I guess its been too long for this blog to be up without putting up some actual acoustic blues.
Without further adieu......
This is based on the Gerry Hundt vids I linked to in my previous post.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Saturday Mornin Blues
This morning, I was getting things ready to do a recording of my wife an her sister. To check out the software and mics, I knocked this short little song out. I guess I oughtta make it a full song instead of a couple verses.
I guess its been too long for this blog to be up without putting up some actual acoustic blues.
Without further adieu......
This is based on the Gerry Hundt vids I linked to in my previous post.
I guess its been too long for this blog to be up without putting up some actual acoustic blues.
Without further adieu......
This is based on the Gerry Hundt vids I linked to in my previous post.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Chicago Blues Mandolin
Found some great stuff in Youtube by Gerry Hundt. Good stuff. Give it a try, you'll enjoy it.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Ipad Blues Mandolin Jamming!
This Christmas, the wife and I bought ourselves an Ipad. Its our first, so there has been a learning curve with it. Those who have one and moved from a PC to the Apple product understand what I mean!
When I bought the Ipad, I decided to buy a few Ipad/Iphone magazines and see what I could learn. One particular publication had a short 1 page article on guitar apps and accessories for the guitarist. I quickly grabbed that one and read the article through and it tipped me to the idea of using my Ipad to expand the possibilities with my emando. The app
If you plan to do the same, the first thing you have to get is an Ipad/Iphone guitar/emando plug interface. There are a bunch on the market and all seem to get good and bad reviews. None seem to be terrible though. All appear to come with their own App to interface with, but all seem to also interface with GarageBand, the Ipad/Iphone app included with your Ipad when you buy it.
For my guitar plug interface, I went with the 'Jam Up' plug from Positive Grid. This unit is simple and inexpensive but seems to work well. I do wish that the unit was a little more sturdy as the molded plastic case is not the strongest item I've ever attached a guitar/emando cord to.
Plugging up the Jam Up Plug was easy, as it fits into the headphone port in the Ipad. From there, you simply plug in your guitar/emando cord and your headphones.
When I first hooked up everything, I went to GarageBand. I selected one of the amps and began playing. It really was a lot of fun. The variety of digitally mimic'ed amplifiers is pretty impressive, and while I'm not by any means an amp expert, the 'copies' seem right on. GarageBand also comes with an impressive array of effects pedals to play with. To add one, you simply click on the empty spot in the pedal board and the available pedals appear. Click on one and your ready. For the bluesy rock type stuff I play on my emando, I used the 'blues crunch' amp with a delay pedal and a vintage crunch pedal. It had great sound and fit well with my playing.
GarageBand is also capable of creating percussion, bass and other portions of music as tracks and looping them. It can also record your playing. Needless to say, it has a lot more capabilities than I'll figure out, or could write up here.
After playing with GarageBand, I added the 'Jam Up' app to my Ipad. Installation was quick and it is free (there is a pay version). This app is much like GarageBand, but decidedly guitar oriented, and much more limited in its selection of amps and effects.
However, what 'Jam Up' seems to do well that I could not get GarageBand to do well is pull in any MP3 track and allow you to Jam over the top of that music. I play over 'backing tracks' all the time with Youtube playing over my computer speakers in my music/computer room, but that does not remotely compare to the sound you can create by setting the Jam Up app correctly. Getting the balance correct is quick and easy, and allows the electric mandolin to come through easily and seamlessly on the track. It sounds good!
Hopefully, over the winter, I'll learn a lot more about using both apps in my Ipad, and maybe even record some music with both. I'll post it here if I'm daring enough....
If you've thought about trying this, I highly suggest it. Jamming with your Ipad gives you an opportunity to play without disturbing your family or housemates. It gives you the opportunity to have a better 'backing track' experience. I think it also allows you to test drive amps you've never played before to see what you like and don't like.
When I bought the Ipad, I decided to buy a few Ipad/Iphone magazines and see what I could learn. One particular publication had a short 1 page article on guitar apps and accessories for the guitarist. I quickly grabbed that one and read the article through and it tipped me to the idea of using my Ipad to expand the possibilities with my emando. The app
If you plan to do the same, the first thing you have to get is an Ipad/Iphone guitar/emando plug interface. There are a bunch on the market and all seem to get good and bad reviews. None seem to be terrible though. All appear to come with their own App to interface with, but all seem to also interface with GarageBand, the Ipad/Iphone app included with your Ipad when you buy it.
For my guitar plug interface, I went with the 'Jam Up' plug from Positive Grid. This unit is simple and inexpensive but seems to work well. I do wish that the unit was a little more sturdy as the molded plastic case is not the strongest item I've ever attached a guitar/emando cord to.
Plugging up the Jam Up Plug was easy, as it fits into the headphone port in the Ipad. From there, you simply plug in your guitar/emando cord and your headphones.
When I first hooked up everything, I went to GarageBand. I selected one of the amps and began playing. It really was a lot of fun. The variety of digitally mimic'ed amplifiers is pretty impressive, and while I'm not by any means an amp expert, the 'copies' seem right on. GarageBand also comes with an impressive array of effects pedals to play with. To add one, you simply click on the empty spot in the pedal board and the available pedals appear. Click on one and your ready. For the bluesy rock type stuff I play on my emando, I used the 'blues crunch' amp with a delay pedal and a vintage crunch pedal. It had great sound and fit well with my playing.
