Christmas Pudding with Blackguards

[AndyR]

Howdie folks.

This is really a "learning my chrimbo pressie" demo clip (just a couple of 12-bars in A). But seeing as it's the first recording I've ever made that features BKPs, and my new toy lets me make MP3s, and it's christmas, I'll post it here as my first effort at BKP clippage...

It's recorded on a BOSS Micro-BR palmtop. I started it yesterday when under the influence of above "christmas pudding", so the lead guitar playing is a bit stodgy :lol:

In just a couple of hours, I've managed to learn how to track, bounce, arrange rhythm parts, mix & master using this thing. All the drums, amp modelling, and effects are from the palmtop itself. I'm seriously impressed with what this little unit does, but I'm more likely to use my VOX Tonelab for the modelling next time :D.

The guitar (given that it's going through the BOSS's modelling) is my Fender Japan 52 re-issue telecaster newly equipped with Blackguard Flat 50s and a 4-way switch.

The rhythm parts were on the bridge only, guitar volume and tone rolled off a bit. The "christmas-pud" lead was on the 4th position - bridge & neck in series - guitar volume up full. Exactly the same amp model settings were used for both.

I'm not immensely impressed with the playing on here, but I am very pleased with my new toy - expect much more BKP clippage from me in future (hopefully showing off the pickups themselves...)

Now let's get back to that Figgie Pudding... :lol:

[Twinfan]

Sounds great!

[roland_rat]

Very nice keep them coming.

[_tom_]

Sounds good, nice playing :)

Andy, was it you who was concerned about Vista and recording? I got an Edirol UA-25EX interface a few weeks ago and it works flawlessly with my Vista desktop :) Sounds much clearer/more defined than the Presonus I was using before as well. Comes bundled with a load of software as well, Sonar LE amongst other stuff I think.

[Will]

Sounds good, wish I liked teles now

[FernandoDuarte]

Is the guitar direct to the Boss or have you played thru amp??

Sounds very cool!!! :D
I'm just on impression some bends got out of tune

[MrBump]

Pretty damn cool, Sir.

Mark.

[Ian Price]

Good stuff mate - good stuff indeed!

[38thBeatle]

Groovy stuff there.

[AndyR]

Many thanks folks :D

Yep, guitar and bass played straight into the Boss. I haven't heard it since I posted it (been away at the family's since then), and actually the guitar tone sounds better than I remembered. It doesn't sound particularly tele-like to me though - if you'd told me it was a Les Paul I'd have believed you!

And Fernando, you don't think I actually tuned the guitar do you? :lol: This really was the "rip the packaging off and start fiddling as soon as possible" recording (while cooking the christmas dinner at the same time...). All the guitar parts were first take doodles, with fingers crossed that I was actually recording (and without digital distortion). Once I had three guitar tracks with a click down, I started learning about bouncing and effects patches... and then it was time to stuff ourselves stupid and fall asleep in front of the tv...

The next day I figured out how to control the drum arrangements. And then it obviously needed a bass part so that I could find out about mixing and mastering.... I didn't have time to stick Hammond organs and wotnots on it before our trip to the West Country, so I left it at that. In the end the bass part was the only bit that was rehearsed or "arranged" in any sense of the word.

From previous experience, it all goes down hill from here. That first "hello world" recording with new kit always seems to sound fresh and vibrant, and then subsequent recordings sound squashed and suffocated from over-ambitious expectations and arrangements etc... "I need to check out vocals and keyboards now - so I reckon I'll do a cover of Bohemian Rhapsody next" ... that sort of thing! :lol:

Mrs Christmas brought me this little Boss thingy to get me actually recording again without getting into that frame of mind... we shall see what happens in the next few weeks.

And yes Tom - you helped me get over my fears about buying a new PC with Vista on a while back, especially when I found Cakewalk's newer stuff is all built with Vista in mind... (I've also been helped by the fact that they've since put me on Vista at work, and it seems pretty robust to me - I haven't had a single problem in a month or so of 45+ hour weeks). All I've got to do is actually buy a new PC now!

[gwEm]

sounds fantastic!

[FernandoDuarte]

:lol: I think it's very nice... you should go back to bands!

[Johnny Mac]

Sounds very good Andy!  :D