Frackin’ amazing! Y’all rocked it!
2 Likes
Thanks Lanny!
2 Likes
Thank you much, I’m really digging the tone that I’m getting from that new preamp. Those spots where the guitar drop off were why I wanted to sound test with that song. It’s modeled after the Marshall JCM800. I can get a really gnarly (good) clipping sound from them when I push it. I did this one with the gain at about 10 o’clock and the master at 12. So still minding its manners. I was planning on swapping the tubes out with some 12AX7’s but I like where I’m at with the 12AU7’s.
Even though its modeled after a guitar amp, it’s made for bass. It only sounds ok with guitar. I usually just turn it off and stick to the amps in my Helix.
1 Like
Well played!!!
Nice song! Is that a Ray34?
I could hear it really well on headphones. Nice bass tone!
1 Like
The first time I heard this song, with the great master Hadrien Feraud playing it, the theme stuck in my mind.
A long time later, here’s my interpretation, along with a solo / improvisation.
Hope you enjoy it!
Happy 2026 to everyone!!!
11 Likes
It is! This things pickups are so hot they melt the sun 
1 Like
Hello everyone. It’s been a while. 2025 I was just so excited to be able to play my favorite songs that I loved that I kinda got away from trying to improve. 2026 I want to get back to that and take more time to learn songs that are more challenging for me but still fun to play. I have a few song goals I want to hit for this year so it’s like I’m going back to basics and every song I learn this year is building up to challenge songs like I did in 2024. I want to play more progressive music. Not necessarily Metal but I do like playing and listening to songs that you don’t know where it’s going to go next.
I ended 2025 with a top 10 personal favorite release of the year and with kind of a preview of the music I wanted to learn and play in 2026.
Sleep Token - Gethsemane
14 Likes
So glad to see you back at it!
This was simply amazing, a nice growly tone on a jazzy/metal line, very cool all around. Great playing as always.
3 Likes
Great playing dude. I was just thinking that we hadn’t seen you in a minute the other day. I did Telomeres with my daughter on vocals when she was out here last summer. Love the Deftones cover in the back and I’m excited to see what crazy shit you end up doing this year.
3 Likes
Porcupine Tree - Lazarus
Funny enough, I never really got into these guys, which feels like blaspheme to say in a music community. I remember first hearing of them around… 2001, I believe it was In Absentia, and just being generally underwhelmed- which I’ll chalk up to youthful immaturity 
I was looking for another melodic support tune to follow up on “Easy On Me,” and stumbled into this song, which hit just right. I tried tracking it on the SR500 at first, but was doing a bit more digging and found that Colin Edwin used a Stingray (and a Bongo) while touring for this album, so suddenly the Ray34 seemed a more appropriate choice and upon playing, it just fit that much better.
Not a technical song by any means, my only real concern- per usual (lol) - is getting some of the timing down - I’ve been playing exclusively with a metronome lately, which has definitely improved things, but in a song laden with 16th note rests and consistently inconsistent note durations, it’s a bit of a challenge to mind the click. Thinking my next few covers will be of the more “straight-eighth” variety sigh
Nothing too special here on the recording front- used some real gentle compression, EQ’d with some mid cuts to take a bit of sting out of the Ray, moderate gain on an SVX-15B (I believe) amp sim, and a dash of reverb from Valhalla Supermassive.
Edited in FCPX for a bit of “home movies” vibe, bringing to mind the original video for the tune.
As always, I’m open to thoughts, suggestions, etc 
7 Likes
Thanks brother! Yea it’s a Harry Potter pun of sorts. The headmaster wizard of Hogwart’s was Albus Dumbledore, so I just changed it to make Allbass Rumbledore, since I’m playing all bass stuff and bass rumbles from the low frequencies LOL ……….
……..I thought it was funny anyway.
3 Likes
Rumbledore was the name of my last Harley! 
(Bought specifically for the airbrushing though it’s not really my taste - long story!)
2 Likes
Any fans here of The Cure? Simon Gallup is probably 80% of the reason why I picked up the bass. I’m going to see them play at Pinkpop this summer and I am ecstatic! Sinking is one of those basslines that you just, well… sink into. I’ve been practicing this for a while, but I finally got it good enough to record. I’d love to hear any feedback and I hope you enjoy!
14 Likes
Oh yeah, lots of Cure fans here. Speaking of, I tried Just Like Heaven tonight. The wife heard me playing and was like “you’re getting really good at that, but I didn’t know you were working on it”, to which I replied “that’s cause that was my first time playing it”
7 Likes
COOL!!! I love it haha 
2 Likes
4 Likes
1 Like
Time to get back on it after a long Christmas break. My first cover of 2026 is All We Love We Leave Behind by metalcore giants Converge. Most of their stuff is way too fast and technical for me to be able to play but luckily this one is relatively straightforward. I’m still working on my ability with the pick but I felt it was necessary for the tone. I threw it away for the last part though.
I’m really pleased with my tone here, I spent some time with my amp sim comparing the original recording and I think I got it pretty close.
In the words of Bob Dylan: Play it fucking loud.
6 Likes
Great cover and sound! 
Just a small tip on your left hand: try to relax your grip a little. Your thumb tends to creep up, and it looks like you are squeezing the neck a bit too hard. If you keep the thumb behind the neck, it will be much easier on your hand/wrist in the long run!
2 Likes
Thanks. I think it’s something that I’m usually pretty good at avoiding during practice, but when it comes to playing something fast and heavy all that technique goes out the window.
2 Likes