Friday It Is LR- 3/23/12

[darwinohm]

Were down to the wire. Ginny came back late last night so I do not know what lunch will be. We will wing it.

Some great lumber yesterday!

The winner of Tuesdays contest is KenC. I can relate to his angle of impressing her with the art value in Yellow no less? Sscandyman was creative in his attempt to impress her with the fine tune bridge but I don't think that she bought it. Jos did the old buy her a guitar and apparently it worked. I did that early on but today it wouldn't fly. I do appreciate the input on Ginny marking the guitars as it helped me out. Ken, pm me and I will send you the goods for what it is worth. You will see my mug in Holy Grail, so wear your best shades.

There are a couple of G&L questions today.

First is the Forum. Why do you like this forum and how do you benefit from it? Elaborate if you can. I have especially enjoyed the lunch reports since I joined this forum. It is a lot of work to participate in the forum, especially to download photos, and do videos. How do you use the forum when you are short on time? I am retired and do have some time but can recall when I was working and it was difficult to find time. Is it more of a source of technical information? Do you read the lunch reports? Please elaborate if you can.

Second topic is option questions. What would you like as an option that could easily be done that isn't currently isn't offered. For example, Louis has a no pickguard Bluesboy. I would love to see no pickguard offered on most models. I discovered that you can specify a swamp ash body with a maple cap or birdseye top with a solid color. I asked why that was available and was told that someone may want that combination for tonal reasons. I guess its okay if that is what you want. I didn't realize that the frost finish is available on most if not all finishes. The Asat Deluxes are cool but they are available with humbuckers only. Again no pickguards but wouldn't the flamed top be cool in the bluesboy pickup config. What are some option mixes that you would put together from the list of current options.

I have become more familiar with the recording process. As I became more familiar with the options I started to notice things I hadn't thought about like arranging and putting everything together. A little keyboard, synth, and other little things to change the pace a bit. It is no different than what diligent practice does for our guitar playing. This is a hobby for me and I enjoy it.

Here is a song with some keyboard and synth work. I had to edit a blip in the synth and make it work as the guy is not local. You Belong To Me which was done by Jo Stafford originally. I wanted a retro sound on this one.
http://www.guitarsbyleo.com/GALLERY2/ma ... temId=9895


I cannot leave without explaining how I took you advice from Monday. I have been watching this for some time and Ginny knew about me watching this. I picked it up this week and it is a custom build by Ryan Gadow, a builder in North Carolina. This was matched to an amplifier and reverb unit from Valve Train Custom shop as a set. It had been around for some time and never sold. Lots of lookers but no buyers. For those of you who were around in the 60's, flames were a hot item on cars. I had some guitars that I didn't use and they are now gone so I actually lowered the guitar count which is good.

The Valve Train amp is modeled after an early Fender Princeton 5 watt with a Weber 8 in speaker. It has tone and is surprisingly heavy with the wood cabinet. The matching Spring Thing is a work of art and a fantastic reverb unit. I now have the camera back and here are some pics. This rig will probably never leave the house. Here are some photos:







This is the photo in front of our house less than 3 weeks ago.



This is what 2 1/2 weeks of summer like weather will do, not normal for Minnesota.




Thanks all for putting up with me this week. The lunch reporter is still open for next week. I would especially like it if someone who hasn't done it before would step up. PM me!-- Darwin

[willross]

Sorry for no participation this week. Great pics and topics too. Those Gadow's look interesting. I've seen a few lefties, but none local to test out. As far as options go, I'd like to try out a lefty Z-Coil...


Cheers,

Will

[NickHorne]

Lefty Z-coils...!
I am forever hoping that someone at G&L might one day try mounting the insides of a Z-coil in two halves, just like a P-bass / Mustang Bass / Fender XII / Jorgensen Strat.
TOTAL adjustability.
Lefthandedness no problem.
Good idea, anyone?

[westsideduck]

I don't always have the time to post but do lurk daily, I've been around since near the start. I came for information about my new old G&L and never left. I was realy pissed when they changed the format but stuck it out, about 85 to 90% of the people that used to post here left and never returned after the change, That's too bad because we had some very interesting personalities here but new blood is good too. I'm into the tech stuff and realy big on the history of Leo, George and Dale and the inovations they created at G&L and I sure got my fill from guys like gabe and Greg G. Now that they don't post much I try to help out with the knowledge I got from these guys, I saved a lot of Gabe's posts and wish I would have started saving his posts earlier, what a wealth of knowledge he was.

