZepp]

Track 1: Pegleg32

Track 2: TalismanRich

Track 3: Brentrocks

Track 4: FredZepp

Track 5: Tulk1, alternate take

Track 6: Tulk1

Track 7: LK155

 

[FredZepp]

Nice playing on your track, Fred! Does your H-140 have LEDs in the neck?

Yes , it's similiar to the play by numbers system....

[big bob]

great work everyone.

[Dick Seacup]

Yes , it's similiar to the play by numbers system....

 

It just looked like those little abalone dots were glowing. You don't see that with the plastic inlays some other places use. At my last guitar lesson, my instructor and I briefly discussed the merits of those Yamaha "follow the lights" guitars.

[tulk1]

Got to say I was quite surprised that my "alternate" version got the votes. I was just monkeying around with the software and decided to pump it up a bit. I did enhance the bass line. And added a Rhythm guitar to the mix. So, if anyone is really interested, here's the scoope`:

 

Guitar(s): Millie DC NFH (all tracks, both mixes). HRW pickups

Amp: Vox AC30CC1, NeoDog Spkr

OD: CMATMODS SD-1

Mic: Sennheiser e609

DAW Software: Samplitude Master. Used for tempo adjust; recording; mixing; effects. (also used on non-alternate version).

One take for each guitar line. Thought was to make it seem as if there were two guitars playing off each other. Not sure it worked, but that was what the braims was hoping for.

[FredZepp]

Got to say I was quite surprised that my "alternate" version got the votes. I was just monkeying around with the software and decided to pump it up a bit. I did enhance the bass line. And added a Rhythm guitar to the mix. So, if anyone is really interested, here's the scoope`:

 

Guitar(s): Millie DC NFH (all tracks, both mixes). HRW pickups

Amp: Vox AC30CC1, NeoDog Spkr

OD: CMATMODS SD-1

Mic: Sennheiser e609

DAW Software: Samplitude Master. Used for tempo adjust; recording; mixing; effects. (also used on non-alternate version).

One take for each guitar line. Thought was to make it seem as if there were two guitars playing off each other. Not sure it worked, but that was what the braims was hoping for.

Both of your tracks just had a really nice sound, throughout both. I liked the bends at the beginning of #6, but you are right the dueling guitar thing worked well. Great , very professional sounding tracks. And well mixed. Just the overall quality was very good.

[pegleg32]

I had already posted to the other thread but will repost. I wanted to use both my new Heritages so I played one on one track and the other on the second (old age - i can't recall for sure which was which right now - lol) Played both through the Fender Blues Jr which was miked into a Yamaha6 mixer. Was trying to slide in slowly and then increase the intensity throughout the track. Never did get a tone I was happy with, I think it is operator error more than equipment problems.

[TalismanRich]

OK I did #2 and like Fred, I went straightforward.

 

H535 direct into the 1953 National Supreme with volume at about 4. CAD TSM411 (its a drum mike that I like better than my SM57) into the Yamaha AW1600.

I actually recorded 3 tracks, tracks 1& 2 were the main line, and track 3 was a bit of background and a quick attempt to double the run. That didn't turn out quite as well as I wished, but I ran out of time.

 

Once I finished, I mixed it down with a bit of reverb/echo on the guitars and dumped the stereo track over to the computer via the USB.

 

Here's a pic. The poster in the back was used for inspiration

 

[FredZepp]

pegleg32.... Yours was the first I listened to and was amazed at the sounds you created. I could not have imagined that was where that backing track would take you. I knew then, that everyone had brought some cool stuff to this game. I liked it a lot.

 

TalismanRich... I agree that you "heard" where this was going in a similiar way to mine. But your recording is so much better. I had to listen to yours again when I saw that 53 National Supreme amp. That thing is too awesome. A very cool recording set-up no doubt. On re-listening to the track , I can now hear the unique tone of that amp more clearly.

[TalismanRich]

Got to say I was quite surprised that my "alternate" version got the votes. I was just monkeying around with the software and decided to pump it up a bit. I did enhance the bass line. And added a Rhythm guitar to the mix. So, if anyone is really interested, here's the scoope`:

 

I thought about trying an uptempo. After it was done, I pulled out my old version of Soundforge and tried doing a time compress. I think it worked pretty well, but I would have had to do the original backing track and then record everything. I didn't want it to sound like I could really play that fast!

