Still delivering a blend of Folk, Jazz , Blues, R&B and Country . This seasons recording sessions are just getting underway , and lessons are a fun and enlightening.
Equipment update since the natural sounding AKG C 214 which blew me away . It is not a 414 but still in all it is a very useable all around mic. Plugged straight into a RME UFX with no effects or enhancement and after a little mic shifting and finding a sweet spot where the vocal and guitar were pretty balanced, it performed admirably. Other tan that it has been a bit hum drum around here just some small projects and looking forward to the music season in Chicago. An album of favorite classic or favorite blues/Jazz tunes is on the table, with some of my favorite local players.I started using the Vintech pre-amp (which is about as close to a Neve and Abbey Road as as I am likely to get in this life-time). Thanks to my long time friend Phil Ludwig, at Seclusion Sound Studio in Asheville NC where I spent a couple of days. Ashville is a really nice place if you would like to visit a quaint myet modern historic town nestled in the ver green mountains near the North, South Carolina boarder noted for artists of all sorts. It was a pleasure to see so many artists in such a beautiful setting. I have been using a MikTek C4 which is super fun to work with.No matter what variety or genre of music. Give me a shout out with a word about your music (or a sample as I always like to hear whats going on on a street level). Let me know whats happening! If there is something regarding music performance or tech based thoughts and issues which you encounter,I just uploaded a copy of All my Tears. (a live version)I know it has been a while since Bay Ridge which was long overdue. Doug Oscard is playing percussion. We have lots more in the works all we need is a few more hours in the day. Hey folks I see so many people checking things out… Let me know what you think or let me know what is happening with you. Feedback is always/sometimes appreciated. I also like to collaborate Let me know if you would like a guitar part or parts added to your tune. Shoot me a line ! J…AFralin Jazz pickup/Fender ultimate Chorus and British AudioI would like to do a new page just ofor equipment like “Pawn shop travels” I picked up a Fender 50th Anniversary Concert Amp which was. rebuilt by British Audio in Nashville Tennessee. It sounds great. It is sort of a hybrid, not point to point. It has its own sound., I used it side by side it is not a 60's Vibrolux Reverb, In many ways it is similar. A great all around Fender amp with a personality of it's own.I generally prefer tube amps but, I was cleaning the studio and got tired of pushing an $80 dollar, 2-12 Fender Ultimate Chorus amp around. Another pawn shop purchase I never used but decided to give it a try. While it might not have a chorus equal to the it's Roland Jazz Chorus counterpart it is a much more powerful, all around ampI sounds great. The effects loop accomodated a Boss eq pedal or a TC Electronics Spark, which really is not needed but makes the amp a little more organic sounding and adds a few more options. Through it an Epiphone Triumph(circa late 30's), with Fralin custom made D'Angelico Type Jazz Pickup, killer in itself sounds “really nice”. It is always nice finding a good Guitar & Amp combo.JA…
The “Sennheiser - Kompakt 421" microphones on the drums and really make difference. Upgrades and variations are ongoing. "Instead of seeking yet another microphone for its sonic qualities, invest more time and energy in processing with the microphones, and invest in a different type of preamp. Enter the the new (new to me anyway), Avalon 737sp and a new bit of sonic texture or flavor. This is a truly fun piece of gear.
Folks seem to like the P16 Monitor system and as usual the RME UFX sounds and integrates well with other systems. Finally everyone will have a bit more in their monitor mix, option-wise. Thank. you shout out to Phil Ludwig at seclusionhillmusic.com in Ashville North Carolina for helping me through the decision making process and for the assistance in setting up and configuring the software and hardware. Recording is much more fun and easier than before : I finally coaxed some bass guitar parts from Andrew Aspromonte on Bass and got Doug Oscard on Percussion. Finally we have another couple of tunes in the can. I hope that we can bring a few others on and finish the remainder of this new Acoustic CD in the near future. It is going well and has proved to be a fun collaboration. Spending the remainder of my time writing, updating hardware, giving lessons and recording has left little time for site building, At least it lets my friends know I'm still among the living. I am always working on additions. Plugins Plug ins and preamps including some very fun Neve clones, Toft and DBX processors which have produced some interesting results. The new monitor system is also in the works.