I don't ever see myself ordering a new G&L so the options don't matter much to me, I've had new G&Ls but I'm realy into the Leo era stuff.

That's a real cool looking rig! I'm not much into the guitar but would love that amp!!!!!

Great week darwin.

[sickbutnottired]

Great stuff this week, Darwin. I listened to most of your stuff. Thanks for sharing, and explaining the progression in your skills. Very interesting, to this recording newb anyway. My next recording goals are more modest, mostly for practice and to catalog all my half written songs--so your stuff is very encouraging.

On a side note, all the stuff you posted was fun. But I especially enjoyed 'Forty Miles of Bad Road'. You really owned that song, the feel was great . And that sure overcomes a few technical shortcomings in my book! Plus, it's just a song I really like--Think I will give it one more spin.

G&L - I like the idea of ASAT Classics and Specials with no pickguards in the standard tops/finishes. But it isn't a make or break thing for me. Louis's BB is fantastic.

One idea I have heard kicked around is a Bluesboy Deluxe. Ie, the Blues Boy with the saddlelock instead of the ashtray bridge. I love the saddle lock, and would want to try it out. It may not have quite the twang, but I bet it sings!

Also, tons of great pictures this week. Thanks All!

[meowmix]

Thanks for your work Darwin.
Sorry I haven't posted much this week, I have been busy.

This forum has been a help getting info. It also helped me choose a new guitar.
I like reading the info and looking at the porn.

I'm quite satisfied with the 4 G&Ls I have and really have no need for more. If G&L decided to go with a pointy shape 80's type guitar, I probably go for it. But we both know, that won't be built.

Thanks

[NickHorne]

Your Gadow + Amp set is gorgeous.
The pickup positions are a little unusual, in a great way, and if Gadow was thinking what I'm guessing he was, it's going to be a very lovable axe. Very special purchase, thanks for sharing with your photos!

[NickHorne]

+ altogether great week, Darwin; thank you!

[blargfromouterspace]

Thanks for the reports this week Darwin. I've been much busier than usual and haven't had a lot of time to post, but I'm reading it all. The reason I like this place is that everyone is in to different styles of music and the only thing common is a passion for G&L guitars. That and there's just a good bunch of people here.

That's one wild amp/guitar pair! Looks fantastic!

[Lefty]

Great looking guitar & amp set you picked up!!!

[gitman001]

Hey Darwin,

It has been said before, but i'll say it again.. Great Job this week

First is the Forum. Why do you like this forum and how do you benefit from it?

I am not a techie by any means, all of my time and energy goes into what happens on the fretboard, i love reading all the tech insight this place has to offer - Some of you guys out there really know your stuff The knowledge base is really handy for looking up allen wrench and such.

How do you use the forum when you are short on time?

I feel bad sometimes not being able to post as much as i would like to. Some weeks are better than others. I especially dig the lunch reports - it is fun to hang out with guitar players that are not all ego maniacs. Oh and my little girls really really like the dancing banana so i had to throw one in. Whenever i am on the computer the ask if i am sending a Banana email

I would love the option to leave off a pickup route! That way an SC-1 could already be on its way up north!

Love the Flames Darwin, you must convince your band mates to let you play guitar on a few songs so you get that rig on stage! awesome

Scott

[yowhatsshakin]

Darwin, thanks again for a great week of LR's.

I started hanging out in the GbL forum in '99 or so after the purchase of my first G&L. The reason I got to the forum was actually the Registry. I just thought that that was the way to register your new guitar so you didn't have to put a stamp on the card. As a poor academic, financially not intellectually, you try to cut corners here and there. Anyway, I always thought that this was an excellent forum with lots of knowledgeable people (see westside duck's post above). The 'knowledgeability' has not necessarily changed in recent years but the focus definitely has. Whereas being still closer to Leo's passing, there was a lot of focus on the pre-BBE instruments and the history of G&L while Leo was still alive whereas nowadays most questions and discussions are about (issues with) newer models. One should not forget that there were only about ~50,000 instruments produced in the pre-BBE days which is a number easily produced annually by the big names! So each of these Leo-era instruments is pretty unique in and by itself. And boy, people were truly passionate about them ... One wonders how a transition to non-compression truss-rod and/or PLEK would have been discussed and received in the olden days ...

