Taking On Gary Moore:

Inspector #20

Ambassador of Tone
Fallen Star
Country flag
Since I first saw Gary's video of "out In The Fields" in 1985, I was fascinated by his guitar playing ability. I had begun following Gary from his 1978 "Back On The Streets" release and stayed focused on his journey, even into his blues ere in the 1990's. To say the least, I was a huge Gary Moore fan.

Recently, by drummer colleague suggested we add "Out In The Fields" to our growing demo list, with an eye towards including it on the upcoming CD as a cover. I was daunted to say the least, as I hadn't played the song in many years and couldn't even remember the solo, let alone knock it off with any degree of efficiency or accuracy. However, I am not one to back down from a challenge, and the newly acquired Jackson gave me a Floyd Rose to experiment with, so I took the project on.

We started this project by drumming and playing bass to the original recording in my colleague's home studio, then rendering the tracks to simple MP3's that would be compatible with my DAW in my own home studio.

Once I got the files home, I created a new project in Audacity and started to get down to work.

I used the Jackson with GFS pickups for the entire project, direct out into my Blackstar ID-Core 100 solid state. All rhythm parts are played on the bridge pickup. The short guitar solos parts that appear in small sections of the song were also recorded on the bridge pickup. All solos - except the main solo - are doubled in real time - not duplicated electronically.

I played 5 rhythm tracks.

Two are using 'root/5th power chords' and are panned left and right at 40% & 70%

Two are played with diads in a higher register and also panned left and right 60% and 80% respectively.

One is played using diads but panned center

In addition to the different registers, the guitars also use alternating chord voicings, with one guitar descending and one ascending during the verse parts.

During the pre-solo break, I switch to the #2 switch position- a GFS stacked single coil (10k) in conjunction with the double slug bridge humbucker at 13.5k, add hall reverb and a mid range/top end EQ to make the notes stand out.

For the solo, I used the middle pickup exclusively, with tone rolled off to about 6 or 7 . This gives a very strange tone with two 0.01uf box-type capacitors in parallel. I also added ridiculous delay and reverb to give the solo that "down in the well" effect I have grown to love so much. Solo is panned 80%/100% to attract the ear to a difference in sonic perspective, and yet seem very full.

Ok, this is an unfinished work, so it has about a 6 second lead in. We hope to put vocals on it Tuesday or Wednesday.

Now, this is not posted as some kind of great effort. The solo is not note for note like Moore played it, but it's one of my favorite Gary Moore songs and I really enjoy the opportunity to do it and to share it with all of you as simply a music fan.


Thanks for listening... :-)
 
hey..i do the pan a lot like that at home...really works to my ears as a spread & adds room in a way...gosh hope i can get this recording thing down so i can do it at home & save some $$

re listening...i like the 70-40 mucho.....don't come to my place...we might not come back out till 2 CD's are done in about a week..lol
 
hey..i do the pan a lot like that at home...really works to my ears as a spread & adds room in a way...gosh hope i can get this recording thing down so i can do it at home & save some $$

re listening...i like the 70-40 mucho.....don't come to my place...we might not come back out till 2 CD's are done in about a week..lol

You can do it!!!!
 
I'm looking for opinions on the tone. I tend to run a lot of mid-range, so I tried to 'fatten up' this a little. Also, how does the 'nasally' quality sound on the solo??? How is the overall balance of the mix??? I haven't heard it on anything but my studio headphones.

Thanks!!!!
 
That is pretty incredible! Whatever you did in the remastering gives it a little more complete feel for lack of a better term. Sounds completely pro and I would have no problem paying money for that.
 
And the guitar tones are great.

I'm teaching myself to master. A studio engineer I know told me this: "When you have a good guitar tone, it will be thin and harsh, almost metallic sounding. This will sit nicely in the mix...."

It's starting to make sense now to keep the guitar in its midrange sanctum and allow the bass to fill the lower register.

I use a fatter EQ for solos, but keep the "edge" for rhythm work.

It's a process!!!!
 
Really, really nice brotha.

Talk is cheap, that is superb.

Haven't heard that tune in awhile, can't comment on tone. I will relisten to original and post on tone later.

Tones you are using right now work for me!

Well done sir.:cheers:
 
Really, really nice brotha.

Talk is cheap, that is superb.

Haven't heard that tune in awhile, can't comment on tone. I will relisten to original and post on tone later.

Tones you are using right now work for me!

Well done sir.:cheers:

Just finished tracking vocals today with a musical chum. Gonna try to get it uploaded and a link posted soon...
 
Really, really nice brotha.

Talk is cheap, that is superb.

Haven't heard that tune in awhile, can't comment on tone. I will relisten to original and post on tone later.

Tones you are using right now work for me!

Well done sir.:cheers:

Thanks, man...I love Gary Moore....

Here's the benchmark for this song...I didn't quite make the grade, but I had fun...

 
I been working on the speaking part between 3:06 & 3:15 and I came up with this voice charicticure that's almost a little Vincent Pricey....
 
Nice! I wish I could still sing. Somewhere along the last 30 years I damaged my vocal cords. Lost half an octave and it hurts if I even try to go moderately upstairs. Makes me start hacking. I guess it's time to go country.
 
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