21 Oct Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird”, Solo Tutorial Pre-Launch “Show”
And with this one, our tutoring session is ready to start again. Prepare to Learn, it’s your turn now!
SoloDallas 😉
Now brief details: I tried to recreate as much as possible the original “tone” of these lead guitars. Keep in mind that none of these were played with a Les Paul originally (on the album, nor live) but I wanted to re-use a Les Paul. Original guitars here were a Gibson Explorer Firebird (thanks GoingDownOnTheWay!) and an SG.
I wanted real PAFs (’50s PAFs) for this one, so I went for my 1959 Lentz Conversion.
I used a 2204 (50W Marshall Head, Master Volume, the one on top) that I had bought a month ago and only arrived this morning. Also, Tshirts arrived this morning, so that was a sign for me. Had to do something with all this 😛
Settings for the head: presence 0, bass 0, middle 5, treble 5, master 2, pre amp 8; now it’s on the guitar that I kept volume at 9-ish and TONE at 6, to get that “sqwak” that you hear when picking.
Cabinet here is the bottom one, the 1960B with vintage, 1977 G12Ms. Microphone is a Mojave MA-200, a “copy” of the great Neumann U67.
A “tad” of equalization added, taking away some bass FREQs (still!) and adding a bit of 2k. Microphone positioned as on video, very close, attached to the cone.
deni91
Posted at 12:50h, 23 OctoberVery nice, as usual, Fil!
I’m just watching it again and again now for a few times today. I would like to play my guitar right now, but unfortunately I cannot, because it’s far (256km) from me. I’ll bring it with me, but not now. I’m going home next week, so I’m just watching your videos, maybe it feels like the real playing a bit, this is the only thing I can do now, and listen to AC/DC and some other music. When I arrive home, I tune up my guitar and watch a few videos from you, it’s kind of a warm up for me. It warms up the “musician” in me, I can play better with this thing, than just pick it up and play. It really needed by my soul before playing.
Amazing, man!
Thank you for being here for all of us!
(Sorry for language mistakes, novadays I’m not using English at all…)
Cheers!
Denes
SoloDallas
Posted at 12:55h, 23 OctoberI do this, too: I listen. I listen a lot. Listening allows me to let the musical phrases enter my mind. So much that when I play the guitar, those phrases will come out more easily and spontaneously. At least a couple of people (not here, on forums) have noticed that they couldn’t remember all the notes. I didn’t answer there, but I do here: IF one listens, notes come out. They are impressed in our minds. That’s how I remember solos: I listen. Cheers my man, Fil 🙂
deni91
Posted at 13:22h, 23 OctoberI think the magic is, “listen and learn”, it’s more than tabs or something like that.
I want my guitar, noooow 😀
I still have to wait a bit, but I’ll bring my guitar soon. That’s why I’m trying to setup Amplitube 3, it’s a great amplifier. I’m trying to emulate JMP tone as much as possible. Maybe, 0 presence is not good with it, but I’ll try everything. I’ll tell the final results…
Denes
solocali
Posted at 21:17h, 22 Octoberthanks fil great performance as usual, I went down and ordered that 1977 marshall jmp it should be a big upgrade from my jcm 2000 do you think it will sound good with 1960a cab? also will it be ok to play in bars with it? sorry for all the questions you already helped me so much and along with angus you inspired me to play 🙂 thank you
banane
Posted at 21:25h, 22 OctoberHello, I have just this combination here. JMP with 1960A cabinet. Sounds great, much more than “just enough” 🙂 The standard Celestion G12T75 in my cab sounds a bit metal-like, so I plan to replace them with Greenbacks. However, it will sound great anyway.
SoloDallas
Posted at 21:43h, 22 OctoberFirst off Solo – brother!!! 😀 – welcome to our club. It is NOT an exclusive club. I detest people creating elite club. It’s just a clubbish club among the clubs 😀 You get my point 😉 Now I plan using mine with one 1960A with old greenbacks and one 1960B with G12H30s. So you got your answer. By the way, of course it will sound just as great. Some even prefer the slanted ones. It’s preference. The non slanted ones (1960B-ish) have maybe a bit more bottom.
