All Instruments All The Time

[Matthew]

Who loves musical instruments???

Tell us about your musical instrument or accessory you have, had, or really want?

Musicians are plagued with a condition called Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS). There is something compelling about the instrument or accessory you don't have.

Right now I love this one: the Mini Universe digital delay pedal:

I just got this, a budget digital delay pedal for £35, which is a cheap knock-off of models 10 x its price.





There are ten million people playing the guitar better than me on YouTube with this pedal but here's mine:

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=_ftpTy8sXqM

It's never ending. What's your musical instrument or accessory you love, had, or really want? Tell us about all of them.

[Johnnycomelately]

Cool thread. Music can be made with such a huge variety of instruments, and electronics can add entire dimensions to those.

I’m mostly a guitar guy, but one of my favourite setups was a plastic yard sale recorder (blow in one end, finger the holes). Mic’d it with a Radio Shack lapel mic, taped on near the whistle. Ran that through a guitar-effects box, after tweaking the patches. Wild, yet so simple.

Best guitar, of maybe 6, was a “gold” Music Man Van Halen. I switched out the springs for a constant-force spring, like what tape measures are but you can order them for force amount. Worked great, wore out those frets keeping up with the up bends.

Rig for that was a 50W solid state cheap used amp, topped with a Mesa Boogie rack preamp and a Rane dynamic controller.

Still have a nice electric, bought for me by a sweetheart, but now I like my acoustic most. Smaller than those big honking dreadnoughts, not sure what it’s called but it’s strung with XL Light electric strings. Perfect for quiet bendy bliss, in my shared building.

Ha, yeah, whistleing. That’s what honed my pitch and tone and timing, starting up, on long walks.

[Matthew]

Posted by Johnnycomelately (here)
...I’m mostly a guitar guy, but one of my favourite setups was a plastic yard sale recorder (blow in one end, finger the holes). Mic’d it with a Radio Shack lapel mic, taped on near the whistle. Ran that through a guitar-effects box, after tweaking the patches. Wild, yet so simple. ...

Oh wow, I love it! The break from conventional... for some reason it brings to mind Dizzy Gillespie's bent trumpet, with that signature sound. In his case a dancer fell on it just before he was meant to go on stage, and bent it like that. But he liked how it sounded so had a new, purposely bent version made.


Dizzy Gillespie, possibly playing Dirty Dude. I thought his trumpet sounded like a Clarinet at times. I love the bass on this one.

I have this Ibanez RG350, built for slashing but I play open chords. I thought I should learn a bit of slashing though, since I own a slashing guitar. It's got more pickups than I know what to do with.

I feed the Mini Universe delay into an Akia Head Rush echo/delay pedal, and front that with overdrive and distortion. The Head Rush at the end softens the abrupt ending of the Mini Universe effect when I switch it off. At least, that's the plan. I've never even played a gig as a guitar player but I have my first on the 17th of this month. I don't like compression pedals. They sterilize subtlety in my naïve opinion. But give me Shimmer and Exciter all day log.

Out of my depth: the Ibanez RG350 heavy metal guitar

[Valknut3301]

Thank you Matthew for starting this thread. I only wish I had thought of it earlier.

I could go on forever about gear I've had, gear I've regretted selling or trading, gear I've lost or which has broken, and I don't even really consider myself a gearhead. Over the years I've begun using less and less of it, focusing more and more on my hands, where 90% of a guitarists sound comes from, and I really think it's made me a better player. Still, I drool over new gear every so often, just like all of us with this wonderful disease.

