Totally shocked, devastated and gutted to hear that Jim Marshall has passed away :( Marshall amps have been such a big part of my life and the music I love for decades......my first amp was a Marshall, and so was my second, third and forth, to the point where I was interviewed for a job there, best interview ever (!!).....as I got to play guitar in the interview...My first amp was a Valvestate combo, quickly followed by JMP1 which I have been using for 20 years without fail. Gutted and lost for words. Marshall amps have been such a massive part of my life, from being on all the posters of all my heros growing up to being behind me at thousands of gigs.lost for words...RIP JimPeaceNeil
Top Ten Gigging Tips
I thought I would put together a little list of tips to help you all be prepared for when gigging!
- Most important thing of all is!! The show must go on...in some form, but the show much be go on and you must be prepared or have some idea of a backup show.This could be an acoustic set, piano only and vocals for example, figure out what combinations you have in the band and if you can make something work! You'll be remembered for it!
- Always have a backup and always have a backup plan. Obviously it is not possible to take a back up of every piece of gear, but for leads, guitars, mic stands etc always have extras! For bigger items, have a solution, for example I have a simple and cheap amp modelling pedal, which I can stick in in an emergency if my amp blows up. I leave it in the gig bag and it is always there, a simple little solution to get you out of a hole.
- Be logical in problem solving. Always start at the beginning of the chain when sorting out a problem, for example, if a mic isn't working. Replace the mic first, then the cable, then work back to the mixer. Likewise for a guitar, check the volume pot, the lead, the pedals then the amp! Be systematic and it will save you time.
- Timings will change so be prepared to be flexible! Especially when playing weddings, where things never go to time, what with extended speeches etc, just go with it, be adaptable to the change and be prepared for it and be ready to get on and play at a moments notice. Do quibble about it, just go with it.
- Be professional at all times, you will always encounter 'idiots', accept them for what they are and move on. Keep smiling!
- Turn down, not up. Yes, this might be a controvesial one, but many problems with levels, bad monitoring, people unable to hear themselves, can be solved by turning levels down, not up!
- Gaffa tape, can be used for anything - never ever ever be without it. There isn't much it can't fix!!
- Batteries - always take spares, take rechargeable and charger and charge them during the gig!
- Allocate tasks to band members! Work as a team to get things set up
- Keep playing! Yes this is a famous old one, just keep playing, things will be occurring all around you, but just keep going, especially if something
- Be prepared for sound level meters/limiters! This is the big one currently, it is very possible to turn up at a venue only to find they have a sound limited fitted. If possible, contact the venue before hand to check, be prepared for the fact that they may not necessarily know the technical issues and you may get a response like "we had a band in last week and it didn't trip the sound", try and find out as much information as to what kind of band it was, because bands can be very different in their dynamics. If you are confronted with a limiter, it has the potential to ruin the whole evening. You will need to know if it is a peak meter or a averaging meter. Peak meters are the easiest to deal with, as you can try and reduce anything that peaks, perhaps with a compressor/limiter. If it is an averaging meter, then you will need to figure out how you can play quieter, can you direct the sound away from the meter. Be warned that some meters will go off even with a couple of hits on an unmic'd drum kit!
Post your tips in the box below!!PeaceNeil
Solution to 4 Channel Method (4 CM) using TC Nova System
The TC Nova System is a simply awesome pedal. I love it to bits, you can read my review here, TC Nova System review.
One of the criticisms is that you can't do it 4cm, I mentioned this factor in the review "Whilst I totally understand the reason that you can’t to 4CM (4 Channel Method) with the Nova System (i.e. stump up and buy a G-System), it is a real sadness that the drive pedal (and also technically the compressor too) are lost if you decided to run it in the effects loop.”
It really is such a shame to have to lose the drive pedals (and compressor!) if you want to run the unit in the loop, where it technically should be if you are using a distorted amp, as that method also means that you are also loosing an amp channel if you run the Nova System straight into the front end of your clean amp.
This is a real shame as the Nova Drive/Distortion are fantastic, and one of the best things about the Nova System, and usually most amps are two channel and you end up loosing what I am guessing is a fantastic amp sound too.
I have to say though that it makes some sense not to have the 4 CM method on the Nova System, because TC would want you to buy a full on G-system at three times the amount! If they allowed you to run the Nova System in 4 CM, I am guessing most people wouldn't buy a G-System!But then I had a thought.....yes I do have them sometimes.....you could actually buy another Nova System....maybe even second hand...to run in the loop....this would still cost considerably less than a G-System, or even if you wanted to go 'Rack' for the loop, the G-Major 2 is still more than a Nova System.