[brentrocks]

I used the Lipstick 150 through my POD XT LIVE...directly into the computer

[pegleg32]

Thanks Fred! I think if I had it to do over again, I would try a very slow drawn out bluesy lead and then try to introduce some real tension between the leads and the background which would then resolve back to sweetness, of course I talk a better fight then I really play, but that is what I would try to do.

[LK155]

My turn, I guess.

 

First, let me say that I thought Tulk1's win was well deserved.

We heard him at PSPI, and again at PSPII, and you can always tell when the real talent comes to play.

Nicely done.

 

Now the (somewhat) technical part..........

I played my Mille H155 through a Digitech GNX4, directly into the computer (ProTracksPlus software). No amp, no cab, no microphone, none of that stuff.

Added two rhythm tracks as well as the solo track.

 

Now for the whining...........

Since I got the GNX4 about a year ago, I have recorded about 20 songs. Some of them, I think, turned out reasonably well, considering the talent pool I'm working with is very shallow.

The one I did for the HOC contest is by far the crappiest one of them all. I know it. I admit it.

I spent a couple of hours every night after dinner for a week trying to put something together.

Just couldn't get comfortable with the organ backing Mr. Admin supplied. My fault, not Mr. Admin's.

Couldn't find an effect to use that I liked. (Well, in truth, I only had about 100 to chose from on the GNX4.) Ended up with a Fender Princeton Reverb effect that still sounded lame. Lame, lame, lame.

Couldn't get comfortable with the tempo.

Couldn't find any decent licks that went with the organ track.

Just couldn't do anything right.

Was tempted to lower the level of the supplied organ/drums/bass track down to almost zero, then supply my own, but thought that would be kind of violating the spirit of the contest.

 

But I submitted my attempt anyway, primarily because I had spent so much time on it, and I was tired of screwing around with it.

Besides, I was hoping that the really good players either didn't have any recording facilities, or couldn't be bothered. Wrong on both counts.

 

So congrats to Kenny.

And kudo's to the other contributors.

It was a wonderful idea, and I hope Mr. Admin gives us all another chance.

Lyle

[FredZepp]

Lyle, your whining made me laugh.

It wasn't apparent that you were having issues with the tune, sounded great. I really liked the nice transient peaks in the recording. just really nice high fidelity. When something has that nice and clean of a recording, it always makes me think of Les Paul, the master of the studio.

 

I will go ahead and admit that I just burned the track on a disc, and played it on my stereo while miking it and my amp. Seriously LOW-FI !!!

But sometimes that works out. It sure made getting it all done very quick.... I don't have the patience to spend much time fiddling with knobs....

[pegleg32]

I wanted to agree with LK155's observation that Tulks win was well deserved, matter of fact, I voted for him. Buy I really enjoyed listening to all the others also. I heard some really nice blues licks that I'm sure I could not duplicate. Can't wait for the next one to see what else you guys have in your hip pocket!!

[brentrocks]

Can't wait for the next one to see what else you guys have in your hip pocket!!

 

 

i'm anxious for round 2 as well

[fxdx99]

Reading this is (to me) as listening to the tracks. Well, at least this combined with having listened to the tracks is. Really interesting to hear the creativity and approach between players, the tones laid down, and now the thought process and equip used. The driven 53 amp by Tman along with that pic is really cool. Kenny's millie has an awesome clean tone, especially on the 'regular tempo' track. Brent's tone was really unique and now 'get it' as it was the lipstick brightness along with the added reverb. Lyle, I know just what you mean about trying to get your head around the backing organ track - when I first heard it I thought 'hmm, don't know what I'd do in there'. Pleg's blues jr along with building the solo/melody thru the tune I thought came our really well. And Fred, thought that was maybe you after hearing some of your vids - great tones and lead.

 

Cool idea - yeh, hope I can participate in the next one. Not a big fan of sitting down and recording, don't have the patience for it and much prefer to play live and have a 'converstion' w/other musicians on the spot. That last backing track I couldn't get the attention of that organ player to save my life... he just wasn't listening to me