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I recently picked up the Bear Family Records Astronauts CD's that were
recommended. I really like those instros with the 3 guitars going full
force. The guy doing the muted parts must have gotten bored if that was his
only role in the band :) However it sure makes the song work. I was messing
around trying to replicate that lead guitar muted sound as heard on Movin'.
What are your tips for achieving that? Here is what I have found:
-Volume volume volume. I just couldn't get the full effect without turning
up.
-Tons of reverb. Thats an easy one.
-Turning up the treble
-My first attempts on the Strat failed because I was pressing too hard with
my palm, making the notes go sharp.
-Its easier to mute on the Jag because the bridge sticks up there.
I actually played this part on the Jag with the mute engaged and it sounded
pretty good. The notes did go just a hair sharp so I may have to do some
adjusting of the mute or bridge height.
The Astronauts played Jazzmasters right? All three guys?
Man I dig The Hearse and El Aguila (not to be confused with Christina
Aguilla-whatever). Those two songs seem to have the almost same rhythm
guitar parts.
Thanks,
BN
At 21:17 16/05/02 -0500, you wrote:
>The Astronauts played Jazzmasters right? All three guys?
I might be mistaken, but I reckon I've seen a picture of them with Jaguars.
Well, at least one of the guitarists had one.
regards,
90
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Instrumental yeahyeahyeah
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On Fri, 17 May 2002, 90 wrote:
> >The Astronauts played Jazzmasters right? All three guys?
>
> I might be mistaken, but I reckon I've seen a picture of them with Jaguars.
> Well, at least one of the guitarists had one.
Yeah, I think they switched among the two, but every picture I've seen of
them had them playing some mix of the two guitars, and I forget who played
what. I find that a Strat isn't very good for the Astronauts sound. I
have very little experience with Jags, but my Jazzmaster can achieve that
sound quite easily. The Strat's tone is a bit too sharp and direct, and
doesn't have that particular fat quality that's required to get a nice,
big, juicy, reverbed and muted note. In addition, I think an important
factor in the sound is the combination of the bridge and neck pickups,
which you can't get on a Strat unless you modify it. I set my reverb
unit to about 6-6-6 (Satan!!), with maybe the mix up to 7 sometimes, and
turn the treble on the amp up a bit, cause the reverb 'drip' is in the
treble frequencies. Voila!! Oh, heavy flatwound strings are a must to
achieve the tone. I would use at least 12-52, though I know that Evan
Foster of the Boss Martians (when they were still a surf band) would go
for 13-56 sometimes (ouch!). Hope that helps. Astronauts rule!
Ivan
Brian,
As the rhythm guitarist for The Nebulas, I live in the world with which
you describe. "Chunkin'" is what we call it. To get that drip, it's a lot
like how Eddie Angel from the Straitjackets gets his tone. It has a lot to
do with equipment, and a lot to do with the player as well. I don't use any
kind of mechanical mute. I just use the side of my hand against the bridge.
I can change the effect of the "chunking" by squeezing the muscles in my
hand tighter, giving the drip more attack, or I can push harder on the
bridge, giving it more of the after-effect of the reverb drip. Depending on
whether i use a medium or a heavy pick will change the sound, and I'm sure
the strings would too but I only use 10's. I'm pretty sure the Astronauts
had only the bridge pickup on for that sound, but I leave both pickups on.
One thing that I find ULTRA-important is that you understand that if
you're using an outboard reverb tank that you COMPLETELY TURN OFF ANY
ONBOARD REVERB ON YOUR AMP. Adding that onboard reverb will hurt your sound,
not make it better. ESPECIALLY regarding the chunkin effect. You lose the
"bite" and it just gets washed out sounding.
As for an outboard tank, I use an original vintage model, and I also have
a reissue which I've done the cap and tube mod to, and trust me, it makes a
huge difference over the stock configuration.
The Astronauts are one of The Nebulas favorite bands, and I take a lot of
cues from their style.
I could be wrong, but my ears tell me that those Astronauts chunk parts
were only played on one string.
-Dano
-=The Nebulas=-
Come see The Nebulas open for The Boss Martians on May 25th at Jake's in
Providence, RI.
