Observation on Live Tone:

Inspector #20

Inspector #20

Ambassador of Tone
Fallen Star
Country flag
After a lot of playing about, I've discovered a few things that most of you probably already know, but I thought I would share my observations on live tone.

1. You can't beat a tube amp for live volume.

I wouldn't ever want to be without my Blackstar, but outdoors, next to a 12 piece kit, the SS is working hard to keep up. The tube DSL40C takes this in stride.

2. All your amp settings will change with the venue.

3. I frequently find my amp turned up 3/4' s volume with full bass, 1/2 mid and 1/3 treble, no matter where it starts off.

4. I play better live than during practice.

5. No matter how many effects you have, if you play hard rock, you will eventually roll off everything - even reverb - to get a workable live tone

6. All the subtle nuances I hear in the studio fly out the window live - All my guitars sound exactly alike

7. You will write spontaneous songs during rehearsal better than anything you write alone

8. A good drummer is more important than a good guitarist

9. If something is too loud, but you cannot quite figure out who it is - it's probably the bass player.

10. I would rather play music than do anything else.... :-)
 
I don’t play out much but:

1. I have only played tube amps live.

2. All your amp settings will change with the venue.

Can you say Acoustics ….

3. I frequently find my amp turned up 3/4' s volume with full bass, 1/2 mid and 1/3 treble, no matter where it starts off.

Master volume at ¾’s – damn. I’ve never had my H&K 80 watt above 9 o’clock live

4. I play better live than during practice.

Agree, as I don’t what to embarrass the other band members. It’s a great motivational force.

5. No matter how many effects you have, if you play hard rock, you will eventually roll off everything - even reverb - to get a workable live tone.

Of all the pedals I own, I usually only use chorus and a TS live (besides the tuner).

6. All the subtle nuances I hear in the studio fly out the window live - All my guitars sound exactly alike.

You need more guitars !

7. You will write spontaneous songs during rehearsal better than anything you write alone.

I don’t write…

8. A good drummer is more important than a good guitarist.

Agree, otherwise us guitarists are just playing in different time zones

9. If something is too loud, but you cannot quite figure out who it is - it's probably the bass player.

That, right there is funny. Now if #3 is true then the bass player is saying that ABOUT you.

10. I would rather play music than do anything else..

Well, ALMOST anything else…
 
Don O said:
I don’t play out much but:

1. I have only played tube amps live.

2. All your amp settings will change with the venue.

Can you say Acoustics ….

3. I frequently find my amp turned up 3/4' s volume with full bass, 1/2 mid and 1/3 treble, no matter where it starts off.

Master volume at ¾’s – damn. I’ve never had my H&K 80 watt above 9 o’clock live

4. I play better live than during practice.

Agree, as I don’t what to embarrass the other band members. It’s a great motivational force.

5. No matter how many effects you have, if you play hard rock, you will eventually roll off everything - even reverb - to get a workable live tone.

Of all the pedals I own, I usually only use chorus and a TS live (besides the tuner).

6. All the subtle nuances I hear in the studio fly out the window live - All my guitars sound exactly alike.

You need more guitars !

7. You will write spontaneous songs during rehearsal better than anything you write alone.

I don’t write…

8. A good drummer is more important than a good guitarist.

Agree, otherwise us guitarists are just playing in different time zones

9. If something is too loud, but you cannot quite figure out who it is - it's probably the bass player.

That, right there is funny. Now if #3 is true then the bass player is saying that ABOUT you.

10. I would rather play music than do anything else..

Well, ALMOST anything else…
Click to expand...

LOL!

I have to keep up with the bass player!
 
eSGEe said:
Im a professional ;)
Click to expand...

SoiledDove2-280.jpg
 
Not the oldest profession but the second oldest---- wait --- wait-----HOLD ON-------think it through ------SELLING/MARKETING -- was required prior to the "deed" of the OLDEST profession occuring --right? (yes -- just nod I have a wood chipper and hungry critters) -----so TECHNICALLY the OLDEST profession....is -- well WHAT I DO! ----
 
I mostly agree. Especially regarding nr. 8. A good drummer is simply a must. If the drummer is bad the band will just be making a racket instead of music. Keeping time is just part of it. If the drummer is insecure everything else is just a waste of time. A good drummer can make a guitarist sound great almost regardless of his actual picking skills.

Regarding the nuances, I would say it depends on the music you play, and also on the band dynamics and volume. Unless everyone plays at full blast all the time, it should be possible to preserve the nuances in tone and playing. Again, a good drummer is imperative!

