Monday, October 22, 2012

Call Me No One show

So I finally got around to posting this vid taken with my iphone 4s. It takes ok video in the dark. This footage is from 2 months ago.

  CMNO

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Fake Seymour Duncan pickup

I'm a big fan of Seymour Duncan pickups. Dimarzio lacks a warmth that I like in Duncan. I really dig Clint Lowery's tone on the side project Call Me No One. He has this half cocked wah pedal tone. I was advised through a few forums that Clint uses a Duncan Sh-11, basically an sh-5 with alinco II magnets. It gives you the vintage tone you want with more hotness. I'm all about the hotness. Becareful what deals you snatch up on ebay. This is not a Duncan pickup. It's a micro-phonic turd! Be careful of the turds you bid on on eBay.

 I understand having Clint's exact gear will not allow me to write songs like Sevendust. CMNO's guitar tone is so deep it rivals that of Dean DeLeo (STP). I have learned lately (this evening) that I don't like tube amps as much as I like a computer replicating a tube amp sound. Tube amps sound like chicken pot pie when cranked wide open. It's delicious yes, but you don't know where the chicken ends and the veggies begin. Most of the tube amps I've heard have a signature sound. Fender bassman's do country and blues like no one's business. Mesa's own the hard rock and metal industry with an iron fist. Peavey owns a sliver of the classic rock and metal industry because they can't produce a clean tone to save their effin' life! That's right, I said it, Peavey can't get the basic clean tone down. There was a part of me that was hoping that my Eleven Rack's 6505+ preset would look retarded in the light of an actual 6505+ tube combo amp. I post this embarrassingly with my tail between my legs. In the words of Mr. Anselmo, Peavey "can lick my sack."

Saturday, October 13, 2012

6l6 replacement

First time having to re-tube an amp was a learning experience. I just got a Peavey 6505+ off eBay  I prepared for the worst (the tubes might be dead). Most new guitarist learn how great tube amps sound but don't realize that tubes have to be changed out fairly often if you crank the amp a lot. They can last anywhere from 6 months to 3 years. I dream of having a tube stereo in my living room one day. They just sound too damn good! The Peavey 6505+ combo amp comes with Ruby 6l6gc power tubes. The original owner claims he bought the amp new, 2 years ago. When I got the amp it produced this nasty BLAT sound when you played hard and loud. The notes sounded overly compressed and indistinguishable for a second then level out and sound normal. Everything online told me it likely needed to be re-tubed. Some tubes glow completely blue when going out. Ruby 6l6gc's I have learned have a blue and orange glow normally. I have to assume the original owner wouldn't change the biasing from the factory setting, you never know with some people though (tech support has taught me this).


When getting a tube amp it's a good assumption that the previous user cranked it all the time and burned up the tubes. You would do the same. Tubes only sound better (warm analog sound, like record player quality) as you crank them. I replaced the 2 power tubes and one preamp tube. Problem solved! The overly compressed sound went away. Amp sounds more responsive! I have 5 preamp tubes and 2 power tubes. I bought 2 power tubes and 3 preamp tubes, all for about $130. Worth it. I replaced these tubes (pictured below).

I mean how cute is this?

Can't get enough of these pics I took of Joaney, 3 weeks ago. This is really who she is. I always had this same scowl on my face as a kid.

If you play guitar, you know how big these guitars are. She's my little sunflower.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Birthday 3

Spent some time with Joaney on her 3rd. I owed her real cookies to
make up for last years crumby cookie cake debacle. She seems to like
plain sugar cookies the most, go figure.

Drunk

Drunk cougar birthday parties are fun to be a part of, even when ur not invited.

Locked out

So I'm locked out of my facebook while they are confirming my identity. Weird but I know facebook is not big on anonymity. I've been keeping myself very busy. Bought a combo amp to play some live shows with. Met some guys who are forming a cover band and tried out for that. I've learned about half the set list. The set list is simple and fun stuff like:
Sublime - Santeria
Silverchair - Tomorrow
Joan Jett - I love Rock and Roll
Theory of a Deadman - Bad Girlfriend
Seven Mary Three - Cumbersome
Metallica - Enter Sandman

Lotsa good stuff from the 90's mostly. It's been a lot of fun learning these songs, whether I get into the band or not. If things don't work out with the band I might jump more into Crossfit. I don't like sitting still and enjoy meeting new people.