Oh and EDIT: it’s going to be great for clubs, too, naturally. A bit heavy to carry around but hey, I did it for years. It’s a master volume 2204 I presume, so with the master volume, you get the best of all worlds. Enjoy!
LeroyKincaid
Posted at 12:38h, 22 OctoberAmazing.
Played along with you on rhythm – great fun!
Bluspace
Posted at 11:44h, 22 OctoberGreat as usual Solo
How can we buy a shirt to support!!!
Can’t wait for the tutorial!!!!!
SoloDallas
Posted at 11:58h, 22 OctoberThanks Blue! Great screen name. I am waiting on further information on how to purchase these Tshirts. I will post a link to a sort of BUY NOW with different sizes. More colors will also come in the near future 😀
acuturi
Posted at 11:35h, 22 OctoberAmaizing staff, great job! Can’t wait for the full tutorial!
I wan’t the shirt!
SoloDallas
Posted at 11:40h, 22 OctoberYou too want it huh? Hey everyone, this guy is my “brother”. This guy, “acuturi” is the guy WHO PUSHED ME INTO MAKING THIS WEBSITE. I OWE IT TO HIM. PLEASE SAY HELLO TO MR. Andrea.
Thank you, Andrea, love you brother (although we don’t have the same blood, we grew up from year 0 to years… 42!).
banane
Posted at 13:15h, 22 OctoberWell, then we owe it to him too. Hello and thanks, acuturi 🙂
SoloDallas
Posted at 18:02h, 22 OctoberAcuturi is such a computer nerd that I doubt he was able to click on “subscribe to replies” therefore Franz, he’ll never know 😛 (thanks Franz of behalf on Andrea; I’ll tell him; he’s a typical “finance” guy, blue suit, tie, … 😀 )
banane
Posted at 18:13h, 22 OctoberHehe, thanks , Fil 🙂 Well, the shirt would look just cool together with a blue suit 😀
Dillon
Posted at 03:39h, 22 OctoberOh man i cant wait to buy a shirt! haha
KyleSG
Posted at 02:10h, 22 OctoberAwesome job! Are people going to be able to purchase shirts like that from your web?
KyleSG
Posted at 03:00h, 22 Octoberok nvm my first post lol yes they will be available soon after reading other post 🙂
Kinglance
Posted at 23:26h, 21 OctoberMan, what an performance! This sound is really terrific! I want that 50W amp :p Now I have an Marshall JCM 2000 TSL 60 Watt. But I don’t use it anymore. I use Eleven Rack. But for live performances a 50 Watt amp would be great. It’s the one u play AC/DC with?
Longing to see the tutorials…
U are great Fil and we love u!
Gr J-L
SoloDallas
Posted at 11:42h, 22 OctoberJL, “we” should try and make that JCM sound like these. I think it’s possible. What cabinet do you have?
Kinglance
Posted at 22:43h, 22 OctoberAn 1960A I think. I hope this is the complete name of it. I’ll make an account on soundclick and put some ideas on it. Maybe u can do something with it. Would be very nice :p Very very nice 😀
SoloDallas
Posted at 22:48h, 22 OctoberRoger that! 😉
Kinglance
Posted at 14:25h, 23 OctoberDamn, made an account, but my soundfiles are too big (50MB). Made them with Protools and Eleven Rack and bounced them to my disk. Bounced them as wav-files. It’s a pitty it doesn’t works. 🙁
SoloDallas
Posted at 14:28h, 23 OctoberYou need to convert to MP3s, like I do here (or I’d say bye bye to bandwidth). I use Audacity to convert to MP3s. If you use its maximum bit rate, not much loss of quality will result.
Michael91
Posted at 23:19h, 21 OctoberHey fil, finally I bought a JMP 2203 form 1980. With no modds (I wanted a clean one).
