I enjoy taking a stab at my favourite solos. I use them to gauge my tone and technique. Frequently, my drummer colleague and I will perform a complete song just for the opportunity to put our own, unique stamp on it. Other times, we have the opportunity to create a track for a client and we enjoy these projects immensely.
Here's my top 4 current solo favorites, played over tracks that we created in our home studios, under our collective effort name of "80 Proof Redemption."
I am playing all guitars and bass on these tracks.
From both the standpoint of a listner and performer, the solo from Hotel California is still one of my absolute favorites. I often record it when I'm evaluating a pickup or guitar for tonal qualities, which spawned this recording in A minor:
Listen to Von Herndon Doubleneck Pickup Test by Von Herndon on #SoundCloud
Next up would by Campbell's solo in Holy Diver. A very difficult solo to pull off cleanly:
Listen to Holy Diver - Studio Demo Project by Von Herndon on #SoundCloud
Aldo Nova's song 'Fantasy' blew me away when I heard it for the first time back in the 1980's. When we were hired to create a performance track last year for a local artist, I jumped at the opportunity. I remained faithful to the original arrangement, but put my unique stamp on it:
Listen to Fantasy Solo - Gibson Les Paul (with Kevin's Green Keys)Played "Full Kevin Paul" by Von Herndon on #SoundCloud
And last but certainly not least, Gary Moore's phenomenal solo from "Out In The Fields," which took me several tries to pull off and even then, it isnt as good as Gary's version.
Listen to Out In The Fields - Gary Moore Cover + Re-Mix & Guitar Parts Added UNFINISHED by Von Herndon on #SoundCloud
There's a few more that I dig, but these would have to be my current "Top 4" favorites...
