What Do You Think Of This Clip????

ianvomsaal · July 2007

I'd been meaning to do a Steve Vai tune for years (just for kicks). By now most of you know that I'm more into Rock, Blues, and Fusion.
I rarely play like this (unless I'm being paid to, and thankfully that's not to often), but I figured it'd be a challenge all the same. And yes,
honestly, it was quite difficult. I had a blast trying to play like this, but I won't be doing anything like this again for quite a while - it's just
too difficult to maintain the technique. Anyhow, after a huge struggle to get the technique down enough to even attempt (and after
programing the stupid backing, drums, and synth on a workstation), I recorded a Steve Vai song - kind of a tribute - it's NOT exactly like
his version (I did take some liberties with the melody at times), but it's a fairly close try after many many many multiple takes.
Let me know what do you think??? I named it "for the love of Vai, God This Was Hard" -- My PUN on the original title "for the love of god."
click here: What Do You Think Of This Clip???? . . . Honestly.
Cheers . . .

- Ian

exhausted · July 2007

well, it's certainly well done. it's far beyond my skill set and i don't really listen to much in that style so i can't really comment on anything else. skillz for sure.

MichaelMcKevin · July 2007

Very melodic and really liked your feel. I liked how it started off with a pretty basic melody and as it progressed, the phrasing got a lot more complex but still kept to the original theme. Was feeling the tone as well. Nice! What set up did you use?

MichaelMcKevin · July 2007

By the way... we need some more audio clips/youtube videos from forum members on here.

ianvomsaal · July 2007

GivenToCarve wrote:

Very melodic and really liked your feel. I liked how it started off with a pretty basic melody and as it progressed, the phrasing got a lot more complex but still kept to the original theme. Was feeling the tone as well. Nice! What set up did you use?

I borrowed a JEM7V (not my normal guitar - I really hate those kinds of bridges), through a Marshall JCM800 half stack.
I ran my pedalboard through the FX-loop + a Steve Vai Bad Horsie Wah (for the sake of authenticity).
I used multiple mics (six) placed all over the room (in front of the cab and behind) to try and get a bigger sound - it sorta worked.
Everything was recorded with ProTools in a Macbook (with multiple multiple takes to get things acceptable - I almost gave it up).
Cheers . . .

- Ian C.T. vom Saal

MichaelMcKevin · July 2007

ianvomsaal wrote:

Everything was recorded with ProTools in a Macbook (with multiple multiple takes to get it right - I almost gave it up).

Well the final product sure sounded like it was worth the trouble.

ianvomsaal · July 2007

GivenToCarve wrote:

Well the final product sure sounded like it was worth the trouble.

Thanks - it sure took me long enough to get the tune to a point where I didn’t feel like I could take it
any further, so I guess it was an acceptable attempt.

ianvomsaal · July 2007

BUMPeroonie

Yielded · July 2007

Well, in some parts I couldn't help thinking you'd uploaded the Vai version

I love 'For The Love Of God', I've been trying to learn it on and off for a while now, but I just get too lazy.

What can I say? Excellent playing, sweet tone, thumbs up!

Oh, and if I may ask: What did you record with Pearl Jam? (I was reading through your MySpace profile...)

ianvomsaal · July 2007

Yielded wrote:

Well, in some parts I couldn't help thinking you'd uploaded the Vai version I love 'For The Love Of God', I've been trying to learn it on and off for a while now, but I just get too lazy. What can I say? Excellent playing, sweet tone, thumbs up!

Funny, yeah I've had engineers record me, and then when I walk back into the booth for mixing they jokingly say "did you just walk in
there and hit play or something, where's the CD

." One of my bigger hangups is that I sometimes practice things too much before I
record them (which in-turn results in losing some of the expression and feeling when recorded). Another good example of this is a lot
of Eric Johnson’s playing. He's soo technically tight that much of what he plays seems to loose something when he plays the tune live.
Thanks for the commends - it took a bit to get it sounding like that (too long).

Oh, and if I may ask: What did you record with Pearl Jam? (I was reading through your MySpace profile...)

I was lucky enough to record a tune with PJ in late 1996 (though admittedly I've never heard the tune on anything).
Unfortunately I can't tell you what tune it is because I don't know myself. The song might be on a B-side or
something, but more than likely it was just never used (luckily I just happened to be working in the studio that week).
I like to call that time period my "studio troll" days because I basically lived in the studios (like that was soo long ago

I got to spend two different days with them (though for only about an hour each day). Ed seemed to be having some
vocal trouble the 1st day, so they had to come back the next day (he seemed to be struggling enough with his
voice that they just asked if they could come back the following day to finish up) - I don't think he wanted anyone
hearing him squawk and hack so much, so he just called it a day. I think he quit smoking for a while after that.
I know he's back smoking again, so I figure he's bound to have some problems again, just give it time. I've gone
over this enough on here that I'm kind of tired of recounting it - please just look it up if you want more info.
Anyhow, I hope this sort of answers your question.
Cheers . . .

- Ian C.T. vom Saal

Yielded · August 2007

ianvomsaal wrote:

I was lucky enough to record a tune with PJ in late 1996 (though admittedly I've never heard the tune on anything).
Unfortunately I can't tell you what tune it is because I don't know myself. The song might be on a B-side or
something, but more than likely it was just never used (luckily I just happened to be working in the studio that week).
I like to call that time period my "studio troll" days because I basically lived in the studios (like that was soo long ago
I got to spend two different days with them (though for only about an hour each day). Ed seemed to be having some
vocal trouble the 1st day, so they had to come back the next day (he seemed to be struggling enough with his
voice that they just asked if they could come back the following day to finish up) - I don't think he wanted anyone
hearing him squawk and hack so much, so he just called it a day. I think he quit smoking for a while after that.
I know he's back smoking again, so I figure he's bound to have some problems again, just give it time. I've gone
over this enough on here that I'm kind of tired of recounting it - please just look it up if you want more info.
Anyhow, I hope this sort of answers your question.

Cool story, thanks for telling it

Rock on!

Anon · August 2007

ianvomsaal wrote:

Thanks - it sure took me long enough to get the tune to a point where I didn’t feel like I could take it
any further, so I guess it was an acceptable attempt.

acceptable attempt?

Understatement of the year. The tone was to die for. Loved it. It was brilliant.
Thanks for sharing.

ADogNamedPilate · December 2007

I really enjoyed that.

Django · December 2007

If I wasn't told I would have though it was Mr. Vai....very well played

All Those Yesterdays · December 2007

I to don't really follow that style at all, but you definately got what you were shooting for. Good job.

What Do You Think Of This Clip????

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