And thats probably the best thing I’ve ever done. I’m so much happy with this amp. I always wanted a JMP, but your hompage strengthened my plan to get one.
Thank you so much
Michael
banane
Posted at 23:21h, 21 OctoberAh, another one. I had the same story. Welcome to the club 🙂
SoloDallas
Posted at 23:22h, 21 OctoberMike! I have created GAS again. Heh! I am pleased to know you like it: so I don’t have to feel guilty. Well then, when can we all hear yours? Going to post something for us here?
TheBrowling
Posted at 22:55h, 21 OctoberYou don’t know how glad I am, that you start shooting tutorials Fil! because I’ve never had enough balls to start transcribing this solo (it’s sooooo long!!) but I’m gonna add some licks to my “vocabulary” for sure! Great cover Fil, watching you play this solo is amazing, you put that much effort and feeling on your playing! Anyway, I know you’ve don’t even started shooting this one, but have you thought of something next?
SoloDallas
Posted at 22:58h, 21 OctoberThanks bro. Well, the point of this “site” was tutorials. I considered all of these contents so far just “warm up” to launch the place. This place is about tutoring, learning. Licks, feeling, timing, tone, gear, happiness, frustration, recover, … the list is long. What next? Some AC/DC, In depth, like never before. Some Free. Boston. Dire Straits (yup!). AND I’m listening for ideas.
TheBrowling
Posted at 23:12h, 21 OctoberI love the idea of you teaching Dire Straits and I don’t know why, but I think that “money for nothing” must be ideal for you! I don’t know Fil, I would suggest some Clapton too, some Hendrix if you wish… Led Zepp, the Stones, I think that kind of rock suits you. And as for other kind of videos… as I told you some days ago, maybe some “licks in the style of…” or something like that… also about gear, exercises, techniques, all that kind of stuff is what a begginer (and I think that also the majority of us) likes. I salute you!
banane
Posted at 23:16h, 21 OctoberOh yes, add me for the beginners stuff. That would be great.
SoloDallas
Posted at 23:25h, 21 OctoberWe’re all beginners. I am not kidding you. Every time I pick up the guitar I feel like a beginner. In fact, all of my videos had always had some sort of “experiment” together thing to it, if you noticed. I also heard Knopfler say he didn’t feel like a guitar player, and I do understand him. The guitar is a wonderful instrument, but a not-forgiving one, too. Can be easy and a pain. And both at the same time. So yes, I will make sure to craft carefully videos as the ones described above, especially “licks in the style of”, I liked that title and it probably be the actual title of a whole series of tuts… 🙂
banane
Posted at 23:30h, 21 OctoberI can totally follow this. And the best teachers are the ones that can still feel like beginners. Thanks 🙂
TheBrowling
Posted at 07:24h, 22 OctoberI’m glad you’ve taken the title I proposed! 😉 I love the spirit you have with all this, thinking of you as a begginer, having all that curiosity and emotion… you really motivate, at least, me! And I’ve thanked you lots of times, but I can’t get tired. THANKS for everything Fil, specially for getting me (indirectly) into transcribing!
SoloDallas
Posted at 09:57h, 22 OctoberTranscribing? So you write down stuff to TABs? If so, would you feel like TABbing down this solo once I’m done with the tut? I’ll be playing it real slow, so that phrases are clear to see and hear. Either you or André (Jaiminho Pagina – JPKBlueser). André?
TheBrowling
Posted at 15:33h, 22 OctoberWell, Fil, what I do is, that if I transcribe (I mean I get it by ear) a song because I like it, I just write down in a notebook I have for it the chords or the licks in it so that I can remember how to play it, but not as Jaiminho. I think he writes down in the standard tab system, I just don’t know it… I write down the thing so that I now how to play it later.
Tyler
Posted at 22:05h, 21 OctoberWell done master! Simply wonderful!
