PDA

View Full Version : All of the above!!


jamsire
5th August 2008, 2.16 pm
A very interesting weekend.

This past weekend I spent all day Sunday with my new buddy from MySpace - Jim! We had been meaning to meet for a while and we finally got together on Sunday. Jim is a guitarist/ new tapper dude. He was actually in attendance at the NY Stick Seminar evening concert last year.

Jim is getting ready to embark upon a very interesting career path; he is getting his license as a message therapist and will be working with musicians and their particular ailments - very nice.

So, this Sunday was the first time ever that I had someone over that focused on tapping. Jim had a really nice Chapman Stick - I think it was Paduk, and it was a 10-string. All I know is that it was very light and I totally loved it. Sounded great and felt even better.

Greg - I will be sending my two Sticks back for repair sooner than later!!

Then, we went through the Box Guitar and decided that this is truly the unsung hero of tapping. Small, light, and sounds great. Not too much to learn differently for a guitarist tapping for the first time.

Jim primary interest were the Megatars. It was then that I realized how heavy these instruments actually are. I have never had all of my tapping instruments out all at once and it was very revealing. Having two bi-melodies and two bass bottoms, it was clear how very different a body mass adds to the tone.

I wish I had a Warr to complete the comparisons, but I somewhat concluded that it too would be somewhat on the heavy side depending on the one I would've picked 13 years ago.

Then we listened to some of my recordings on Stick from 15-18 years ago, and some of my famous recording tricks for getting a punchy Stick Bass sound. I've done some Megatar bass stuff as well as some things abusing Guitar Rig 2 to do my beckoning! I haven't done anything with the Box Guitar as of yet.

Watching Jim hold each instrument and giving comments on the hand positioning of all of them was very telling and I have a new outlook on my tapping instruments.

1. I'm fixing my Sticks as soon as I can

2. I may need the across the back MegSlider for my Megatars as I get older - I'm a tall guy and gravity has too much fun with me already!

3. I need to begin throwing down on my Box Guitar!

4. I may never get a Warr - darn!!! I should have never listened to that girlfriend at that time!

5. Get regular message therapy treatment on my shoulders and other upper body areas. Luckily, my school offers this service for a very reasonable fee.

6. Un-crossed - the real way to play?? Looks and feels more comfortable. Hmmmmmmmm.......................

That's my story on this day!

Groove on.

Thanks Jim for the enlightenment!

GaryOpenhill
5th August 2008, 2.27 pm
Someday you need to video your geetars. WOuld be nice to see (and maybe hear?) a tour.

Btw, point 6. Good point.

secondfiddle
5th August 2008, 10.10 pm
Very jealous of your collection but it has to have the what do I play factor x10. Would like to see some vids on your favorite. What model Box guitar do you have and what color is it.
Thanks.

Fiddle.

jamsire
5th August 2008, 10.21 pm
Originally posted by secondfiddle
Very jealous of your collection but it has to have the what do I play factor x10. Would like to see some vids on your favorite. What model Box guitar do you have and what color is it.
Thanks.

Fiddle.

Hey there Fiddle.

I have the SB series Box Guitar. It's a tobacco sunburst instrument. It is actually very plain in comparison to Stu Box's other instruments. But that is where the creativity comes in - it lets you do - whatever! Tuning is standard on both sides. Stacked humbuckers (I believe), and plays great.

Again, you can strum it, pluck it, and tap on it. Play it crossed or un-crossed - it doesn't have a preference, it just wants to be played.

secondfiddle
5th August 2008, 11.07 pm
Jamsire,
Thanks for the info. I am currently playing a SRB-640 tobacco sunburst also. I reloaded the pups with Lace Sensor hot golds and it really made a big difference, its a very versatile instrument like you mentioned.

Fiddle.