What is it about our Recordings that Repel Guitarists?

[Unrepresented]

My band has been searching for a guitarist for the last couple months now, and while we've had a few bites, we haven't been experiencing the massive wave of guitarists beating down our door that we'd expected.

The recordings we have posted are pretty much the only thing we've been using to have guitarists judge us by, as much of our search has been online.

So, logically, there's a pretty good chance guitarists (by and large) aren't interested in playing with us because of something in our recordings. This is my request of you, dear objective ears of TB, what do these recordings tell you? What are we missing? What makes these recordings such effective guitarist repellent? What are they hearing that we aren't?

http://www.breakhousemusic.com/music.html

[bigfatbass]

Just listening to the first few tracks, damn that's a good sounding gig. I think it might be a bit intimidating, a lot of material to learn. Be patient, the band is killer. The right player will appear when you least expect it.

And a quick note, in the genre sometimes you have to treat it like a pop tune, be aware of the pacing/length of some of the breakdowns. Not everything can be an album track, and any bridge sections have to advance the tension.

Again, killer band! Good luck with the search

[Unrepresented]

Originally Posted by bigfatbass

Just listening to the first few tracks, damn that's a good sounding gig. I think it might be a bit intimidating, a lot of material to learn. Be patient, the band is killer. The right player will appear when you least expect it.

And a quick note, in the genre sometimes you have to treat it like a pop tune, be aware of the pacing/length of some of the breakdowns. Not everything can be an album track, and any bridge sections have to advance the tension.

Again, killer band! Good luck with the search

Thanks for the kind words.

As for the length of the songs this album helped us realize that our material could use some editing, and the stuff we recorded most recently (which still hasn't finished being mixed, and consequently hasn't been posted) was all intentionally four minutes and under.

[Unrepresented]

Apparently our recordings have the same effect on Talkbassers as they do on potential guitarists: lots of views, limited responses.

[OmnitzGarima]

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

Apparently our recordings have the same effect on Talkbassers as they do on potential guitarists: lots of views, limited responses.

I haven't listened to everything on the site, but I don't think I'm going to have an answer for you, anyway. It's not my style of music, but that's beside the point. It's not bad. The band sounds tight, I can't imagine why nobody is interested. Especially since there seem to be so many guitarists out there. Hooking up with a good band doesn't appeal to anyone?

Good luck.

[makkE]

Hey,nice stuff! Tight band, good grove, love the bass sound.

Maybe what repells some guitarrist is, the mix is quite bass heavy, and the guitar is quite humble sometimes in what it plays - it's not so much up front as some guitarrists might like it... I actually like this If I played guitar, I'd be intrested for sure.

Just be patience, I am sure the right player will come along.. good luck!

[lunarpollen]

The recordings are very well done, the only thing I can imagine is that there just aren't many guitarists in your area interested in doing that specific sort of music. I can say it wouldn't be my cup of tea to participate in, but that's just a matter of personal taste. And even though, as a guitarist, I wouldn't really be interested in playing that sort of music, I'd probably enjoy seeing you guys live.

[kuys]

Jesus, what area are you in? I play some guitar, don't melt faces but based on what your old guitarist did, this is definately my "thing" in terms of sound and influences. Man you guys are awesome.

[bass.monger]

you sounded very good, hah, if only i could play bass like that. i dont know why no ones responded. maybe you could do some advertising in your local area, like go into a local music store and put up an ad, lots of ppl do it in my area

[smeet]

Originally Posted by makkE

Hey,nice stuff! Tight band, good grove, love the bass sound.

Maybe what repells some guitarrist is, the mix is quite bass heavy, and the guitar is quite humble sometimes in what it plays - it's not so much up front as some guitarrists might like it... I actually like this If I played guitar, I'd be intrested for sure.

Just be patience, I am sure the right player will come along.. good luck!

+1
It sounds very bass-dominated, even on my laptop speakers the bass is stronger than the guitar. It's an unusual mix that sounds good, but may not appeal to guitarists, who typically do not get into music to be supportive and in the background. Truthfully, the frequency mix is quite full and doesn't sound like there is much room for guitar.

If that is not the intention, then you can state in your materials that the guitar will be a more authoritative voice when you find the right player. That might help.

[Unrepresented]

Originally Posted by OmnitzGarima

I haven't listened to everything on the site, but I don't think I'm going to have an answer for you, anyway. It's not my style of music, but that's beside the point. It's not bad. The band sounds tight, I can't imagine why nobody is interested. Especially since there seem to be so many guitarists out there. Hooking up with a good band doesn't appeal to anyone?

Good luck.

So, I've got one vote for genre differences, which admittedly is seeming to be a strong one, considering the majority of bands out here either want to do dance-y indie pop, punk, death metal, or Sublime inspired acts.

It's just hard to accept that in a city of over a million people we're getting such a cold response from our postings, contacts, and lame attempts at networking.

Originally Posted by makkE

Hey,nice stuff! Tight band, good grove, love the bass sound.

