Musicians check in here. If you play, tell us about it!

[DaveP]

TY Dave. I really like how y'all do your rehearsals the hour before service. We do ours on Fri nites, which is ok except we wind up meeting early Sun mornings to go over the stuff again anyway. I suggested your schedule to em, but got a VERY lukewarm reaction. We just started this last March & I'm the only one w/previous experience playing in a group situation. It'll come.

We rehearse on Monday nights from about 7:30 until 9:30 or so. Sometimes, it's 10pm before I get out of there. Monday is the only day we can get everyone together. We meet again at 8am on Sunday morning to run over the songs prior to the service just to refresh ourselves and ensure that we are all on the same page before the 9am service. It's not an actual practice session as much as it is a refresher time to make sure we can still remember what we rehearsed last Monday. It's better than going in front of a crowd cold. Back when I played in a secular band playing top 40 hits we would set up, go over a few songs for sound check, and then relax until first set.

My wife is in charge of coffee and refreshments and is the door greeter, head counter, and responsible for getting the ushers up and ready at the right time. She's one of those take charge people who gets things done and directs people who need to know what to do, where to go, and how to get there.

I think our praise band is pretty good in performance mode. We only play 5 songs per service, but we try to get them as close to the recording as possible. Everyone works together to learn the parts and we do a respectable job. I like to hear moments of dead air between accent beats and we do that. To me, that's one of the crucial things that makes a group tight and I like to hear tight music. I can't complain. We get our share of applause between songs. That has always been lacking in church, but they let us know what they like.

I've been trying to get video set up to record our performances for critical analysis, but haven't gotten that to happen yet. We have cameras in the ceiling, so it would be easy for someone to use servo movement and zoom on the ceiling cameras and record to DVD. Sound injection for the recording might be the hardest part. We have a digital board with scenes so there's no excuse for not getting good audio. Instruments are miked and all inputs are in the board. Someone would have to ride gain and do the mix on the camera audio feed. Too much to ask for the level of expertise we have in the sound booth, I suspect.

 

[Pipeous]

Good to see more musicians joining the fray. this thread is one of the few interesting things that keeps bringing me back. I have discussed ecigs to death and leave that to the new group full of pizz and vinegar

 

[FogHawg]

It sounds like you guys have it goin on compared to our set-up Dave. We have a very small church w/a smallish (but very acoustical) sanctuary. Plus we almost never have 100 ppl in the congregation, usually half that, so we play at a relatively low volume. Only the vocals are miced & the bass/elec guitars use amps. The keyboardist just uses her onboard sound & I play my Martin mostly, except dobro on one or two 'specials' each week. I know we need to work on micing up stuff & balancing our OA sound, but we've come a long way from just an old accoustic piano that was used before. I doubt we'll ever get a tight sound, & RARELY get those 'dead air' beats, but it is what it is & I really get a blessing from it.
We mic everything in New Direction & actually have a pretty decent sound I think. We def need to practice more tho...

TYVM Pipeous, good to be here dude!! I'm sure you realize that I'm one of the new vapers full of...well, SOMETHING. LOLOL But I'll leave that stuff outta here. - Nice looking mando! What model is it?

 

[DaveP]

It sounds like you guys have it goin on compared to our set-up Dave. We have a very small church w/a smallish (but very acoustical) sanctuary. Plus we almost never have 100 ppl in the congregation, usually half that, so we play at a relatively low volume. Only the vocals are miced & the bass/elec guitars use amps. The keyboardist just uses her onboard sound & I play my Martin mostly, except dobro on one or two 'specials' each week. I know we need to work on micing up stuff & balancing our OA sound, but we've come a long way from just an old accoustic piano that was used before. I doubt we'll ever get a tight sound, & RARELY get those 'dead air' beats, but it is what it is & I really get a blessing from it.
We mic everything in New Direction & actually have a pretty decent sound I think. We def need to practice more tho...

TYVM Pipeous, good to be here dude!! I'm sure you realize that I'm one of the new vapers full of...well, SOMETHING. LOLOL But I'll leave that stuff outta here. - Nice looking mando! What model is it?

What matters in a church setting is that you set the tone for meaningful worship. We try to play a couple of upbeat tunes to start and that gets people smiling and involved. The 4th song is usually in line with the subject of the sermon and the last is reflective for altar time if people wish to come forward or just stay in their seats and sing along. All the words are on three video screens, so it's easy to sing along.

We usually have around 200 people in the 9:00 service. It's more about the size of the room versus the number of people attending. In a small sanctuary you can have 50 or 100 people and create the same atmosphere as 200 people in a room that can hold 400 or more. When we have 120, it seems empty. There as many or more seats empty than occupied. It's all about enthusiasm and involvement.

