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Post by qmechanics on Mar 5, 2019 0:00:27 GMT -5
Hi
I have noticed a number of aspiring, practicing and retired musicians in the Patch. Can you share what instrument(s) and the kind(s) of music you play? Your gear and experiences?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2019 2:08:51 GMT -5
I owned two Pearl drum set-ups and a Ludwig set with two bass drums......never should have stopped playing!! As I got better I learned quickly that Zildjian cymbals worked best for me, gave me the perfect pitch on my Hi Hats, depending on the use. My wood stix were Promark plus this short list of some of my favorites....... ProMark PW747W Japanese Shira Kashi White Oak Neil Peart
Vic Firth American Classic Drum Sticks
RegalTip 111NT Regal Hick Sticks
Zildjian Nylon Black Dip Drumsticks
I’ve used Remo drumheads made from mylar . Also used Church or Evans skins for quite some time. Tops are called batter heads, and the bottom heads are called resonant heads. Drum heads come in single or two-ply construction. For me, my preference was Evans for resonant sounds, thin skin single ply. Your choice in the skins you use will make all the difference in the quality of sound, from your snare drum, single or double, Tom Tom and Bass just as important. Your resonant head is just as important as the batter head you hit with your stix!!! That’s where many new drummers can easily make a huge mistake.
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Post by simnettpratt on Mar 5, 2019 3:38:56 GMT -5
I started on drums and percussion in 1979. It's Ludwig drums and Zildjian cymbals, period. I liked rather thick 5B sticks. Played in front of 5,000 people twice, but honestly, smaller crowds are more fun because you can connect more.
After that, I wanted something that could make chords, which meant basically guitar or piano. Guitar won because, with piano, you have to go where the piano is - a guitar you can take with you. I did some cheapie acoustics, then when it was time for an electric, in my day it was Strat or Les Paul. I don't like the looks of the Strat, and the lightness, and am a Les Paul guy through and through, and I like single coils. My first was an 83 Limited Edition I got new for $1,000 in 1983 money. It came with a little Peavey Backstage amp; to this day I haven't dared play through a tube amp. It looked exactly like this:
I had a Gibson color catalog, so know Gibson calls this finish Antique Mahogony, not Tobacco Sunburst. It's still the most beautiful guitar I've ever seen. Finding one with the chrome tuning pegs is very rare. I was playing three to six hours a day, and getting good, but thieves came in my house and stole it. In the picture, you can just see a little round ding in the lower left corner, exactly where I accidently dinged mine with the butt of a 5B drumstick. If you ever see one with the serial number 71238088, it's mine. I didn't play for years because I was heartbroken.
Years later when I lived in Omaha, I got another Antique Mahogony almost like it, but with the nasty puke green plastic tuning pegs. I got a 50 watt Marshall combo amp that had a single tube in the preamp, and oh yes, you could hear it. It was way too loud. To play in an apartment, you had to turn the volume knob to the edge of silence. It had a switch to half it's output to 25 watts, but it adversely affected the sound. I played an outdoor birthday party with a full band and had it on 3 or 4. Later when I got poor, I had to sell it. I'm now down to a $200 Epiphone AJ acoustic, but I haven't played in a long time. It's a shame.
Oh, and rock: Beatles, Pink Floyd and random songs I like.
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Post by Legend Lover on Mar 5, 2019 4:59:16 GMT -5
I play the drums. I never had a decent set, but I didn't care - I still made a rhythmic noise.  |
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Post by papipeguy on Mar 5, 2019 8:58:15 GMT -5
I've been playing guitar since March 1964. Over the years I taught guitar lessons and gigged in more bands than I can count. These days I just play for myself. Lugging amps and other equipment for a $100 gig has lost its luster. Along the way I picked up a few instruments. Things may have gotten a bit out of hand.    |
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Post by papipeguy on Mar 5, 2019 8:59:14 GMT -5
Oh, I almost forgot this one.  |
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Post by peterd-Buffalo Spirit on Mar 5, 2019 12:43:45 GMT -5
Guitars:
...Gibson Les Paul Studio...
