Monday, January 25, 2010

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Tweak

No, not Tweak from South Park. I'm working on my overall guitar sound and exploring the amp's possibilities. This should make Ralph happy at least. "Can you turn the tone down some." Of course that isn't what he means. You WANT tone. It's the distortion that I know he really means. I've rolled things back and am trying a slightly different style. A bit more jazzy and less flash.

I want to be this guy.....



Speaking of that, I have G.A.S. again. There are a few vintage type guitars I'm eyeing. I want that 50's blues and rock and roll sound. A Gibson, with a P-90. The guitar in the video is an ES-125t, and I'm eyeing some of them, espicially Gibson's Epiphone version of one, from 1961. I also like a ES-225t I've seen at another store in town. Of course, this means trading the Les Paul in on it. I REALLY like the LP. IF and that is a HUGE IF I do something, the other guitar will simply have to be killer and I get a great deal on my trade.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Sunday Jam

Got together with Jimmyleg and Cornbread from the Brown Dog Blues Band yesterday. A friend of Cornbread's sat in on traps. Had a good hour, hour and a half jam yesterday. I did alright, but I wasn't too happy with the end result of my tone upon listening to it later. I think that we did alright and hit a few good moments. Maybe if we praticed together, we could really get something going.

Friday, January 15, 2010

The boys and me playing around

So, the guys were playing in their mess and I realized that maybe I could use the digital camera, shoot a video and put it on youtube. Well, I figured it out!!!!



Now, I can utalize my newfound skill for videos of my guitar playing!!!!!

Speaking of which, I am resurecting my old blog, to use as my music site. This will not change in the content at all. The other will focus on ME and playing guitar, any gigs, etc.

To view my other site, it's at http://www.fentonjamesblues.blogspot.com

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Down in the Chicago Jukes

Recently, I tuned the Les Paul into Open G. Open G is the tuning called "the devil's tuning," which the Delta slide guitarists played on. When Muddy Waters went to Chicago and cranked up the volume on his Fender Telecaster Custom (in open g), everything changed.

Sounds really good thru my Fender Princeton Chorus amp. Nice and distorted. Hound Dog Taylor meets George Thorogood.

I've even been attempting to sing a little. This will take time to develop my voice and confidence. Should I use my normal voice and sound like a Missouri Redneck, or sing a bit deeper and more authentic?

Sunday, January 10, 2010

TONE!!!

God, I would love to have tone like Gary Moore. If you don't know Gary, you actually do. He was one of the guitarists in the legendary Irish band, Thin Lizzy. After they split, he went solo, played metal, then dove into the blues big time. By the way, the guitar he's playing used to belong to Peter Green of the original Fleetwood Mac and Peter used it during his stint as Eric Clapton's replacement in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Thus, a VERY famous Les Paul!!!!

Thursday, January 7, 2010

The Shadow People.

Ralph and I jammed last night at the Lone Wolf. Before, we had an interresting discussion.

He already has the Brown Dog Blues Band, which I've sat in with. In fact, he wants me to be a stand by guy, when others can't make their gig. But, I told him that I want to form a differnt band, with him on second guitar, harp and vocals. He and I have played as a duo before and did again last night. Add in a bass and drums and play nothing but the blues. We could easily get bar gigs. Ralph is into the idea. We'll have to see how it develops.

As for last night, I recorded it and it sounds really good, even if it's just the two of us. Sure, we were sloppy, as we haven't played together, just us, in a long time.

Promising.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Dickey Betts

Sure, I worship at the throne of Duane Allman, but gosh darn it, Dickey Betts is awesome too. Here are two videos of him getting DOWN, during the Toler brothers era Allman Brothers Band.



and

Gigs

Tomorrow evening, I'll be accompanying Ralph "Fast Food" Pfremmer at the Lone Wolf Coffee Company. We'll be starting around 5:30 and playing until close, around 8. Ralph will be on guitar and harp and I'll be dishing out pfat tones from my Les Paul.

Tonight, I'm not certain, but I might be going to a blues open mic at the Roadhouse 61 Cafe in the Olde Orchard part of Webster Groves. If I'm there, it'll be starting around 7:30.

Monday, January 4, 2010

ARRGH

Not much happening good right now. I'm going to avoid speaking of it, in effort to keep the blog on a positive note.

If you look at the photo in my header, it's my Les Paul. I took off the pickguard, since it gets in my way. I also removed the rhythm/treble selector ring. Looks cool, reminisant of Duane Allmans 1956/7 Goldtop.