I'll probably reply to this thread again and again, but to begin I'll tell you about my number one guitar. Her name is Red, she's an Ibanez DTX-120 in candy apple red. I bought her in 2000 after spending way too much on my first electric guitar, an LTD with a floyd rose trem. That LTD was way too much guitar for me at the time, I had no idea how to string it or set up the bridge, but as soon as I walked into the guitar shop and saw Red I fell in love.
Red immediately fit me like a glove and I knew I had to have her. She's been my constant playing companion since then. The DTX-120's were fairly ubiquitous for a while, Ibanez made a million of them, so I've played several, but Red is special. For one this, her tone isn't like others I've played, she's more resonant and has a brighter tone. Her pickups had a unique sound as well, more midrange than any other guitar with the same pickups. Unfortunately, those were cheap pickups and they started losing their output a few years ago and needed replacing. I searched for a long time, through all the different pickup makers, checking their frequency ranges, output, materials and construction, until I found a set which matched as closely as possible the original pickups. I ended up putting a set of Seymour Duncan Saturday Night Specials in and now she sounds better than ever.
She's got some issues which, at the moment, I can't fix and will require some serious surgery. I've played her so much, for so long, her frets are worn down and need replacing. But the biggest issue is the truss rod, which is completely spent and can't be tightened any more. It's a bolt on neck, so I could just get a new one, but I've played it so much it's darkened and stained and is as smooth as a baby's bottom. There's already a slight buzz on some of the upper frets from warping, it doesn't effect my playing at the moment, but I know it's only going to get worse. Still, she's my baby, so I'll figure something out.

[shaberon]

I have the opposite problem:


musician's soul-sucked syndrome.

I walk past a trove of gear every few minutes and haven't touched it in years.

Part of the problem: no place to make noise. When I came to this place, I figured the garage might be a viable option. Then we rented to a guy who was a mechanic who had got a nerve deterioration disease. We loaded probably three tons of mechanical parts and tools into the garage. The disease hospitalized him permanently, probably over a year ago, and all that stuff is still there.

I have all the stuff for a rock trio, and, was impressed by a Korg D-888 recording system I picked up just before I mostly quit playing. Otherwise, I'm not quite sure I'm the type of guy who adores this or that particular guitar or amp, etc., if anything I might be picky about cymbals. Loved some Meinl 13" hi-hats--I read an article that the smaller size tightens it up and would be suitable for the open/closed swish I like to do--and that turned out to be true. They are a lot more responsive than the regular 14s.

Would love to get back to this some day.

[Matthew]

Posted by Valknut3301 (here)
... I've played her so much, for so long, her frets are worn down and need replacing. ...

That's a long and beautiful relationship with an instrument. I've had this large cow-skin, wooden boogarabou hand-drum for a few decades. It's the instrument I'm closest to, having played gigs with it for fifteen years before I took up other instruments. Friends would back me up that it's my iconic instrument. It's still fighting fit but I dread the day the skin breaks, or something happens to it. Please could I beg you to post a picture of your guitar?? And please do speak of your other instruments as much as you want, as the spirit moves you!

Posted by shaberon (here)
I have the opposite problem: ...

I hope you get the space to run free with your treasure trove of instruments. I left mine to rot for a long time, then got worried about old batteries and went through my inventory. I started giving away some of it, mostly cool but cheap keyboards, and other bits and bobs like a Boss two track looper I never used. But I wanted it to be loved. The Boss looper is a nice bit of kit, it can kind of act as a portable studio if you try hard enough.

Lets have a look at that Korg D-888 recording system you mentioned!



Yes what a beauty.

I have this old Fostex DMT-8VL recording system which still gets some use; it has this 16bit to 12bit compression that warms everything up. I like the physical sliders so I won't be moving to a laptop anytime soon. Also the two powered inputs are really handy.

[Patient]

I am still trying to have the cash available to buy a Sequential Pro 3 synth.

In the meantime I can't look at other synths or I might have a change of heart.

[norman]

I bought a Suzuki (Gibson Hummingbird knockoff) acoustic when I got my first job after leaving school ( and 2 songbooks, Cat Stevens and Paul Simon ).

I've still got that guitar but it's very worn out now. I'd get it re fretted but there's body damage too, from a clumsy accident while moving homes and it's lost some of it's sustain quality.

