Secret Weapon Instruments

vodka gimli · 8th February 2006

What gear are you using that never makes your gearlist? A cheap mic? A toy instrument?

I use a Martin Backpacker guitar for an in-between sound: not a standard guitar and not a high-strung. When capo'ed it takes on a banjoesque or mandolin flavor. John Jennings (Mary Chapin Carpenter) tuned me onto that trick. There are cheap copies of the Martin on eBay for around $50.00. I have one of those, too.

iziphonics · 8th February 2006

A bottle of raspberry syrup.... My studio doesn't work, if don't have it for tea

six_wax · 8th February 2006

all about the e-bow these days...

PRobb · 8th February 2006

Danelectro baritone guitar.

Fletcher · 8th February 2006

If I told you it wouldn't be a secret now would it? I have many weapons of mass destruction... and I use them whenever the opportunity arrises.

drosophila · 8th February 2006

Old and funky Speak & Spell I got at Goodwill for $4 and a stun baton that sometimes makes its way in.

Rufuss Sewell · 8th February 2006

Ebow: mimic the chords in the chorus but in the highest register on guitar. Almost sounds like a string section. Lots of energy.

Mellotron samples of strings, choir, flute.

Chinas instead of crashes.

Hand made spiral cut cymbal. A one off from a Sabian clinic. Sounds like glass breaking with a long sustain.

Cool double chamber Ocarina for instant ethnic feel.

Jaymar toy piano.

Double reed snake charmer flute from Turkey. (can't remember what it's called)

Remo spring drum (sounds like thunder)

Tyco Hot Lixx guitar. Actually makes some really cool noises. And the whammy bar works.

Actually I generally buy anything that's cheap and makes sound. I have a huge collection of dumb toys and cheap world instruments that come in handy very often for giving something a different kind of sound. They're usually less than $5 at garage sales so why not?!?

drosophila · 8th February 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rufuss Sewell

Actually I generally buy anything that's cheap and makes sound. I have a huge collection of dumb toys and cheap world instruments that come in handy very often for giving something a different kind of sound. They're usually less than $5 at garage sales so why not?!?

You'll probably get a kick out of Oddmusic.

I soooo want a waterphone.

goldphinga · 8th February 2006

yamaha vss30,maplin cheap stereo mic

jomo1234 · 8th February 2006

Optigan!

jomo1234 · 8th February 2006

I forgot about the Marxophone. They pop up at flea markets....definitely worth picking up.

r0ck1r0ck2 · 8th February 2006

Quote:

Jaymar toy piano.

word to that!

here's mine...

electric drill

scissors...(rad)

2x4s

your mom

octatonic · 8th February 2006

My hands...

jwnc · 8th February 2006

I use a Radio Shack PZM mic close up on acoustic guitars, it sounds fantastic.. hardly no eqing at all.. it shelfs all the muddyness out and leaves this beautifull sparkling acoustic that I mix with a condenser for some warmt... fantastic..

Jason

The dman · 8th February 2006

Quote:

Jaymar toy piano.

I kept my sons Fisher Price Toy Xlophone and put it in a corner in the studio. I ended up using it on a childrens record I worked on last year. I also used his $40 piece of crap guitar on an intro of a song. Ya never know

8th February 2006	#1
vodka gimli Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 592 Thread Starter	Secret Weapon Instruments What gear are you using that never makes your gearlist? A cheap mic? A toy instrument? I use a Martin Backpacker guitar for an in-between sound: not a standard guitar and not a high-strung. When capo'ed it takes on a banjoesque or mandolin flavor. John Jennings (Mary Chapin Carpenter) tuned me onto that trick. There are cheap copies of the Martin on eBay for around $50.00. I have one of those, too. __________________ "Directly or indirectly, all questions connected with this subject must come for decision to the ear, as the organ of hearing; and from it there can be no appeal." — Lord Rayleigh

8th February 2006	#5
Fletcher member no 666 Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 9,465	If I told you it wouldn't be a secret now would it? I have many weapons of mass destruction... and I use them whenever the opportunity arrises. __________________ CN Fletcher Professional Affiliations: R/E/P Professional Recording Engineer and Producer forums - serious hobbyists welcome TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik SoundPure.com mwagener wrote on Sat, 11 September 2004 14:33 We are selling emotions, there are no emotions in a grid Roscoe Ambel once said: Pro-Tools is to audio what fluorescent is to light

8th February 2006	#7
Rufuss Sewell Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,925	Ebow: mimic the chords in the chorus but in the highest register on guitar. Almost sounds like a string section. Lots of energy. Mellotron samples of strings, choir, flute. Chinas instead of crashes. Hand made spiral cut cymbal. A one off from a Sabian clinic. Sounds like glass breaking with a long sustain. Cool double chamber Ocarina for instant ethnic feel. Jaymar toy piano. Double reed snake charmer flute from Turkey. (can't remember what it's called) Remo spring drum (sounds like thunder) Tyco Hot Lixx guitar. Actually makes some really cool noises. And the whammy bar works. Actually I generally buy anything that's cheap and makes sound. I have a huge collection of dumb toys and cheap world instruments that come in handy very often for giving something a different kind of sound. They're usually less than $5 at garage sales so why not?!? __________________ My Studio: www.Nebulost.com My Band: www.OneEyedDoll.com

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8th February 2006	#2
iziphonics Gear maniac Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Warsaw, Poland Posts: 213	A bottle of raspberry syrup.... My studio doesn't work, if don't have it for tea

8th February 2006	#3
six_wax Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,102	all about the e-bow these days...

8th February 2006	#4
PRobb Gear Guru Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: NYC Posts: 13,775	Danelectro baritone guitar.

8th February 2006	#6
drosophila Gear addict Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 312	Old and funky Speak & Spell I got at Goodwill for $4 and a stun baton that sometimes makes its way in.

8th February 2006	#9
goldphinga Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,328	yamaha vss30,maplin cheap stereo mic

8th February 2006	#10
jomo1234 Lives for gear Join Date: May 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 1,375	Optigan!

8th February 2006	#13
octatonic Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: London Posts: 5,429	My hands...

8th February 2006	#14
jwnc Gear maniac Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: NC Posts: 201	I use a Radio Shack PZM mic close up on acoustic guitars, it sounds fantastic.. hardly no eqing at all.. it shelfs all the muddyness out and leaves this beautifull sparkling acoustic that I mix with a condenser for some warmt... fantastic.. Jason