Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 8,987
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 8,987
http://youtu.be/kc2sBG7WsC0

Interesting information about his guitars and FX pedals.

Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913
R
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
R
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913
Several lessons to be learned / gleaned here:

1. Brent Mason seems to have a very casual attitude and doesn't seem to be a snob about his guitars or his gear.

2. With all of the discussion about tonewoods with electric guitars, keep a couple things in mind from this video - his strat and his ES-335 were in the Nashville flood! His claim is that they were floating around in the studio and repaired at Glaser (sp?) instruments. I bet the 335 was submerged because of there not being enough wood to float the rest of the mass, but regardless, enough water to significantly damage the color of the finish.

Next time you hear someone waxing poetic about how important a particular kind of wood is for electric guitar tone - remember Brent's driftwood guitars.

3. His signal chain includes humble BOSS pedals (EQ and another one, can't remember which one). Again, when you hear someone going on and on about their particular cables and fancy pedals, yada yada yada, remember, Brent Mason has a $100 BOSS Eq pedal in his chain.

4. Who else has a roll-around amp case with 3 classic amp heads in it and another sitting on top, and at least two cabinets at their disposal? This, my friends is why amp simulation is so danged cool. For the naysayers, see items 2 and 3 above.

5. Thank goodness when he demonstrated the different pedals - he didn't go ballistic on notes (like he actually could have done - he's Brent Mason after all) but played something simple and tasteful to highlight what the particular effect did to the basic sound - great method that tons of other gear demos seem to miss. They amaze with the playing ability, but leave the effect of the effect as a big old question mark.

Don, thanks for posting. I will have to bookmark this one for all of the reasons above.

I have amp simulations for the 3 of those 4 heads (not modified) in my humble Zoom G5 multi-FX/Amp Simulation pedal that I am REALLY happy with. Doesn't have the Little Walter setup. Has a different boutique amp sim which really sings with my guitar, a simulation of a Two-Rock Emerald amplifier that just loves the single coil middle pickup of my Epiphone Nighthawk Custom Reissue.

Does Brent sound amazing when he plays - absolutely in so many styles it makes your head spin. It's not about the gear.

-Scott


Last edited by rockstar_not; 12/20/13 01:25 PM. Reason: correct at least one spelling mistake - there may be others!
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Keep in mind that "Studio Gear" is often different from gear used in Live Performance.

Some use the same for both, others don't.


--Mac

Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913
R
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
R
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913
Mac,

Understood. I'm not sure how much stage performance Mr. Mason does given his voluminous studio credits and commitments. I find no evidence of a tour schedule - would go see him in a heartbeat.

When he talks about the gear, he does talk about it as if he's in the studio. Specifically he talks about how he has lots of time in the studio and he just goes simple by plugging the pedal board into one of the various heads, rather than employing a switching network. He starts talking about it at 2:25 through about 3:00/4:00.

So, I'm thinking that he does indeed have the BOSS EQ in the chain for when he's doing studio sessions.

Another thing that I meant to mention in my first post is that it doesn't appear he's spending major coin to get a beautiful pedalboard layout with expensive interconnects in a matrix, etc. 4:45. BOSS Tremelo temporarily wired in there. It actually kind of looks a bit of a mess; the combination on the board that is.

Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 8,987
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 8,987
Macster, dumb me, I had assumed "session/studio gear" as opposed to "performance gear".

Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Originally Posted By: rockstar_not

Another thing that I meant to mention in my first post is that it doesn't appear he's spending major coin to get a beautiful pedalboard layout with expensive interconnects in a matrix, etc. 4:45. BOSS Tremelo temporarily wired in there. It actually kind of looks a bit of a mess; the combination on the board that is.



No need. In the studio, as he mentions in the clip, one has the time option on their side.

Studio pedalboards, effects, even among studio keyboardists, don't have to be "normalized" like Performance rigs have to be.

There is no need for permanization, fancy switching schemes, etc. as one might have to prepare for when performing a full on show live. Matter of fact, the option of keeping the pedalboard rather "open" like Brent does can lead to being able to accomplish a lot more in the way of creativity when in the studio and the job is to come up with the excitement, drama, even, that you're being paid to bring to the particular project.

In the studio, a pedalboard can consist of just that, a pine board, with some rubber surgical hose stapled to it that holds a few goodies in place. Yes, there are session cats who still may do just that. What appears to be minimal approach may actually be maximum versatility.


--Mac

Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Brent Mason in Live Performance







Brent and his brother Randy on drums:


Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.

ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.

PG Music News
Update Your PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 Today!

