1,001 Reply by Olly

(10 replies, posted in Song Analysis)

aussieteacherPMMD wrote:

When you re-string, rather than taking the string a little of the way through the hole and then winding it, take it all the way through the hole, pull it tight without kinking it, then put it through the hole again

This is interesting. Do you wrap around once before putting through the hole again?

Usually I take the string up to the tuner higher that the one I am stringing then kink here, thread through and turn many times. I don't have an issue with it going out of tune as I  have a locking nut (well on my main guitar anyhow) though it is time consuming.

Perhaps you can clarify further?

Go to forum: Song Analysis

1,002 Reply by Olly

(4 replies, posted in Everything Else)

watermelon john wrote:

I am happy with what I got and the tone I get is pleasing.

That is the aim! I'm still not 100% happy with my tone at lower volumes - still searching to find something that works for me!

Go to forum: Everything Else

1,003 Reply by Olly

(3 replies, posted in Guitars)

I treat playing and practicing separately.

If I am playing then I may well play on and off for a couple of hours time permitting. If I am practicing then usually I would practice for half hour with a short break then again for half hour. I might continue this all day but usually work/family/other commitments makes playing for a lengthy time impossible.

I don't necessarily find practicing a chore. It is of course not so fun as playing however, usually the next day. when you can see the results of your practicing paying off, the sense of satisfaction is well worth it!

I don't usually sit there an run through technical exercises or scales and modes any longer. I tend to be trying to work slowly on a fast lick or a whole song.

For example, of late I have been spending a lot of time trying to learn "A Song for Life" by Eric Johnson. I am currently practicing this for at least half hour a day. Yesterday I managed to practice for around two hours in between other playing! This sort of time to myself rarely occurs these days!

Go to forum: Guitars

1,004 Reply by Olly

(10 replies, posted in Recording / Studio)

Ok what would you suggest I could try to get started? What do you primarily use midi for? I have never used it before!

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1,005 Reply by Olly

(11 replies, posted in Misc)

No I set it up myself based on oscommerce. I also based it on my other site http://www.jbosolutions.co.uk which formed the template - I paid for the design on this one but implemented it myself.

How about your site? Do you maintain this yourself?

Go to forum: Misc

1,006 Reply by Olly

(1 replies, posted in Recording / Studio)

I have used audacity before and I am sure it is possible though not 100% sure how.

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1,007 Reply by Olly

(3 replies, posted in Introduce yourself)

Welcome to the forum!

I assume you are a fellow guitar player?

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1,008 Topic by Olly

(0 replies, posted in Recording / Studio)

I have been reading about some guitar VST plugins that seem to have some decent reviews. I am wondering if this may be the ideal way to get my guitar recorded.

Peavey Revalver  MKIII has some great reviews as does guitar rig. I am going to give the deoms ago this weekend and see what they sound like for me.

It is shame that these plugins are so expensive though - much more expeneive that guitar hardware it would seem.

Has anyone anyu experience in these plugins? How do you go about getting your guitar recorded on Cubase etc?

Go to forum: Recording / Studio

1,009 Reply by Olly

(10 replies, posted in Recording / Studio)

Great advice thanks. I was looking for a midi keyboard. I do have a keyboard which I use but not for midi. It would be too big to sit in front of my computer.

Maybe I will eventually not need this keyboard again as Ihave been hearding some remarkable sounds coming from VSTs these days.

Go to forum: Recording / Studio

1,010 Reply by Olly

(14 replies, posted in Everything Else)

When I was playing for several hours a day I would change my stings at least once a week. My fingers tend to get sweaty a lot and destroyed the strigns quickly. No I am not playing so much maybe they last a couple of months but I really have not been playing much at all over teh last year.

Having said that I have been advised by Aussie that Elixers are a good make of string that last well and I am going to give them a go next time.

What brand of strings do you use?

Go to forum: Everything Else

1,011 Reply by Olly

(11 replies, posted in Misc)

Hi

Yes it is part of this site though it is not all items I hold myself.

http://www.ollysguitar.com

Go to forum: Misc

1,012 Reply by Olly

(13 replies, posted in Guitars)

Hi Aussie - thanks I will check this out.

I always think that often price so erlative to quality when talking about branded instruments as you end up paying a lot for the brand itself.

Go to forum: Guitars

1,013 Reply by Olly

(13 replies, posted in Guitars)

Actually selling online is a really difficult game. It is a buyers market out there and people will only want to buy at the lowest prices which means making a profit is really hard work.

It also stops the smaller people from starting as only the big players can buy in sufficient numbers to compete on price.

My store is partnered with a couple of the larger UK companies. There is no way I could hold all this stock myself!

Go to forum: Guitars

1,014 Reply by Olly

(10 replies, posted in Recording / Studio)

Hopefully your number one is just around the corner!

So I assume from this then that really LE will be limiting for me at some point. I am yet to find out exactly what I cannot do with LE.

