Lunch Report for Friday, November 4th

[Lefty]

Lunch today will be leftover chicken breast and pasta, steamed broccoli and a Deschutes Black Butte Porter, maybe 2.

~~~~~

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea that G&L is using Tone-Pros bridges on the new Ascari and Fiorano Tribute models:

http://www.glguitars.com/instruments/Tr ... /index.asp

http://www.glguitars.com/instruments/Tr ... /index.asp

I have 3 guitars with this type of bridge and I have no problems with either tuning stability or correcting intonation. There is no difference between a RH bridge or LH bridge, so that simplifies production. As long as the saddle heights match the radius of the neck, I believe it to be a good system for hardtail configurations. Hopefully, G&L will incorporate the same bridge system on future USA models.

I'm sure there are differing opinions?

~~~~~

I am not in a band, but I do enjoy getting together with others to jam when the opportunity presents itself. I'm not (even close to being) an accomplished player, but I'm good enough to entertain myself!

In an attempt to improve my skills, I am slowly working my way through a video-based guitar course titled "Blues Guitar Unleashed." It's a very good course, taught by a active musician.

Most of my practice sessions involve playing along with backing tracks from various sources. I use either a Line 6 Pod XT or a Digitech GNX4 as USB interfaces to my laptop. I use Cakewalk Guitar Tracks Pro 4 installed on the laptop for any recording.

