Because I haven’t had a “poll” here in a while, today’s question is how much is enough when we count the power of an amp for a “regular” rehearsal room?

Let’s define the conditions: regular rehearsal room, let’s say 7-8m long, 7-8 m wide, regular height, I guess, about 2.45 m(?) and a “regular” band, something like drums, bass, 1 guitar, 1 keyboard, 1-2 microphones.

So, considering these conditions(that you may adjust to fit your “regular” image of a rehearsal room/band), how much would you consider it would be enough for a guitar amp? Would 75 watts do it? Or do you need 100 watts? Or 50 watts will do the trick also?

Keep in mind I speak here about distinguishing your guitar from the rest, in a “constructive” way, not making as much noise as possible so nobody else could be heard beside you…

Also, would the same wattage work for the bass amp too, or is it different?

How about for a 2 guitars band, does it change anything? What other parameters should be considered? Walls type? Drummer madness? Music style? Amp type? Number of speakers? Types of speakers? What else?

Let me hear you!

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You already know my interest in Variax modeling guitars so it is normal to also test one, beside reading reviews and listening how it sounds on YouTube. So, this last weekend, because, Silviu, my friends who owns one, was in Pitesti, I had this occasion so I asked him to let me test it at our rehearsal room.

So, Sunday morning we’ve met there. First impression? Despite what I have read on the internet and I was afraid of, the guitar is very beautifully built and gives a nice feeling of a job well done. He owns a beautiful Variax 700 model, red, so my opinions are about this model. I hope 600 model will also be well built…

The first guitar I was curious how it sounds was an acoustic model. Actually, any acoustic model, since if you find there at least one that sounds realistic, it’ great! So we’ve plugged the guitar in and started to play.

I can tell you it was not what I was expecting, the sound was not realistic at all, in my opinion. It sounded like a strange electric guitar but nothing like an acoustic. Maybe a bit that string scratch you get on an acoustic more than on electric.

Silviu told me that live, on stage, when set up correctly it doesn’t sound this way, sounds more realistic, since it should not be plugged through a combo.

OK then, let’s plug it on the PA system directly on a voice channel. We’ve plugged it in, cut the EQ and let it ring!

Well, here the situation was a bit different, the guitar sounded more realistic than through the combo and it emulated an acoustic guitar quite close. The 12 string acoustic guitar was nice also! So, as a short conclusion, the acoustic model is OK. Does not make your jaw drop, but it is OK for those moments when you need an acoustic guitar and don’t want to carry one with you. Plus that setting it takes only a spin of a knob while setting an acoustic guitar on stage takes more than that…

How about electric guitar models?

Well, here I had a blast! Really! I totally loved the distortion you get when you play the Gibson Les Paul modeled guitar, both on bridge and on neck “pickups”. Yeah! Rock on! True, rich sound and clear at the same time, notes that blend well when playing power chords and distinguish well when playing solo! I loved that! We played it through a Digitech (for electric models) and we bypassed the effect for acoustic models.

I also liked the Strat model, but I liked Tele models better for clean patches due to that sparky sound which worked great with the clean preset on the Digitech. And again, Gibson model works great on clean too!

The rest of the models were fun to try, but I don’t know if I will ever find an use for them: 12 strings Rickenbaker sounds great, I love it, banjo, sitar, great feeling but…where would I use them? Also jazzbox guitars were fun to try but not very useful to me also. But Gibson and Fender models work great!

The guitar was not heavy, or at least seems like a regular weight I am used to. I haven’t tested the tremolo bar, it was not mounted and I had no curiosity about it since the model I am interested in is 600 and not 700 and these 2 models differ very much when comparing the tuners so it wouldn’t have been relevant.

Very easy to play, beautiful fret inlays, knobs and “pickup” switch easy to use.

As a conclusion, the guitar made a good impression on me and the possibility for me buying one increased dramatically. However, it would be interesting to also test a 600 model…

Or just buy the God damn guitar and move forward!!!

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I was reading this post on IG’s blog and suddenly a question hit me: why people stop playing the guitar? Why do they forget about the instrument that meant the most for them at one moment in life?

If you think about it, it is not just about the guitar, it is about music, about art, about hobbies in general, if you want, no matter it is about music, theater, photography, dance, etc.

I think the most intense period of our life, from this point of view is the University years. At least for me, this was the case. While in University I used to live, eat and breath music. Rock music, that is…

We had 3 rehearsals/week, I had no money but still managed to buy a brand new electric guitar and the BOSS processor that I use even now. The price for the processor was high for me at that time but still managed to save money and pay for it, plus trade a speaker for the money I didn’t have. I went with my band to play on the seaside and for a multitude of reasons we slept on the beach for 2 nights, just to play. I think I have spoken about this before so I won’t insist on it.

