BillAqua
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1054
Chicago IL.
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Posted on Feb 27 2006 10:17 PM
The Reluctant Aquanauts did some low quality recordings at our drummers studio at our last rehearsal. I put them up on our Myspace, "Dirty Robber" and "Justine" One mic on both amps, one over the drums, and we sang into the room mic which is a vintage shure 55. We were trying to get a Crossfires sound.
http://www.myspace.com/reluctantaquanauts
— "as he stepped into the stealthy night air... little did he know the fire escape was not there"
https://www.facebook.com/reluctantaquanauts/
https://www.facebook.com/TheDragstripVipers/
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Acehaze
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 62
Southwest Florida
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Posted on Feb 28 2006 12:03 AM
You guys are great! Those recordings are actually pretty good, I've heard much worse audio quality. Look forward to hearing more of your music. I'm sure your album will make it into my collection.
Coming to Florida anytime in the future? What? There's surf down here, no, really.
— I'm Batman...No not <I>that</I> Batman. :p
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drpluto
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 124
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Posted on Feb 28 2006 12:28 AM
Man, cut the whole fucking album like that. I love that sound. Just a whole bunch a dudes in a room with a couple of mics. It just sounds so much more gritty than a "real" studio recording.
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BillAqua
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1054
Chicago IL.
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Posted on Feb 28 2006 12:51 AM
drpluto
Man, cut the whole fucking album like that. I love that sound. Just a whole bunch a dudes in a room with a couple of mics. It just sounds so much more gritty than a "real" studio recording.
Thanks!
I really like it like that as well, as I've said on the SG101 Yahoo group I really think lo-fi recording techniques pick up guitar with a lot of reverb really well. The Fender IV stuff is a testament to that. We are still trying to figure out how we want to record the next album, probably at better quality than those demos. But, it would be nice to get a little creative in the studio with more equipment. We've been able to get our hands on some late 50s ampex tube preamps, and our drummer is starting a collection of old microphones. I know very little about recording. But what I'm learning is that a good room, and proper room mics if your going for a live sound are pretty much a must.
— "as he stepped into the stealthy night air... little did he know the fire escape was not there"
https://www.facebook.com/reluctantaquanauts/
https://www.facebook.com/TheDragstripVipers/
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Acehaze
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 62
Southwest Florida
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Posted on Feb 28 2006 01:58 AM
Yeah, I have to agree the "rawness" of the recordings gives it that much more edge. I mean, hey, it worked for Iggy Pop and the Stooges, and countless others. I don't know very much about recording as well, but I'm pretty sure if you mic open room, hardwood floors and high ceilings help a ton. It worked for Man or Astroman?, take a look at their studio space, (which you can rent for a very resonable price, btw. Not that I'm affiliated in anyway, I would just love to record there one day, it's only a day away from where I live. Hehe).
— I'm Batman...No not <I>that</I> Batman. :p
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drpluto
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 124
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Posted on Feb 28 2006 02:35 AM
When I ever get a descent band that doesn't include a bunch of lazy asses I'm gonna record in that studio. Did you check out the list of vintage equipment they have?
Acehaze
Yeah, I have to agree the "rawness" of the recordings gives it that much more edge. I mean, hey, it worked for Iggy Pop and the Stooges, and countless others. I don't know very much about recording as well, but I'm pretty sure if you mic open room, hardwood floors and high ceilings help a ton. It worked for Man or Astroman?, take a look at their studio space, (which you can rent for a very resonable price, btw. Not that I'm affiliated in anyway, I would just love to record there one day, it's only a day away from where I live. Hehe).
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Acehaze
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 62
Southwest Florida
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Posted on Feb 28 2006 02:53 AM
drpluto
When I ever get a descent band that doesn't include a bunch of lazy asses I'm gonna record in that studio. Did you check out the list of vintage equipment they have?
I feel like I'm talking to myself reading that quote. Yeah, I checked out the equipment they have there...I'd be like a kid in a candy store. You?
— I'm Batman...No not <I>that</I> Batman. :p
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Vendo
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 20
Pittsburgh
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Posted on Feb 28 2006 07:22 AM
Bill, I LOVE your version of Dirty Robber. Definitely record a whole album like that. I would buy it in an instant. You should cover The Cat Came Back and Shortnin' Bread. Love the way the drums sound also.
Are you singing lead?