What types of interfaces and software do you use?

~~~~~

I have nominated Ledergeist; and he has accepted the duties of "Lunch Reporter" for the coming week.
Craig will make it official on Sunday.

I have thoroughly enjoyed being the "Lunch Reporter" this week. Hopefully, I didn't bore any of you with too much drivel.

Thank you for your participation and interesting comments!

Have a very enjoyable weekend!

Brice

[darwinohm]

Lefty, very enjoyable week! It is nice to get new perspectives on the guitar world.

I do play in a band as primarily a bassist but I certainly have room for improvement. I have realized that there is nothing that can replace disciplined practice. Things that seem so difficult become manageable and eventually easy. Practice ultimately moves us to new levels.

I am still out on the tone pros bridge. I do not see a problem with it but I do not have on. I have had them but unless you have a locking on, a person can damage the guitar easily if you remove all the string. I still believe the saddle lock is hard to beat for sustain in a hard tail model. I also prefer a trem type guitar, especially on a T body.

For recording, I use Pro Tools LE with a Digirack002 into a Mac. Works great but a large amount to learn.

Haven't had lunch and may skip as Ginny and I always have a date Friday afternoon nearby at Big Louies for appetizers and a couple of good brews. Thanks for stepping up this week Lefty, and especially enjoyed the pics of your guitars. There is nothing better than pictures of nice guitars!-- Darwin

[lefty_major]

I started guitar about 5 years ago, so I’m a newbie. Not in a band. For good learning material I recommend the “Blues You Can Use” series. You’ll find the books on Amazon.

For acoustic (finger picking), I really like a guy on YouTube: deltabluestips
I ended up buying a set of his DVDs and it has paid off. Plus the guy is from Liverpool so I sort of feel like I’m having a Beatle teach me something. And I think is probably as good as a Beatle. Check him out.

I use MixCraft5 for recording. I’ve written a least a dozen songs and have found this to be a great way to learn guitar (and song writing). My chord progressions are fairly simple, as are my bass lines. The challenge is coming up with the “lead guitar” bit. And of course trying to do the vocals. In all, I have found it challenging and good learning tool.

[sickbutnottired]

I am theoretically in a band, we gigged some over the summer. My brother has had some difficult health issues and is not doing that well. He is the bass player and band leader, so we fall apart when he is not available. So we are kinda stuck.

I don't have a problem with bridges I guess. But the saddle lock is such a great fixed bridge, IMO. My first G&L had one, and it's one of the things that I love about G&L. Intonation, easy; saddle height, easy; radius? well, it would be easy if I would by the right tools. Break strings? Never.

great week. jeremy

[Michael-GnL-Michael]

Enjoyed the week of LRs.

Home today so its French toast and bacon with coffee for lunch.

I am just warming up after years off from playing. I have enjoyed the benefits of YouTube. It was part of what convinced me to get a G&L. But it is so great for gathering an idea about effects, gear and tips on playing. I have not subscribed to a fee based program though I have considered the TruFire and there are several others that look good. I love the DeltaBluesTips series. Those that offer superimposed camera angles are great to consider. I have watched many of the free sample videos offered.

I have a TC Electronics Impact Twin and several DAWs that came with gear. Garageband of course is the easiest. I have a Yamaha MOX that also has a built-in audio interface. I can build a complete band's worth of instrument performances to play with or I can pump a backing track in and play to those.

It is almost automatic that you will play better and improve when you record while playing and you can listen later. You have other things on your mind while playing and this makes you conscious of things that you did not notice, both good and bad and especially little improvs that have potential that would be lost forever if they were not captured. You can get down the road to developing your own musical voice this way. I only know this from using older gear years ago. I have only been back at this for a few months now. The gear available to us today is amazing.

I considered those Digitracs because it seemed more hands-on but the restrictive interface is what turned me off. They are essentially a DAW with physical knobs/sliders anyway but you are forced to work through the operating system using a small screen and navigating through menus. You might as well use a full DAW on a computer where it is all up on a large screen. Even the smallest laptop is huge compared to the screen on a Digitrac.

[blargfromouterspace]

It is almost automatic that you will play better and improve when you record while playing and you can listen later.

Absolutely. Really makes you realize how bad you are!!! Sirmy once called 'record' the "suck button". Playing along to backing tracks or songs is a great way to learn, it keeps you in time much better than just playing by yourself.


I have no direct experience with a Tone-Pro bridge, but if it's anything like a standard Gibson Tune-o-Matic, and it certainly seems like it does, then I'm not keen. I found that I was forever breaking strings on my old ES335. I have broken ONE string in the last four years since I've been playing ASATs.

My home recording rig, if you could even call it that, is a Shure SM58 into a the cheapest M-Audio interface I could get, into my Mac running an outdated version of Garageband. It still sounds much better than the cheap Yamaha 4-track cassette I used before.

Nice week of reports, Lefty.

[louis cyfer]

i sure hope g&l doesn't switch to the tonepros bridges. can't stand them. i choose a different radius than the fretboard radius often, i don't want to be tied to a radius.