So what are some other plus points?
You can link the two Nova Systems via midi, meaning you could create a very interesting midi setup
Because the Nova System only allows you to insert one controller (that is either a G-Switch or Expression Pedal), by having two units, you get back the preset control in one and the modulation control in the other!
It would look cool!
You get two of each effect block (one in front of the amp and one in the loop), so you can double up on some of the effects....that is use, for example, an Octaver and pitch shifter or use chorus and flanger together for example!
I think i might start saving up!
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Neil
5 Fantastic Small Amplifiers (Low Wattage)
5 Fantastic Small Amplifiers (Low Wattage)For those of us who are getting on a bit or live in an apartment up lots of stairs, or generally can't be bothered to carry huge heavy amplifiers anymore, here is a list of 5 fantastic small (and low wattage amplifiers) which you might want to have a look at if you are in the market for such an amp.It is important to realise the tradeoff's though. Some of these amps really aren't suitable for full on metal or other styles, where a lot of the sound comes from the sound of the cab and the amount of air being moved. There are also a lot of issues with low wattage amps and their clean sound. There is no doubt that a little 15 W amp can keep up with a loud band or drummer...BUT and it is a big BUT to get these kind of levels from a low wattage amp the amp will break up into distortion. The only way to get crystal cleans not on the verge of break up is to have an amp with a large clean headroom, and these are generally above 50 Watts. But for Blues Rock styles the nice break up tone of a low-wattage amp might be exactly what you are looking for! So here are a few of what I think are totally fantastic little amps, which are lightweight and sound fantastic!1) Fender Blues Junior IIIThis is my main gigging amp at the moment (well the Tweed version with the Jensen speaker) and I love it. It breaks up really nicely and is totally responsive to variations in2) Egnater TweakerWow this amp sounds amazing!! Try one if you can, this is an amp that really inspired me to keep on playing and playing and playing. The fact you can ...well tweak!....you sound means that there is endless tonal posibilities.3) Orange Tiny Terror
Boss RC-3 Loop Station Demo
A short demo of the Boss RC-3 Loop Station Looping pedal.....in E.....sorry it is so easy to get carried away with this pedal.EnjoyPeaceNeil
Sound like - Talkbox effect from Man in a box by Alice in Chains
So here is the first in a new series of videos I will be doing to help you out there in internet world to figure out ways of getting certain guitar tones, and on a budget too! This example uses an Electroharmonix MicroQtron (*) and a Suhr Riot distortion pedal going into a Blackstar Ht-20 studio head. The aim is to sound like the talk box effect from the Alice in Chain's song Man in a box.The setting are as follows :-EHX MicroQtron settings (Filter mode - BP, Q - 11 o'clock, Drive - 11 o'clock)Suhr Riot (Dist - 3 O'clock, Level - 13 O'clock, Tone - 11 O'clock)Hope you enjoy it.If you have any songs or guitar sounds you want to sound like, drop me a line and we can sort out a video for you!PeaceNeil
Daily Creation Challenge | Day 50 - the long walk
Wow fifty days into the challenge already!! Almost a seventh of the way through!! Went on a long walk today, and fancied something guitary...but again I nearly ran out of time (as it is sunday night), so I knocked this little ditty together in one take (can you tell!), so apologies, but it is in the essence of the challenge! Ibanez 7321 into Blackstar HT-20H and nothing else, straight into Logic, with the guitar pitch shifted -12 semitones to provide the bass (cheat I know!). the drums were courtesy of Superior's Ez-Drummer.I hope you enjoy!PeaceNeil
How to play "Domino" by Jessie J - Quick and Easy Guitar
Been asked by a few people to perhaps post some easy guitar lessons for contemporary songs, so I thought what the hell and decided I would give it a go. I thought I would label them "quick and easy" guitar lessons, so here we go.....a quick and easy guitar lesson to teach you the basics of playing the guitar parts from Domino by Jessie J.Any questions please drop us a line in the comment box below.Enjoy!