Last edited: Feb 28, 2006 07:34:57
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WR
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 3832
netherlands
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Posted on Feb 28 2006 07:33 AM
bill, wow, awesome - great recordings, very 50's sounding to my ear (meant as a compliment)
but uh, didn't you used to be a surf band? without kidding, are the RA goin into a more rock and roll direction? (not meant negative, i'm just curious. I actually like the singing)
WR
— Rules to live by #314:
"When in Italy, if the menu says something's grilled, don't assume it is."
https://www.facebook.com/The-Malbehavers-286429584796173/
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Vendo
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 20
Pittsburgh
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Posted on Feb 28 2006 07:46 AM
Bill, btw, do you have The Ready Men cd? Reverb drenched r'n'r madness.
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krupanut
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 492
Austin Texas
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Posted on Feb 28 2006 10:52 AM
Sounds great Bill!
DYI recording is a blast.
We just started recording tracks with the Thunderchiefs for a record in my extra bedroom.
After doing a few, one mic to a cassette four track, demos (ya'll can hear them on our myspace page link below) and digging the room sound.
We thought hell with a bit better deck and a little more control we could get a pretty decent sound.
I've done a few records in the past on all vintage equipment.
The key to making it sound good I found was tuning the room.
Not an easy thing to do in such a limited space.
The thing that makes it more feasible was mixing new technology with the old.
Right now I'm using an 8 track A-dat machine, borrowed from Fort Horton studios and a batch of cheap dynamic mics with a good condenser on the drums.
Basically the digital recording is very clean and the room and crappy mics
dirty it up.
I pre-amp though an old bell tube unit which warms it all up a bit.
It all depends on the sound you want.
The Crossfires sound on some of those demo and live recordings.
or The Sentinals Latina.
Remember allot of those Surf records we all hold so dear where very clean recordings that even hold up sonically to modern recordings.
Most even in Stereo. With the new digital work stations you can get very close to sounding like you cut it at Capitol in 63.
With an ampex 350, you need to cut it at Capitol.
Now that being said, there is nothing like taking an old ampex and recording something at home that sounds like it came straight out of Downey!
The other thing to remember that I see with a lot of bands trying to get a vintage sound, (mostly rockabilly bands it seems) is that no matter what you do equipment wise or techniques you use, you sound like you sound. Itâs mainly in the fingers if you get what Iâm saying.
Example: Young rockabilly band books Fort Horton because they heard Nick Currans record and it sounded like an old Specialty record. They come in and say the want to sound like Gene Vincent. So Billy Horton sets it all up like Bradleyâs Barn and twittles the knobs like Ken Nelson. The band lays down a few cuts, listens to it and sayâs canât you make us sound more like Gene Vincent? So Billy has to tell them, not until you can sing like Gene Vincent and your band can play like the blue caps. I canât do any thing more, thatâs how YOU sound. Does that make sense?
Iâm excited to hear what the Reluctant A-nauts lay down in the near future.
No matter how you guys do it, itâll sound killer because yâall ARE killer!
BTW, Bill the sure 55 is a great vocal mic for recording. We used one on most of the tracks for the Shaun Young "Wiggle Walk" cd. The U-87 and RCA-44 sat in the corner!
— The Thunderchiefs
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spskins
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 3747
tn
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Posted on Feb 28 2006 11:01 AM
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BillAqua
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1054
Chicago IL.
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Posted on Feb 28 2006 11:52 AM
Thanks a lot everyone.
Vendo,
Have you heard the Phantom Surfer's version of "the Cat Came Back". Have you heard of the Navarros, "Where was Moses when the Lights Went Out". It's a really good frat rocker, so I'm thinking' about adapting that to some "beer" lyrics. I should get a copy og the Readymen, I've heard it tho. Aren't they the Trashmen copies fom Minn?
Krupanut,
Which Thundercheif are you? I met Bobby at a party here in Chicago, I think it was right around the time you guys put those songs up because I remember him telling me about them(the guy who's house I met him has some killer mics, and old recording equipment). You guys kick ass!
We had the shure 55 set up as the room mic, and we had a vocal mic set up next to it, where the vocals came through a small practice amp(this was not mic'ed). Just the 55 by itself sounded excellent. and not only picked up the vocals strongly, but pretty much everything very well.
WR,
I think we still intend to be a surf band, if we do a set of 15 songs we may stick in 3 vocals. We've played this local monthly rockabilly roots jamboree in Chicago for on and off for the past two years, evertime we get up and play the guys stand there and cheer for us, and the girls stop dancing. So we did the vocal numbers last month and had a lot of people dancing, and it was really a lot of fun too. Plus, they asked us back to be a host band. We've been thinking about doing the vocals for awhile, I justify it that all my favorite surf bands did vocals. Even the might Showmen did the "Showmen Stomp". We may be adding a sax and a second guitarist soon as well. So we'll be doing something atleast.
