Fun With a Multitrack Tape Recorder II

Jeff Au Hoy · From: Honolulu, Hawai'i

Rick Aiello has played a large part in my enjoyment and appreciation of the Rickenbacher Frypan and the styles of its early players. I wasn't interested in things like magnets, flux density, and vibrato until I started reading his famous analyses. Terms I like to use like "scooped tone" I owe to him. I still consider his posts the most interesting to read in nonpeddlers.

Here's a quick improv I just put down: "Magnetic Isles" . I tried to sound way old-timier (ala Aiello, Aiona, McIntire) than what I'm used to. The runner-up title was "Aiello Flower Lei".

Rick, thanks for everything I've learned from you.

Todd Weger · From: Safety Harbor, FLAUSA

Wow... that's beautiful, Jeff! I particularly love the 'violining' at the 1:22 mark.

Seriously, you nail the feel, tone and overll vibe of that early stuff, which is my favorite era. You have Dick McIntire's feel down so close, it's scary.

Are you using an archtop for the rhythm guitar part? Sure has that sound. Also, what ampli-ma-fier are you using? Is that the little cheapo SS one you just bought for $50?

Sweeeeeeeeeet... Thanks for posting. MORE!

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Todd James Weger --
1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (C6, A6, B11); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (C6, B11/A6); Regal resonator (C6)

Rick Aiello · From: Berryville, VA USA

I think I just wet myself ...

Man, that was nice ...

What a

treat on this freezin' Sat. mornin' ... thanks a-million !!!!

And as a "Pre-Emptive Strike" ...

Magnetic Isles

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Harry Dietrich · From: Robesonia, Pennsylvania, USA, R.I.P.

We all learn a lot from Professor Aiello.

Great teacher and one h*ll of a nice guy.

Thanks, Rick

Harry

Bill Leff · From: Santa Cruz, CA, USA

Jeff, that was incredible. I could have sworn I was listening to McIntire. I don't think I've heard any contemporary player get that close.

Rick, thanks for posting this.

Bill

Jesse Pearson · From: San Diego , CA

Jeff, I hope you really are the future of Hawaiian steel. Man, that was cruise ship heaven. I think your ready to put out your first solo album. If it sounds anything like that kind of playing, your gonna sell alot of copies. There are a couple of moments there that are just stunning.

Mike Neer · From: NJ

I really enjoyed that, Jeff. Thanks for sharing it.

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

Awesome! Steel Guitar is alive and well in Hawai'i !!! Great stuff Jeff. I've been "playing" the steel guitar for over two hundred years and have never been able to capture the tone and style you have so capably captured in such a short time. You are the future and I hope you'll share your fine talent with many young aspiring Hawaiians.

Andy Sandoval · From: Bakersfield, California, USA

Jeff, you've captured that "ole timey" sound beautifully. I love that subtle vibrato too. Is that C6 your playin?

Steinar Gregertsen · From: Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.

Truly beautiful stuff,- thanks Jeff!

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

Andy Volk · From: Boston, MA

Jeff, that's uncanny. You're channeling McIntire. Can you make a thumb pick out of a toothbrush like he did at some party where he'd misplaced his pick?

Todd Weger · From: Safety Harbor, FLAUSA

Don Kona Woods · From: Hawaiian Kama'aina

Jeff you really sound old and terribly good.

Aloha,
Don

Gerald Ross · From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Jeff,

Read all the above positive comments. I agree.

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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'

CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
Board of Directors Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

My bet is that Jeff is using C#m ... ?

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

Well Jeff, seems like you've gone and outdone YOURSELF this time around.

Really a fine performance..... I can find no words to accurate describe this wonderful piece of work.

Hopefully some of the Forumites that visit this page will discover for themselves that YOUR LEFT HAND has become YOUR MAGIC....
It's in that LEFT HAND where that "sustain" originates. It's amazing that such simple, single string notes and long sustain, can impact the human ear so very much.

Who needs 100 stacato-like notes in one four beat measure.........when you have the touch that you now seem to have achieved.

You're well on your way............ Try not to get lost on your journey.

The "bells" are crystal clear and a beauty to hear.

Bill Creller · From: Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)

Sure sounds like C3m to me too George, I love the sound of that tuning, and Jeff has shown us how it's done!!! Terrific job Jeff.
BILL

Jesse Pearson · From: San Diego , CA

C#m7 or A6 with the 5th on top? The top two strings are the same on both tunings.

Jeff Au Hoy · From: Honolulu, Hawai'i

Hey thanks for all the nice words guys.

I had some free time and originally approached this sort of tongue in cheek to see if I could get some old-timey sounds. It was fun and I made some personal discoveries as well:

The old timey vibrato (which I didn't nail... I think it needs to be wider) is a full time job. I wouldn't have been able to do it in the summertime heat, that's for sure. Phew.

Putting the C#m tuning on is like dipping your instrument in 1930s sauce. It's really something. This is the first time I really tinkered with it and I love the way everything falls on the first four strings. There is some combination of string gauge and pitch that just gives you that 30s sound without trying.

The root-at-top tuning forces you to move more on less strings... it made me feel very self-conscious of how I moved around. But I like how it forces you to be melodic because there is less "fretboard" to fall back on.

I didn't get it, but I was trying for that McIntire scooped sound... kind of like playing through a parking cone? I recorded this whole thing sitting under my wooden desk, which is against a wall... sort of a little sound chamber. It gave a bit of parking cone effect I think. No scoop though... Dr. Aiello, is it my pickup?

haha, after all my "confident" babble about knowing what violining is, I mucked it up. Oops with the pick attack.

The rhythm guitar is an old Gibson L-7. I used a Rick frypan through the cheapo Ibanez IBZ10A amp, no effects (bass mid and treble at 2 out of 10). Tascam 4 track portastudio, Sony stereo mic (for mp3 recorders?), and a Maxell 60 min cassette. Haha, high tech!

Jesse Pearson · From: San Diego , CA

"The root at the top", by that do you mean E6 with the E on top? I've heard some guys call C#m7 as E6, or do you mean the second string is the root at the top of C#m7? Is the tuning the Sol Hoppi electric C#m7? I've seen old timey pictures of big long mega horns that are pointed at the amp and the skinning end ends up at the mic.

Jeff Au Hoy · From: Honolulu, Hawai'i

Hey Jesse, sorry I meant root on top because I think of the C#m7 as an E6 sort of tuning. At least that's the way my brain conceptualizes it.

Lee Jeffriess · From: Vallejo California

Jeff, that was perfect.
Lee

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

Jeff..Digging deeper into the DICK McINTIRE sound, tune your axe to the F#9th tuning. Dick used this tuning on many of his recordings.

HI to LO: E C# G# E A# F# Gorgeous sound! You'll love it.

Roger Shackelton · From: MINNESOTA (deceased)

Very nice playing, Jeff. I liked the retro sound of the steel guitar.

IMHO the rhythm guitar was a bit too loud and too much up front.

Roger

Howard Tate · From: Leesville, Louisiana, USA, R.I.P.

Absolutly beautiful, exactly what I love about steel. The vibrato seems just right to me.This may get me flamed, but a wider vibrato usually sounds out of tune to my ear.

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Howard

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