...Fender Fat Strat...Fender 40th Anniversary '57 Strat...Fender Custom Shop Strat with Maple fingerboard......Fender Jaguar...Fender Custom Tele...
...Guild Starfire V arch top semi-hollow body...
...Rickenbacker 381 V69 6-string...on order; Rickenbacker 381 V69 12-string...
...Takamine PSF 48 Acoustic Electric...
...Andrew White Quilted Ash Acoustic Electric...
...Cordoba Classical Electric...
...Jackson Custom ...
...Charvel Custom...
Amps:
...Fender Stack...100 watt head and 2 4X12 cabinets
...Fender Hot Rod DeVille...
...Fender Champion 100...
...Fishman Pro Artist 450...
...Line 6 AX 2 212...
...Peavey VTM Stack...120 watt head and 2 4X12 cabinets
...Roland KC 600 Keyboard amp...
...Behringer 450 Keyboard amp...
Keyboards:
...Roland DS 88 Digital Synth...
...Yamaha MX 88 Digital Synth...
...like John and like my pipes...perhaps far too many...
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Post by Dramatwist on Mar 5, 2019 13:06:02 GMT -5
Great thread... like John, I've been playing bass and guitar since the early '60s. Yes, the accumulation of instruments got a little out of hand for a number of years but it's under control now that I'm an old fart.
My first "decent" guitar was a used Rickenbacker 360 my Dad bought me (I'm sure you guys have seen the picture) and I played it to death over the years.
I've owned Fender Strats and Teles, Gibson Les Pauls, SGs, Alembic basses, yada, yada, quack, quack, quack... nobody cares... least of all, me.
What I have now, I really like: a "Loar" reproduction of a Gibson L5; a Yamaha "Silent Guitar", a gift from my daughter; a Hofner "Shorty", which I pull out when I'm feeling like it's Led Zeppelin time.
Having used many different amps over the years, I've settled on Mesa Boogies and Zinkys.
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Post by simnettpratt on Mar 5, 2019 14:15:23 GMT -5
Feel like a guy with a can of Capt. Black looking at a 'Pictures of Your Cellar?' thread.
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Post by roadsdiverged on Mar 5, 2019 15:01:29 GMT -5
I have a guitar (epiphone) and I cannot play it. My ex father in law was in need of money so he sold me the guitar and amp for $200. It has sat behind my book case, in a hard case, taking up space for 4 years now. I made 1 attempt at learning 1 time for 2 days.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2019 15:25:40 GMT -5
I'll be the odd man out since I don't play guitar. Started out on my brothers Ludwig drum set in the 60's. Came home one day and they were gone. Found out that he got a girl pregnant and hockey his drums. 8th grade I found the trumpet and played up till I got disabled 5 years ago. Use to be a high, fast, and loud player, but now my
fingers won't work fast anymore. Had a gold plated Schilke B6L tuning bell trumpet for many years, used a Schilke 6A4 mouthpiece most of my life. Sold the Schilke (dumbass move), found a neighbor who had a Getzen Large bore Eterna- Doc Severinsen model, played a few notes on it and said, "I want this horn". Sent it off and had it rebuilt with full length bell engraving, gave it to my son for his 16th birthday. He quit playing after college and I got it back. Still have a Yamaha flugelhorn with a red brass bell too.
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Post by Low and Slow on Mar 5, 2019 16:13:36 GMT -5
I’ve played percussion since I was a kid, I have a set of pretty nice congas and a Cajon. I also play just a bit of guitar, I bought a lower end full body acoustic/electric Taylor In Miami when I lived there. It gives me my fix. Other than that I also can make some nice noise on a digeridoo!
