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Original music / gear

Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2020 2:33 pm
by cabangbangq
I know we've done variants of this thread before, but I'm curious about what people play and how they play it.

I got into Jane's when I was 9, which is now 17 years ago. Wild. Their music has been a bit of a guiding force for me in terms of my own sound, but my own music also takes a lot of after Prince, Smashing Pumpkins, some modern "indie" bands like Deerhunter, Animal Collective, and some totally unrelated R/B pop like Rosalia and Jai Paul. I've got loads of stuff online that's all over that spectrum.

waxpoetic.bandcamp.com -- mostly solo stuff done with laptops and DI recording
kela.bandcamp.com -- a proper full band effort

Currently in Mexico riding out coronavirus with my family. My lease on an NYC apartment was ending, I didn't have a job after corona, so it made sense to be here so I brought my guitar and some pedals with me. Had to leave behind my 60 watt Orange Crush amp and downsize to an Orange Micro Dark and a 1x8 speaker. I play a MIM HSS Strat with active pickups. Probably one of the loudest and fattest Strats I've heard. My board is below:

Image

The current signal chain is:

Behringer EQ -->
Xotic EP Booster -->
Dunlop Mini Bass Wah -->
EHX Pitchfork -->
EHX Switch Blade Pro FX Loop A: Boss CE-5 --> Boss DS-2 --> JHS AT+
EHX Switch Blade Pro FX Loop B: Ibanez CS-9 --> Walrus Audio Arp-87 -->
Tc Electronic Flashback 2

The EQ, boost, wah, and Pitchfork all go into the Switchblade, regardless of which FX loop from the Switchblade I'm using. I set up the Switchblade to have dedicated wet and drive FX loops.

The drive loop is really nice to have. I almost always use chorus when I drive, but I found the CS-9 (which had for a while been my only chorus pedal) could make things really messy when combined with a distortion, so I got the Boss CE-5 to be able to control the level of the chorus and sculpt its tone more. I love the JHS AT + for some really roaring tube sounding Marshall tones, and will occasionally bring in the DS-2 to give me more of a honky Navarro type of tone and I like the DD-7 more for delay when I drive.

The clean FX loop is pretty simple, just the CS-9 into the Walrus Audio Arp-87. I just got the Walrus Audio and am in love. I'm a sucker for modulated delays and the ability to make more atmospheric sounds. I used to just have a Boss Re-20 as my delay, but I wasn't wild about how it sucked my tone and it wasn't great with drives, which is how I ended up deciding to get dedicated delays for clean and drive. The Arp-87 is amazing, love the ability to dampen or brighten the wet signal or bring in even more modulation.

At the end of the chain, after the Switchblade, I have the Flashback 2. I mostly use it for the MASH settings -- I know, pretty ridiculous -- and some of the toneprints. I have it set up mostly for the 2250's infinite repeat when you mash it and for having a slapback that I can use after the clean and drive FX loops. Basically, it's the one delay that I want to use for both clean and drive and not have to worry about disengaging if I toggle between the two FX loops.

The current plan is when I get an additional 12v power supply to power the Voodoo Labs x4 expander, I'll have some more space in the Voodoo Labs 4x4, at which point I'll put my Zvex Mastotron into the drive FX Loop of the Switchblade Pro and have it run before the CE-5. I've always found I like fuzzes more before choruses and distortion more after chorus...

And then finally I'll probably get a Walrus Audio reverb to throw in at the end of the chain after the Flashback 2. When I do eventually go home, I plan on getting my corny ass DOD Turbo Flange into the wet FX loop and running it as a tremolo as well, but it's not a very high priority, so I have the Flashback 2 occasionally working as a tremolo via Toneprint.

Hoping this thread can be a place where we can all geek out and praise each other! To that point, I don't know if Ben Caught Stealing made the transfer from xiola.org, but I remember he made some cool music and was in New York. Alas, never heard more about him, but hope to connect with him and all you some more beyond our mutual appreciation of Jane's.

Re: Original music / gear

Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2020 2:09 am
by MicrowavedGerbil
For original music. I started a Gothic industrial Metalcore band a few months ago with my brother and we released an Instrumental to one of our songs.. here it is if interested to give it a listen.


