I want a critique!!!!!

79Lespaul · #1 January 12th, 2008

I have a few videos on youtube , but I can't get a feedback message that will help me improve! Its either your great by those that know you or something wierd from a listener who probably can't say anyway! Besides missing notes, I think my playing is too jerky and needs a better tone setting. What do ya'll think?
YouTube - Pink Floyd -Money Bob's Basement Tapes 2007 (Track 1)

allthumbs · #2 January 12th, 2008

That is a pretty busy BT to get a good feel for what your doing. Pick a bt where your playing is more out front so it can be heard more clearly.

79Lespaul · #3 January 12th, 2008

I'm not sure I understand . All the guitar you hear IS me! I'm using a Boss CE 5 and a DOD Grunge Fuzz. I thought I was blasting out the BT!!!! Not So????

X4StringDrive · #4 January 13th, 2008

Not so to me anyways...parts you came thru ok but others blended to the point where I had a hard time picking you out. But very nice on what I did make out

this was one of my fav tunes when I played bass btw for whatever thats worth. Lets hear more

Andy S · #5 January 13th, 2008

Ok, First off....I'm having flash backs!!! I had a LP deluxe almost identical to that one!!! My colors, at least to my memory banks, seemed to have more of the light colors going up into the shoulders (up around the switch and the cut-a-way)

Ok, tone? Well, I think you need a bit more , uhm, Body? To me, it seemed the tone was pretty thin. Those pups are capable of putting out a bit more body. Not quite as full as the regular humbuckers, but still more than what it sounded like. Maybe it was just the audio recording on YouTube.?? Don't know? And I'm not familiar with the CE-5, but, if it was me? I'd add a lot more bass and maybe some low mids. And more natural distortion. But that's just me.

As for the mix, I have to agree with both AT and X4Stringdrive. The track has too much going on. What was coming through was good. but if you want to gauge how you're doing, perhaps try some simple Blues or rock track and mix it so your guitar stands out more on the lead parts.

Overall, though, it was good........but, uhm, well, not sure how to say this, but........ well, Lose the hat. Doesn't do anything for you. Really, it's a no no.

knight46 · #6 January 14th, 2008

79LesPaul,
I tried minimizing the video and just listening to the piece. You came out better in the last half of the video, I think due to the bt being a little more subdued. I think that the playing was good, I would like to hear something where the bt is more in the background and I could separate your playing more from the bt.

79Lespaul · #7 January 14th, 2008

Thank-you X4stringDrive, Andy S , Knight 46 for taking the time and trouble to watch the video. I'm new to video, so I really appreciate the feedback. It is vey helpfull. I guess what I was trying to do is not standing out so as to be "in the band", but maybe thats a mistake. I'll never be David Gilmour, but I didn't want to take too many liberties with the song!
I do have some other video("Green Onions" blues jam). Should I post it?
How 'bout a bandanna?

knight46 · #8 January 14th, 2008

Absolutely post it...about the bandanna, hey give it a try.

79Lespaul · #9 January 14th, 2008

OK !!! How about a blues tribute to one of my favorite blues guitarist, the late Roy Buchanan?

YouTube - Roy Buchanan Green Onions Tribute Bob's Basement Tapes 2007

Different hat...maybe the sunglasses will help?!

allthumbs · #10 January 14th, 2008

Good timing, smooth changes.

X4StringDrive · #11 January 14th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by 79Lespaul

.... I guess what I was trying to do is not standing out so as to be "in the band"...

Well that makes a big difference when your asking for a critique, if that was the case you did great, I think we all thought you wanted a critique on "your" playing per-se and not how you fit sound wise with the "band"{bt}

Good job cutting those "onions" as well

Stratrat · #12 January 14th, 2008

I watched both of the videos....can definitely hear the guitar a lot better in the RB one.

I agree with what AT said about your timing and changes. Your playing and phrasing seemed pretty smooth to me in both of them. The thing I found common to both was what Andy mentioned - the tone seemed surprisingly thin and shrill for an LP. You could probably fatten it up and get a better sound by backing off the treble a bit and giving it some more mids and bass, and perhaps rolling the gain back a bit on your stomp. When fuzz gets too trebly it ends up with that "bees in a tin can" sound, IMO.

As far as getting useful feedback on YouTube, that's pretty futile. It seems like most of the comments are from 15-year old metalheads who don't post anything more useful than "haaHAaa do0d u sux get a esp and teh line6 spyder!!!1!!!" or "dood u r teh PWNZ do u have tabz???????".

79Lespaul · #13 January 15th, 2008

Yes , I agree the trebley sound needs to go away! Its coming from a DOD "grunge" box. The les Paul directly out of the VintagModern stack is good, but I,m used to having boost the signal on the little practice amp you see beside "BigBoy". I am having to learn how to play a big amp that will literally thunder! I used to just set the volume and tone on max, but you really hear it now! My next posting was going to be for the old-timers....How do you know when the tone is right for each song? Especially with a big rig like I have! In interested in hearing from the newer players too how they deal with tone settings on their guitars.

eddiez152 · #14 January 15th, 2008

Think you did a nice job on these. I liked Green Onions the best.

Stratrat · #15 January 15th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by 79Lespaul

...My next posting was going to be for the old-timers....How do you know when the tone is right for each song? Especially with a big rig like I have! In interested in hearing from the newer players too how they deal with tone settings on their guitars.

I can't lay claim to being an 'old-timer' - but when I'm learning a song (if it's a cover), I try to get somewhere close to the tone of the original artist....not to cop their tone exactly, but get somewhere close that sounds pleasing to me. If I'm noodling or trying to write an original, I go for whatever tone suits the mood I'm trying to convey in the music.

As far as tone settings on the guitar, my "default" is usually having it rolled off just a tad from max (keep in mind that I'm playing mostly Telecasters, so YMMV with other guitars.) Don't forget that the volume control has an effect on your sound too...if you set up so that you have a decently 'clean' sound with your guitar's volume knob set around halfway up, you can control the amount of crunch/distortion (at least to some degree) by turning your guitar's volume up/down....up for more crunch, down for less.