Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Players => Topic started by: Scotty477 on December 21, 2007, 01:16:27 AM

Title: Emerald Blues/Rock clip - Laid Down Blues
Post by: Scotty477 on December 21, 2007, 01:16:27 AM
Here is my take on an Emerald 'Hot PAF' sound.

The backing track was taken from this excellent site (which I have no association with) and is called Laid Down Blues.

I'm only playing the solo here - no other guitars.

http://www.gckingoftheblues.com/static_content/view/backing_tracks.html

Guitar is a Gibson LP Classic, using a Marshall Tube Stack patch via a Boss BR-900.

BKP's are the Emerald calibrated set.

I went for a vintage tone here. The times which pup's were used is as follows:

Rhythm 0:00 - 01:13
Middle 01:14 - 02:04
Treble 02:05 - End

Playing is my usual basic. The song is meant to be laid back but didn't really stay that way in the end ....
Title: Emerald Blues/Rock clip - Laid Down Blues
Post by: lifted on December 21, 2007, 03:27:23 AM
That was great, sir!   I really liked the heavy use of start-stops and double stops for a meaty -full sound.  those pickups sound great on every position... very clear,   with much balls.  great clips all around,  and the jamtrack link was much approved,,  thanks,   lifted
Title: Emerald Blues/Rock clip - Laid Down Blues
Post by: opprobrium_9 on December 21, 2007, 07:16:12 AM
F

U

C

K



Y

E

S

!!

wow, wow...

You need to stop right now, no more (except don't stop, you still owe me a metal clip).  I need my ass a good LP and some NIIIICE emeralds.
Title: Emerald Blues/Rock clip - Laid Down Blues
Post by: indysmith on December 21, 2007, 10:25:39 AM
that rocked! the tone, the playing, the composition. beastly.
Only thing that could be improved was the mix i thought- did it have some sort of gate on it? ;some parts seemed to be getting louder and quieter very unnaturally
Title: Emerald Blues/Rock clip - Laid Down Blues
Post by: sgmypod on December 21, 2007, 10:28:34 AM
nice...got to love emeralds
Title: Emerald Blues/Rock clip - Laid Down Blues
Post by: Fourth Feline on December 21, 2007, 11:00:31 AM
Once more, very nice stuff !


( Did you find yourself growing a long beard, sunglasses and a stetson hat during recording ? ) 8)

Really nice tone and playing there, you have become a convincing sales pitch for the Emeralds. Thanks again for posting !  :D
Title: Emerald Blues/Rock clip - Laid Down Blues
Post by: opprobrium_9 on December 21, 2007, 01:39:31 PM
Quote from: Fourth Feline
Really nice tone and playing there, you have become a convincing sales pitch for the Emeralds. Thanks again for posting !  :D


convincing? CONVINCING?  these things are sold brotha! :wink:
Title: Emerald Blues/Rock clip - Laid Down Blues
Post by: JJretroTONEGOD on December 21, 2007, 04:45:54 PM
Quote from: indysmith
some parts seemed to be getting louder and quieter very unnaturally
I bet it's due to over compression.

Excellent sound/tone, I echo what indy smith says.
Title: Emerald Blues/Rock clip - Laid Down Blues
Post by: Fourth Feline on December 21, 2007, 05:16:50 PM
Quote from: opprobrium_9
Quote from: Fourth Feline
Really nice tone and playing there, you have become a convincing sales pitch for the Emeralds. Thanks again for posting !  :D


convincing? CONVINCING?  these things are sold brotha! :wink:


Sorry, I should have expained myself better : - had I got the money they would have been sold x 2 !  :D
Title: Emerald Blues/Rock clip - Laid Down Blues
Post by: Henk on December 21, 2007, 05:38:54 PM
DAIM~~~!!!!

Forget about PAF, THIS IS HOT!!!!!!

Very convincing clip Machinehead, thanks!
Title: Emerald Blues/Rock clip - Laid Down Blues
Post by: Scotty477 on December 21, 2007, 06:48:38 PM
Thanks for all the comments.

I'll check the compression on the patch tonight. To be honest I can't hear the variation in levels with the gear available to me but I haven't got my nearfield speakers yet - they should be with me shortly.

I'm also basically a novice at recording - never mind multi-track recording, so any advice is very welcome.
Title: Emerald Blues/Rock clip - Laid Down Blues
Post by: hunter on February 03, 2008, 12:22:38 PM
Huh that's great. Emeralds are hardly talked about or heard of, but it seems they are awesome pickups!

What is the rest of the electronics like? Are there quality pots/caps? I was surprised at how much treble that LP with the Emeralds has ...
Title: Emerald Blues/Rock clip - Laid Down Blues
Post by: Scotty477 on February 03, 2008, 03:28:56 PM
Quote from: hunter
Huh that's great. Emeralds are hardly talked about or heard of, but it seems they are awesome pickups!

What is the rest of the electronics like? Are there quality pots/caps? I was surprised at how much treble that LP with the Emeralds has ...


