Jump to content

Any musicians left...


Recommended Posts

I have this piece of music I've been playing for a couple years on acoustic guitar.  It's more like an exercise than a piece of music, but I thought I'd try to flesh it out into a rock or pop tune with drums, electric guitar, etc.  I got the acoustic part down ok, and added a pretty good bass part. Then I realized I had no idea what type of drum track would work (I realize my process is a bit backwards), so as a place holder for the time being, I just played quarter notes through the whole track.  The whole thing turned into a giant mess, and I was kind of depressed and discouraged for a few days.  In hindsight, I think the bass part is throwing the whole thing off, so if I change that I might be able to salvage the whole thing.  Apparently, my bass line, which is accidentally just  like the bass line in Lovin' Spoonful's "What a Day for a Daydream" does not work with a piece of guitar music that's entirely based on a dissonant chord sequence John McLaughlin plays on Miles Davis's Jack Johnson album.

Link to post
Share on other sites

So what is everyone working on?

 

In guitar, I've been working on turning loud Dinosaur Jr. songs (Out There) into acoustic ballads. Also Erik Satie's "gymnopedie #1"

 

On piano, a couple of Mozart minuets and Bach's 2-Part Invention in D minor.

 

 

I just put my Jazzmaster away and pulled my Les Paul out from under the bed.  I forgot how unreasonably heavy that damn thing is.

 

This is why I like fenders....

 

 

Do sound engineers who like to play guitar and drums count as musicians?

Sonic landscapers count fully.

Link to post
Share on other sites

So what is everyone working on?

Putting together a new album -- one song at a time.

It's just easier on my time and budget to do it this way. Just recording one song and putting it up on the Bandcamp page for this new album.

And then, later on when I can afford to record another tune, I get the guys together to rehearse and record that one, which I also put up on the same Bandcamp page. Gonna keep doing it this way for this record, until I reach 10 songs, or 35 minutes.

Making the songs available for free DL until the album is full. At that point, I'm gonna get the whole thing mastered and slap a price tag on it. Call it an album.

Getting closer:

https://hoponpop.bandcamp.com/album/one-by-one

Link to post
Share on other sites

So what is everyone working on?

 

I've been working on a bunch of songs. I don't think I'm prolific, but I keep writing new songs, and can't seem to ever catch up on recording the older ones. Anyhow, right now I'm working on 3 different songs in the studio: one banjo based one--think more Neil Young's Old Man than some sorta Flatts & Scruggs deal--another one is built around a bouzouki part, and finally one that is more of a melodic guitar-centric thing. I'm kinda toggling between the songs depending on my mood. The last two days I've been working on the banjo song, just came up with a possible bridge section last night, and I think I have the lyrics almost where I want them. My Mom's passing five years back inspired this one. Definitely the hardest song I've ever written from an emotional standpoint. I started writing a song about this a few years back, but I think it was still too soon, and it was probably a bit too maudlin to really work beyond a personal theraputic level.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I've just started working in an acoustic duo (& will be playing solo some too soon)...and... Rochester's George Eastman House just purchased a print of "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart". They contacted me to play acoustic, both before & after the showing, & then lined up a date at a local club for me for after the show. Great folks (thanks Ben Tucker- You Rock!!), so it looks like I'll be trying to get together a full electric band for that (October 3rd)!

I'll do some of my originals too (at the show at the club), but will be doing songs from the film & album the film is about ("Yankee Hotel Foxtrot"- for the film part of the gig, it'll be more of the well known, album proper, songs), but also the sessions for that album which produced lots of great material not on the regular album...and my final "meta" fun thing is to do covers of song that Wilco cover too. So it should be fun.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I just put my Jazzmaster away and pulled my Les Paul out from under the bed.  I forgot how unreasonably heavy that damn thing is.

Ever consider an SG? Or even an ES-335 (or 345 or 355 etc., etc., or if you want P-90 sound an ES-330 or Epiohone Casino?)?

 

I started with a Strat & added a Les Paul that I soon sold & replaced with a Jazzmaster. Those were my two electrics for many years (along with a Rick 360-12)... long story, after having to sell all my instruments around 2000, I finally went out &, over a few years, bought my personal dream guitar arsenal over these last couple years. I'm still more of a Fender guy, but less of a margin than before.

 

Having the chance I Fender'd first (Strat, Jazzmaster & finally found the right Tele), but then found the best P-90 powered guitar I've ever played (a great, high end, hard to find John Lennon Signature Epiphone Casino) & finally a Classic '57 humbucker driven '61 Reissue SG. While I'd put Les Paul's up there at the back end of the top guitars ever, for me, they are also the most overrated. Conversely I think the Jazzmaster is the single most underrated & that the SG is one of the top five most underrated too. If you haven't already, give some other Gibson's a shot!!! P-90 or humbucker powered the SG & ES line are really something to check out & compare vs. Les Pauls. Now go get that Jazzmaster back out!! :)

Link to post
Share on other sites

Having had the Les Paul out for a few days, I'm starting to really warm up to it, but I would trade it for a 335 of similar quality any day, without hesitation.  It's funny you mention the John Lennon Casino*.  I was considering buying myself one of those right before I got the Les Paul. In the end, my romanticized memories of the Les Paul I had when I was younger (a 1981 Standard, which I got for $500 in 1991) won out. Chasing a memory is not a winning idea.   

 

*I used to have a regular Casino, and I regret parting with that.  I loved the sound and how light it was.  

 

I'm thinking about taking a music store tour this weekend with my Strat (nice Strat but I wouldn't miss it) and seeing what kind of semi hollow I can trade it for.  There are a couple of used Epiphone Sheratons in my area, and I might be able to work something out. I'm reluctant to part with the Les Paul since it's an older one and it'll keep its value, and likely go up.  It'd be nice to sell it for a lot of money 20 years from now.

