Sleepy Sleepy Dreamtime

Sun Dec 15, 2024 12:03 pm

I recently bought a Fractal FM3 modeller/effects unit, and have been having great fun exploring the possibilities. In order to avoid getting 'option paralysis', I have been trying stuff on the FM3 then experimenting using the patches I have created in song creation.

This tune is the result of this approach. I started off with the pedal steel, basically I am raking the strings using the pedals and knee levers to create a chord, rather than picking triads etc. I then added a bass track using my Electric Upright Bass, then put some melody guitar down, all instruments using patches in the FM3. To test out the patches with different guitars, I recorded the melody on a selection of guitars to see how the patches worked with each one.

So I ended up with a variety of guitars basically playing the same melody. I used sections of some of the guitars used to create the final song. The first melody section was played on my Washburn KC70, the second section on my Harley Benton 335 and the final section is a double harmony using my Tokai MIK Les Paul.

Played a drum track into it and a synth pad, this was the result. Thought it had a dreamy feel to it hence the title.

Sun Dec 15, 2024 9:41 pm

Sounds like a lot of work Geoff but a sweet sound on the end result! Hope all is well with you and the health his holding up!

Mon Dec 16, 2024 11:16 am

Thanks Bob. A lot of work but enjoyable, having a lot of fun exploring my new toy. Health wise, things are as good as they have been for while, obviously nowhere near how I was before the condition, but slowly improving as time goes on. I may even be OK with a trip to Gartcosh next year at some point, the last time really took it out of me, but if things continue to improve I can see myself getting there.

Hope you are keeping well yerself, you certainly have not lost your touch on the Steel :guitar:

Tue Dec 17, 2024 2:40 am

Very enjoyable piece of work Geoff, and as Mr A. Commented the final result is just right, I slept peacefully after two listens, very dreamy, thanks for posting and good night :guitar:

Tue Dec 17, 2024 11:36 am

Thanks Roy. I often listen to stuff I've recorded late at night , through headphones of course, to think about what I need to do next etc. This one has me dozing off after a couple of listens :lol:

Think I need to do some more lively stuff at some point!

Website · Fri Dec 20, 2024 4:56 pm

Nicely done Geoff...all holds together rather well I thought. Having played Gibson 335s (and eventually a 355) throughout the late 70s to the late 80s (I was a big Larry Carlton fan back then), I wonder what you make of the Harley Benton? They're certainly cheap but with good reviews.

Glad to see/hear you're on the up.

Sat Dec 21, 2024 12:57 pm

Thanks Gary. I have only played a Gibson 335 back in the 80's as a friend was using one, so can't really do a comparison. I remember it sounded really sweet, but he ended up selling it as it wouldn't hold tune. I guess he could have tried stuff to fix that but he wasn't that type of guy. He was/is a fanatical Steely Dan fan, in fact he often gets nicknamed Steely Danny :lol:

. I think it was probably Larry Carlton he was trying to emulate with it.

The HB is a nice guitar for the price and the build quality is not too bad. Though with guitars of this price they often need a bit of work to get them up to a standard. I have replaced the tuners with locking tuners, put in a new nut, bridge and tailpiece and it had a few buzzing frets, so I did a fret dressing and polish. To highlight the difference in quality finish - when I was replacing the nut I noticed that the bass side was higher than the treble side and I thought that I had sanded the nut at an angle, when I had a closer look, it became apparent that the wood on the guitar was not even and was raising the bass side higher. So I had to file this so it was even over the while length on the nut. Got there in the end and it plays fine now. The pickups were actually OK but being the tinkerer I am, I replaced them with a set of Vanson PAF's, and recently replaced the neck pickup with a Gibson Burstbucker 2. It has a mahogany block on the middle on the inside to improve sustain.

It is the only HB I have bought, not sure if I'd buy another. Is the work required to get them up to a professional level worth the saving in the price?

Here's a couple of pics.

Website · Sat Dec 21, 2024 3:09 pm

Wow...now that is some work! Maybe not for me then. Yes, the Gibson 335 has a very sweet tone (the only Gibson I could ever get on with to be honest). I did buy an Ephiphone 339 about 5 years ago, mainly because I loved the look of it, and the coil taps were nice, but I never really needed it, so sold it in the end. I must say the build quality and finish on the Epiphone was really good, so maybe their version of the dot 335 would be a better bet than the HB? Who knows?