Re: Original music / gear

Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2020 2:10 am
by MicrowavedGerbil
Fuck. Never seem to do the YouTube link thing right lol

Re: Original music / gear

Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2020 6:02 am
by kv
MicrowavedGerbil wrote:
Tue Sep 22, 2020 2:10 am
Fuck. Never seem to do the YouTube link thing right lol
I gotcha

Re: Original music / gear

Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2020 3:40 pm
by MicrowavedGerbil
kv wrote:
Tue Sep 22, 2020 6:02 am
MicrowavedGerbil wrote:
Tue Sep 22, 2020 2:10 am
Fuck. Never seem to do the YouTube link thing right lol
I gotcha
Lol thanks dude.

Re: Original music / gear

Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2020 6:15 am
by mockbee
MicrowavedGerbil wrote:
Tue Sep 22, 2020 2:09 am
For original music. I started a Gothic industrial Metalcore band a few months ago with my brother and we released an Instrumental to one of our songs.. here it is if interested to give it a listen.


I decided to listen to your track. It's not bad, I listened to it all the way through and enjoyed it pretty well. That's a big compliment from me! :lol:

I hear some PiL and Killing Joke influenced instrumentals in there. Do you dig them?






If not, what other influences to you have? just curious. :noclue:

I don't know anything about making music/playing instruments.
You seem to imply (I think?) that you don't use samples, is that right? All original instrumentals? Impressive if so. :tiphat:

Share more. :wave:

Re: Original music / gear

Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2020 8:42 pm
by MicrowavedGerbil
mockbee wrote:
Sat Sep 26, 2020 6:15 am
MicrowavedGerbil wrote:
Tue Sep 22, 2020 2:09 am
For original music. I started a Gothic industrial Metalcore band a few months ago with my brother and we released an Instrumental to one of our songs.. here it is if interested to give it a listen.


I decided to listen to your track. It's not bad, I listened to it all the way through and enjoyed it pretty well. That's a big compliment from me! :lol:

I hear some PiL and Killing Joke influenced instrumentals in there. Do you dig them?






If not, what other influences to you have? just curious. :noclue:

I don't know anything about making music/playing instruments.
You seem to imply (I think?) that you don't use samples, is that right? All original instrumentals? Impressive if so. :tiphat:

Share more. :wave:
Never heard of these guys. Curious how you made the connection. You mean keys wise? I can kinda hear it..
Everything is original. No samples.

My influences are bands like orgy, korn, slipknot and 90s industrial rock. My music features heavy screaming vocals and cleans singing choruses. Our stage image is pretty goth like bands from the 80s new wave and goth scene.

Re: Original music / gear

Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2020 9:48 pm
by mockbee
MicrowavedGerbil wrote:
Sat Sep 26, 2020 8:42 pm


Never heard of these guys. Curious how you made the connection. You mean keys wise? I can kinda hear it..
Yeah, I guess the industrial/post punky mix/pacing.
Oh, maybe it's sort of like a beatles -> backstreet boys thing happening for me... I guess..... I know that probably didn't make any sense. :bigrin:
But again that's a compliment. :cool:

MicrowavedGerbil wrote:
Sat Sep 26, 2020 8:42 pm

My music features heavy screaming vocals and cleans singing choruses. Our stage image is pretty goth like bands from the 80s new wave and goth scene.
Yeah, again if you claim 90s industrial rock check out the OGs for sure....even before NIN and all that.

:noclue:

Re: Original music / gear

Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2020 4:32 pm
by MicrowavedGerbil
mockbee wrote:
Sun Sep 27, 2020 9:48 pm
MicrowavedGerbil wrote:
Sat Sep 26, 2020 8:42 pm


Never heard of these guys. Curious how you made the connection. You mean keys wise? I can kinda hear it..
Yeah, I guess the industrial/post punky mix/pacing.
Oh, maybe it's sort of like a beatles -> backstreet boys thing happening for me... I guess..... I know that probably didn't make any sense. :bigrin:
But again that's a compliment. :cool:

MicrowavedGerbil wrote:
Sat Sep 26, 2020 8:42 pm

My music features heavy screaming vocals and cleans singing choruses. Our stage image is pretty goth like bands from the 80s new wave and goth scene.
Yeah, again if you claim 90s industrial rock check out the OGs for sure....even before NIN and all that.

:noclue:
Totally get what you mean. Send some bands along! I'm just more on the heavier side of things. Like pitchshifters early industrial album and of course the others like skinny puppy which honestly not too big a fan of.