SoloDallas
Posted at 22:29h, 21 OctoberThank you Sir 🙂
banane
Posted at 22:02h, 21 OctoberFil, very impressive performance. I can clearly see you playing, in all details. But for learning I would need it much slower 🙂 I like Andres (JaiminhoPagina) approach very much: splitting the lession in several parts, playing the parts at normal speed first, then again at slow speed but with correct timing together with tabs.
I know, you don’t like tabs that much but they are a great help anyway. However, the most important thing for me would be the slow parts. I would watch, hit pause, try to play it, then continue with the next part when I’m ready. That would be my perfect learning video 🙂
SoloDallas
Posted at 22:11h, 21 OctoberFranz, what you described is more or less what will happen in the tutorial(s). This one will be split in 4 parts, slow and note for note. Tabs: it would take me weeks to write them down. I hope the video alone will serve you well, and I believe it will. BTW, the amp I played this one is the same as yours! (2204). Got it this morning 🙂
banane
Posted at 22:34h, 21 OctoberAh, thats great! Yes, having slow parts in the video will help a lot. Tabs would be a great bonus, but not really essential for me. I understand that writing them takes a long time, especially for this song. I wouldn’t have this time either.
Congrats for the 2204 🙂 The longer I have mine, the more I love it. It has just an amazing tone.
Took myself a leave day today and played on it almost the whole day. And I feel like I should buy another one just for having one in spare. Would get a heart attack when it breaks.
SoloDallas
Posted at 22:37h, 21 OctoberFranz, I feel the same way: that’s why I “amassed” these JMPs. Now that I “found out” they were the amps I had always wanted, I can’t get enough. Well, it seems we both were playing our bottoms off today: I had to be in Milan to sign a big contract with Indians (from India) but I didn’t feel like it: wanted to play. So my other partners went! hehehe…
banane
Posted at 23:01h, 21 OctoberHehe, same here, had to answer some mails and skype chats because english version of company website for new american distribution partners launches at monday, but that was the only disruption.
Played along half the time and continued training with the you shook me all night long solo then.
Life can be great when you have a JMP and enough time to play it 🙂
Dave4433
Posted at 09:52h, 22 OctoberTabs are the thing when I can’t see what my teacher is doing on the fretboard, and I think that Fil has an exelent camera and (I’m sure) will come up with some great angles so we will always be able to see what notes is he playing.
banane
Posted at 10:22h, 22 OctoberThats right, but you will have to watch the video for learning. With having the tabs you can print them out and excercise everywhere.
Had a good time last holiday in hungary where I had Andres Tabs, my guitar and a small battery driven Marshall (what else, man) with me and did some great exercises outside in the yard.
Unfortunately it takes a lot of work and time to write them up, so I can really appreciate Fil saying he didnt have the time.
SoloDallas
Posted at 10:27h, 22 OctoberThis is why I am asking folks here if they feel like putting down my debunked parts down on Tabs. I said I was against tabs, but because they were mostly INCORRECT 😀 Now I would have nothing against tabs with parts that I debunked personally! 🙂 That would complete my offering and would stay in the community. Plus, credit would GO to the one who wrote the tab.
banane
Posted at 11:28h, 22 OctoberThats what I thought also. “SoloDallas approved Tabs” would be like a quality seal 🙂
Well, there will be great things coming up in the future, I’m looking forward to it 🙂 We’re all becoming guitar gods 😀
SoloDallas
Posted at 11:35h, 22 OctoberHehehe… well, I would be happy if we all became “true, musical guitar players without an attitude. Real musicians, that is” 😀
See Franz, the problem here is “copyrights”. Justin (Sandercoe) told me that he was threaten legally because of Tabs. I have to be extremely careful with all of this. They will haunt me down. Eventually, when I will have a streamflow of money off of this site (hopefully, with select advertisement, that’s my goal here: free for users, pay for advertisers) I WILL be paying the copyrights thing for all my covers. It’s the way to go. At that point, I will be unstoppable. I will even cover Britney Spears songs!!!!111
JaiminhoPagina
Posted at 21:57h, 21 OctoberHey Fil 🙂
Sounds amazing!