 

[Pipeous]

that mando is "the loar, lm600". my fav though I have a few.... can't wait to get my hands on a mandocello... fella is out in his motorhome until next weekend before I get to see pics. dreadnaught guitar converted to mandocello. I am working on a piece that will be all mando family (3 mandolins, octave mando, mandocello and a mandola)

I was going to get an ovation mandocello until I put my car into a retaining wall. expensive lesson. I did the body work myself but had to replace a bunch of parts... bye bye ovation.

I remember playing in a church band. youth fellowship thing. first time I ever played harmonica.

 

[FogHawg]

It's all about enthusiasm and involvement.

I couldn't agree more my friend.

that mando is "the loar, lm600"

A 'Loar'!! Way cool! I bet it sounds great! I think I'd like to try mando someday. Or banjo. I've never played banjo, yet I won a competition awhile back. I threw that sucker over 15 yds!!

Quit smoking Feb 1 2011. I have recently been diagnosed with MAS (Mandolin Aquisition Syndrome)

I just quit a few days ago, but I was diagnosed w/GAS long before that...

 

[Pipeous]

Thought I'd share a family photo

 

[DaveP]

Yep, Pipeous you have it bad! GAS, MAS ... I once had AAS (amplifier acquisition syndrome). The more recent episode resulted in my buying four over several years. I still have two of them. At least they were combo style. I went through a rash of AAS in my younger days that produced a 2x12, an 8x12, and two 4x12's. Nowadays I only need a 1x12 to get by. I'm improving and learning to do more with less!

 

[Pipeous]

Truth though, all I want is a mandola and mandocello now. the black electric guitar will be going and the midi pickup I will install on the acoustic. I lend the black one out to Tom when he comes over. I am going to order a gold tone mandola but I have a fella off mandolin cafe going to sell me a dreadnaught guitar he converted to mandocello. it is just an addition so I dont need to spend much to try one out. and the fiddle is just cheap too

I have 4 amps, bass keyboard and guitar, and a small practice amp (small enough to fit in bike trunk)

 

[FogHawg]

Most all I have these days are acoustic instruments. Well, my Taylor 710CE & Beard E Model have electronics & I do have a Fishman LB Artist amp & a couple pedals...but my Dobro f60, Meredith, & 2 Martin dreads are all acoustic.

 

[DaveP]

I enjoy playing acoustic around the house, but I like the feel and response of electrics. I've been a lead guitar player since I was 15 and it just comes naturally to pick up an electric and play.

I have two acoustics right now and both have under saddle pickups. One I've had for about 25 years. It's a no name in America, but it's a Martin copy made in Italy. The other I've had for about 5 years. It's an Alvarez with Fishman electronics. It's my favorite because the neck and action feel a lot like my Les Pauls. I look at the acoustics as good for my hands. The extra string tension helps to build my chops when I play, kind of like using a weighted bat to develop your batting skills.

 

[Koman]

Thought I'd share a family photo

Wow, nice collection!

 

[FogHawg]

Sounds like a couple of fine flat-tops Dave. I prefer a mic when possible, but I really like Fishman stuff & have it in both of mine too. And a 'Jerry Douglas' Aura pedal that helps my Beard sound really natural thru the Loudbox. Good stuff.

...I do miss my old strat ever once in awhile tho. >sniff<

 

[Codemonkey]

Keeping the low tones down here in Nashville. I have began playing Electric bass when I was 14-ish (26 now) and loved the whole journey. Never formally taught, just picked up boatloads of tablature and started seeing patterns; closest thing to theory I know. Any Nashville vapers wanna Jam PM me =) Love metal/hardcore but my roots of playing are blues/ska/reggae (lived half of my life in Orlando Florida so beach things come naturally haha

 

[Pipeous]

How do you guys feel about doing an online collaboration song?

 

[Ayce]

Could be interesting, Pipeous.
I've got a Yamaha RBX375, now. I haven't played much lately, and my chops may be a tad rusty, but I'm game.


Is that a "P" I see behind the monitor?

That stuff would fill my little room.

As far as GAS goes, my financial situation is my Pepto.

 

[Codemonkey]

How do you guys feel about doing an online collaboration song?

i'm in, PM me! I'll tap on da bass mon =P

 

[Pipeous]

ya, it is a squire pre, made in mexico. I actually love that bass. first piece of gear I bought getting back into music and it will stay in the stable.

If I write it, it's gonna be southern rockish/country. maybe ecig related for fun? do we have anyone can record drums? I hate programming drums so my tracks tend to be just loops.

 

[Ayce]

I have PC DrummerPro. It can do basic loops or very complicated rhythms with fills, with variable instruments, and more.

If we have a "real" drummer on board, it would be much better.

Southern Rock/Country suits me. My first band was doing country rock before it became cool.

 

[Hypnophone]

How do you guys feel about doing an online collaboration song?

I'm in on that. You need some drummin', I'm all over it...