Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Wyre's Strings, Katelyn Dawn EP, Auditions...

Quick update:

-I've just joined the Wyres Strings family as an endorsing artist. Thanks to Nick and the rest of the Wyres team! I did a set up using their strings on one of my student's instruments, played them, fell in love with the sound and feel of them! Started asking questions, sent some e-mails back and forth, and the rest is history...in progress! Looking forward to working with them and playing their strings on my MTD Kingston Basses, as soon as my tech is free and my shipment arrives, they're going on and tracking on my solo EP will commence!

Speaking of solo EP's Katelyn Dawn's project is either about to go to final mix and master or possibly that's being done as I type this. I heard the second set of mixes and I'm pretty impressed at what's coming your way soon! Very excited to start playing some live shows! Also, Katelyn taped a segment for a show with The Discovery Channel this past fall, so be sure to watch the Discovery Channel on April 17th at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Discovery HD.

I'll write more on this next week, but I'm auditioning for a pretty kicking GTA Corporate band next week. Hopefully I won't overbook myself this summer (potentially two bands, possibly more...recording studio project...EP...booking/managing...and most importantly my wife and four kids)...you know how they say "it's feast or famine?" I have a feeling the drought is over...let the feasting begin!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

G.A.S. has reared it's ugly head...

So, as I sit down to write this, it's with a belly full of cake from my youngest's 3rd Birthday...Happy Birthday Riley! You're an awesome little kid! Daddy loves you!

Yeh, so I did a session week before last with Katelyn Dawn for her new E.P. ...pretty cool tunes, be sure to check it when it comes out! A couple of tunes needed something a little...different...so my good buddy Free from Forevertree lent me one of his axes, a Dean 6 string fretless with a an EMG45HZ in the neck spot, and a Seymour Duncan "Basslines" pickup at the bridge. I think the song and a half I used it on (one song has it all the way through, the other I played the chorus and bridge with my MTD Kingston Z5, the verses and the intro and outro were fretless...)

It really made a difference, thanks Free (AKA Geoff Breen!) I had a fretless previously, but I sold it along with some other axes to make room for my MTD Kingstons, of which i now have three...the pre-production rehearsals (glad we did those) and the session (nailed everything first take, just had to do some punchins on the fretless parts) made me realize it may be a good idea to have a fretless about on the regular...while I appreciate the 6 and I'll play it as long as I'm allowed, my fingers ain't long enough to really do it justice...reading up on Andrew Gouche's philosophy I flirted with the idea of a fretted six for a bit...but it just isn't ergonomically feasible (besides, you've probably heard the old saw: "what do you call a 6 string bass player? You don't...well, I guess you do if it's Gouche!!!)

So, I'm in the market for a 5 string fretless. The buyer of my old fretless bass, which indeed is a fine bass and modded with active electronics, has offerred to sell it back to me...however, I find that I'm spoiled by the assymetrical necks on my 'Kingstons(the ergonomic thing again! ). So I've politely declined and started looking about...it'll be awhile before I actually pull the trigger, but I figure I should do the research now rather than last minute!

So I was looking at a fretless MTD Kingston Z5 in Natural Finish at The Perfect Bass (was gonna post the pic, I'm sure James would be cool with it, but thought I better hold off on that for now...if he's cool with it, I'll edit it in later!)

Then though, I heard about the MTD Kingston Saratoga coming out of NAMM...I was super stoked...I had wanted to get one of the MTD J5s (Norm Stockton has number two, the model was later changed to Saratoga 5), but the price would have had me sleeping on the couch or in the car per Ms. Groove! So, here was a chance to get a Saratoga, and (hopefully!) still get tosleep in my nice, warm, quilt top mattressed bed!

The only things that gave me pause was the 34" scale. and the passive electronics...I haven't played a passive axe in over 20 years! Also, I'm pretty used to the 35" scale on my three current basses...going back and forth may not be so cool, y'know?

So I contacted the man himself to see what he thought...in his usual fashion, Mike Tobias was only too gracious and kind enough to take the time to respond to my question: Can you give me an idea of what I could expect tonally from the basswood used in the Saratoga vs. the mahogany/burled maple top in the Z5?


His reply: "The basswood will have a warmer smoother bottom end. The mahogany will have more mid range and a bit more focus on the bottom end."

Thanks Mike!

Still not quite sure...the Saratoga will be at a better price point (which Ms. Groove will appreciate!), but is it the right axe for me? No, don't suggest it...I did consider getting both, but I don't do enough fretless work to justify it...though if that changes, well, yeh sure I will! The goal is to pick the right axe to compliment my two ZXs and my Z5...

...aesthetically, the natural gloss Z5 will be a reverse mirror image of my ZX #26; an translucent black 'Saratoga would be a dark fraternal twin to ZX #31...but the sounds...and Long & McQuade doesn't carry MTDs currently, so I can't try before I buy...I gotta pick right and then live with it...

...so...what do YOU think? Aesthetics? Sound? Pricing? Give me your thoughts on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, or respond here in the comments section, or send me an e-mail...even if you're not a musician, give me your opinion please!

Rev. Groove

(P.S.)Working on a new long term business venture...details to follow soon!

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Now playing: Jarvis Church - Who Will Be Your Man
via FoxyTunes