 

 

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Having had the Les Paul out for a few days, I'm starting to really warm up to it, but I would trade it for a 335 of similar quality any day, without hesitation.  It's funny you mention the John Lennon Casino*.  I was considering buying myself one of those right before I got the Les Paul. In the end, my romanticized memories of the Les Paul I had when I was younger (a 1981 Standard, which I got for $500 in 1991) won out. Chasing a memory is not a winning idea.   

 

*I used to have a regular Casino, and I regret parting with that.  I loved the sound and how light it was.  

 

I'm thinking about taking a music store tour this weekend with my Strat (nice Strat but I wouldn't miss it) and seeing what kind of semi hollow I can trade it for.  There are a couple of used Epiphone Sheratons in my area, and I might be able to work something out. I'm reluctant to part with the Les Paul since it's an older one and it'll keep its value, and likely go up.  It'd be nice to sell it for a lot of money 20 years from now.

Right on. Is your Les Paul a humbucker or P-90 model? If you're looking for a hollow body, I'd go with whatever you don't have with the Les Paul (if your LP is P-90, go for the humbucker driven Sheraton...if your LP is humbucker, then go for a P-90 powered Casino (the Elitists are great...the John Lennon Signature Model is harder to find, let alone at a great price...)... Haver fun shopping & good luck!!!

 

And just for the record here, I have lots of guitars partially because I waited & watched & tried loads out until I found guitars that were... a) at a great price (great deals = more guitars)... B) a great version/particular model of what I was looking for... & c) they had the mojo & magic & once I had them, that feeling great & I knew that things were meant to be with them (not always the case, even with some great guitars, that I discovered just weren't my guitars...)...

Link to post
Share on other sites

My Les Paul is a 1976 Deluxe with mini humbuckers.  One of the Sheratons I have my eye on also has mini humbuckers...and a Bigsby, which is pretty intriguing.  I understand the non-dog eared P90s will drop right into the routing slots of mini humbuckers. If that's correct that opens up some easy modification possibilities.  The same store that has the Sheraton also has a used Casino, so I'll try both, plus whatever else they have that looks interesting.

 

My Jazzmaster has P90s, but that's definitely a different sound than my old P90 equipped Casino.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Right on. Is your Les Paul a humbucker or P-90 model? If you're looking for a hollow body, I'd go with whatever you don't have with the Les Paul (if your LP is P-90, go for the humbucker driven Sheraton...if your LP is humbucker, then go for a P-90 powered Casino (the Elitists are great...the John Lennon Signature Model is harder to find, let alone at a great price...)... Haver fun shopping & good luck!!!

 

And just for the record here, I have lots of guitars partially because I waited & watched & tried loads out until I found guitars that were... a) at a great price (great deals = more guitars)... B) a great version/particular model of what I was looking for... & c) they had the mojo & magic & once I had them, that feeling great & I knew that things were meant to be with them (not always the case, even with some great guitars, that I discovered just weren't my guitars...)...

 

So, I tried out a bunch of things today.  A Sheraton with mini humbuckers and a Bigsby. This is the one I was hoping would win me over.  It was nice but the neck was too chunky for my liking. Then I tried a Guild Starfire 4, which had a lot of charm, but it was more money than I was prepared to spend.  Finally I tried a Casino, which was just as much fun as I remember my old one being, so I worked out a pretty fair trade for my Strat and went home with it.  The wife is out of town this weekend, so I'l be turning the amp up and breaking this thing in for the next couple of days,

Link to post
Share on other sites

So, I tried out a bunch of things today.  A Sheraton with mini humbuckers and a Bigsby. This is the one I was hoping would win me over.  It was nice but the neck was too chunky for my liking. Then I tried a Guild Starfire 4, which had a lot of charm, but it was more money than I was prepared to spend.  Finally I tried a Casino, which was just as much fun as I remember my old one being, so I worked out a pretty fair trade for my Strat and went home with it.  The wife is out of town this weekend, so I'l be turning the amp up and breaking this thing in for the next couple of days,

:) Right On!!! Enjoy! Think you've just inspired me to dig out my Casino today & show it some love...

Your "Jazzmaster with P-90's"... is that a J Mascis's model? I know they have different non-regular Jazzmaster, P-90's in them, stock from Fender. I have a friend who has one & it's his fave Jazzmaster ever. I'm getting Seymour Duncan Antiquity (Antiquity 1's- the kind like the late 50's pickups, like Nel's Black '59... II's are more like the 60's ones) pickups put in mine- they are on order & should be in this next week!

Link to post
Share on other sites

.

Your "Jazzmaster with P-90's"... is that a J Mascis's model? I know they have different non-regular Jazzmaster, P-90's in t

No, my Jazzmaster is a Squier Vintage Modified.  Quite good for a $250 guitar.  If I ever get another Jazzmaster, I might get one from MJTele so I can choose the exact color, neck profile, pickups etc  http://mjtagedfinishes.com/style_jm.html. .

 

Good luck with your new pickups.  I hope they deliver the sound you're looking for.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Now I'm considering doing a Jazzmaster project with my dad, who is a very talented woodworker.  He's not getting any younger, and it'd be nice to have something that we built together that I can use for the rest of my life, and eventually pass down through the family (surely at least one of my nieces or nephews will be into guitars, right?).  I figure we can use the body of my Squier Jazzmaster as a template for a new body.  This will give us complete freedom of wood choice and paint/stain color.  I could get a neck and all the electronics and hardware elsewhere.   His name's Brad, so maybe I can get an artist friend to paint Brad-o-caster in a Fender-esque script on the headstock.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...