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Topic: An unusual Lap Steel Guitar |
basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 16 Apr 2008 7:27 pm |
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An unusual Steel Guitar So Deep the Night
Can you say what it is ?
I did the sequence originally for my stage vocals, but I thought it an appropriate number for this "TEST" instrumental.
I sort of copied the arrangement from the Tony Christie version.(Although I never could manage the key he did it in.... 'Eb') |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 16 Apr 2008 8:38 pm
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| Is it an instrument with doubled strings? |
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J D Sauser
From:
Wellington, Florida
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Posted 17 Apr 2008 10:11 am
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I actually like it. B I G sound... surround and all.
The song may be somewhat cheezy but who cares.
Playing octave string groups, huh?
Kind'a reminds me of some songs on Maurice's Universal Direction album.
Btw... If it's available, I'd love to have the rhythm track.
... J-D. |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 18 Apr 2008 2:49 am
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Close JD, but not actually octave string groups per se.
as for the track, this is what I said to Ken Ufton on another forum
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"Sounds more like a synth" Quite true Ken but I haven't really got to 'grips' with it yet. It's VERY difficult to play accurately, I'll explain more about it later. In the meantime I'll leave the topic open to speculation.. BUT it IS a guitar and amplified purely from the magnetic pickup and through NO processor other than an audio interface.
As for the tune, I'm sure it WAS lifted from a classical piece,(based on Chopin's Tristesse) it was one of my forte's before my retirement that I could copy almost anything and write the score.. the backing is a midifile I made using Logic Audio and taken from Tony Christie's version.
There are around the world a group of midi programmers that specialize in writing (for GM midi devices) ACCURATE midifiles that duplicate the original performance. It has developed into an artform, not in anyway related to the average Backing-Trax that are churned out by the million on pre-programed keyboards.
It requires a deep knowledge of the protocol of GM (General Midi) and the correct implementation and positioning within the file. Trust me it's deep, there are specific positions for all the control information, think the fact that no two midi signals can occupy the same space in time on a single cable and you then have to know how far apart you can space them without data loss.
If you put this file into your sequencer and analyze the control data you'll see what I mean, or you can just click it an let the computer play it and see can you recognize the version..Quando |
I'm having a problem with the new version of Logic Pro 8 and its saving of midifiles (it's altering control data positioning)..I'll solve it JD, but in the meantime can you load Logic 8 projects ?
I'll give you the track for your use, justified with the proviso that it's NOT used for a commercial recording..
Or alternatively I can just do an audio mixdown and send you mp3.. what key, what tempo ?
It only takes a few seconds for me to do that. |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 18 Apr 2008 7:38 am
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| Bill Hatcher wrote: |
| Is it an instrument with doubled strings? |
..go on, you're close.  |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 18 Apr 2008 8:02 am
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| Alan Brookes wrote: |
| Bill Hatcher wrote: |
| Is it an instrument with doubled strings? |
..go on, you're close. |
I was trying to get a clue if the instrument was made with doubled strings or if the instrument was getting the doubled sound via a midi pickup triggering some other device.
Since he said that the doubled strings are not "per se", then I am still a bit at a loss. I was thinking maybe he was using a doubled string instrument such as a 12 string guitar or one of the bass instruments that uses doubled chourses of strings and he might just have raised the strings off the neck for the doubled sound, but I don't know. Just guessing.
I do like the sound of it though. |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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J D Sauser
From:
Wellington, Florida
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Posted 18 Apr 2008 5:12 pm
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the processed one is a B L A S T ! Thanks!
Don't worry, I wont try to top the local Latino Radio charts here... but I may wake some of my neighbors!
Thanks Basil!
... J-D |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 18 Apr 2008 6:52 pm
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| Bill Hatcher wrote: |
| Is it an instrument with doubled strings? |
Yes. I custom-built the instrument for Basil and delivered it to him last month.
It's one of a kind. It has eight pairs of octave strings. Unlike a 12-string guitar it has octave pairs for the first six courses, whilst the seventh and eighth courses are in unison since it would need bass guitar strings at that pitch.
The armrest is to make the instrument more comfortable when playing sitting down.
I wanted neck-through-bridge construction, to provide good sustain, so I laminated together several hardwoods. The neck is basically maple and ebony, the body is a sandwich of ash and spruce.
It has one GeorgeL pickup. The machine head is reinforced with steel spacers cut on a laser machine.
Underneath you can see the strings, having passed through the body, are anchored to a laser-cut stainless-steel plate. If you look closely you will see tiny see-through plastic bumpers. These are so that if you rest the instrument on a table the back will be raised, thus not interfering with the vibration of the body.
I'm pleased to have one of my instruments in the hands of someone who has the talent to get the best out of it, and I'm looking forward to hearing more in the years to come.
I made a video of Basil playing the number you'vw just been hearing, and we hope to post it shortly on YouTube.
For more photos see this...
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=1155515#1155515 |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 27 Apr 2008 12:12 am
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James Collett
From:
San Dimas, CA
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Posted 28 Apr 2008 2:15 pm
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Good man... uses Cubase!
_________________
James Collett |
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Dave A. Burley
From:
Franklin, In. USA
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Posted 28 Apr 2008 7:50 pm and unusual lap steel guitar
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| Could this guitar be called a Steel-O-Lin? I'll bet it's really interesting to play. Have you tried any pedals yet? Dave |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 29 Apr 2008 10:17 pm
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| I built the instrument. I really don't care what you call it. It's not the first lap steel with octave courses, nor will it be the last. During the 50s experiments were made into pedal steel guitars with octave courses and there were insurmountable problems which I don't have the technology or the inclination to overcome. |
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