Extreme - Pornograffitti

[yairhol]

Originally Posted by bob st john

peculiar questions

1: nuno. and the effect was just detuning his voice with an H-3000. nothing demonic there...

2: i think that was just kfigg starting the song. love that guy's playing! he IS the real thing...hits hard (we only got 3 takes out of each set of heads) and gives 300% on every take...you can't help but start moving your body just watching him play...it's infectious!

Hi bob,
regarding the second question, I'm not talking about right before kevin starts playing. I'm talking about the first second or so of the song exactly at the beginning of the guitar intro. I think I can hear on the right channel the hi hat opening and closing 3 or so times as if giving nuno the tempo of the song for his intro.

[yairhol]

No traffic here lately...

[Deny]

Sorry for digging up such an old thread but I've been searching for clues on the "Stop the world" solo setup for years and now that I've finally found out how it was done I can't leave it alone without at least saying thanks. So thank you Bob for sharing this

Now I've been able to get my guitar tones very close to many of my favorite ones (Shawn Lane, Steve Morse, Eric Johnson and Joe Satriani) but TWO. One is the aforementioned lead tone on "Stop the world" and the other is Jeff Beck's "People get ready".

Now that I've learned how Nuno recorded that solo, I'm up to the task of recreating his tone using a modest Boss GT-10, but this time I'm aware I'll have to do some extreme tone-shaping to mimic the practice amp-to-headphone frequency response. And since you've tried to replicate the sound in the studio, any chance you remember what the settings were that got the closest for me to use as a starting point?

[rty5150]

awesome thread, please do not let this thread die again! pornograffitti is one of the best sounding guitar records ever. the tones are incredible. i remember seeing the sessions on several videos, like hard and heavy and the like. that was when i was first exposed to the MW. the tones were massive and i still get chills from the opening to it's a monster!


rich

[mixohoytian]

Hey Noob here. I came in here just to say thanks to everyone, especially Mr Wagener and Bob St John for all the info, This has been the coolest thing I've read on the internet...ever....
I should know, because I've spent the last 5 years at a lame job in order to fund my own albums...and I've wasted so much time surfing the internet...never finding anything interesting ....anyways thanks so much


Wow
Extreme III is prob my fav album in the 90s. I later got into progressive rock, but I think this album, was way progressive...in the sense that Beach boys pet sounds and smile were progressive



Bear with me I gpt some actual questions after I ramble some...sorry if I'm a bit ADD, it's just cause I'm at work :-)
Anyways, I can't hear any of the mixing problems etc...
and I just want to say, even though I'm learning mixing and plugs ins and all this...I really hate it
I hate that music is judged on the polished outcome
I hate it
I tell my brother, who paints...that he just doesn't understand
I've been spending 6 years on an album and tryign to save up money for masterign at bernie grundman etc...
I tell my brother:
It's like after you paint your best painting, you have to then pay for everyone else's vision surgery so they can see your painting in the proper way...

anyways back to Extreme

Extreme II is amazing, but will always sound 80s to me
Extreme III is the album I show people if I DON'T want to get laughed at
Extreme II has the coolest guitar work though

It made me feel really good that on the new Extreme album: analog was too scary
Nono's a monster, but it was still tough
I don't feel so bad about using pro tools now
All the sories were really cool and shows just how much effert went into each album

On the whole acoustic ballad thing:
I think they could have thrown one in there without compromising the concept album, but I like III sides just the way it is


question for Bob or any gear slutz regular:
all this talk about Nuno incorporating demos adn "the guitar solo played on the practice amp through headphones" etc..

how do you mix guitar from different sessions and make them all sound like they belong on the same album?
is it really that involved or just an eq trick?

or in your opinion, is it ok to have different sounding guitars all over the place?


Bob, what were you saying about the rat pedal all over "am I ever gonna change" ?
how did you make that fit in with the soldano?


