Light At The End Of The Tunnel
After 3 1/2 years, I could not wait to see this filled out and completed. Today I got to…
Friends, that is what a college degree requirements sheet looks like with all the classes filled it. Granted, I still have to pass 5 classes that I’m still in, but hey…I’m almost there. Two months from today, I’ll begin my last finals of my college career.
Bottom line: I’m really starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Now to go study for midterms 
What’s More Important Than Tone
Sometimes it’s easy for me to get caught up in tone, making cool noises and having cool gear. I know I’m not alone in this and chances are that if you regularly read my blog as a resource for guitar tone and gear, you probably struggle with it too. It’s an easy thing to do and, while it’s very important, it’s not the most important thing.
When we’re leading others in worship, that is the most important thing. Why is it that we can spend hours looking up people’s gear and new pedals online, but don’t have any time to sit down and get in the Word or talk to God? Even as important as practicing is, we can play for hours without even acknowledging who gave us our gifts and without taking time to seek Him.
I’m guilty of this as well, but it shouldn’t be so. We’ve got to keep this in mind. Nothing is as important as our relationship with God and truly worshiping ourselves when we’re playing and taking part in leading worship. This isn’t anything deep. We’ve all heard it before. So why is it that we’re not striving for any change?
I encourage you to make sure you spend time getting the in the Word and talking to the Lord before you hit up my blog or any other site or plug in to play.
Gear Talk: Jeff Owens
I got the opportunity to see Tenth Avenue North in concert a few weeks ago. Their guitar player, Jeff Owens, is a great guitarist who had a pretty cool setup. I thought I’d throw his pedalboard into a Gear Talk.
Jeff played a Duesenberg Starplayer TV, a PRS with P90’s (not sure the model), and also had a Reverend with a P90 and humbucker (possibly Double Agent II) that he didn’t play. I’ve also seen him play with a Tele before too. He ran them into a Fender DeVille and an old Fender Super Reverb. Sorry for the dark picture but here’s his board:
Not sure of the order, but he’s running through:
- a Catalinbread Serrano Picoso – a one knob, transparent clean boost, able to kick up 30dB.
- Ernie Ball Volume Pedal (with Boss TU-2 Tuner out)
- Xotic RC Booster – he seemed to use this as his main drive.
- Keeley 4-Knob Compressor
- Menatone Blue Collar – a more compressed, bluesy drive with 4 knobs to control volume, gain, tone and presence.
- Keeley Modded Boss Blues Driver – labeled as “PUNCH”
- CMAT Signa Drive – 3 knobs to control gain, tone and level.
- Guyatone Ultrem – first time I’ve seen this pedal before…an incredible tremolo. Stereo inputs and outputs, multiple wave forms and effect modes, depth control, tap tempo and, my personal favorite, the ability to dial in a tempo by BPM. I would venture to say the king of tremolos. After this pedal, he splits the signal stereo.
- Boss DD20 Giga Delay (with external tap)
- Boss RV5 Reverb – you can’t really tell in the picture, but he had the effect level and time knobs changed out to be larger “chickenhead” knobs (like this). I suppose he did this to be able to have more ability to change it with his feet live. From here he runs one output to an amp (not sure which) and runs the other output to the DD5.
- Boss DD5 Delay – from here he runs the other signal to the other amp. It seems that the mode is always on reverse with the effect level high, feedback down and delay time down. I didn’t get to chat with him afterwards, so I’m not sure what he does with this. He might use it for ambient sounds or something…anybody know?
For Sale: JHV3 Line 6 MM4
I’m selling my Line 6 MM4 that I got Jack Vaughn (jvh3.com) to mod for me. He did his “hi-fi mod” that is basically the Keeley mod. It includes cap upgrades, new input and output buffers (via new Burr Brown op-amps), and decreasing the resistance within said buffer circuit to eliminate the infamous volume drop associated with DL4s/MM4s, as well as trading out the stock LEDs. Got him to put in blue LEDs to match the unit. Jack is the real deal and did a great job with this pedal.
It’s in good condition with a little wear and sounds great. I really wish I could keep it, but it doesn’t make sense to keep while I’m looking for something different.
It comes with original box, manual and power supply. $200 plus shipping.
More pics available here.
Rain, Rain Go Away
Atlanta’s been getting a lot of rain lately. This is no secret.
I left Atlanta to play in Texas while it was raining. Woke up flying into Houston to blue skies and lots of sun.
I was surprised to hear that a large majority of Atlanta was flooding on Monday. Classes were being cancelled, roads were shutting down. My roommate, Kyle, informed me that our house was ok, but the neighborhood wasn’t doing too well. Neighbors across the street had water up to their front door, covering the bottom level of their houses. Kyle sent me these pictures:
This was the view from our front door. You can see the street is gone and water was making it’s way towards the house.
This was the street (or where it was) and a neighbor’s house.
And this was that same neighbor using a kid’s pool to save his dog. You can see his house in the background. He has suffered some great loss.
