Gear Advice - 8octaves Music

Congregating in large numbers at a public entertainment event does not turn everyone on. Some prefer partying in small groups. Also there are those who like both.

For small parties, the response ability towards organizing the event falls on the shoulders of few or some of the party ensemble. This includes the music as well. Whilst some go for no sound setup, some go for a mega extravagant extravaganza. For some, their mobile music player does the job, and also there are those who have silent or wireless headphones parties.

The detail to which one goes in organizing this can vary in relation to one’s taste, ability and availability. Experience here too, makes a difference. One can make a number of key errors right from not carrying a wire to being stuck in a place with no electricity. One will be surprised to understand how the nature of our forgetfulness works. In time, one can become a pro at doing this and that too without any hassle.

Here are some guidelines for an average sound setup i.e., a set of speakers, an amp, a mixer and 2 CD players/CDJs/laptops. One can go through it before a party/event to make sure everything is on board. Also one can add to this list as per the setup.

Check if the venue has stable continuous electricity supply. If there are electricity issues, carry a generator which has enough voltage for your setup.

Test the sound! Test the equipment before taking it to the venue. Not tested not regularly used speakers/amplifier/CD player/wires/switchboard/chargers could lead to a dull party. Test it by operating each part of the setup. Check both channels; check the max output ability of the speakers and also the bass treble response if you want things perfect. Test each knob, figure which does not work or has issues to avoid goofups later. Don’t spend too much time doing this and miss the party.

Wires, Those black metal connectors are more crucial then they appear. Especially for those seeking quality, a compromise on this could mean a major step back from the aspired. If one can have a spare set of wires set aside for parties nothing like it. The main thing is to have uncut, preferably thick wires with non bent connectors. Make sure you got the right wires. Absence of a wire could reduce the hi-tech gear into boxes.
If one is accustomed to it, visualizes the setup. It can help a great deal in not missing out on any part of the setup.

Do not destroy your speakers or your ears. Bad sound can be caused either by maxing your master output or volume knob, overpowering the bass and treble on the speakers, playing bad quality music, etc. Keep it medium when it comes to fixing the audio output. If you need more sound try to get a setup suited for the same. Over working the speakers will make it loud but will compromise on clarity.

And last but not the least Don’t forget it’s a party

5 Things To Consider While Buying A Guitar:

It could be the funky groove in the song. Or the catchy riff in the chorus. Could definitely be the powerful solo building the crescendo. For whatever reason we have, we can no longer deny ourselves the passion. The decision makes itself: to finally get yourself that guitar, or that keyboard, or those drums or that blues harmonica. It’s an awesome feeling, expecting to give life to your favorite songs with your own hands. To feel what it must feel like, to know and play the notes and chords, and produce sweet, sweet music.

guitar, electric guitar, strings — Photo by WolfBlur on Pixabay

But the journey must start somewhere, like it did for a friend who asked me to accompany him to purchase a new acoustic guitar. We walked into an impressive music store in Bangalore to look for a companion for his lonely fingers. Music stores today stock an intimidating lineup of instruments and accessories ranging across all levels of musicianship and are increasingly digital and sophisticated compared to instruments of yore.

Acoustic guitar repair service, Cleaning the acoustic guitar, Close-up

We looked at some good brands and he quickly decided it was up to me to find the right guitar for him. I list here some of the key factors I considered while picking his acoustic guitar:

Guitar Body: The three popular types of guitar body constructions are Classic, Dreadnought, and Jumbo. Technical specifications to distinguish them across various brands are beyond the scope of this post. But simply put, they indicate the size of the guitar body. This directly impacts the tonal qualities of the guitar. Larger bodied guitar have a better bass response as the resonance cavity is larger. Smaller bodies are usually more “trebley” in nature. If you like playing solos, then a guitar with a cutaway allowing access to the higher range of frets will interest you. Purists claim the missing chunk of wood will adversely affect the tone. The counter argument is that the upper bout is structural in function while it’s the lower bout that is acoustic.
Wood: Materials used in constructing the guitar body/neck affect the timbre or quality of sound. The tonal signature of an acoustic guitar is heavily dependent on the wood (density, strength). As opposed to commercial wood, quartersawn logs are used. The top surface of the guitar, traditionally called the soundboard, has spruce/cedar wood ground to 1.5 to 2 mm and fixed in place with tubular bracing. The vibration of the soundboard transmitted via the saddle resonates in the cavity. For the back and sides, hard woods like mahogany, walnut and oak with their distinctive grain and color make for a good guitar. The fingerboard usually has ebony/rosewood glued over the neck. Nowadays though, it’s not uncommon to use alternate material like graphite or carbon fibre for the back, sides and neck.
Action: Upon holding your first chord on the guitar, your left hand starts becoming aware of the kind of effort required to fret notes. This may be rendered more difficult if the ‘string action’ is set high. This simply means the space between the fretboard and the strings parallel above it. The thumb rule is that the string height at the 12th fret should be around 3mm – 5mm. Further tweaking is subject to personal choice. What I did notice at the store was that the saddles are much higher than they should be. I would suggest removing it and filing down the opposite side to set it right. Medium gauge strings are the best for acoustic guitars allowing for greater sustain and a crisper tone.
Craftsmanship: It’s difficult to discuss this since all guitar brands nowadays get manufactured in China. There is still something to be said about the way guitars need to ‘feel’ the minute you hold one. In my opinion, this is the single most important factor deciding a guitar’s quality.
Electronics: Almost all guitar brands come with an onboard pickup for a premium. The electronics will allow your acoustic guitar to be plugged in via a 1/4″ jack sending a signal to a mixer for a live show as opposed to mixing it live. Let this be the last of your concerns while picking up a guitar, if your intention is to learn. The flashy tuner and three-band equalizer may not be the first thing you need to occupy yourself with. Although it’s a direct passport to join a band later!