Thanks for that Hunter. Yes, the Emerald pups are very often overlooked. I'm not sure why that is as they are a great pickup for blues/classic rock and heavy rock. I even had an experiment with some drop D metal which sounded wicked - even though I was playing a cross between NuMetal and Sabbath  :D

My LP has had no mods, in terms of pots/caps etc. I'm assuming it has 300 pots but tbh I've never felt the need to change them - even when I had stock Gibson 496/500 pups.

I've had time to get more used the feel of Emeralds in the time that I've had them. Apart from the clarity that all BKP's have the Emerald (in an unchambered Gibson LP) can best be described as warm and punchy with a hint of darkness and enough bite to cut through the mix.

Lack of treble isn't really a problem with them. The only adjustment I made from the tech install was to lower the neck pup a few mm's as it was slightly too hot. Now it's fine and has a nice smokey vibe to it.

Basically I'm very happy with Emeralds. They make my LP sound like I've always imagined it should. I'd have no hesitation in recommending them for blues/rock players.

I'm working on a few clips to demonstrate them in more depth and variety - and having fun doing it  :wink:

Cheers
Title: Emerald Blues/Rock clip - Laid Down Blues
Post by: opprobrium_9 on February 03, 2008, 04:23:35 PM
Quote from: Machinehead
I even had an experiment with some drop D metal which sounded wicked - even though I was playing a cross between NuMetal and Sabbath  :D


OY! You did this without recording it and posting it here?!?!?! How DARE you!!!  :)  Do a clip (do a clip)!!!!  :D
Title: Emerald Blues/Rock clip - Laid Down Blues
Post by: Scotty477 on February 03, 2008, 06:31:04 PM
Patience is a virtue etc etc   :D

I should have said Sabbath riffs in a NuMetal drop D style. My age is advancing far too fast....

Nah,  to be honest I'm working on my setup - in order to get things right in the recording part.

The worrying thing is that even after I bought new nearfield speakers, I still can't hear variation in the levels that a few people pointed out  :cry:
Title: Emerald Blues/Rock clip - Laid Down Blues
Post by: opprobrium_9 on February 03, 2008, 07:07:09 PM
Sell them speakers and get some nice headphones.  Check these guys out: http://www.headphone.com/

They give you ratings and everything.

And yeah i can wait ages because i simply won't have the money to buy more BKPs in quite some time ;)

On another note, do you play with a band or gig regularly?
Title: Emerald Blues/Rock clip - Laid Down Blues
Post by: Scotty477 on February 03, 2008, 07:14:11 PM
I play in a band but it's strictly covers for weddings, parties and the odd pub. It's been going for 8 years.

It's not really Rock n Roll but it pays for shiny new gear  :D
Title: Emerald Blues/Rock clip - Laid Down Blues
Post by: PoshCollins on February 03, 2008, 07:43:43 PM
Quote from: Machinehead
I play in a band but it's strictly covers for weddings, parties and the odd pub. It's been going for 8 years.

It's not really Rock n Roll but it pays for shiny new gear  :D


Is it a full time career?
Title: Emerald Blues/Rock clip - Laid Down Blues
Post by: Scotty477 on February 03, 2008, 07:57:46 PM
No. It's strictly for beer/new gear money  :wink:
Title: Emerald Blues/Rock clip - Laid Down Blues
Post by: Perandor on February 19, 2008, 10:55:49 PM
I have listened to this song over and over because to me it sounds soothing, and I like blues.  So, thanks for sharing your talent and the PU's sounds.
Title: Emerald Blues/Rock clip - Laid Down Blues
Post by: Scotty477 on February 19, 2008, 11:17:38 PM
Quote from: Perandor
I have listened to this song over and over because to me it sounds soothing, and I like blues.  So, thanks for sharing your talent and the PU's sounds.


Thanks Perandor. I'm glad you liked it  :)
Title: Emerald Blues/Rock clip - Laid Down Blues
Post by: Buddha on February 28, 2008, 08:25:15 PM
Wow, what can i say? Amazing, that's all i can think of, i am gobsmacked
Title: Emerald Blues/Rock clip - Laid Down Blues
Post by: il˙ti on February 29, 2008, 12:00:26 AM
While I like the sound of this, it makes me glad I didn't go for the Emeralds. Don't take that the wrong way, it's just what I was thinking when I listened to the track. Very nice tone, but very typical 70s "hot paf" sound, and a lt brighter/snappier than I thought they would be. Also seems a bit compressed to me, is that on porpose?
Title: Emerald Blues/Rock clip - Laid Down Blues
Post by: Scotty477 on February 29, 2008, 01:07:00 AM
Not really meant. It was just my inexperience at recording that caused that.

It's kind of a steep learning curve but I'm learning as I go. The last clip of Emeralds I made has better production values - here:

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11661


In saying that the Emerald pups do have an unmistakable hot PAF tone and have a trademark bite or snap that shows even in the smooth clip above.

For Classic Rock and Blues these will do the job very nicely. I'm not sure about metal though.