Today

Worked on different mic placements with the new guitar. Recorded a few snippets while the mic was in different places and listened back to see what I liked best. Next I have to pick up a new shock mount that I ordered for my mic (the one I have is falling apart) then get a hair cut. Wish me luck on the hair cut, trying a new place.

Website is still down, hopefully it will be up and running within the next few days.

Website

My website is temporally down at the moment, please don't panic. I'm working on switching over to my new site and should have it up and running soon. I'll keep you posted!

SD

Today / Recording

Today I've been working on one of my tunes and needed an audio clip of some rain. About a half hour later I looked out the window and some dark clouds moving in, I couldn't believe it because it's been sunny all morning. It was like a rain shower showed up just for me! So I quickly got some tracks in record mode and some mics ready to go. I opened the window and by that time, it had already started raining. Just in time, got some great audio of it and think it will work perfectly.

Later I put Cosmo's pet bed where I work so she could be close. I noticed she was trying to lay down by my keyboard so I put her bed there and she seemed happy.

sunrise

Beautiful sunrise this morning

Lester DeVoe guitar photos

Took some photos in the sunlight and added them to flickr. Just click the photo to view more pics. Check out the beautiful patterns in the wood with the close up shots, I didn't even notice it till it was in the sunlight yesterday. It shines and glistens.

I love the scent of a new flamenco guitar. Smells just like the guitar shop where it was made. Maybe I'll have to get some cedar boards and saw them up every once and a while to get my room smelling like the guitar shop. Then again, that may not go over too well with the neighbors and people might think I'm a bit weird. So let's strike that idea from the record. Anyway... anyone for tennis?

20!

I just realized this year marks the 20th year that I've been playing guitar. Wow, where does the time go!! I started playing the organ and piano at age 6, drums at 8 and guitar at 13. When I started guitar, I pretty much only played guitar from that point on. However the knowledge of the other instruments made me a more well rounded musician.

Yesterday / Picking up the new flamenco guitar

Saturday morning I drove down to central California to pick up my new DeVoe Flamenco guitar. About a 4 hour drive each way. It was a beautiful day for driving. A few good rain showers on the way and the view of the ocean when passing by Pismo beach was spectacular.

It was great to see Lester again, he's such a cool guy, super friendly. He has a great sense of humor, I spent an hour or so hanging out and we had some really good laughs. I wanted to hang out longer but I had a long drive home. I'm really thrilled about the guitar, it's beautiful. Lester is truly a master of his craft. The guitar is a Flamenco Blanca. The soundboard is European spruce, the sides are Spanish Cypress, the neck is Spanish Cedar, the bridge and front of the headstock is Madagascar rosewood. The soundboard is constructed a bit different so it vibrates more and it also allows the strings to bend a bit more with ease. (Good for me because I bend strings a lot, even more so on the new music I'm working on then before).

I'm very thankful for this opportunity and am really looking forward to playing it on tour with Ottmar. The timing couldn't be more perfect, this will allow me the time I need to get to know the guitar really well before I hit the road late March. It's so important to know your instrument before you start performing with it.

Special thanks to Lester for his amazing work and to Ottmar for introducing me to him and turning me on to his guitars.




http://www.devoeguitars.com

Today's walk

Took a few pictures on my walk after a busy morning/afternoon of recording. Walked for about an hour or so with the new song looped on my iPod. Happy with the way things turned out today and it was great to enjoy the view while listening to what I've worked on. Decided to have pizza and beer when I got back for dinner.

The battle over "who's chair" continues....

Took this picture while Cosmo was watching my every move through one of the holes in the back of my recording chair. Or, should I say her chair so it seems. As usual, I get up to refill my coffee or whatever I come back and the battle is on for me to get my chair back. It's funny, I got up and walked about 4 steps and we made eye contact and we both knew that the chair was available for the taking. There have been times where both of us run towards the chair to try and claim it first. It definitely makes for an entertaining recording experience.

recording update

Spending time recording yesterday and today and I'm really happy with how the songs are turning out so far. They're pretty groovy and a bit funky at times. It kinda reminds me of the vibe I captured on the Miranda CD but at the same time it's completely different. For the moment I'm getting the arrangements of these songs down and then will go back to replace the scratch tracks with final takes. Actually, some of the tracks are turning out nicely so I may not have to replace a lot of it. Most of the guitar tracks will be re-recorded except for maybe a few rhythm tracks. I'm picking my new guitar up this weekend and am really looking forward to hearing how it will sound on these songs. The last time I got a new flamenco guitar was 12 years ago so I'm really looking forward to this. Down the road I'll add live percussion and bass but for now I need to get a feel for where everything is headed. 4 tracks in rough form at the moment. I have about 4 to 6 other solid ideas I'll work on later after I get the current ones dialed in a bit more.

Since I'm going max speed with recording the next album, It's time for me to get out the most important piece of gear that I use when recording my music, it my secret weapon! You'll have to go HERE to view what it is. Shhhhhh, don't tell anyone though, it's top secret!