We have some new go to reverb, compressors and equalizers. New additions for more sonic opportunities. You can find yourself completely content with the plug-ins in your DAW until you use something which is a bit different. Fortunately there are some very convincing Plug-Ins which capture the essence of my favorite studio sounds. These past few weeks I have been comparing some classic reverb sounds from Abbey Road, Hitts-Ville, Capitol, lexicon and the Roland tape, a new favorite, Valhalla. It has been a blast!
Ireland is still in mind. I hope to get back there some day. There seems to be music everywhere. This past year we travelled all about Dublin Dundalk, Mulingar, the Cliffs of Moher, Galway and roads and train lines through towns in between. It was a special treat to sing a couple of tunes in one of the pubs. I hope to return soon.
As a side note: That Irish Wool hat and scarf is quite a joy to have around in these cold Chicago Winters.
The Drifter Kings are a blues, Americana, roots band. They have been around in different iterations for years. LastMay they released their new CD "Devil in My Kitchen. Not the usual “Pop” sounds. The band originated by Drummer Doug Oscard now has Tony Harp on Bass and vocals and John Simon on Guitar and vocals. Drum and percussion driven “The Drifter Kings bring some rather interesting sounds to their tunes. https://thedrifterkings.com/home Certainly not the SOS…. If you get a chance Check them out…
Regarding the Mac M2, I do not see a huge difference in performance between my “Old” MacMini and the new Mac Studio . The Mac Studio is working well enough and a few new plug-ins. I stayed with ProTools mostly because it is too much extra work and $ to switch. Mac has since replaced the M2 with the M3. There is always a Hype factor to the Macs. but I personally do not see that much of a difference and there is a constant subset of issues with my plugins and interface software which requires constant updating and re-installation whenever Mac decides to upgrade its Operating system and sends the dreaded “some of your installed software will no longer be compatible with the next version of Mac, message”. To that I say ‘Oh well or Oh Hell" I looked for a while but could not find a Windows low profile machine that compared to the Mac Mini or studio. They are truly powerhouses for their size.
Hello Fall and Hurricanes
To all the (non Mega Studio) recording technicians out there. Give me your take on which D A W Software you are using and why. I have used Cakewalk, Logic, Audition, Studio One Steinberg , Cubase, Audacity no Garage Band doesn't even make the list. I now use Pro-Tools which is sometimes like a money sponge. I also took another look at Logic as my Pro Tools 22 is not what I had hoped. I some how feel that they string you along with the pluses !
I think I need to add a page dedicated to equipment…
Picks! Picks Picks!
One night my good friend Freddy and yes Freddy is now dead but when he was here he was, as Redd Foxx would say, "A Caution". Anyway we went to check out Odetta and BB King doing a benefit show for the then "NYC Mayor. Odetta opened, she was a tough woman stopped at one point to tell the people in front of her to stop talking she was always on.
BB and the band were definitely in the pocket. The Top of The Gate had long table seating. After the show I was sitting in an empty room as the bouncer came by to let me know it was time to leave, Freddy comes out from behind the stage curtain saying, BB wants you to come back and hang for a while. Even better than a sitting at the edge of the stage watching BB King : Hanging out with my buddy BB and his "Driver". A tub full of cold beers and some lively conversation.
So what does this have to do with picks?
As the man himself put it: "I got tired of loosing picks in the dark clubs so I went with something that stood out". There are countless varieties of picks. The 346 type which are bigger and a rounded triangle shape are sometimes a bit easier to hold, I use the thin ones for folk strumming, I can turn them when one end breaks. But variety is the spice of life! So indulge… In my house there are picks all over this place until I want to use one.
Lots of folks back then would say BB King is not a real blues artist he is a sell out. Talking with BB for an hour in a laid back setting showed me what a really great down to earth person and superstar he was. There are many fancier players these days but to me BB is still “the King” .
