Dueling post offices. May it all lead to deliverance, eventually. There's a song in there, somewhere
No telling where my stuff is. Düsseldorf probably, via Changi.
Is there a pickup option?
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I'm buying a banjo
- Thread starter JimmyM
- Start date
Dueling post offices. May it all lead to deliverance, eventually. There's a song in there, somewhere
No telling where my stuff is. Düsseldorf probably, via Changi.
Is there a pickup option?
I'm too tired to even fight it, bro. My workday starts at 7.Dueling post offices. May it all lead to deliverance, eventually. There's a song in there, somewhere
No telling where my stuff is. Düsseldorf probably, via Changi.
Is there a pickup option?
Just tell yourself that it's an acoustic instrument; it already has a sound without a pickup, so just be patient.
That did not help me at all years ago when I ran into snags electrifying a cheapo pawnshop acoustic archtop.
But at least it's unhelpful and annoying.
Seriously, I'm kind of excited to read about your banjo tone experiments when the pickup shows up.
That did not help me at all years ago when I ran into snags electrifying a cheapo pawnshop acoustic archtop.
But at least it's unhelpful and annoying.
Seriously, I'm kind of excited to read about your banjo tone experiments when the pickup shows up.
Glad to hear you are enjoying it so much. After a decade of thumping backup, I was astounded at how quickly I felt like I was "making music"! I think my first song was "When the Saints Come Marching In." Sure, I really sucked, but it was an actual tune that someone else could recognize! Now, 2 years later, I've learned a couple of techniques and a couple of different tunings, and a whole bunch more songs - and I suck a little less. I think of myself as 2 years into a 10-year plan! Plenty of ways to go, but enjoying the trip.
I do note the same, tho - that at times I find it easier to just pick up the banjo, instead of working on the bass... A good sort of challenge to have, trying to spread your time between 2 things I love!
Funny thing about banjo...
I have my own custom "guitar" program on my synth keyboard, and I use it for tight, funky riffs. To make it sound tighter and more like pick on strings, I combine it with a "banjo" patch from one of my synth modules.
I have my own custom "guitar" program on my synth keyboard, and I use it for tight, funky riffs. To make it sound tighter and more like pick on strings, I combine it with a "banjo" patch from one of my synth modules.
Oh man, I love playing different instruments. I would play more if I had an unlimited budget, more talent on other instruments, and a wife who'd let me set up another drum set.
That's cute, bro.
Meanwhile, this finally showed up:
It's nothing to install. Just slides on one side or the other. Didn't like it at first till I found a sweet spot on the bridge where it sounds like a banjo. Now I just have to install it to where it won't come loose when I play. They included 2 zipties. They should have included 10 for people like me.
But seriously, FF, I am totally down with the synths and stuff. I was just have a little fun with you.
Looks like a tenor from here. Would be nice to have an old school tenor set up to sound like the 20's. Or even earlier. I might balk at the ones made of gourds but I guess sitars are made out of gourds and they do OK.
Anyway, I've been jamming with the pickup, my bass pedals, and a set of headphones. Was not having much luck with anything. The envelope on the Digitech Bass Synth Wah was interesting and might go somewhere with the right setting, but every other pedal but light reverb made it sound more like a guitar, even chorus. And forget about distortion with it...just pick up a guitar.
But then I tried my Mooer Tender Octaver V1, which is a micro EHX Micro Pog clone without stereo outs. Hmmm...potential, but the octave up was too loud. Backed down on it...better. Backed down on it a little more to where you couldn't hear the octave but you knew some harmonic twangy stuff was going on. Honestly, I thought it was great. The Micro Pog/TO octave up is super twangy. But it has to be set right. Too little and it's useless, too much and it's obvious. Worked with mild dirt, though. Didn't sound quite as guitar-like.
Got plenty more experimenting to do, but I think I may be onto the secret weapon with the TO. And of course...
The Devo energy dome brings lots of good will and karma to everyone.
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Man, I'd love to hear octave-vs-no octave sound clips if you ever get around to it. That sounds interesting. When set up so it sounds good to you as you described...Is it at all like a dual-course string instrument then, like a mandolin or something, but with banjo attack/decay, or more subtle than that?
More subtle than that. Like some folks may not even be able to tell it's on. I will throw down a track as soon as I can get my office a little more ready for recording.
Is there any way to capture the rattle of the head? I like that kind of shimmering sound loose drum heads can make occasionally in recordings, although I guess that is usually a (large) bass drum head making that sound. Still, all those little nuances can make a recording.
Seeming like the processed tones you're considering would be less applicable for a overall tone, but potentially highly desirable as the "cherry on top" or gimmick sound on a given recording.
Also curious to hear some samples when you get there.
Ya, I'd say that's about right. The current plan is to mic for cleans and pickup for dirt. But now that I found this little trick, it may change things. Or it may not and I could hate it by the end of the day
Welp, that's kind of what happened. I didn't hate it by the end of the day, but it didn't turn out to be the revelation I was hoping for. Does give it a little extra twang, but it still sounds like a guitar once you get past a very mild grind. So back to plan A. Geez, why do I have to have so many creative ideas that turn out to have complex solutions?Ya, I'd say that's about right. The current plan is to mic for cleans and pickup for dirt. But now that I found this little trick, it may change things. Or it may not and I could hate it by the end of the day
Welp, that's kind of what happened. I didn't hate it by the end of the day, but it didn't turn out to be the revelation I was hoping for. Does give it a little extra twang, but it still sounds like a guitar once you get past a very mild grind. So back to plan A. Geez, why do I have to have so many creative ideas that turn out to have complex solutions?
The answer, as always, is to throw money at it.
This $3,000 Neumann U 87 will probably capture some interesting detail
I read Oasis saying that on what turned out to be their final album, drummer Zack Starkey doubled the snare parts for one song on a big box of cornflakes, and they mixed it in to add extra rasp. Fun when that sort of stuff pays off! But even Edison had a lotta duds. And even pro horseplayers lose a good 6 or 7 of every ten bets.
Well I haven't been throwing money at it, but I've been throwing quite a bit of practice into it and I'm hoping that makes up for it. If only I could keep these stupid fingerpicks on and not feel uncomfortable...
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