Sparquelito

I must say that I am smitten with the DigiTech Mosaic guitar pedal. It's designed to emulate the sound of a 12 string guitar. And it does that, brilliantly. But I have noticed that it also adds an ambience of a church organ in the background of whatever you are playing. My band and I played a gig in mid-December, and I stepped on it for Bob Dylan's Knockin' On Heaven's Door. The sound was deep, wide, and amazing! I love this pedal. 🙂

Such a brilliant song! Wonderfully-produced, and lush. That Fender Rhodes keyboard and guitars blend beautifully. The drumming really grabbed me, with headphones on, especially after not hearing the song for decades. Clem Cattini's high hat and timekeeping are tight and precise. So good. 🙂

I don't actually know what that means. I really just attached that screen capture of vocal sheet music to add some pizzazz to my posting. It's all Greek to me.

I can't find a singing forum anywhere on the MPN home page, so I'll post this here and see what happens. Last year I visited a local barbershop quartet singing club, at the invitation of an old friend and musical collaborator. It was a fun group of old guys and ladies, and they were very much passionate about singing and performing out and about the town, for special events and parties. I enjoyed the practices, and I fell right in with the tenors, singing those parts quite naturally and instinctively. The problem was, the director of the club insisted, understandably, that everyone read the sheet music, and sing their parts precisely as written. No improvisation, and no making it up as you go. My shortcoming was that I cannot read sheet music. I'm a good singer, and I'm really good at falling in and providing beautiful harmonies behind the lead singer (on the songs where someone else in our bands and combos is carrying the lead vocal). But it's all instinct. It's in my DNA. It's not taught at school. My brother and I took up musicianship at an early age, and we were self-taught guitar players, bass player, drummers, and keyboard players. We both have a knack for picking up a guitar or sitting down at the piano and sussing out the key, chords, and complete songs in very short order. Never took one note of music lessons or proper band instruction. We were in a garage band in high school, and we each have performed live in various bar band situations our whole adult life. So now I get another invitation via email this morning to join an all-new singing club. One based on barbershop, but apparently involving singing other styles of songs as well. They may or may not need for me to learn sheet music. I don't know yet. The question for all of you is this; If you came to learn sheet music later in life (and not in high school or college) what is your experience in that endeavor? How did it work out, and did you succeed? I'm 64 right now, and though I have studied it, and I understand full well what the black dots and squiggles on the white page mean, I can't just glance down at the pages and sing those notes. It takes several seconds for my brain to process that that there is B flat, and so that must be C sharp right over here. And by then, the song is several bars along, leaving me behind. So. If you learned it later in life, how did you do? What can you share? Thanks in advance!! 🤔

Hurricane Hugo, That's the Martyr War Of Wrath Custom guitar by Arda. Pickups are listed on the Italian company's website as "Mama Custom" humbuckers. I went to the Mama pickup website, and they don't list them as regularly offered for sale, but the do show them briefly in a streaming slideshow of images, without a name or description. (Lower right of the home page, link below) https://www.mamapickups.com/en/ I guess you could call the company and ask about them. Via Marecchiese 1350 47822 Sant'Ermete (RN) - ITALY mobile 334 36 08 171 info@mamapickups.com

And to the point of great marketing, and colours, I really don't think the thing would sell as well in basic black. 🤔

That looks like a great multi-effects pedal, and with the expression pedal, it's just of $250. Not bad!! 😀 PS I'm not ashamed to admit that all the festive colours on that box really appeal to me.

In my case, it really would be inappropriate to call it a studio. There is recording equipment in here, yes. An old Tascam Neo 2488 for multi-track, and a Zoom H2N for recording practices and one-take band songs. But it really is more of a music room. Place to practice, and to hold all the instruments (drums, guitars, amps, bass, uke, mics, mic stands, etc). And the guitar work bench is in here. 🙂

I agree 100%. I think a lot of those "walls of amps" at large outdoor venues are actually facades. Watched one rig rundown with John Bollinger, and I can't recall the guitar player he was interviewing, but the guy played these huge venues with a fake wall of amplifiers. His actual rig was a small amp backstage inside an isolation box, with an old Shure 57 in there, cabled to the PA head. This was to control feedback and stage noise. Had a primary and a backup of those. Wish I could remember who that was. Heck, I wish I could remember where my car keys are. 🥲

I have been all over the map on this topic over the years. A good multi-effects unit can do it all, and (this might sound like heresy) it can cause you to just leave the guitar amplifiers at home, and channel the fx processor straight into the PA mixer. I have done this on a few gigs, and it sure saves wear and tear on your back! The audience doesn't know the difference, and there is an easier set-up and tear-down, not having to deal with amps, Shure 57's, and all the possible feedback that might occur. But the allure of pedals. It's undeniably powerful. There are always new ones. Sparkly, attractive new pedals. And so we go down that road, again and again. 🫠

Hi, hello, hooray, I couldn't find a "welcome thread" of any sort, so I'm popping in to say hi, and to introduce myself to the MPN Guitar forum. Lifetime guitar player, writer, band member/leader, and all around guitar junkie. I play also bass guitar, keys, drums, and even the ukulele. I sing pretty good too. The day job got in the way of me pursuing full-time musical employment, but I have been blessed to have been in some great combos and live music gigs in my lifetime, most recently and frequently in the past 11 years. Full on retired from the rat-race now, and dividing time between spousal-directed house projects, making music, giving lessons, improving the music room and recording gear, and thinning down my collection of instruments. Glad to be aboard, and looking forward to meeting everyone in the boards.