What musical instruments....

[Michael Jones]

I didn't know where else to put this, but it sort of has to do with "Studio Building".

What musical instruments do you have/make available to clientiel at your studio.

Let me state what I plan to make available:

7"-2" Boston Semi Concert Grand
Tama Star Classic Drum Kit w/ Zildian "A" Cymbals, and a really nice Pearl snare. (Can't remember the model #)
(2) 88 key weighted keyboards w/ JV 2080 Sound Module & Exp. Cards.
Some "no-name" Hollow body elec. guitar. (I think its a Rane?)
1 Fairly decent acoustic violin.
1 Roland KC100 amp
1 Yamaha (Pro level) Alto Sax. (Not sure I'd make that available. Bring your own mouth piece, and maybe.)
1 Yamaha Alto Clarinet. Ditto as above.

Obviously I'm lacking in guitars and amps, because I don't play guitar.
So, what do you guys think? Should I try to add some guitars, basses and amps, or expect the clients to bring their own?

 

[longsoughtfor]

Michael - I'd say, spend your money on recording gear over instruments. Certainly, if you see a great deal on a nice guitar, then go for it and build your base that way.

Most people have their own guitars and would only use a studios if it was better then theirs or unique in some way. I have a bunch of guitars and basses that are available but nothing spectacular...

The studio I have been working at though has an extensive collection of vintage guitars and amps that he has been collecting for a long time. They are free to use.

That brings up amps. It may be worth looking at a couple of nice sounding guitar amps that you can get familier with and know how to record really well. If someone comes in with a not so good practice amp complaining he can't get the sound from his favorite CD then you can pull out the Mesa Boogie (or other) and your all set.

Kevin.

 

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Hi Michael, don't know about other studios, but I am a long term guitarist, and if it were me, I'd have a straight Fender Twin with JBL"s(workhorse standard), or Fender Hot Rod, a single 12" Fender Delux, with a EV or celestion speaker, and for bass, an Ampeg B15 amp and Fender Precision Bass(must have for a studio!), and for guitars, at least an american standard strat, or Les Paul, and a Guild B25 Acoustic. Thats a lot of money though, and Kevin is right. But, its all in your decisions. Recording gear is my highest priority for the studio. I have the strat, precision bass, a couple of keys, and acoustics. I'm not that much for collecting instruments.
Sounds like you have the biggies out of the way though. I mean a GRAND PIANO, oh yea!!
fitz

 

[Dan Merrill]

Considering what you already have, expect them to bring their own and go for gear! You can have simple stuff that makes their own instruments sound better- high quality direct boxes, preamps, compressors, etc. They'll be happy and so will you. Of course, appropriate mics go without saying...

Providing accessories for the musicians like music stands, guitar stands or hangers is a nice touch, armless chairs or stools as well. Just make sure they're solid and don't creak.

If you need any other specific gear for a session, rent it.

 

[mixmkr]

I wouldn't waste my $$ on instruments for your studio, personally. Should I pay to go to a studio, I certainly would want to use my own guitar, synths and stuff, as I would already be comfortable with them....especially the guitars/basses. Having a piano, such as yours, however is a good idea...as they are a little bit more difficult to bring to the session. The same with something maybe like a B3 and a Leslie. The horns, I can't even imagine someone wanting to rent/borrow one. That seems too weird to me. Same with the fiddle. Possibly a couple of amps might be handy, but mainly if YOU are familiar with getting a good sound out of them...in otherwords, something better than the guitar player brought in. Maybe a POD or a J-station might be more useful...depending on what you want to record. A studio drum kit isn't nec. too bad either, but only if it is tuned properly and not just something to bang on and save lugging the drummers own stuff. The instruments TO ME have very little towards the attraction of the studio. First would be the engineer and their abilities, then the studio equipment, and tied for 2nd would be a nice atmosphere condusize to recording.

Personally, I'd say you are set with a good piano and drum kit. I'd count on the musicians bringing their own stuff. Like mentioned above... you need something particular...rent it, and make a couple bills off of the rental for yourself too. Same with "prestige mics". Of the hundreds of sessions I've engineered, only stuff like old Melotrons, clavs, B3's, pianos, just general keys etc...and percussion equipment, like congas, shakers, etc, was the stuff that was hanging around at the time that got called into play, outside of what the musicians brought themselves

 

[Beezoboy]

My list of must have studio equipment:

-Tambourine/shakers/misc percussion equipment

-A drumset that you know YOU can make sound good. I like vintage Gretsch/Rogers/Slingerland/Ludwig because you can find them for relatively low prices and they sound amazing (all have 6 ply maple shells). Also cymbals (hi-hats, ride, and 2 crashes minimum) Listen and get a set of cymbals that complement each other.

-At least 1 good guitar amp like a Fender Bassman or Twin Reverb. Maybe 2 or 3 types if you can find some good deals. Obviously some amps are good for chunky heavy metal and some are good for their clean tone but very often not both. If nothing else get a Jstation, V-Amp, or Pod.

-A drum sampling program with good samples!!

-An acoustic that RECORDS well for you

-Maybe an American Strat or Les Paul Studio (in case their Lotus guitar isn't cutting it)

-Maybe a 4 string bass (I have heard so many cheap basses that sound great)

(Maybe a piano bigger that 7" hehehe look at your first post)

All could be gotten off E-bay for 3k - 5k or less and would make your mixing life a lot easier and your studio look much cooler. Also the WOW factor of saying you have vintage guitar amps is a definate attraction.

The reason I would say get the equipment is that IN EXTREME CASES you might not be able to get a usable sound from thier equipment. This MOST LIKELY would be in the event of equipment failure, but also in the case that their equipment just cannot achieve the desired sound.

Beezoboy