The whole idea is that it used to burn me inside, I would have done anything to play, being on stage was the highest possible reward.

We didn’t have money but we managed to get the money for recording songs and believe me, it was not cheap for us at that moment.

Then at one point I had to get a job, but I remember negotiating my employment conditions based on my band needs. I discussed with my employer the fact that I need to leave once in a while with the band here and there. The employer must have been a wise person since I’ve got the job, I guess he knew something…

After a while, it stopped being so important. I think at that moment something happened. Life happened. We took a break and get together only for short periods of time. The bass player left the country for 1.5 years, I think, for a job in Italy, and strange, it didn’t seem so important at that moment. I mean I didn’t see it as a terrible bad luck for the band. Then the drummer left the country for 1.5 years for Mexico and again, it didn’t feel like a very big thing.

Now since a while we’ve got together again and play on regular basis, we found the pleasure and the desire and I enjoy every moment spent together with the band.

And you know what? This blog and YOU helped me a lot. In the last 6 months, the constant contact with you and the music made me again aware of what music means to me and why I started to play the guitar in the first place.

Now I just ask a rhetorical question: why dreams die? Why we lose the passion on the way and that flame inside us that keeps us going on? Is it the fact that we are not 20 years old anymore? Is it because we start working, because we need money? Is is the fact that when we get home we are in most of the cases too tired to dream and sing and play and live?

And if it is so, why do we come back to our love for music at one moment in our life ? Because, unless you made a profession out of your music, you probably lost it on the way and fount it again later in your life stronger than ever…

Am I right or what? Why did you lose it at one moment? What made you come back? Huh?

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These last days I’ve got interested again in Guitar Idol competition. While I am a fan of Gustavo Guerra due to 1000 reasons that I will discuss at a later time(and I hope he win the competition), I listened to every one of the guys presented there in the final. I must say that in many cases, the video they entered the contest with was not the best choice if you also look for them on YouTube because, in my opinion, most of them have other pieces that are better.

But OK, I understand the reason for the songs presented there: they needed songs that show a broad range of skills and I can say that you could see in 3-4 minutes from speed picking, melodic sense, creativity, control, tone, tremolo bar works, 8 finger taping, slap, finger style, whatever else they could think of that I can not even imagine…

This morning I was looking on YouTube for this guy, Chris Feener, who is on the 3rd position considering the number of votes, but didn’t quite impress me.

In the beginning, his Ibanez K7 guitar was what set me back because it immediately made me think of a pattern: the young shredder, Symphony X fan that will drive me crazy with fast notes from moment one to the end of the song without understanding anything of the actual melody (if there would be any). Don’t get me wrong, I am a fan of Ibanez electric guitars and a 7 strings Ibanez guitar has been something I have dreamed of for a while, until I understood that you don’t need 7 strings to play well. You need something else…

However, listening him on YouTube, I have discovered a 20 yo guy with a great collection of skills and techniques, with pieces far more interesting than what he presented for the contest.

So I have decided to put here one of his covers, Andy Timmons Groove or die song which I like very much, by the way, as almost all the songs of Andy Timmons.

So, without further comments, I give you Chris Feener and Andy Timmons’ Groove or die:

Question: considering the notoriety that YouTube builds to these guys, where do you think we’ll see him in a couple of years? In what band?

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Did you ever thought about what influence rock music has over people worldwide? I am always pleased to see artists outside rock music scene covering famous rock hits. Some of those covers come from people I wouldn’t have thought they enjoy rock music, like for example these cases below.

I know AC/DC is big, had a lot of hits and is in a position where everybody would like to sing one of their song, but man, Celine Dion, Anastacia , Shania Twain, Shakira singing AC/DC??!! This is a “must see” in my opinion!!

So, here we go:

Celine Dion and Anastacia singing “You shook me all night long” (pop rock version)

Shania Twain again with “You shook me all night long” (pop/country version, I love the slide on ACDC, I ask myself what Angus Young thought when he saw this video,because I don’t think he missed it!)

Shakira with “Back in black”, after you pass the first part, it is fine, considering Shakira’s singing style. I love the guitar part!

I consider these performances a tribute to monster band AC/DC, tribute that well known pop divas pay to somebody that made a mark on rock music. I consider it a form of respect, because when you are on top, you only sing somebody else’s songs if you really respect that artist.

Stumble that, people! Thanks!

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