Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Players => Topic started by: Fourth Feline on September 23, 2009, 01:01:40 PM
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Well folks,
Here we are ( eventually ) with a few clips of the Manhattan in a 'pimped' Vintage VS575 .
A very basic / raw home computer recording, but the fact that the BKP tone survived the process, says a lot about the Manhattans for me. Nuances like false harmonics , volume leveling and such suffer due to my inept recording methods , but at least you will get an idea as to the sound of this somewhat rarely recorded pickup:
http://www.box.net/shared/1lnmk3qhhc
For Liftman's concern about the mids and bass end in a maple ply archtop, try 'Autumn Leaves' .
I realised that the whole copyright issue was avoided, as my arrangements sound nothing like the original songs !
:lol:
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I listened to Autumn Leaves, your playing style and tone are tremendous 8)
Thanks for the clip :) I'm off to download the others.
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Looking forward to a listen when I get home from work!
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Gosh ! I just had to sign in and say "Thank you" to Ken, as this is a whole new genre for me - having decided last winter, that I would give it a go, despite not having formal training, or really knowing what the 'rules' for this sort of thing are. I just had to devise a system of first playing robotically through the chord progressions a few times - and then at least allude to the melody ( as I recalled it ) in amongst that somehow .
This is certainly the most enjoyment I've had with a guitar for many years - and very relaxing to study. I have since been somewhat remiss, and put the guitar down for the summer and my 'other' hobby ; but encouraged by your kind comments, have just got the guitar out - and resumed my quest. So thank you Ken - and I hope it helps ( or at least distracts ) Tom and Liftman in some way when they get a chance to listen.
At least I feel these 'raw' clips represent what the Manhattan's can do for a cheap Archtop , even without ' sonic assistance' - as the tone with the stock (Wilkinson) humbuckers was VERY, very different - being quite bright and certainly a lot thinner / harder sounding.
Cheers ! :)
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Fourth Feline, I really like those clips, the playing, tone and definitely the feel. I could be listening to an old 40's or 50's Jazz recording. Put some fake crackle on the track any you are away!
I do listen to some older Jazz styles and this does sound very authentic.
The Manhattans sound Warm, woody and articulate. very close and personal. I thought may be a little more reverb would be required at first but I've now decided that would distract from the closeness of the playing.
How did you record them? I can't hear much 'amp' in the clips so I presume it was a very neutral amp, recorded quiet or DI?
You should be out playing this at late night Jazz bars (if you are not already!)
Your tone reminds me a little of this guy:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM9BTGCU19c&feature=channel 8)
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I'm not a big fan of Jazz, but these songs sound very good! And has some awesome tones on it!
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Hiya Tom, and thanks for the nice comments, if only I was like Matt ! :lol:
No, I'm a self taught novice at this, the four tracks I left on the link, being four of only five I have had a crack at so far - with number six in the pipeline now It's that 'stop in and play' time of year again.
The recording conditions were sparse, as I had not intended the tracks to be any other than a 'listen back' for my own purposes.
As such, I just plugged the guitar ( Via a Monster 'Jazz' cable on this occasion ) straight into a basic £90 Tapco computer interface - and within that - just used the free 'Tracktion' recording ( not modelling ) sofware that it came loaded with. No 'real ' amplifier was used - and no animals were harmed in the making of these clips.
The occasional hint of reverb was just an after thought, when I found a slider for it within Traction - but I did not have the motive nor patience at the time, to find and apply compression or E.Q adjustments. So , it's just the guitar / BKPs , a set of Thomastik Tapewound 12s - and a heavy BKP pick applied lightly. Beyond that I like both pickups on together ( my fave combination on any guitar ) - and the guitar volumes and tones rolled off a couple of notches - to compensate for the lack of any pedal / amp / speaker simulation, or further E.Q adjustments being used. More a set of rough sketches than a painting really. I just needed to listen back to how I had approached it - and( as a Jazz novice ) try and evolve from there.
It was also good practice for my current philosophy ( nicked from Joe Pass and Matt Otten if I am to be honest ) of 'Great amps are still great amps - but I need to be able to plug into almost anything and still make a reasonably nice sound' . Most practice for this stuff being 'unplugged' anyway.
I just want ( for once in my life ) - to be eventually able respond to that request I had formerly dreaded - and that is :
" Go on , play us a tune then .... " .
I would like to get a solo act ( adaptable to a singer or trio if needed ) together over the next year or so - just in a ' After Dinner relaxation' sort of way. To create a mood , share the songs - and make people feel nice emotions, even if they forget who played them . The music , not the player being centre stage.
Meanwhile, thanks again Tom for your encouragement, much appreciated. :)
* Edit *
Also Tom, You were 'bang on' about the neutral amp bit, even given a choice I prefer a 'warm but otherwise neutral' Cub 100 acoustic type amp to play these through - and if ever needed ( due to room acoustics ) - just a splash of studio type reverb from an equally neutral and spacious sounding Fishman Acoustic reverb pedal.
