Bad practise method / wasting of recording time / but a great sounding guitar

[tdlwhite]

It's been over a year since I changed the strings on my D-35, and coupled with a good bout of ~30% rel humidity, it's sounding great! So I figured I'd get a good recording of it to 'prove' how good it is right now. I picked a song that suits the strings (cowboy chords / first position) and practised it for a few days, then sat down to record.

It's amazing how much the 'pressure' of recording pushes me into making errors that I don't make when practising. Or perhaps it's that when I practise I don't notice the glaring missed notes / bad timing etc.

2 minute tune, 7 run throughs at performance speed straight after each other, mistakes in each one (that I noticed as I played but ignored), and I kept hoping the next playthrough would be better.



What I really shoulda done is spotted the areas for improvement (little slide up to the E note, the middle G section (timing and strumming), D# pull off later on), quit after a couple tries, and done some slower practise of the poor sections.

But the guitar really sounds great right now!

Tom

[rick-slo]

A dreadnought and a flatpick are good friends tonal wise and it sounds that way in the recordings. Congrats.

[TBman]

That sounded really good to me. I wouldn't have been able to guess at the age of the strings.

I record in a different area of my house (basement) than my daily practice spot (main floor office). That change of "venue" does affect my playing initially, so I have to sit and "practice" for 10 minutes or so before I turn the red light on.

[tdlwhite]

Originally Posted by rick-slo

A dreadnought and a flatpick are good friends tonal wise and it sounds that way in the recordings. Congrats.

Thanks Derek!

Originally Posted by TBman

That sounded really good to me. I wouldn't have been able to guess at the age of the strings.

I record in a different area of my house (basement) than my daily practice spot (main floor office). That change of "venue" does affect my playing initially, so I have to sit and "practice" for 10 minutes or so before I turn the red light on.

Thanks Barry!

I usually change strings as soon as they get dull, but I left these on as an experiment. Also, old strings don't usually hold their tuning, but these are doing just fine.

I often practise in the same seat/location I record in, so I can normally jump right in (if I've put the work in beforehand, of course!)

[Charlie Bernstein]

Originally Posted by TBman

That sounded really good to me. I wouldn't have been able to guess at the age of the strings.

I record in a different area of my house (basement) than my daily practice spot (main floor office). That change of "venue" does affect my playing initially, so I have to sit and "practice" for 10 minutes or so before I turn the red light on.

Heh heh. I recorded in my basement for a couple of years before the pandemonium, and it's my voice that's affected. When I record, my voice is soft, low, and even. When I perform, my voice is brash and exuberant. Doesn't even sound like the same person.

Go figure.

------------

PS - Thank you for not saying it impacts your playing!

[islandguitar]

But the guitar really sounds great right now!

You bet it does, Tom!!!! Love your picking!!!

[LiveMusic]

You play really well, better 'n me! Your guitar sounds terrific; I think I will get out my D-35 and put new strings on, it's been even longer than yours, it is neglected lately.

[tdlwhite]

Originally Posted by islandguitar

But the guitar really sounds great right now!

You bet it does, Tom!!!! Love your picking!!!

Thanks Fred - sometimes I feel like I'm getting somewhere!

Originally Posted by LiveMusic

You play really well, better 'n me! Your guitar sounds terrific; I think I will get out my D-35 and put new strings on, it's been even longer than yours, it is neglected lately.

Thanks! Yes - get it out and play it. I think mine's sounding great because I've been playing it an hour a day for the last month - but think of the poor other guitars that are feeling left out!

[Gordon Currie]

Nice job on that, the sound was pretty full range and I did not hear either diminished treble or decreased sustain that I was expecting.

I have hands/oils that age strings faster, so my record is 3 months - but they don't sound as good as this!

[tdlwhite]

Originally Posted by Gordon Currie

Nice job on that, the sound was pretty full range and I did not hear either diminished treble or decreased sustain that I was expecting.

I have hands/oils that age strings faster, so my record is 3 months - but they don't sound as good as this!

Thanks Gordon!

usually I have to ditch strings after 3 months too, often due to the fact they get worse at staying in tune. But this set keeps on going!

Tom

[ghostnote]

I hear no problem with any of that - I wish I could sound like that every time. Great stuff. I’m a guy who tends to leave strings on for quite awhile, too, and not for any logical reason - I just do. I don’t notice a lot of deteriorating until that one day when I play one chord and realize, “it’s time.”

[mrghostwalker]

Wow! For older strings they still have a great sound!
(Good playing, by the way!)