As often happens, I didn't make myself fully clear. I'm not trying to sound like anybody, but to understand elements of their electric guitar sound so that I can incorporate it into my musical voice. Eventually it will all become me, and people will be trying to sound like that Ryszard guy.

My electric playing has been compared to Keith Richards, Jeff Beck, Robert Fripp, and David Gilmour. I do love Carlitos' lyrical approach, but owe as much of my melodic influence to Herb Alpert as anyone else. No, it's not about speed. "Space music", I have found, is about just that--lots of room between elements.

I appreciate the specifics about equipment. I've gotten the most mileage out of the Tuna Kahuna's enjunction to turn down the distortion. I thought I'd lose sustain, but I have actually turned the preamps down in most of my models and have a smoother sound and at least as much sustain as I had before. I've switched from Marshalls to Boogies for now. I'm not actually sure what other amp models are in there (can anyone tell me what a Red or Orange rectifier is?). And which, exactly, are the Santana and Gilmour presets? I've probably blown them away in the user bank, but if they're there at all, they are still in the factory presets, which I have barely explored. I know so little about this that I may not recognize them when I see them.

Josh, I actually have a Big Muff Pi and a heavily-modified 1967 Fender Bassman head through which I haven't played in years. I'm using the GK-3/VG-88 sounds almost exclusively, though every once in a while I'm surprised to find that I'm playing a mix of VG and natural sound. The VG will allow me to process the natural guitar through all the virtual amps and FX by itself, so I may play with that, too. The VG produces a credible Leslie sound, too, except for not speeding up and slowing down at all; it's on or off. I have a Behringer MultiFX box that will do it, too. I even have a Korg MS-20 with built-in pitch to voltage converter. Eventually I'll have three separate signal chains: Ibanez, VG, and mono synth. Polysynth will have to wait until I can afford the $700 Terratec Axon Mk II.

I have several beds posted at indabamusic.com. Pretty soon I'll screw up the courage to share some of the guitar tracks I've been laying down--all thanks to members here.

Regarding the time I spend here: (to Mac: "Twenty minutes a day, hell!"). I have the luxury of spending many hours a day at my music; sometimes entire days. I make major discoveries almost hourly. I'm also active at Propellerhead.se and various music promotion/collaboration sites, as well as trying to get the live thing going locally. I type really fast, so I may not be spending as much time online as you think. I'm trying to do many things at once: learn several pieces of software, create music, develop the guitar sound, get better at everything, and post salable tunes. I'll be here as often as I need to get or share information.

Thanks to everyone for all your help and interest.

R.

"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."