Rich Cocco
Here was a guy who would wind strings for me in his Hackensack shop over cocktails, (after hours of course). It helps to be playing in a club right next to a guitar string company. He would say I wind your strings a little tighter so they last longer. Whether it worked or not I always felt special knowing that someone with so much skill thought I was worth the extra effort. It felt good to be treated like a celebrity which of course I was not. Those strings really did sound nice. It's been years since I've been to Hackensack and Rich has been gone for a while although Cocco strings are still in business.
As a side note I believe Rich's Son and Grand daughter are President and Vice President at LaBella Strings.
They were in the string business long before they came to the U.S. from Italy in the early 20th century. They also take pride in their strings.
For years I have used Martin, Elixir, DR, Dunlop, D'Addarrio for my acoustic guitars. Slinky, GHS (which I like but eat up my frets), D'Addarrio, Ernie Ball,Fender and Cocco Guitar and even Black Diamond Strings on my electrics. All good strings in different ways. But this encounter with D'Addarrio Strings has made me think about how much customer service means in an age where it is impossible to talk to a tech for an issue with their product. Purchase them direct, they are good strings.
Using the RME UFX is a pleasure as it has, along with a natural sound, so many options Plug in Alliance has a plethora of useful Plug-in options. Together mixing is so much more fun and considerably easier.
I'm still recording.
If you need a guitar player text or call.
Let me know whats happening in your world ! .... Keep in touch.
A favorites or useful site or links page is still in the works.
Want to to record --> 847-691-2260 text or call--> schedule some time!
Lindy Fralin Pickups
I have Fralin pickups on Strats, Telecasters and Gibsons. Fralin has also restored a vintage late 30's Charlie Christian and both pickups on a 56 Tele, which fell apart due to age. All restored to their original sound and look. If your pickups aren't getting that sound that takes you over the top, If you want to take your guitar to another level or are looking for wiring diagrams, ideas for your project of main ax or to replace or restore a pickup check him out. Along with many friends including Bob DeVos who is a particular and notably good Jazz Player, https://www.bobdevosjazzguitar.com I have been using these pickups for years. Give them a try.
Update on the Fralin super low profile DeArmond type jazz pickup on a late 30's Epiphone Triumph (restored by Doyle in the 80's) : In moving the pickup around I found that the sound is noticeably different and quite-useable. I can't get over how big this guitar sounds. I have tried it through tube amps : Vibrolux Reverb, Bassman, Peavey Classic 30, Yamaha 30, Vintage Sound, etc...solid state Peavey and Fender amps and with a Baggs Para acoustic eq direct through the PA. It just sounds so full and clear. The bottom end sounds like a baby grand and the top end has that woody vintage sound. Of all the Jazz pickups I have tried this Pickup gives me the most recognizably 40s 50s Jazz sound. Personally I think this pickup is a Gem.
Tom Doyle has been around for many years working in the background with many artists all of us have listened to.
In the years that I played six nights a week on the same old guitar I never thought about if it would work or not.
Back in those days we only brought one guitar to a gig(most of us only owned one guitar).
Thanks to Tom: decades of six nights a week, five sets a night plus daytime sessions and the usual tossing my guitar case in the trunk, back of a truck, checking it at the airport. I never had a humidifier, dehumidifier and rarely had a problem. I always got my guitar back from the shop better than new.
Tom Doyle was Les's guitar builder, sound-man, engineer and confidant for almost fifty years.
Les Paul would spend many hours in Tom's shop in Dumont and Washington Township working on and playing new designs and prototypes or sometimes other peoples guitars. Guitars from Django Reinhardt's Maccaferri to guitars played by artists such as George Benson, Bob DeVos, Tommy Emanual, Sting, Bucky Pizzarelli, Al Caiola, Al Dimeola, Tony Mottola, Jimmy Page Steve Miller, Eddie Van Halen, Jeff Beck and hundreds of other artists and guitars passed through his shop.
When Les passed he left his most personal items to Tom. Above is one of the guitars passed down to Tom.
I spent many hours in Tom Doyles shops over the years and still play the Gold Top 1969 Les Paul, 1934 Epiphone Triumph, 1956 Telecaster and my acoustic which on which he installed the low impedance pickup he designed. For more information on Tom and his products go to http://tomdoyleguitars.com/ .
All of his work and products including his new line of Hum-bucking pickups are top notch..