Here's another song we've messed around with, Bobby Fuller Four's "Keep On Dancing". I have to add we had a lot of beer during these recordings.
http://home.comcast.net/~superreverb65/Keep_On.mp3
— "as he stepped into the stealthy night air... little did he know the fire escape was not there"
https://www.facebook.com/reluctantaquanauts/
https://www.facebook.com/TheDragstripVipers/
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krupanut
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 492
Austin Texas
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Posted on Feb 28 2006 12:31 PM
Thanks Bill,
"Keep on Dancing" is bitchin!
I'm Shaun Young.
I guess I need to start signing up on these message boards as Shaun.
The Krupanut nick comes from my car club, the Kontinentals who started calling me that because I play the drums for a few swing bands and I'm nuts about Gene Krupa.
I use it as a username on a bunch of forums, easy to remember.
Man, our bands sound like we're cut from the same cloth.
We've been working up some original vocal tunes and talking about working up "Pamela" by Bobby Fuller.
Bobby sings "One Potato" by the Crossfires and Joe does "You Werenât Using Your Head" by the Wailers.
I sing a Rivieras esque "Looking for Someone to Love" along with a few tunes I wrote.
It's fun to have a few vocal tunes in the set and I agree, most early Surf bands did there share of singing.
Adding a Sax would be great! It's the most missed piece of the pie in moderen Surf bands.
— The Thunderchiefs
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unlunf
Joined: Feb 28, 2006
Posts: 106
The Vatican
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Posted on Feb 28 2006 01:11 PM
Say Bill, I don't see any links to any music samples on your MySpace site. Obviously other people are hearing the tunes, so I assume that there should be links, no? If they're supposed to be present, and I'm not getting them, then that means that MySpace is storing the audio files on some server other than their own, probably one that I've got blocked (usually for reasons of privacy).
I also checked out your regular site - no music there at all!
unlunf
— MY RIGHT HAND IS FASTER THAN YOURS!
(copyright 2003, Bruce Welch)
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BillAqua
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1054
Chicago IL.
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Posted on Feb 28 2006 01:27 PM
Shaun, I like the Rivieras too. I always thought their take of "Mamma Don't Allow" would be a good live song.
I'd like to hear your original vocal numbers when you get them done.
Unlunf, Myspace should just start the songs there's a box with conventional buttons for "play" and "stop". Then you can select which track you want by clicking on them, they should be in a blue font.
— "as he stepped into the stealthy night air... little did he know the fire escape was not there"
https://www.facebook.com/reluctantaquanauts/
https://www.facebook.com/TheDragstripVipers/
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unlunf
Joined: Feb 28, 2006
Posts: 106
The Vatican
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Posted on Feb 28 2006 01:51 PM
Bill,
Thanks, that explains it. If I bypass my Proxo filters, then I get it. Normally, I don't allow sounds/music to start automatically - I tend to raise my Chinese laundry bill by 10% every time the speakers blast out without my expecting it!
unlunf
— MY RIGHT HAND IS FASTER THAN YOURS!
(copyright 2003, Bruce Welch)
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krupanut
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 492
Austin Texas
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Posted on Feb 28 2006 02:12 PM
BillAqua
Shaun, I like the Rivieras too. I always thought their take of "Mamma Don't Allow" would be a good live song.
I'd like to hear your original vocal numbers when you get them done.
Unlunf, Myspace should just start the songs there's a box with conventional buttons for "play" and "stop". Then you can select which track you want by clicking on them, they should be in a blue font.
I'll throw one up on the myspace page soon and let everyone here know, when I get em' mixed.
— The Thunderchiefs
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Klas
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 2286
Stockholm, Sweden
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Posted on Feb 28 2006 04:32 PM
Bill, the new songs sounds great! Always nice with a surf band that also does some vocal stuff, especially Bobby Fuller stuff!
Speaking of BF4, we covered about 6-7 of their songs over the years in the Daytonas including "The Magic Touch" (check it out below). I recently read that he didn't want to record that song but I always thought of it among the best stuff they did.
The Daytonas "The Magic Touch"
(from "Parabolica", Corduroy Records, Australia 1998)
— T H E ✠ S U R F I T E S
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25500
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Feb 28 2006 07:36 PM
Bill,
I'm not a huge fan of the Frat/garage side of surf, but if you keep the guitars rippin' behind the vocals like that all the time, I'm in!!
I really liked the 2 instros on your my space alot.
Tell your bass player his lines on the Saint's wake are superb.
I've been meaning to get your cd for awhile, just too much stuff
out there. But can you contact me off list and I'll get your address and
get one now!!
Jeff-bigtikidude@yahoo.com
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
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