I finally received my Voodoo Lab (technically it’s a DMC still) Ground Control Pro midi foot controller yesterday. I went out and bought me a midi cable and set it up last night! I already have all my preferred amp presets all configures! Various lead and rhythm configurations! It’s great! It’s all just a smaller step towards realizing my greater rig dreams! I’m ready to play big shows, now! I’m ready to rock in my band, Shadows Entwined! Fuck yeah!
My new baby! My mint Engl Invader 100, ready to rock!
New Amp! Finally!
So a little over a week ago, I finally found/made a sweet deal on an amp. This guy was trying to sell his Engl Invader 100 for quite a while and never had any success. I was dealing with him and haggling on and off, but after he had no luck he finally broke down and sold it to me for 1950 flat, shipping and all. I just got it yesterday and it looks brand new! It sounds fan-fucking-tastic! I’m very excited and can’t wait to start jamming, playing some shows and eventually recording with it! Now all I need is a midi foot controller for it!
Amp Buy/Sell Fail
Well, the amp I was looking to buy, the Engl Special Edition for $2,500 is falling through. These guys that are selling it are totally making it harder than it has to be. *sigh* It seemed like such a great deal, too. I even worked him down to $2,400…. Oh well. Next time around, I guess.
The Lord of the Amps
So, as I’ve been on my quest for finding “the amp for me”, I found a sweet deal on a used Engl Special Edition E670….One amp, to rule them all… It’s that awesome!
Now I just need to muster up the rest of the money I need to buy it. I’ve got some serious gear plans, so hopefully it all works out.
Still need to find the time to update on my bands. I’m in 2, now. More on that later, though.
Bands and Gear, But Mostly Gear
I’ll be posting some updates soon about my bands.
First, though, I’m in a gear rut… I’m totally looking to spend some money on new, good gear. I want to start a little rack. So far I got myself a sweet Korg DTR-1000 rack mount tuner. I love that thing, so simple, but efficient and it looks cool. It adds to the stage. I’m in the process of getting myself a nice power conditioner, because that’s important. Now I just need a rack.
I’m also looking in to buying a new amp. My old Randall RG-100 just isn’t cutting it anymore. Plus, to make things worse, I don’t even have the foot switch for it anymore, so I can’t switch between the clean and OD channels conveniently and that’s going to be an absolute must. I have a distortion pedal that I love, but apparently the other guitar player in one of my bands thinks it sounds terrible, but I still think it sounds great.
Right now, I’m looking at a Mesa Boogie/Engineering Dual Rectifier Roaster head, an Engl Savage 120 and an Engle Invader 100. The Invader 100 is the most expensive one, but the most versatile. I’ve been able to find the Savage 120 and the Rectifier Roadster for about the same price…but I’m torn. I just wish the cost a little bit less…I’m going used, of course, because it’s way cheaper.
If anyone has any experience with these amps, let me know what you think!
For shiggles, I’m uploading a photo of my Dad and I at the 2012 Dean NAMM Jam. It was a great show!
SOPA
The movement to end all online piracy for the music and movie worlds and restore order?
Hardly.
SOPA is an explosive-device tucked between the legs of a smiling, waving buisness-man in a teddy-bear costume, asking if you want a Popsicle out of his cellar.
In legal terms - SOPA is…
For those of you inclined towards metal. Please, check these guys out. However, the band line up is changing, including vocals, but it will still be more or less the same. Check it out.
Band Search Update
Ok folks, so about 3 weeks or so ago, I posted an add for a lead guitar player on Craigslist, and I posted the music I play, love and know. I was contacted by various people, some guys young, some guys old, various styles of music.
Two bands that had a pretty solid and promising sounding thing going were both asking me to learn songs to audition. One is a Spanish Rock cover band, focusing on hits from the Spanish Rock legends, Heroes del Silencio. The other is a Power Metal band with Black Metal flavors added in to it. It’s all originals and the band is called Shadows Entwined. I’ll post up links later so any good folks out there can check out the band and hopefully reblog.
I already got the gig with the Spanish Rock cover band, so I’m learning various tunes for them, which actually still includes some English cover songs, like The Doors, Billy Idol, The Cure and HIM.
The second gig seems to be going well so far. Learning the songs has been challenging, but not impossible. I’ve been learning a lot about my playing ability and proving to myself that I can play with a really tight, solid metal band. I’m going to have to start listening to more progressive and power metal again, though, to hone my writing to their style.
Finally! Good musicians and good times!!
