Strange sound on Guster song...

[keilson]

My friend asked me what the begging changing sound was on Either Way by Guster. It's on the Lost and Gone Forever album which was produced by Steve Lillywhite. I couldn't answer him. Sounds like guitar, or like a synth. It is in the very beginning of the song. Does anybody know what it is?

 

[guttadaj]

I know what you're talking about. Don't have the disc with me, but I think it's a synth making the changing sound you're talking about (I have a patch on my keyboard that sounds similar), and there's a guitar just playing a single note at the beginning of each measure.

BTW, they were great at the Riv this weekend. Also really enjoyed the opener - Blue Merle. Bought their CD and am digging it.

-Jeff

 

[keilson]

nice, I haven't seen them since the show I saw in central park. But they are great. you're right it has to be some kind of synth. Do you think it's a guitar effect?

 

[bryanzera]

I have the disc with me at work

And there is no mention of another instrument on "Either Way" other than chello and violin/viola. Sounds like a guitar strummed on 8th notes and then run thru an autowah and some other underwater-y effects.

 

[keilson]

does an autowah give random notes? It sounds like random notes kind of.

 

[CotW]

Its just a guitar pedal when they play it live. Not sure what kind though.


From their studio journal from that album:

"Today was not the most productive day. Spent the whole afternoon trying to synch up a click track to Adam's phase-shifter guitar part for "Either Way" and then spent the whole evening trying to make my djembe sound like a kettle drum when struck with a mallet. "

So maybe a phase shifter? Although my phase shifter pedal doesnt sound like that. The "Aqua" patch on a korg pedal of mine comes close though.

 

[keilson]

wow, thanks for all the responses. And thanks for finding the studio log. I wouldn't have even guessed that the drums in the song were all the djembe. It did sound like a kettle drum