Guitar Nerds Anonymous

Nice one dude. I do like a 70s style strat

Cheers, I'm a convert to the 70's look. Has a really good tone and feel to it that I'm already loving.

So here's the first thing to emerge from the new home studio set up. I say "home" but a lot of it was mixed on a train. Like in a Johnny cash song. But with more laptop and coffee than hobo and boxcar. Anyway. It contains some guitar hence...

https://elvers.bandcamp.com/track/mosquito

Sometimes, this thread makes me wish I could play guitar.

Is this one of those times?

Yes. It comes and goes, though. :) I think it's part of the wider interest in learning some kind of instrument. I'm not sure I'll have the time and the commitment anytime soon, but you never know.

Oddly enough, even though I'm the most unmetrical person, I think my favourite would actually be drums, but maybe that's only because I've played air drums for years, and I think you probably play the 'air' instrument of your choice because it's precisely what you wouldn't be very good at. calling all air guitarists :) Then again, it would be nice to learn to keep time.

This thread makes me glad I have a day job.

@Apone thats a great tune.

Sounds great man - your production style is becoming really distinctive, great oldschool thickness to the vocals too. Nicely done.

You can pick up electric drum sets for pennies on ebay/gumtree, and they sound great. Drums are a fantastic instrument and if you're mostly interested in meter and tempo and rhythm it's definitely first on the list.

Incidentally, I noticed that there's more than enough tracks for an album on your Elvers bandcamp - you thought about putting them all on a record? I find that no-one buys my single tracks but if I make a big thing abotu launching an album they tend to pick it up.

Not a bad idea. I've got two more proper studio tracks in the chamber and two completed videos so i'm de going to make a fuss about them in the next few weeks. Perhaps an album is the thing. Be nice to underline this period of tuneage and move onto the next thing too.

I really wish I know more about how to effectively flog/market this stuff. I got so sick of online self-promotion that I really can't bring myself to do it but i'm painfully aware that if I only do the bare minimum all my hard work will sink without a trace. Ultimately i'd like a few people to listen to them!

I have few friends who do music PR/Promo for a living but I don't want to take advantage or have them think i'm begging favours. I really should ask them for a few suggestions tho.

PS, I tweaked the mix as the "old school fatness" you referred to in the vocal turned out to be an unpleasant 200hz honk on my big speakers. Difficult get warmth into this vocal without it sounding boomy or harsh. Might let someone else have at it for an afternoon.

I had severe (probably painkiller related) insomnia last night. Gave up trying to sleep at 2am and lay on the sofa watching Reverb videos till 5am. This one made me smile.
Oh FFS link keeps reverting some other shit. It's the Fuzz one.

https://youtu.be/zeNLpGXzloc?list=PL6gRE6x7kQfp4Xbxy0auLHEAf49Nl6hmo

NOpe that one either. Fuck off youtube you cunts

@Apone No harm in asking for some tips on how they would go about PR/Promo. I bet they would be more than happy to help.

In other news, my blackstar fly amp is awesome. For such a small box the sound, to my ear is great and loud to boot. Plus the delay is a huge bonus. Would recommed.

Ps:
1) Agreed youtube are cunts!
2) hope you managed to get some sleep!!

@Apone digging your track - really nice sound! Have you heard the John Langan Band? Was listening to them the other day...probably up your street.

On the PR/promo front have you considered contacting any independent labels with a finished album? In my last band we self recorded and mixed an album and sent it to few labels, one liked it so pressed a small vinyl run and did a digital release (ITunes/spotify etc). The label has good distribution so you can get it in Rough Trade here and some shops in the USA, Canada, Europe etc. We ended up getting played on 6music and getting reviewed on some decent websites / print mags.

Just being associated with a small but well respected label meant a lot more people listened / took it seriously / reviewed it. Sadly the band split shortly after the release so we didn't really capitalise on it but compared to most of self promoted stuff I've done before, this one felt like it had more potential!

My old mate Gerry might help you out if you ask him nicely, he runs a small PR company called Mule Freedom... Mainly works with country, folk and punk stuff... Check his FB, he might point you in the right direction...

He was/is a regular at the Come Down and Meet the Folks shindigs... Lovely fella...

Huh. Thanks for the ideas dudes.

@bt Thanks man. Haven't heard of John Langan... Listening. Dig it so far!

Came across them at a tiny festival in Scotland years ago...best band there by a long way!

They play down south often enough, would recommend seeing them live if you can

This has gone a bit off topic but i'm now excited about pulling together an album. Trying to get un-mastered mixes of everything i've done and look for someone to laster it as a coherent thing. Anyone recommend somewhere?

Will PM you.

Yo!

So I've heeded some good advice here and embarked on project: ALBUM.

Quick tech nerd question then i'll go back to guitar chat thank you please.

The pre-master WAV files I've bounced without bus limiting ready for mastering are in a variety of sample rates. I need to re-do them all to be consistent with the mastering project i'm using to rough-out track sequence and levels. Is there any reason to master at 48kHZ. I believe that spotify and itunes converts needs uploads to be 44.1kHZ and 16 bit anyway so should I just make sure everything is exported in that format anyway?

In other news. I'm flat fucking broke, my missus has given up work, the roof is leaking and I may have to sell some shit soon. Standby for bikes and guitars on the classifieds.

I would prepare them in the native res/bit depth of the DAW recordings (for me that's 48k/24bit). If you're getting them professionally mastered then they'll sort out the various formats anyway.