TC Electronic - Nova System Review
So here is a little bit of background. I already own the TC Electronic G-Major and I have done for about 8 years now, so I knew what I was expecting effect's wise, pure effects awesomeness from TC Electronic. For pure simplicity, the Nova system is just fantastic! I am using it in simplified set up for gigging, where I am not using my rack system. It works really well and most importantly means I can do away with a massive pedalboard, and could just simply have the Nova System and a wah and I am away! Having said that...I am using a few additional pedals in the pedalboard. One is the Electro-Harmonix Micro Q-Tron as the Nova System doesn't have an envelope filter sadly and the other is the Suhr Riot which is just pure distortion heaven and I don't want to not have it as I love it so much!! It is the perfect partner for the Nova System as the distortions on the NS are really great but range from TubeScreamer like overdrive to classic rock distortions, the Riot pedal really is the 'turn it up to 11' pedal.How easy is it to use?On the whole the unit it very simple to use. There are two main ways of using it, one being in preset mode, where the bottom three pedals on the left (Drive, Comp, Rev) enable you to switch between presets. In this mode you still have access to be able to turn on and off the Pitch, Delay, Mod and Boost functions (and tap tempo). By holding your foot on either the Pitch or Mod control you can scroll up and down banks of presets. You can also connect the G-Minor footswitch to enable you to switch between presets, and you can then use the Nova System in pedal board mode.Pedal mode provides you with access to all the pedals as it would on a standard pedal board (i.e. you get 7 different effects). By holding the pedal down for a couple of seconds you can switch presets (this happens on the release of the pedal!). I know that this annoys a lot of users, but it makes total sense to me, you have multi functioning switches and the easiest way to be able to not only switch an effect on an off and use it to switch preset is the way TC have implemented. If you want instant preset switching (but loosing access to turn the Drive, Comp and Rev on and off) just switch the unit to preset mode. I think it is a really clever idea and it makes sense to me.In a sense you could see it that you could potentially have a different pedal board setup for each song for example and then switch between them between songs. If you content the G-Minor or use a midi controller, such as the FCB 1010 or the Tech 21 Midi-Moose, then you have instantaneous access to the different presets. So it is actually quite powerful.There has been a lot said about the patch changing method that is implemented in the unit, I understand that they switches are multi-functional and the patch change works on the release and there is a lag time in the loading. It is fine for the way I use the system, but I can understand that it isn't for everyone. Potentially adding a G-Minor pedal or Midi Footswitch is the way forward, it is something I am considering!I currently only have 3 different patches (read that as pedal boards) set up. Primarily to switch between the overdrive and distortion pedals. One preset has the overdrive and tremlo effect and the other to have the distortion effect and flanger. The rest stay the same.So most importantly what does it SOUND like?The effects are pristine in quality, and I know that is not for everyone, but it certainly works for me. I think the analogue drives are really good, whilst not out and out metal distortion, you can get some great rock and blues tones from the OD, and classic rock, metal from the distortion. But if you use it to drive a tube amp I think it would work well! The user interface is dead simple, I like the patch system where you can use different patches like different pedal boards, that is fantastic!I personally really like the compressor, octave and boost functions. The boost is really really useful and can add a considerable boost say when you are switching to a lead tone. It is also fantastic into a tube amp as you can get the amp to break up nicely and cleanly with the boost. I think all the effects are pretty awesome, but I am not too impressed with some of the modulation options, but I should add I am not a modulation fan. As usual too their is a perceived drop in volume when using modulation effects, I make up by this by running with the compressor or the boost to increase the perceived level.You can also create a whammy effect by adding and additional expression pedal (sadly this uses the same input as the G-minor footswitch, so it is one or the other!).Programming the sounds is dead simple, plus for each effect you can store up to 4 favourites (i.e. configurations you like), whilst you can't access these without having to bend down and press the button (and in a sense in a gig why would you?) it is a really nice feature. The unit also has a speaker emulated output (although you loose the use of the EQ block...which by the way isn't footswitchable, which is a shame!). As the Nova System is not an amp modeller taking this approach might not be the best course of action, but in a totally emergency it is there, plus you could get something like the Tech 21 character pedals to provide you with an 'amp' and then run that either after or before the Nova System.Are there any nice touches?The unit is really solid, the brushed metal looks fantastic, the orange lights illuminating the pedals are also really great under stage lighting, as well as the display LCD. It runs from an IEC plug which is also fantastic, so no wall wart power supplies, I mean ideally it would run from my *** distribution box, but I it makes like really easy. The size is just right too, it can be thrown in a backpack, or on a small pedal board. I have actually managed to downsize to using an Electro-Harmonix Pedal Board Bag