I assume that when the time does come to upgrade it would not be wise to go for the studio version and I should go for the complete package and stick with it?

Cheers

Go to forum: Recording / Studio

1,015 Reply by Olly

(6 replies, posted in Songwriting on Guitar)

I'm using Cubase LE and I wonder what differences I would see if I were to upgrade to a higher version. Perhaps you can help on teh thread here

http://forums.ollysguitar.com/topic/584 … base-full/

I would be interested to know what VSTs you use as well - perhaps that should eb a nother thread.

Go to forum: Songwriting on Guitar

1,016 Reply by Olly

(3 replies, posted in Songwriting on Guitar)

I can't help feeling a little sorry for the drummer. It seems that they are the most likely people to become obsolete within a studio.

I am sure, even with my limited knowledge, that I can get some drum sounds that will be hard to tell they aren't the real thing from EZdrummer. It really does sound top class.

Go to forum: Songwriting on Guitar

1,017 Topic by Olly

(1 replies, posted in Recording / Studio)

I am not a bass guitar player. I bought a cheapo bass guitar some years back to use
specifically when I recorded a song - of course this is still yet to happen.

Occasionally I will pick it up and give it a go. I think I am capable of laying down some bass when the time finally comes.

The amp that came with it is not very good at all. So I am wondering whether I should or could just use my standard guitar amp? Of perhaps maybe use a Bass amp simulator plug in, if such a thing exists?

Any advice?

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1,018 Topic by Olly

(0 replies, posted in Recording / Studio)

How do you guys go about recording your guitar?

I currently Have a condenser mic for recording acoustic, however my new acoustic does have the pickup built in so should I consider switching to that and go straight into the audio interface?

With electric guitar I have not done any recording with my new setup but I have a Shure SM57 sat in front of my amp right now waiting for the moment. However I am reading that quite a lot of people are not favoring amp simulator plugins within their recording package over this method.

what experience does anyone have on this subject?

Go to forum: Recording / Studio

1,019 Topic by Olly

(4 replies, posted in Everything Else)

What is the setup you are currently using?

Mainly now if I am playing electric I am using my Ibanez prestige into:

Wah 535q -> Boss DS-1(jap) -> Marshall valvestate 60w amp

in the loop I have a Boss DD-3 and a Boss Chorus.

Not plugged in at the moment but is part of the whole setup is a DS-1 seeing eye mod , boss compression and a boss flanger.

I also use the Boss RC-20(I think) which is the two pedal loop station which is great for laying ideas and soloing over the top!

Now I have my cellar/studio kind of set up I might be switching back to my JCM900 head and 2 x 12 cab if I am able to crank it enough to get decent tone!

Go to forum: Everything Else

1,020 Topic by Olly

(10 replies, posted in Recording / Studio)

As some know I am quite new to the recording game.

With my audio interface I got a version of Cubase LE (light edition). I am wondering what features I am missing out on here and at what point I should consider an upgrade.

I see there is also what appears to be an intermediate version called Studio - does anyone know what the main differences are?

Who here uses Cubase and how do you find it overall?

Go to forum: Recording / Studio

1,021 Reply by Olly

(3 replies, posted in Everything Else)

I have found some really low quality leads before that seem to increase the hum significantly and tend to break after a short while. I switched to some high quality cables for my patch leads between pedals as these kept breaking and also I could never find which one was causing this annoying buzz!

Go to forum: Everything Else

1,022 Reply by Olly

(6 replies, posted in Misc)

I do like riding though I haven't done it for a couple of years. I was actually thinking about getting a bike next weekend as my son is old enough too sit in a childs seat on the back and he would really enjoy going out.

Also I need to get fit. All I do is sit around in an office all day!

Go to forum: Misc

1,023 Reply by Olly

(6 replies, posted in Songwriting on Guitar)

Is this beat calculator a common feature of music programs? I have not seen it but I am using Cubase LE so perhaps it is not a feature.

I just searched online for beat calculators and it pulls up a few free online ones -

http://www.audionetworkplc.com/popup-be … lator.aspx

Which will do the job nicely. I was searching for something like this but I did not think to search specifically on "beat counter". I think this will really help!

Are you using Cubase?

Go to forum: Songwriting on Guitar

1,024 Reply by Olly

(19 replies, posted in Songwriting on Guitar)

I enjoy singing a long to songs that I know but I am not a good singer in any way! I dislike my voice, I am certain others would too however I am not going to let this stop me as I figure once I have a song, i can get someone else to redo the vocals.

But maybe this is why I do struggle with writing?

Go to forum: Songwriting on Guitar

1,025 Reply by Olly

(8 replies, posted in Lesson Plans)

Pianoette looks really good. The internet is packed with resources for guitar but I never found anything for Piano. I  used to take Piano lessons and I would love to get back into it now I have a keyboard set up permanently.

Go to forum: Lesson Plans