So on the heels of my personally devastating performance last week, we are preparing for our biggest show yet on April 16th. Of the 51 songs we've laid hands on over the last 12 months, it looks like we will shoot to play about 44-46 of them in a single night. This totally blows away the ACTUAL Pixie's record of playing 33 songs in a single night.
My voice, rattled by self doubt and about six months of coughs and colds, is kind of trashed.
Last night I sat down to work on some of the tunes that give me particular trouble vocally. I was recalling all the interviews I've read with Kim Deal about how people were sad that she "wasn't allowed to sing" more and how she's basically said, screw that, I was the bass player. So I mapped out the list into 1)sing lead, 2)sing backing, 3)don't sing.
All those people who complain that Kim Deal "wasn't allowed to sing more" can go to hell. She's singing all the freaking time. I should be so lucky to have to sing less and just play the bass. That'd be lovely. There's only 12 of the 51 songs that I don't sing at all on (and I think she does sing on a few of these, like Something Against You...live, or Wave of Mutilation...studio, I just don't). I sing lead on 3 songs. And most of the other 36 songs I have a backing vocal that is usually pretty key to the song...on a few I'd even call it a "shared lead vocal" (like I Bleed or Subbacultcha).
People, as always, are stupid.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Update on Amp
Had a shot at a free speaker...but it was the wrong size.
So now I am deciding between:
Weber, 15", 60oz Ceramic magnet, 175 watt, 8 ohm, 2" bass voice coil, cloth-edged ribbed bass cone, 12lb (5.45kg), 15-1/8" (38.41cm) diameter, 6-3/8" (16.2cm) deep, $125 plus shipping (have an email to them to estimate shipping, would by direct from Weber). Built in Kokomo, Indiana.
Eminence Legend CB158 15" 300W Bass Speaker, 8 ohms, Ferrite magnet, 17.3 lbs., $120 with free shipping (from Musician's Friend)
My two lingering thoughts are...
1) how much would the shipping be from Weber
2) do I go with the 175 W or the 300 W?
The 300 W FEELS safer because it would provide plenty of head room...but that could be ignorance talking. The amp puts out 125W supposedly, but I've also read that it CAN put out 175W to an external cab. So I was hoping for a 200W speaker. But I haven't found one of those yet. What I've read and heard is that you want the speaker to match or exceed the wattage of the amp...but not exceed the wattage of the amp too much, because this also causes problems. My buddy recommended the Weber and that would match the max I've heard about the amp while exceeding slightly what the amp actually SAYS. The 300W is definitely the highest I would feel comfortable going...but it may actually be TOO high. And then there's the fact that I just feel more comfortable ordering from Musician's Friend because I've done it before.
I think the deciding factor is shipping. The shipping weight for a 12 lb speaker is probably around 15 lbs. Using the USPS calculator and assuming 20"x10"x20" package, seems like shipping ought to be about $20 for priority mail...bringing the cost up to $145 total. Not a deal breaker if it is the right speaker to get...but slightly more than the Eminence. Another issue, they build the Weber's to order, so there is a 2 week lead time. That's not really a deal breaker either, I guess.
I wish I knew what the right speaker was.
UPDATE 4/1/2011: After consulting with the electrical engineering half of my repair buddies and us both deciding that we didn't know what the right thing to do was and that we both kinda thought 300W was safest but 175W was probably actually more correct for sound...I ordered the 175W Weber.
So now I am deciding between:
Weber, 15", 60oz Ceramic magnet, 175 watt, 8 ohm, 2" bass voice coil, cloth-edged ribbed bass cone, 12lb (5.45kg), 15-1/8" (38.41cm) diameter, 6-3/8" (16.2cm) deep, $125 plus shipping (have an email to them to estimate shipping, would by direct from Weber). Built in Kokomo, Indiana.
Eminence Legend CB158 15" 300W Bass Speaker, 8 ohms, Ferrite magnet, 17.3 lbs., $120 with free shipping (from Musician's Friend)
My two lingering thoughts are...