I agree the album has a weird dryness about it on drums...
but the guitar and vocals sound great
I prefer the soldano sound on III sides to the ada sound on porographiti


thanks!

[Voodooskull34]

I don't dig too much pornograffiti's tone, sounds good but a bit plastic and unatural to my ears.
For esoteric guitar Lead tone I always take George lynch as reference,
Listen to his Sacred groove solo album!
He never uses piles of racks, he always plugs straight in to his heads mainly Vintage Marshall plexis or soldanos then some overdrive boost and some vintage pedal.

[weezul]

just posting to say thank you to Bob and all of his stories and notes on Extreme III, just sat here listened to it as I read the entire thread. Such a fantastic album, although I am very very late I only heard it for the first time about a couple of years ago tops, but since then i've been hooked. Would live and die for "Everything Under the Sun" being a prog fan at heart this song blows me away every time.

I do have one question though, where did the Piano sound come from for III Sides? Its the only thing which makes me stop and go "eh?" in certain places, where there's no dynamics and very tinkly tone (Seven Sundays i guess)
Thanks for all your time Bob and everyone!

[amiller]

OK, coming to the party late, but I feel like I just stumbled on buried treasure here.

I will keep this short, but first I just want to thank MW and BSJ for sharing this info on my all-time favorite band. Hearing Pornograffiti for the first time was really the catalyst that pushed me to practice my guitar like crazy. I love all their records (and yes Bob, even the first one).

Here are my dumb questions if either of you would be so kind:

I get the ADA MP-1. I even have a pdf sheet of Nuno's live settings he used on tour. But McIntosh 2100 Power Amp? I'm confused here. Is that not a home stereo amplifier? If so, how would one even hook that up to the ADA and speaker cabs? When I google it I can never see a good picture of the connectors, but it looks like you need banana plugs or something...

2nd: What Marshall head model exactly did he used to or currently use to do some recordings? I was pretty sure it was JCM 800 but not sure the model #. Maybe a plexi?

I ask because aside from general curiosity after all these years, I may be doing an Extreme tribute band in the not too distant future - just for fun. I picked up his new Randall amp/cab.

Also, the cascading delay on the flight of the wounded bumblebee, was that tracked live? Anyone remember the settings on that or what he used? I am currently w/o a delay pedal...

I'll probably come up with others later but again, thanks for sharing this info!

I agree with a previous poster's comments. Best. Post. Ever.

[The Beatsmith]

flight of the wounded bumble be is just 200bpm, single delay, i imagine it was all tracked live, he plays i live with no problem - it's not that hard once you figure out how to play - start playing with the delay set slower and work up

[Crash]

I think it is wild that he is touring with Rihanna this year. Should be interesting....

[amiller]

Ok, still looking for info on the Marshall model among other things, but look what just popped up here:

YouTube - The Making of Three Sides To Every Story-Extreme

Even Bob gets some on camera love. Brings this whole post some new life.

[mfergel]

Originally Posted by amiller

OK, coming to the party late, but I feel like I just stumbled on buried treasure here.

I will keep this short, but first I just want to thank MW and BSJ for sharing this info on my all-time favorite band. Hearing Pornograffiti for the first time was really the catalyst that pushed me to practice my guitar like crazy. I love all their records (and yes Bob, even the first one).

Here are my dumb questions if either of you would be so kind:

I get the ADA MP-1. I even have a pdf sheet of Nuno's live settings he used on tour. But McIntosh 2100 Power Amp? I'm confused here. Is that not a home stereo amplifier? If so, how would one even hook that up to the ADA and speaker cabs? When I google it I can never see a good picture of the connectors, but it looks like you need banana plugs or something...

2nd: What Marshall head model exactly did he used to or currently use to do some recordings? I was pretty sure it was JCM 800 but not sure the model #. Maybe a plexi?

I ask because aside from general curiosity after all these years, I may be doing an Extreme tribute band in the not too distant future - just for fun. I picked up his new Randall amp/cab.

