Live Musician Central

Category: Various Ramblings

Matt’s observations and insights into the music experience

  • My Stage Amp – The Fender Cyber-Twin SE

    Fender Cyber-Twin SE amplifier front view
    Fender Cyber-Twin SE Front

    My main onstage guitar amplifier for the last couple years is the Fender Cyber-Twin SE. As a live guitarist this amplifier has been invaluable to me. Because I play in a cover band as well as an original band, I needed an amplifier/effects setup that could cover a wide range of different guitar sounds. At a gig I will use sounds ranging from a country twang to hard rocking Marshall type distortion to full on saturated mid-scooped distortion.

    I used to use a Digitech 2120 Valve Guitar System but it just didn’t have the punch and presence of an actual amplifier and it’s sound always left me wanting more power. When I was searching for a new amplifier I played a bunch of modeling effects units and amplifiers including the Line 6 POD, Boss GT-8 Effects Processor and the Line 6 Vetta 2 among others. None of those modeling devices gave me the playing response that the Fender Cyber-Twin SE did.

    The biggest thing I noticed was on the other modeling devices, whether I played light or heavy, or when I turned the guitar down or up, the sound stayed the same. The Fender Cyber-Twin SE responded to my playing touch, guitar volume adjustments and my picking attack. It simply breathes more than a standard DSP modeling amplifier. There’s a secret to how Fender achieved this with the Cyber-Twin SE.

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  • Stevie Ray Vaughan Interview And Guitar Lesson

    Stevie Ray Vaughan

       Stevie Ray Vaughan is a legendary live musician. His live performance was simply amazing and he was very much at home on the stage. In this video clip Stevie talks about his playing and you get to sit back and enjoy him riffing away on his Fender Stratocaster. The camera stays on Stevie’s hands so you can really take a good look at what he’s doing while he’s playing. If you’re like me, then you wish every concert DVD had a camera just on the guitarists hands so you can see and learn what they’re doing. The only downside of the clip is I wish he was playing more but he does have some sage words of wisdom for guitarists. Enjoy!

    Stevie Ray Vaughan Interview And Guitar Lesson

    Fender Artist Series Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster Electric Guitar 3-Tone Sunburst Fender Artist Series Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster Electric Guitar 3-Tone SunburstThe Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster Electric Guitar is made for Texas Blues – Stevie style – with the same features as Stevie’s number one Strat. Unique features include a special “oval” neck, pao ferro fingerboard with 21 jumbo frets, three Texas Special single-coil pickups, gold-plated vintage hardware with Stevie’s unique left-handed synchronized tremolo, and special engraved pickguard. Pay tribute to a master with every note you play.

  • Happy Halloween From Live Musician Central

       Happy Halloween everyone! I hope that all your Halloween gigs go well this year. Hopefully you’ll get to see some sexy ladies on the dance floor. If you’re not playing a gig, then get out and trick-or-treat and raise some hell with the kiddies. In celebration of Halloween I’m posting up a clip of the classic Halloween song “Monster Mash” by Bobby Pickett and The Cryptkickers. It’s an animation done by Gary Ramey and it’s quite well done. I appreciate the fact that the audio quality is so good which is hard to find on YouTube.

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  • Live Musician Central Tribute To Keith Moon

    Keith Moon of The Who

       One of my very favorite drummers of all time is Keith Moon of The Who. He is the first drummer I remember ever focusing on with my complete attention while listening to a song. I remember being simply blown away by how varied his drumming was and how he could play so much yet still carry the rhythm of the song. The way Keith interacted with The Who’s music is simply perfect and The Who were a great band because of the way Keith played. Keith had a way of intertwining with the vocals, bass and guitar that would lift the other instruments up without overpowering them. It always amazed me how he could sound so scattered and out of time, yet be so perfectly in sync with the music.

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  • Which Famous Guitarist Are You?

       I’ve got a couple of fun things for you today. First of all, have you ever asked yourself the question “Which famous guitarist do I resemble?”. Well, I’m going to point you to a quiz that will let you answer that question. Just follow this link to find out Which Famous Guitarist Are You? Check out my results below, I’m Jimmy Page. Who knew? I always thought I was more of a David Gilmour type.