Myself, I didn't contribute anything really until '08 or so when I got the collecting bug and actually had something to contribute. But I just like the folks here. Their love for music and high quality instruments is what makes many posts interesting and why I come back everyday to at least scan all new posts.

Although impossible, I would love to have a Bi-Cut neck and/or 3-bolt attachment as an option. But alas. Being able to replace the box-steel bridge for a Saddle-Lock as an option would be great too.

For once the sun came out here in Seattle and it is predicted to be a decent weekend. Have fun everyone!

- Jos

P.S. Nice set-up with the new guitar and amp. Not really my thing but still nice!

Edit: The previously stated number 27,000 is for guitars only; also include the ~23,000 basses produced during the same period.

[KenC]

Darwin,

It's been a wonderful week of LRs. It was a stroke of luck that I finally bought a decent camera last weekend. I had always hesitated to post photos before, as they were inevitably blurry with the old one.

The new guitar and amp are gorgeous. I loved the song, too. "You Belong to Me" is one of my all-time favorites, no matter who sings it. I'm partial to Patsy Cline's version, but Catherine Irwin (of the alt country band Freakwater) and Neko Case have both done beautiful versions as well.

I always try to stop by the board for a couple of minutes every evening. Some nights it's quite a bit longer. I first visited in '99, around the same time I got the SB-1. I lost track of the site after a move the next year. Early last year, just as the collecting bug bit, Bassman walked into our local guitar store just as I was buying my Skyhawk. He reminded me of the board, and I haven't missed more than a couple of days in a row since.

The discussions around here definitely fuel my gas, and there's a wealth of information about the care and feeding of the older G&Ls that I prefer. I haven't thought a lot about options I would like to see on new G&Ls, since I'm so heavily biased toward the older ones.

Ken

[jakkanen]

I like this forum because people here are talking about interesting things, and they are behaving. I benefit from the forum because I am learning new things, and if I have questions, people here have good answers.

When I am short on time, I skim forum messages, just give a quick eyeballing and if at first glance something doesn't catch my eye, I move on.

It took me a while to really understand what lunch reports is about. Even the "All About the GL&LPD Weekly Lunch Reports" post seems to miss something, at least for me. Lunch reports are growing on me, though, and I am looking forward to them more and more.

As for build options, I am not sure what's exactly available with what model, but I'd always (or at least for now) be interested in having an option of:

• - no pickguard
  - no tone control
  - P-90 pickups
  - stringbender
  - tone chamber
  - mahogany body

[louis cyfer]

thanks darwin for the interesting week. i love the amp and the reverb tank, the guitar is ok. the pups are positioned really weird. far from the bridge and far from the neck. looks weid, but tonewise may be just right. would have to hear it.
a lot better recording on this one. the bass is a little too strong and the overall levels were too high, not sure if it's on the master track only, or the individual tracks, but it's going into some clipping. (it seems to be more likely to be individual tracks, and occurring during the tracking or processing processing of the track) remember the digital metering is not like analog, can not push the meters, you reach 0dB and it's clipping time. put the track meter in the peak memory mode and see if it hits red at all at any time. in that mode the highest level reached will stay lit. use either dynamics or input gain the attenuate to the right level. usually it will tell you the max peak level, say +1.7dB. reduce the input gain by 1.8dB and you'll be fine. now remember that after eq and also adding tracks together the total energy is increased, so you may have to reduce the track volume further during mixing, but the individual tracks are clipping free. do the same with the master track after mixing and you are home free. you need some more mastering tools such as exciter, master limiter and a few other plug ins to use.

[darwinohm]

Louis, I want to answer your post separately as you bring up some important points about mastering. I do not have mastering tools as such. Pro Tools does have a red popup when the levels are too high and I believe it is triggered at 0db. Not having any formal training on recording methodology, I am not aware of any standards, or even if there are any, for mastering levels such as the overall level. I listened to other CD's and tried to use them as a reference. When I took it in for reproduction their mastering guy listened and said "good to go". This whole project has a lot of my personal bias and it shows. One thing I have always felt is that CD's are often a bit bland or compressed and the intent is that they should sound good on any type of playback equipment. I know that my levels are a bit higher overall than they should be. I actually brought them down overall but probably not enough. I may have gone overboard to avoid a compressed sound. I was very careful not clip in ProTools. I did double tracks to raise volume when needed. I really wanted the "live" sound and also retro for the time period. I wish you lived next door Louis and I would have you here, burning up you time mixing and showing me stuff. I would even insist on some guitar lessons from you.

