[quote]SteelyD wrote:
I kind of thought you looked like a young Ritchie Blackmore. Definitely a classic ‘shredder’ pose.[/quote]
That’s cool - yea - I was going for that wide finger stretch, oh look how technically difficult this is shredder pose…lol…
I started playing when I was 14 in 1980. Was heavily influenced by Eddie VH at first, then moved on to Randy Rhoads, George Lynch, Warren DeMartini, Paul Gilbert, Yngwie, Joe Satch and Vai.
I studied with Al Pitrelli from Megadeth, Asia, Alice Cooper and currently guitarist for TSO for 5 years in the mid - late 80s. Also spent about a year or so studying with John Petrucci from Dream Theater, when he was giving lessons out of his parent’s house here on Long Island… Invaluable opportunities to study with 2 great players…
I was a music major my first time around in college, and I also taught about 40 - 50 students a week out of a local music store at that time. Played in bands, recorded, toured until about 25 or so, when I cut my hair and got a real job…lol…
How about you SD? Influences? Be cool to hear that kind of history from all the players in the thread - even the bass players! ; ) And post more playing guys! I recorded that stuff on a bullshit little Canon Elf that has a 4 minute vid feature, and just uploaded it - easy peasy! Doesn’t have to be finished tracks - I love hearing a good player just playing raw - it’s great.
Band I was in until last year. Tokyopop is the lead guitarist, best guitarist I have seen play period, self taught blows my mind! But yeah this track was on the third annual Hammer The Masses (South African metal compilation CD). [/quote]
Very impressive. You guys are TIGHT! Great syncopation, very nicely arranged and musically interesting. Really good - great tone TokyoPop - is there a 2nd guitar player or did you double track the lead harmonies?
Who are your influences? : ) [/quote]
Thanks SkyNett!
Our lead vocalist is the rhythm guitar player, but don’t ask me how he sings and plays all that live haha. We recorded each guitar one track at a time through Toneport, sharing between whoever plays whichever riff the best (we both have very different styles of picking etc.) and yea the harmonies I did on two separate tracks.
Have you ever listened to the Shogun album by Trivium? That was a big influence on this song.
Our biggest influences are Megadeth, Children of Bodom, Metallica, Testament, Iron Maiden and Exodus.
Very cool guys. I don’t really play metal anymore, but I still like listening to it. I spent 2 years earning a living as a guitarist. I did studio work, played in a few cover bands (notably a Santana tribute act, complete with a horn section, it was sooooo much fun) and had an all original funk/blues/rock/reggae band. But, once the kids came into the picture, I needed a steady source of income. It was fun while it lasted.
I still jam with my brother-in-law, father-in-law and some friends now and then, but mostly old 60’s and 70’s stuff. I have a custom made guitar (will try to post pic) that’s kinda like a PRS custom 22 (2 Humbuckers, mahogany body, flamed maple top, Pau Ferrau fingerboard). I used to have a Mesa Boogie Mark III amp, but I sold it to pay my rent many many years ago.
These days, I can’t really find an amp that I like, except maybe the Mesa Boogie Road King 2 X 12 combo, but I can’t justify spending over 5 grand on an amp when I don’t make a living playing music anymore. Anyhoo, cheers to you guys, good stuff…
[quote]OdysseusUnbound wrote:
I did studio work, played in a few cover bands (notably a Santana tribute act, complete with a horn section, it was sooooo much fun) and had an all original funk/blues/rock/reggae band. [/quote]
Dooood that DOES sound like fun! I’ve always loved the reggae/funk stuff. I need to go find some good stuff to listen to.
[quote]Steel Nation wrote:
How would you compare the Epiphone Black Beauty to that ESP?
I ask because I’ve played a Gibson SG Standard and a Gibson Les Paul Standard, and I prefer my Viper (ESP LTD w/EMGs) to both. It’s possible that I’m just more comfortable with it though. I have a little heavier strings on it (11s) and they just feel better to me. The pickups fuckin scream too.
[/quote]
honestly, i like the ESP better. i have the EMGs on it and the BB just had the stock pickups. i used to have a Marshall half stack that would just make the ESP shine. the BB honestly sounded pretty plain. now if it was a GIBSON black beauty, that would be a different story.
[quote]OdysseusUnbound wrote:
I did studio work, played in a few cover bands (notably a Santana tribute act, complete with a horn section, it was sooooo much fun) and had an all original funk/blues/rock/reggae band. [/quote]
Dooood that DOES sound like fun! I’ve always loved the reggae/funk stuff. I need to go find some good stuff to listen to. [/quote]
Most of the best funk music is unknown local stuff. There is a band (or was, I don’t know if they’re still together) from Toronto called the Pocket Dwellers, and they were awesome live. They combined funk, jazz and hip-hop in a sooooooooooper dee doooooper groovy way.
Another Toronto guy we used to play shows with fronted a Bob Marley tribute band and he also had an original reggae group in Toronto. I can’t remember their name, but it was impossible not to groove when you heard them.
[quote]solidkhalid wrote:
Currently gassing hard for a new Gibson, possibly a Les Paul. Many of the models have a different feel to them so it makes it harder to choose!
Above is my Japanese ESP Custom Explorer, recorded most of the last album with it. Sounds killer!
Been a favorite of mine since I started… have 7 of em now (over half of my axes!). Would’ve been 8 but I sold one of them after Dime was killed (had his autograph on it and I needed the cash)
The ESP/LTD line is great, they have improved the LTD line dramatically over the years. Other companies second factory lines are still horrible, IMO.
Does anybody else constantly play air guitar when driving or just sitting around with music playing? Nothing major just kinda noodling to the music.
I always drive with my left hand on the wheel at the 8 o’clock position moving my imaginary frethand and my right hand strumming the top of my thigh or the shifer. My wife finds this kinda odd. I don’t even notice most of the time, too bad it won’t make me a better player lol.
Well done - also tight. The nu-metal you young guys are playing now days has that sick, super-tight, complex rhythm going on - sounds great.
Nice work. What kind of amp set-up do you have going? [/quote]
Thanks SkyNett!
I have a B-52 AT-100 head with the 400w B-52 cabinet. I feel ashamed, because it has been setting at my drummers house since we took a break about a year ago :(. I have no place to put it at my apartment at college though. Hopefully we can play a little reunion show over winter break. I will make sure to get a video if we do! Playing live and dancing around on stage is the best feeling in the world
I been playing off and on since I was 14…basically 25 years, but I play for 6 months, then quit…I took off 10 years too right before I got married and realized rock and roll was no longer necessary to score the babes…played piano from the time I was 5 and played bass for a long time.
Any of you other old bastards find it difficult to play because you’re not playing out? I kind find the motivation to play sometimes because I know no one will hear me. She Say and I do concerts sometimes where I play and we both sing, but she’s a lousy singer and refuses to dance in a cage in public.
Thanks guys, hopefully I can get back into it before too long. Speaking of which, anybody who has an old sunn beta lead head you want to get rid of PM me.
I have a Schecter C-1 Elite, she is my baby, and she is beautiful. I was in a metal band in Wichita called 