Maybe what repells some guitarrist is, the mix is quite bass heavy, and the guitar is quite humble sometimes in what it plays - it's not so much up front as some guitarrists might like it... I actually like this If I played guitar, I'd be intrested for sure.

Just be patience, I am sure the right player will come along.. good luck!

One vote for guitar not being featured enough, which is fair, I admit the bass made its way up front in the mixing (which I'm not complaining about), but apparently may be unappealing to guitarists used to being the instrument in rock music.

Originally Posted by lunarpollen

The recordings are very well done, the only thing I can imagine is that there just aren't many guitarists in your area interested in doing that specific sort of music. I can say it wouldn't be my cup of tea to participate in, but that's just a matter of personal taste. And even though, as a guitarist, I wouldn't really be interested in playing that sort of music, I'd probably enjoy seeing you guys live.

Another vote for genre issues, which I appreciate. I'd rather hear an honest "it's not bad, it just doesn't appeal to my tastes" than not know what's driving someone away...

Originally Posted by kuys

Jesus, what area are you in? I play some guitar, don't melt faces but based on what your old guitarist did, this is definately my "thing" in terms of sound and influences. Man you guys are awesome.

Thanks man. We're in San Diego. Auditions are Sunday and Wednesday nights if you can make the drive.

Originally Posted by bass.monger

you sounded very good, hah, if only i could play bass like that. i dont know why no ones responded. maybe you could do some advertising in your local area, like go into a local music store and put up an ad, lots of ppl do it in my area

We've put up a few ads, and done a decent amount of headhunting both in person at shows and on craigslist, backpage, and bandmix online.

Originally Posted by smeet

+1
It sounds very bass-dominated, even on my laptop speakers the bass is stronger than the guitar. It's an unusual mix that sounds good, but may not appeal to guitarists, who typically do not get into music to be supportive and in the background. Truthfully, the frequency mix is quite full and doesn't sound like there is much room for guitar.

If that is not the intention, then you can state in your materials that the guitar will be a more authoritative voice when you find the right player. That might help.

Definitely true for the opening track, although I think the balance improves on the remainder of the recordings -- but you're right. That's the first thing people hear is heavy bass and drums and diminished levels of guitar.

Would love to hear more feedback even if it's more of "recording and performance sound competent but it's not my musical direction."

[john turner]

the bass is not only busy but tonally very present in the range where guitarists normally like to reside. don't get me wrong, imo this is a great thing, i like your tunes a lot, but this is probably the biggest guitarist-repellent about the music.

this is a good thing - you're wanting a guitarist to come into a situation where you are a major element of the sound. most tweedle-tweedlers can't deal with that. you guys are quirky and eclectic in your sound - you're probably gonna have to look a while for someone to fit in.

[john turner]

as an addendum, have you thought about adding another aggressive bassist instead? i've listened to a lot of the tunes and i think a dual-bass approach with you guys would be doable and supremely cool.

[OmnitzGarima]

Originally Posted by john turner

as an addendum, have you thought about adding another aggressive bassist instead?

Interesting idea, might work.

[poorbassist15]

I like it. What bass are you using, the tone on the first track is to die for.

[Unrepresented]

Originally Posted by john turner

the bass is not only busy but tonally very present in the range where guitarists normally like to reside. don't get me wrong, imo this is a great thing, i like your tunes a lot, but this is probably the biggest guitarist-repellent about the music.

this is a good thing - you're wanting a guitarist to come into a situation where you are a major element of the sound. most tweedle-tweedlers can't deal with that. you guys are quirky and eclectic in your sound - you're probably gonna have to look a while for someone to fit in.

It's funny, because I'm usually the first to badmouth guitarists on their treading on my sonic space by having way too much low end in their tone, but it can obviously go both ways.

Originally Posted by john turner

as an addendum, have you thought about adding another aggressive bassist instead? i've listened to a lot of the tunes and i think a dual-bass approach with you guys would be doable and supremely cool.

Originally Posted by OmnitzGarima

Interesting idea, might work.

I'd actually thought about this myself, especially as there's a local original instrumental hard rock band with two guitarists and two drummers. I have a feeling though that my band mates would probably nix the idea considering how weird they've come to consider bassists after working with me.

Originally Posted by poorbassist15

I like it. What bass are you using, the tone on the first track is to die for.

Thanks.

I'm using my Warwick Corvette $$ on that track, but besides my Ampeg rig it's also running through an Electro Harmonix POG pedal to generate the additional octaves during the verses. I think the only time I'm actually running the bass dry into the amp on that song is during the bridge.

[N.F.A.]

Wow, I can't imagine someone not wanting to be in your band. That first song was smoking!

[noahw1]

Cool stuff.
I favor the idea of adding another bass player or just go bass and drums and forget finding another guitar player. Sounds like you carry the band pretty well as it is. You could also go out and play some shows as a trio and maybe a guitar player will see you and be interested in joining.
I also agree that the guitar parts (of the songs I listened to) weren't that prominent and as we all know guitar players tend to like to be the main focus of things. The git in the tunes you posted is very complimentary to the music (sort of reminds me of Larry Lalonde)
Nomeansno plays sans guitar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-obD5hMohM