Monolithic Sound From a Wee Guitar Amp

[picksail]

If anyone's interested I have posted a song, which utilizes the Jule Brenda K guitar amp that has been getting all the attention lately.

*It appears to have been lost in the obscurity of the sub-forums.

Here's the link: http://gearslutz.com/board/showthrea...t=81139&page=4

[picksail]

Let me know what you think guys.

I feel that the amp worked perfectly within the context of this particular song.

For the main staccato rhythms I cut only two tracks with this amp. These are of course the most prominent. There are other guitar tracks in there, but none as overt as these.

Of course, if I were producing a hard rock record, I could see stacking as many as eight tracks of this amp. It could work.

[b-magical]

Hey Man,
The guitars sound freakin' great. Hope we can keep that amp around awhile. I'm looking forward to using it as well. Keep up the good work!!!

B

[Produce_dept]

Originally Posted by picksail

Let me know what you think guys.

I feel that the amp worked perfectly within the context of this particular song.

For the main staccato rhythms I cut only two tracks with this amp. These are of course the most prominent. There are other guitar tracks in there, but none as overt as these.

Of course, if I were producing a hard rock record, I could see stacking as many as eight tracks of this amp. It could work.

I think the track sounds great! Not to mention the guitars =) I do alot of similar work (similar genre)

Could you talk a little about the track? Did you program on the track? Record? Mix?

What is the bass synth? The piano (a sampler or a workstation keyboard?)

What sort of FX did you use to mix it?
How about the drums? Any sample replacment? BeatDetective?

Thanks!

[picksail]

Originally Posted by Produce_dept

I think the track sounds great! Not to mention the guitars =) I do alot of similar work (similar genre)

Wow!!! Thanks so very much for the complement. I really appreciate it.
I'd love to hear some of the things you are doing as well.

Originally Posted by Produce_dept

Could you talk a little about the track?

I think it's a little early to tell at this stage. At least for me anyway.

The vocals will make it come to life a bit more.

Originally Posted by Produce_dept

Did you program on the track? Record? Mix?

Nothing in the track was programmed, per se. As in, everything was performed by humans and later manipulated in it's current form by myself. Hahaha!!!

The record came to me after the basic tracks were cut. The drums were tracked at Sunset Sound. Most of the other basic instruments were cut here and there. Once I received the project I put it into overdrive. I began adding more guitars and other little effects and sound design-ya know, the 'garnish'.

This is, in fact, my mix. Of course, it's in it infancy, because we're still producing it. This was a version to present my current progress to the musicians/composers. Plus, the vocalist wanted something to work with in pre-production. I can't wait to actually cut the vocals for this puppy. The mix is gonna be fun too.

Originally Posted by Produce_dept

What is the bass synth?

You mean the little part that's underneath the staccato rythmns? Thats just some standard synth bass with a sawtooth wave, I assume. I took the liberty of manipulating it a bit. My perception was to have it "breathe" and work rythmically with the song. So basically, I just filtered all the hi/low end out of it and used the mid bands to poke a hole through the mix. Then I used some delay/reverb and pumped the compressor to create a 'breathey sort of release'. I used the same approach with the snare.

Originally Posted by Produce_dept

The piano (a sampler or a workstation keyboard?)

I'm pretty sure it was a sampled piano of some sort. Otherwise I really screwed up, what could have possibly been a well recorded piano.

Originally Posted by Produce_dept

What sort of FX did you use to mix it?

You name it...It's in there. Any specifics?

Originally Posted by Produce_dept

How about the drums? Any sample replacment? BeatDetective?

No sample replacement at all. It helped that the drums were tracked marvelously. I did notice some inconsistancies in the snare hits. To my ears, I need to fly some of the better hits around. That will happen before the real mix, I can assure.

I don't like Beat Detective personally. It's a little too klugey for me. It works wonderfully for a ton of people. I just suck at it. I have my own method, which is just 'old-school ProTools'. I just do the old Tab To Transient, then press the (B) key. Then I hit Apple+0 to snap the newly sliced transient to the grid. I then, actually go into Beat Detective and hit the Edit Smoothing feature. Works for me and I can cut a three minute song into place in about five minutes.

Thanks for the kind words.
I hope I answered your questions.

[rcm]

Stewart, try putting a tube screamer type pedal in front of Brenda. I use a Maxon OD9.

if any one wants to hear some other tracks of the Brenda K in action. you can check out these bands whose records I cut using a Brenda K for all the electrics. Its sort of a pop/Chili Pepers-ish.

http://www.myspace.com/eggshellegoz

[picksail]

Originally Posted by rcm

Stewart, try putting a tube screamer type pedal in front of Brenda. I use a Maxon OD9.

if any one wants to hear some other tracks of the Brenda K in action. you can check out these bands whose records I cut using a Brenda K for all the electrics. Its sort of a pop/Chili Pepers-ish.

http://www.myspace.com/eggshellegoz

I totally had intentions of doing just that, but plugged-in and the sound I needed was there instantly. I fully expected to use a little high gain boost, but in this context I felt it was unnecessary.

I do, however, like the Maxon pedal. Nice choice!!!

[picksail]

By the way, with the exception of the the SSL 384/Great River MP2NV on the 2buss, it is otherwise, mixed entirely in the box.