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Post by Darin on Mar 5, 2019 18:54:58 GMT -5
I’ve played percussion since I was a kid, I have a set of pretty nice congas and a Cajon. I also play just a bit of guitar, I bought a lower end full body acoustic/electric Taylor In Miami when I lived there. It gives me my fix. Other than that I also can make some nice noise on a digeridoo! It's pretty rare to meet a fellow Conguero ... and pipe smoker to boot!  I've got LP Giovanni's and a really nice set of Canoe Wood congas and tumba from Mario at Isla Percussion. LP Matador Timbales, Cajon, Shekere, Chinese blocks, etc ... I love learning the classic Afro-Cuban rhythms and applying them to jazz/funk music. Long live Clave! |
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Post by peeps on Mar 5, 2019 20:06:35 GMT -5
I’ve played drums since Jr High. Through the ‘70s - ‘80s I had a couple of old Ludwig Super Classic sets. I didn’t play much through the ‘90s. In 2004 I splurged on a new set of Tama Starclassic Performers, Diamond Dust wrap, and Black Nickel hardware. All Zildjian A cymbals. This came along with some snare hoarding and a LE Tama Starclassic Maple set. Every few months I set up a different kit & configuration. imgur.com/a/3GeDcfdimgur.com/a/QxeV62J |
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Post by Low and Slow on Mar 6, 2019 9:20:17 GMT -5
I’ve played percussion since I was a kid, I have a set of pretty nice congas and a Cajon. I also play just a bit of guitar, I bought a lower end full body acoustic/electric Taylor In Miami when I lived there. It gives me my fix. Other than that I also can make some nice noise on a digeridoo! It's pretty rare to meet a fellow Conguero ... and pipe smoker to boot! I've got LP Giovanni's and a really nice set of Canoe Wood congas and tumba from Mario at Isla Percussion. LP Matador Timbales, Cajon, Shekere, Chinese blocks, etc ... I love learning the classic Afro-Cuban rhythms and applying them to jazz/funk music. Long live Clave! Nice, glad I’m not the only one! We seem to be a rare breed, us congueros. Man, the first time I heard Afro-Cuban music I was immediately smitten. As for the Jazz funk, yes to that as well! What, no cowbell? Clave is better anyway...lol. You have quite the percussive set up, sounds like a lot of fun! My congas are Meinl, and they are a nice toasted orange, not burnt. They’ve been in gig bags for two years, but they will be played very soon. I used to have another set of congas that I played together with these and a couple of other hand drums as well. But it’s hard dragging all that gear around when you want to be a nomad. I actually kind of miss my garage sale set of congas, they just had a wonderful sound! |
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Post by briarbuck on Mar 6, 2019 11:16:33 GMT -5
I'm probably best at the harmonica, but I never play that anymore. All guitars these days. I have a bunch, of the ones I play:
I have a maple, small bodied Taylor that is my go to acoustic.
A Ibanez AR MIJ cowboy guitar
Simon and Patrick Luthier that's old growth Canadian wood.
Electric I play my Tallman the most. 3 lipsticks single coil. Super dirty and awesome.
I also have an old 70's MIJ Ibanez AR that's similar to what Weir played. It's heavy, but I love the neck.
I have a 70's Guild SD 60 that I keep open tuned when I try and act like Keith.
Fujigen Fender Strat maple photo-flame hamburgerler. Cool guitar that I hardly play.
I suck, but I have fun.
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Post by Darin on Mar 6, 2019 11:43:07 GMT -5
Low and Slow ... Meinl's have a great sound, nice quality. Is your Cajon from them as well? I know what you mean about the old beaters too ... my first set were from Schalloch, Sunburst of course, and took some abuse.