As a side note, when Buck Owens recorded in the old days he wanted to hear the product through an AM radio. He would enhance everything to sound as he liked it listening through AM radio. He knew that was his audience. Another fault I have is that I'm a bass player and a keep it simple one at that. I like drums and bass driving the band. We have the bass levels up there on our gigs and it does get them cooking. On recordings, I probably do the same. I had my drummer Rog, helping me mix some of the stuff and he would point out things that I couldn't hear due to my hearing loss. It was frustrating that he was trying to describe things to me that I couldn't hear. I have since purchased hearing aids and that is cleaning up my act a bit.

The other thing that I have learned is input from the devices being recorded can be challenge from a level standpoint and I need some DI boxes. If I were a young dude, I could see this becoming a money pit. Also, if I were a young dude I get get into this stuff seriously. I have to grab myself at times and look at the objectivity of what I am doing. I remember telling Ginny that I was going to spend a few bucks on some recording equipment. What is a few Bucks???, she always asks the right questions. I can get into things deeper than I need to. So, in the end as I previously mentioned, I had to produce something out this mess to justify what I was doing. It turns out that my first CD is Ginnys favorite, I thought the second one was much better, and I am not going to argue with her! Mission accomplished for this dude.

Seriously though, I have had regrets that I didn't say in the music business from the time I was young. Common sense tells me that I did the right thing as my chances of making it as a performer were less than slim to none. Many of us have had the dream and many tried, and in the end we think about these famous musicians. In the end, any of you who want to do some home recording can do so with the tools available today at a reasonable cost. Sink lots of money into equipment, pitch control software for vocals and you can almost manufacture music that sounds like the pros. ProTools is not intended for a guy like me who wants to so some simple recording at home but for someone into music production. I don't know a third of what it does and never will.

Boy, has this turned into a confession or what??? I am going to start a recording project soon and I hope I have you permission to PM you Louis, as I will have questions. As you may know the, the documentation on ProTools is mind boggling. The "get started" manual is about 135 8x11 pages. I don't have a desire to read all that!-- Darwin

[astutzmann]

Darwin, great week!

I was in Toronto all week on a course. Remember those? I was by far the oldest in the class, lol.

I didnt have any time to chime in, but it sure was an interesting read!

Thanks!

[louis cyfer]

darwin, you can pm me anytime. the plug ins (vst)i am referring to cost nothing. they are available for free. a master limiter for example would allow you to bring up the overall level without the danger of clipping and without sounding compressed. here is a website you can browse through for a whole lot of very nice free plug ins. http://freemusicsoftware.org/category/f ... -2/limiter
also look at the tube simulators and exciters. the top exciter is basically a sonic maximizer in a plugin form.

you are right protools is an overkill for simple music production. i have used most of the recording programs and my favorite is reaper. 30 bucks, and you spend 100-200 on an i/o interface and you have a great recording set up for home. protools is a lot less user friendly imnsho.

[darwinohm]

Thank you all for the contributions you have made this week.

Will, Glad you checked in. The Gadow is an interesting rig.

Nick, I agree that the Z should be split physically and it could be a Lefty rig. I will post after I really decide on the Gadow pickups. Several of you noticed the pickup placement.

Duck, You really are seasoned on the G&L front and I always find your posts very interesting. We do miss the old timers who did not move. Yes, I love that little amp. I couldn't understand why anyone would want a small, simple amp. Now I get it!

SBNT, Thanks for the 40 Miles input It is the first song that I recorded which tells you where it is in my book! Glad you like the old relics.

Meow, Thanks for taking time to check in.

Jamie, a guy my age will do anything to capture a second look from the ladies!

Lefty, but it's not a Lefty!

Gitman, I have to convince my bandmates that it is not for loan!

Jos, I would also like the micro tilt. You be the lumber man of the week!

Ken, I would expect you to be taking pictures with the big box and the black sheet over your head!

Jakkanen, Thanks for joining this mess. We need all the help we can get.

Louis, as always, your input is great and Magic says hello to Monkey!

Alf, just caught your post. I remember classes and isn't it fun to sit in with the young dudes?? Also gives the instructor something to think about as they wonder what guys our age really know. One of the best that I had in the 90's was an HR class on how to recognize Sexual Harassment. The gals we worked with had a blast in that class!