1) how much would the shipping be from Weber
2) do I go with the 175 W or the 300 W?
The 300 W FEELS safer because it would provide plenty of head room...but that could be ignorance talking. The amp puts out 125W supposedly, but I've also read that it CAN put out 175W to an external cab. So I was hoping for a 200W speaker. But I haven't found one of those yet. What I've read and heard is that you want the speaker to match or exceed the wattage of the amp...but not exceed the wattage of the amp too much, because this also causes problems. My buddy recommended the Weber and that would match the max I've heard about the amp while exceeding slightly what the amp actually SAYS. The 300W is definitely the highest I would feel comfortable going...but it may actually be TOO high. And then there's the fact that I just feel more comfortable ordering from Musician's Friend because I've done it before.
I think the deciding factor is shipping. The shipping weight for a 12 lb speaker is probably around 15 lbs. Using the USPS calculator and assuming 20"x10"x20" package, seems like shipping ought to be about $20 for priority mail...bringing the cost up to $145 total. Not a deal breaker if it is the right speaker to get...but slightly more than the Eminence. Another issue, they build the Weber's to order, so there is a 2 week lead time. That's not really a deal breaker either, I guess.
I wish I knew what the right speaker was.
UPDATE 4/1/2011: After consulting with the electrical engineering half of my repair buddies and us both deciding that we didn't know what the right thing to do was and that we both kinda thought 300W was safest but 175W was probably actually more correct for sound...I ordered the 175W Weber.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
The Mistakes of the Past
These recordings suck less than I remember them sucking (in particular, songs 1 & 2). Which is surprising because things usually get worse the longer you leave them. The song writing is pretty juvenile and simple, sure. But I'm particularly impressed by the instrumental arrangements, which I'm sure I pulled out of my ass kind of on the fly.
I can't imagine myself sitting down and doing this kind of thing nowadays. It feels pretty foreign. Like an out-of-body experience.
Also, the idea of playing folky acoustic music feels pretty weird.
I can't imagine myself sitting down and doing this kind of thing nowadays. It feels pretty foreign. Like an out-of-body experience.
Also, the idea of playing folky acoustic music feels pretty weird.
Monday, March 28, 2011
FLIPS
Worked out three and a half Flaming Lips tunes this weekend. They were the easiest ones, but it is a start.
Fixing the Amp
Basic trouble shooting with my friends the Electrical Engineer and the Luthier revealed that the amp appears to have a partially blown speaker. I need a 15 inch 8 ohm, probably 200 Watt or 200-300 Watt speaker to replace. In theory I really only need a 120-175W speaker...but we decided some head room (but not too much) would be good to prevent future blown outs if I am going to have it cranked up most of the time. 200W probably perfect...300W probably ok, but nothing more than that.It is an easy repair I can do myself. They thought a speaker would run about $180...but I'm finding them more in the $60-$130 range.
Not really sure how to make a selection amongst the available choices. I know to be on the lookout for weight (want lightest possible...probably around 12-15 pounds). We talked a bit about maybe going with a Neodymium speaker...though I'm not sure it matters.
Candidates:
1. Neodymium P AUDIO_E15-350N, 300W, 17 pounds (if you look at the detailed specs), $92.99
2. Cheapest to date, B-52 15-85 Speaker, 300W, $69.99, 13 lbs. This seems like a no-name speaker...but really cheap and pretty light.
3. From a known retailer, Eminence Legend CB158 15" 300W Bass Speaker , 17 pounds. $119 with free shipping
4. Recommendation from the luthier, Weber 15", 60oz Ceramic magnet, 175 watt. 12 pounds. She likes this brand, but I'd rather up the wattage and this doesn't seem like a great deal or anything.
5. One of the few 200W speakers I've found, Peavey Scorpion SP-15825 8 Ohm, 13 pounds. $92.39. Has kind of a weird case. Also...this is listed as 800W max, 200W continuous. Not really sure how that compares. Most of these are RMS wattages, so I probably need to double check if I need 200 RMS or 200 Max.