You were also very observant in noting that they sound better 'dry' though - as they are incredibly detailed, woody and above all intimate when you hear them 'live' . :)
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I'm not a big fan of Jazz, but these songs sound very good! And has some awesome tones on it!
Thank you Fernando !
The tone (as you may have gathered from the reply to Tom ) was down to the Manhattans, not me. :wink:
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Now we just need some Manhattan dirty clips :P :lol:
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Now we just need some Manhattan dirty clips :P :lol:
:lol: - You are probably right Fernando, but that would be a bit like painting a moustache on the otherwise enigmatic Mona Lisa . :)
These are sweet creatures, let us not sully them with a life of sin ... :twisted:
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:D
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Very nice tone and playing :) Very classy!
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Very nice tone and playing :) Very classy!
Thank you for listening Tom, it is much appreciated. :)
"'Classy" is what I am aiming for - but you put the word to it for me.
The Manhattans and 'Archtop' really are like a time machine when you fall under their spell . As previously expressed by that other notable Tom ( Jackson ) in his previous post - " add a few scratches to the tracks - and it could be an old record you are listening to " sort of thing . Even the pseudo 'Art Deco' cosmetics of the Manhattan pickup covers, prompted me to chose new knobs and hardware of that same style around them. If I ever did post on 'You Tube' - It feels like I should be wearing a formal shirt and black bow tie to appear next to the guitar and Manahattans .
The Manhattans really are ( for me ) - a revelation ; even as an existing B.K.P user . The Ceramic Nailbomb for the 'Jazz Generation' ... 8)
Cheers !
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As Tom said Derek, very classy tone and playing!
I'm listening to Cry Me A River and imagining myself sat in a smoky c--ktail bar at the end of an evening, dressed in a dinner suit, drinking a margarita and eyeing up the leggy brunette in a red dress smoking at the bar..........
;)
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As Tom said Derek, very classy tone and playing!
I'm listening to Cry Me A River and imagining myself sat in a smoky c--ktail bar at the end of an evening, dressed in a dinner suit, drinking a margarita and eyeing up the leggy brunette in a red dress smoking at the bar..........
;)
- Get her number and ask if she does 'care in the community' work ; as you are happily Married ! :lol:
I really appreciate your imput Dave, as I was wondering what on earth you would make of this new project . Would I anger the Gods of Rock ? !
Seriously though, I respect your opinion, and admire your abilities, so it was really nice to get a 'check in' .
Please send my warm regards to your good Lady - and delightful felines . :)
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I'm listening to Cry Me A River and imagining myself sat in a smoky c--ktail bar at the end of an evening, dressed in a dinner suit, drinking a margarita and eyeing up the leggy brunette in a red dress smoking at the bar..........
All that smoke can't be good for you....
Nice work Derek! :D
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Please send my warm regards to your good Lady - and delightful felines . :)
Of course! Glad to hear you're well, and get some more jazz clips done!
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Derek, very ..err.. NICE ;)
I'm sure Joe would be proud.
You are right that the Manhattan tone nails classic archtop territory, but of course we know that Gibson always did favour the P90 in their jazz boxes.
Also worth mentioning you're sorely tempting me to get a set of these for my archtop solidbody and I'm sure they're be great but I have a mental block against humbucker sized singles. :x
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Derek, very ..err.. NICE ;)
I'm sure Joe would be proud.
You are right that the Manhattan tone nails classic archtop territory, but of course we know that Gibson always did favour the P90 in their jazz boxes.
Also worth mentioning you're sorely tempting me to get a set of these for my archtop solidbody and I'm sure they're be great but I have a mental block against humbucker sized singles. :x
Cheers Gingataff, :)
I liked the Fast Show / 'Jazz Club' reference in your opening line 8) - and was interested to read about the Gibson / P90 connection. Thanks again also for the 'heads up' you gave me about the Joe Pass documentary on BBC Radio 3 a few weeks ago, I really enjoyed it - and it's influence lingered. I also appreciate what you mean about the initial resistance to humbucker sized single coils - as visually it took some adjusting to my Mississipi Queens and Manahattans in place of Humbuckers ; purely because my eyes had long been conditioned to pole pieces being near the edge of such a pickup. Thankfully, in both cases, the tone overcame my predudices, but I still have occasions when I have to look twice at this novel ( for a humbucker size pickup ) arrangement . Old habits die hard, but now I also understand that there is a historical connection, as well as a 'tonal nirvana' - things are ( as they would have said back in 1940s/ 50s Manhattan )
- " Just swell " . :)
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Nice work Derek! :D
A belated "Thanks" to you too Philly ! I blame all this on the influence of that 'Evening With Joe Pass ' DVD we had both seen / discussed some months back. Good job I didn't decide to watch 'A Clockwork Orange' instead then .... :lol:
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Nice work Derek! :D
A belated "Thanks" to you too Philly ! I blame all this on the influence of that 'Evening With Joe Pass ' DVD we had both seen / discussed some months back. Good job I didn't decide to watch 'A Clockwork Orange' instead then .... :lol:
You learned a lot more from Mr Pass than I did! :lol:
Can't beat A Clockwork Orange, though, one of my favourite films (I think)!