Recorded my first PSG Instrumental...

Grant Johnson · Post by **Grant Johnson** » 2 Feb 2005 8:58 am

I got a wild hair this weekend and recorded a ditty on my computer... This is my first song written for PSG. It is called Sky Valley Bounce. As you can hear I am very influenced by the Bakersfield players.
As I listen more I am getting a bit "pitchy" above the 12th fret marker, I need to work on my ear on those passages.
http://www.bigsmokey.com/skyvalleyMP3.mp3
This was recorded onto Cakewalk 9.3 using drum loops, and all stringed instruments were run direct using a Johnson J-Station and Mastered through "t-racks".

Any feedback regarding playing and recording(constructive of course!) is appreciated.
Thanks for listening!

-Grant Johnson

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www.bigsmokey.com
[This message was edited by Grant Johnson on 02 February 2005 at 09:02 AM.]

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 2 Feb 2005 9:04 am

Sounds great, Grant! Looks like I might have a sub for my Buckaroosters gig if I need one.

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www.tyack.com

Grant Johnson · Post by **Grant Johnson** » 2 Feb 2005 10:30 am

Thanks for the encouragement Dan!
It was nice meet you last weekend.

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 2 Feb 2005 11:04 am

cool Grant, good job..
Hook

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HookMoore.com
Allen Moore

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 2 Feb 2005 11:41 am

Good Job Grant. I love the Bakersfield sound!

Terry

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Zum D10 /8x5 / session 500rd/ American Strat Highway 1 model
steelin for my Lord

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 2 Feb 2005 11:55 am

Very nice Grant! it's a little "busy" IMO but heck it's your first, and it's way better than MY first was

.

I enjoyed the other clips on your site as well.

I'd love to hear you guys play some time.

how long have you been playing steel?

(and the pix of Jon Rauhouse playing the ZB Student S10 are cool too

)

Grant Johnson · Post by **Grant Johnson** » 2 Feb 2005 3:33 pm

Thanks Dave, I have to stop myself from being too busy as a six stringer and that is translating over to PSG I'm afraid!
I have been serious about the PSG for about two years, though I have played bluegrass dobro and lap steel for several years...
Yeah Jon is a hoot! He plays more cool stuff on a student model than I do on a D10!

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 2 Feb 2005 9:54 pm

Grant.. Very cool!!. A few things you might consider.. How about taking one of the instrumental "verses" and using a more staccato palm muted attack using the same note selection .. something like that..

or possibly taking one of the B parts of the song and using a TOTALLY different steel sound?.. I like the melody,the musical ideas put forth, its a happy little ditty too. I would keep it basically intact and just use a few variations of your own choosing concerning tone/attack/feel... NICE work!!! bob

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 3 Feb 2005 2:18 am

great twang..

good job, thanks for posting it

t

Bob Hickish · Post by **Bob Hickish** » 3 Feb 2005 5:27 am

Grant
That gives me a bad case of
Talent Envy
Fantastic Job !!!

Bob

Howard Tate · Post by **Howard Tate** » 3 Feb 2005 6:02 am

Good clean picking, nice guitar licks too. Thanks for sharing.

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Howard, 'Les Paul Recording, Zum S12U, Vegas 400, Boss ME-5, Boss DM-3
http://www.Charmedmusic.com

Grant Johnson · Post by **Grant Johnson** » 4 Feb 2005 9:58 am

Thanks for your responses. If I have time this weekend, I am going to re-cut some of the PSG tracks...
I may experiment miking my amp as opposed to going direct...

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 4 Feb 2005 10:17 am

Grant, I love that clear trebley bright tone! Real west coast. Can you tell us what steel and amp you used? This is the sound I strive for when I play. Not that modern warm muddy tone.[This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 04 February 2005 at 10:17 AM.]

Grant Johnson · Post by **Grant Johnson** » 4 Feb 2005 11:13 am

Thanks Kevin.
My Steel is a 1974 MSA Classic D-10, through a Goodrich 120 Pedal. That track was cut through a Johnson J-Station set on the Blackface setting to emulate a Fender Twin. Live, I go through a Blackface Vibroverb 1x15 or borrow a Twin for bigger gigs...

Les Anderson · Post by **Les Anderson** » 4 Feb 2005 11:47 am

Very clean picking Grant. No added clutter and right on the mark from start to finish. Great job.

Larry Robbins · Post by **Larry Robbins** » 4 Feb 2005 1:11 pm

Very nice stuff, Grant! I would listen to you play steel anytime! Thanks for posting and dont hesitate to post some more. Love
that Bakersfield style!

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Sho-Bud ProII, Pro III custom,
Fender Steelking,Hilton pedal,Tut Taylor "Virginian"

J Hill · Post by **J Hill** » 4 Feb 2005 2:06 pm

A beginner's assessment here. That's how a Steel's supposed ta sound.

Leila

Grant Johnson · Post by **Grant Johnson** » 7 Feb 2005 8:27 am

BTW/ The Pick-Ups are the stock MSA single-coils. I had humbuckers on my first two steel guitars and I am now really sold on single coils for their brightness and articulation...