I cannot believe this is where I live. I was getting upset because the rain was messing up our yard when we had to park in it before I left. Who would’ve known that this would be the least of my worries? I’ve heard people say, “why can’t we see this rain as a blessing?” and other comments condemning people complaining about the rain in Atlanta. When the rain is hitting people’s houses like my neighbors and my own, it’s just not easy to see it as a blessing. Yeah, it’s nice that Atlanta isn’t in a drought state (at least not now), but it’s just harder to see it as a blessing when people’s houses are flooding when they don’t have flood insurance.
It’s so easy to become so calloused. I’m tired of reading Tweets and hearing stuff about Kanye West, Atlanta’s rain and Obama’s healthcare. However, when it gets personal, it changes. I’ve learned a lot through all this. Even by being 1,000 miles away.
Update: New Pedals and Changes
I love lists. You love lists. America loves lists…
- I recently traded my Fulltone Supa-Trem for an early Cusack Tap-A-Whirl (it’s actually serial number 19 I believe). I love having the tap feature so much more.
- I also got another Boss DD20 Giga Delay. I had one but sold it to fund my Micro POG and because I wasn’t happy with the particular unit. I’m looking forward to having another one again.
- I’m considering trading my modded Line 6 MM4 for an Eventide Modfactor and am thinking about eventually getting a Timefactor as well. Anybody have any opinions on these?
- I’m on my last trip I’m flying to for a while, so I’ll be switching back to my bigger board soon. I got some Lava Cables and I’m excited about using those. I’ve heard lots of great stuff about a lot of different cables and appreciate all the advice and suggestions, but Lava is definitely what I’m going to use based on my experience with different other kinds of cable. George L’s break too much for me. Planet Waves are too big and bulky. And there are lots of other options, but Lava worked out best for me (especially with the deal I got on them).
- In addition to changing a few things around, I’ll probably be taking my Whammy off my pedalboard this time around. It takes up a lot of real estate, requires a lot of power and has a very similar (but very different) sound like the Micro POG. Just makes the most sense to take it off. Although I’m trying to figure out a reason to keep it, I’ll probably end up selling it. Anybody local want it?
- I’ve heard your requests for Gear Talk and have a few up my sleeve. Be ready for them in the next few days and weeks.
Whose Gear Do You Want To See On Gear Talk?
It’s been a while since we’ve done a Gear Talk. I’ve got a few in the holster, ready to be blogged, but I’m very interested in your input.
Whose guitar gear in the Christian music world would you like to see on Gear Talk? Although I want to keep the focus narrow at nathanwright.org, I’d also be interested in venturing into the “secular” world and discussing some other musician’s gear a little (most of the time the Christian musicians are looking for the sound of “secular” musicians anyways).
Leave a comment on this post and let me know. I can’t promise that I will be able to find their gear and be able to discuss it, but I’ll try my best.
Back To The Big’Un
So next weekend is our last gig we’re flying out to for a while. Although I enjoy flying…I miss my big pedalboard. After putting it away since May, I think I’m about to bring it back.
However, I’m looking at replacing and changing a few things around. Here’s what I’m looking at adding:
- Lava Cables – some of the best cables and my boy, Kyle Troop, is a dealer. Word.
- Diamond Compressor – used to have a Boss compressor a while back and it broke. The Diamond is one of the best ones out.
- Cusack Tap-A-Whirl/Empress Tap Tremolo/Diamond Tremolo (not released yet) – I tried to Fulltone Supa-Trem and love the sound, but want a tap tempo now. Therefore, I’m selling or trading my Supa Trem and getting a tap tremolo.
- A true bypass strip – This is still a while away, but I’m going to get Jack to make me one potentially…just an idea.
Any feedback on any of these pedals/ideas?
Updated Post: “Gear Talk – Daniel Carson”
The Gear Talk post on Daniel Carson’s gear has been updated and I wanted to give everyone a heads up.
Check it out here.
My Fall 2009 Pedalboard
I finally realized that I haven’t posted an updated picture of my board in a while so I thought I’d update this a little. This is my smaller board that I use primarily when I’m flying.
About Nathan
I think there’s probably a lot that I could say. After living as myself for about twenty one years, you get to know yourself. However, I’ll stick to the basics…
I’m a full-time student at Atlanta Christian College studying Biblical Studies with a minor in Student Ministry. I like music a lot. I play guitar at different churches, shows and events as a contract musician and play with a few bands (see my Links page).
I’d like a XXX Vitamin Water or Dr. Pepper to drink, or maybe a sweet tea (I mean…I am from the South). I’m a Mac guy and will always be. Organization is vital to most of anything that I do and I thoroughly enjoy making lists (especially if it’s on a 3×5 notecard or a Post-It). I live off my iPhone now…it’s wherever I am. I like to read many books, especially stuff from C.S. Lewis, John Piper, and Andy Stanley (Nerd? I think not…).
I am on the MySpace world as well as Facebook, but I’m on Twitter a whole lot now too.
-
Pics From My iPhone
More Photos