After a few years of going electric, mainly a Telecaster, I back pedalled to a good combination of Tele' and Acoustic with a second hand Godin Acousticaster. I was loving it and getting into it when I first got on line and started having the top of my head blown off by all the new revelations about what's going on in the world. I took the shock quite badly initially and lost my entire mojo. It's been so many years since then that my fingers are soft and my muscle memory 'has alzheimer's'.


Godin Acousticaster, it's not mine but it's like mine.

[gord]

I've seen so many instruments come and go, I lost count. The first was a student model ebonite clarinet my parents bought for me half way through fifth grade (early 1973), after I showed some aptitude for music. Very nice of them to do so since dad was on unemployment, mom had to go back to work, and there wasn't much money around. Sold to a friend in 1982.

I did play around with the idea of learning guitar from 1981 to 1997, but was never very good at it, and injured my wrist a few times to the point that I gave up and sold the last two in 1997. These were a 1931 National Duolian, and an 1890s Washburn. I also had a 1924 Stella parlor guitar and a 1950s Kay hollow body electric. Both were Sears brand guitars which had originally been sold through their catalog. Both disappeared at some point. The Kay was great for raunchy 50s style blues.

But really I'm more of a wind instrument player. The two most recent acquisitions are an Irish flute made by Walter Sweet and a boxwood fife. Both bought new a little less than a year ago.

I think I have between 40 and 50 instruments here right now. Harmonicas, tin whistles (one enormous low D, with huge finger holes), recorders, simple system flutes (one is 1890s, with a B foot and 13 keys), fifes (around 25, I guess), piccolos (all keyless, except for one Basel piccolo).

Somewhere around here there's an ocarina shaped like a cat with wings.

Maybe sometime I'll get around to posting some pics of what I have.

My best and favorite instrument is and will always be the fife, which I started playing in November 1972. Yikes! over 51 years ago, jeez...

Edit: forgot to mention I had a set of bagpipes in the 90s I was trying to learn how to play, but I had to sell them before I got very far, because I needed the money.

[Patient]

A weird thing I recently realized is that I have never played one telecaster shaped guitar - always the Gibson styled.

I need to get a telecaster one of these days - but not before the pro 3.

I am actually not sure if I can still play guitar due to a rebounding of the carpal tunnel in my wrist. I will find out later today.
Wish me luck!!

[Matthew]

Posted by Patient (here)
A weird thing I recently realized is that I have never played one telecaster shaped guitar - always the Gibson styled.

I need to get a telecaster one of these days - but not before the pro 3.

I am actually not sure if I can still play guitar due to a rebounding of the carpal tunnel in my wrist. I will find out later today.
Wish me luck!!

God speed, or God healing for you...!

My guitar experience is very limited, but I did own a beaten up old Gibson copy that eventually fell apart. I bought it for a token cheap price and it was falling apart a bit then. But what really comes to my mind when thinking what I haven't played is this thing that I passed in a second hand shop last week. If it's still there in a month I might buy it:

It's a guitar with a Korg Chaos Pad Mini (sp2) in it!!

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=43jz7tyHzd0

I love the Korg Chaos Pad Mini (SP2), a fine effects unit on its own merit... I've used it umpteen times for a million things, but fitted into a guitar... I HAVE TO HAVE THIS THING. But don't quote me in a month I might have thought better of it by then.

[Matthew]

Posted by gord (here)
... Somewhere around here there's an ocarina shaped like a cat with wings. ...

What a fine treasure for any collection. I would love to see this if you ever encounter it please take a picture.


norman that is sad to hear but I think I can relate a bit. I lost interest in music for a long while after an existential crisis. I've only been back into it again this year.

¤=[Post Update]=¤

Posted by gord (here)
... Maybe sometime I'll get around to posting some pics of what I have. ...