Also, the cascading delay on the flight of the wounded bumblebee, was that tracked live? Anyone remember the settings on that or what he used? I am currently w/o a delay pedal...

I'll probably come up with others later but again, thanks for sharing this info!

I agree with a previous poster's comments. Best. Post. Ever.

Mentioned earlier that he used a JCM2000.

[fire777111]

Hi Bob!

You were taliking about how "Hole Hearted" was recorded on a Tascam 388 via a lavalier mic. Can you elaborate a bit more? what model Mic was used, placement etc... were you present during the recording? For me, Hole Hearted is one of the most unique sonding songs ever recorded. The arrangement was unique the sond the vibe. It stands alone.

Do you happen to know exactly what 12 string guitar Nuno used to record the song? In the video that we all have seen for "Hole Hearted" it shows Nuno with a Washburn EA2012 with the 3rd (octave)string missing and the 5th string missing leaving only the 5th octave string! (anybody out there curious about this can go look at the video on youtube, pause it at 00:03 it's clear to see) although in the recording it sounds like all strings are intact... Maybe it was done just for fun and to show it in the video. Or maybe he busted 2 strings in a temper tantrum? lol .... I can relate to Nuno, He's Portuguese, I'm Italian WE HAVE TEMPERS! :-)

"More Than Words"... "Midnight Train" and "Unconditionally"; is the guitar seen in in the videos the one used on the record? And were any of those songs also recorded on the 388?

Thanks Bob for the time you spend to answer these questions! It is cool beyond words to be able to know this stuff first hand!!!

Let me say one more thing, EXTREME as a band was unique and the music was honest. I will make a statement here that I have made before;

After The Who, Led Zep, Queen, Aerosmith, came Extreme. They were the next step in the evolution of that genera.... the 80's/90's version/continuation of those great bands. Unfortunately the industry, and the times shifted so quickly that it all but snuffed the band out.

As we all know, these days a band/artist do not and cannot grow and have the long career like Led Zep or the Beatles did.. It's been this way since the late 80's at least. What a shame... Thank God for the internet and affordable equipment that allows home studios to be that gives the artist real creative freedom and an area to promote their art and possibly grow into something bigger and worth while. We'll see. No one cares more about YOUR music than YOU guys,

I'll stop here before I go on a rant. :-)

-Rich

[CJ Ferrero]

Originally Posted by mwagener

Well, picking the right songs for an album IS part of a producers job

Pornograffitti is one of my favorite albums, a fantastic production from you and nothing to say about Nuno, incredible!!, sounds, riffs and feeling.

Regards.

[sat159p1]

Pornografiiti is also my fav Extreme CD.

I remember being like, 10 years old? (No wonder what "porno" was then :D)

Cover looked cool.

My dad broguht Extreme II and III and we were just listening all day long laying on the couch and singing "singalongs". Pornograffitii was such a great rock album that we thought that "more than words" is like "off song" of this album.

I remember learning to play a guitar and try to keep nuno's speed :D haha, can't play so fast!

[The Beatsmith]

Originally Posted by Crash

I think it is wild that he is touring with Rihanna this year. Should be interesting....

YouTube - Nuno Bettencourt RIPS (Rihanna Tour 2010)

[jrakarl]

Originally Posted by Wiggy Neve Slut

I can just see when they go out on the 'reunion' cash cow circuit how 30-40+ something year olds, will whip out a lighter and hold it aloft for 'more than words'! I think that song along with the 'Scorpions' winds of change are the best power ballads around, not that im an expert, well.. only for the pure cringe factor.

Reviving an old thread. . .
The irony of this quote.. they did do a come-back but in typical Extreme style, with a kick-arse album to-boot. Extreme really are a class act.

[+Echo+]

Just keeping the thread alive!!!

Thank you very much Bob and Michael for doing what you are doing and for writing about it here