Add updated printing options, enhanced tracks settings, smoother use of MGU and SGU (BB files) within PowerTracks, and more with the latest PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 update!

Learn more about this free update for PowerTracks Pro Audio & download it at www.pgmusic.com/support_windows_pt.htm#2024_5

The Newest RealBand 2024 Update is Here!

The newest RealBand 2024 Build 5 update is now available!

Download and install this to your RealBand 2024 for updated print options, streamlined loading and saving of .SGU & MGU (BB) files, and to add a number of program adjustments that address user-reported bugs and concerns.

This free update is available to all RealBand 2024 users. To learn more about this update and download it, head to www.pgmusic.com/support.realband.htm#20245

The Band-in-a-Box® Flash Drive Backup Option

Today (April 5) is National Flash Drive Day!

Did you know... not only can you download your Band-in-a-Box® Pro, MegaPAK, or PlusPAK purchase - you can also choose to add a flash drive backup copy with the installation files for only $15? It even comes with a Band-in-a-Box® keychain!

For the larger Band-in-a-Box® packages (UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition), the hard drive backup copy is available for only $25. This will include a preinstalled and ready to use program, along with your installation files.

Backup copies are offered during the checkout process on our website.

Already purchased your e-delivery version, and now you wish you had a backup copy? It's not too late! If your purchase was for the current version of Band-in-a-Box®, you can still reach out to our team directly to place your backup copy order!

Note: the Band-in-a-Box® keychain is only included with flash drive backup copies, and cannot be purchased separately.

Handy flash drive tip: Always try plugging in a USB device the wrong way first? If your flash drive (or other USB plug) doesn't have a symbol to indicate which way is up, look for the side with a seam on the metal connector (it only has a line across one side) - that's the side that either faces down or to the left, depending on your port placement.

Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows® Today!

Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows for free with build 1111!

With this update, there's more control when saving images from the Print Preview window, we've added defaults to the MultiPicker for sorting and font size, updated printing options, updated RealTracks and other content, and addressed user-reported issues with the StylePicker, MIDI Soloists, key signature changes, and more!

Learn more about this free update for Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows at www.pgmusic.com/support_windowsupdates.htm#1111

Band-in-a-Box® 2024 Review: 4.75 out of 5 Stars!

If you're looking for a in-depth review of the newest Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows version, you'll definitely find it with Sound-Guy's latest review, Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows Review: Incredible new capabilities to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs.

A few excerpts:
"The Tracks view is possibly the single most powerful addition in 2024 and opens up a new way to edit and generate accompaniments. Combined with the new MultiPicker Library Window, it makes BIAB nearly perfect as an 'intelligent' composer/arranger program."

"MIDI SuperTracks partial generation showing six variations – each time the section is generated it can be instantly auditioned, re-generated or backed out to a previous generation – and you can do this with any track type. This is MAJOR! This takes musical experimentation and honing an arrangement to a new level, and faster than ever."

"Band in a Box continues to be an expansive musical tool-set for both novice and experienced musicians to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs, as well as an extensive educational resource. It is huge, with hundreds of functions, more than any one person is likely to ever use. Yet, so is any DAW that I have used. BIAB can do some things that no DAW does, and this year BIAB has more DAW-like functions than ever."

Convenient Ways to Listen to Band-in-a-Box® Songs Created by Program Users!

The User Showcase Forum is an excellent place to share your Band-in-a-Box® songs and listen to songs other program users are creating!

There are other places you can listen to these songs too! Visit our User Showcase page to sort by genre, artist (forum name), song title, and date - each listing will direct you to the forum post for that song.

If you'd rather listen to these songs in one place, head to our Band-in-a-Box® Radio, where you'll have the option to select the genre playlist for your listening pleasure. This page has SoundCloud built in, so it won't redirect you. We've also added the link to the Artists SoundCloud page here, and a link to their forum post.

We hope you find some inspiration from this amazing collection of User Showcase Songs!

Congratulations to the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!

We've just announced the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!

There are 45 winners, each receiving a Band-in-a-Box 2024 UltraPAK! Read the official announcement to see if you've won.

Our User Showcase Forum receives more than 50 posts per day, with people sharing their Band-in-a-Box songs and providing feedback for other songs posted.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed!

Forum Statistics
Forums66
Topics81,620
Posts735,183
Members38,518
Most Online2,537
Jan 19th, 2020
Newest Members
vasilich, maxrob61, TonyInManchester, jslynbrrs01, amdwilsns01
38,517 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 185
DC Ron 99
dcuny 87
DrDan 74
Today's Birthdays
Bernard Rasson, John Temmerman
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5