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I have a question of all that may have listened to the music link i posted of the band I am in on the sound of my Mosrite. I had a very unpleasant encounter with the drummer in the band last night between sets on the sound of my guitar. Remember that this is a drummer that can't play 1 note on any interment other than drums. I was told that although it looked beautiful I should leave it HOME because it didn't sound good for the band. It was to edgy and not smooth sounding. I should only bring my Gretsch. Now I have played 2 Gretsch guitars and he can't even tell the differences in the looks between the two let alone the difference in sound between them. I am not worried about weather you like our kind of music because I know allot of people don't like classic country and the recording was done on a cheap digital recorder so it could have been better, but I thought I had the guitar set on the mild side of a Mosrite and not the in your face driving sound that it also can get. I would like to hear form you on what you think because I know there are many here that are more talented on guitar than I will ever be and I trust your opinions.

Thanks
Jim

Hey Jim,

I listened to your recordings and can say with certainty, your drummer is FOS. That's exactly the sound to recreate those old 60s style tunes. Ask him if he has ever listened to Joe Maphis guitar on Town Hall party. Your guitar has the beautiful 'jangely' (if that's the right word) country sound. Listening to your music reminds me of walking into the Blackboard bar in 1966 when I come home from the Army. The Blackboard is where every top country picker performed at one time or other including Joe Maphis.

OK, I've gone back and listened to them a couple of times. I know that the balance on the recording isn't the greatest but even still the guitar has that 'right' sound. The Mosrite definitely has bite to it and comes through strong but I'd bet that's because of the hot pickups and aren't you playing though a Twinn. Probably the drummer got accustomed to the mellow sound of the Gretsch as being more in the background than cutting through as a lead instrument. You might try playing on the neck pickup during accompaniment on the slower songs then switch to the middle during the lead. Or else suggest you drummer put a towel in his snare drum as it over rides the vocals.

Sounds(!) like your drummer may be barking up the wrong tree Jim.

I’ve had similar experiences with our drummer too! But let’s be honest, a drummer does not necessarily need to play a guitar to voice his opinion on sound. Remember, this goes for an audience too and it usually won’t hide it’s feelings either, regardless! It’s important feedback!

In the solutions department: consider (re)positioning the band’s members and their gear, bearing in mind that the audience experiences the band’s overall sound in quite a different way than each individual band member does! (Our drummer wears earplugs sometimes!)

Needless to say amp and guitar settings contribute in no small way to the success of your performance. Do some experimenting together with the other guys to help balance this thing out. Perhaps your drummer didn’t have his day and in the heat of the battle, many a harsh word can sometimes be spoken, but not really in earnest. Ask him if he can explain EXACTLY what’s bugging him. However, if it is indeed a matter personal taste (of your drummer), that’ll be another issue altogether.

Finally, the choice of guitar however must be yours IMO and to me your Mosrite is no misfit in the style of music your band is playing, judging from listening to your music link, regardless of it's recorded quality.

It’s not a matter of talent now Jim, just the rite(!) feedback.
Keep rocking!

it sounds good to me!
it fits the music well
keep in mind that an instrument
often sounds different on the dance floor
than what you hear on stage

surely how you play is
more important than what you play.

That's why I use Boss DR880 Drum Machine who never tells me what guitar to play.

Some people are so used to certain sounds or tones and have that stuck in their head.

I use Gretsch for Chet Atkins finger picking tunes..(I am not good at it but that's the sound)

For country tunes, I prefer Telecaster.

But for 60's The Ventures tunes, Mosrite is the one! (love Jazzmaster too)

He's just a drummer, what does he know.

KRamone27 wrote:He's just a drummer, what does he know.

...joking aside, let's hope drummer boy reads this thread and hope he benefits from it ...for the benefit of the whole band. Let's face it, we need him too just as much...

First I would Like to thank you all for your comments. I have calmed down now and you have all helped in that. I don't think I have been that mad at someone in more years that I can remember. You are indeed a great extended family for me. I don't post that much here (or in any forum) but I am on checking things out several times a day when I can.

I do use a Twin Custom 15 and when I use a Gretsch it is set with a lot less bass than when I use the Mosrite.
Gretsch Treble-4
Mid-3
Bass-5
Mosrite Treble-5
Mid-4
Bass-8
The setting may vary depending on the room but that is what I start with. The Gretsch is not that much mellower (if thats a word) than the Mosrite but it does have Filtertrons. The bass setting changes more depending on how much volume is needed. As for the Mosrite I use the front pickup on all slow songs, both on semi slow to semi fast, and rear on the more rock sounding songs.

As for the drummer , he doesn't even like the Hallmark and said about the same thing about it. I talked with him several times about it and thought it was all settled. I guess not!
He has played in many bands around here and I know that the guitar players were all playing either Telly's or Strats so he should be used to the bitting sound. Maybe I have ruined him with the smoother sound of the Filtertrons I don't know but he can get over it or move on again. He complains about something almost every time out and has no knowledge as to what he is even talking about most of the time. He can't seem to accept the fact the the sound is different from one place to another and you set everything as close to what you want and then just have fun playing. After all thats all it's about isn't it Having fun doing what we do? I would worry about the sound more if we didn't play to a full house most of the time and we have more jobs here than even the top 40 so called country bands so we are doing something right.

Again thanks for your comments and listening to me rant a bit. You are truly a great bunch and maybe some day I will have the opportunity to meet most of you.

Jim

Ps: I have heard that drummers are the people that hang out with musicians!!

Yeah, often talking to someone -anyone- helps to get it off your chest. Maybe he’s just too big for his musical boots or something …but don’t let it get to you and spoil your fun. If he can’t pick guitar himself, that's fine but he shouldn’t be pickin’ on you!
”You see, ya can’t please everyone, so ya got to please yourself” (Garden Party, Ricky Nelson 1972)
Here’s someone to cheer you up (and I'm sure you won't mind that she's not playing a Mosrite…)