For great live nuances, check out Fleetwood Mac’s performance of «Jumping at Shadows» from the «Live in Boston» record. Peter Green is simply a master, and while Mick Fleetwood may not be the most technical drummer out there, man does his playing always fit the music!
 
As I keep reminding all, I'm a novice, but working hard at my musical education.
So for what it's worth, when I listen to a pop song these days I find the vocalist most important, then the drummer, the two guitars come 3rd and 4th or 4th and 3rd depending on how important lead or rhythm is in the number.
One of my pet hates is when a guitarist says "I've been working on a new song" when they have been working on a new TUNE. Only the vocalist has a song to work on.
 
About the drummer. Would have to agree. Without Neil Peart, Rush is another another decent rock band. Not that Alex and Geddie aren’t good at what they do. But it’s Peart that puts them over the top. M.H.O.
 
#8 is the one point I agree with the most. We always refer to our drummer as our "lead drummer."

He goes off the rails, when all we want is a steady beat. Because we do a lot of improv on guitars, he feels entire songs give him liberty to venture. I just can't jam like that, and it's forced me to pull away from the group.

The most beer I drink is when the other guitarist and I chat about it. Lead drummer, what a joke.
 
Gahr said:
I mostly agree. Especially regarding nr. 8. A good drummer is simply a must. If the drummer is bad the band will just be making a racket instead of music. Keeping time is just part of it. If the drummer is insecure everything else is just a waste of time. A good drummer can make a guitarist sound great almost regardless of his actual picking skills.

Regarding the nuances, I would say it depends on the music you play, and also on the band dynamics and volume. Unless everyone plays at full blast all the time, it should be possible to preserve the nuances in tone and playing. Again, a good drummer is imperative!

For great live nuances, check out Fleetwood Mac’s performance of «Jumping at Shadows» from the «Live in Boston» record. Peter Green is simply a master, and while Mick Fleetwood may not be the most technical drummer out there, man does his playing always fit the music!
Click to expand...

You are spot-on Gahr. Allow me to clarify a bit. When I have played smaller venues, where everyone is mic'd, it is possible to preserve every nuance.

Recently, I've found myself more and more playing larger indoor (and outdoor venues) where there is no PA system except for the vocalist. In these situations, I'm running the amp close to flat out - even though we have a good mix.

The huge backyard parties - where we are setup either on the cool deck or a tennis court- are very challenging because the acoustics are virtually non-existent and they want to hear the music at the bar area.

What I have noticed is, I am beginning to care less and less about the guitar I am playing from a "nuance" standpoint and just focusing on playing.

All three of my guitars (VH/SG/LP) have identical neck profiles and scale length, which I love. It's just something I need to have to feel comfortable.

I took the LP and SG both to rehearsal yesterday because one was tuned A-440 and the other Eb. For live playing, That's my only criterion for having more than one guitar.

In the studio, I often pick up the DoubleNeck because its a thicker, meatier, sound and on a recording, you will hear it.

But live, it really doesn't matter in this genre. All three of my guitars perform the same tonally, and in that case, I will often choose the VH Double Neck for it's stage presence.

A while back, I was playing a private party on an estate in Rancho Mirage. The set list was drafted by the host and it included lots of obscure covers from the 1980's and a lot of it was hard rock. I got pulled in as a fill-in.

Initially the band was playing like they were sleepy and the crowd was really disconnected. I can't explain it any better than that. So, I told the bandleader, let's go off the sheet and wake them up.

I cranked my DSL40C and hit the intro to Cat Scratch Fever (right after a Toto number) so loudly that people literally jumped and I played as if I was trying to saw through my guitar with the pic. The crowd literally exploded and we went on and off list for the rest of the event. The finale was Motorhead's Ace of Spades followed by Hotel California as a closing number.

I played with total abandon - I mean literally flat out - and not all that cleanly either, and that energy was somehow infused into the crowd and the band picked it up too and it became a very energetic performance.

Aside from my pay that night, the host tipped me $700.00

So, I'm finding that I seem to earn more - and people comment more often -when I play more like Mr. Page. I am sure many guitarists would criticize the "wild" (even sloppy at times) playing, but that seems more and more what people are asking for.

Now at a winery...you really have to pull back, and here's where you can hear the difference between a Les Paul and a Stratocaster, but you also are not taking home big rolls of dough. Winery's almost always pay by check and a lot of dudes comp food and drink out of their fee and largely play for free, although some do offer the band free food and drink, not all do.

I suppose I have got to the point where I'm just playing to the crowd and ignoring the guitar players who may be in the crowd - since the guitarists are not the ones paying my bills. :)

I still have no clue where this musical journey will lead, but I hope it leads to a band home...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top