God I hate figuring this kinda stuff out. If all else fails I'll probably just go with the one from Musicians Friend and call it a day. A little heavy, but less scary somehow. We live in a McDonald's world.
UPDATE: Here's one that's available locally...Eminence BETA-15A, 15" Woofer, 8 ohm, 300W, $69.99, 9 pounds
Eminence seems to have a number of models that are popping up. Their website lists 3 models specific to bass in 15 inch, but only one of the three is 8 ohm: LEGEND CB158. This is the one that Musician's Friend has for sale. The specs for the 15A that is for sale cheap locally are here. The one listed specifically for bass is twice as heavy and has some different specs. It might not be a terrible idea for me to just go with a bass specific speaker...since I don't know much about this stuff. The cheap ones are probably cheap for a reason.
P-audio doesn't list which of its products are bass specific. The one I mentioned above, the E15, is listed for "high level bass and full range response in both live sound and recorded music venues"...they have many other products as well.
The "no name" speaker above is actually by "B 52". They also do not have speakers listed as bass specific, but do have info on guitar amps.
Peavey has instrument specific speakers listed, but none that fall into the right category for my needs in terms of 15" AND 8 ohm.
Not really sure how to make a selection amongst the available choices. I know to be on the lookout for weight (want lightest possible...probably around 12-15 pounds). We talked a bit about maybe going with a Neodymium speaker...though I'm not sure it matters.
Candidates:
1. Neodymium P AUDIO_E15-350N, 300W, 17 pounds (if you look at the detailed specs), $92.99
2. Cheapest to date, B-52 15-85 Speaker, 300W, $69.99, 13 lbs. This seems like a no-name speaker...but really cheap and pretty light.
3. From a known retailer, Eminence Legend CB158 15" 300W Bass Speaker , 17 pounds. $119 with free shipping
4. Recommendation from the luthier, Weber 15", 60oz Ceramic magnet, 175 watt. 12 pounds. She likes this brand, but I'd rather up the wattage and this doesn't seem like a great deal or anything.
5. One of the few 200W speakers I've found, Peavey Scorpion SP-15825 8 Ohm, 13 pounds. $92.39. Has kind of a weird case. Also...this is listed as 800W max, 200W continuous. Not really sure how that compares. Most of these are RMS wattages, so I probably need to double check if I need 200 RMS or 200 Max.
God I hate figuring this kinda stuff out. If all else fails I'll probably just go with the one from Musicians Friend and call it a day. A little heavy, but less scary somehow. We live in a McDonald's world.
UPDATE: Here's one that's available locally...Eminence BETA-15A, 15" Woofer, 8 ohm, 300W, $69.99, 9 pounds
Eminence seems to have a number of models that are popping up. Their website lists 3 models specific to bass in 15 inch, but only one of the three is 8 ohm: LEGEND CB158. This is the one that Musician's Friend has for sale. The specs for the 15A that is for sale cheap locally are here. The one listed specifically for bass is twice as heavy and has some different specs. It might not be a terrible idea for me to just go with a bass specific speaker...since I don't know much about this stuff. The cheap ones are probably cheap for a reason.
P-audio doesn't list which of its products are bass specific. The one I mentioned above, the E15, is listed for "high level bass and full range response in both live sound and recorded music venues"...they have many other products as well.
The "no name" speaker above is actually by "B 52". They also do not have speakers listed as bass specific, but do have info on guitar amps.
Peavey has instrument specific speakers listed, but none that fall into the right category for my needs in terms of 15" AND 8 ohm.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Tame
So I recorded the March 21st show from the stage on the floor by my amp. The recorder tends to clip because if I set it to adjust it overcompensates and the levels go wildly up and down. I won't be sharing 99% of the recording, because of my horrible vocals. But we were told that "Tame" was particularly impressive. So here it is. Unfortunately, my vocal is too loud in monitor mix and RS's is too quiet for the recording. The bass is forward in the mix too cause it was cranked to max, and distorting from being effed up (and recorder is right next to it). I imagine from the audience PA mix RS's vocals blew them off their chairs:
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