The Guitar Corner: A Place Where Fellow Guitarists Can Talk Shop

[Mirror Image]

Hmm. I don't know. Does that sound like my stuff?
If there were influences on what I do, I'd think of Mike Oldfield, Steeleye Span, Bob Dylan, Elvis ... (the first two having a prog-folk-rock link). But I'm laughing now because
(a) the list is absurd; and
(b) in talking of 'influence', I'm taking my stuff way too seriously.

It doesn't sound exactly like your music, no, but I was more or less referring to the timbre of Ian Anderson's voice and how your own sounds similar.

[Elgarian Redux]

It doesn't sound exactly like your music, no, but I was more or less referring to the timbre of Ian Anderson's voice and how your own sounds similar.

All weird, from my perspective. I very much dislike the sound of my own singing voice, and I've never made a single recording where my vocal efforts don't make me wince. Whereas Ian Anderson sounds quite nice, doesn't he? So I don't quite know how to respond! I think probably that no one hears his own voice in the way that others do.

[Mirror Image]

All weird, from my perspective. I very much dislike the sound of my own singing voice, and I've never made a single recording where my vocal efforts don't make me wince. Whereas Ian Anderson sounds quite nice, doesn't he? So I don't quite know how to respond! I think probably that no one hears his own voice in the way that others do.

Be that as it may, I like your voice and could imagine you doing some professional recordings. I can imagine a subtle string accompaniment behind your guitar in some of the pieces you have performed and written. You're a folk star and don't even know it!

[Elgarian Redux]

Be that as it may, I like your voice and could imagine you doing some professional recordings. I can imagine a subtle string accompaniment behind your guitar in some of the pieces you have performed and written. You're a folk star and don't even know it!

What a nice thing to say! Thank you!

(The cheque is in the post.)

[Mirror Image]

What a nice thing to say! Thank you!

(The cheque is in the post.)

You're welcome. I wish you lived near me, because I'd love to collaborate with you. If I can make any sort of claim about my own skills as a guitarist, I believe I'm at my best when I'm accompanying another musician. In particular, a sing-songwriter type of musician where there's a chance to add atmosphere and texture to a piece that's already written.

[drogulus]

     I have a question for everyone who knows about this stuff. What overdrive pedal would be best for natural amp-like overdrive, that is not super high gain but like an overdriven vintage tube amp?

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

All weird, from my perspective. I very much dislike the sound of my own singing voice, and I've never made a single recording where my vocal efforts don't make me wince. Whereas Ian Anderson sounds quite nice, doesn't he? So I don't quite know how to respond! I think probably that no one hears his own voice in the way that others do.

I find the sound of your singing voice attractive. Someone who was the closest I ever knew to a successful musician told me that the important thing is not to have a pretty voice but to have a memorable, recognizable voice. Makes sense. Did you ever mistake another singer for Bob Dylan, and did you ever think his voice was 'pretty?'

[Mirror Image]

     I have a question for everyone who knows about this stuff. What overdrive pedal would be best for natural amp-like overdrive, that is not super high gain but like an overdriven vintage tube amp?

This one from Strymon ought to do the trick:

[Elgarian Redux]

I find the sound of your singing voice attractive. Someone who was the closest I ever knew to a successful musician told me that the important thing is not to have a pretty voice but to have a memorable, recognizable voice. Makes sense. Did you ever mistake another singer for Bob Dylan, and did you ever think his voice was 'pretty?'

Thanks for the reassurance. I certainly wouldn't want a 'pretty' voice. I read a good quote from Sam Cooke recently. Someone had complimented him on his 'beautiful' voice, and he thanked them and said, 'I'm glad you like it. But my concern is: does it make you think that what I'm singing is true?'

I guess what I would like to achieve is to sing in a way that draws attention to what's being sung, rather than to the voice itself. But really I have no pretensions about any of this. I sing and play primarily for myself (because it would be very hard and pointless to stop) and (sometimes) a few friends, and so none of this matters much. Most of the songs are miniature diary entries: either fragments of remembered life, or little tales I've woven in idle moments.

[greg]

Ok, yeah, dude that is a really great, professional level sounding voice.

[drogulus]

This one from Strymon ought to do the trick:

     I think I want one half of that, a basic drive/level/tone pedal.

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

Thanks for the reassurance. I certainly wouldn't want a 'pretty' voice. I read a good quote from Sam Cooke recently. Someone had complimented him on his 'beautiful' voice, and he thanked them and said, 'I'm glad you like it. But my concern is: does it make you think that what I'm singing is true?'

I guess what I would like to achieve is to sing in a way that draws attention to what's being sung, rather than to the voice itself. But really I have no pretensions about any of this. I sing and play primarily for myself (because it would be very hard and pointless to stop) and (sometimes) a few friends, and so none of this matters much. Most of the songs are miniature diary entries: either fragments of remembered life, or little tales I've woven in idle moments.