[Philby]

Thanks for an entertaining week Lefty.

I haven't played in a band for 5 years now, but I try to record myself even when practicing. It's the ultimate impartial feedback. You can get away with a certain amount of sloppiness in a live situation that a recording will not cover up. In a sense the record button is the truth button.

I have a small home recording set up running Cakewalk Sonar X1 on a PC, and an Echo Layla3G as the audio interface. The most important part (IMHO) is some good mics, a good room, nice instruments, some inspiration and talent. I'm often found lacking in the latter two. Still, I'm fairly pleased with some of my recent home demos. One day I'll find someone to sing some decent vocals on them.

I don't have an opinion on the Tone Pro's bridge. The saddle lock bridge is awesome but I wouldn't want one on every guitar I own. Variety is the spice of life so they say.

[Ledergeist]

Home recording capability - Have a simple 8 channel Behringer mixer, that outputs to a stereo I/O to usb contraption. That plugs into a 5-yr old iMac G5 using Garageband. Works pretty well, and it's easy enough to get a decent result.
One band I play with records to a Korg digital porta-studio, which belongs to the other guitarist, who is left-handed......


Nice week, and thanks for the early heads-up, I already have a rough outline worked up...

Stay Tuned
BW

[Dave_P]

Thanks for a great week Lefty, wish I could have participated more but I've been swamped at work with little down time. A couple more weeks and things slow down for a while, man am I looking forward to that.

Tone pros bridge: Eh, I don't hate it, but I think the saddle lock is a better design and one of the things I love about G&L. Bi-cut necks and micro tilt have gone the way of the Dodo, if saddle lock goes what will be left?

Recording: My band fell apart a couple of years ago, just started back up with the singer as an acoustic duo. Time is short and it's easier to manage, but I do miss playing in a full band. For software I went the free route, I use Audacity on my laptop. For recording practices I have a simple 4ch mixer which I adapt from xlr ->1/4" -> mini (headphone size). That goes into the mic input on the laptop and I'm good to go. I have a couple SM58's and an SM57. For live gigs I just take a 1/4" aux out from my PA into the laptop, same basic method as above but a bit more control over the separate channels.

-Dave

[Lefty]

i sure hope g&l doesn't switch to the tonepros bridges. can't stand them. i choose a different radius than the fretboard radius often, i don't want to be tied to a radius.

I see your point - I wasn't thinking about the lack of adjustment as far as changing the radius. I'm in learning mode here -- What is the purpose of choosing a radius other than the neck radius for the strings?

[Sean Clavin]

i sure hope g&l doesn't switch to the tonepros bridges. can't stand them. i choose a different radius than the fretboard radius often, i don't want to be tied to a radius.

I with you, louis! And I think the locking saddle bridge adds tons of sustain. It's a great design.

And Lefty, great week! I really enjoyed it! Love hearing different opinions and viewpoints for all over the world.

[louis cyfer]

i sure hope g&l doesn't switch to the tonepros bridges. can't stand them. i choose a different radius than the fretboard radius often, i don't want to be tied to a radius.

I see your point - I wasn't thinking about the lack of adjustment as far as changing the radius. I'm in learning mode here -- What is the purpose of choosing a radius other than the neck radius for the strings?

i find that i often like the radius at the bridge set to a few inches bigger than the neck's radius. depends on the neck though. i prefer to have that flexibility. i also prefer the strings through the body, it allows for a greater angle over the saddle. a lot of TOM bridges will actually collapse in the middle under higher pressure. the saddle lock bridge is great though, better than any TOM i have seen.

[Lefty]

i sure hope g&l doesn't switch to the tonepros bridges. can't stand them. i choose a different radius than the fretboard radius often, i don't want to be tied to a radius.

I see your point - I wasn't thinking about the lack of adjustment as far as changing the radius. I'm in learning mode here -- What is the purpose of choosing a radius other than the neck radius for the strings?

i find that i often like the radius at the bridge set to a few inches bigger than the neck's radius. depends on the neck though. i prefer to have that flexibility. i also prefer the strings through the body, it allows for a greater angle over the saddle. a lot of TOM bridges will actually collapse in the middle under higher pressure. the saddle lock bridge is great though, better than any TOM i have seen.

Okay. I've never tried that - I guess a radius gauge would come in handy? I guess I like the simplicity of the TOM.

I only have 1 guitar (so far) with a saddlelock bridge, but I like it a lot.

[Dr B]

I'm 40yrs old now and have only been playing a short while (about 3 to 4 years). I have a demanding job (University scientist) so dont get to practice as much as I need to to. I have a good teacher, who is also a pro musician and plays in a reasonably well known band (in the UK) as well as being a good mentor.

Lesson 1 - learned a couple of Em pentatonic shapes
Lesson 2 - right...lets jam!!!! - he played backing guitar and I did solos over the top.

I nearly filled my underwear....I'd been playing less than a month and he had me jamming. That's his approach.

I play a great deal over backing tracks and I often use a Boss E-band for both the standard loops and those I have imported onto it. You can record yourself and slow things down to play along while learning. Its a great device for learning. I dont play in a band (I'm crap and dont have the time). I play for me....and thats what it is all about to me.

Check out the DVDs from LickLibrary.com - some great stuff on there - good quality.