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Post by Low and Slow on Mar 7, 2019 10:22:33 GMT -5
Low and Slow ... Meinl's have a great sound, nice quality. Is your Cajon from them as well? I know what you mean about the old beaters too ... my first set were from Schalloch, Sunburst of course, and took some abuse. It’s a cajón that has no manufacturer, it was hand made in Peru. My ex was Peruvian and her dad bought it for me. My old congas were turquoise and chipped and scratched, but man did they have a lovely pop to them! I used to set all four up and get intranced, I miss that feeling. |
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Post by Dramatwist on Mar 7, 2019 10:28:29 GMT -5
Low and Slow ... Meinl's have a great sound, nice quality. Is your Cajon from them as well? I know what you mean about the old beaters too ... my first set were from Schalloch, Sunburst of course, and took some abuse. It’s a cajón that has no manufacturer, it was hand made in Peru. My ex was Peruvian and her dad bought it for me. My old congas were turquoise and chipped and scratched, but man did they have a lovely pop to them! I used to set all four up and get intranced, I miss that feeling. While not a drummer, Joe, I do understand the affection one develops for a particular instrument for one reason or another. No matter the appearance, a unique sound, a particular emotional attachment or just the joy a musician feels when using that particular tool. |
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Post by Dramatwist on Mar 7, 2019 10:43:28 GMT -5
...and while I'm on the subject...
I began playing guitar as a child. Before the Beatles hit the Ed Sullivan show in '64, much as I loved them, I was mesmerized by the sound of Bob Dylan and other artists of the time. I'm at a loss to explain exactly what it was that ignited my imagination... maybe something about the brevity of the stories, the words set to music, the feeling of loss and regret, or joy and elation. The whole package seemed more "real" to me than the mundane issues of day-to-day life.
In any event, I'm grateful to have lived in the 60s and 70s. Every generation has fond memories of the music of their time, and I respect that. But, the 60s and 70s were something "special", for lack of a better term... and I'm glad I was there.
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Post by PhantomWolf on Mar 7, 2019 11:38:52 GMT -5
...I'm at a loss to explain exactly what it was that ignited my imagination... maybe something about the brevity of the stories, the words set to music, the feeling of loss and regret, or joy and elation. The whole package seemed more "real" to me than the mundane issues of day-to-day life. " (I fudged the format typing on a phone. Hahaha) I feel the same. Every great guitar riff paints a portrait in my mind. Devils and angels telling tales in the most ancient, disriptive of languages. Always obsessed with music from a very young age, but never thought I'd play. We were very poor and I developed a very defeatist attitude young. I just thought rich kids got lessons and shiny guitars- and they did. Haha I remember I worked all summer when I was 13-14 to buy school clothes etc and help Mom out. Baling hay sucked, but I also worked nights in an auto body shop which was great. Sanding, grinding, sweeping... A different colour every night I came home. Haha But there was a huge stereo in the shop which was all mine after the guys left. One night listening to a mix CD and smoking a Camel, trying to keep the body-filler dust off my lips as I puffed- a song ended (some noisey song, maybe Nazareth) and in the brief silence between tracks, I was listening to the warm wind blowing through the corn across the lane and then next song started building in volume. It was the intro riff from Rolling Stones' Give Me Shelter. Nothing ever felt sadder or more personal than the way the riff builds from a faint, terrified whisper to angry thunder. Bought my first real guitar near the end of that summer. Never had lessons. I actually had to play my songs differently each time cause my guitar was never in tune. Hahaha A year later I made a friend at my new high school who.played and learned chords, power chords, and yes, how to tune. Haha We started a punk rock band after that and we're actually kind of known in our small corner of the world. Chicks knew us anyway Hahaha. And they played us on the radio station out of Clarion University. I still play. Still no idea what I'm doing. My own sloppy, but very emotional style. Dirty blues with a punk rock sneer. I like to play metal too. Sabbath, Danzig, Clutch, and Tool have all influenced me heavily. I jam with my buddies a few times a month still. Didn't mean to rattle on this long. Haha You all know me though. Chatty Cathy. I have a dozen amps and a couple dozen guitars. Gibson to Hofner. I love Teles and Pauls. Also old solid body Guilds. 70s-80s. My favourite head is my 120w all tube Orange Hustler from the 70s through an Orange cab. Bedside or on the porch I like my Vox AC4 or Fender Princeton. Maybel throw some gear pics up next time I'm at the computer. If anyone really cares. Haha |
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Post by Dramatwist on Mar 7, 2019 11:48:06 GMT -5
Justin,
Good post, man, I enjoyed it. We're of different generations, but it's all kind of the same, isn't it?
