/363 - Old Tricks

I quickly recorded this yesterday afternoon for a few people on the Offset Guitars Forum. I had posted a picture of my pedalboard awhile ago and got a few requests for info on my setup with the 2x Freeze pedals running in a feedback loop. I had the idea before the super ego came out -- that adding an internal feedback loop to a Freeze would let you stack sounds. That may be true but I killed 2 units (both resurrected by EHX for a nominal fee) trying to do the smd soldering required to try it out. Using a feedback looper was the next best thing. You need to play with the amount of feedback and freeze volume to avoid runaway oscillation, but it does stack sounds. It also adds some interesting overtones as it's also recapturing the original frozen sound so there is phase and tuning modulation. I love it.

Signal is jazzmaster > pedalboard (only using freezes) > THR10 > mixer > iPhone. No added reverb or anything -- all sounds are just guitar and the Freezes. It's touchy, as feedback loopers always are. You can hear the oscillation building every time I stomp after turning up the feedback knob, but I like drones so it works for me. Crank it too high and it’s just immediate over the top howling/squealing. Not sure what's going on with the panning in the audio, but that's not an effect of the pedals. Interface weirdness I guess. I’ve posted about this before, but the video helps understand what’s happening I think.

/359 - Back to Basics

Sort of! I’ve been trying out a lot of things with the modular. All very interesting, and sometimes fun, but so far only infrequently musical. Tonight I didn’t try so hard — played a field recording on the bitbox, played the baritone in and ran both into clouds. Send that to the mixer, but also split to norns running MLR for some varispeed looping. Ah yes. Sometimes you need to take a break from walking to run.

/350 - Follower, Following Softly

Long recording tonight. A new module (Sewastopol) arrived today, meant to be the interface which allows me to use my guitar with the modular. It was supplanted somewhat by the realization that Axo can send a hot enough signal to get a clean recording in the bitbox, but it still has some cool extra functions I spent time exploring. This is guitar and samples triggering and modulating other samples into (too much?) granular and reverb. Was going to cut the clip down, but figured I’d just let it rip.

/320 - All Together Now

All done, and they turned out pretty great! The stitching still isn’t the prettiest, but it felt awesome to sit down at the machine and be confident about what I was doing after all the practicing I did. These also probably wouldn’t have been my color choices, but these were what I had and after all I like them just fine. Wonder if there are white Grolsch grommets to switch out my red “straplocks.” Guess maybe I have to play standing up now?

/319 - Ready to Go, Sew

The last attempt at making an effective hot knife still didn’t work, so I slummed it back to exact-o knife and a lighter. Turned out great! haha The end design was refined (red was the tester, white is the final) to make it smaller, but also stronger around the strap. Feels pretty good now. Just need to sew both ends and thread it up, but ran out of time tonight. I’m a little worried that the webbing I have is too slippery, but will see how it feels once it’s hanging with the weight of a guitar on it. Fingers crossed for nice stitches and stable positioning.

/318 - Tuesdaze

Recorded a bit of guitar noodling from early this morning. Haven’t been feeling very inspired at the desk recently, but still taking the time to try and see what comes out. Busy day. Worked, hung out with Emily, took a walk, played in the yard, dinner, bedtime…

/317 - Clean Cuts

Attempts 1 and 2 to make a hot knife to get clean cuts on the nylon strap. Cutting webbing like this results in massive fraying unless the ends are sealed. The right way to do it is to cut and heat at the same time so no fraying occurs. The first attempt got hot, but the attachment bolt didn’t seem to transfer heat to the blade. The second attempt got the blade hot, but I think the razor edge is actually too sharp so there’s not enough metal contacting the strap at the cut point to melt it. I have one more idea to try and if that doesn’t work I might have to settle for a clean exact-o cut sealed with a lighter.

In the meantime I am still practicing with the sewing machine. I’m getting more consistent stitches, but my lines are still all over the place. It’s hard to concentrate on everything at once. In the end I know that I have all the parts and pieces to bring this together so one of these days there will be a sweet new guitar strap.

/310 - In the Basement

I’ve been spending a lot of time down here working on projects lately. I’ve also got a small amp and cheap pedal setup to bang around on while the machine is running, or on the odd occasion that I feel like getting loud(er). I am still playing a lot of guitar without processing (aside from pedals) lately and I’m feel like I’m getting more confident/comfortable with it. Still don’t record anything to share though. Maybe someday. ;)

/307 - Maybe Steps

Still hesitating on the enclosure for the Rip due its potentially long machining time. The file is ready, and the enclosure is flattened and secure so whenever I’m ready…

The parts for my guitar strap arrived so those are also ready to go except learning how to use a sewing machine. Luckily Ash knows and we just got her grandma’s (a professional seamstress) machine. Maybe I can learn and then make while the enclosure is running?

/301 - Infinity

Morning sounds playing the JM into a sequenced looper and effects, with a pulsing accompaniment by Continua. It has been awhile since I’ve played with effects and processing so it felt really good to quiet along with this.

