Against My Better Judgement

[SatelliteOrders]

I have played on the Wednesday worship band for about eight years. I started out playing acoustic, but now I play rhythm on the Tele and, when the left-handed lead player wants to work on his rhythm as he switches from Dick Dale to Tony Iommi, string-wise, lead. I am happy with this situation, because I like playing my Teles.

The worship pastor has started forming a second Sunday band, and I have been asked to join. This is a rockin' band, with a saved metalhead on bass and a tremendous force on drums.

And they want me back on acoustic guitar.

And I have been torn. I want to play music. I want to praise the Lord. But I want to play electric!

Especially with this band. Not only is there the aforementioned players, but there's a grand piano and organ, not to mention the lead player, who, despite the plan to have two separate Sunday bands, will likely be the same guy I play with on Wednesdays. Quite frankly, I have always thought that playing an acoustic with that instrumentation is useless. Part of it is that I have always preferred the sound of an acoustic guitar unplugged to the all-treble sizzle you hear on the piezo-pickup'd acoustic rhythm guitar.

Tonight, we practiced, and I decided to put on the boost for my acoustic patch on the multieffects box, drop the bass to zero on the preamp's three-band, and embrace the treble. That's what the worship pastor wants, so lets give it to him. And suddenly, I started feeling much more at peace with the way I sounded, and with the whole thing.

Well, switching from the Dunlop Gator Grip 2mm to the Dunlop Ultex 1mm really brought it together. Which in and of itself is a bit surprising. But it's good to know how good things can sound once you get yourself into alignment.

[guit30]

Have you ever tried a soundhole pickup, they make some good ones today , if you do not want to use the piezo, I hate piezo sounds too
Jim

[Parma_TeleMon]

I've got a Taylor 814CE and run it direct. Sounds great, especially when we get a good sound guy. I had to switch from 2mm Gator Grips to Dunlop nylon .72s when I got the Taylor as the 2mm were just too much for the Taylor. Helped a bunch. It's pretty cool when you get to be part of something new. I'm excited for you.

[SatelliteOrders]

guit30, no. I can't really throw hardware at the problem yet. But I am attracted to the thought.

TeleMon, I have an AX1500 multiFX box, which for the acoustic I mostly use to add chorus on demand, plus a volume pedal. With a few stomps, I can quickly switch from acoustic to electric, which has been useful.

[fschebor]

Two words: Fishman Aura

To my ears it doesn't much matter if you are playing a cheapo China guitar or a multi-thousand dollar American guitar ... if your input to the sound board is via a piezo pickup, they sound alike ... TERRIBLE. And its even worse if your playing a nylon string classical!

Several years ago I picked up a used Aura on eBay. I downloaded appropriate sound images for my Garrison steel string and my Ibanez nylon string. Its amazing, rather than that piezo sound, it sounds as though the guitars are on studio grade microphones.

Even used, the Aura wasn't cheap (~$275). But I wont play either of my acoustics without it!

Fred

[SatelliteOrders]

Will look into that, fschebor.

[supernewt]

The Sunrise pickup is an alternative to Piezo pickups. Still won't sound like an unplugged acoustic. Guess the best way to get that sound would be to play into a condenser mic, but you'd need a) discipline in your playing and stance and b) a good soundman.

[sonserve]

It sounds odd, but our leader tapes a lavalier lapel mic into the top of the soundhole of his Larrive. It sounds great. Very Organic.
Last year our pastor asked me to help start a classic rock band for "Sunday Night Live" sorta services (fun) and special events. It was fun breaking out the Tele and amps but I declined this year. It is cool having them around and the youth love it.
Good luck with it.

[Hackguitarist]

Originally Posted by SatelliteOrders

rockin' band, with a saved metalhead on bass

You made me belly laugh there, did you mean saved in the biblical sense, or in saved from metal?

[SatelliteOrders]

"Saved" refers to his spiritual situation. "Metalhead" refers to his musical inclination.

[Hackguitarist]

Originally Posted by SatelliteOrders

"Saved" refers to his spiritual situation. "Metalhead" refers to his musical inclination.

Wasn't sure which noun the 'saved' was modifying. ;)