_________________________________________________________________
Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger:
On Fri, 17 May 2002, -=Dan Ware=- wrote:
> I'm pretty sure the Astronauts had only the bridge pickup on for that
> sound
Really? Why do you think that? Are you talking about the rhythm
guitarist or the lead guitarist? I'm pretty sure the lead guitarist used
both pickups, but I should go back to listen to the 'chunkin' rhythm
guitarist again.
> whether i use a medium or a heavy pick will change the sound, and I'm sure
> the strings would too but I only use 10's.
10s???? Wow, Dan, I'm shocked, shocked! Nevertheless, the Nebulas
rule! (in fact, by total coincidence Nebula One is playing on my
computer as I type this!)
Ivan
PS Before the Troubadours show in Detroit last month, we had the club
playing the Nebulas CD. It was quite awesome blasting through the big PA!
The reason I'm drawing on the bridge pickup theory and the single string is
that I've got my Jap custom shop jag and if I drop out the neck pickup and
focus on a single string instead of the "power-chord" formation or the E-A-D
string combo, KABANG! dripdripdripdrip. Oh, let me add that I'm applying
this strictly to the rhythm guitar part. I'm no guitar scientist, but I'm
figuring it has something to do with the relationship to where the pickup
gets the signal from the string in relation to where your hand rests on the
bridge.
Are you still using the Custom Shop Vibrasonic or the Korg 301dl with the
Troubadours?
-Dano
Strings of choice: Danelectro Vintage 10's.
>From: IVAN PONGRACIC <>
>Reply-To:
>To:
>Subject: Re: [SurfGuitar101] Playing Muted ala The Astronauts
>Date: Fri, 17 May 2002 13:03:20 -0400 (EDT)
>
>On Fri, 17 May 2002, -=Dan Ware=- wrote:
>
> > I'm pretty sure the Astronauts had only the bridge pickup on for that
> > sound
>
>Really? Why do you think that? Are you talking about the rhythm
>guitarist or the lead guitarist? I'm pretty sure the lead guitarist used
>both pickups, but I should go back to listen to the 'chunkin' rhythm
>guitarist again.
>
> > whether i use a medium or a heavy pick will change the sound, and I'm
>sure
> > the strings would too but I only use 10's.
>
>10s???? Wow, Dan, I'm shocked, shocked! Nevertheless, the Nebulas
>rule! (in fact, by total coincidence Nebula One is playing on my
>computer as I type this!)
>
> Ivan
>
>PS Before the Troubadours show in Detroit last month, we had the club
>playing the Nebulas CD. It was quite awesome blasting through the big PA!
>
_________________________________________________________________
Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger:
On Sat, 18 May 2002, -=Dan Ware=- wrote:
> The reason I'm drawing on the bridge pickup theory and the single string is
> that I've got my Jap custom shop jag and if I drop out the neck pickup and
> focus on a single string instead of the "power-chord" formation or the E-A-D
> string combo, KABANG! dripdripdripdrip. Oh, let me add that I'm applying
> this strictly to the rhythm guitar part. I'm no guitar scientist, but I'm
> figuring it has something to do with the relationship to where the pickup
> gets the signal from the string in relation to where your hand rests on the
> bridge.
After listening to it a bit, I think you may well be right. The lead I'm
almost sure is the two-pickup setting, but the drippy rhythm definitely
could be the bridge pickup on its own. Also, thanks to Jesse
ColoradoWoodie for clearing up the Astronauts guitar lineup. It always
sounded like a Jazzmaster playing lead to me, so I'm glad to see that's
the case.
> At least myself and TooFastJim are going to be at the show. It'll be a
> reunion of sorts because it was at Ivan's last Space Cossacks show that
> Jim and I first met.
I remember it well, and I'm VERY glad I'll see you fellas again! I'm
greatly looking forward to it. The next time we'll have to get the whole
band to come and play with us!
> Are you still using the Custom Shop Vibrasonic or the Korg 301dl with the
> Troubadours?
Oh no, that wouldn't do the trick at all! I'm using a '92 reissue Vox
AC30, and a Zoom 508 Echo/Delay pedal, programmed by some guys in England
to emulate the old Shadows staggered echos. Even these are just
appoximations, but they are close approximations. Oh, I also have an old
(1958) DeArmond Volume/Tone pedal in the chain, though I only use it on
two songs - Hank Marvin used the exact same pedal from '65 to '75.
> Strings of choice: Danelectro Vintage 10's.
I know nothing about these strings. ARe they flatwound, nickel, or what?
Best regards,
Ivan