Re: Original music / gear

Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2020 2:15 pm
by mockbee
MicrowavedGerbil wrote:
Mon Sep 28, 2020 4:32 pm

Totally get what you mean. Send some bands along! I'm just more on the heavier side of things. Like pitchshifters early industrial album and of course the others like skinny puppy which honestly not too big a fan of.

I'm not the best person to ask about recommendations. I know your OG time tested greats/genius', but don't go deep by any means.
Killing Joke (again) and Ministry ('88-'92) (of course) are places to very much familiarize yourself with.

Skinny Puppy, I never got into as well, but I SOOOOO respect what they started. A huge fucking mirror showing the massive amounts of shit we are ALREADY doing and they are called sick for showing it.....SFU society. :no: :essence: :jerkit:


so good. (check out all of Hossana's album from Killing Joke)







Some B sides from Pylon (Killing Joke) might be up your alley as well:



Ministry (you probably already know, but surprised you didn't know of Killing Joke or Public Image Limited)


:worship:





Re: Original music / gear

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2020 12:58 am
by Mescal
Image


So this is pretty much my bass rig now.

Just the Ampeg head on the left is a replacement (my other one was in repair).

So I play on an original 1969 Ampeg SVT Blueline tube amp. This is truly a museum piece; one of the first SVT's ever made (4th month of production or something like that).

Sounds like a beast, best amp I ever had.

On the right there's an Aguilar DB751. Had an 'offer I couldn't refuse' on this one. Bought it to have something different than my Ampeg. Sounds a bit more detailed than my ampeg, still massive sound, but it's not an ampeg :) Since my Ampeg SVT is kinda unreliable (too old to take on the road) I'm planning on taking the aguilar amp to gigs and only using the ampeg for rehearsals/studio.

The cab on the left is a homemade 4 x 15 inch cabinet (only other model like this was made by Acoustic in the 70's). Bought this some 25 years ago (my first true cab), and I still use it as it really is part of my sound.

On the right is an Ampeg 8 x 10 inch. The 'fridge' model. Bought it because I had an ampeg head, and wanted the true Ampeg sound. Still prefer the 4 x 15 inch though.

In rehearsal I play both cabs. For gigs I take the 4 x 15 inch

Re: Original music / gear

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2020 1:13 am
by Mescal
Image

So here's the Ampeg Blueline and my bass guitar more in detail.

Bass guitar is a Music Man Stingray (pre ernie ball) from 1977.

I believe all original and in great shape, just had it refinished

Re: Original music / gear

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2020 1:17 am
by Mescal
Image

So, this my pedalboard.

I mainly use the Bass Drive (my first and still my favourite distortion) and the B:Assmaster.

Some chorus from time to time.

I use the wah pedal and Phaser on one song.

I recently just bought a compressor, so still learning to use that.

Not really a fan of the T-Rex bass juice, so should take it off the board.

And obviously a tuner

Re: Original music / gear

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2020 1:18 am
by Mescal
https://beatenbyhippies.bandcamp.com/al ... by-hippies

For those who haven't heard our music, this is our bandcamp page with our first full album (you can listen to the tracks, just scroll down)

Re: Original music / gear

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2020 5:31 am
by kv
Fricking guitar players and their gear... :waits: :wink:

I still hit drums and cymbals of various size with sticks...

it's all the exact same shit I've been beating for years (dw's, zildj's, roland's)

I can't wait to revisit this topic in another couple years...the sticks and skins will be changed to protect the innocent....

Re: Original music / gear

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2020 11:48 am
by Mescal
Ok, it's true we like talking about our gear :lol:

But, there's also a lot of difference between a good and bad drum setup, no?

A good sounding snare, cymbal etc ...

Re: Original music / gear

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2020 3:06 pm
by kv
Of course...I'm just not a gear guy, most people I play with are...most drummers figure out what kits/cymbals they like and that's that...we're not sharing magazine links about what bearing edge degrees are big for 2020...but times have changed... I used to love hitting pawn shops looking for snares, guitars and old cymbals...then again that was before I could afford what I wanted :noclue:

TLDR I'm just busting your balls, carry on..rad rig

Re: Original music / gear

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2020 8:38 pm
by guysmiley
:lol: the amount of pedals I own and have even made at this point is getting ridiculous. KV might have a point. I like that hippies band mescal