[GregP]

That amp sounds great. And Eggshell Egoz are fantastic. :D I never would have heard of this amp otherwise. Man... I used to consider myself fairly well-versed, but since joining this forum, I realize how much.. er.. GEAR there is out there. ;)

Greg

[picksail]

Originally Posted by GregP

That amp sounds great. And Eggshell Egoz are fantastic. :D I never would have heard of this amp otherwise. Man... I used to consider myself fairly well-versed, but since joining this forum, I realize how much.. er.. GEAR there is out there. ;)

Greg

Thanks man.

And welcome, to the fold!!!!

[Blast9]

Lovely sound!

Did you have an octave pedal on the ta-da "verse" gtrs? Or is that the bass synth you referred to?

I really like this stuff Stewart! Hope we get to hear the finished thing!

[picksail]

Originally Posted by Blast9

Lovely sound!

Did you have an octave pedal on the ta-da "verse" gtrs? Or is that the bass synth you referred to?

I really like this stuff Stewart! Hope we get to hear the finished thing!

Weird. I wasn't expecting to get any comments on the mix. I was just offering a real-world example of how the Jule amp sounded. Cool!!!

I believe that in that section we have two acoustic guitars, three heavier guitars (one Tele and two Les Pauls. The Les Pauls being the most prominent), bass and synth bass. Bass is doubling the synth bass. Heavy guitars are simply playing the root+fifth with palm muting, acoustics are playing open chords.

This song will be finished very soon.

[Blast9]

Yes... The guitars sound great! Nice modern tone, but also very unique.

[picksail]

Originally Posted by Blast9

Yes... The guitars sound great! Nice modern tone, but also very unique.

Thanks so much!!

[picksail]

Anyone else care to comment on the guitar amp sounds? Good or bad....

I'm open to hear any and all criticism.

Thanks folks.

[DarkSky]

Very solid and tangible sound, Stewart. Works exceptionally well as a couterpoint to the subtle and airy details that come in and out on the keys - the solid rhythm and guitars really hold the line.

Should come up very nicely. I'll be interested to hear the final mix with vox etc.

Pretty good going for an ITB rough, too!

[picksail]

Thanks for saying so.

The more I hear these guitars the more I love 'em. Such a cool amp!!!!

It was so easy to get an immediately great sound.

[Meriphew]

Sounds frickin cool Stewart!

[picksail]

I'm just so pleased. It took no more two minutes to dial in the guitar sound and I was off and running. I mean, between the pre and the amp there were only two knobs in use.

[picksail]

Originally Posted by Meriphew

Sounds frickin cool Stewart!

Thanks man!!

[Firefox]

Originally Posted by rcm

Stewart, try putting a tube screamer type pedal in front of Brenda. I use a Maxon OD9.

if any one wants to hear some other tracks of the Brenda K in action. you can check out these bands whose records I cut using a Brenda K for all the electrics. Its sort of a pop/Chili Pepers-ish.

http://www.myspace.com/eggshellegoz

I just checked out Eggshell Egoz on myspace - and those guitar sounds are great! The songs are very cool too. The electrics are the Brenda K? Sounds smokin! Where did you track the tunes? It sounds very hi-hi end.

[picksail]

Originally Posted by Firefox

I just checked out Eggshell Egoz on myspace - and those guitar sounds are great! The songs are very cool too. The electrics are the Brenda K? Sounds smokin! Where did you track the tunes? It sounds very hi-hi end.

It is a kick ass amp. I think that Ronan had his 'tweaked' to his liking.

I like the way this one sounded upon delivery.

[rcm]

Hey Thanks guys.

I tracked them at Veneto West, my studio in LA, did the whole album there.

I am sure there were some toys put in front of the Brenda K. The Tube Screamer, a WEM copycat delay and maybe a few other things.

[Produce_dept]

Originally Posted by picksail

By the way, with the exception of the the SSL 384/Great River MP2NV on the 2buss, it is otherwise, mixed entirely in the box.

Very cool - what plugins did you end up using primarily as far as compressors, eq's and reverb?

When the track came did it have guitars? did you 'accent' them with the Brenda or did you replace them?

Sounds great!

[picksail]

Originally Posted by Produce_dept

Very cool - what plugins did you end up using primarily as far as compressors, eq's and reverb?

When the track came did it have guitars? did you 'accent' them with the Brenda or did you replace them?

Sounds great!

I don't think that I used any EQ other than the Digi EQ3 (...and it's free!!!)

Compressors were probably Waves RenComp, L1, UA 1176/LA2A. (These are just channel inserts)

The track came in with a few scratch guitars and I added all the primaries here myself with the Brenda K.

[RoundBadge]

Sounds great!
good job Stewart..cool stuff



Now i want another amp

[Produce_dept]

Originally Posted by RoundBadge

Now i want another amp

Me Too!

[picksail]

Originally Posted by RoundBadge

Sounds great!
good job Stewart..cool stuff



Now i want another amp

Thanks RB!!!

It is a really great amp. And this is coming from both a mixer and guitarist.

You can get in touch with Jule. He's a member of this fine community known as GearSlutz!!

[picksail]

Originally Posted by Produce_dept