One last thing. Ginny did not notice the Gadow and Amp in the living room when she came home. Yesterday, she saw a box sitting in the garage and immediately asked me if I had anything new. I said yes, it's in the living room. She went inside and saw the new set which she had not noticed for a whole day. "Your in trouble"-"Why"-"because you didn't ask"-"I had your permission". I explained that I had polled the forum on Monday about the marked guitars and told her that Ed would interpret that as get rid of the ones that aren't marked. "You posted that on the forum?"-"Yup". She smiled and said "you really snaked your way out of that one. Thank folks!! That is much better than having to ask for forgiveness or using the 48 hour rule which got me in big trouble before.

Thanks to all for making my week fun. One of my reasons for asking the forum question is that it is nice to know what people are looking for from the forum. Most of all, the lunch reports would be of no value without you posts and ideas. The pictures this week were outstanding and thank you for making my week fun. Were outta here and hunkering in for Ken next week! -- Darwin

[louis cyfer]

i forgot the other question. i came here because john toner asked me when i picked up the guitar body at the g&l factory to come and post a pic of the no pickguard bluesboy, he was hoping that seeing it would encourage the leadership to offer it as an option. i got stuck after reading all the great info about g&ls, and seeing a group of very nice people held together by the love for some high quality guitars.
i know i have a pretty strong personality, and am pretty opinionated and some people don't get my humor (gets lost in the translation), and i want to thank everyone for putting up with me. this is truly a great forum we have here.

[asphalt-abate]

Thanks for the week Darwin.

I was busy preparing for an audition so I did not have time to post replies. You may be warm over in Min but we've beed cold here in western Washington. It's snowed three times already in March, something unheard of for this area. The snows were light and wet so they disappeared within hours - but still freaky for these parts. It looks like we are finally into our normal weather, highs in the 50's.

The audition last night went well. It really wasn't much of an audition it was a jam (4-hours). The guys are just begining to put a band together. They are more experienced than me and a little bit better. I was happy with my performance. I played tasty leads in key. I did not overplay, which is one of my problems, I sat in the background when it was appropriate, did some timely fills, all the stuff I was hoping to achieve, however they may be looking for a hotter guitar player. They have a few more people to audition so I'll have to wait to find out. If I don't get it I'll be dissapointed but not disappointed in myself. I'd like to get it because these guys have connections for gigs, they are a good bunch of people and more importantly it will force me to play outside of my comfort zone. It would be a good learning experience.

Thanks for the great week and I know Ken C will follow it up well. I'm looking forward to his reports.

[darwinohm]

Tom, glad you have the chance to tryout for a new band. Don't sell yourself short, and your right. You did your best and are happy with what you did. Having the best guitar player in town in the band is not always the best. Our lead plater is hot and our lead singer is terrific. The first gig we did here in the cities, a promoter was watching us and immediately tried to hire them away. They are doing some work with the promoter but like doing our band better. I think we will survive it but it is never easy. Just getting a group where everyone gets along is the most important. Often young people who are getting better get lost in the ego thing. You have a great outlook and will survive and find what is right. I remember a year and a half ago when Jamie was auditioning for the Prairie Oysters and he was really concerned about it. The song that he posted about a year ago was awesome, in fact I wish he would post it again. Thanks for posting about your audition.-- Darwin.

[JagInTheBag]

Lefty Z-coils...!
I am forever hoping that someone at G&L might one day try mounting the insides of a Z-coil in two halves, just like a P-bass / Mustang Bass / Fender XII / Jorgensen Strat.
TOTAL adjustability.
Lefthandedness no problem.
Good idea, anyone?

The only thing keeping them from offering the lefty Z pups is tooling and stocking the LH pup covers. It becomes a question of having the volume to make it cost effective.

[louis cyfer]

Tom, glad you have the chance to tryout for a new band. Don't sell yourself short, and your right. You did your best and are happy with what you did. Having the best guitar player in town in the band is not always the best. Our lead plater is hot and our lead singer is terrific. The first gig we did here in the cities, a promoter was watching us and immediately tried to hire them away. They are doing some work with the promoter but like doing our band better. I think we will survive it but it is never easy. Just getting a group where everyone gets along is the most important. Often young people who are getting better get lost in the ego thing. You have a great outlook and will survive and find what is right. I remember a year and a half ago when Jamie was auditioning for the Prairie Oysters and he was really concerned about it. The song that he posted about a year ago was awesome, in fact I wish he would post it again. Thanks for posting about your audition.-- Darwin.

darwin is right. a good band is people who get along great, not just great players.