I can’t wait for the…. (You know what – XD)
Hmmm…. I see that you finally got that 50watter JMP MV. 😀
May I ask you something? How does it compare to the 100w MV in terms of tone? 🙂
SoloDallas
Posted at 22:01h, 21 OctoberHeya bro’! Tutorial is coming. I’ll start shooting tomorrow (and upload it in parts). Sooo… to my ears, 2204 and 2203 are identical (lol). But it’s probably due to the fact that I’m playing them at bedroom level. When cranked up more, there may be some tonal differences (although I presume minimal) probably just “headroom” (i.e., the time it takes to the amp from clean to driven), the 2203 (100W) having more headroom (takes more to drive, need to crank volume higher, not considering the pre-amp)
JaiminhoPagina
Posted at 22:23h, 21 OctoberThat’s great 🙂
Thanks for the answer.
I’m learning this one by ear right now. But a lesson certaily will make it easier 🙂
I used to always look for one of your lessons when I started playing. I was starting to “lose faith” in tabs… And… well… Your versions are always more accurate. I guess your videos are the reason my ears got “a bit more sensitive to the notes” (and also…. I started to understand timing, feel, tone, vibratos…..) XD
But anyway…
Can’t wait to see these Lessons 😀
SoloDallas
Posted at 22:30h, 21 OctoberAnytime. I am completely dedicated to this.
SoloDallas
Posted at 09:58h, 22 OctoberAndré,
would it feel okay to you to put down to TAB this solo once I do it on video real slow? for the community.
JaiminhoPagina
Posted at 21:04h, 22 OctoberHaha XD
Really?
Yeah. Sure! 😀
It would be a pleasure.
davidon66
Posted at 21:22h, 21 OctoberIts like iam sitting in front of you on chair and watching you playing … amazing …. i see every movement of your fingers (this can be a good tutorial aswell but if you going to slow it down it will just perfect ) the t-shirt is a good advertisement …simply amazing job …
SoloDallas
Posted at 22:02h, 21 OctoberDavid, this is actually what I wanted: to be there. Sort of to pop out of the screen and play with all of you. I’m glad that it’s coming off nicely. Next time I’m going to shave though 😛
whiskeyontherocks
Posted at 21:16h, 21 OctoberFantastic playing, Fil! And i wouldn’t mind owning that shirt either
SoloDallas
Posted at 22:08h, 21 OctoberThanks bro. Shirt will be for sale for sure. Will tell prices (cheapo) and accept orders asap 🙂 (PS naturally I don’t plan on getting rich by selling these; but they may hive a nice sense of community 🙂 )
banane
Posted at 22:36h, 21 OctoberAdd me to the list. Would buy shirts for the whole family here 🙂
The Jack
Posted at 20:44h, 21 OctoberDAMN!!! This video is not available for Germany, because of anything with UMG content.
It’s a pity!
SoloDallas
Posted at 21:09h, 21 OctoberHang on, uploading to Vimeo witn NO country limits. Available in a few minutes
SoloDallas
Posted at 22:30h, 21 OctoberVimeo version online, Sir
Niclas
Posted at 20:36h, 21 OctoberAmazing video! I love the Cherry Sunburst Les Paul. It’s my dream guitar and you’re playing my favorite solo on it!
Dave4433
Posted at 20:30h, 21 OctoberDang, You’ve got the perfect Skynyrd tone aswell 😀
Also, will we be able to get purchase those shirts somehow ?
SoloDallas
Posted at 22:31h, 21 OctoberThanks Dave! I worked a bit (circa one hour) to dial it in. Some info above. Yes of course. tshirts available for purchase for any registered member. Will let you all have the pricing. Will naturally cheap. It’s only meant as a “come together thing” for the community 🙂
thearmedmonkey
Posted at 20:08h, 21 OctoberIs it me or was that the 77′ JMP 50 on top there? How is it?
Btw, this video was killer! Great job!
dubsharayko
Posted at 20:00h, 21 OctoberLOVE THE SHIRT! and the video is sick.