It's taken me a lifetime to get comfortable with the fact that I'm never gonna be an Eric Clapton or a Jimmy Page... but I AM a damn good blues player, and I'm fine with that... just the experience of doing it is worth the trip.
Each of us are our own harshest judges... someone should remind us to gives ourselves a break once in a while.
Martin
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Post by PhantomWolf on Mar 7, 2019 12:01:05 GMT -5
Justin, Good post, man, I enjoyed it. We're of different generations, but it's all kind of the same, isn't it? It's taken me a lifetime to get comfortable with the fact that I'm never gonna be an Eric Clapton or a Jimmy Page... but I AM a damn good blues player, and I'm fine with that... just the experience of doing it is worth the trip. Each of us are our own harshest judges... someone should remind us to gives ourselves a break once in a while. Martin The truth, brother. We're all the same generation in a way. At least that's the way the stars see us. If mankind were a book, our stories would all be told on but a page. And I'm so hard on myself that I can't finish a song. Hahaha My buddies hate me for it. |
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Post by Dramatwist on Mar 7, 2019 12:05:23 GMT -5
Justin, Good post, man, I enjoyed it. We're of different generations, but it's all kind of the same, isn't it? It's taken me a lifetime to get comfortable with the fact that I'm never gonna be an Eric Clapton or a Jimmy Page... but I AM a damn good blues player, and I'm fine with that... just the experience of doing it is worth the trip. Each of us are our own harshest judges... someone should remind us to gives ourselves a break once in a while. Martin The truth, brother. We're all the same generation in a way. At least that's the way the stars see us. If mankind were a book, our stories would all be told on but a page. And I'm so hard on myself that I can't finish a song. Hahaha My buddies hate me for it. ...finish the songs, my friend... it'll be worth the effort... |
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Post by Dramatwist on Mar 7, 2019 12:24:06 GMT -5
...to my mind, it doesn't get any better than this...
YMMV.
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Post by PhantomWolf on Mar 7, 2019 12:55:51 GMT -5
...to my mind, it doesn't get any better than this... YMMV. Brilliant I taught myself to play bass by jamming along with this album. |
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Post by PhantomWolf on Mar 7, 2019 12:59:23 GMT -5
Great thread. And Marten's kind words have me feeling inspired. Gonna plug in here shortly!
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Post by Dramatwist on Mar 7, 2019 13:03:41 GMT -5
...to my mind, it doesn't get any better than this... YMMV. Brilliant I taught myself to play bass by jamming along with this album. Justin, My opinion only, but 'the blues" are so visceral and, well real that it's something that gets a bit overlooked sometimes... I love jazz and other types and genres of music, but the blues are just a part of me and indicative of human experience... not just for people of color, but any of us... who among us has not experienced the loss of a love, or being too drunk, or having any kind of loss in our life? The blues is a universal experience for any one of us. Martin |
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Post by PhantomWolf on Mar 7, 2019 13:45:20 GMT -5
Brilliant I taught myself to play bass by jamming along with this album. Justin, My opinion only, but 'the blues" are so visceral and, well real that it's something that gets a bit overlooked sometimes... I love jazz and other types and genres of music, but the blues are just a part of me and indicative of human experience... not just for people of color, but any of us... who among us has not experienced the loss of a love, or being too drunk, or having any kind of loss in our life? The blues is a universal experience for any one of us. Martin Absolutely. Blues will always be my first love. My mother deserves the credit. It started with SRV, Old ZZ Top, and Johnny Winters. When she found me listening to those tapes she gave me more. Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf and all the old greats. TBone! Later I really got into jazz. I actually had the honor of seeing Dizzy Gillespie live at a nearby University when I was 10-11. That kind of thing at that age shakes you to the core. Comparing contemporary radio pop drivel to Cream or Dizzy is like comparing Degas or Sotter to the kitch they decorate a Bennigan's restaurant with. Haha Also, I should add it's just an opinion. Haha People love what they love. Not trying to be a snob. |
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Post by PhantomWolf on Mar 7, 2019 14:15:57 GMT -5
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