That would be awesome. My friend started playing flute from hand-drums, and I'm a bit envious of his volume when we play in the forest, compared to my battery powered keyboard. Although I could use acoustic guitar now I'm into guitar thinking about it.

[Patient]

That Korg Kaos Pad looks like a lot of fun - thanks for that!

I am not going to let anything get in between my next intended purchase though. I already have a short list - wood blocks for the drum kit, (always another cymbal), and the whole kit could use fresh skins. And I have been thinking about the Strymon BigSky reverb pedal. Luckily the Pro 3 synth has good quality affects built in - reverb and echo. If you are not familiar with modular synths, their sound grows HUGE with an echo and/or reverb effect.


My son has been working on quite a bit of music. Right now he is heavily influenced by "Phonk" which is a style originating from Russia. Short synth songs for sports car driving type of vids and driving. I will see if he will let me post anything of it if you are interested. It is a unique taste. I think I posted a Phonk tune on my thread "Got a bad bug - but listening to music..."

Anyway, I took the time to set up my gear so I am off the make some noise around here. At least it will be a change from the dog barking at the fields behind our place.

[thirtythree]

Great thread, for a second i thought i was at gearspace.

Gear Acquisition Syndrome is real, and i'm also afflicted. Have got my eye on an EMU-sp1200 sampler that i've coveted for years and they keep going up in price.

I need to pull the trigger soon.

[I am B]

I almost cured my GAS with ableton live...

Then I got a MIDI keytar and the ableton push and realised I hadn't.

For those of you interested in synths, learning to use the Ableton operator and wavetable functions, or the Reaktor suite, is a nice and cheap digital way of tinkering endlessly. And nowadays the results are almost up there with the analog ones. (Minus the copper cable romanticism)

[Matthew]

Posted by thirtythree (here)
... EMU-sp1200 sampler ...

That's a fine piece of history right there:



I'm an aspiring gentleman but this piece of kit is so fine I'm going to have to look at its rear.



It's too good, lets go to second base.



It's got a wolf-whistle from me.

Posted by I am B (here)
... For those of you interested in synths, learning to use the Ableton operator and wavetable functions, or the Reaktor suite, is a nice and cheap digital way of tinkering endlessly. And nowadays the results are almost up there with the analog ones. (Minus the copper cable romanticism) ...

Yeah! Ableton Live, Logic Pro, and a few others have brought the studio experience to the common person. We get to produce professional quality stuff in our own rooms, and I've got a feeling the scope of plugins and effects available with Digital Audio Workstations (DAW), in software, is a bigger range than what's physically available. Bands I'm in have exclusively used DAWs for all production. I use my physical Fostex multi-tracker for my solo stuff, but without optical cables the quality isn't as good as pure DAW production.

A lot of the time I use Audacity free software for recording, which works for live takes. Trying to punch-in using Audacity is a pain in the ass, but I find it's great for overdubbing a series of live takes.

Edit add:
To save myself thousands I invested pittance in this Korg software called DS-10 for my Nintendo DS game console: it emulates two Korg MS-10s, and makes use of the console's inbuilt effects and offers two 'chaos pads' with the DS's touch pad. It was a safe and cheap way for me to play with deep synthesis. It's limited by the pre-amp, which is the pre-amp of a game's console, but meh - it cost about £35 and I never have to pay for patch cables

I'll share this thing I made with Korg DS-10: SoundCloud link. This was one live take into Audacity... all the layers were produced simultaneously from the DS-10 software. But it did take a bit of quick nifty finger-work to click around on the Nintendo DS! But wow, what a great game... I think I prefer virtual analogue to real analogue. Perhaps I'll get a real analogue when I've grown up more?

[peace]

Les Paul, BOSS ME-80 multi-effects pedal, and the perfect loop pedal a BOSS RC-1. Looper will NEVER leave my rig, its so perfect.

