Nylon String Improvisation w/603s

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Timothy Lawler said:
It's No.17, at the top of the right column.

http://www.timothylawler.com/page3.html

The MXL 603s pair were 2ft out from 12th fret and bridge. GR pre.

Two guitars - I played each part. Done in the style of free improvisation.

Let me know what you think.

Tim
Click to expand...

Damn, that was NICE!!! Beautifully played. No problems with the mix. If I could play that style HALF as good as you, you'd still be able to play twice as good as me. By the way, have I mentioned that I hate you?

;)
 
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7string, thanks for listening and the comments. :)

Anybody else?........
I'm interested in how it sounds on different playback systems. I was shooting for an extra wide, close up sound with the mic'ing but it does tend to emphasize the low mids a lot. Prefer to avoid EQ if I can. Was OK on the several systems I checked on here at home and car but is it reasonably balanced on your system?

Tim
 
wow.
cannot say much else, you are out of my league in all respects.
pretty stuff.
C.
 
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Thanks chugheshc. Heard one of your mp3s about a month ago and enjoyed it.

Hey guys…. I just started improvising with any seriousness a couple years ago… want to get better at it so let me know your gut reaction if something’s NOT working. Is a 3 minute instrumental that’s’ slow and unstructured like this one listenable? Need a contrasting bridge? Render you unconscious in 20 seconds? I’ve got more extroverted improv’s I’m mixing too, but not sure about this one’s style.

Here's the direct link:


Tim
 
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Timothy--first of all, hats off to your playing ability. Here's a thought that I personally had about 17: Beautiful chord structures, but it seemed to me that something would get a bit lost after the chromatic runs that would resolve somewhat emptily while waiting during the gap for the next chord. This is incredibly nitpicky, and I'd be the first to admit that this really comes down to a personal preference thing. (as opposed to my playing and my obsessive attempts at sticking with the modes and every now and then throwing that #7th in there--gee, how original!) The thing is, is that it's very obvious you know what you're doing and that those resolutions are absolutely intentional on your part and as such, I can't exactly offer a criticism against that aspect. Music like this (and as well played as this is) can definitely hold somebody's attention and I think you did a great job expressing exactly what you said inspired the piece.
 
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I'm always one to enjoy a good nylon piece. I just recently got into this when I heard some compositions from Francisco Tarrega played by Paul Williams.

I'll have to try similar mic placement when I get a chance...I've always been closer to the bridge and less than a foot away. This always produced boomy sounds.
 
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something would get a bit lost after the chromatic runs that would resolve somewhat emptily while waiting during the gap for the next chord.
Click to expand...

Thanks Purge. Good point and one I'll work on. I really appreciate the critical listening.

David, I'm a big Tarrega fan too. Thanks for listening



Tim
 
NICE!
The only thing I could see changing, is that it seems to be lacking just a bit on the highs. But maybe that is due to the MP3 compression?

Still, a very nice sounding recording...


Amra
 
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amra said:
NICE!
The only thing I could see changing, is that it seems to be lacking just a bit on the highs. But maybe that is due to the MP3 compression?

Still, a very nice sounding recording...


Amra
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Nah, I think it's because it's nylon strings, they tend to not be as bright as steel, so there aren't as many high freq's. Plus he said he avoids eq'ing.

Tim, you already know what I think of this piece!
 
The only thing I could see changing, is that it seems to be lacking just a bit on the highs. But maybe that is due to the MP3 compression?
Click to expand...

You're right about the highs amra. The damn guitar had dead bass strings and that affects the sympathetic vibration supporting the high register too. It was one of those situations where I was just recording as a creative exercise and grabbed any old guitar. I was getting ready for a recital and had to take a break from all the repertoire detailing.. wasn't planning to keep the improvisation beyond just hearing it once. Lame excuse I know, and I'm better now about keeping decent strings on all my gtrs, even those that I'm not using for anything serious.

I'll try working on the EQ a bit.

Thanks... Good ear.

And Rokket, thanks for the defense but I really deserve the hit on the dull strings.

Tim
 
the guitar sounds really really good. i've tried my luck at recording classical and it usually ends up sounding.. cheap. this sounds solid and hearty.
i did sort of get bored of the guitar just strumming over and over with the other doing little notes here and there. and at 2:46 i'm not digging it. but its not too shabby at all! it makes me want to see if i could get this kind of sound out of my classical.

what kind of guitar is it?
 
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treymonfauntre said:
the guitar sounds really really good. i've tried my luck at recording classical and it usually ends up sounding.. cheap. this sounds solid and hearty.
i did sort of get bored of the guitar just strumming over and over with the other doing little notes here and there. and at 2:46 i'm not digging it. but its not too shabby at all! it makes me want to see if i could get this kind of sound out of my classical.

what kind of guitar is it?
Click to expand...

Thanks treymonfauntre. It's a '77 Leitch, Brazilian ros. back and sides, cedar top, very mellow guitar and easy to record - hard to find a bad spot for the mic unlike some of my other guitars. Tend to agree about the lack of contrast or climax in the piece. I know this'll sound corny but it's part of a set that's intended to be evocative of walks through the forest. But this one probably doesn't have enough variety in the overall flow of it. It's more of a long sleep-walk. HA! I'm thinking that I should plan my improvisations just a little more to build in a bit of contrasting sonority.

Appreciate the help.

Tim
 
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i saw that afterwards, as a concept i'm sure the song fits perfectly :)
 
Well I think it's time to retire this thread. Thanks to everybody who listened, and especially to those who helped me out with such perceptive and detailed suggestions. :) The results: I'm working on the EQ to bring the highs up a little to be better in balance, and I'm reorganizing slightly the process I use when I record free improvisations to give more contrast in intensity and sonority for a slow/gentle piece like this one.

Thanks again.
Tim
 
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