January 18, 2017
The path to becoming a professional musician is not just glitz, glamour, and being onstage in front of a thousand screaming fans. There are the unseen non-glorifying hours of being holed up in bedrooms and rehearsal spaces, honing technique, and practicing those licks, chords, and scales until they are second nature. Becoming proficient at guitar or bass requires that players not only put in the time to practice, but really make the most of that time. Choosing the right practice amp is a crucial component to helping you sound your best as a guitarist or bassist.
January 17, 2017
Many bassists looking to get more bottom out of their bass rig have considered adding a bass cabinet with a bigger speaker, such as a 1x15 (or maybe even a 1x18)! Cabinets like these have a popular reputation for providing more low end than their smaller counterparts, such as 2x10, 4x10 and 2x12 cabinets. Similarly, it’s commonly perceived that smaller speakers have more high-end and a quicker response, so players looking for a more articulate sound may gravitate to a cabinet equipped with smaller speakers.
January 13, 2017
Have you ever been at a live show and realized you can only hear each instrument clearly when the player is taking a solo? Have you also heard where one person takes a solo and everything else drops out? While these situations are not necessarily bad things, for instance a band that creates a “wall of sound” can be tastefully heavy. Creating separation between instruments can really help an audience appreciate the nuances of each band member’s playing and improve dynamics.
January 12, 2017
Spend some time on any online gear forums, and you'll likely find the word “transparent” gets thrown around a lot, especially in reference to effects pedals and guitar amps. It’s often touted as a good thing for many reasons. While different musicians have varying definitions of what qualifies as a transparent sound, the term generally refers to the way in which a piece of equipment adds minimal, if any, of its own tonal qualities to the original instrument’s sound.
January 10, 2017
If your primary axe is a five-string bass, you may need to take some extra care and considerations in choosing the bass rig that will help you sound your best. While most bass gear will work fine- all of Carvin Audio’s bass amp heads and cabinets, for instance, accommodate four and five string players alike- it's important to take some time to dig into the specs and features of the next rig you have in mind. While your ears will be the ultimate judge, this article will cover three simple things you could look at in your prospective rig or even your current one: the frequency response of your cabinets, the equalization options of your bass head, and the total wattage of your rig.
January 06, 2017
As we concluded Part 1 of this series, we were looking at different areas you might want to include in your rehearsal plan. Let’s look at some more focus points:
Efficiency – Steve Lukather was one of my favorite players when I was a kid. When he played fast it was like something exploded inside him! But he still had incredible control of his phrasing and his bends sounded like they were crying. One night at an LA showcase gig, I was lucky enough to be invited to play in a group jam at the end of the night, right there on the same stage with Steve! Paying close attention as he began to solo, I immediately realized he was using some kind of magic- his fingers didn’t even move!
December 30, 2016
Admit it, I caught you looking. Even though some part of your musician’s mind probably was screaming, “There are no ‘shortcuts’ to becoming a virtuoso!” And your musician’s mind was right, at least to the extent that there are no shortcuts. But if you find yourself “stuck in a rut” as a teacher friend of mine used to say, you might need to revisit the basics of your practice routine and make some adjustments.
December 13, 2016
An aggressive bass sound is a crucial component of many music genres, from punk to funk to heavy metal. While a clean tone can do just fine, a more aggressive tone can push your sound more forward in the mix and can really make your playing and the overall band mix come to life. Whether you are trying to give your bass some extra presence in your band or are trying to get the right tone for studio work, it is very useful to familiarize yourself with ways to give your bass some grind and growl.
December 05, 2016
Imagine if our amps could talk- there would be a lot less incidents of blown speakers and mismatched impedances! While no one- even the most experienced guitar techs- can immediately determine exactly what caused an amplifier to fail without taking a look under the hood, some units do give off warning signs that there is something wrong to prevent that costly replacement or trip to the repair shop. Naturally, if you are really familiar with your amp, then chances are you know when it’s being pushed past its limits or set up incorrectly. But what happens if one day you’re not paying close enough attention or using a different setup? Today, we are going to discuss an overlooked, unsung hero of your amp- the protect light. Chances are you know it’s there, but you may have never seen it come on, or you have and you’re wondering what it’s trying to tell you.
December 01, 2016
Maybe “dating” is the wrong word but then again, most musicians develop a very close bond with their equipment. There are some significant advantages we gain as we become intimately familiar with a guitar amp and discover the settings that make it come alive for us. But sometimes you may find the need to learn your way around a new amp quickly; occasionally you might want to evaluate a purchase, get to know an amplifier you just bought, or are asked to play a show where the amplifiers are ‘backlined’ or provided (and you can’t control what they give you to play through). Whatever the reason you find yourself in new territory, a simple method many amp techs use can be very useful in “finding the sweet-spot” quickly on any guitar amp.
November 25, 2016
A constant challenge in dialing in your bass sound live is finding a tone that is clear and articulate, yet maintains power and heft in the low end. This elusive sweet spot will have to be dialed in on each and every stage you play on. Carvin Audio’s bass amps come equipped with all the EQ and tone shaping tools you need to make this happen; it’s just a matter of familiarizing yourself with the controls and using them correctly. This article will give a basic rundown on addressing an important aspect of your tone: your low end, specifically around the 40Hz frequency range.
November 20, 2016
In our previous article, Five Things You Must Bring to the Gig: Part 1, we talked about your gear and an emergency bag. In this article we cover 3 more things you must bring to your gigs to ensure you have a successful performance.
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