Had a pedal board with 5 or 6 pedals then decided to try the ME-80 and have it dialed in. Presets and patches are so easy to use and download and sound pretty great. Can also be used as an interface to record, but I usually don't and just use a PreSonus or older Focusrite to record demos.

As for what I want, but will never afford or play ...
JP Ernie Ball MusicMan (any of them) with a Boogie like his or (gasp!) and PRS SilverSky played through a Fender twin reverb (I know its a strat, but John Mayer can PLAY and I think if I touch one I'll magically absorb his powers ...)

I gigged a ton in my late teens and early 20s, had a distribution deal with a small label in New York in 1999, that ultimately lead to nothing major but some radio play. Was a drummer then and had an endorsement deal with Sunlite drums, who don't seem to be doing much anymore. Had some opening spots for Soulfly (gives you a sense of our sound) and a few other "national" acts that most people have never heard of.

I'm now a bedroom player with a dad rig. I love it way more now than trying to make a living doing it.

[Matthew]

Posted by peace (here)
Les Paul, BOSS ME-80 multi-effects pedal, and the perfect loop pedal a BOSS RC-1. ...

Ahhh the BOSS RC-1 is a classic. I had a BOSS RC-30 but gave it away because I never used it. With the overdubbing, and long record time, it's a mini, battery-powered studio. Then USB to get the sound files...! But I just never used it.

That BOSS ME-80 multi-effects pedal looks good.


As an absolute beginner with electric guitar it feels right for me to chain gaudy pedals together with a rats-nest of unreliable power cables or dead batteries, and living with that for a while before going for a mature multi-effects pedal.

So I have a small collection of cheap pedals, ..overdrive, distortion, that digital delay in the opening post, and a second-hand Akia tape/echo delay that I used to use for keyboards.

I chose my "Pure Sky", budget-knock-off-of-famous-pedal, because it was the cheapest blue overdrive pedal I could find, and the name wasn't offensive for Church. Then I didn't need a distortion pedal but I saw one called "Holy War", so I thought I probably should buy that for Church. There are a variety of Holy War pedals, with different designs. I got the one that wasn't covered in skeletons.

Guy in my other band (where I'm keyboards) has a Line 1 Helix, but it looks too heavy; I'd rather have two Helix One's stuck together, lug that around, and save a £grand in the process. But one day, when I've played a bit more, and my skill is worthy enough, I want to get a Walrus Audio SLOER Black Stereo Ambient Reverb so I can have a really nice shimmer. There is this guy on youtube who chained several shimmer pedals together and wow that sounded good.

I need one of these I need one of these I need one of these I need one of these I need one of these I need one of these I need one of these I need one of these

[Patient]

Posted by I am B (here)
I almost cured my GAS with ableton live...

Then I got a MIDI keytar and the ableton push and realised I hadn't.

For those of you interested in synths, learning to use the Ableton operator and wavetable functions, or the Reaktor suite, is a nice and cheap digital way of tinkering endlessly. And nowadays the results are almost up there with the analog ones. (Minus the copper cable romanticism)

Yes I agree.

But for me, I like the physical "pushing" of a synth. Working the filters with both knobs, sliders and the wheels (usually on the left of the keyboard). Working the sounds physically making them my own.

I have tried to get into making music on my mac with the apps - but nope! That lasted maybe 5 minutes. It is not the same, in a similar way that playing a guitar is a physical activity that could not be replaced on a PC by a person who loves to "play" the guitar.

I will use a DAW to put everything together, but I want to make the tracks with the actual instruments.

[I am B]

Oh wow a kaos pad for a Nintendo?! I'm so much getting one on mine (download links welcome e.e)

For recording yourself use Reaper. Its a free one and has preety much the same as Protools, plus/minus some things (the interface is neat, the routing is direct as hell, but the native plugins are garbage, still, it reads any VST).

I'm a sound engineer working in a metal venue, if you guys ever need any help feel free to ask ^^