how many of you are musicians

[Michellle]

3 hours ago, Shay said:

If you can record wave files then you place them in dropbox (it's free) so we can copy and put into our recording software - add a part and put it in drop box and then you can take the part and add to your recording OR you could record your part and I could help set you up in dropbox and I'd be willingto add parts and mix and send back to you.

Oh ok, that sounds easy. How do you record your files? In the studio or do you have your own recording software?

[Heather Shay]

I have Presonas Studio One but if you are at all computer savy buying a focusrite interface will usually give you software to use. There are things like Garage Band and some other freebies and if you can create WAVE files you're home free.

[Teri Anne]

I have tried to use pro tools and other software and bought interfaces and digital amps so I could record direct and share but its just way too complicated  for me.

Read the instructions for hours and set up the units to my gear and then the nightmare begins.

Click here, drag there, go to a second window open it and drag files here,click on this that and whatever LOL.

Just takes the fun out of everything.

[Heather Shay]

I think Soundforge is still pretty easy and not too complicated and Cakewalk is now free to download and that was pretty musician friendly - might try that one - won't cost you anything to give it a try. 

[Teri Anne]

Thanks but I'll pass I have heard files done on cakewalk and they sound horrible.

I'm not a total dummy with general computer stuff and can figure most anything out on my own but recording software is overly complicated.

Kids that grew up on PCs can use it no problem because their brains work that way.

Me I am good with rack gear and tweaking processor parameters and getting the tones and effects I want but doing that on a computer nope its not happening .

I have tried 3 different times Pro tools, Presonus, and Audacity none of it makes any sense to me.

 

[Heather Shay]

sorry to hear that - you need to hook up with one of those "young'ns" - I did to get the hang of it - my nephew talking too fast so I made him make me screen shots and then worked at my own pace until it started making sense. I have an old Tascam 388 - 8 track analog and an Akai 4-track reel to reel - but you want to talk trying to get a good sound....

 

I've learned digital out of necessity. I love writing and as with pretty much everything I've ever done in my life, I won't rely on others and had to do it myself or it would never get done and music is far too important to me as a person. I tried to give it up once and it nearly killed me.

[Teri Anne]

I learned PC stuff out of necessity back in 2006 but it wasn't all that hard.

I have really tried hard to learn how to use recording software numerous times but like I said it makes no sense to me

[Heather Shay]

Find a cute young guy to help you ??

[Teri Anne]

Now there is an idea LOLOL

[Heather Shay]

?

[Michellle]

I love recording analog! Nothing beats the warmth and fatness of reel to reel. I have also worked with engineers who used pro tools. It seemed very complicated and time consuming. Especially when it comes to getting a good drum sound....   Lol

[Teri Anne]

The studio work I have done has been mostly stand in stuff for bands  to complete a recording.

Either they have fired or lost their guitar player or if they can't make it to the session.

I have done country to heavy rock and a little 50s R&R as a fill in.

 

[Heather Shay]

being versitile is a good thing and the settings you.have been in has built a good foundation to do more if you so desire.

[Teri Anne]

I don't mind helping out my friend in his studio when he needs it.

I enjoy doing guitar repair more than playing and I have plenty of customers to keep me busy.

[Heather Shay]

That is super. Both guitarists in my band build guitar and it is a passion for them. I love people who have a passion.

[Teri Anne]

Its nice to have the ability to take an idea from the beginning to the end and produce a quality working instrument. The only thing I don't do much anymore is the paint work.I leave that to the experts.

 

 

[Heather Shay]

you mean ...to those with a passion to paint I hope

[Teri Anne]

Oh yeah of course. LOL

I used to work for a very high end boutique guitar builder and there were times I had to sand and shape raw bodies,do the grain filling and prep the bodies for primer.

Its no fun let me tell you. Some bodies take hours to get right because of grain differences.

Sanding 10 to 12 layers of clear coat is not at all enjoyable.

My advice is if you have a guitar you want to get it refinished  don't get sticker shock when you hear what its going to cost. A pro job isn't cheap.

Oh just to mention say you have a Gibson Les Paul or other guitar done in a nitro finish and they quote you a price and an approx timeline when it will be done that is subject to change because of the paint itself and how reacts and finally cures. I have seen guitars take 8 months or more to properly cure.

The weather and time of year have a lot to do with paint.

A full refinish I would generally price around $700 to $1000.

 

[Teri Anne]

Big guitar builders like Gibson Dean,Fender have huge ovens where they can cure the paint overnight us little people don't have those.

[Heather Shay]

Wow - I visit my guitarist's woodworking shop and it amazes me when he talk me through the art and craft and love he puts into each guitar. His favorites are Rickenbacher and he also builds amps - using old Hammond Organ tubes and such. Beyond my capabilities. He showed me some of thew woods he uses - the one I liked the most was something called Purple Heart that he uses for (I think) inlays. 

 

Me - I got a custom Left handed Taylor 320ce because I loved the richness and it fits my songwriting. I have a Hofner Violin bass (I play in tribute band with 75 Beatles song - I'm a lefty so it looks cool), and for recording I have a 1972 Strat, and some Epiphone Les Paul and Telecasters when I want a certain sound. I prefer having a few amazing guitars do the leads and color and I try to stick to bass and acoustic. 

[Teri Anne]

I have a 1930s table top radio that was turned into a clone of a 1950s Fender Champ model amp.

The chassis and guts are all old Hammond organ circuits modified by a late friend of mine.

I keep a lot of old vintage tubes around because when I get a new amp I usually swap the tubes that come it with old NOS tubes.

I run it thru this cab that has a Celestion "blue" 12 inch speaker. The set up sounds really huge believe it or not. Sound amazing with an old strat or tele. My old beat up Les Paul sounds great thru it too.

 

[Heather Shay]

I have to show this to my guitarist. He'll love it. How cool is that. It looks great and I bet it sounds sweet.

[Maddee]

Nice unusual rig

[Heather Shay]

@Teri Anne

 

Our 2 guitarist thought your amp was pretty cool

here are 2 amps our guitar and amp builder made - the one with faceplate with BlackByrd on it is an idea he sold from some amp builder who puts the company logo on the front with lighting so people really see who built it. Our guy chose to put our band name on the front and light it.

 

His amps are made of hammond organ tubes, reverb plates and Vox AC30 components.

 

 

[Teri Anne]

I do love those amps well done.

I bought a solid state Marshall amp from the 80s and my late friend said mail him the chassis and he would make me a 30 watt tube amp out of it.

Its 30 watts of grit and growl very little clean tone to it with old Amperx 5881 tubes in it.

Not a fan of the Celestion 70/80 speaker but I have never changed it. I do have an old 8 ohm Celestion vintage 30 coming in soon so I will swap it out. Not a great pic of it but its all I have of it currently.