Yes, an honest voice, more pretty than Dylan, not too pretty.

I think the pop/folk singer with the most 'pretty' timbre was James Taylor. He did a few great things in the early days, and degenerated into elevator music, I'd say. Maybe that phrase doesn't work in the UK, music you'd hear playing in the background in the lift. Fire and rain, You've got a friend, Machine Gun Kelly. And there was some sophistication in the ensemble. You could listen to an entire album and not hear a guitar strum a simple chord.

[Elgarian Redux]

You're welcome. I wish you lived near me, because I'd love to collaborate with you. If I can make any sort of claim about my own skills as a guitarist, I believe I'm at my best when I'm accompanying another musician. In particular, a sing-songwriter type of musician where there's a chance to add atmosphere and texture to a piece that's already written.

I am sure you would be disappointed by my part in such a venture, John! I have at various times played with others - and sometimes it's been fun - but at heart I remain just a chap with a guitar doing his own thing, largely devoid of any ambition beyond that.

[Elgarian Redux]

I think the pop/folk singer with the most 'pretty' timbre was James Taylor. He did a few great things in the early days, and degenerated into elevator music, I'd say. Maybe that phrase doesn't work in the UK, music you'd hear playing in the background in the lift. Fire and rain, You've got a friend, Machine Gun Kelly. And there was some sophistication in the ensemble. You could listen to an entire album and not hear a guitar strum a simple chord.

Spot on. I respond to James Taylor in much the same way. Of course there's nothing wrong with a voice that is as smooth as silk, but if its importance is elevated too far, it  implies a different definition of 'good singing' to the one I rely on. Even if the song is the most lamentable song imaginable, it has to be sung as if the singer means it. Elvis was good at this. Even when his material had sunk to the lowest level, in the mid-sixties movie soundtracks, he still did everything he could to sing them as if they meant something. At least, I think I hear that. Don't ask me to prove the assertion!

Incidentally, the immense capabilities of Dylan's singing become immediately apparent the moment you seriously try to sing one of his songs yourself. Every attempt has failure written all over it.

[Elgarian Redux]

Has anyone tried the harmonica/acoustic guitar combination that Dylan used to use so distinctively?

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

Has anyone tried the harmonica/acoustic guitar combination that Dylan used to use so distinctively?

I have the same reaction as I have to Koechlin and his ondes Martenot. 

[Elgarian Redux]

I have the same reaction as I have to Koechlin and his ondes Martenot. 

Well, that is an especially gruesome form of torture to compare it with.

Is it the sound of the harmonica itself that troubles you? Or the use Dylan makes of it? I'm not a frequent user of the instrument myself, but I do have a harmonica collection and one of those harnesses, which occasionally I dredge out from their box.

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

Well, that is an especially gruesome form of torture to compare it with.

Is it the sound of the harmonica itself that troubles you? Or the use Dylan makes of it? I'm not a frequent user of the instrument myself, but I do have a harmonica collection and one of those harnesses, which occasionally I dredge out from their box.

Yes, I think it is the recorded sound of the instrument particularly in the early recordings. Too harsh and grating. I am conflicted because I would not dare suggest those early recordings, the old testament of the singer/songwriter genre, should be changed in any way. By the time you get to songs like Tambourine Man the sound is more agreeable to me.

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Somewhat off-the-wall question:

I am teaching botany (among other things) this semester and, in covering conifers, I mentioned that spruce is used in making musical instruments including violins (violin family), piano soundboards, and guitars.

However, is this true for guitars?? Is spruce always used for a guitar body? If so, what would be a substitute (Aside from really cheapo plastic guitars)? What about lutes, theorbos, etc?

What are electric guitars made of, and how does the wood affect the sound?

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

Somewhat off-the-wall question:

I am teaching botany (among other things) this semester and, in covering conifers, I mentioned that spruce is used in making musical instruments including violins (violin family), piano soundboards, and guitars.

However, is this true for guitars?? Is spruce always used for a guitar body? If so, what would be a substitute (Aside from really cheapo plastic guitars)? What about lutes, theorbos, etc?

What are electric guitars made of, and how does the wood affect the sound?

For a good guitar the top is made of spruce and the sides and back are of a hardwood, often mahogany or maple. Probably manufacturers at a lower price point are more creative in selecting wood varieties, but the basic idea is a soft wood for the top and a hard wood for the remainder, which forms a rigid resonator.

The main point of an electric guitar is long sustain - which is normally limited by the acoustic coupling from the strings to the top. So electric guitars are typically made of a solid block of hardwood. The Gibson SG and Fender Strat are mahogany and ash, respectively.