    Which famous guitarist are you?

    Your Result: Jimmy Page
     

    You are just one component of music. The spotlight is your home, but only if you’ve have your Jack Daniels for the day. Lay off the drugs and fourteen-year-olds. You have good talent, and you don’t want to waste it by doing stupid stuff now.
    Jimi Hendrix
     
    David Gilmour
     
    Adam Jones
     
    Dimebag Darrell
     
    Synyster Gates
     
    Tom Delonge
     
    Which famous guitarist are you?
    Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

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  • Jimi Hendrix Performs Voodoo Chile

    It goes without saying that Jimi Hendrix is one of the most influential guitarists that ever lived. It has been argued that he’s the greatest guitarist ever. Whether you love him or hate him, I’m sure you probably have a Hendrix tune that you love.

    Here’s my favorite Jimi Hendrix tune, Voodoo Chile. There’s just something about this song that grabs me. I think it’s just the sheer energy and noise in the tune that I love. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this classic video of Jimi Hendrix performing Voodoo Chile. Make sure you vote in the poll below.

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  • Hiwatt Echo-Theremin

    Hiwatt Echo-Theremin


    Music123.com      
       This weeks Offbeat Product from Music123 is such a cool device that I just had to post about it on Live Musician Central. It’s the Hiwatt Echo-Theremin. If you don’t know what a Theremin is it’s an extremely unique instrument. You’ve probably heard it in many old Sci-Fi movies making a ghostly whistling noise. Musically it was made famous in the Rock-N-Roll world when the Beach Boys played a Theremin solo on their song “Good Vibrations”, it’s that whistling, synth type sound. Yes the Theremin is cool and it’s a fun instrument to play around with.

       Here’s a little history, the theremin was invented in 1920 by a Russian physicist named Lev Sergeiyvich Termin, his name was later changed toe Leon Theremin. So the instrument has been around for a while and has assumed many forms over the years. The unique thing is you play the instrument without touching it. A theremin usually has an antenna that works by changing the pitch as you move your hand closer or further away from the antenna. As you move your hand closer, the pitch gets higher. Move your hand away and the pitch gets lower. If you practice you can play some real music on the Theremin.

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  • In Memoriam – Richard Wright of Pink Floyd

    Pink Floyd – David Gilmour, Nick Mason, Richard Wright

       I was extremely saddened to hear the Richard Wright of Pink Floyd had passed away on Monday. Pink Floyd is one of my biggest musical influences and their music has touched me on so many levels. I have always been so impressed with Richard Wright’s ability to play the perfect keyboard part at the perfect moment to make Pink Floyd’s music become greater than the band.

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  • Talent And Skill On The Ukulele – Jake Shimabukuro

       I have to admit that I never really considered the Ukulele a very serious instrument. It seems so limited with only four strings and a two octave range. Of course, whenever an instrument can make music, it seems like someone comes along and masters it.

       I gained  a new appreciation for the Ukulele when I saw an amazing YouTube video by Ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro. His skill on the instrument is truly amazing and he has a rare talent for creating very moving arrangements of well loved songs. The video I have added to this post is of Jake playing “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” written by George Harrison of The Beatles. It’s an amazing video to watch and Jake performed this same version on the Conan O’Brien show. His performance of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” was a huge hit on the Conan O’Brien show and prompted Conan to get up out of his chair and declare the performance as one of the best things he’s ever seen on the show.

       So enjoy the video of Jake Shimabukuro, I’ve also included a link to his website.

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  • The Delicate Art Of Playing Keyboards

    Richard Wright or Elton John?

       I love playing keyboard instruments. The first instrument I learned to play was the trumpet but the first instrument I learned to love was the piano. The piano offers so much in the way of musical satisfaction when compared to other instruments. On what other instrument can you so richly play all the bass, harmony, melody and rhythm? Not to mention the technical complexity you can achieve on the piano. It’s a very satisfying instrument to play. Like most piano students I learned to play it as a solo instrument.

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