This afternoon the ladies and I went to a nearby park to have a picnic and then walk along the shore of Lake Ontario. I know that Canada isn’t that far out of sight, but there’s still a really deep feeling when looking out over such an immense body of water softly swaying. Really reminds you how small you are.

/300 - Fridaze

Not a lot to show for today. I did finally manage to massage Axoloti back together with 2 working screens. Now I need to get back to working on the patch.

We’re having the last gasp of summer weather amid the changing leaves. Emi and I hung out in the yard most of the afternoon doing this and that. She occupied herself with mud cakes (and tea and pizza) for awhile and I played guitar on the porch. Was pretty great. Did a bit more brainstorming on the guitar strap and the jazzmaster pickguard/electronics. Think it’s almost time to order some parts. I also told Ash that she needs to teach me how to use the sewing machine…

/299 - Materiality & Necessity

One big perk of my job is having access to lots of interesting materials. Since I got the jazzmaster I have been thinking I should get a new strap since I only have 1. The problem there is that it can be hard to find something to buy that doesn’t use leather, so I have been brainstorming alternatives. I found this piece of rubber flooring in my stash and it seemed like a good candidate, and a quick test seems to agree. It cuts fuzzy, but with the right tooling and setup I bet it would be very clean. I just want to test weight resistance/tearing and the potential for abrasion of the guitar finish. Either way I’m happy that I just went for it instead of overthinking as is my wont.

/292 - Locked In

I spent most of the day in the office, working and isolating. Felt like I was coming down with a cold yesterday and because I’ve been in the hospital for work Ash wanted me to call the dr about getting a Covid test. They had me come in and told me I needed to isolate until my results come back, probably (hopefully) tomorrow. Honestly, I feel fine but can’t mess around. Anyway, just worked and then played my guitar while sitting on the guest mattress I made up for myself, listening to the sounds of family on the other side of the door.

/287 - Inching Towards Mobility

Took my mobile mess out to the table this afternoon for testing. Still working on the Axoloti patch (and it appears that my damaged oled screen might finally be giving out, making it very hard to troubleshoot the patch) but things worked well running the jazzmaster into the mini > norns (mlr) > axo synth and reverb > portable speakers. Tons of variables so it definitely needs more use, but once I started playing it was a lot of fun.

The video is a synth drone with guitar loops playing from mlr, and live guitar over the top with bonus bird sounds. It was a beautiful day so the windows were open and the chickadees were really enjoying themselves at the feeders. Wasn’t planning on recording so it was done with the iphone mic. Sounds pretty decent, considering.

/285 - Jazzmaster

I didn’t wake up this morning intending to get a new guitar. Well, I was sort of hoping because I saw this pop up on Craigslist right before I went to bed last night. It was up for a good price w/ case and close to home so I figured it couldn’t hurt to try it. I’ve heard so much great talk about these (J Mascis signature) over the years and it’s all true. It plays so nice and it sounds SO GOOD. I usually play thinner short scale necks, but so far it’s felt really comfortable. I sat here and played around all night, and even played along to some old favorite songs. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to do that since my other guitars are tuned way down. Might just leave this one in standard for awhile…

/282 - Colors

Ash had to work most of today so I got to spend it with Emi. We did all sorts of the usual things, but it’s been awhile since we did some serious coloring. We were talking a bunch about coloring in the lines and letting your feelings take your art where it wants to go. Showed her some works by Picasso, comparing his realism and abstract works as an example that art can be anything you want it to be. Maybe a little much for someone her age, but the overall point I tried to make to is that there is no right and wrong in art.

Afterward she went out and played in the mud (we had a storm this morning so her sandbox was just how she likes it) and I brought my guitar out onto the porch. Pretty nice day.

/277 - Meditative Loooooops

Rambling guitar into Oooooo into Wedge set to max decay time. It all built up while I was playing and then listening to it it took on a mood of its own. I hit record and sat listening.

/267 - Hunting For Noises

This past week my guitar chain has been really noisy and I finally dug around and found the culprit — a failed daisy-chain cable from the power supply. I’ve used OneSpot for about 10 years and it’s never given me any troubles so I can’t really complain too much. Switched things out to a backup power brick I had and all is quiet again.

Guitars and multiple long delays are fun together.

/261 - Monarch Morning

More meandering sounds with baritone guitar and norns running barcode. Recorded very early in the morning in 4 channel mode to pick up room sounds …and all else. I didn’t know anyone else was awake until Emi came bolting into the office on an important mission and it never occurred to me that our conversation was recorded until I listened back through files tonight. I’ve got the biggest smile on my face.

(They were all there, and all ok)

/253 - A Veryful Day

We didn’t get any work done on the planters today. We did all go and take a walk in the park and visit the animals at Wild Wings Rescue. So amazing to see these (HUGE) birds up close.

Otherwise we just sort of laid low. Ash did some photo work while Emi and I played. Got to spend a bit of time with my guitar on the back porch — I should really do that more often. Between that and our morning in the woods I want to get a small travel setup together so I can go play music outside. I’ve never done anything like that, but it seems like it would be fun.