GarageBand is also capable of creating percussion, bass and other portions of music as tracks and looping them. It can also record your playing. Needless to say, it has a lot more capabilities than I'll figure out, or could write up here.
After playing with GarageBand, I added the 'Jam Up' app to my Ipad. Installation was quick and it is free (there is a pay version). This app is much like GarageBand, but decidedly guitar oriented, and much more limited in its selection of amps and effects.
However, what 'Jam Up' seems to do well that I could not get GarageBand to do well is pull in any MP3 track and allow you to Jam over the top of that music. I play over 'backing tracks' all the time with Youtube playing over my computer speakers in my music/computer room, but that does not remotely compare to the sound you can create by setting the Jam Up app correctly. Getting the balance correct is quick and easy, and allows the electric mandolin to come through easily and seamlessly on the track. It sounds good!
Hopefully, over the winter, I'll learn a lot more about using both apps in my Ipad, and maybe even record some music with both. I'll post it here if I'm daring enough....
If you've thought about trying this, I highly suggest it. Jamming with your Ipad gives you an opportunity to play without disturbing your family or housemates. It gives you the opportunity to have a better 'backing track' experience. I think it also allows you to test drive amps you've never played before to see what you like and don't like.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Another Stella Amp!
Well, my wife liked my little Stella Cigar Box Amp so much that she suggested I make one up for my brother-in-law for his birthday. He plays electric guitar and electric uke pretty regularly. He also has a habit of playing in his truck between jobs.
For this one, I found a slightly larger box. That gave me an opportunity to make a slightly nicer arrangement inside the box for the components. Everything fit much more nicely inside his than my first one. I also improved the positioning of the knobs and jack. Finally, I used crushed velvet for the background behind the speaker grill.
After getting everything shaped as I wanted it, I sprayed the enclosure with several coats of nitrocellulose lacquer for longevity and shine.
The little amp sounds great. Slightly different tone than mine, likely due to the very different style box.
Most importantly, my bro-in-law likes it :)
For this one, I found a slightly larger box. That gave me an opportunity to make a slightly nicer arrangement inside the box for the components. Everything fit much more nicely inside his than my first one. I also improved the positioning of the knobs and jack. Finally, I used crushed velvet for the background behind the speaker grill.
After getting everything shaped as I wanted it, I sprayed the enclosure with several coats of nitrocellulose lacquer for longevity and shine.
The little amp sounds great. Slightly different tone than mine, likely due to the very different style box.
Most importantly, my bro-in-law likes it :)
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Guitarra Baiana!
If you want to see some wonderful electric mandolin playing, then go to Youtube and type in Guitarra Baiana. The Guitara Baiana is a 4 or 5 string instrument almost exactly the same as a 4 string electric mandolin.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Stella Amp Completed and Rockin!
I finished the little Stella Cigar Box amp on Sunday afternoon and have been rockin' it ever since.
The little amp really is fun. Big tone from such a simple and small package. Thats exactly what I was going for. I'm still getting used to the controls, as they are a bit different than most amps I've worked with. The results are similar, they just behave a little differently.
Mostly, I've been playing it with the volume and trim all the way up, and with the gain up until it starts to feed on itself and buzz out. Back it off just one hair under that level and its got a great gritty tone.
A couple other interesting details about it - It responds differently to the Moongazer MG4 humbucker that I have installed in my BluesBird. Different than my VOX and different than my Crate. The amp also is more responsive to different attacks of the string with the pick. More responsive than both my other amps.
The other fun element to this amp is the way it reacts to a harp microphone. I play harp through an Astatic 335, and with this amp, the tone is really good. Great for jamming in the garage.
I'm extremely pleased with the little thing!
The little amp really is fun. Big tone from such a simple and small package. Thats exactly what I was going for. I'm still getting used to the controls, as they are a bit different than most amps I've worked with. The results are similar, they just behave a little differently.
Mostly, I've been playing it with the volume and trim all the way up, and with the gain up until it starts to feed on itself and buzz out. Back it off just one hair under that level and its got a great gritty tone.
A couple other interesting details about it - It responds differently to the Moongazer MG4 humbucker that I have installed in my BluesBird. Different than my VOX and different than my Crate. The amp also is more responsive to different attacks of the string with the pick. More responsive than both my other amps.
The other fun element to this amp is the way it reacts to a harp microphone. I play harp through an Astatic 335, and with this amp, the tone is really good. Great for jamming in the garage.
I'm extremely pleased with the little thing!
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Stella Amp Quick Progress
This morning I went to work on the Stella as the little ones took a nap. I followed the 'Build It' link on the Stella amp website and made quick work of the board. This was my first time soldering this much on a circuit board of this type.
I had no issues and everything was/is exactly as described. I used a soldering pen just right for the job and was able to solder up every connection without an issue.
I've left the pots loose for the moment so that I can plan out how the circuit board will mount in the amp housing (cigar box!).
You can see a set of dice in the box that I plan to use for the knobs on the box. Should be quite cool looking. Now I need to find out where and how large to drill them to make them into knobs.
I had no issues and everything was/is exactly as described. I used a soldering pen just right for the job and was able to solder up every connection without an issue.
I've left the pots loose for the moment so that I can plan out how the circuit board will mount in the amp housing (cigar box!).
You can see a set of dice in the box that I plan to use for the knobs on the box. Should be quite cool looking. Now I need to find out where and how large to drill them to make them into knobs.
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